𝑪𝑳𝑶𝑺𝑬 𝑻𝑶 𝒀𝑶𝑼 | 𝑱𝑱 𝑴𝑨𝒀𝑩𝑨𝑵𝑲

Chapter One - Missing Person

Agatha was one bitch. Devon was at her neighbor's house, the Cameron's, helping her best friend Sarah clean up their yard. Well, Devon was cleaning while Sarah tried swatting circling birds from above.

"Dad, the wifi's not working, I can't post anything." Sarah's little sister Wheezie said.

"Wheezie, there was a hurricane sweetheart." Ward Cameron replied before turning to watch Sarah scrambling around. "What is Sarah doing?"

Devon walked over with a full trash bag in her hand. "She's saving mice." She turns to look back at her friend, jumping around with a tennis racquet. "Or at least trying to." Devon adds on with a laugh, walking over to Sarah.

"The burrows filled with water from the surge. The birds are having a field day." Sarah says, out of breath from running around.

"The birds have to eat too, Sarah." Her father says with a sigh.

Devon shakes her head, "She's calling it mouse genocide. I don't think you can talk her out of it Mr. Cameron."

"The cycle of life is what it is. Now, come on!"

"I can't be a part of it. First they came for the mice, Daddy." Sarah finally stops swinging around the tennis racquet as she notices the woman next to her father.

"Well I have an actual human being you girls might help." Ward tells the two teenagers.

Devon puts down the bag in her hand and shakes the woman's hand, "I'm Devon and this is Sarah." Sarah follows her friend's actions as she takes the woman's hand as well.

Ward introduces the woman next to him, "This is Lana, Scooter's wife. Now, you girls were storm prepping with him, right?"

Devon takes a step forward, "yeah he helped me latch the cabin on the Druthers last night. Is everything okay?"

Ward ignores her question, "Did he go out after that?"

Sarah exchanges a look with Devon, "From here? No. Are you crazy? There was a hurricane."

Lana interjects, "Well did he say where he was going? Get a phone call or mention anything?"

"He didn't say anything to me." Devon says as she looks at Sarah.

"Me either. I'm so sorry. Is he ok?" Sarah adds on, looking concerned.

Ward places his hand behind Lana's back, "He is absolutely okay. He's hunkered down somewhere." He plasters a smile on his face, starting to move.

"I hope so." Lana says.

"We'll find him." Ward says as he starts to direct him and Lana away from the two girls.

Devon takes a step closer to her friend, "I'm so sorry." Devon goes to turn to her best friend, wondering if she got the same weird feeling from the conversation but Sarah is already focused in on the birds again.

...

Not being able to stop thinking about her interaction with Lana earlier, Devon decides to go down to the Coast Guard for information. Maybe they can help locate Scooter.

Walking down the dock, Devon hears the commotion before seeing it. Walking towards the entrance she notices one of her old friends, Kiara. Kiara, Sarah, and Devon used to be a trio before the former two had a falling out. Devon was stuck in the middle and although she didn't want to pick sides, Sarah was her neighbor. While Devon's relationship with Sarah was maintained, her friendship with Kiara faded. They were still friendly, but it wasn't anywhere close to the same as it was before.

Devon makes eye contact with Kiara, letting a small smile appear on her face. "Hey Kie."

Kiara returns the smile along with a wave. "Hey Devon." Devon always finds it refreshing to run into Kiara, she misses their friendship, but it doesn't happen very often because she is always hanging out with Pogues.

Devon's eyes flicker to Kiara's friends, "Hey guys." It would be rude to not acknowledge them just because they were Pogues. Devon receives mumbled hellos in return, causing her to continue towards the entrance.

"They aren't going to help you in there." Devon hears from behind her. She turns around, making eye contact with a blonde haired boy.

"Why wouldn't they? They're the literal Coast Guard. It's their job." Devon replies with a raised eyebrow.

"They are dealing with high-stress situations in there. It's very busy." JJ walks toward Devon, putting his hands on her waist to turn her towards the open entrance way. He points toward the distressed blonde lady at the desk. "She's looking for her dog."

Devon's eyes follow his finger, "Her dog? Really?" Devon questions as she turns back around to face the blonde.

JJ nods his head. "Mhm. The dog's diabetic, it is a very scary situation."

Devon rolls her eyes, "Well as much as I would love for her to find her missing dog. I'm looking for a missing person."

John B speaks up for the first time. "Aren't we all?" Devon looks at the brown haired boy, her eyes flashing with sympathy.

Devon looks down for a second before regaining her confidence. "All right, I guess I'll just come back later then." Devon starts back up the dock.

"Woah Woah Woah!" JJ wraps his arm around her shoulder. "What's this missing person's name? Maybe we can help you."

Devon shrugs off his arm. "Scooter Grubbs."

John B raises his eyebrows, "Why do you care about Scooter Grubbs? He's not on your side of town."

Devon lets out a sigh, "God forbid Pogues and Kooks care about each other. I'll see you later Kie." Devon sends a smile towards her old friend. "Thanks for the help guys." Devon says sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"I can help you with other things too!" JJ yells as he watches Devon walk away. She doesn't even look back as she lifts her hand up, only displaying her middle finger.

Pope lets out a laugh, "Dude, I thought you didn't like Kooks?"

JJ doesn't take his eyes off Devon's receding figure. "I think I'll make an exception."