After Midnight

Before It All Began

JJ POV
The crackling firelight cast shadows on Pope's face, making him look older, wiser—almost like he had the answers I didn’t. But he didn’t. No one did.

I stared at the can in my hand, condensation slipping down my fingers. “Sleep, huh? You think some shut-eye’s gonna make me forget the fact that my dad’s a walking disaster waiting to happen? Or that I’m the idiot who keeps bailing him out?”

Pope leaned back, his head tilting toward the sky, and for a moment, he looked like he was counting the stars. “Nah, man. I’m not saying sleep’s a magic cure. I’m saying you need a break. From everything. Even your own damn brain.”

I snorted, the bitterness creeping into my voice. “Yeah, well, good luck convincing my brain to take five. It’s running a 24/7 horror show up there.”

Pope didn’t push. He never did. He just sat there, the sound of the waves and the occasional crack of the fire filling the silence. I hated how calm he could be. It was like he didn’t have a care in the world, even though I knew better.

“You know,” he said after a while, his tone softer now, “you’ve got us, right? Me, Kie, John B, even Sarah. We’re not going anywhere, no matter how messy it gets.”

I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe him so bad. But people always said that, and then life happened. People left. Promises broke. That’s just how it went.

Still, I nodded, because what else could I do? The truth was too heavy to lay out here, under the stars and firelight. So I tipped the beer to my lips, let the bitterness settle in my chest, and hoped like hell Pope couldn’t see how much I was unraveling.

“Yeah,” I muttered, mostly to myself. “Guess we’ll see.”

Back on Figure Eight
Thornton Household
POV Tatum Thornton
I watched as these people my mother would call family ate their five star meal. I watched as they used the silver cutlery that is probably the price of a small house back in my home town.

I watched the diamond ring on my aunts finger glisten underneath the well lit chandelier that hung over us all.

I watched my cousin Topper with his Rolex watch talk about this group of pogues and how he can not believe that Sarah Cameron has become one of them willingly . He speaks of her like she chose to join a cult or something .

I think I already like this Sarah girl.

"So Tatum are you excited for tomorrow?" My aunt speaks up cutting my train of thought .

I give a fake smile and reply
"I am little bit nervous , you know new faces and all."

I take a sip of water. Hoping this conversation has ended .

" Well I doubt you'll be alone you'll have Topper and Kelce to keep you company and show you around "

I look towards my cousin who now has a sickening grin on his well maintained face.

"We sure will mother, I would also like if you would join us tomorrow night at the annual bonfire"

I look towards my aunt she slightly shakes her head in a nodding motion.

"Sounds like it could be fun"

''Yeah sure why not'' I give the fakest smile ever.

''Just stay clear of those pogues,once you have their stink on you its all over''