chapter 11.
i fear my
body is broken.

୨୧

Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacteria often found in warm costal waters in the state of north carolina. it infects through open wounds, cuts, or sores that come into contact with contaminated water, and can cause severe illness or even death.

jo fights the urge to spew this information as she watches jj drags his fingers through the sand, which was a whole different ballpark of bacteria; not only would she refrain from joining the teens in surfing, but she would be doing her best to remain inside the van, as well.

as the twinkie comes to a stop on the beach, joey finds herself beginning to wish she had just stayed behind. nothing about this 'perfect swell day' sounds particularly appealing; on the other hand, it sure beats being left alone with her spirals for an entire day.

kiara steps out first, bare feet sinking into warm sand. she inhales as if trying to take this moment with her forever. "don't you just immediately feel like life is better at the beach?"

jj removes a couple folding chairs from the backseats. he nods at josephine, who had yet to make a move to exit the van. "what's goin' on, you comin'?"

jo shakes her head. "burn easily." sunburns risk a higher chance of skin cancer. josephine would rather not roll the dice; she was never one for a game of health roulette.

"oh, i brought sunscreen." sarah comments, fishing a bottle from her canvas bag and offering it to the girl. "here. doubles as tanning lotion, too."

"that's okay." josephine shrugs it off. she eyes the sand, figuring sitting with just her legs out couldn't do much harm; she had no open wounds on her feet or ankles, and would be showering as soon as they returned anyways.

jj watches his sister shuffle to the floor of the van, kicking off her flipflops and delicately placing bare feet atop hot sand. he looks around, watching the other three begin setting out chairs and umbrellas, before sinking to a crouch in front of the younger girl. "you know you can talk to me, right jo?"

josephine scoffs. "shut up, jj. i know." she hated feelings and 'talks' just as much as her brother—if not more than.

but the older blonde is not deterred for once. "listen, i know you've been through a lot, and i'm sorry i haven't really been around much or asked you if you were—"

"i'm fine, jj." josephine interrupts with a heavy exhale. "promise. germs just freak me out a bit, that's all." she points to the ocean just beyond, gestures to the sand below them. "and beaches are crawling with bacteria."

"do you want me to bring you back? cause i will."

"no, no." josephine forced a smile, shaking her head. she appreciated her brothers care, but felt it wasn't necessary. "i'll watch. i like the sun."

jj nods once, returning her smile. "okay, then." he rejoins his friends, moving their set-up closer to the van so josephine could still participate in their conversations; at least until they hit the water.

this sense of peace and tranquility does not last, however, as a rumble of cars soon start down the beach. john b recognizes the first jeep. "oh, boy." sarah exhales as the vehicles get closer. "you're joking."

josephine sits up a little straighter, squinting to see as she shields her eyes from the sun. "who is it?"

"topper and the powerpuff squad." jj growls, reaching above joey to remove their surfboards from the roof. kiara rolls her eyes, muttering, "anywhere but here."

jj follows the crowd of vehicles with his eyes. "don't stop, don't stop."

of course, topper parks his jeep right beside the pogues spot. kiara curses. "of course they stop here. why wouldn't they, when there's an entire beach?"

josephine cranes her neck, staring down the empty stretch of sand that goes on for miles. she rolls her eyes, groaning loudly. "we were here first."

"it's a waste of waves, if you're asking me." kiara complains, storming back to the van for her surfboard.

joey takes the risk of standing outside the van to catch a better view of the new group of teens. she pales at the sight of the eldest cameron; her last memory of rafe before she left the island hadn't been pretty. in fact, she was pretty sure he had been the one to tip off shoupe after a dust up with her brother. josephine always knew rafe cameron was a sore fucking loser.

jj follows her gaze. he can feel her thoughts running, they're so loud. "jo, don't worry. he ain't getting near you." the blonde heaves a purple and yellow surfboard down from the roof, "i guarantee that." he passes kie her board, nodding to john b. "sunshine's coming."

josephine steps to the right a little further, noticing topper thornton heading their way. "what'd you think he wants?"

"what does he ever want?" kiara sighs loudly. sarah turns to john b, begging, "please don't let him antagonize you."

josephine turns to her brother. "you too. no fighting."

"oh come on, i won't—"

"i'm serious, jj. i cant get sent away again." jo's eyes go dark and the older boy nods, walking back over to the twinkie. he gestures to his friend, "i'll send john b alone, then."

"yeah, i think that's best." josephine grins, climbing back inside the van.

𓇼 ⋆｡˚ 𓆝⋆｡˚ 𓇼

After spending the entire morning and better half of the afternoon reading, tanning, and watching her brother surf, josephine is relived when the teens finally begin packing up. she's standing off to the side to allow them to strap their boards onto the vans roof when she spots movement in the sand. curious, jo steps a bit closer, gasping when she realizes what's happening.

"guys! jj, kie!" she calls in excitement, bending at the knees to get a closer look. "there's a turtle hatch!"

"a what?" kiara shouts back, rushing toward the younger girl. "oh my god! guys, a turtle hatch!"

sarah, john b, and jj rush over; the former girl squeals in delight. "awe, they're so little!"

"wait, back up, we gotta give them some space." kie advises. "we can't touch them." josephine adverts her eyes from the turtles to the brunette. "we need to make a path, right?"

"yeah, clear the way." kiara nods and jj immediately jumps forward, flattening the sand to make an easy pathway to the ocean. "sarah, keep the gulls off."

"i don't see any!" the blonde calls back, looking around and keeping her eyes peeled. josephine joins in, shouting, "me neither!"

"we should make, like, a highway." john b suggests, kicking sand out of the turtles path.

"a turtle highway!" josephine shouts gleefully. jj watches her with a smile; she was finally acting like a child, not an adult trapped in the body of one. he hoped she would stay this way, hoped she'd realize she could finally be a kid.

a sudden rumble is heard, and kie looks up to toppers jeep racing right for them; ruthie's behind the wheel, unfazed as kiara waves her arms, walking forward. "hey! hey, stop!" josephine furrows her eyebrows in concern, standing beside kiara. "stop, there's a hatch! baby turtles!"

on his knees forming their 'turtle highway', jj turns to the commotion. "yo!" he shouts, climbing to his feet. "go around!" josephine turns frantic as the driver of the jeep only accelerates. "stop!"

ruthie shows no sign of slowing. jo refuses to step to the side, even as kiara relents; the young blonde remains protectively in front of the hatch, waving her arms wildly and shouting for the jeep to stop.

"jo, move!" jj shouts, rushing towards his sister. "she's not gonna stop, get out the way!" josephine ignores his warning and jj darts forward, tackling the girl to the ground just as ruthie speeds past.

"what the fuck!" josephine curses, springing to her feet. she desperately brushes sand from her clothing and jj defends his quick thinking. "she was gonna run you over!"

"no, she would've stopped!" the adrenaline coursing through her veins overrides any fear of infection. ruthie was a bitch, but josephine didn't believe she'd truly mow down a thirteen year old over a surfing disagreement.

kiara notices the rare display of pure emotion on josephine and curses. "fucking assholes." ruthie stops the jeep and turns around, further fueling the fire raging inside the two girls. kie grabs joeys hand, marching forward together. "no. hell no."

they release each other, both waving their arms around wildly and shouting for the couple to stop. "hey! there's a hatch! stop!"

ruthie only revs the engine. joey grows frantic. "stop! go back! please, stop!" sarah, jj, and john b join the two girls in front of the hatch, desperately pleasing for the jeep to go around. "there's turt—"

before she can finish, josephine's wrist is grabbed and she's yanked to the side just in time as topper and ruthie plow right by them. as they speed by ruthie reaches through her open window, chucking a plastic soda cup at the teens. "suck it, pogues!"

josephine gasps as the liquid splashes straight onto her, getting the brunt of it as she had been the closest in proximity. sticky red liquid clings to her blonde hair. she exhales thickly, biting back tears that come anyway.

jj reaches her first, dropping beside her in the sand. "joey, you okay?" josephine can only nod. she swipes sticky soda from her forward, grits her teeth, and rises to shaky feet. the other four teens rush to her side, checking if she's okay, but joey can't hear them. she can only stare at her hands, because something is missing.

the bandaid is missing.