Tidal Wave. | obx szn 1

Interview.

Aurora watches as Pope walks into his house. She knows that his parents are going to give him a hell of a time.

"Rory, I'll drop you off next, yeah?" JJ asks.

"Uh, no, I—" Aurora stops. She fidgets with her rubber band. "I can't go home right now."

"Oh." JJ says. "So, where do you wanna go?"

"Just drop me off at the Marina." Aurora tells him. "I'll go to Martha's for awhile."

JJ nods. The Marina is close to the Heyward home.

—

Aurora sighs as she walks into Martha's. She knows Graham works tonight.

"Hey, Rory." Graham smiles as she walks in.

"Hi, G." Aurora smiles back. She fiddles with her fingers and looks around the restaurant.

"Are you okay?" Graham asks.

Aurora walks up to the barstool table and sits in front of Graham. "I just— I want to talk to someone that isn't complicated."

"Yeah?" Graham smiles. "Who would that be?"

"Oh, is Cesar working tonight?" Aurora says sarcastically.

Graham throws a dishrag towel at her. "Shut up."

Aurora laughs. "I'm just messing with you. A lot of things are really complicated right now, and, I don't know. I miss this."

Graham nods slowly. "Yeah, I do too."

"Everything used to be so simple. You know?"

"Yeah. I get it. Life kinda... sucks." Graham laughs.

Aurora smiles and nods. "Yeah, it does."

"Why're you in here so late?"

"Rough night." Aurora answers. "There's a ton of stuff going on right now. I just wanted to be somewhere safe for right now." She rubs her forehead.

"Well, you're always welcome here, Rory." Graham says. "Martha's is safe."

"Thank you, Graham."

Graham nods. He watches as Aurora climbs into a booth and lays down. She's done this before. Graham always lets her sleep. He's never woken her up before.

Graham made sure Aurora was safe all night. He checked in on her every now and then.

When the sun just starts to rise, Pope Heyward walks past Martha's. He's in a suit and tie. Graham has never had anything against Pope. He's always been a nice guy, and he treats Aurora well.

Bobby Heyward, Pope's dad, follows after him. He looks mad. Pope looks stressed.

Graham puts the pieces together. Today is Pope's interview for his scholarship.

Graham runs to Aurora and wakes her up.

"What the hell, G?" Aurora groans.

"Pope is outside." Graham says. "He looks stressed as hell."

Aurora pops up out of the booth. She looks out the windows that line the entire wall of Martha's. Pope and Bobby yell at each other.

Aurora kisses Graham on the cheek. "Thank you for everything."

She runs out of Martha's. When she lays her eyes on him, a wave of satisfaction comes over her. "Pope."

Pope looks around his dad. When his eyes meet Aurora, his stress is completely gone. He's never felt so calm before.

"Ace."

Aurora runs up to Pope and practically leaps into his arms. He holds her in the hug until he's ready to let go.

"You're going to do great, Pope." Aurora smiles. "I'll wait for you right here." Aurora sits on the curb outside Town Hall.

"Thank you."

Aurora is nervous for Pope while she waits outside. She also can't stop thinking about the plan that her and her dad made the day before.

Harrison Minerva walks out of town hall. He immediately notices his daughter on the curb.

"Bug?" Harrison says. He places his hand on her back and sits beside her. "What's going on?"

"Pope has his interview today." Aurora explains. She picks at the weeds that have been growing out of the cracks in the road. "I'm waiting for him."

"Can I wait with you?" Harrison asks.

Aurora nods. She puts her head on her dad's shoulder. Aurora holds a lot of gratefulness for her dad. He is an incredible man. She's so glad she still has him.

They wait for Pope a little while longer.

Pope runs out of Town Hall. "Rory, I figured it out."

Aurora and Harrison stand up and look at Pope. "Figured out what?"

"Ward is putting the gold on a plane today. He's getting the gold off the island."

Aurora and Harrison look back and forth between each other. Aurora rubs the back of her neck. "Uh, yeah, about that—"

"We know, Pope." Harrison says. "We were waiting to tell all of you guys until after your interview."

"What?" Pope starts getting frustrated with the father and daughter standing before him.

"We created a plan, Pope." Aurora says.

"Get in the car." Harrison guides the two teens towards his car. "We've gotta get to the Chateau."