"He deserved it, right?" JJ asks me as we're all out on the chateau dock, his fishing rod in hand.
I hold another rod. "Are you kidding, of course he deserved it."
"Never seen anyone blow themselves up like that." Pope sighs.
"Cross that one off the bucket list." Jj shrugs.
I giggle a bit at that.
"JJ, Darl!" Kie yells.
She looks up at us, shaking her head as she walks over to a depressed John b out on the pogue.
We go silent, fidgeting with our rods. "Sucks for Sarah."
"Are you okay?" She asks him, sitting beside him.
"Not me I'm worried about." He sighs.
_______________________________
I wake up the next morning to pope slapping my face with the beer can gun.
"Rise and shine my queen." He smiles.
I smack the gun away. "No deliveries today, please."
"No, we have school. And a geometry test in 30 minutes." His words are going in one ear and out the other.
I groan as I feel my eyes droop.
"Get up, you're coming with us."
I sit up as Pope retreats to JJ, trying to slap his face awake. "That's not going to work Pope, when he sleeps, he dies."
"Perfect." Pope sighs.
I get up and accidentally put my shoes on the wrong way. "Help." I give up, falling back into bed.
"No. Darla." Pope shakes me and pushes me back up.
I tie the laces very loosely and rub my eyes as I stand up.
"I'm starving I need some pizza." Jj frowns.
"No, you missed breakfast." Pope drags him back.
He holds the cold pizza from who knows when and munches on it. "I got it- I go- AH!"
We all waddle out the door.
"Hey, Kie, this way." Pope says as Kie walks in the opposite direction.
"Um.. I'll meet up with you guys later."
I scrunch my eyebrows. "No I need Kie as my moral support."
Pope pushes me out. "Come on."
We get into the car and I curl up into a ball at the back.
JJ instantly falls back asleep while Pope drives.
I get woken up when Pope pulls to a stop, and I bash my head against the window. What a surprise.
"Let's go, up and at 'em, guys." Pope says, getting out of the car.
I stumble out as Pope pulls the back door open.
We walk up to the door, but Jj can't make it without tripping and flopping on the floor.
I start hysterically laughing at him.
"JJ, get up." John b laughs.
JJ stumbles up. "The fuck just happened?"
I wipe the tears from crying laughing. "Oh my fuck."
______________________________
We sit in the classroom, the teacher walks up to me. "Great to see you Darla."
I try breaking a smile. "Great to be back."
She puts a sheet down on my desk. "Just in time for your first quiz."
I look down at it. Geometry Quiz.
I creak my neck to look towards Pope, pure rage in my eyes.
John b points at him. "A test?"
"I told you we had a test." He whispers.
"No you didn't!" John b whispers.
JJ shakes his head.
I look him up and down.
the teacher clears her throat.
I roll my eyes.
JJ turns around and draws a huge ass dick on my page.
I squint my eyes. "Was there a need?"
"Mmm, yeah." He smiles.
I kick his chair so he falls back over to his desk.
_______________________________
It's lunchtime, and we're walking around outside.
"So, that girl from the cut, you know.. dark long hair?" John b says.
"Yeah?" I ask, hobbling around.
"Yeah, we'll she gave me this letter thing, guys. The bonfires tonight."
"Oh shit! We're going." I nod.
"Yeah, she actually meant to give it to me.. so we're going." JJ proudly nods.
"Did she now?" I tilt my head.
"No- guys, we can't." Pope says. "School night."
I was about to answer when I suddenly saw Tanner over by the benches. "Shit."
"What?" JJ asks. He looks where I'm looking and sees Tanner inviting me over. "Nah. What is he doin?"
I shrug. "I'll- Ill be right back, all right?" I say.
"Darla?" John b says.
"It's fine, just go into next period without me." I nod.
I walk over him, he's with a few of his stupid little friends. "Tanner, hi."
"Darla, what's up?" He laughs.
I smile. "Uh, what.. what are you doing here? Don't you go to um.. kook academy?"
"Oh, that was years back, I transferred cause some of my friends did." He nods. "I mean you never show up to school so I suppose you wouldn't know."
I awkward giggle. "Oops."
"Darla Miracle, no friggin' way!" I hear another person call out.
I slowly turn to look at them.
Oh, perfect, Elenor Campbell. She was the prissy stuck up rich girl that hangs around with Bea and all of her friends. I was close with her for like a month.
"Elenor.. so great to see you!" I pretend to be happy to see her.
"Right! Gosh, time certainly does fly." She looks me up and down.
I cross my arms.
She goes over and rubs up on Tanner.
I smile at them, trying not to throw up. "Hm, what a cute pair, didn't see that coming."
I totally did, she used to go on and on about him ever single day.
Tanner slowly brushes her off. "See what coming?"
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh.. your not..?"
"So, Darla," She interrupts me quickly. "You coming to the bonfire tonight?"
"Yeah, I am." I quickly nod.
"You are? Great. More people to shotgun with." She laughs obnoxiously.
I blink. "Mhm."
Tanner sighs as she continues to laugh.
"I'll- uh- I'll see you tonight, Tanner." I say to him.
He nods. "Don't forget!"
______________________________
Later that day we were all sat in the chateau, apparently while I was gone the history teacher gave them a diary from Denmark Tanny.
"The Spanish captain cared about only one thing, his valuable cargo, the cross of Santo Domingo." Pope reads the text out. "Once the the cargo was on board, we went to help the crew, but Captain Limbrey ordered us to pull bayonets."
I'm not really listening to this story, all I can think about is the bonfire tonight.
"So it didn't go off bermuda?" JJ asks.
Then Pope keeps blabbering on about it.
I tap my feet against the wall as I lay sprawled on the couch.
"Right before he was hung, denmark buried the treasure at the foot of the angel." Pope says.
"Hold on, what about the key?" I ask.
"Right, so what's the connection?" Kie asks.
"Something in the island room." Pope shrugs.
"What the fuck is the island room?" I groan.
"You know what helps me figure shit out?" Jj says. "Smoking beers and drinking weed."
I scrunch my eyebrows.
"If we just sit here and try figure this out, we are gonna get no where." He shakes his head. "But if we get creative, and go to this bonfire tonight,"
I smile. "Yup."
"Well, I just got disowned by my parents.. so I am now offically apart of the 'nothing to lose' club." Kie nods.
"I've been disowned since my mom disappeared, so.." I shrug.
"Pope?" Jj says.
"We're so close.." Pope says.
"Look, look. Think of how much you could think if you just gave your brain a rest."
We all lean over, waiting for his reply.
"Fine."
"WHOO!"
"Let's go!"
"Yes!"
_______________________________
We pull up in the twinkie to the bonfire, the sky is dark and starry.
The bickering teenagers gather around the fire, there's thousands of people here.
We get out of the car, JJ and I are so pumped to start off the night.
"Whew! Double shotgun?" He asks me.
I widen my eyes. "God, we haven't done one of them since we were fifteen."
"Yeah, let's revive it, baby! Come on!" He laughs.
I smile as he runs over to the beers.
I walk over, grabbing a can. "Ready?"
"I've been ready, I don't think you are." He smirks.
I raise an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Okay."
We pierce them at the same time and click open the lids.
I chug mine until it stops dripping, smashing it against the side of his head.
He finishes and smashes his dan against the side of my head.
"I won that." I flick my hair.
"I'll give it to you, but trust me I'll get my victory one day." He nods.
I scoff.
"It's true."
"I'll be waiting." I tilt my head.
He rolls his eyes with a smile on his face.
John b walks over. "Yoo, where'd you get them?"
I look down. "Right in front of you."
"Right." He grabs one. "Let's go."
He pushes me and JJ along with him.
We talk about all of our old experiences with the bonfire night and laugh about it.
Suddenly John b gets a can thrown at his head.
"Hey derilicts!"
We look over. "Oh, there she is!" The girl from our maths class who gave John b the note earlier.
"That's you, we're outta here." Jj nods.
John b punches him where the sun don't shine and walks over towards her.
I point and laugh at JJ.
"Ow- that was.." He says in pain.
"Come on J." I shake my head and giggle.
______________________________
I have been walking around with Pope and J for like 20 minutes now, we're trying to find Kie.
"Darla!" Tanner suddenly appears in front of me.
I stop. "Tanner, shit, I forgot you were coming."
"Yeah, no. Glad you made it!" He hands me a cup.
I take it and smile.
I see JJ staring Tanner down.
"Hey, you guys, keep trying to find Kie I'll be with you later." I nod.
Pope nods and starts to walk away.
JJ rolls his eyes.
I clear my throat. "Uh, did you come with Elenor?"
"Yeah, and a few others, but they started getting crazy and shit so I went to go find you."
I laugh. "Elenor is definitely that type, yeah."
We both look at each other.
"It was weird, not seeing you around town everyday." He randomly blurts.
I tense my jaw. "Um.. yeah. It was weird not seeing you too."
I take a swig of the beer in the solo cup.
"I just.. I know you probably have your new life, but. I don't want you to forget that we had something too." He says.
I hold my cup, swallowing. "Yeah."
"Are you.. in a relationship? I don't want to come across as too forward- but.."
I laugh and look down, as much as I want to be, no.
"No, not at the moment. What about you?" I look back up.
He shakes his head. "Not since you."
I gasp. "Really?"
"Really. I've just never said yes to anyone."
I shake my head. "Still so snobby."
He chuckles. "Yeah.. probably."
"What about you, have you had any.. uh. Boyfriends?"
I remember he was my boyfriend after I broke up with Rafe, so no. "No, none."
"That's surprising." He scoffs.
I tilt my head. "Is it, though?"
"Yes, truly it is." He nods quickly.
I feel my cheeks lighten a little. "I'm gonna take that as a compliment."
"Well good, cause' that's how it was delivered."
We look around and hear a song start to play. A very familiar song.
"There's no way." Tanner laughs.
"Our song at midsummers." I shake my head. "Remember our dance?"
"Oh, how could I forget?" He grabs my hand and spins me.
I laugh as he does so.
He pushes me out and I do another twirl before he pulls me back in.
And as he's pulling me in and out, I can only remember the night at the wreck, when JJ was spinning me around. This time, I don't feel as light and carefree. Then, I felt safe. Soft in his grip. Trusting his instincts. Now I feel..
I feel like it's not right.
He holds me close to his chest, looking down into my eyes deeply as I only float above the surface of his. I cant make the connection I usually do with J. What is wrong with me?
I look away, only to see JJ with...
"Elenor."
"What?" Tanner turns around.
I see them laughing with each other, JJ looks over to me and then looks away. Shit, I know what he's doing.
"What's wrong with Elenor talking to JJ?" Tanner laughs.
I roll my eyes, he's oblivious.
"Can we, uh, move over here a bit?" I say, dragging him in the direction of JJ and Elenor.
"Sure, I guess." Tanner shrugs, following my lead.
I begin to dance with him again, knowing JJ is watching. I know it's petty, but Elenor? Nah.
I see JJ grabbing Elenor and standing up in the corner of my eye.
They go right next to us and start to fucking dance.
Perfect, I brought this on myself.
So might as-well finish it.
As Tanner pushes me outwards I point my leg out, tripping Elenor up.
I bring my hand to mouth to forbid me from laughing. "Oh my god, oops!"
She sits on the floor. "Watch where you step!"
"Yeah, my bad." I look over at JJ, he knows what I'm doing.
She stands up and flicks her hair back. "Is there a problem?"
"Nope." I shake my head. "Unless you want one."
"Okay.." Tanner grabs my shoulder.
"Oh! Officer Fields to the rescue, everybody! Again. When he's not needed." JJ yells.
"The hell is your problem?" Tanner asks him.
"My problem is you trying to be the best at everything." JJ gets close up to his face.
The crowd gathers.
"You wanna start some shit?" We hear Topper from beside us.
I look over to see that John b and Topper are fighting, so is Sarah and that girl from maths class earlier.
I look back at Elenor.
"What are you gonna do about it?" She flicks her hair.
"Bitch I'll show you what I'll do about it!" I grab her hair.
Suddenly Tanner and JJ start fighting. I push Elenor to the floor and run over to JJ and Tanner and try to get them to stop.
"Stop!" I scream, but they don't hear me over the chanting crowd.
I look over and see John b fighting with Topper.
I rub my forehead, getting a bit overwhelmed.
I flea, running away from the crowd and pushing through.
"Darla!" I hear a few of the pogues yell.
I ignore them and wipe away my tears, getting further and further away from the site.
I find an empty place, it's completely closed off and i'm alone.
I sit down on a small little tree stump and sigh, breathing in and out.
I wipe the tears slowly drying and soaking into my cheeks. I don't know what I was thinking, it's all me. And now they broke into a stupid fucking fight.
I hear rustling leaves in the distance, but I really don't want to see anyone right now.
The footsteps get closer.
"Dar.. Darla?" JJ stumbles over, out of breath.
I roll my watery eyes. "Well, what the fuck was that?"
"Was what." He sighs. "You were with Tanner."
"Yeah, cause he's an old friend.. JJ." I say. "You don't even know Elenor."
"Well, you were fucking dancing with him." He says.
I feel rain droplets start to fall on my head. "I'm going home."
I stand up and try to walk past him.
"Darla."
I turn around, the rains getting a little heavier. "What, it's raining, JJ. Just go home."
"Stop avoiding me! And.. and avoiding this!" He yells.
I scrunch my eyebrows. "Avoid what? I'm just pissed."
"No.. you know what I mean."
I turn fully to face him. "You care so much about who I'm friends with, why, JJ? Why do you care?"
I see him shake his head and laugh as the rain dampens both of our hairs.
"What are we."
I look at him. "What?"
"I said what are we. You're pretending that.. you don't see it. You're pretending you don't see what's happening with us. But Darla, I can see it pretty fucking crystal clear. So just tell me what we are. I need to know what we are."
The rain is heavy and crashing down upon us as we stand and stare at each other in silence.
"I mean, I've felt it since I first met you. Since I saw you first I knew. You made me crazy Darla, I thought about you every night. I used to cry when you got hurt and you were the only one that I've never genuinely hated. You've always been in my life. And I don't give a shit about the friendship, really, I don't. You're all I think about. I.. cant keep pretending we're nothing."
I feel my heart warm up at his word. I cant believe this is happening, everything I've dreamed of.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is.." He exhales.
I feel myself sway closer to him, we are now almost completely joint.
"I'm sorry." I softly say.
His breath hitches.
"I'm sorry I didn't realise it sooner, but your the only one I think about. You're the guy I go to for everything, JJ. And even if you feel like you aren't ever good enough, I promise you, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me." I nod.
The rain showers over us.
"And I cant keep pretending either." I say.
"I love you, JJ Maybank. I love every single thing about you. And I always have." I sob.
"I love you too." He stutters looking down at my lips.
I look at his eyes, and now I feel I'm looking deep. I'm deep in his eyes. No floating above the surface. It's him. He's the one. He's the guy my mom told me to find, he's JJ. He's my JJ.
His eyes are teary, and he looks deeply into mine.
He grabs my face and presses his lips against mine. I freeze, but then give in. The rain hits my hands as I bring my arms up and around his neck. He grips onto my cheek, his lips soft against mine.
I feel him smile against the kiss. We pull back from each other, The moon being enough light to see the happiest and brightest expression on both of our faces.
I love him.
_______________________________
END OF CHAPTER 29!!!
(took me long enough, I know. But I wanted to moment to be right and not rushed ❤️❤️❤️❤️)
I HOPE YALL ARE OKAY AND ENJOYING THIS EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING THIS LONG! 💕💜💜💕💜❤️💙💙