Eastside ₒ OBX

17- Jade and Zoey

Never in a million years did Dahlia Jade expect to return to the Outer Banks, not after everything that happened. Yet here she was, helping her best friend, Zoey, move there. They had been step-cousins for quite some time but not as long as they had been friends. 
   "No need for the play-by-play. We're good. Trust me," Zoey tells Jade. 
   "I'm just saying that you need to be prepared, Zo. My Pogue friends are nothing like us mainlanders. They're a different breed. I've been shot at here." 
   "And I told you that I believed you one hundred percent. I'm surprised Halle and Ian even let you come back." 
   "Me too. After my first boyfriend was pronounced a fugitive and then died at sea." 
   "I'm sorry," Zoey says. 
   "I've had some time to process. I think I'll be okay." 
   "You sure?" 
   "Yeah." 
   Zoey slowly smiles. "Sounds like the life of a pirate. Good thing I won't be meeting some wild outlaw and getting whisked away into some dangerous treasure hunt." 
   "Never say never." 
   "Dahl, even if all of this goes down this summer like it did the last, I'm glad that I'd do it with my best friend half-cousin." 
   "Pound it," Jade holds up her fist. 
   "Challenge accepted." 
   "Girls, we could use some help unpacking," Ava calls. 
   "Coming, Mom." 
   "Be right there, Aunt Ava." Jade picks up Zoey's trunk, "hasn't Uncle Mike seemed off lately?" 
   "He's in a funk, I guess. I thought it was just him figuring out family stuff." 
   "Him and your mom have been married for two years now, I'm pretty sure he's got that down-pat." Jade stops, "my phone is going off in my pocket." 
   Zoey takes it out of the front and looks down at the screen. "These must be the infamous Pogue you were talking about." She holds up a selfie of three individuals, "who's the one with smoking with sunglasses?" 
   "Uh, that would be JJ and his blunt." 
   "Classy." 
   "Yeeeaah, I'm going to have to block him from you." 
   "I don't think he's my type, honestly." 
   "No, I mean, I'll have to kick his ass to keep his hands to himself." 
   "So, is he like...?" 
   "He'll basically go after any girl with a pulse." Jade hauls the trunk into the house. It looked kind of like the gray colonial houses she'd see in New England, except it had more of a southern vibe. "Once we help move the rest of your stuff into your room, then we can go meet them." 
   "Awesome. Who knows, maybe I can become a Pogue too?" 
   Jade's smile falters a little. She did not want Zoey going through what she went through. It felt almost inevitable. "Yeah. Maybe." 

The day before the school year starts, Jade plans to meet up with the Pogues. She really did not want Zoey to get roped in, given that Zoey was far more adventurous and was open to just about anyone. Jade could only imagine what was in store for them. 
   "Jade!" 
   Jade beams are three familiar teenagers run towards her. They were dressed in their normal summer clothes, happier despite what had happened about a week ago. "Hey guys," she hugs every one of them.
   "Hi," Zoey waves awkwardly. 
   Jade brings Zoey closer to the group and grins. "This is Zoey. I'm helping her move in." 
   "Whoa, wait. Move in?" JJ looks Zoey up and down, "nice."  
   "Don't start, JJ," Jade intervenes, "I've got an idea of what's going through your head."
   "Yeah, that's just an idea." JJ winks at Zoey.
   Jade rolls her eyes, "exactly. Well, I'm gonna be here for a week or so. Doing school online. That means you're stuck with me."
   "Sweet," Kie high-fives her. 
   "I'm real surprised how your parents just let you come back," Pope says. 
   "Yeah, me too. They set some strict guidelines up," Jade tells them. 
   "Are you violating some of those guidelines right now?" 
   "Absolutely, but I had see you all. Its been rough with all the people back home talking." 
   "I bet," Kie says. She gives JJ a look, "stop creeping her out. Jesus. She just moved here, like, an hour ago." 
   "Your names are Pope, Kie and JJ," Zoey glances at each Pogue. 
   "I brought her up-to-speed on everything," Jade explains. 
   "Everything everything?" Pope clarifies. 
   "I'm pretty sure that's what everything means, Pope. No doubt Jade's told you a lot of great things about me," JJ smirks at Zoey. 
   "That you're good at stirring up trouble." 
   "Damn straight," he puts a toothpick in his mouth. 
   "And you're an idiot." 
   "You're ruining my street cred', Jade. C'mon." 
   "Sounds about right," Kie laughs. 
   "There was no secret there," Pope states. 




Author's Note: 
Just giving y'all an idea of what Zoey's like. Now that Jade has reunited with the Pogues, now the real adventure can start. 

If you liked this part, be sure to give it a vote! Byeeeeeee! 

   ~ SHIELD-Avenger