SUNBURN | JOHN B ROUTLEDGE

050

sarah c
i broke up with top.

he kept telling me he
loves me and i just
couldn't do it.
i just told him straight,
you dont love me. you love
being seen with me, you
love the idea of me
but you dont love me.

and then he called me a
slut, several times
until my dad kicked him
out :) thank fuck he was in
the house.

can i come round the
chateau? i'm guessing that's
where u are.

Gabriella was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to reply to Sarah. How do you say congratulations for breaking up with your boyfriend? Is it even a celebration? After all, they seemed like the picture perfect couple of the OBX. Everyone could see that, but clearly there was something beneath the surface. Topper wasn't a nice guy, and no matter how hard Gabriella tried to dislike Sarah because of her insecurities towards Sarah and John B, she couldn't. Sarah was lovely.

Before walking into the Chateau, John B stood in front of Gabriella, stopping her pathway. "I'm sorry. For what I said at the Crain house." He admitted.

Gabriella looked to the ground, shaking her head as the wind blew, "It's whatever, John B. What we're doing is just having fun, right?" She sighed, the sadness evident in her tone. Pushing past John B, she walked ahead, not wanting to continue the discussion further.

Gabriella couldn't shake the thoughts swirling in her mind as she walked there, a mix of emotions churning within her. She wanted more with John B, desperately so. He made her feel alive, carefree, and genuinely happy in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. But with that happiness came a gnawing worry. What if he broke her heart? What if, because he would be her first everything, he'd eventually want someone more experienced, more confident, more beautiful—someone like Sarah Cameron?

Yet when they kissed, all those fears seemed to vanish. In those moments, it felt as if the entire world melted away, leaving just the two of them, like stars shining brightly in the vast expanse of the universe. But despite the intensity of those feelings, Gabriella couldn't help but put up a strong front. She had to protect herself; if she didn't, who would? And if John B truly wanted her for more than just a summer fling, if he truly saw her as more than just a temporary adventure, then he would have to prove it.

"No effing way!" Kiara shouted, as Gabriella and John B entered the Chateau patio to see none other than Sarah Cameron sitting on the couch. "You brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?"

John B and Gabriella just looked at each other, unsure what to say. JJ said, "Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of both of your shares."

"You know, I don't remember taking a vote." Kiara said firmly, "This is our thing. A Pogue thing."

"You're not a Pogue, Kiara. You are a Kook. You live on Figure Eight." Sarah fought back, but Kiara ignored her, rolling her eyes and not even acknowledging Sarah.

"I gotta say, I'm just a tad uncomfortable with all of this." Pope confessed.

"When are you not?" Gabriella asked.

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

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

Gabriella laughed quietly, "That's cute, guys. Have you kissed yet?" Causing JJ and Pope to look confused.

"You know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her." Kiara emphasised.

Sarah had enough, she wasn't going to sit there and just allow the Pogues to belittle her, "Stop talking about me like I'm not here!"

"Then leave." Kiara said bluntly.