❪ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗘 & 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗘 ❫

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗇𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗇 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
american teen. ╱ season one, episode six.
❛ we don't always say what we mean, when we're high off our american teen, ❜

KENNEDY WAS CONSTANTLY finding herself in situations that she never thought she would be in. She could barely keep up with the constant changes in her life. While a part of her was overwhelmed by them, she felt an odd sense of belonging. It felt like she was meant to be right here, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes in the overgrown yard of a suspected murderer. The emotion itself felt strange, foreign. It's odd to think that a week ago, she was just a kook to them, a person they actively avoided interacting with. But now, that's all changed.

She wasn't that person anymore. There was a change in how the Pogues saw her, which made her feel happier than she had in ages. Even with the dread of the reminder of what was to come tonight, to finally take the last step away from her kook life forever. There was a small part of her, a voice lingering in the back of her mind, telling Kennedy that she wasn't ready, that this might be a huge mistake. But the moment she makes eye contact with JJ, his blue eyes meeting hers, the looming voice fades into silence.

The two teens walked through the overgrown brush, the tall grass scratching against Kennedy's bare legs as her eyes glanced around, looking for any signs of a water source. There was a comfortable silence that fell between the two, their minds too focused on the task at hand. Kennedy could hear the other Pogues milling around; she could hear Kie and Riley's voices in the distance as they chatted while searching, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

No one was calling out, telling the others that they had found something. They had been at this for about thirty minutes so far, and nothing had been said. The thought of this being another bust made Kennedy's stomach churn. She felt bad for the Pogues. She knew how hard they had been trying to locate this gold; she didn't want this to be another dead end. They had gone through quite a bit to find this gold, and the thought of not finding it was more disappointing than she'd like to admit.

She wasn't bummed that no gold meant no money for her, because she had no clue if she was getting any of it. She came in late to the "G game," as JJ would say, so she didn't expect to get anything from this. Kennedy just wanted to help for the sake of helping them, to help JJ. The fact that she willingly wanted to help the Pogues made her want to laugh at the absurdity, knowing how much she had changed in the span of a few weeks. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Hey! Come on, it's the only place we haven't looked."

John B's hushed voice broke through the quietness that milled in the air. Kennedy sent JJ a small glance of hopefulness and curiosity as they both paused at the sound of his voice. JJ reciprocated her look with a small shrug before they moved towards the sound of John B's and branches snapping softly as the others began to flock to John B as well.

Kennedy saw John B kneeling near a small door that was the outdoor entrance to the basement. Just as she was about to round a bush to move toward the other Pogues, JJ was right behind her, but suddenly lost his balance when the sound of a bird's wings fluttering near him surprised him.

Kennedy stifled a small laugh with her hand as she watched him as he tripped slightly and almost fell on his face. He tried to look for the bird that he heard as he caught himself, scared that it was gonna fly near him. But his attention was immediately brought to Kennedy the moment he heard the soft noise of her stifled laugh at his clumsiness. His eyes found her's instantly, and a glare that held no real malice was sent to her.

Kennedy just sent him a small shrug and slightly apologetic smile as she moved past him and towards the other Pogues that surrounded the basement entrance. She was a little hesitant to actually enter the house, even if it was just the basement. When she was a child, she could barely make it to the steps before immediately whirling around and running away as fast as she could back to her friends. So the fact that she now had to face a childhood fear and enter a place that had been a local scary story for her entire life.

The girl wavered for a second before she followed behind Riley, her phone being used as a flashlight, making sure she didn't step on anything gross or trip. She was hunched over slightly while walking into the crawlspace-like entrance. Her nose wrinkled slightly as the smell of mildew and mothballs hit her nostrils. Kennedy's eyes trailed over all the cobwebs with a slightly repulsed look on her face, praying she would never have to go near them.

"Down came Mrs. Crain and cut off all our heads, up came the sun and dried up all the blood,"

As she was walking more into the small crawlspace that led into the basement, JJ's mock singing, like he was trying to break through the nervous tension. But his words only made it worse. Soft groans of annoyance erupted from Riley and Pope in front of her. Kennedy was also annoyed by the sudden intrusion of JJ's words, and she hated how he was most definitely not helping, making the situation feel very real. She whirled around, her flashlight shining right in his face, her face was a warning as she stared him down, "Can you shut up?"

JJ immediately froze at her words, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise at her small snap. "The saying doesn't even rhyme," Riley remarked with a sardonic tone, chiming in from behind Kennedy, his eyes on the Maybank boy.

Kennedy rolled her eyes playfully at JJ's reaction to her snarky question, but she didn't hold back from snorting in amusement at Riley's comment. She turned away from JJ once again, beginning to walk towards the small drop-off that led to the basement floor. Kennedy jumped down with ease, her feet meeting the dirt floor of the basement with a thump. Her eyes immediately moved over the decrepit items that littered the floor, the eeriness of the clear antiques made her skin crawl.

She let out a soft noise of annoyance as she smacked her forearm, successfully killing a mosquito that tried to bite her. The bugs buzzed around in the air, making her more annoyed than anything as she searched around the basement, looking for any sign of water.

"See any water?" Kie questioned the group, her eyes searching the old and dingy room. They all were quiet for a moment as they looked around, eyes desperately looking for any sign, a clue that could lead them in any direction. But there was nothing. Kie let out a soft sigh at the silence, her words sharper than usual, annoyed that yet another lead was a bust. "another dead end?"

JJ's hands dusted across the pipes that were attached to the walls, noticing how the rusted metal was completely dry. "There's not even water on the pipes."

Kennedy let out a disappointed huff as she glanced at the pipe JJ was talking about with a frown. Dismay bloomed in her chest like a fungus as she noticed the same look on the other teens' faces as well. Pope let out an audible sigh, "There's no water here."

"Not a dropamino," JJ murmured as his eyes were glued to the cobwebbed pipes and old furniture around them.

"Know why we didn't find it?" Kie remarked, her eyes filled with animosity and annoyance. Her demeanor was more arrogant and knowing as she looked around at the group around her, but mainly focused on John B. "Bad karma."

Kennedy stood awkwardly next to JJ and Riley, her stomach swirling in a slight dread, already waiting for the impending argument the moment she heard John B's annoyed scoff as he dropped his flashlight to his side. "Oh god, here we go,"

"You know we had a good thing going," Kie snapped lightly, her eyes narrowing as she stared down John B with anger, clearly letting her emotions get the best of her. "And then you decided the rope in Barbie, and now the trail's gone dry. Coincidence? Probably not."

"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you about Sarah."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." John B concluded, his face twisting in frustration as he stared down at Kie. "What the hell's the deal? What's going on with you two? huh?"

"Nothing," Kie snapped, her face scrunching in anger as she crossed her arms in defense.

"Nothing? Is it because I kissed you? Is that the problem?" John B remarked, eyes too cocky for his own good. He looked down at Kie like he had proven something. But all he had proved was that Kie knew how to slap.

The sound of her hand meeting his cheek echoed through the basement, the noise causing noises of surprise and shock to leave the teens behind them as they watched the scene unfold. Kennedy's hand went to cover her mouth in surprise, genuinely not thinking that Kie would ever do that. But then her mind sobered up and remembered the words John B had uttered before the slap. She quickly glanced at the boys around her, sending them a look of curiosity.

"They kissed? Since when?" Kennedy questioned softly, her eyes quickly darting back to the fight that was erupting between Kie and John B. The two were so clearly in each other's faces, showing that they most definitely were far from finished with this fight.

"It happened a few days ago, didn't end well," Riley murmured, sending her a weary glance.

"JJ convinced John B that Kie liked him, so he kissed her," Pope explained, his eyes shifting to the pogue in question standing next to Kennedy.

The small blonde immediately gave JJ a reprimanding glare. The pogue's lips parted at the look from Kennedy and how quickly Pope threw him under the bus. JJ glanced between the three people around him, a look of defense on his features. His voice was hushed, but riddled with justification. "I was reading the room, okay?"

"Clearly," Riley breathed sarcastically, staring at the two teens who were in each other's faces, anger very apparent on their features.

The teens were once again sucked back into the fight when Kie snarkily showed the hand that slapped him, a mosquito right in the middle of her palm. Kennedy quickly connected the dots once she was focused back on their fight. She didn't hesitate to let out a soft gasp when John B's hand sent a swift smack to Kie's face as well. The boys next to Kennedy immediately jumped in, their voices softly echoing around as they tried to dissolve this fight, but the two in front of them weren't paying attention.

"Where's your proof?" Kie snapped, her eyes watching him with a scrutinizing glare.

John B raised his hand, shining the flashlight on his palm. His eyes were challenging as his voice came out assured and cocky. "Skeeter."

Kie proceeded to slap John B's chest roughly, words snarky and annoyed, "Yeah? There was probably one right there."

In retaliation, John B slapped her arm, his tone matching hers. "How about there's one right there."

The teen behind them kept softly calling their names, to deescalate the situation, but John B and Kie continued to fight, but the energy shifted the moment John B softly smacked his palm against her forehead. The action caused Kie to smile softly as she let out a laugh and persisted with hitting John B, but her smacks were more playful than anything.

Kennedy began to use her flashlight to look around, scanning over the almost abandoned items that lay in this basement, trying to keep her mind off the constant mosquitoes that flew around her. The boys next to her do the same thing, all trying to swat and deter the mosquitoes that swirled around them. Kennedy was confused about the number of bugs, because there was no reason why so many of them were collecting in an old, dusty basement.

Pope was thinking the same thing as he looked around with furrowed eyebrows, "Why are there so many mosquitoes in a basement?"

Kennedy nodded along with Pope's words in agreement. She went to speak, but she let out a small squeak instead, swatting at one of the dreaded bugs the moment it flew way too close to her face.

JJ sent her glance at the small noise she made, but quickly turned his attention to Pope and his words as he slapped his bicep, successfully killing another mosquito that tried to bite him. "Dude, I know, seriously. Tiny vampire bats, just leave me alone."

Yet another bug flew by her head as she was trying to listen to the others around her, and her hand immediately went down on the skin of her neck the moment she felt a mosquito land there. She was getting really sick of this; there was no source of water that she was able to see, and this place just seemed like a dead end with too many mosquitoes. She was about to voice her opinion to the group before JJ complained first, his voice exasperated and annoyed when yet another bug tried to bite him. "Oh my gosh, okay, can we leave? 'Cause I'm itchin' to leave. Haha? Punny."

Kennedy snorted at JJ's words, rolling her eyes at them, looking around at the others' reactions to what he said, hoping they would want to head out as well. But before she could get answers, her attention wandered to Pope. The boy was standing on and slightly hunched over a wooden platform that was littered with discarded pieces of wood and an air conditioner filter. His eyes were swirled with curiosity as he glanced down at the platform below him. The other Pogues' words faded to the background as Kennedy made her way over to him.

"What is it?" Her voice was hushed, interested in what Pope had found. The possibility of him actually finding something that could lead them to the gold made her heart race. She didn't want to get her hopes up, but the Pogues deserved a win.

Pope glanced up at her the moment he heard her words and registered that they were directed towards him. "I don't know, yet." He shrugged lightly, eyes scanning the ground looking for something. "Can you hand me that pebble?"

Kennedy noticed where he was pointing, she was curious about what he needed the small rock for, but she didn't question it. She slightly bent down to snag the pebble with her fingers and went to hand it to him. "Uh, sure."

"Thanks," Pope murmured, taking the pebble and lining it up between the slits of the wood platform.

Kennedy went to question his action, but before she could, he let go of the pebble and they both watched as it plummeted through the crevice and into the darkness under the platform. The blonde girl expected to hear nothing from the small pebble, assuming it would just hit the dirt below. But instead, she heard a small splash as the pebble hit some kind of water below.

Holy shit. It can't be...

Her eyes widened as her heart began to race in her chest. Her gaze instantly shot up to look at Pope, hoping he was feeling the same way. "Was that..."

Pope immediately nodded in response, knowing what she was asking. "Water."

He straightened up a bit and began to drag the pieces of wood that sat on the platform off of it. Kennedy quickly followed suit, picking up and clearing the platform. The scrape of the wood got the attention of the Pogues around them, and they immediately tried to get the two teens frantically clearing the space to stop.

"Help us move this," Pope demanded John B without hesitation, the moment he tried to get him to stop.

John B looked at him for a moment, seeing the incessant and serious look on his face, "Okay, just...quiet."

The teens all began moving the debris and useless items from the platform, movements quick and as quiet as they possibly could. They began to slowly move the large wooden planks of the scaffold away, revealing a well instead of the platform Kennedy thought it was.

Kennedy leaned forward slightly, eyes casting into the darkness below, when they got enough space to look down into the well. There was a soft smile on her lips as hope began to think that this might be a lead, that they might not be far off from what they were searching for.

"Well, well, well," Pope murmured as he pointed his flashlight to the well below them, barely able to see the bottom of it.

"That was a good dad joke," John remarked softly, his voice slightly distracted as he crouched down to get a better look, a soft smile on his features.

"They built this part of the house right over it." Kie chimed in, her hands tracing the edge of the stone wall of the well.

"This is where she hid the bodies."

Kennedy immediately glanced at JJ with annoyance, his words breaking them out of the possibility of finding the gold. The group around him let out quiet calls of annoyance, and Kennedy was a part of that. She sent him a tired glance, her voice exasperated, very much done with the Mrs. Crain bullshit. "JJ..."

"Dude, come on," Riley uttered after Kennedy spoke, staring at the blond pogue wearily.

"What? I'm dead serious." JJ muttered, slight resignation in his tone as he watched the blonde girl send him a soft glare. "It was never even an outhouse."

"Stop it." Kennedy exasperated, rolling her eyes, hating how JJ's words were making her feel unsettled from the fact that the infamous elderly woman who lived in their ghost stories as children was just upstairs. "She probably doesn't even know that it's here."

JJ went to open his mouth to remark on Kennedy's words, the annoyance on her face only egged him on, but Pope spoke up before he could. "So...we found water."

The boy's words are directed toward John B. The unnerving vibe that used to swirl around the small group of teens no longer existed; instead, the prospect of this potentially leading them to the gold became all they could think about.

"We're gonna need a really big rope."

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𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥'𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘:

Hey party people!!! Long time no see!

I know it's been forever, but since it's summer, I'm hoping to jump back into OBX. It's just been kinda hard to get back into because of JJ dying, but I digress. Here's a quick chapter, a little new group dynamic with Kennedy involved. I'm genuinely so excited to make her more of an addition to the group, just need to get her away from her mother first.

Also PLZ check out my TIKTOK: gardensongss and gardensongsswp
I have some slay kennedy and JJ edits on there!

Hope you enjoyed!

BUT IMPORTANT THING.

What did you all think?

I really would like your feedback on this, so please leave a comment.