P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Kook Princess

"Oh boy," Cory whispered to JJ.

"No effing way!" Kie snapped, pacing the deck of the Chateau.

Cory frowned–a forced look that was holding in her laugh as she watched the girls stand two feet from each other for the first time in years.

Sarah Cameron, Kook Princess, was currently sitting on a chair on John B's deck.

And Kie was not happy.

"You brought her here?" Kie asked. "So what? She's in on this now?"

John B looked to the boys and Cory for help, not sure what to do with girl problem 1 and girl problem 2.

Pope shrugged.

"Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share," JJ said.

"Y'know, I don't remember taking a vote!" Kie yelled. "This is our thing. A Pogue thing!"

"I gotta say," Pope said, his monotone voice hitting the air and almost immediately making Cory laugh, if not for JJ pinching her arm subtly. "I am just a tad uncomfortable with all of this."

"Thank you–" Kie started.

"When are you not?" John B asked.

"I dunno," Pope said. "I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably."

"It's true," JJ nodded. "Most relaxed I've ever seen him."

"That's cute, guys," John B mumbled.

Kie's head snapped to the trio on the side. "Cory. What about you?"

Cory forced her frown back. "I feel... like I need a blunt." She turned to JJ, who immediately passed her one that he had hidden in his pocket.

Kie sighed, rolling her eyes. "Y'know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her," she said.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Sarah snapped.

"Ooh," Cory mumbled.

"Then leave!" Kie retorted.

"Oooooh," Cory mumbled again, giggling between puffs.

Sarah scoffed, turning to John B. "I told you."

"Told him what, exactly?" Kie asked. "That you're a liar–"

"No, that you're a shit-talking bitch," Sarah snapped.

"Oh shit," Pope mumbled, turning to Cory, who hid her wide grin behind her hands.

"When have I lied to you?" Sarah asked as JJ held up a wad of cash.

"My moneys on Kie," JJ mumbled.

"You get somebody close to you for like a month–" Kie said, her words overlapping with Sarah's.

"I didn't lie about shit–" Sarah snapped.

"Everybody shut up!" John B yelled, silencing the group. He took a moment to think, then turned to each girl in turn. "Kie, you are my best friend, right?" Then he turned to Sarah. "And Sarah, you're... you're my..."

"Say it," Sarah said lightly.

"You're my girlfriend," John B said with a giddy grin that made Cory's heart melt. She didn't have the same beef that Kie had with Sarah, and seeing how happy John B was, she was equally as happy for him.

"Ohh, that's new," Pope mumbled.

"She's your girlfriend now?" Kie asked. "What was all that talk about you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose."