ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

let's repeat the past

"Because of you.. I laugh harder, cry less and smile a lot more."

❥

"So how did you get to know JJ and Pope?", Cleo asks. "Through John B actually. Him and JJ have been friends before and we began hanging out the three of us or sometimes only two of us, just like now. Pope, do you want to continue?", I nudge him remembering how sweet he's been already when he was a kid. Pope gives me a tortured look but smiles at me. 

"I had a crush on her when I was seven. The cute girl from figure eight-" "It's getting even more interesting", Cleo grins widely, "I need popcorn actually." "Wait for me, I'll take care of that", I exclaim happily and quickly stand up and walk back into Heyward's shop to get snacks first. I should have thought of that before. 

"Isabella", he greets me pleased, "It's good to see you. Are you having fun outside?" "Yeah, we actually tell Cleo the story how we all met as kids so we thought some snack would be great", I tell him as I take some popcorn and chocolate bars out of shelves and give to him at the cash desk. "It's on me, Isabella. I'm glad when you spend some time together and you're not getting chased for that cross." I smile at Heyward. 

"You don't really believe this is over, right?" "I've got high hopes. Don't play with the feelings of an old man like me." "You're not an old man, H. I get that you don't trust the process in general but trust your son. There's no one who's got a heart of gold like him. He just wants to live a little", I explain to him and give him a twenty dollar note, "My whole childhood addiction's been on you already." 

"It's only $ 6,98, Isabella. No, don't you-" "You're the best, Heyward", I call as I leave the store with the sweets so he can't give me back the money unless he wants to sit down with Cleo, Pope and I. "Your dad's a total gem. 100 out of 100", I say to Pope as I sit back down with them and share the sweets with them. 

"I don't know why he's so obsessed with you. You're a kook", Pope jokes and takes a bite of the chocolate bar, "He'd never give me them for free on a random tuesday. Especially not after me having to repeat the last school year." "Oh damn. That sucks", I mutter, "I'll talk to anyone who's keeping you from the next level." 

"No, please. It'll look like I need my friend's dad's money and I-" "No, Pope, seriously. You're one of the smartest people I know actually the smartest man I know. They're stupid, for real. They just don't want to lose you being around." "God, Iz", Pope chuckles, "I have to rethink what I'll do when all of this is over." "Yeah right, it's not the end yet", I agree knowing that Pope also feels weird about John B keeping secrets from us. We all know it, we're just waiting for him to confess it. 

"So how'd you speak up to the cute girl from figure eight?", Cleo mocks Pope nudging him. Why haven't I seen this earlier? She likes him! They need to get together. Cleo's that spicy part that's been missing in Pope's life and has been replaced by JJ until now. "JJ thought it'd be great talking to her about 1984, a book by George Orwell." 

"Jeez, you've always been a geek?" "Hey, he looks great for a geek", I butt in jokingly and Cleo gives me a look. Yeah, I am right. She likes him. "So I asked her if she would want to hear about it and I was probably talking for five minutes until she confessed that she's got no idea what I'm talking about", Pope remembers, "But she asked me if my dad is Heyward who owns the store on the cut where John B and her go sometimes." 

"I remember saying if that's your dad, you must be great", I laugh and Cleo and Pope join me. "But Pope made me read the book actually. I thought it was interesting how he was so caught up in his thoughts. He actually made me like school", I explain further, "That's how the four of us became friends." "What about Kie?" "She was in and out. She went too kook academy as well and had some issues with Sarah so she fully decided on being with us two years ago."

"And how'd your love story with polo boy started?", Cleo returns to the first questions. "I was having an on off thing with a pogue-" "Namely John B", Pope butts in grinning. "No way. You and John B?", Cleo exclaims, "You and John B, you and JJ and you and Polo.. What about Pope? You guys kissed?" "No", Pope quickly shakes his head. 

"Oh, it'd be funny if you had kissed all three of them." "Kie has", I chuckle. "Seriously?" "Yeah, John B thought he liked her but she didn't want to risk their friendship which was smart when I compare it to JJ's and my situation." "And you and her..?", Cleo reassures herself looking at Pope, "Like we talked about it in St. Kitts." "She hasn't kissed JJ yet, not that I know. But I'm sure it'll happen", I nod. 

"So you and John B?" "Yeah we've believed that we're into each other and things happened you know.. I think we were too afraid of anything more serious happening. One morning he treated me weirdly after we'd gone that far to be each other's firsts. I thought I was only being a rebound for anything so I distanced myself and spent more time on figure eight. Rafe has been flirting with me ever since we were old enough to actually like the other gender." 

"Ah, back to the classic lovestory of childhood friends." "Exactly. Rafe and I had great moments but also sad ones. I broke up with him about a year ago. JJ's helped me a lot and we kinda fell for each other. And here we go." "Iz also made me keep it a secret", Pope complains about that one day when we've been to lighthouse and he found us kissing. "It was sweet of you", I grin innocently. "So Sarah just started being friends with all of you?" 

"John B fell for Sarah and brought her to the chateau. Kie freaked out because they hated each other back then because of a stupid birthday party which Kie wasn't invited to. JJ spilt our secret as well." "You should have seen them. John B's eyes widened widely. He was like 'you'd date him but dump me'", Pope laughs, "That day was fun. At least for me." "Only for you", I add. "I wish I'd been with you earlier", Cleo sighs amused by our stories.