ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

burn to ashes

"These ashes might arise to a phoenix one day."

"No way", I gasp when I arrive at the chateau and see John B stand in the garden. How did he get out now? Last time seemed to have been a coincidence when Shoupe got the message that the gun that killed Peterkin belonged to the Cameron's. This time.. no, Shoupe wouldn't help him again. Not this fast after arresting him. 

"Thought I was finally gone for real this time?", John B jokes as I approach him just to hug him tightly seconds after. "You dickhead, don't make jokes about this!", I exclaim laughing and look at Sarah when John B lets go of me. „Hey", I smile at her which she returns weakly. "Sarah talked to Topper to give us another day", John B tells me and points to the others, "I'm going to take a look at JJ to see if he.. well, if he's still not injured. Baracuda Mike is another enemy now." 

I nod knowing that he wants me to talk to Sarah. I would have talked to her anyways. I know that she's afraid of the others' opinion but that's what I'm here for. We've been friends before Topper and her happened and before she switched to John B. I wouldn't blame her for anything. Both boys are hellish dickheads. 

"How'd you save our asses this time?", I ask her lightly so she smiles at me relieved. "We'll get the jet tomorrow." "Wait, this jet?", I repeat gasping, "How could you convince Ward to let us use the jet?" "I actually persuaded your dad who told my dad to say yes. Harvey looked disappointed that he found out through me so you should talk to him before. I don't think he's the puppet master behind their plans and I know how long you've been dreaming of a real family. Give him a chance." 

"You know how it ended when we gave our dads a chance last time", I mumble and decide to change the topic, "Did you talk to him?" "We've been talking on our way here but only about uninteresting things. We didn't talk about us." "He'll forgive you, promise. John B is resentful but not as bad. He'll get over it." 

"Do you think so?" "You wouldn't be here if I wasn't right. You belong to us, Sarah." "And you belong here, too. Not to Ra-" "Okay, I might be mature enough to talk about you and John B but I'm definitely not able to talk about your brother", I chuckle and Sarah joins me. "I wasn't sure if the pogues would-" "No, don't ever say that. We're a family."

Some time later, John B and Sarah have left to be alone in their room, Pope and Cleo are in the kitchen and JJ and Kie are in the living room together so I decided to lay down in the other bedroom. What if I had stayed with Rafe tonight? Would I be third-wheeling next to him and Sofia? Or would I be with someone and not feel lonely? I love the pogues but right now with all these couples, things feel so different. I always had the boys and the girls separately. 

"Guys!" "Guys!" What the hell is going on now? I hope JJ didn't accidently set a fire. To make sure that everything's fine I stand up but Kie runs into me when she opens the door. "Iz, there's a fire." "Wait, Kie, what does that mean?", I reply instinctively although I exactly know what she means. 

When I look outside, I can already see huge flames on the outside of the chateau. I hear the others run out of their rooms and we all try to find a door that can be open. We're fully alarmed but the more the flames rise, we panic but manage to break the window in the living room so we can finally flee into the garden.

Within the past hours, the chateau's completely burned down. A few times, we still cough. Hopefully none of us gets serious health problems. If only we had the time to get a check up with a doctor. "Could have been a defective cable", Pope assumes. "Been a house made of wood.. flammable", Kie states mumbling. "Just like that exploded.. boom", JJ sighs dramatically, "One fact is pretty clear.. whoever it is above us, he can't like you much. I'm sorry." Yeah, rub it in, JJ. Survived one more time? Check.

"Sarah, when was the pilot supposed to be here?", John B asks her as we're trying to think of a plan at the dock. "About an hour. When he's arrived, we can decided when we start the airplane." "Well.. as much as I'd like to ghost my parents, I can't." "Pope, we're talking about El dorado. Can't you sneak out?" "Great suggestion." "Always worked for me. How to avoid unpleasant situations for beginners. If there's a problem that you don't want to face, you just turn around and go the other way", JJ advices him recklessly.

"Ouch", John B breathes out the word that I was thinking of. Exactly. Ouch. More like.. How to avoid an unpleasant situation with your girlfriend.. right, you just turn to her cousin. I might have said that I'm over it but whenever JJ acts like this.. so reckless, I'm not over it. It's not about romantic feelings here. It's just.. he's my friend and I feel like he doesn't respect me enough to think of the right words when I'm around.

I look at JJ to see if he understands what John B is thinking about but JJ frowns at me. "I didn't run away." Uh uh.. first fight we had in school after John B and Sarah went missing? He ran away. I won't count the many times because it'd be too long for me. "JJ, seriously-" "It's fine, J", I interrupt John B and hold him back by his arm, "We've got real problems now." "Exactly", JJ adds as if I understood the problem when in reality I only told them that my problem doesn't count. Well, my mistake.

"And it's not my style", Pope adds coming back to the actual topic. "I just want you to join." "You can count on me. You all can count on me", Pope assures us, "We'll meet on the runway in an hour."

Pope and Cleo leave together and JJ and Kie leave us to go to their houses as well. I don't miss their little interaction as they walk back. "I'll leave you two alone. You probably have some topics to talk about", I say as I stand up. I don't even know what I would do now. I just want them to have some space for themselves. "No Iz, wait. Don't go alone", Sarah tells me but I shake my head. "I'm fine", I smile at them, "Also thanks for the help, J. It's appreciated."