ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

no offence but

"No offense means I'm about to hurt your feelings but let's pretend I don't."

❥

JJ and I immediately call after John B but we realize he's too fast and too angry for us to stop him verbally. John B wouldn't listen to us in that moment. He's way too emotional. I completely understand him.. it's just that I don't want him to do something stupid like- Yeah, that's him pushing himself past someone only for that person to be shocked about the broken glasses when he fell down.

John B finally stops in front of Topper giving me the chance to keep pace with him and stay right behind him. JJ stopped a few steps earlier next to Kie. Thank god, John B stopped. Come on, bird, turn around. Get in the damn boat and let's drive away. If he would only listen to me. "John B", Topper sighs when he understands why John B is right in front of him with that look on his face, "Not here."

"John B, no", Sarah whispers knowing exactly what is going to happen. "J, come on", I whisper laying my hand on his shoulder to make him steps back but he shrugs me off. "I don't go along with this", Topper states disinterestedly but in a provoking way, "Leave us alone, man." "You know what you've done", John B mutters almost spitting the words out.

"Hey, man, not here, not right now, alright?", Topper continues, "Look it's the Carrera's party, Bella's organized it. I wouldn't ruin it in your case if I was a real friend." God, Topper, shut up. "John B, you've proved a point. Come on, bud, let's get back to the boat", I try to calm him down but he ignores me once again. "I'd leave if I was you."

"John B, could you for once in your life just turn around without people watching and leave?", Sarah pleads looking at him worriedly, "Please, don't do it." I look from Sarah to John B and back when Topper provokes John B once more. "Hey, no offence-" "Topper." "Everything fi-" John B suddenly turns around and beats Topper to the ground with just one hit. Dear god, that happened too quickly too forcefully. Topper tries to defend himself but he's being beaten back to the ground by John B.

"John B, don't!", I shout trying to stop him but he's also doing exactly what Topper provoked him to. "Did you like that Topper, huh? Do you want more?", John B shouts making me forget everyone around us. I kneel down to try to push him back as he continues slamming his fist into Topper's face. Punch after punch until Topper's face is covered by blood. "John B, don't-"

"Do you like that, Topper, huh? Do you want more?" I hear voices behind and next to us until I feel a hand in my face and suddenly, I don't feel anything at all for a moment. I instincitively lay my hand on my right cheek feeling liquid on my skin and smelling the smell of iron. I'm bleeding.

When I open my eyes again, John B is pushed back by Mike and my dad but John B looks nowhere but to me now. He seems to have forgotten about Topper and Sarah. His focus is on me. I realize why that is the case when I see the blood on my hand. John B hit me. But he wouldn't.. no. I couldn't see him. He must have got a hold of me when he lunged out to beat Topper once more.

"J", I whisper hoping he wouldn't worry about it but I can see the shock in his face and the anger in my dad's, Mike's and everyone else's eyes. God, just what I can't need right now. "Get away!" People yell at John B, mainly the two men and Sarah. JJ has stormed over to us and gives me a worried look but understands the situation well enough to just pull John B with him back to the boat.

"What's gotten into you?", Sarah yells at John B as he stumbles away, "He couldn't even defend himself! Is a doctor here? We need a doctor!" Everything happens so quickly. Sarah and John B. John B attacking JJ. John B accidently hitting me. Topper's mom storming over. Everyone else freaking out and talking bullshit about pogues right behind me.

"Here", dad says softly holding a cold pack in front of me and whispers something about John B actually hitting me and freaking out. "It's not that bad, dad", I reply furling my eyebrows confused, "He didn't mean to hit me." "You haven't seen yourself, Isabella", dad sighs. "Thanks, good to know", I reply sarcastically.

"You know what I mean. He got you bad. God.. I should have seen him storming here earlier and-" "Dad, calm down. John B didn't mean to hurt me. I know him. That's all I care about." Dad sighs once more but is interrupted by Topper's mom calling him over. "I'm coming", he tells her not taking his look away from me.

"Call Rafe, please. He needs to pick you up and get you back to Tanneyhill. I know it's not easy for you at the moment being there but that's the only place where I can send you now. I'll hopefully be back later tonight." "No, dad, that's not a good idea", I shake my head vehemently.. well as hard as I can with feeling dizzy.

"It's the only idea that I've got right now. I'll help Cynthia and Topper. Just please.. listen to me and don't go back to the cut now", dad warns me so I finally nod. He wouldn't let me persuade him anyways and maybe he's right. The chateau might not be the best place for today. Tomorrow is a new day.

I instinctively turn around wishing to take a look at John B but JJ and him have already left. Might be better for them but.. they're my best friends, my brothers. If there's one place where I feel home it's the chateau. The cut is where I'm from. The place that made me who I am. Instead, I would return to Tanneyhill today. The one home that brings more contradictions than anything else.