stevie | outer banks | JJxOC

34- He killed him

They spent the rest of the day setting up a winch system that could be used to get the rest of the gold out of the well. Pope did most of it with help from both Stevie and Kie and JJ helped until he got bored which was about 2 minutes into it. Stevie also took a break to change the bandage on her leg which was still very painful but the intense painkiller helped a tonne. It was frustrating that they had to wait all day for John B but at least it meant Pope could test the system out before using it under the Crain house.

Not only was Pope setting up the winch, but he had also all the stress of his scholarship weighing down on him too. "Pope?" Stevie took him aside, "I know it's your thing but you don't need to be this stressed."

"I-i- can't," Pope stuttered, feeling the weight of his future pressing down on him, "this is my chance. I need to get this interview. I will never be treated the same way as Kook students, this is my only way of being in the same boat as them. This is my life."

"You know you're better than any of those Kook students though, right?" Stevie asked him honestly, looking into his eyes so he knew she meant it from her heart. "You have something they'll never understand. You can look up and down this country and find intelligent kids like you but none of them have the intense loyalty or hard work ethic or the love for your friends, family and community that you have. We live in a place where you owe or you believe you're owed, and you are owed the biggest, most vibrant and most colourful chance in life you can get. If this isn't it then it's fine because the world will need you, Pope."

"Thank you," his eyes filled with tears of immense happiness and gratitude. He lunged forward and captured her in the softest hug. She laughed and hugged him back, wanting nothing more than the best, and for him to boost his confidence.

Realising she got a bit deep, Stevie backtracked into her usual persona. "So calm down, man, you'll be fine."

Stevie left him to join JJ who was sitting with his feet dangling in the hot tub. He was wearing a simple white vest that covered his maroon bruises but still showed his tanned arms, which Stevie couldn't help but like. Almost as an instinct, she took the beer from his hands without asking and took a swing as she sat down on the edge before hanging it back as if nothing happened, "Okay?" JJ sounded slightly confused but also he didn't care, "What did you talk to Pope about?"

"Told him he needed to calm down." Stevie smiles, feeling comfortable sitting with JJ amongst her friends.

"He's never gonna do that," JJ smiled back and Stevie wanted to preserve the moment. The long-running low level of sadness that crept into her life felt like it was slowly becoming more manageable. Pressure lifted from her life because of JJ's lightness. "John B pulling a Houdini," JJ commented as he realised the time. Pope let Kie down from the tree slowly as he complained about the timing of his interview, proving he had not calmed down.

"Speak of the devil," Stevie smiled as she saw her brother emerge from behind one of the ancient oaks.

"Dude, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything." JJ lied, making Stevie chuckle slightly at the blatant dishonesty. Her eyeline shifted from JJ to her brother and she could tell something was wrong with his demeanour.

"No, he did not. I did that." Pope said deadpan. When he kept walking, ignoring everyone, she knew something had happened. John B looked pissed

"Hey?" Stevie quickly jumped out of the hot tub to follow him. "John?"

Only a few seconds behind, Stevie followed her brother and tried to get his attention as John B looked through the house. She was then joined by the pogues who all equally shared the confused look. "What are you looking for?" Kie asked as the group stood back slightly from John B who appeared to be in some kind of rampage.