¥showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks¥
In which Jackie Routledge and her group of friends from the south side of Outer Banks try to have the summer of their lives, but end up it being filled with mystery, tragedy, risks, adventure...
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{Explosion}
We all sit outside the Chateau after handing the tape over to Shoupe. The guys are dancing and celebrating, calling it their victory, while Sarah, Kie, and I sit on the porch, out of the rain, watching them. "Ladies and gentlemen, Ward Cameron, King of Kooks, is going to jail!" JJ chants, his voice full of triumph. I glance through the window at the three boys, their faces beaming with excitement as they crack open more beers.
I should feel elated—the man who killed my father is finally being held accountable. But instead, there's this heaviness inside me, a sadness that won't go away. The reality is, this won't bring my father back. It won't fix the shattered pieces of our lives, and I can't be happy while Sarah sits beside me, her face streaked with tears.
"Adios! He's out of there!" the boys chant in unison, and Kie bursts out laughing. I shoot her a glare, and she quickly clears her throat.
"Do you regret it?" Kie asks Sarah, her voice softer now.
"No," Sarah replies firmly. "He deserves every bit of it, and I know that." She shrugs, trying to hold back her emotions. I place my hand on hers and squeeze it reassuringly.
"He's your dad. I get it," I say quietly, offering her a small smile.
Kie looks at her sympathetically. "I'm sure it sucks to be stuck in the middle." She takes a long sip of her beer, clearly trying to keep it light.
Just then, Sarah's phone rings. Her eyes widen, and she pulls it from her pocket. "Sorry," she says, standing up and walking over to the railing. "Hello?" Her voice falters as tears begin to fall again. I exchange a concerned glance with Kie, who watches Sarah closely.
"Thanks," Sarah says after a beat, hanging up the phone. Her gaze shifts toward the boys in the kitchen, doing their handshake and celebrating. I roll my eyes, and Sarah looks back at us with a grim expression.
"They're coming for him," she whispers.
I stand quickly, running inside to grab the guys. "They're coming for him!" I shout, and the lads immediately spring into action, sprinting toward the van. We follow closely behind, piling into the vehicle. John B floors it, heading straight for the Cameron estate.
"Can you please hurry?" Sarah asks anxiously from the backseat, nervously fiddling with her fingers. "I need to be there for Wheezie."
"I'm not trying to miss this either," John B mutters, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. Sarah gives him a look, and I roll my eyes, clipping him on the ear.
"Ow, Jackie! What the hell?" he complains.
I scoff, settling back in my seat as we pull up to the Cameron house. We hear yelling from outside, and everyone jumps out of the van. We peek over the wall, and my heart drops when I see the police officers heading toward the dock.
