One Stupid Thing

2:0:42

Before the events of season 2 occur

The sun is shining, the breeze is cool, and there is nothing but open water surrounding me. I am standing on a boat in the middle of the ocean, yet I am perfectly still. There isn't a single wave in sight. It's odd, but I ignore it.

"Hey, Stella! Over here!" I hear someone yell. I look over to see all of my friends. JJ, Kie, Pope, and even John B and Sarah, completely alive and well. My sister waves me over and I walk across the deck to meet them.

Suddenly, the sky grows darker. Ominous clouds loom overhead and thunder booms like a drum. Bright flashes of lightning illuminate the horizon. The ocean that was once still, is now pushing my boat back and forth with powerful waves. I feel myself being knocked all over the place with nothing to hang onto.

"Stella! Help me!" I hear Sarah yell. I hurry over to find her hanging out of the boat, gripping the edge like her life depends on it. The water below her laps at he ankles and threatens to take her down with it. Just as Sarah's hands slip off the edge, I grab them and hang onto her as tight as I can.

A large wave approaches threateningly. It's shape is haunting and sends shivers down my spine. The ocean ripples to reveal what looks like my father, but made from water. His dripping hands reach out from the wave and grab onto Sarah's ankles, pulling her away from me. I try as hard as I can to hang onto her, but as harsh rain pelts down, the water loosens my grip. Sarah slips through my fingers and the large wave swallows her whole.

"Stella..." she echoes.

"Sarah! No!" I cry. I open my eyes and they adjust to the pitch black bedroom at the Chateau. I'm completely dry and safe on land, sitting up in JJ's bed. It was just a nightmare, Stella. But, if it was just a bad dream, why does it feel so real. I feel sweat beading on my forehead and my heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest. My breath comes in shallow gasps and warm tears spill from the corners of my eyes.

"Stella? Hey, hey! You're okay. It was just a nightmare," JJ's groggy voice calms me. He sits up against the headboard and pulls me into his chest. I focus on feeling his lungs expand and contract beneath me and synchronize my breathing with his in order to slow my heart rate. JJ lifts a gentle hand to my face and wipes the tears from my cheeks.

"She was right there, J. I could've sworn she was," I sniffle.

"Who was, baby?"

"Sarah. It was so real. I can still feel her hands in mine." I hold my hands out in front of my face and examine them. They are trembling like leaves. JJ wraps both my hands in his and kisses my forehead tenderly. "I miss her so much it hurts."

"I know, I know. I've got you," JJ runs his hand up and down my back comfortingly. It takes a few minutes for me to fall back asleep, but it isn't for long. I feel JJ stir beneath me as he tries to slip out unnoticed.

"Hey, where are you going?" I ask him as I rub my tear-crusted eyes.

"Oh, I, uh, gotta get ready for work," he replies sheepishly.

"Work? You got a job? That's amazing! Why didn't you tell me?" I sit up and shove his shoulder playfully.

"There was just so much going on. I didn't want to make things worse," he says. He stands up and slips on a black polo and khaki shorts. He looks so good all professional like that.

"Make things worse? JJ, this is great. I'm so happy for you," I gush. "Where at?"

"The, uh, the island club, actually. I'm just bussing tables, but money's money, right?" JJ sits at the end of the bed and puts on his shoes.

"Well isn't that ironic," I laugh, throwing the covers off of me and walk over to him. "How did you land this gig? Do I even want to know?"

"Heyward. I guess he pitied me enough this time to help me out instead of just ridicule every choice I've ever made in my life," JJ tells me. I sit sideways on his lap and wrap my arm around his shoulders for stability. He leans in and plants a soft kiss on my lips, snaking his arm around my waist to pull me in. The kiss is brief, but sweet. I go in for a second and pull away with a dramatic groan.

"Do you have to go?" I complain.

"Yes, I do. It's my first day. If I want to actually keep this job, I need to make a good impression," JJ replies.

"Ugh, okay." I smile and stand up. I walk JJ out to his bike and lean over to kiss him one more time. "Good luck."

"Thank you. I'll need it." JJ revs the engine and drives off. When I turn around to go back inside, I notice something on the other side of the yard. As I approach to investigate, the sight becomes clear. Carved into the trunk of the large oak tree is a heart and burned into the center of it 'John B Routledge. 2003 - 2020. P4L'. His own makeshift gravestone. I hear footsteps crunch through the grass and Kiara and Pope appear at my sides.

"It's perfect," I admire.

"It was all JJ's idea. He knew John B would've loved it," Kiara tells me.

"He definitely would have," I reply, reaching out to wrap my arms around their shoulders. The three of us stand there and stare at the memorial for a few moments. John B will live on here, for as long as this tree stands.

"Alright, I gotta go study," Pope says, pulling away.

"Study? For what?" I ask. I look over at him in confusion.

"Uh, school. It starts tomorrow, remember? If I'm going to get into a good school I need to prepare myself." Pope shrugs.

"Dude, how are you going to study for classes we haven't even started yet?" Kie asks him. Pope just shrugs and purses his lips.

"Shit. I totally forgot about that," I say. I reach up and place my hands on either side of my head.

School. It's not that I struggle with schoolwork or anything. I excel at it, but it's the people that I'm worried about. After everything that has happened, I can't stand the thought of everyone pitying me. Staring at me and judging me again. Once again I will just be Sarah Cameron's little sister, but instead of being compared to her, everyone will just treat me like a fragile child because she is gone.

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And that's the end of my little bonus episode! I enjoyed being able to write everything from scratch with these characters and how they interact on they're own.