PAPER RINGS ༄ ❀ JJ MAYBANK & KIARA CARRERA

011.

The Chateau was home for all the pogues. Even though some of them had their own houses like Kiara and Pope, who had families. they perfered camping out at the Chataue. But, maybe it wasnt the old fish shack that gave them a sense of stability

Ever since all the kids knew each other, the Routledge fish shack was somewhere they all hung out. After school, before school, skipping school. the weekends when Big John was away and John B threw parties for the teens of the Cut. Or when the five just wanted to relax with each other.

Every member of the five pogues loved the chateau. There were countless nights of sleepovers between the five. Even when Big John was there, but it came more reoccuring when the man went missing.
There were many nights when all of them cramped up on the pullout couch together. Every one of them had a reason they loved it so much.

When Pope came, it was either he had finished with his homework and his father didnt need any help with the store, or he had to beg Heyward to let him off and the old man got so annoyed with him that he had no other choice but to say yes. He liked it because he had no responsiblilites but being with his friends.

Kiara would come after having to sneak out of the house through her bedroom window, or she would lie to her parents about her whereabouts and end up getting in trouble later. Anna and Mike were obsessed with trying to make Kiara a perfect kook. Surrounding her in money and forcing her to do things she didnt like. Up to an extent it was understandable that they wanted their daughter to live a good life but eventually they have to accept that they cant force Kiara to be something she isnt. For her, it was like freedom.

JJ was always at the chateau. Ever since Nadia came to the OBX he was there almost everyday and she guessed that it was like that before she arrived at the island. It wast until later when she seen him full of bruises and cuts that she realized why he was there all the time. It was his excape from his father. He didnt have to listen to his constant rants about being a useless son, and he didnt have to be a personal punching bag.

For Nadia, it wasnt so much as the chateau that gave her comfort, but the people surrounding it when she came home from work. It gave her memories of when she would come home from work late at night before her mother passed away. She remembers clearly how she would cover her sick mother up after she passes out on the couch for many nights in a row. It was sad in many peoples eyes, even Nadias, but when she came home after a long day at work and seem the Poguea crowded around the fire outside it was like a sweet reminder that she still had people.

Seeing John Bs face as they pulled up to the fish shack was something Nadia wouldnt be able to shake from her mind. She couldnt imagine what it was like for him to be on the run not knowing if he'll ever see the house he lived in for most if not all of his life, and then suddenly appearing in front of it.

"I bet its good to see her old bones again," JJ was the first to speak as they pulled up to the side of the dock. He grasped John Bs shoulder, giving his best friend a tight squeeze in reassurance.

"Welcome home, my loves." Nadia spoke softly kissing both John Bs and Sarahs heads. The couple send her a grateful smile, hugging the side of her as they helped one another off the boat along with the other pogues.

Nadia helped JJ tie off the boat to the dock as Kiara made an appearance beside them. She let out a long sigh "i gotta be honest, im not exactly looking forward to a check in at home." She sounded a little annoyed but they all knew she was nervous of going back. "My parents probably already arranged my funeral"

"I predict unpleasentries at the Heyward household aswell." Pope agreed, not feeling to confident either "especially after i left the truck in Charleston."