ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

Pogue friends

"Hell, do you even see? There is a difference between us and us."

❥

JJ and I have stayed here helping Pop and Mama Heyward hoping that Pope would come back soon. "I appreciate your help", Pope's mom says turning to me as I bring the salad from the kitchen, "And I'm glad that you're having dinner with us, Isabella." "Ms. Heyward is cooking. I don't miss out on that", JJ replies happily. 

I haven't spent a whole afternoon with JJ since we've been on the island. Crazy. "I'm always thankful for spending time with you, Lucia", I smile at her and set the table that JJ's just wiped. "You're even here together although you're broken up compared to my wayward son. He should be here already." My head pops up and I give Lucia a confused look. How'd she know? 

"Who's not together anymore?", Pop joins us. JJ gives me a shy look scratching his neck. I'd be lying if it wasn't for Pop and Lucia. "JJ and I but it's fine." "JJ, you-" "Pop, it's fine, honestly", I smile at him making sure he understands me. "Also why do you expect me to be the one going shit? Izzy's got a lot more admirers", JJ replies. I give him a serious look warning him not to max my compassion out. 

"I'm sure that Pope is going to be here soon, Ms. Heyward", Cleo tries to comfort her. I hope so.. That's not our Pope staying out so long making his mom nervous. "Hey, has anyone seen my gun?", Heyward asks a few minutes later after he's come back from the house again, "The one that's usually under the cash desk?" I immediately turn to the right watching Cleo and JJ who just as alarmed as I do. 

"JJ?" "Woah, okay, I haven't touched it, okay?" "He really didn't do anything, Pop. He's been here the whole time", I defend JJ feeling that it might have something to do with Pope.. "Fine but someone was it or it would be here", Heyward continues but worries even more when we shake our heads, "Look, Lucia. I need to find it!" 

"Fine, it has to be somewhere", she exclaims and follows Heyward back in. "Pope", Cleo whispers as the three of us lean in to each other. "He's going to go after Rafe. I'm going to look for him at Tanneyhill." "I'll go to the marina", Cleo decides. "I'll come with you", I say to JJ, "Rafe's usually at home by this time."

JJ and I drive to Tanneyhill with his bike. My heart pounds faster the closer we get. What if we find Pope? What if he shot Rafe? What if Pope goes to jail? I don't care about Rafe right now. He probably deserves what Pope would like to do to him but Pope shouldn't have to face any consequences. JJ was right. We'll find a way somehow to get justice. Just not today and not by using a gun.

"The light's on, is he in there?", JJ asks me but I shrug. How would I know? "Come on, we need to find it out", I tell him and pull him to the back door with me. "Never thought I'd break into Tanneyhill", JJ mumbles. "It's not breaking in when we got a key, right?", I reply. "Right, the kook princess." "God, will you shut up for one minute? It's been fine this afternoon", I snap at him as we slowly walk into the kitchen checking if we see anyone. 

"Yeah as long as everyone was around. But don't deny any facts, Bella", JJ mutters slightly pissing me off, "I've seen you with him today.. on his boat. You looked right out of kooklandia." "That's how you knew about the gold", I understand but don't forget to shoot back, "I came right there to Pope telling him about it. How much of a kook does that make me?" 

"You're still a kook just a bad one." "You know what?", I whisper-yell at him, "Maybe I am a kook, alright? Maybe I am the kookiest of us all. At least I can admit it. We've been trying to get the gold, trying to go full kook.. We wanted what they have. We're not better in any way apart from working hard." I hear a sound so I cut JJ off when he's about to say something. 

"Sh", I say and look around, "Hello? Anyone's home? Rafe, are you there?" No one replies. Ah, I just stepped on a piece of paper. "He's not here. Let's look for Pope outside." "Why are you even so mad?", JJ asks me pissed, "It's not like you jumped right back to Mr. Kook." 

"We're not dating. Even if I had let myself in.. today changes a lot", I state, "Look, JJ.. It's not like we only broke up, alright? I've lost my best friend. J, before we started dating, we've been so close. Hell, you boys were my closest friends. You were a brother to me. And all of the sudden that person turns their back on you like there's never been something else than this relationship. As if we haven't been friends before.. as if we haven't annoyed the shit out of John B and Pope before." "Iz-" 

"No, just forget about it, okay? It's stupid anyways", I cut him of shaking my head sadly. God, why did I just tell him that? JJ obviously feels differently. There was an us and now there's no us anymore. And he's fine with that. I stomp around the garden trying to find Pope somewhere when JJ pulls me back making me look at him. 

"Don't ever act like I don't care about you, Iz", JJ snaps at me moving his hands around him furiously, "Damn, you are my best friend, always have been. You're so right. I just.. I just didn't worry about it until now, okay? I thought you wouldn't want to talk to me anyways. Like it's completely over for you." 

"J, I'm not a kook who'd officially blame you for everything", I state bluntly, "I know the difference between a good and a dramatic breakup. I'd hate you if you gave me a reason for it. But I understand what Kie and you feel, alright? You mean the world to me and I loved being with you but I've realized that it all makes sense. We had issues before. It wasn't only you. I mean yeah you obviously macked on Kie but I couldn't let go of Rafe fully. Us being friends was always the right way." 

"Yeah, you're right", JJ mumbles nodding, "I'm sorry, Izzy, really. I love you no matter if you're my girlfriend or my best friend but it makes sense what you say." "We may love each other", I smile, "But we love each other more as friends and we love someone else more.. at least you." "I hope you're not intending-" "Just forget about the middle of the sentence", I interrupt him quickly not wanting to intend that I love Rafe. When we're about to hug, my phone buzzes.

Cleo 🏴‍☠️

I've found him at the marina

Pope's fine, he's home now