THE NEXT MORNING was nothing but a ticking clock. Waiting and waiting for John B to call was like torture. She stayed overnight at Topper's with Sarah but it felt like Sarah didn't wanna speak to June. She did, but how could she after everything? Her mind was echoing familiar things whilst her hand struggled to grab the handle.

Sarah was confused and scared, which was reasonable considering her situation. But, as soon as she saw June walk in, she could no longer hear Topper's words. "I just wanna make sure you're safe." Topper said before noticing her focus was no longer on him. He turned his head to see June and he sighed, getting up from his seat. "I'll let you two talk."

June stood there awkwardly fidgeting with her fingers while holding the intimidating eye contact. Her mind raced as she tried to gather her words. She hiccuped, closing her eyes and every memory between them came running back like a bullet. Her footsteps were almost sickening to Sarah as she stared at her, fighting back her own tears at the sight of her taking a seat infront of her.

"Are you okay?" June started, her eyes watering. Sarah didn't say anything, only shrugging to herself. It was silence amongst them. Not a comfortable silence, but not an awkward one either. "Sarah, when I woke up in the hospital after what Rafe did," June paused, taking a deep breathe.

"The first person I thought about was you." Sarah's eyes shot to meet hers, staring at her in confusion. "The only thing I remembered was you holding me. You were the only reason I survived. If I didn't have your words running as a constant in my ear, I would've died."

"But, seeing Rafe drowning you, it killed me. I almost— I could've hurt him." Sarah stared at her with sadness, looking around her face. "I would've chosen you in any scenario last night. Whether it was worse or simpler— I would've picked you." June's finally let tears fall from her eyes as she shook her head, taking a deep breathe. "So, I need you choose me to. Because I need my friend back. My best friend."

Sarah fought back tears, reaching up to grasp her hands. As the two girls stared at each other, Sarah wondered where they went wrong— how did  they get here? "You're my best friend, June. I don't forgive myself— I can't forgive myself for everything I have put you through." Sarah's voice cracked and her hands shook in hers. June looked down, a single tear falling from her eyes. "I can't either." June said.

Those three words nearly broke Sarah. Her eyes drifted downward and she was prepared to lose it all. "But, I love you enough to let it go." Until June uttered this same words. "I love you enough to let you go." Sarah looked up at June genuinely for the first time in days. Those brown eyes she remembered shut halfway whenever her smile got real big. Or her long lashes that were currently letting go of tears.

How could she hurt June like this? Sarah couldn't hold it back anymore. The tears came falling out like a waterfall and her hand flung up to her heart. "I'm sorry," she mumbled in between sobs. June let out a hitched sigh, immediately taking her into her arms.

June didn't know why Sarah had this effect. This chokehold. No matter what Sarah did that was the one girl that she would forgive. That's her best friend and even if Sarah massacred half of the state, June would still find a way to be there for her. Why couldn't anymore be there for her then?

"I didn't mean— when all this started I didn't mean for you to be the one hurt." Sarah pleaded, pulling back to look in her eyes. They looked so betrayed and broken. All light that was once there had disappeared completely.

June didn't have anything to say. What could she say? She could only nod and let the girl wipe her tears, taking her back into her arms. Sarah let her body relax for the first time in days, squeezing her like her life depended on it.

Meanwhile, Topper listened on the other side, his eyes filled with tears. He wondered why he wasn't good enough. Why Sarah constantly did everyone she knew like they were dirt on her shoe— at least from his perspective. He didn't care for June but she's been through hell and didn't even make it back yet.

JUNE HAD NEVER felt so confused. It was like a rush falling back at her with an amount of force she couldn't handle. But, there was only one thing that rested her mind.

The pogues.

June's mom was close with John B. Once they made it known John B and Summer were partners in that stupid quest, they had been inseparable ever since.

And the thought of him dying in prison made her want to go with him. He couldn't go out like that. It was hell back at the chateau. Silence. The only thing you could hear was Kiara's ukulele and June's soft breaths.

June noticed the tension in the girls fingers and instantly felt her heart clench. Not Kiara. Anybody but Kiara can feel like this and she would do everything in her power to prevent it. Her footsteps pressed against the old wood as she made her way to sit with the girl. Her hand rested on Kiara's and then her head to her shoulder. Kiara's eyes closed slowly and she could psychically feel her nerves relaxing.

June closed her eyes as well once she felt the soft touch her of her skin reciprocating her feel. They didn't have to say anything because they knew this is what they both needed. Each other.

As the moments passed by, all you could hear was the sound of the wind and Pole and JJ's annoying arguments. It was so unusually quiet in the OuterBanks. The sound of honking filled the air and JJ's ears perked up, "Did you hear that?"

June turned her head to see the Twinkie. "Oh my God!" She squealed, jumping up from her seat. "No! Am I dreaming right now?" JJ joked, taking in his appearance. The girls giggled, all of them making their way over to their now freed friend.

"Guess who's out of the clink, boys?" John B smiled. June hurled herself into him, making his laugh as he hugged them back. June couldn't believe it. They were all back together. The original group.

"We missed you!" Kiara smiled, holding on the boy. "I missed you guys too."

"How'd you do it? You bust out?" JJ stupidly asked, making June's smile widen. "They dropped the charges." John B sounded like he didn't believe it himself. "You're telling me I did all that work for nothing." JJ grumbled, "Oh, the most elaborate escape plan of all time?" June giggled, looking around them. "Oh, foolproof."

"Wait, where's Sarah?" John B interrupted, making everyone go quiet. "No, no, no. Where's Sarah?" He repeated. June hated being the bearer of bad news. "She went to go see Wheezie.. last night. She didn't come back." Kiara said before June could tell the real truth. So she chose to stay quiet and let him find out himself.

After minutes and minutes of hearing John B rant, June was getting incredibly annoyed. "So, Sarah just dips and doesn't call?" John B continued. "Yeah, man. She just left her bag. Didn't tell anybody." Pope dead-panned. June was sitting next to JJ, braiding his hair.

"Ow!" He grumbled, smacking her hand. "Don't hit me," they whisper shouted, smacking each other back and fourth. "I, I really think ward got to her. I mean, the dude tried to have me killed in jail."

"What?" All went serious at his last sentence. "Yeah. He sent somebody to the prison who yoked me up and almost killed me." John B said making June wonder what else he went through that they didn't know about. "Do we know who this dude was?" JJ asked all detectively. "No, I have no idea. Dude I just swear to God, one day I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch."

"It's okay," Kiara sighed, "No, Kie, it's not okay. We gotta find Sarah."

June rolled her eyes, continuing to braid. "No need to find her. She's right there," she said, pointing towards the water. She was on a boat with topper who probably got coaxed to taking her here.

"What the hell is she doing with Topper?" Kiara whispered and June mumbled, "I'll explain later."

As Sarah explained what happened, her eyes went to June but they were looking at Kiara, pondering off. Usually, her eyes would be starring in her soul like she was the only girl in the world but now there was two.

"Yeah, man. Rafe has lost his mind. Literally almost drowned his sister." Topper said before looking at June, "Thanks for the help June." Topper said, completely knowing what he was doing.

She winced and looked down, all of their eyes following her. "Help?"

"I saw what happened. I um, helped Sarah get back to— to Topper's." Topper rolled his eyes, "Saw? She was ready to kill Rafe for Sarah. You're a good friend." Topper almost didn't seem like he knew what was going to happen. But she seen right through his stupid act.

"I'm sorry, what?" Kiara said. "Look, he wouldn't get off of her so I shot at him. Topper tackled Rafe before it could connect." JJ was surprised at this information while John B looked pissed. "Look at you, all grown up." JJ teased, tapping her calve. "Not funny." She grumbled, popping his head.

"Thankfully I got there just in time." Topper arrogantly spoke. "Yeah, he did." Sarah vouched. "Uh, well, I guess I owe you one, Topper. Don't I?" John B rolled his eyes, poking his cheek. "It's all good. I mean, somebody had to rescue your girlfriend, right?"

"Uh, that's funny because she's not actually my girlfriend, right?" John B said and June was crumbling with second hand embarrassment. "Uh, what is she then?" Topper laughed, "Tell him."

Sarah sat there, looking lost as hell. June turned around to hide her laughter, earning a flick from Kiara. "I'm— I'm with him." Sarah smiled innocently. Kiara winced at her answer, almost like it was painful.

Which it was.

POPE HEYWARD had gotten himself into some shit. His dad was beaten up by the same guy June tased for Pope and now, they were in deep shit. "Guys, the thing Limbrey said, I don't think she meant to let it slip." Pope begun.

"She said that key leads to the Cross of Santo Domingo." Pope explains, "Wait, can I see that?" JJ asked, holding his hand out. Pope reluctantly gave it to him before Sarah spoke, "Are we supposed to know what that is?" June wondered what happened between her and John B after the awkward interaction but from the looks of it, it's not good.

"I'm guessing it's some sort of historical artifact of great importance." Pope stated, "According to the interwebs, it was a gift from New Spain to the Spanish King." Kiara read. June's eyes followed out the window, her mind racing with thousands of thoughts per minute.

"Talk about over-gifting." June mumbled. "So it's a giant ass cross?" JJ asked. "It was widely considered at the time to be the most extravagant tribute ever from the provinces. It was lost off the coast of Bermuda in 1829."

"Did you just say Bermuda?" JJ's perked up, "Oh, no not the triangle." John B's tone was unusually nonchalant. "It always leads back to the triangle, dude. Like every single time something's weird, it's Bermuda."

"What does a key found above your mee-maws pharmacy have to do with any of this." Kiara questioned, rolling her eyes. June was so exhausted she could feel her eyes slowly getting heavier. "Where do we come in?" Pope looked down at her words, wondering to himself. "I don't know. That's a good question."

June was ready to get out the car and follow him until a hand stopped in front of her, "Guys, I think I'm gonna do this one by myself." Pope nodded.

"You sure?" Kiara asked, her eyes traveling his face for any sign of worry. "Yeah, I can handle it. I don't really need you, so." Pope said directly to Kiara, giving June whiplash. "Pope's arrived." She mumbled, walking away and towards JJ. "Oh, we're all just one big happy family today, aren't we?" June rolled her eyes, hopping in the Twinkie. They drove off for a bit, leaving Pope with his grandma for some time alone.

June sat in the back of the Twinkie, not listening to a single thing John B or JJ was chatting on about. Her dad hadn't been home in weeks. And neither had she. Maybe if she went home he'd be there, she was just a girl after all. A girl who needed her dad and mom. A part of her regretted not finding out about the gold sooner so she could be with her mom.

Her thoughts were interrupted by JJ climbing into the backseat, annoyingly throwing an arm over the seat. "Whatcha thinking about?"

June looked up at him, shrugging to herself. "Nothing." JJ cocked his head, knowing she was lying. "I know you, kid. You're lying." June sighed, moving a piece of hair out her face. "I'm thinking about everything that has happened in the past year. Crazy, huh?"

JJ smirked, deciding to go along with it even though she was lying. "Yeah. Hey, can I uh, ask you somethin'?" The blonde questioned, rubbing his chin. She didn't nod, simply turning her body to face him. "I know you and Kiara used to uh, have something going on. But, you and Sarah?"

June looked at the ground, unsure of where to begin. "Me and Sarah are best friends. Always have been. But," she inhaled, "I was so in love with her. And she made it seem like she was too, I don't know. Then, B, came in and I was back to square one." JJ listened intently, waiting for her to continue. "Me and Kie are different though. We've never been just friends. We were in a relationship freshman year but, um, it didn't work."

JJ scoffed, trying to find a lie in her eyes, "But?"

"But, we were young and stupid. I was confused about my feelings to Sarah and she was still figuring out what she wanted. I hated her for so long for ruining us. But, something changed overtime. I dunno." JJ felt proud of June because she has never actually said this out loud. The boys pieced everything together on their own, hoping one day one of them would fess up. And here she was.

"You love her, don't you?" JJ smirked. June sighed, wiping the small tear that threatened to fall. "Unfortunately." She giggled, making him embrace her.

JJ never had the chance for a sister. But, the more time flew the closer he got to having one. "I'm proud of you." JJ whispered. "I'm proud of you." June mumbled back, holding him tighter.

Sarah and Kiara walked back to the Twinkie not even knowing the girls feelings about them. June would've died any day for Sarah but now? She had her mind set.

Kiara was who she needed. Not Sarah, not killing Rafe— but the arms of the one girl who broke her and then picked up the pieces. It may sound toxic but it was the truth.

Kiara. Kiara. Kiara.