ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

daily business

"Five minutes of freedom, sounds like heaven to me."

❥

"So you and Rafe, huh", Pope sighs as we stand in front of Heyward's shop. Cleo's already upstairs in Pope's room while we still needed to have this conversation between us. "He's not good for you." "Who, Izzy?", Heyward joins us and gives me a worried look, "Did JJ hurt you?" God, he's just the best dad I know.

"No, Pop, it's fine", I smile at him but fail to lie easily. "What's happened, pumpkin?", Heyward asks me again making my surface crack. God, I hate crying. "JJ and I broke up a few days ago", I admit trying to keep it short but the tears speak for themselves. Heyward quickly pulls me into a warm hug.

"That boy is stressing me out", Heyward states and I know that he's looking at Pope during our hug. Heyward's always been afraid of JJ having a bad influence on Pope. He doesn't really dislike him.. he's just also not his biggest supporter. "You're better off without him, Pumpkin." "You're right", I mumble, "Probably."

Heyward lets go of me soon and says goodbye because he's got to be back in the shop and Pope and I also need to talk just the two of us. "He's the best, P", I sigh smiling, "I hope that we can give him the cross one day." "Me too, Iz. I want to make him and mom proud." "You already do! He's so proud of you, boy. Look how proud he was when you came back."

"Well, he's not as proud of me when I have to repeat a school year", Pope regrets. "He's just as proud of us as if you'd just went to college. You had your reasons. You fought for the right thing. It'll turn out just like we hope. I won't stop believing that it'll all be fine in the end." "Thanks for cheering me up, Izzy. It's always good to have you around which is also why I'd rather have you here than at Tanneyhill."

"I'm fine, really. Rafe wouldn't hurt me." "You believed so once and-" "That was way back then. I know what he's done and I won't forget about it but I also see him trying to be responsible. It'll take a lot more time, of course", I say convinced, "I mean.. I'm justifying what he's done. I just.. I'm torn between these two sides."

"Is sex with him really so good that it'd make up for his character?", Pope asks giving me a critical look. "You've got no idea how good it is behind closed doors", I chuckle honestly. "That was a rhetorical question, Iz", Pope groans. "Sorry, my innocent baby", I joke, "I remember how innocent you were when you and Kie-"

"God, Iz, sometimes you're such a John B. Your similarity is dangerous", Pope murmurs, "Are you sure you'll be okay? What if Kie and JJ start dating?" "I'm not the kind of girl to ruin a friendship for a boy. I can accept any feelings between them. They just need to talk to me in a respectful way." "So you're still in the no love club?"

"Until further notice, yes. Actually, I think you two will leave me there alone anyways. Cleo and you-" "Not today", Pope laughs, "Honestly, it's too early but it may be possible." "It's fine. I'll just pretend to have no feelings and get my pleasure. Sounds easier to me", I shrug jokingly but Pope nudges me and gives me a warm hug. "Pogues for life, Iz." "I'd never forget that, P."

"Hello? Rafe, are you here?", I call through the house when I'm back at Tanneyhill. I wonder where Rafe is but I could care less right now. I haven't been alone by myself in a few months. I actually need to change my clothes firstly. It's such a great feeling to be able to change my clothes again. I've learnt to appreciate that opportunity during our time on the island. When I open the door to Rafe's room, I see the coke on the drawer.

We haven't tidied up anymore yesterday. I glance at the bed remembering what's happened there last night.. how Rafe made me feel alive that moment. God, sex was never an issue. Here I am back to overthinking when I was enjoying the freedom for a minute. I take a look at the coke. Is it the coke calming me down? I mean.. it's worth a try, right?

If it won't be used up it'll just go to waste so why not.. I lay it out in a line and sniffle it up quickly. Feels fresh. A lot better than joints. What should I do with my free afternoon? What did I do before we've been hunting a treasure and been hunted by men with guns? Right, I used to lay by the pool sometimes. Definitely gonna do that.

I change into a bikini and make myself a drink in the kitchen before I lay down on the lounger. Apart from some birds, I hear nothing at all. That sounds like freedom. "Iz?" Is that.. Kiara? Perfect timing, cousin. I sigh and take a look to my side. There she is. "Why'd you come here?", I ask confused.

"I think I've got a reason to apologize to you", Kie mumbles and plays with her hands unsurely. "Which one exactly?" "Almost kissing JJ.. being mean to you afterwards", Kie sighs, "And calling you a kook. Although you look like a kook right now." I smile at her lightly. That's our kind of humor.

"I know right. I'm the perfect kook, am I not?" "You're a pogue, seriously", Kie states and sits down next to me, "I shouldn't have said that in the first place and I shouldn't have almost kissed JJ. I'm sorry, Iz." "You know what's funny?" "Not really."

"I'm not even mad about you almost kissing", I tell her, "I love you both enough to accept your feelings. But you weren't honest to me because you weren't honest with yourself. And you used to me piss me off when you told me he would only hurt me. I'm fine with feelings changing."

"But?" "But you were mean to me afterwards. None of you just apologized. Instead, you attacked me when saying I'm not even a pogue and stuff. What hurt me most was the risk of losing you and JJ as friends when you confess your feelings for each other and it actually happened. Where are my friends now?"