DISCONTINUED / NO LONGER WRITING
❛ and its new, the shape of your
body, its blue the feelin' i got and
it's ooh, whoa-oh. it's a cruel summer.
and it's cool, that's what i tell 'em. no
rules in breakable heaven, but ooh,
whoa-oh. it's a cruel summer...
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𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 / 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗍𝗒-𝖿𝗈𝗎𝗋 ❛ you can't kill a pogue, dude. ❜
STELLA HADN'T SEEN Kildare County High School in forever, it seemed like. June was the last time she was in this school. She remembered walking out of it vividly, leaving tenth grade behind her.
She, John B, and the Pogues were overjoyed to finally be done. They hosted a bonfire the night of the last day and burned all their books. It was the best night of her life because it was one of the last times she remembered being happy and not involved in a treasure hunt.
She was in the backseat of Kiara's SUV with JJ, and the minute she stepped out of it, she felt all eyes on her and whispers from the strangers disguised as her classmates.
"Hey, chill out."
Stella looks over to see JJ taking a swig from his flask. "If I blackout, just don't remind me."
Stella rolls her eyes. Not that she could blame him. She kinda wished she were intoxicated right now, too.
"That's not funny."
Stella had her hands folded across her chest uncomfortably as she walked across the courtyard. Every step she and the Pogues took was plagued with whispers from all around like they were the murderers.
"It's them."
"There they are."
"I wasn't sure they'd show up."
"Stella looks miserable."
She groans and shifts uncomrtoably. No shit.
JJ notices her shift next to him and his hand reaches for hers, lacing his fingers through hers and giving it a quick squeeze. He doesn't look at Stella and he doesn't need to. She automatically relaxes.
Stella stops in front of a memorial dedicated to John B. Flowers, messages and pictures from his years at the school. A decorated boogie board with his name on it. Stella feels bile raise in her throat.
"I feel like people are staring at us." Kiara comments, looking around at the kids.
Stella and JJ both tilt their heads. "Oh, yeah."
"Guys, I can't be late." Pope begins to walk ahead.
"Hey. Hey. We gotta stick together." Kiara holds out her hands, to which Pope takes it. Stella pulls JJ forward and Kiara wraps her arm around Stella's.
They walk in together.
Being in the halls of this school without her brother made her heart pound in her chest. It felt like a kick to the gut. They passed his locker from last year and her heart quietly shattered.
Stella Routledge fell apart in utter silence.
JJ's hand squeezed hers lightly as they walked into the all too familiar history classroom. It used to be John B's favorite class.
