*Takes place during season 1 of OBX*
Paul and Delilah Richards were some of the Kookiest Kooks. They were successful in life. Paul owed several condo rentals and a boat rental on the island. Delilah was born into a wealthy family in Charleston and m...
After everyone left the party, the Pogues crashed at John B's, which was typical for the group.
JJ stayed with John B almost daily since he did not go home to his alcoholic-abusive dad. Pope would stay with them occasionally unless it were a school night. Kie would stay most of the time. She often lied to her mom that she was spending the night at her aunt, Kalani's house. Kai, as we call her, would cover for Kie. They were so close; they were like sisters.
The next morning, John B walked out of the only bathroom in his house. It was a small fish shack with a combined living, kitchen, dining space, a front and back porch, and two bedrooms: his dad's and John B's.
*
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"And that's me, John Booker Routledge."
*
John B walked out of the bathroom, heading over to his dad's room. He saw JJ hovering over some blonde girl from the party. She was giggling as he was saying something stupid to her.
"Dude! Come on, man. Get outta here," JJ said, noticing John B when the girl glanced over to the door.
John B closed the bedroom door right before JJ threw a can at the door. He shook his head, almost laughing to himself, before walking into the central part of the house to see Kie scrolling through her phone with her vape.
"Morning, Kie." He greeted the girl who was half-asleep.
"Morning..." Kie mumbled to him, throwing up a peace sign. He turned to get a beer from the kitchen.
*
"And this is where I live. An old fish shack on the marsh. The Chateau, as my dad used to call it."
*
He walked over to the wall that was in between the living room and kitchen. He smiled a bit, looking at all of the photos. He looked down at the long, wooden accent table to fix the photo of him and his dad.
*
"There's Dad. He disappeared at sea nine months ago, looking for a shipwreck. Who disappears at sea these days? I miss him.
And then there's Mom. She split when I was three. Last I heard, she was in Colorado. I think it was Colorado.
Uncle T! Since Dad's vanished, he's supposedly my legal guardian. At the moment, he's in Mississippi, building houses..."
*
John B turned, seeing Pope half-asleep on the porch couch before John B headed out to the hammocks in the backyard.
*
"...which means it's just me right now, on my own, hangin' out with our friends. Three months after my dad went missing, he was officially presumed dead. I refused to sign the papers. Until I see a body, I'm not giving up."
*
The next day, John B had to get up very early for a meeting on the Mainland. Since his dad went missing, and his uncle could not care, John B had been dealing with CPS. He tried to lie and act like everything was alright.
"John. It's come to our attention that you are an unemancipated minor living on your own." Cheryl, John B's case worker, said, sitting across from them.
"No... No." He said quickly. "No." He sighed when Cheryl gave him a look that indicated she did not believe him.
"I need honesty to help you. That's what we want, right?"
"Yeah... I'm being honest." John B shrugged.
"Okay, then, when was the last time you spoke to your uncle?" Cheryl asked him, writing down notes in her folder for him.
"Uh... 34 minutes ago." John B said, pretending to check his nonexistent wristwatch.
"When's the last time you saw him?"
"Two hours and... 43 minutes ago?" John B lied again.
"John, we're gonna come out there tomorrow to talk to your uncle. If he's not there, we're gonna move forward with foster care. I want to assure you, we're gonna find you a safe and loving home."
