𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑾𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑺 /𝑗𝑗 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑘

𝟎𝟎𝟗.

___________________
𝑾𝑨𝑰𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑹𝑶𝑶𝑴
𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑤𝑜，𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 + 𝑓𝑜𝑢𝑟
𝟐𝟒:𝟑𝟐 — 𝟑𝟕:𝟏𝟖
𝟎𝟎:𝟎𝟎 — 𝟎𝟑:𝟐𝟗
___________________

AS WE CHUG along the winding sea to Charleston, I sit perched on the bed of the truck, my back pressed against my bag, my legs stretched out before me. The gentle lapping of the waves against the ferry's hull provides a soothing melody, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within me.

My friends seem to sense my unease and are trying to ease the tension by reverting to their usual banter. Kiara sits beside me, her voice animated as she launches into a tirade about her family's latest drama. "My parents are so paranoid of me being a Pogue, like it's the worst thing that could ever happen." she says, her words dripping with frustration.

Pope stands outside, half-leaning against the truck, his eyes lost in thought as he processes the complexities of our situation. I glance over at JJ, who's sitting on top of the car cabin, rolling a joint with a laid-back grin on his face. His legs dangle beside mine, and I catch his eyes locking onto my neck with a soft smile.

The gentle rustle of the wind through my hair and the distant cry of seagulls create a sense of serenity, but my mind is still reeling from the events that transpired. The weight of secrets and unspoken truths hangs heavy in the air, threatening to suffocate me at any moment.

As I gaze out at the horizon, I'm torn between the desire to break free from the shackles of my past and the fear of unleashing a maelstrom of emotions that could destroy everything I hold dear. The ferry chugs along, carrying us closer to our destination, but for now, I'm trapped in this truck.

As JJ's words hang in the air, a wispy cloud of smoke dancing around his lips, I feel a glimmer of the tension. "Hey, I hear they got good weed at boarding school, though." he jokes, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kiara's response is swift and sharp, her voice laced with defiance. "I'm not going to boarding school."

I offer her a reassuring smile, my own eyes locked onto hers with empathy. "You won't." I assure her, my voice soft but firm.

Kiara's laughter is a brittle thing, fragile and easily shattered. "They're gonna have to kidnap me, tie me up, and throw me in a van." she says, her words dripping with desperation for the boarding school situation was just a threat.

JJ jumps down from his perch, joint still clutched in his hand, and offers it to me with a sly grin. I take it between my fingers, feeling the familiar comfort of the familiar ritual. As I inhale the sweet smoke, I pass it to Kiara, watching as she takes it with a grateful smile.

"Well I say.. we just crumble some herb right now." JJ settles beside me, his right hand drifting onto my thigh in a gentle caress.

It's a gesture both familiar and comforting, a reminder of the easy friendship we've always shared, he always seems to know what to do even when he's mad at me. I take another long drag, feeling the tension in my chest begin to unravel. Kiara needs this moment of respite just as much as I do.