THE Wreck is better shape than Eden's ever seen it. 

Sitting in the middle of the island for both Pogues and Kooks alike to enjoy, the restaurant was usually a little run down. Slightly tousled and dusted by the South side diners. Chairs are normally thrown out, pieces of food discarded on the floor. Cracked wooden tables and chairs usually sit outside, worn by the tropical storms. 

But, today, the place is all tidied up. The tables and chairs have all been moved, instead replaced with bubbling and bouncing bodies and small barrels with different flowers holding alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks alike. Big fairy lights are hung around the exterior. A large banner reads 'Happy 15th Anniversary Mike & Anna.'  The cacophony of chatter mixes with the salty breeze. It's a party. 

Eden has been to many parties in her life, given her last name. Her mother was always invited somewhere, and by default she was forced to tag along too for the sake of appearances. They were always stuck up, Kook parties. None had the casual, airy atmosphere that Anna and Mike's held now.

She's not entirely dreading this, though maybe that's because she's not entirely staying for it.

As much as she'd love to stay and show Mike and Anna her support, Eden has been tasked by John B. and JJ to retrieve Kiara and Sarah—John B. doesn't have the balls to talk to his girlfriend and JJ hasn't tried talking to the Carrera since he stole her dad's wallet—and get them on board with the whole South America idea.

Eden stands amongst the crowd, sunset reflecting an orange hue onto her exposed skin. She swirls a glass full of something in her hand, merely enjoying the casual vibe of the party. It's the first time she feels Kooks and Pogues alike are getting along—everyone's dancing together, chatting, and drinking. A local band plays in the background. 

"Eden?" 

The Bexley turns around, catching Sarah Cameron's gaze.

The blonde girl stands a few feet away, lips pursed. A short mustard yellow dress with flowers on it covers her tanned figure, and her blonde hair cascades to her chest. She looks pretty, but there's no smile on her face. Something's wrong.

"Sarah, hey." the Bexley offers a light tipped smile of her own at the sight of the girl. After not knowing where she'd ended up, it was nice to know that Sarah was okay. The Cameron approaches, kneading her fingers together. "You look hot." 

"Thanks." Sarah replies, but how she looks seems to be the last thing on her mind. 

"Where did you end up at? I thought you were staying at mine last night." the Bexley asks in reference to the Cameron's whereabouts.

"Oh, I....I found somewhere else." Sarah brushes her hair over her shoulder. The Bexley opens her mouth to ask who, but gets cut off as the Cameron stares at her with apologetic eyes. "Okay, I have a lot I need to tell you." 

Eden sets her drink down. She can tell that whatever Sarah has to tell her is important; that it's something she's not going to like. 

"Yeah, okay." the Bexley scans through Sarah's gaze. Why did she look so nervous? "What's up?" 

Sarah's words come out tight, "So, I was with Kiara this morning and I got a message from Wheezie telling me to meet her at our family's rental condo. I went and....it was my dad."

Eden's face falls. Ward was on the island. 

She doesn't know why she didn't expect this. Ward was like a cockroach who never fully died—he always found a way to come back into their lives, no matter how unwanted. After all, Rafe was back. Why hadn't they expected the father, too? 

The Cameron man barely spends a moment in the front of her mind before a looming realization settles into her chest.

If Ward was back....

"No." Eden feels her body tense at the thought; at the knowing. No wonder Sarah seemed so worried to tell the Bexley—she knew how she'd react.  She feels sick to her stomach. "Sarah, no." 

Sarah looks apologetic, "I saw her, Eden. I'm sorry—I saw her."

Isla Bexley was back on the island. The woman Eden thought she might never see again; the one she hoped she would never see again. She was still trying to untangle the knots her mother had twisted her life into,  yet she was back. Back. Back. Back. 

She could handle Rafe. She could deal with Ward. But she can't handle her mother. 

Eden can't look the woman in the eyes. She can't talk to her civilly—she's not sure how Sarah actually spoke to her father. She can't be in the same room as the woman and not start freaking out. God, how is her dad going to react? He can't let her back in, if he knows. He can't do that to Eden, can he? 

The Bexley feels her hands clench and un-clench at her sides as she tries to stay calm. She couldn't freak out, as much as she wanted too. This was Mike and Anna's party, she couldn't ruin that. She had to get Sarah and Kiara onboard with going to South America, and she can't do that if she's having a panic attack on the floor.

Sarah still looks guilty, but Eden doesn't know why. She's already spilled the sick beans. 
"Eden, I'm sorry." 

Eden swallows hard, and calms herself down to a degree where she can firmly say, "No, it's fine." It's not like she had to interact with the woman, right? Truly, if Isla didn't find her, she didn't have to come in contact with her mother. "I mean, if she stays her way, it's not like I even have to talk to her. See her."

"Yeah, yeah." Sarah nods, picking at her cuticles. What was up with her? 

"Okay, Sarah, you're still very clearly riled up about something." Eden states bluntly. She's honestly sick of people not telling her things, after the whole John B. situation. She already feels shitty enough, what's more bad news? The Cameron's lips thin in nervousness, and the Bexley urges, "Sarah, seriously, I can not feel any worse right now. Spill." 

Sarah looks hesitant. She already knew she was about to lose the Bexley. "You have to promise you won't hate me."

"Hate you?" Eden's brows knit together. What the hell was Sarah telling her? The Bexley doubts she could ever dislike Sarah Cameron again—not like she did earlier that summer. She'd truly grown to love the Kook. The Bexley let out a skeptical laugh, "Why would I hate you—"

Sarah liked Eden Bexley. Admired her, truly. She liked having a real girlfriend to discuss things with—someone who knew what it was like to have a parent involved in the gold, to be a real Kook. The Pogues could listen, John B. could comfort, but Eden could understand. 

She admired how Eden kept the Pogues in line—how she mothered them, making John B. or JJ close their mouths and stand up a bit straighter with one stern vocalization of their names. How she wasn't afraid to open her mouth and speak the truth; she'd went off on Ward and Isla at John B.'s hearing without a second thought. How she could be the most enjoyable and laid back person despite the stress and anxiety bubbling underneath her facade. 

Sarah also admired how loyal Eden was—to John Booker Routledge, specifically. They cried together. Laughed together. Defended and respected each other, no matter the situation. It used to be silly to Sarah how such a Kook could hang around such a Pogue, but now it just made sense. Eden and John B. simply made sense. 

John B. watched over Eden like she was his little sister. He did what made her happy, kissed her or acted like her boyfriend for all of five minutes when boys tried a little too hard for her attention, helped her through all of her anxiety attacks, drove her home when she was too drunk, listened to her every problem, drunk rant or serious conversation, defended her from cat-calls or names for hanging around with trash, wore every bracelet she'd ever given him, made her laugh when no one else did. 

Eden stood by the Routledge like she was stone. She stayed with him when no one else did, talked sense into him, paid his bills and took the wrath of her mother for the sake of slipping him an extra few dollars to keep him from coming late with payments, stayed up late cackling with him, watched cheesy rom-coms with him every Saturday, let him talk to her about the randomest  bullshit, gave him advice on how not to flirt, defend him in any situation, as mad as she may be. 

 Eden and John B. were family. And that's why the blonde knew that the moment she spilled, the Bexley would hate her. But, Sarah had to tell her—it would make it all the worse if she waited. 

So, in a mad rush, the Cameron states, "Because I kissed Topper."

Her words hang in the air for a moment,  Eden's eyes widening for a second before narrowing in disbelief and confusion. Seconds pass and she doesn't know how to react or what to say. Sarah kissed Topper. 

John B. and Sarah weren't perfect at the moment, but kissing Topper? There was no talk of a break-up between the two Pogues—the Routledge hadn't spoken to the Cameron at all since he made her cry. He'd been with Eden and JJ. So, technically, they were still together. Technically, Sarah cheated. 

And, of course, it had to be with her ex. The one guy John B. couldn't hate more. 

Topper was still in love with Sarah, without a doubt. He was waiting for her to get away from the Routledge. Was the Cameron just using that to her advantage? Using his—as annoying as they were—real feelings as an outlet because she was pissed off at John B. That was wrong, even for Sarah.

Eden's sure she'd be taking this much kinder if John B. wasn't her brother. If she didn't know how upset the Routledge would be if—when—he found out. 

"You were with him, weren't you?" Is the first thing Eden spits out. She's lost any sort of softness with the girl, and Sarah closes her eyes, welcoming whatever is going to come from her friend's lips. "When I told you to stay at mine—you went to him."

"He found me. I was going to go to yours, I promise, Eden. I didn't—I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Sarah starts to explain herself, though Eden could care less. Regardless, the Cameron did what she did. "He caught me slugging beer, and some kids from KCD showed up, and they were already heading to the Mase—"

"I truly don't care, Sarah—it happened regardless of the story. You kissed Topper. You cheated." the Bexley states the truth, making eye contact with the girl.  "I know John B. has been an asshole, but you don't even know the full story. You two aren't even broken up yet—"

Sarah looks at her shoes, like a beaten puppy. "I don't want to be broken up."

"Oh. Even-fucking-better, Sarah." Eden scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "So, not only do you kiss your ex boyfriend and fuck around with his feelings, but you want to ignore it and keep your current one. Who, may I say, will be absolutely distraught when he finds out." 

Sarah winces at the thought of her boyfriends face when he found out. God, she messed up. 

"Eden, I don't have anything." the Cameron girl states, lips almost trembling. She knew she'd lost the girl. "You have your dad, and a house, and....and you always have the Pogues. I have nothing! My family is gone, my house is gone,  my sister is gone—" She frowns. "Topper gave me something."

"Yeah, the feeling of butterflies in your stomach for all of five minutes? Was it really worth it, Sarah?" Eden bites, a look of disappointment engraved on her face as she stares at Sarah. The upbeat and reggae music in the background feels horribly wrong. "One fight and you went back to him. You have to realize how pathetic that sounds." 

"I just wanted to feel normal." Sarah looks like she's holding back tears, doe eyes full of guilt. "Everything has felt so off since I got back on the island, but the party, my old friends, Topper—they were waiting to take me back to my old life. To what normal used to be." She looks up at the Bexley, almost pleading. "You can't—you can't hate me for that, Eden."

She was right, Eden couldn't. She missed normal too—she missed what her life was like before summer, she missed the innocent girl she was.

But Eden was her brothers keeper. She was on John B.'s side. Always. 

"Look, Sarah...." the Bexley trails off, tone softening ever so slightly. She wasn't going to scream at the Cameron the entire night, but she wasn't letting her off the hook. "You have been through so much shit, and you deserve to be happy. I want you to be happy. And, if Topper is what makes you happy, who am I to stop you?"  The Cameron looks up with false hope in her eyes. "But—"

Sarah frowns. Of course there was a but. 

"John B. is my brother. And he loves you so much, Sarah—more than he's loved anything before." Eden thinks back to how she comforted the boy after the Cameron broke up with him over Ward's 'death'. He'd been crushed. How back when they were first dating, he couldn't choose over her and the Kook; which took a lot.  Sarah Cameron was his life. "So, as his sister, I'm sticking with him. And I'm not sorry about it because he's my family." 

Sarah nods, lips wrung together as she holds back tears. She already knew what Eden's answer was going to be—she isn't stupid. She knows Eden. She remembers what the Bexley told her when the Cameron confirmed her and John B. to be together earlier that summer.

If you fuck up, I'm not standing at your side. No girls stand by girl's shit. I will always stand next to John B. 

Back then, she smiled. She would have never dreamed of doing this to John B. What happened? 

The band plays a final riff and applause echoes through the party. It feels wrong amongst the stiff atmosphere between the two Kooks. Eden picks her drink back up and offers the Cameron a hollow, "You're telling him."

With that, she walks off, leaving Sarah Cameron alone with her regret and tears. 

Eden doesn't even feel bad for leaving the Cameron. She loves Sarah, but she couldn't just act like everything was normal with the girl after hearing she'd kissed Topper. That wouldn't be fair to John B., who'll certainly be distraught after finding out. She needed to be there for him. 

"Hang on, hang on, hang on. Please—excuse me!" Mike Carrera's voice booms through the crowd. He's standing on top of the small stage, waving his hands to try and get a moment to say a few words. The band stops and the crowd all shifts their attention to him. "Thank you. Um....I just want to say a few words. And, uh, I'm not much into giving speeches, but I do want to say thank you for coming out...and thank you for your support after a rough few months."

He tips a glass to someone farther back in the crowd, and Eden turns around to see her father, who wears a light smile on his face. She's not surprised he's here—it seems he's gained a firmer relationship with the Carrera's when the Pogues disappeared. 

"I want to say thank you to our daughter, for being here." Mike continues, turning to Kiara, who stands to the side, shamelessly smiling at the recognition.  Sarah's next to her, and Eden assumes the Carrera knows too. "Hey, we love you."

A few claps are heard, the crowd enjoying the family moment. Kiara lets out a small,  "Love you too." 

"But most of all....come here." Mike looks to the side at his wife, eyes soft as he stares at her. He outstretches a hand and Anna lets out a chuckle as she takes it to step onto the platform. "Thank you, Anna....for fifteen years. For making this restaurant a symbol of our life."

The Bexley looks back in the direction of her father—she hadn't really gotten to see how he'd been after finding out all that his wife had done behind his back. Tom hadn't spoken much about it, focusing more on how she was doing. 

He still has a light tipped smile, but he fiddles with the wedding ring on his finger.

Eden likes to think her parents loved each other—at some point, at least. That maybe when they were in high school, or when she was born; when her mother wasn't entirely a bad person, they did. 

For a moment, she tries to picture it, but she can't. Eden can't picture Isla before ambition and the allure of the Kook life overshadowed her. She can't picture Tom and Isla in a relationship that didn't involve secrets—she knew that her mother wouldn't have married a Pogue like her father if they didn't love each other, but she can't. She can't picture them up here, celebrating their anniversary like Anna and Mike.

She wonders if her dad misses her mother. Even if it's wrong. 

Mike squeezes his wife's hand. "I love you." 

"I love you," Anna repeats, a tender smile on her face. 

"Love you, Mike and Anna!" Someone from the crowd exclaims. 

Anna leans into her husband, and Mike finishes off, "Figure Eight, the Cut. Everyone's together here.  As one island."

"That's right!"

"So, thank you for putting up with us." Mike grinned as the crowd let out whistles and repetitive 'yeahs!'. He holds his drink up. "Cheers."

"Thank you all for coming!" Anna states, before repeating, "Cheers!"

Everyone else raised their glasses in cheers. Eden even holds up her own, lips pursed. 

Mike and Anna depart over to their daughter, the curly haired girl leaning into her father while her mother cupped her cheek. The Bexley decides to greet her father, given she'd ran off for basically the entire day and had yet to check in. She had nothing better to do—she wasn't speaking with Sarah, Pope and Cleo were nowhere to be found, John B. and JJ were hiding away from the party, and Kiara was clearly stuck with her parents. 

Eden weaves through the crowd, making her way toward her father. The hum of the party starts back up, Pogues and Kooks alike mingling once more. Tom is conversing with a few other men, but once he spots his daughter approaching in his peripheral vision, he halts and turns.

The Bexley downs some more of her drink. Tom raises a brow of slight  disapproval. "That better be grape juice." 

"Yeah, well, you'd be drinking too if you knew." Eden comments dryly. She has to tell her father that Isla's back on the island—he deserves to know, and she thinks it wouldn't be fair if he didn't. And maybe, selfishly, she wants him to know just so there's someone to keep her mother five feet away. 

Tom tries to read her expression, "Know what?" 

Lowering her voice, Eden reveals, "Mom's back."

Tom's face changes almost immediately—his usual calm, controlled demeanor shifts into something more serious. His smile fades and his brows furrow, and a wave of emotions flashes over his face. Isla was back. 

"On the island?" the Bexley confirms.

"Sarah saw her." Eden confirms, glancing away for a second. Her nails clink against her glass. "She saw her with Ward—apparently he's here too, of course. I don't know how long they've been here but....they're back. She's back."

Tom gives a stiff nod, processing the information. His thumb subconsciously rubs over the ring clings to his finger—he doesn't even know why he's still wearing it. Was it to lower suspicion from the island? He hasn't really felt married to Isla since she revealed everything she's been hiding. Truly, he hasn't seen her since then, either. She's been in Guadeloupe. He's been here. He wouldn't call that married. 

But to some degree, she was his wife. They never truly talked about what had happened—there was a brief conversation after Ward blew up, but that was it. They hadn't ended it. She stayed at the Cameron estate and then she was gone with Eden. And, as much as he hated her for what she did to Eden, he wanted to talk about it. Isla used to fascinate him—he wants her back. Not whatever woman Ward Cameron had turned her into. 

He looks forward at his daughter, who stands lips pursed, fingers twisting around a bracelet—an anxious tick he's picked up on over the years. As much as he wants too, Tom can't just speak to Isla.....not after what he did to their daughter. His daughter. 

Eden was clearly nervous over her mother returning. Tom would keep her safe, wouldn't let Isla within a mile of her, if he could help it. He wouldn't make Eden do anything that she didn't want to with her mother. He failed her in the past when it came to Isla, he wouldn't do it again. 

Without much warning, the Bexley man comes forward and wraps his arms around his daughter. Eden doesn't hesitate before relaxing, wrapping around her father's chest, letting the party fade away behind her. 

"I'm not going to let her near you." Tom murmurs, trying to reassure Eden that she would be okay, Isla on the island or not. "I won't let her. You won't have to see her, or do anything concerning her if you don't want to. " 

Eden appreciates her father's words, managing a light nod against his chest. 

Tom holds Eden a moment longer, feeling her tense frame begin to relax slightly in his arms, when they both hear the sound of footsteps approaching. The familiar shuffle of worn sneakers pulls Eden's attention, and she instinctively pulls away from her father, turning to see John B. standing a few feet away. His jaw is clenched, his expression is unreadable, his eyes are a storm of pain and emotions. He looks sucker-punched in the gut. 

She knows instantly. He knows.

The Routledge doesn't say a word. Eden doesn't need to ask him what happened—she can see it in the way he looks utterly crushed. The hurt, the confusion, the anger—it's all there, written across his face.

Eden looks back at her dad, Tom stepping back to return to company as he picks up the solemn vibe from his daughter's friend. The Bexley steps forward towards her best friend, apologetic eyes searching his down-hearted ones. 

John B.'s shoulders slump and Eden doesn't wait any longer before wrapping her arms around him. He melts into her embrace, resting his head on her shoulder, his arms circling her in return.

"I know. I'm so sorry," Eden whispers, holding the boy. She knows her words won't change anything, but she feels the need for him to know she's there.  Sarah cheated, but she wasn't leaving his side. "I'm not siding with her, okay? I'm with you. You still have me."

John B. doesn't say anything, merely tightening his hold on his best friend. Eden wishes she could truly help him, but all she can do is be there for him, like she's always been. 

So much for a fun party. 

The plan has gone to shit. 

When Eden, JJ, and John B. boated over to The Wreck, the Routledge had tasked the Bexley with the task of wrangling Sarah and Kiara into the whole South America plan—apparently, she was the most convincing. And Mike and Anna actually liked her. 

However, it was now nightfall, and as John B, Eden, and JJ paced the dock, neither girl stood with them. 

Eden was going to tell Sarah when the Cameron approached, but then she found out about Topper and stormed off, too angry to let the girl into the plan. Now that John B. knew too—and was full of anger over it—it was clear the Kook was cut off completely.

The Bexley hadn't gotten a moment alone with Kiara all night, the Carrera stuck mingling with others or hanging out with her parents. JJ did, but in some way or form, their conversation ended in a brief argument and now, the curly haired girl was out of the plan too. 

Pope and Cleo had been gone all day. So, now, it was just Eden, JJ and John B. Like it always had been. 

"Okay, so...." JJ hadn't truly been caught up in the entirety of the situation. He knew his brother was pissed, and he knew it was over Sarah. "What happened, exactly?"

"What happened?" the Routledge scoffs, to JJ's question. "She cheated. That's what happened."

Eden paced down the dock, quietly listening to her best friend. She'd left the party to stick at John B.'s side after she found out he knew, and for the past hour or so, she's been drinking and letting him ramble out all of his emotions about the situation. He's not sad like he was when him and Sarah broke up over Ward's death. He's pissed. 

 The Maybank found them eventually and now the trio paced down the dock back towards the HMS Pogue, which sat docked down in the water. 

"After everything I've been going through, she's off hooking up with Topper?" John B. continues, shaking his head. He couldn't believe Sarah. "I mean, what the hell?"

Eden thinks they should have expected it, really. Sarah's been known to cheat on her boyfriends, and even if she's proven to be relatively loyal to John B., this wouldn't be the first time she's 'left' him for Topper Thornton. 

"Bro, I've been looking all over for you, alright?" JJ does care about his friends feelings, but truly, they have bigger problems right now. Sulking over Sarah was getting them nowhere closer to Big John. The blonde hops down into the HMS Pogue. "And the clock's ticking, alright? Let's just go. We don't need them."

Eden remarks, "We could probably use Pope but sure." 

"Have confidence, Ed'." JJ offers up a hand and Eden grabs on to it, lowering herself down into the boat. John B. stands on the dock still, eyes locked on something, though the Maybank offers zero care as he urges, "Yo, let's get out of here." 

Eden cranes her neck, zoning in on the party in front of them to see Sarah standing near the dock. However, she's not alone. Topper is with her, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, his hands lightly rubbing her back. The Cameron leans into him, chin resting against his broad shoulder in a seek of comfort. Not casual. 

John B. steps away from the boat, almost subconsciously. His eyes haven't left the two Kooks, but wheels seem to turn within his mind and his jaw clenches. 

Eden cringes. She knows where this is going.  The Bexley lets go of the Maybank's hand to step back onto the dock. "John B, no. Think it through." 

"John B? John— what are you doing?" At the sound of Eden's words, JJ whips his head up to watch as his friend continues to slowly pace right back towards the party. He spares a mere glance to Topper and knows that whatever is about to happen won't be good. "Don't even think about it, dude." Like a mother scolding a child, JJ clips, "John B, get in the boat." 

The Routledge has his mind set and keeps walking. His fists clench and un-clench at his sides. 

"You know, I want to see Topper get his ass beat as much as the next person but John, seriously, you don't want to do this here." the Bexley is quick on her feet, Converse padding double time to keep up.  

Ever since their fight at the boneyard, there was always this unresolved tension between John B. and Topper, and Sarah had only added to that burning fire. They were always competing for her attention, seeking her love. John B. always got it. To the Routledge, seeing the girl hugging the Thornton so intimately was only adding insult to injury—adding fuel to a fire that was already scorching. 

However, the boys never seemed to resolve anything without a fight. And, as much as Eden thought an ass whooping wouldn't hurt Topper, this was Anna and Mike's anniversary party. A celebration of how Pogues and Kooks could come together. It wasn't the time nor place for a fight.

JJ comes jogging up from the boat, watching as the Routledge paced towards Topper and Sarah. He puts a hand on Eden's shoulder, stopping her from following her best friend. "Let him go."

Eden shakes her head. "No, J, he's actually going to kill Topper." 

"He'd be doing us all a favor then—"

Glass shatters. The Bexley cringes as John B. rams into an innocent waiter, knocking drinks out of his hands. 

"Yeah, no, Topper is done." Eden draws her lips into a thin line. She wants to believe that John B. can civilly handle himself, but she doubts it. 

"No, not right here, bro." Topper protests as the Routledge storms towards him and Sarah. He can see the anger behind the Pogues eyes. "Not right here." 

"No, no, no—" Sarah steps in between the boys, trying to stop John B. from causing a scene, "Please—"

"Just get out—" John B pushes her away like she's a rag doll, "Get out of my way—"

"John B!"

Topper shakes his head, trying to stay mature. "We're not doing this!"

"Feel good about yourself, Topper?" John B. shoves the Thornton boy backwards, pent up emotions boiling over. The scene attracts the attention of many party-goers, Kooks and Pogues a like pausing to watch the two boys—it's even gained the attention of Mike and Anna, who watch with caution. 

Sarah tries to intervene, "Stop!"

The Kook stumbles back and his eyes widen. "You need to chill out, bro."

"Stop!"

The Routledge shoves again, "You like messin' up my relationships?" 

"You're ruining Mike and Anna's party right now, okay?!" 

"Oh, that's what you're worried about?"

Topper closes his eyes. "I would just walk away, John B—"

"You feel good about yourself, huh?"

"—walk away right now." 

Eden's eyes darted between the two boys. She's ready to run and pull the Routledge away if she has too, because as much as she dislikes Topper, she can't let him do this. 

"John B—" Finally, Sarah manages to grab ahold of the Routledge and turn him around. She seems on there verge of tears, but she manages to stammer out, "For once in your life, would you please just turn around and walk away." The boy stays silent and she puts her hands on his arms as she begs, "Please. Look at me. Please don't."

For a moment, Eden believes that maybe Sarah got through to him. John B. stays quiet, face contorting as he considered walking away. Mike paces forward, prepared to break up whatever was happening if the Routledge didn't stop himself.

Topper ruins the moment. "Hey, no hard feelings, bro."

The Bexley isn't sure if Topper could be any stupider. If he stayed silent, she's sure that John B. would have walked away but he had to have the final word—had to show that he had won, that he had some upper hand by having Sarah.

 By opening his mouth, he restarted the fire that was dying down. 

Sarah seethes, "Topper." 

John B. rocks on his heels, tongue running over his teeth. 

"We good?" the Thornton asks after a beat, as if that resolves anything. 

The Routledge turns to face him, too casually. Realization dawns on Sarah's face, "No, John B, no!"

The shit eating smirk is wiped right off Topper's face as John B's fist connects with it. 

Gasps echo through the crowd. Eden feels herself tense, even though she knew this would happen. JJ's grip tightens on her shoulder. Topper topples down to the floor, groaning as his face erupts in pain. The band halts in playing, feedback reverbing through the ground in a horrible ringing. 

"You like that shit, Top? Huh?" John B. shook his hand to rid it of any repercussions of pain. "Huh?"

Topper gasps in pain, still on the ground. The Routledge staggers forward, anger still set on his face. That punch had barely satisfied his yearn to beat the Thornton boy to a pulp. 

"Stop, John B!" Sarah cries out, glassy eyes wide in disbelief.

Kiara cautiously leaves her father's side, "John B?" 

"Stop!"

John B. reached down for the Kook boys collar, holding him down in a form of dominance. "You ready for this?"

"What are you doing!" Sarah gasps out as John B. strikes yet another punch against Topper's cheek. Her voice turns hoarse as Topper's head lazily hits the ground. "No! Stop!"

Eden can't stop herself as she sprints down from the dock. She didn't blame him for wanting to beat the boy senseless—who didn't want to see Topper Thornton get humbled like this—but she couldn't watch him do it. Not when Topper was already down after one punch. The Routledge didn't fight unfairly like that. 

She knows John B will kill him if no one stops him—the same way she knew that if it hadn't been for Cleo, Pope would have killed Rafe Cameron. Anger did things to people. 

Sarah's screeches in a cracked voice, "Hey! Stop! What are you doing!"

John B. continues to ruthlessly punch Topper. The blonde stays down on the ground, head lolling more and more lazily as the hits continue. Blood forms in the spots he's being punched and the crowd gasps as they watch the scene, which was escalating quickly. 

"John B, let it go—" Eden tries her best to grab a hold of her best friends arm. In a fit of rage however, the Routledge roughly shoves her backwards, elbow connecting with her ribs. The girl stumbles back, a sound of pain leaving the back of her throat. However, she doesn't stop. She can see it in his eyes—the blind fury, the kind that doesn't register who's around, who's trying to help, only the need to unleash everything. "He's not worth it! He's not—"

"John B!" Sarah realizes she stands no chance against the boy lost to his own anger, and yells for Kiara's father instead. "Mr. Carrera!"

Kiara looks betrayed, "John B!"

Mike comes rushing forward, "Hey, hey, hey!"

Mr. Carrera is easily able to wrap his arms around John B, finally putting an end to the sickening thud of his white knuckles against Topper's bloodied face. He picks the boy up and roughly discards him to the side, "Hey! Get out—get out of here!"

Anna echoes, "Get him out of here!"

Mike roars, "Get out of here!" 

John B. looks ready to throw hands with the older man, too blinded by hurt to realize that he had to stop. "Is that what you want, Mike?!" 

"Mr. Carrera—leave him alone!" Eden means nothing to Mike, but he doesn't know that John B. didn't just punch Topper to punch him. He was hurting. 

Before anything else can happen, JJ appears, darting out in front of his best friend to intervene. He clutches to the Routledge's yellow t-shirt and lunges for the Carrera man—he'd always defend John B. "Get off! Get off him!"

"See that's what I'm talking about!" Mike steps back, seething with anger. "Both of you get out of here!"

JJ clutches his brothers t-shirt with both hands, physically stopping him from lunging forward for Mike or Topper any more. He walks John B. backwards out of the party, the Routledge yelling out, "You happy, Sarah?!"

Eden stands in the middle of chaos, eyes darting between JJ pushing John B. out and the crowd surrounding Topper. She makes eye contact with Kiara, who looks betrayed that the Routledge could do such an act—at her parents party of all places, too. She was trying to be better for her parents and her friends showing all but maturity in the last five seconds wasn't proving anything.

"Doctor Thornton!" Someone in the crowd screams for Topper's mother. 

Mike looses any anger and rushes over to the blonde Kook, "Oh my God! He's unconscious?!"

"Topper!" Topper's mother gasps. 

"Do you need a doctor?" Anna asks. 

Sarah looks between Eden and Kiara, choking out in a staccato gasp, "He wasn't defending himself!"

"We need a medic—call 911!"

Eden quickly turns away from the party and runs after her two best friends, hair whipping behind her in the wind. 

mara's misc!!

OBX4PT2????

i'm a decent way through ep2 and i like it so far!! won't spoil here but i WILL have my part 2 review up when i finish the half. ALSO saying it now that for anyone who's gotten through ep 2, eden will be the first to know. fuck kie eden on top ALWAYS

i haven't been writing much for eden BUT i'm hoping the rest of the season gives me some motivation. i miss eden.

as of today im finally in tech for my musical! don't know how much ill be writing between this and late tech days. wish me luck as artisan in little mermaid fr.

if ANYONE spoils the new part for me or mvybanksss you're done.

hope you enjoyed <3 see you back with chapter 75