"Lila!" Kie called as she watched her come up from under the water.

"Kie, get the boat!" Lila coughed, swallowing water when she jumped down. Her arms wrapped around JJ, flipping him over so his head wasn't facing down into the water, "JJ, hey, JJ."

He was limb, breathing, but lacked movement and was unconscious. Lila, as is, wasn't that well of a swimmer and trying to hold JJ up was making it harder, "Cmon, JJ, wake up, man."

JJ wouldn't move, his head bleeding and it was scaring the shit out of her. The large gash on her ankle filled the water with blood, another thing that scared her. If she used her head, she would have realized that jumping into the water was sure to attract sharks. But using her head was something she rarely did, especially not now.

"JJ, please." Lila begged, trying to keep his head up and patting his chest in hopes of the water leaving his lungs. Though she couldn't hear her, Lila called for Kiara, "Kie! Hurry!"

"JJ, cmon, wake up, stay with me." the blonde repeated again, kicking her legs violently in hopes of staying up, body burning from doing so as she began to give up slowly, "It's okay, it's okay, i'm sorry."

"Lila!" it was John B to yell in fear. Kie and Sarah in the life boat as they came toward the pair.

"No, no, no, JJ!" John B yelled in a panic.

"John B, please, help me!" she called, crying, "My ankle was cut, it's gonna attract sharks."

"Get her up, get her up." a girl Lila hadn't recognized called, on the back of the boat with Pope.

"Get JJ, cmon." Lila said, trying to lift him as Pope and John B yanked him up. Sarah and the other girl reached, pulling Lila up as she winced, the gash on her ankle loosing blood quickly.

The engine gave out, Sarah's eyes widening, "John B."

"Is that Rafe?" Lila spoke, looking at the edge of the boat and seeing the Cameron boy with a gun, aiming it their way. Lilas heart dropped as she stared over.

"He's pointing at us. Hurry!" Pope panicked.

"We gotta go." Kie called.

"I'm trying!" John B called in annoyance their way. Lila stared, almost waiting for Rafe to shoot at them, just once at least.

But he didn't, and the engine started up again. The blonde sighed in relief, turning her back.

"Is he breathing?" Pope asked, him and Kie leaned over JJ in worry.

"Move, move." Lila coughed, making her way over JJ as she elevated his head on the side of the life boat, "He has water in his lungs."

"How do we help?" John B panicked. Lilas medical classes she took with her church paid off well in these moments, she owed her moms her life for making her stick to them.

Lila leaned over JJ, pressing her lips onto his as she pushed air into his lungs. Holding it for a moment, she pulled back listened to his chest, the water still there, "Come on, JJ, stay with me."

Sarah grabbed hold of John B's arm as Lila leaned back down, pressing her lips to JJ's once more and pushing air into his lungs. Holding it, she nearly pulled back before he coughed. The water coming from his lips, on Lila but she hadn't minder. The blonde pulled back, patting his back as he leaned over, coughing the water.

"Yes!" Pope cheered. Kie hugged Lila tightly in a thank you, the blonde sighing in relief as she grabbed JJ's face, making him look back at everyone as they gapped at him.

JJ looked at Lila with wide eyes, "You kissed me?"

The remaining six sighed in relief as they laughed. Lila leaned over, hugging JJ tightly as he rubbed her back.

"Hey, buddy. Welcome to the land of the living." Pope laughed, relief washing over his face.

"Just always looking for attention, huh?" John B joked his way with a laugh, Lilas moving to sit next to JJ.

"Whatever it takes, right?" the blonde boy joked, turning his head to Lila, "You kissed me."

"I gave you mouth to mouth." she pushed his head with a laugh.

"Sounds like a kiss to me." he shook his head at her with a cheeky grin.

"Sharks are gonna surround us, girl. This is gonna hurt like a bitch." the girl Lila hasn't known spoke, grabbing hold of her ankle. She pulled a thread off her pants, digging a fish hook from her pocket.

"What the hell happened?" JJ spoke, sitting up better to be with Lila when she moved away.

"The blunt end of a machete." Kie informed him.

"Ugh, thank you but can I know your name?" Lila spoke up as she watched the girl tie the thread to the fish hook.

"Cleo." she gave a grin, "Sorry, zero numbing medicine but if you wanna avoid infection and sharks eating us alive, we're gonna have to get you stitched."

"Oh god." Pope exhaled, "Oh god."

"Okay, yeah, that's gonna hurt." Sarah said as she looked away, "And that's a lot of blood."

Popes eyes set on the cross, watching as it was pulled back onto the boat, "This shit ain't over."

"No, it ain't." John B agreed.

"Keep her still." Cleo demanded as JJ moved in behind Lila, her back to his chest as Kie held onto her leg, "Deep breaths, blondie."

Lila let out a yell of pain as Cleo stuck her with the fish hook. JJ wrapped his arm around her stomach, the other holding her shoulders still.

"Sorry, sorry." Cleo apologized.

"Holy hell." Lila threw her head back against JJ's shoulder, breathing heavy as the pain of the fish hook weaving through her skin went through her whole body, "Can we- can we take a break?"

"Keep her still!" Cleo yelled as Lila attempted to move away from the hook, "Sorry, Miss Lila, you're doing fantastic."

"Hey, it's almost done." JJ tried to reassure her, pressing a firm kiss to the side of her face.

"Your boyfriend is right. Deep, but not too big." Cleo spoke in reassurance, nearly done, "You're a tough one, girly."

Lila exhaled, wanting to thank her but found it hurt worse when she would talk. Instead, her eyes out looked her surroundings. Water took up most of it, but the familiar land not too far away made her exhale suddenly.

"I know that island." Lila said, Cleo finishing up the last stitch and ripping the hook from the thread.

"What?" Kie asked.

"I know that island." Lila repeated, looking down at her stitched up ankle and then back at Cleo, "Thank you. Sorry I always caused a shark attack."

"Ah, no worries." she gave her a grin. Lila fell back onto JJ in exhaustion, forgetting he had been there.

"I think we better head that way then." John B nodded, heading toward the island Lila swore she knew, "How do you know this place?"

Her eyes danced of a memory non of them knew of, "It's a long story."

"You're got to be fucking kidding me." Willa spoke in disbelief as she pulled the door to her little sugar shack open, her eyes setting on Lila and a bunch of people she didn't knew, "Am I being punked?"

"I know I said i'd never bother you again." Lila nodded quickly, staring over at the shorter, more petite girl as she wobbled on her ankle, "But you're our only shot right now."

Willa exhaled as she stepped out, "Come here, you insane creature."

Lila accepted her hug tightly, stumbling on her ankle.

"Ugh, hello." John B gave a forced smile, "Lilas friend."

"How exactly do you have a friend on a deserted beach?" Pope asked in disbelief.

"Take your friends, I'll get you guys some juice. All of you smell so bad." Willa shook her head in disbelief, shutting the door as Lila turned to her friends.

"Lila, what the hell?" Kie asked honestly. Cleo wrapped a arm around Lila, helping her walk back toward the beach.

"She's a good person, she'll help us." Lila nodded her head, leaning on Cleo more to avoid weight on her ankle, "She has put up with me a long ass time."

"Must be a saint then." Pope said, taking a seat.

"Wow." JJ stumbled slightly, "Still a little dizzy."

"Thanks, thank you." Lila said to Cleo as she helped her sit. Lila reached up, pulling JJ down with her, "You need to take a chill pill for a bit."

"Yeah, that kiss knocked my breath away." he nodded, Lila rolled her eyes but threw a arm arm him.

"This is the lowest we can go." Pope nodded his head, looking out at the ocean, "We literally have nothing else to loose. The cross, gone."

"The gold, gone." Sarah huffed.

"My attempt to break through to Rafe, gone." Lila added in.

"Seriously, if we had a nickel for every time we got beat up, i'd say we're at a dollar fifty." JJ spoke up from next to Lila, digging in his shoe, "Something keep stabbing m-"

He pulled a tiny shell out of his shoe, holding it toward the blonde, "Baby shell I found in my shoe, for you."

Lila grinned, taking it from him.

"But, I mean, we've had some good stuff happen." John B spoke up with a faint grin.

"Name something." Pope suggested.

"Uh, the boiler room." John B turned his head toward Cleo and Pope, "If the boiler didn't explode I wouldn't have gotten away from Rafe. I couldn't have gotten the Zodiac and gotten us out of here."

"The wasn't luck." Cleo shook her head with a minor giggle, "That thing was gonna blow the second I stopped feeding it."

"Stealing my thunder, Cleo." John B shook his head.

"Well, Lila saved JJ after he saved her. I say that was pretty good." John B nodded toward the blondes, "And Lila, you look oddly happy for being cut open and sewed up again."

"I am happy." the blonde sighed, "I mean, disappointed and my ankle hurts like hell. But honestly, a huge ass weight is lifted and I feel like myself for the first time in months."

"Yeah, that's my girl." Sarah grinned, nudging her arm.

"Pope, you're related to Denmark Tanny." John B spoke toward the Hayward boy.

"And I lost all his inheritance." Pope pointed out his way.

"You know what?" John B asked as he stood to his feet, "Guys, this is it. This is the Pogue life. We are in the Caribbean. It's our own little slice of paradise. With my best friends, with my family. I don't know, I wouldn't wanna do it with anyone else."

"You guys are a bunch of dramatic, dirty, insane group of people." Willa spoke as she walked down the small hill, a cooler in her hands as she passed around mason jars to each of them, "And look extremely dehydrated so drink something for the love of god."

"Uh, what is this?" Kie asked, looking at the pink liquid.

"Don't know, chick, take a sip and see if you like it." Willa said her way, passing one to Lila as the blonde gave a smile, "You're lucky I'm here."

"I owe you big time." Lila smiled as Kie took her first sip, Willa looking her way.

"Fancy enough for you?" the shorter girl gave a smirk.

Kie rolled her eyes, "It's.. spicy?"

"Secret recipe , drink up." she encouraged as Kie grinned and took another gulp.

"Look, while you guys were complaining about every little thing.. JJ." John B spoke up, nodding toward the blonde and pointing toward the ocean, "I was looking at those burly lefts."

"There's some slabs out there." JJ admitted, holding back a grin.

"Just a few." John B shrugged.

"Kie, you see that. I know you wanna get out there." John B said over to the Carrera girl.

"No boards." she said with a eyeroll.

"Wouldn't be so sure about that." Willa hummed, nodding toward her small shack.

"Yes, thank you." John B cheered as the short girl walked off, "Pope, come on man."

"They do look pretty tasty." Pope admitted, "There's nobody around. We could squat here for a bit."

"Pogelandia." JJ announced as he stood.

"Oh boy." John B sighed.

"I claim thee Pogelandia. I like the ring of it." JJ giggled, looking down at Lila, "What about you, pretty lady, down for a surf lesson finally? I mean, it's about time, don't you think?"

Lila looked out at the water, "How much seaweed you think is out there?"

"Oh, a whole bunch." the blonde rose his eyebrows, leaning down, the baby shell necklace dangling, and pulling her to her feet.

"I'm gonna make a flag. It's gonna have a chicken on it. With a coconut bra, smoking a J, a baby shell around his neck, in Crocs." JJ nodded his head, grinning in pride.

"I could use a J." Kie said honestly.

"Sarah, till death do us part." John B grinned down at the Cameron girl, "Welcome back to the Pogue life."

"Full Pogue." she grinned.

"Full Pogue, hum." JJ threw a arm around Lila with a questionable look, "How that sound to you? Full Pogue?"

Lila gave a thinking look, "Comforting and scary. But, I dig it."

"I dig what you dig, we dig it." JJ nodded his head.

"Welcome to the Pogues." Pope spoke as he pulled Cleo up.

"So, one of you is gonna have to body surf because I only have seven boards and I am not missing those waves." Willa spoke, walking over with surf boards. John B hurried to help her.

"You any good?" he asked her.

"Please, I'll show up all of you." Willa rolled her eyes.

"I like a challenge." Kie admitted, standing up with a eyebrow raise her way, taking one of the boards, "I happen to be the best out there."

"I'm a visual learner." Willa said back.

"You ready to have your mind blown and inhale a ton of water?" JJ asked as he pulled Lila toward the water.

"If you asked me four months ago, I would have said absolutely not." Lila spoke with a hum, "But now it feels like literally nothing."

"Do I wanna know?" Willa questioned from behind her.

"Probably not." Kie answered for Lila.

"Yo, Will." Lila looked over her shoulder, "Any haunted ghost on this island?"

As the sun went down and the sky was over taken by darkness, a fire was build and fish were caught, cooked over the heat. Willa whipped out some more of her secret drink, bonding over it as Kie begged for some form of secret behind the pink liquid. Lila Griffin, who now knew how to somewhat surf and had a baby shell hanging around her neck, stood infront of the shore.

The water hit her ankles, the wound wrapped and secured. She stared out at the waved a moment, thinking about everything she went through and what she over came. For the first time, truly, she didn't feel so guilty for an action she couldn't help nor was the cause of. She thought of Rafe, she thought of the hope she had for him, how she hoped he was safe and secure, but mainly she thought about how he was out of her control and she couldn't do anything about what he caused.

And for the first time, Lila accepted that.

She exhaled before her hand pulled back, suddenly chunking the expensive ring into the water. As it hit, she exhaled, almost feeling it sink. In a way, she was letting go, but she was hoping it wound find it's why back to him. Lila gave a small smile, nodding her head as she stared one last second.

Hope. It's all she could have at this point.

"Lila!" JJ called, her head turning back and finding them by the fire, "I cooked you a fish!"

Lila looked back at the ocean once more before walking through the sand, "You cooked me a fish?"

And she smiled, truly, for the first time in a while. Lila Griffin smiled.

•

kylie speaks

y'allllll, this hurt me
and made me smile all
at once. obviously i am so
sad this book is over until
s3, bc we all know we're gonna
get a s3, but i am still so happy
and glad i got to end the book
on a much happier note. i am
so happy with lilas character and i feel much more connect
with her then i do many of
my other oc's. i have enjoyed
the comments and all of you
talking to me and the support
i have received writing this book.
i hope the topics of toxic relationships, adoption, teen
pregnancy, miscarriage, ptsd, lose of a family member, and survivors guilt has opened
and helped some of you guys
understand the reality of it.
i will miss you guys a ton for
the time being but this book
and this comment section will
always be a place for you guys
to come back to if you need a
safe space to trauma dump or
relate to a character in one
of the ways lila was expressed.
i have plenty of other obx
books on the way!

as for now, all my love- kylie.