No Need 4 Gold | Outer Banks

Chapter Eight

"How was yesterday?" Cece was staring at Sarah, who was sitting at the other side of the table.

Sarah was eating a chocolate croissant from the cafe they were in, "Busy. What about you?"

Cece takes a sip of her latte, "Lonely. Topper and Rafe got in a fight with JJ and Pope, Kelce was there too."

"Oh," she takes another bite.

"You know who wasn't there?" Sarah shakes her head, "John B."

Sarah pauses. "Look, I just wanted some fun and adventure."

"Fun and adventure," Cece scoffs, "and that doesn't allow you to text back?" Sarah looks down at her breakfast. "Just tell me what happened."

Sarah looked up at Cece, "I can't tell you everything. I'm kinda sworn to secrecy... We kissed."

This hurt Cece. She was mad and sad. Their kiss made her realize that at the party was truly a drunken kiss. Sarah had kissed Topper and John B sober. But her... Cece only deserved a drunk kiss. "How many people have you kissed in the past three days?"

"Excuse me," Sarah looked confused.

"You say you're dating Topper, but instead of having sex with him you kiss me and then you spend a whole day with John B and kiss him." Cece remains calm, making sure that Sarah doesn't know that she hurt her, "Sarah you told me you didn't like him."

"I didn't know I did," Sarah looked sad and ashamed, "The thing at the party was us just being drunk, but I was sober yesterday. I really like him."

Cece sighed, "Well, if you like him then you can't be with Topper."

"After."

"After?" Cece was shocked by the sudden word.

"After midsummer. I can't break up with him before." Sarah says panicked, "Please don't tell him."

Cece sighs setting down her cup, "I won't."

~

Cece knew where she was going. All the kooks were busy getting all dressed up for midsummer. All the kooks. Even Kiara. Cece was headed to John B's house, she knew he would be there and more than likely JJ as well. Even though she knew Pope was helping with catering she hoped he would be there as well. "Knock, knock," the only thing between her and the interior of the house was a screen door. She heard footsteps reaching the door. John B and JJ stood in the door way, not opening the door. Cece stood there annoyed, "Can you let me in? We need to talk."

"We do?" John B looked back at JJ confused.

She sighed and pulled open the door and walked passed them. She tried to find a spot to sit down, but since she was already wearing her dress, she couldn't find a "clean" enough spot to sit. "Sarah told me where she was yesterday." The boys' eyes widened. "She also told me what happened."

"I thought you said she wouldn't snitch," JJ whispered loudly to John B.

"Snitch? How do you snitch on a kiss?" Cece looked at both boys confused.

John B's face got red and JJ started to laugh, "Kiss? You kissed her?!"

Cece took a step closer to JJ, "What did you think I was talking about?"

"Uh," JJ closes his mouth for a second, "Um... I don't know. But I um... need to... take a piss. I'll leave you here with John B!"

He left and John B was getting nervous, Cece just stared at him, "Anything anyone tells Sarah eventually gets to me, so just tell me."

He sighs, "It's going to sound ridiculous but... we are finding the Royal Merchant."

"The boat?"

"No," John B rolls his eyes, "the gold."

Cece laughs, "You're kidding, right?" He shook his head and she stopped. She cleared her throat, "Holy shit. You're actually looking for the gold. How close are you?"

John B looks down at his bare wrist, "Would you look at the time, you are going to miss your little party!" He pushes her out of his house and closes both doors.

~

Cece stood in the crowd, talking to adults she barely knew about her future. Sarah finally walked out. Cece rushed to her immediately, pulling her aside, "Girl! You didn't tell me about the gold!"

Sarah hushed her whispers. "Who told you?" Cece rolled her eyes and gave Sarah an obvious look, "You went to see John B?" Sarah saw people starting to stare, "Let's dance!" Cece gets dragged on to the dance area. Wheezie and her friends are dancing with them. Someone taps on Sarah's shoulder, getting the attention of both girls. "JJ?"

JJ moves his shoulders back and forth, trying to blend in, "Hey! I have a message from Vlad."

"Vlad?" Sarah smiles. Cece give JJ a get lost look. Sarah opens the letter and reads it.

Her smile grows bigger as Cece's confusion does, "Who's Vlad?"

"Um... we had code name when we went to Charleston." Sarah holds the note close to her chest, "I'm going to do some laps and try to find a non alcoholic drink." She walks away leaving Cece alone on the dance floor.

Cece starts to wander the party. Shortly after politely declining a conversation with the Carerras, Topper walks up to her, "Have you seen Sarah?"

"Not in a while, she went to find something without alcohol to drink," Cece looks around.

"Cool," Topper says as if he doesn't care. He walks away and Cece sighs, picking up a random glass and drinking it's contents.