riptide- outer banks

zero | prologue

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All of the hardest, coldest people you meet are like the ocean. On the surface, they seem calm, peaceful, inviting even. But get too close and you'll drown in its harsh and unforgiving depths. That's the tragedy of living, isn't it? The superficial part someone lets you see has no comparison to their depth— their story. One tenacious current and it pulls even the strongest down to rock bottom.

That's what it feels like to be caught in one big riptide. Never having room to stand, air to breathe. The waves just crash down on you until there's nothing left.

It was silent with soft light peeking through the closed blinds, sending scattered rays across the room. The last of sunlight cast an orange glow inside, almost eradicating the ugly shades of blue and purple trailing the skin of her older brother's jaw.

Kori lifted her hand up, gently cleaning the last bit of blood from his lip. JJ grimaced as her hand fell, his gaze hard. He fiddled with his hands for a moment, letting the silence virtually consume them. It was nothing new, but it had been her fault. And he'd taken the heat for it.

Like always.

"You didn't have to do that." Kori murmured, unable to pull her eyes from his face. "It was my fault."

JJ's eyes finally moved from the stain on his carpet, shifting up to lock onto her light eyes. "No, it wasn't."

Kori swallowed hard, her head shaking as a response. "Yeah, it was, J. I'm the one who dropped it."

"And he's the one who slammed the door because he got his sorry ass fired." He pointed out. "It wasn't your fault."

She could still picture the glass shards falling to the floor— a result of their father's anger. The loud slam of the front door echoed through the house, causing the cup to slip right out of her fingertips. JJ's head had whipped to hers from the kitchen table, anxiety written all over his expression. He knew what would occur the second their dad's angered gaze fell on the broken shards. And he wasn't about to let his little sister be his punching bag.

"It wasn't yours either." Kori voiced, her gaze dropping down to the bruises beginning to form along his jaw. "You didn't have to take the fall for me."

"I did, though," JJ replied, glancing down at the floor again. "Because I'm your brother. I might be shit at it sometimes, but I'm not gonna let him hurt you."

"And I'm your sister." Kori enunciated, lightly shrugging her shoulders. "We got dealt shit cards, but we both take the hit. Not just you."

JJ seemed like he wanted to argue, but nothing came out of his mouth. His jaw simply locked, his eyes fixated on a dirty shirt still crumpled on the floor. It didn't matter what she said, because he would always protect her. Just because their mom walked out on them and their dad turned into a man they didn't recognize anymore didn't take away from the fact that Kori was his responsibility. It wasn't her fault she looked like their absent mother or that the two of them were born with tragedy in their blood.

"And stop pulling the stupid older brother card. It's fifteen months. Get over it." Kori retorted.

JJ lifted his head to meet her green eyes, a smirk lifting the corners of his lips. "Fifteen months or not, everyone is always gonna see you as my baby sister. Get over it."

Kori rolled her eyes, lightly shoving his arm away. It quickly fell silent again as her eyes wandered up to the muddled patch of discolored skin on his face. Feeling her stare on him, JJ turned to his sister.

She let out a breath as they locked eyes. "You think he's passed out yet?"

He glanced at the locked door before returning his attention to her. "Wouldn't be surprised."

"I'll pack my bag." Kori stood, hesitating momentarily. She turned back to her brother as regret crossed her face. "Thanks, J."

He sent her a small smile and sighed as she crept out of the room. He knew John B would be glad for the company, but he couldn't help but be angry.

Angry at his mom for giving up. Angry at the fact that he and Kori had been abandoned. Angry at his dad for ruining them when they were only kids. Angry that their house hadn't felt like a home in years.

But most importantly, he was angry that his sister believed Luke— that the two of them were nothing more than worthless pieces of shit.

And no, he couldn't stop his dad or even change the cruel son of a bitch. But he could protect Kori. That, he could do. It was a given he would end up like his dad anyway, but Kori?

He would do anything to make sure those words didn't scar. Even if she already believed them, JJ would never turn his back on her. She was his little sister and he would never let anything bad happen to her.

Neither would the pogues. After all, blood doesn't make a family.