❪ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗘 & 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗘 ❫

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖾𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝖾𝖾𝗇 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
only the young. ╱ season one, episode six.
❛ 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗌𝖺𝗒 𝗒𝗈𝗎'𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗈 𝗍𝗂𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖿𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍, 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖺 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾, ❜

DRIVING THROUGH The Outer Banks always made Kennedy fall into her thoughts, watching the trees fly by made her mind race. Especially when she wasn't the one driving. Being the driver always made the constant thoughts and worries cease, and now as she sat in the back of John B's van, others around her chatted away. Some of her knew she should've been active in the conversations surrounding her, but the bigger part just couldn't.

This day had already been nothing but a mess and acting like everything was okay was something Kennedy couldn't comprehend. Not when there was a text on her phone that made her poor mood even more sour. Kennedy's phone was tightly gripped in her hand as she occasionally stared down at the opened screen, reading her mother's words over and over. Figuring out how it was a good time to bring up her issues when the others around her were so hellbent on finding this gold. She thought her problems were not significant enough to the pogues, so she assumed the minute she brought it up, JJ and Riley were the only ones who would actually volunteer to help.

The text her mother sent was simple, telling the blonde that she had until midnight tonight or else everything she owned was getting thrown out on the curb. The information made the girl sick to her stomach knowing her mother was a woman of her word. Everything, all the memories, anything that had a hint of remembrance of Kennedy was going to get thrown out. Kennedy knew she was getting the treatment that Maggie went through. Pictures of the eldest Thornton sibling used to line the walls of their mansion, but they got taken down, report cards, graduation photos, everything was eventually stripped from the walls, leaving it seem like she never existed in the first place.

Kennedy knew that tomorrow would be the day that her mother forever erased her from her home and her thoughts. It hurt Kennedy that the woman would do that without any remorse like the girl had meant nothing to her, just simply a pawn in her big game. There was always a part of Kennedy that hoped that her mother would just finally see through everything and see how happy JJ made her, how much he made her light up. She hoped her mother would just let her be, realize her wrongs, and try to make an effort. But that was just a pipe dream. The bruise on her cheek could attest to that.

She hated that her mother was all she could think about, she wanted to think about how she was finally free and had people that cared about her well-being. But as she sat in this car, all she could think about was how she wished things would've gone differently.

The other three that remained in the back with her had been conversing since they left Battery Jasper, and they hadn't paid much attention to the quietness of Kennedy. But she should've known that the blond boy next to her would've eventually found it odd. The thing she didn't know was that he had been watching her since they got into the van. There previously was a lightness to her walk, to how she carried herself. But about five minutes into the drive, JJ couldn't help but notice her shoulders carrying a weight he hadn't noticed before.

Kennedy casually added to the conversation occasionally, but after the text message, her additions to their conversation began to dwindle and then stopped completely. JJ wanted to say something, but he knew it was something that had to do with her mother, and there was a fear of asking what happened. Guilt still lay heavy in JJ's chest, knowing how he caused this, and even no matter what Kennedy told him, he blamed himself. So he was hesitant to ask her because he didn't know if he could take any more guilt. The short blonde girl next to him had her eyes glued to the passing trees out the window, her phone gripped tightly in her hands to the point where her skin was white from how hard she was holding it.

"Sunshine," Kennedy tensed at the hushed tone of the blond next to her. Turning, she met his gaze, his blue eyes swirling with a slight concern. "You alright?"

Kennedy instantly nodded, not wanting him to worry about her. The lie fell fluently from her lips as she sent him a forced smile. "Yeah, just feeling a little carsick is all."

The boy stared at her for a moment, knowing that the girl had never struggled with carsickness in all the instances that they'd been in the car together. But he noticed a desperation in the girl's eyes. A desperation that told him to not pry, that she didn't want to talk about why she was really quiet.

"Just let me know if you gotta...you know, I'll have John B pull over," JJ murmured quietly, his hand resting on her knee comfortingly.

Kennedy smiled lightly, her snort catching his attention and making a real grin bloom on his lips. "So chivalrous."

The boy sent her a shrug, propping his arm across the back of the couch so he could be closer to the girl, "Only for you Sunshine,"

"Gross, is this what we're gonna have to get used to?" Kie blurted, her eyes glued to the two and their little back and forth. "Cause if I hear JJ say something like that again I'm gonna puke."

"Dude at least you didn't have to be in the car that they had sex in an hour prior." Riley chimed in, making Kie's nose curl up in disgust. The new info triggered everyone around them to the extent that all eyes were on them. "It still smelled when I got in."

"Riley," Kennedy exclaimed, surprise written on her features. "I told you to keep your mouth shut."

The boy in question just shrugged lightly, sending her a knowing look, "And I never said I wouldn't say anything."

Kennedy sent him a rough glare as she sunk further into her seat, finding the topic very embarrassing. Kie's face still seemed confused as she looked at both of them, "How did you even have the time?"

The blonde opened her mouth to answer, eyes glancing over to the blond boy next to her and all he had was amusement washing over his features. Kie quickly cut her off, holding up a hand, "It's JJ so never mind."

"Okay, so the road should split up here." Pope interrupted, his eyes glued to the map in his lap as he directed John B around.

"Okay."

"All right, you're gonna take a left,"

The van immediately peeled into the road after taking the left, Kennedy gripped her seat tightly as her body jerked at the rough motion. The ex-kook almost fell out of her seat, but she was quickly snapped back in her seat as JJ caught her shoulder. The van came to a stop as a stonewall was perched on the other side of the dirt road.

"That looks like a stone wall to me," JJ observed as he stared at the wall just outside the window.

Kennedy sent him a teasing glance, her eyes darting from the stone wall to him, "I'd hope so, or else I'd be worried."

The boy rolled his eyes at her words, he opened his mouth, but Pope spoke up before JJ got the chance to speak. "This is it."

While they were excited to have found the wall, the large home with a dark past sat looming behind it. They all had nervousness sitting in the form of a pit in their stomach when they noticed the building, dreading that this was the place that they were led to.

"Not the Crain house." John B uttered as they all began making their way out of the car.

The heat of the summer sun smacked Kennedy right in the face as she stepped out of John B's van with Riley quickly following behind her. The pogues had exited before the two kooks, their eyes immediately locked on the view of the stonewall in front of them. Kennedy couldn't help but watch the looming house in the background, fear bleeding through her tough demeanor, knowing whose house it was.

Kie stared at the house with annoyance swirling in her eyes, "Are you kidding me?"

"Worst-case scenario," JJ mumbled as his fingers ran against the aging stone wall in front of them.

"Why'd it have to be here...of all places?"

Kennedy sent Pope a glance as he spoke, anxiety trickled through her bones as she stared at the house, trying to register that they were going to have to go onto the property that had terrorized her since she was a child.

"I heard that Mrs. Crain buried her husband's head on the property," JJ noted, his eyes flashing to Pope as he spoke.

"Well, we gotta go look, so better avoid those types of thoughts as we go onto her property," Riley stated as he made his way to the wall, hiking himself over in seconds.

Eventually, most of the pogues began making their way to the wall, Kennedy remained back, thinking about how she was gonna climb over this wall. Not only the fact that she might flash everyone due to the sundress that is adorning her body but also the fact that she is easily only five feet tall and would need a boost.

"Kennedy, I don't see you hurry up." She heard Riley call from over the wall.

"Yeah, I just need a minute," The girl called back, her nervous eyes darting between the wall and her dress, too lost in her thoughts to realize that she wasn't alone.

"Come on, Kenn, I'll give you a boost." JJ's voice broke through her thoughts as he stood by the wall waiting for her to place her foot in his interlinked hands.

The girl stared at him for a second, her eyes flashing between him and the wall. Her words were quiet and frantic, "I don't wanna flash anyone,"

JJ smiled at her hushed tone, finding it sweet that she looked almost embarrassed at the thought. "Just tell them to look away when you first get over the wall,"

While the girl wanted to stay rooted where she was standing, she decided to push forward and make her way to the boy. The girl placed her hands delicately on his shoulder, about to give him the go-ahead. But she stopped, her eyes swirling with a serious tone as she looked down at him. "If you even think about looking up my dress, I will make your life a living hell."

The boy instantly laughed at her words, throwing his head back in amusement. "What? If anything, I should be the one you're okay with flashing."

"JJ," Kennedy warned, her stern and severe tone making the boy quickly give in as he nodded begrudgingly.

"Okay fine, I'll turn my head." The blond immediately turned his head to the side, staring intently at the side of the van as he began lifting her up. 

The girl quickly hooked her leg over the side of the wall, finding the other four teens staring at her in amusement. "Advert your eyes, I don't wanna flash you."

They all immediately complied, their stares ranging from the bushes and trees around them or the Crain house. As her feet hit the ground, Kennedy instantly ran her hands down her dress, tugging it back into the position it was in before she started climbing the wall.

"Who even wears a dress to something like this?" Kie questioned curiously as she turned to meet Kennedy's gaze.

The ex-kook shrugged, her eyes wavering from Kie to JJ as she heard his feet hit the ground beside her. "It was all I had in my closet at my sister's. It was this or the ballgown I wore last night. Personally, I enjoy breathing, so I decided on his dress."

"Now that we're all here, let's have a look around," John B interrupted the conversation, his eyes impatient as he glanced from the group of teens to what surrounded them.

As they all began to walk through the thick brush, the summer sun was hidden behind the trees that lined the property. Kennedy felt her heart thumping in her chest as she stayed in pace and she followed closely behind Riley. There was a bit of childlike terror that filled her veins at the thought of being on the property that used to terrify her so much as a kid. It was clear that most of the other teens were feeling the same way that she was as their eyes were constantly flashing around as if they were on high alert.

"Look, you guys know whose house this is, right?" Kie asked with an uncomfortable grimace as she passed a decrepit angel statue that stood with tall grass and ivy growing around it.

JJ immediately nodded, eyes glued to the statue as he passed, his body subconsciously moving closer to Kennedy. "Oh, yeah. No, I do."

There was of course one skeptic that remained in the back, John B scoffed at JJ's serious tone. "Honestly, I don't really believe the stories of this place."

John B's skepticism was quickly met with annoyed glances from the others in front of him, as Pope shushed him, he shrugged. "What?"

JJ weaved past Kennedy and Riley, falling in tow with Kie, "Which stories did you hear?"

"The one where she killed her husband with an axe and that she's been holed up ever since," Kie explained, eyes occasionally flashing from the teens around her to the ground below so she could see where she was going. But then she stopped before she entered another path, her eyes glinting with humor. "On certain nights, when the moon is full...you can see her in the window."

Kennedy snorted at her words, watching her as she wiggled her fingers in JJ's face to mimic a spooky ambiance. The boy's face remained stoic as he stared at her with annoyance, not finding her behavior amusing. "No Kie, it's not funny. 'cause it's true."

As Kie began walking again, Kennedy followed quickly behind her, glancing back to watch the blond pogue that was trudging behind her. "I swear to god, guys, this is all real. I knew Hollis. Jeez."

Kennedy sent him a confused gaze at not only his words but also the fact that she felt him jump so far that he bumped right into her. JJ had never told her about him knowing Hollis Crain.

"Wait, you knew Hollis Crain?" Riley questioned, his face skeptical at the thought of the boy knowing anyone from the Crain family.

"Yeah Dude," JJ immediately nodded, glancing around at all the teens that surrounded him. "She was my babysitter, man. She told me all about it."

"She told the child she was babysitting about her mother murdering her father?" Kennedy asked, suspicion flooding her face and she furrowed her eyebrows. She could feel a few others sending him skeptical gazes after her words. 

"She told me the truth about her mother and what happened in this house," JJ answered, his eyes watching the house in front of them intently. "So as a kid, she heard all the stories that her mother had killed her father and she was a murderer and all. Hollis didn't believe it. Until that night."

JJ's words caused an uncomfortable emotion to seep into the air as the teens were focused on his story. John B's eyes were glued to him. "What night?"

"It all came back to her." The blond's eyes jumped from the house to meet John B's stare, his words more ominous than before. "When Hollis was six years old, she heard her parents arguing downstairs. So she goes downstairs to see her mom washing her hands in a sink...full of blood."

John B's eyes immediately snapped to the others around him, finding JJ's pacing more to scare them than anything. He could tell that most of the others were thinking the same thing. Even Kennedy as he watched her roll her eyes lightly at how JJ was telling the story.

"Her mother just says that she cut her finger. The next morning, she says her father and her split up. But then Hollis noticed something...her mother going into the parlor constantly. In and out and in and out with plastic bags. Weeks pass, and Hollis decides to use the outhouse. And as she's using it, she looks down, and there, in the outhouse, is her father's head looking straight back at her."

John B shot his head up in annoyance, "God, you are so full of shit."

"Dude, I swear to god man,"

Pope seemed too enthralled in JJ's story as he stared at the blond with concern, "Did she call the police?"

JJ shook his head, eyes glued to Pope. "She didn't have time."

John B visibly had enough of the story, pushing past the two in front of him, finding this conversation cutting into the time that they needed to search for the gold. JJ immediately broke out, voicing his concern as he reached for John B's arm to stop him.

"You sure you wanna do this?" JJ questioned, his eyes glancing up and down the boy in front of him "She's an axe murderer, Man. You have a cast on."

"I don't give a shit if she's an axe murderer, okay?" The boy exclaimed, his annoyance towards JJ very clear from his tone. "I got nothing to lose, right? You comin' or what?"

People began to file further toward the house like John B, But JJ stood planted in his spot, his face flushed with nervousness and concern as he watched his friends walk past him one by one. Kennedy began to walk past him, but instead of just walking by, she instantly reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him with her. "Kennedy, I don't know."

The girl snorted, sending him a look, linking her arm with his. Mostly so he couldn't get away, but also because she subconsciously wanted him close. "Come on you big baby, I'll protect you from the ancient axe murderer that can barely move."

"I should be protecting you." The boy mumbled in defeat as he followed along with her.

"I'm not exactly the scared one am I?" Kennedy quipped as she glanced at him teasingly.

The boy didn't fight to follow along with the girl, his linked arm tightening as they walked. Purely because he wanted her close to make sure nothing happened. Even as they all split up into different sections of the property to look for the water they were in search of, Kennedy still remained by JJ's side. Even when John B fought him on it, wanting them all to separate to cover more ground. JJ wasn't letting her out of his sight, and Kennedy didn't argue, finding herself wanting to be by his side, especially with the thought of JJ's story in the back of her mind. Even though she never thought anything would happen, she just wanted to be by somebody's side. And it just so happens that the loves the idea of it being JJ.

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THERE WAS AN unsettling energy that drifted through the air as Kennedy and JJ wandered through the overgrown bush at the Crain House. Kennedy could hear the other pogues pushing through the brush around her, all in their designated sections. The girl was uncomfortable, but she would never say it out loud. Her sundress made her legs practically open season for mosquitos and since they were weaving within a decrepit yard, the bugs were everywhere in the tall grass. This was only the topping on the cake, as her mother's demands lay dormant and heavy in the back of her mind. 

A silence had washed between JJ and Kennedy a long time ago. Usually, Kennedy would try to fill it desperately, but there was a tension in the air and it was heavy. It was a mix of emotions, looming over the two teens like a cloud. Anxiety was apparent through the haze, JJ was visibly nervous by being here, while Kennedy's nerves were tied to her mother. A part of her wanted to keep it buried until it was the appropriate time to come out, but the bigger part of Kennedy felt vulnerable with JJ and wanted to tell him what was going on. 

But she was scared. Having these conversations was new for them. Even last summer, they avoided having real conversations like the plague. But so many things have changed, the lives they've spent this year building, came crashing down the moment Kennedy ran into his arms at Midsummers. That also meant sharing the burden of her broken life with him. Kennedy knew he felt guilty. She always notices the usual spark in his eyes dimmer the moment he's reminded of what happened this morning. Kennedy was scared if she brought up another reminder of her being disowned, that it would shatter him completely. 

"Kenn, what's going on?"

The girl jumped at the sudden question, turning from her anxious thoughts, she was met with his suspicious eyes. She hated how he knew, how he read her like a book. "Don't worry about it, we'll talk about it later."

JJ took a small breath in response and paused in his steps, the action made Kennedy falter. "It's clearly bothering you, Sunshine. Tell me."

Kennedy felt his hand softly grasp hers to stop her from walking away. The girl instantly paused her steps, her eyes glancing down at their intertwined hands. Looking up at him, she saw his concerned eyes and knew she couldn't keep it to herself anymore. "I just don't want to add another thing to stress about on top of what we're doing right now."

"Sunshine," JJ began, his body turning completely to face her. He didn't hesitate to pull her closer so they were only inches apart. The close vicinity made Kennedy's heart pound as she could only look in his hypnotic eyes. "I'm here for you, we're in this together. I don't want you to have to keep anything by yourself." 

His words caused Kennedy's heart to ache in her chest as a comforting warmth washed over her. JJ never failed to melt away her anxiety, and while this was new-ish territory for current them, it was almost reminiscent of them from last summer. He always made her feel safe enough to tell him anything on her mind and because they spent the past year being enemies, she forgot about how easy it was. 

"My mom's making me move out by midnight tonight," Kennedy blurted, her truth finally coming to the surface. "If I don't get it done tonight, she's throwing all my stuff away."

The boy let out an almost relieved sigh, his nervous grip loosening slightly, blue eyes swirling with relief. "That's it? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" 

"I just felt like it might get in the way of looking for the gold, that's more of a pressing matter to everyone right now." Kennedy shrugged, feeling her dread wash away more and more as the seconds passed.

"You don't have to hide the stuff you're going through," JJ started, his hand rising to cup Kennedy's cheek. The girl appreciated his warm touch and could feel herself becoming more and more calm as the seconds passed. "Your problems matter as much as everyone else's, you're one of us now."

"Am I?" Kennedy questioned, her lips twisting into a small frown, her mind flashing to the small interaction today with John B when she first arrived at The Wreck.

JJ immediately knew what she was referring to and shook his head, "The stuff that John B said didn't mean anything, he's just mad that Kie's giving him a hard time about Sarah." 

"I guess..." Kennedy trailed off, still not feeling like they would sacrifice and or help her. She looked off to the side as she closed her eyes in thought, letting her anxiety take over her thoughts. "I'm just nervous about getting everything packed in time and I'm worried about not having enough help and interacting with my mother and brother while I'm there...I'm just panicking."

JJ couldn't stop a smile from twisting onto his lips at Kennedy's panicked huff, the girl sent him a confused glance. "We'll get it done, it's not just you anymore. You know I'm down, and so is Riley, Maggie, and Kie. I'm sure I can get Pope to help as well. I don't think John B will cause of last night. But the Six of us could get it done." 

"You think?" Kennedy sighed, hoping his further reassurance would finally give her ease as she tried not to dwell on the situations that could occur tonight. 

The boy instantly nodded, stepping away from her, beginning to urge him forward to find the others. "Of course, we'll get it done in no time and you'll never have to step foot in that house again."

Kennedy admired his blind optimism, she knew her mother wasn't done and she would never escape her past but she ignored the pessimism and began to fall in tow with him. "That's the dream."

As soon as they began moving again, the topic surrounding them instantly switched when they noticed Riley casually waving his hand towards them, his whisper voice made them pick up speed, "We're checking the cellar, it's the only place we haven't looked, come on," 

Kennedy's anxiety about her mother drifted into the humid summer air as the possibility of gold was just out of reach. She was glad that the thoughts drifted away and she was able to live in the moment, and finally live her new life. While time ticking away was daunting she knew she was gonna be able to do it, JJ's reassuring words made her feel like it was actually possible. She's starting to realize, that with him, anything feels possible. And she couldn't be more grateful for that. 

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𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥'𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘:

Hey besties!!!

New chapter, nothing but angsty but also supportive jennedy
moments, I'm so excited that i cant finally write cute stuffff.

I desperately miss them and wanted to
give yall some more content since all I've been listening to is short n sweet. I fear jennedy is heavily juno and taste coded, sorryyyyyyyyyy. 

Also PLZ check out my TIKTOK: gardensongss
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.