One Stupid Thing

3:8:97

When the light of the world had died out, Sarah group texted all of us Pogues practically begging to just hear her out and meet her at the Chateau.

"You don't have to go if you aren't ready," Ryan told me.

"It doesn't matter if I am ready or not. I'm going to help John B get his dad back whether JJ is apart of it or not. I'm a Pogue, Ry. Even if JJ and I aren't together anymore that's who I am," I replied.

And so, Ryan agreed to let me go as long as he could drop me off. Being that the only alternative was walking halfway across the island, I allowed it.

I shut the passenger door of Ryan's Ram truck behind me and made my way up the gravel path. A million thoughts are running through my head all at once. I haven't seen, let alone interacted, with JJ since the party. How am I supposed to act? What am I supposed to say? Do I even bother saying anything at all? With a deep sigh, I reach up and touch the space between my collarbones where the sun pendant used to lay. My heart aches and I have to fight every instinct that is telling me to turn back around.

Barely a second passed by after I knocked on the front door when it opens. My gut twists in knots when my gaze meets ocean blue. I feel frozen, as if the soles of my feet have been permanently attached to the wooden planks I'm standing on. "Uh—Is... is S-Sarah here?" I stammer. God, this is so embarrassing. Pull it together, Stella.

Before JJ can respond, a familiar accented voice calls from inside the Chateau. "Hey, Stella! Come inside, girl." JJ turns and walks off without saying a word. I close the door behind me and I am greeted by Cleo's friendly grin. Well, this maybe won't be as awkward as I thought it would be. "Oh, don't you worry about him. Come on, come on. Everyone else is out back." Cleo practically drags me through the porch and out the back door.

The giant oak tree is lit up like a Christmas tree with string lights wrapped around every winding branch. Pope and Kie are standing beneath it chatting excitedly. I give them both a suspicious glance, curious as to what could be so interesting.

"Uh, what's going on with you guys?" I ask them.

"We know how to save Big John," Pope blurts out. Before I have a chance to ask, he just starts explaining himself. "Cleo and I found a family heirloom from Denmark that is a direct translation of the glyphs on the idol."

"Wait, what idol?"

"The one in the painting we saw at Singh's house. The one of El Dorado," Kie reminds me. A lightbulb illuminates in my mind. Holy shit.

"Are you serious?"

"Dead serious, man!" Cleo beams.

"Oh my God!" I almost let out a laugh of complete disbelief.

"Yeah, well before Sarah texted, we were already here to tell John B the news, but of course he just had to go and get nabbed by Shoupe." Pope shoots a glare at JJ who had wandered nearby.

"Okay, don't go blaming me now. I didn't do shit," JJ defends himself.

"Yeah, maybe that's the problem," I reply, louder than I had meant to.

"Are you kidding me?" JJ snaps. "I tried to keep John B from going back to that party. You weren't even there! If you want to place blame on anyone it should be Sarah."

"Bro, just shut up," Pope sighs. The joyous energy that had filled the air just moments before had been sucked dry.

"I mean, is it just—Is being a cheater a requirement to be a Cameron?"

"JJ!" Kie snarls, coming to my defense. I stare at him coldly, my mouth open in wordless shock. JJ struck a nerve that he didn't even know existed: my entire identity being conceived from infidelity. The only other person here who would understand that is Kie.