❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

Cali had never cared about the whole Kook vs. Pogue thing. To her, it was a stupid, pointless game made up by old, rich people to entertain themselves in their big mansions, a distraction from their otherwise boring lives. But now, she understood why the kooks hated them.

It wasn’t just about money or status—it was jealousy. The Kooks envied the Pogues. Even with their lack of wealth, the Pogues knew how to live. They always seemed to be smiling, always had someone to smile with.

As much as she tried to deny it, Cali was envious too. She envied their bond, the way they looked out for each other. They had someone—a tight-knit family, built on loyalty and trust.

But she hated being called a Kook. It felt like an insult, lumping her in with a group of arrogant, polo-wearing, self-absorbed people who cared more about appearances than anything real. She wasn’t like them, and she never wanted to be.

And aside from almost getting killed, Cali was actually... excited? She couldn’t quite put it into words, but there was something about it—the adrenaline, the thrill—it made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t in a long time. She couldn't even remember the last time she’d felt this way, with her heart racing and her senses heightened.

That’s why she was fuming now, her mind replaying the way Kiara had looked at her earlier—like she was an outsider. An intruder. Someone who didn’t belong.

Not with the kooks nor the pouges.

Cali sighed, still lost in her thoughts, as the breeze playfully tousled her dark brown hair as if to cheer her up, its salty scent filling the air. The rhythmic tug and pull of the waves against the sand mirrored the endless swirl of thoughts in her mind. She absently ran her fingers through the sand, barely noticing her surroundings, too wrapped up in her own world to realize a pair of curious eyes were watching her.

"Dude, dude!" JJ called out, trying to get Pope’s attention. When Pope didn’t respond, too focused on his task, JJ slapped him on the back.

"What, what?!" Pope spun around, irritation flashing in his eyes. If this is about another girl’s ass I swear... he thought, biting back the rest of his complaint.

"Is that Cali?" JJ pointed toward her, sitting by the shore.

Pope followed his gaze, squinting. "Yeah, that’s her. She’s out here every day," he replied casually, going back to work. He didn’t seem interested, but JJ’s curiosity wasn’t so easily satisfied.

"And this the first time I see her here?," JJ muttered, watching her for a moment longer. "Why?"

Pope stopped what he was doing, crossing his arms as he stared at JJ. "Maybe because you never actually come to work," he said, his tone dry.

JJ pressed his lips together, clearly not thrilled with that truth. "What do you mean? I’m always here." But Pope’s knowing look said otherwise. "Okay, maybe not always, but most of the time!" He pointed a finger at Pope, as if daring him to disagree.

Pope rolled his eyes, turning back to his work. "Why do you care, anyway? You planning to mack on a Kook now?"

"Nah, man, that’s forbidden ground." JJ shook his head at the thought. Him and Calista? Yeah, right.

He shoved his hands into his shorts pockets and felt something cold—a reminder. He pulled out the pocket knife. "Got something of hers," he said, holding it up for Pope to see.

Pope’s eyes widened in shock. "JJ, you didn’t!" His expression shifted to one of disbelief, his hand quickly reaching out to lower JJ’s arm. He glanced around to make sure no one else had seen JJ flash a knife. "What are you doing? Collecting weapons now?"

A flicker of hurt flashed in JJ’s eyes, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual mask of indifference. "I didn’t steal it. It was just sitting there after she got out of the truck," he explained, pulling his hand away. "And since I know you're not going to believe me , I’m going to give it back to her." With that, he started walking toward Cali.

JJ walked toward Cali, the weight of the pocket knife in his hand heavier than he expected. She was still sitting by the shore, knees tucked to her chest, completely zoned out. He wasn’t exactly the best at handling emotional moments, but this didn’t feel like one of those times. He just needed to give the knife back. Easy enough, right?

"Hey," he called out as he got closer, his voice casual but loud enough to pull her from her thoughts.

Cali blinked and looked up, a little disoriented, like she’d forgotten where she was for a second. When she saw him, her brow furrowed slightly, confused.

"You dropped this," JJ said, holding out the knife, his tone flat, as if it was no big deal.

Cali stared at the knife for a moment before reaching out to take it. Her fingers brushed against his, but she didn’t say anything right away. Instead, she flipped the knife open, examining it like she hadn’t seen it in years, even though it had only been a few hours since she’d lost it.

"Thanks," she finally muttered, not looking up.

JJ shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets, feeling a little awkward. "Didn’t figure you for the type to carry a knife around," he said, half-joking, trying to lighten the weirdness.

Cali snapped the knife shut and glanced at him, one eyebrow raised. "I don’t figure you for the type to return things."

JJ smirked, appreciating her quick comeback. "Fair enough." He kicked the sand with his shoe, not quite ready to leave yet, even though the conversation was thinning out. "You’re out here a lot, huh?"

Cali shrugged, looking back at the waves. "It’s quiet."

"Yeah." JJ’s eyes followed hers to the horizon. "Could use some of that myself sometimes."

A silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but not exactly easy either. There was something about the way Cali carried herself, like she didn’t quite fit into the Kook mold everyone expected her to. And JJ didn’t really know what to do with that.

"Anyway," he said, breaking the silence, "I’ll see you around, I guess."

Cali nodded but didn’t look back at him. "Yeah, maybe."

In that fleeting moment, Cali’s future flashed before her eyes—a workaholic husband, endless glasses of wine, and a life of quiet misery. She could picture herself as a bitter, alcoholic Kook, stuck with an absent husband on endless "business trips" that were just excuses to cheat.

No. No way.

She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thought, panic bubbling inside her. Without thinking, she called out, "Hey!"

JJ froze mid-step, turning to face her with a look of confusion. His usual grin faded as he raised an eyebrow, clearly waiting for her to say something more.

Cali gulped. She hadn’t meant to call out to him, and now she felt like an idiot. She fidgeted awkwardly, her hands twisting in the hem of her shirt. "Uh... what are you doing right now?" she blurted, her voice sounding far too casual for how chaotic her thoughts were.

JJ’s eyebrow shot up a little higher, trying to figure out why she was asking. Still, he shrugged, his response simple. "Working." He pointed toward the docks where Pope was glancing their way. Pope quickly looked down, pretending to mind his own business, but the curiosity was obvious.

Cali glanced down at her feet, her nerves getting the better of her. "Need an extra hand?" she mumbled, mentally kicking herself. What am I even saying? It felt like her mouth was working independently of her brain.

JJ snorted, his signature grin returning. "What, you know someone looking for a job?"

It took a second for him to process what she was really saying—Cali, in all her Kook glory, offering to work? He blinked, half in disbelief.

She rolled her eyes, finally dropping her shoulders from their tense, stiff position. "No, dumbass, I mean me. I’ve got nothing else going on right now... so, I could help."

JJ stared at her for a beat, his grin widening into something almost mischievous. "You wanna work with us? Out here? With us?pouges?" His tone was a mix of amusement and genuine curiosity.

Cali crossed her arms, her awkwardness giving way to a more defensive posture. "Yeah, why not? It’s not like I have anything better to do."
Cali followed JJ back to the seafood market, her stomach fluttering slightly as the smell of brine and fish grew stronger. She tried to mask her grimace, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her uncomfortable.

"So, you sure you're up for this?" JJ teased, walking backward as he watched her approach the loading dock. "Because this is real work, not the kind of thing a Kook usually signs up for."

Cali crossed her arms, feigning confidence. "I told you, I can handle it. Besides, I’ve done more than sit around in a country club."

JJ smirked, impressed by her attitude but not ready to admit it. "Alright, your funeral."

Pope was already in the middle of unloading crates, glancing over his shoulder when he saw them approaching. "Wait, you're actually helping?" he asked Cali, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," she replied, shrugging like it was no big deal. "Figured I'd show you Pogues how it's done."

Pope snorted, glancing at JJ. "This should be good."

They handed Cali a pair of gloves and pointed her to the stack of crates that needed unloading. The first box she grabbed was heavier than she expected, and she nearly lost her grip.

JJ raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Need a hand, princess?"

Cali scowled at him, her pride kicking in. "I’ve got it," she muttered, adjusting her grip and hefting the box onto the dock. The effort left her slightly breathless, but she refused to let it show.

JJ picked up his own crate with ease, barely straining under the weight. "Impressive," he said, the sarcasm dripping from his tone. "Maybe by the end of the day, you'll have muscles like Pope here."

Pope rolled his eyes but couldn’t help a smile. "I’m not part of this. You two can keep the competition going without me."

As they continued unloading the truck, the banter didn’t let up. Every time Cali struggled with a box, JJ would toss in a sarcastic comment. But instead of getting annoyed, she shot right back at him.

After dropping off another crate, Cali wiped the sweat from her forehead. "So, this is what you guys do all day? I thought being a Pogue meant hanging out on the beach and drinking beer."

JJ laughed, glancing at her sideways. "Nah, that’s just the part we let you Kooks see. The rest of the time, we're working hard so we can afford that beer."

Pope chuckled, wiping his hands on a towel. "Yeah, and no trust funds to fall back on, either."

Cali rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "Alright, alright, I get it. Kook privilege and all that."

After a couple of hours of hard work, they finally finished unloading the crates. Cali’s arms ached, but she felt surprisingly good—like she’d actually earned something for a change.

She leaned against one of the crates, catching her breath. "Okay, I’ll admit it," she said between breaths. "You guys work harder than I thought."

JJ leaned next to her, smirking. "What was that? I didn’t quite catch it."

"I said you guys work hard," Cali repeated, rolling her eyes but unable to hide the grin tugging at her lips. "Don’t make me regret saying it."

Pope shook his head, grabbing a water bottle and tossing one to Cali. "Yeah, don’t let it go to your head, JJ."

JJ raised the bottle in a mock toast. "Too late."

Cali unscrewed the cap and took a long drink, letting the cool water wash away the heat of the day. As they stood there in the salty air, the three of them sharing an unspoken moment of camaraderie, she felt something shift inside her. It was small, almost imperceptible, but for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like an outsider.

Maybe—just maybe—she was starting to belong.

❛ ━━･❪ ❁ ❫ ･━━ ❜

The van rattled as it sped down the dirt road, the engine’s hum filling the silence. JJ was sprawled out in the back, leaning against the side with his legs stretched out, looking completely at ease despite everything that had happened. He flicked his lighter, sparking up a blunt and taking a slow drag before letting out a sigh.

"You mind if I just relax on this one?" he asked no one in particular, his voice lazy. "It’s been a long day, and a lot of weird stuff’s gone down."

He took another drag and then casually held the blunt out toward Pope, offering it with a smirk. "Oh, did you want a hit of this?"

Pope looked at the blunt like it was toxic, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "I keep the signal clear," he muttered, his voice dripping with disapproval.

Cali, seated nearby, couldn’t help but smile at the familiar bickering. JJ and Pope never seemed to stop going at it, but that was part of what made hanging out with them interesting. she was kinda getting used to it.

JJ grinned, unbothered by Pope’s refusal. "Dude, okay. Do you understand your problem is that you don’t get creative? If you got creative, then—" JJ was Interrupted by Kie’s failed attempt at whispering.

"I still don’t know why she’s with us," Kie muttered to John B, failing miserably to keep her voice down. Cali heard every word. The sting of it was immediate, sharp like a paper cut that lingered.

JJ, sitting on the floor of the van, caught Kie’s words and shot her a look. His face showed a mix of annoyance and silent warning, but it did little to diffuse the tension. Cali gave JJ the stink eye, frustration bubbling under the surface. She didn’t want to be here, not in a place where she clearly wasn’t welcomed the earlier warm feeling gone. But JJ had insisted—practically dragged her along—and now, here they were.

John B was the first to move, stepping out of the van with a determined look on his face. "Look, I know I was wrong about the lighthouse," he admitted, voice tight with the weight of his recent mistakes. "And probably wrong about everything else going on." He glanced at the group, waiting for someone to challenge him, but no one did. "But I was right about one thing. My dad is trying to tell me something."

He stepped forward, leading them deeper into the cemetery. Tall, weathered gravestones surrounded them like silent sentinels, casting long, eerie shadows in the moonlight. Cali could feel the unease creeping up her spine with every step.

Kie shuffled behind him, nervously eyeing the graves. "This place is scary, John B. What are we doing here?"

John B turned, fixing her with a serious look. "Shut up, You know when you’re trying to remember a song but can’t quite place who sings it?"

Kie furrowed her brow. "Yeah... so?"

"Redfield," John B said, his voice low but sure. "I thought it was a place. But it’s not. It’s a person." He led them further until they reached a large, looming mausoleum. The cement structure stood weathered and cracked, vines crawling up its sides like nature’s attempt to reclaim it.

JJ stepped up next to John B, eyes scanning the gravestone. "Voi-effing-là," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcastic flair. He glanced at the name etched into the stone, just barely legible under the moss and grime.

"See," John B continued, running his fingers over the rough stone surface. "My great-great-grandmother, Olivia Redfield. That was her maiden name."

Pope squinted at the engraving. "So... this is it? What now?"

John B handed the flashlight to Kie and moved to the heavy cement door of the mausoleum. "Help me with the door. We need to get inside."

The boys lined up, placing their hands on the massive door. It groaned under the pressure as they strained against it. "One, two, three..." John B counted, his voice tight with exertion.

They pushed with all their might, their muscles straining as they grunted against the weight. Pope, panting heavily, shot a glance at JJ. "Are you even pushing?"

JJ smirked, though he was clearly sweating. "Yeah, I’m pushing."

But the door didn’t budge. Pope groaned. "This thing’s gotta weigh 700 pounds. It’s not going anywhere."

JJ wiped his brow with the back of his hand, his stubbornness kicking in. "We didn’t come all this way to quit now. We’ve got this!"

Just as they prepared to push again, a loud hiss echoed from behind the cracked cement wall. The sound sliced through the night, sending everyone into a panic.

"Whoa!" Pope shouted, leaping back.

JJ’s eyes widened as a large snake slithered out from the shadows of the crack, its scales glistening in the beam of Kie’s flashlight. "Snake!"

JJ cursed under his breath. "That’s a moccasin, for sure. Ye olde Dr. Cottonmouth. Death in tall grass." Barking at the snake

Kie’s voice shook as she stared at the snake. "JJ, shut up! You’re gonna wake the dead, man."

But JJ wasn’t listening, still fixated on the creature. He barked mockingly, his grin widening. "Everyone knows snakes are afraid of dogs. Come on, I’m just scaring it off."

John B rolled his eyes, trying to refocus the group. "Stop barking at the damn snake."

JJ took a step back, still eyeing the snake as it disappeared into the grass. "Just making sure it’s clear."

The tension in the air thickened as the group stood frozen, the looming presence of the mausoleum and the snake adding an eerie weight to the situation. The door wouldn’t budge, and they were quickly running out of options.

"We should probably just go." Said pope In deafet after the unsuccessful attempt at pushing the door open

Cali, who had been standing back this whole time, finally spoke up, her voice soft but steady. "I can get through"

Everyone turned to look at her, but before they could say anything, she added, "what? I can"

JJ’s eyes flicked to the narrow crack in the wall. "What? You think you’re gonna fit through there?"

Cali nodded, her heart racing in her chest. "Look, I don’t know everything that’s going on here, but this is about your dad, right? If I can help, I’ll do it." She looked at John b with understanding in her eyes

John B glanced at her, his eyes softening slightly. He could see the sincerity in her offer. "Are you sure?"

She nodded again. "Yeah. Just give me a boost."

JJ gave a half-smirk, stepping forward. "Alright then. Let’s get you in there."

John B positioned himself, ready to give her a lift, and together, they boosted her up toward the crack in the wall. The stone was cold against her palms, and the smell of damp earth and decay filled her senses. She hesitated for a moment, nerves prickling at the back of her neck.

"You’ll know what we’re looking for when you see it," John B said, his voice slightly muffled from below.

Cali squeezed through the narrow opening, the stone scraping against her skin. "Flashlight?" she asked, holding out her hand.

John B passed it up to her, and she flicked it on, the beam cutting through the darkness inside the mausoleum. The air inside was stale, thick with dust and the scent of something old and forgotten.

"You good?" JJ called up, his voice a little less cocky now that she was on the other side.

Cali took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "So far, so good. But I could use a bit more light."

JJ moved closer, shining another flashlight into the crack to help guide her. "Gotcha. Just be careful in there."

For a few moments, the group stood in silence, waiting as Cali made her way deeper into the tomb. The only sound was the faint scrape of her shoes against the stone floor, echoing in the eerie quiet.

Suddenly, her voice broke the stillness. "Oh my God..."

John B’s heart skipped a beat. "Did you find something?"

JJ’s voice, though casual, was tinged with excitement. "Is it gold?"

Cali’s breath caught in her throat as the beam of the flashlight revealed a glint of something in the shadows. "No... but it’s something."

♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ : Nadia speaking: :;
So finally episode 2 is over *phew*
And I love that finally Cali is making friends and starting to feel a sense of belonging...MY BABY IS MAKING FRIENDS!!!