This story is all about Jiara! I'll be focusing mostly on JJ and Kiara's story, diving deeper into their connection and where things might go for them.
Just to clarify, these characters aren't mine, they belong to Outer Banks! But I'll be bringing i...
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Kie arrived home, her heart heavy as she prepared herself for the conversation she knew was coming. As she stepped into the house, she could see her parents in the living room, engrossed in whatever show was on TV. With a sigh, she put her bag down and walked over to them.
"Hey..." she said, trying to sound casual, but the tightness in her throat betrayed her.
"Hey. How was school?" Her mother, Anna, asked coolly, her eyes barely leaving the screen.
"It was fine. Uhm... I really wanted to talk to you guys about that thing." Kie hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "It's just, I really need you to understand that I can't leave the Pogues like that. I mean, if you send me to that school, I'll still be talking to them, so it isn't going to change anything. But I don't like the Kooks, and I don't feel safe around them, so please, can I not go to that place?" Her voice wavered slightly, but she stood her ground.
"We already talked about this, Kie. You're going to the Kook Academy. End of discussion," Mike, her dad, chimed in, his tone firm.
"The thing is, you never really cared about me hanging out with the Pogues, so why now?" she shrugged, trying to mask the hurt in her voice.
"Kiara... you have a good reputation. And those little guys are ruining it. Just do this for us and for yourself," Anna explained, her voice softer now but still resolute.
"I don't care about my reputation, Mom. I'm happy with them." Kie could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought to keep them in check.
"Baby, we get it, we really do. But we are your parents, and you have to make a choice... do you want to be with the Pogues forever or make your family happy?" Anna's words hit Kie like a punch to the gut. Tears began streaming down her face, and she stormed off to her room, the sound of her parents' voices fading behind her. She slammed the door shut, collapsing onto her bed.
Pogues or family? The question echoed in her mind. The Pogues were her family; they understood her in a way no one else did. But her parents... they were everything she had known, the people who had raised her, supported her, and, in their own way, loved her. She buried her face in her pillow, the fabric soaking up her tears. How could they not see how much this hurt her?
The weight of the situation felt unbearable, like a boulder pressing down on her chest. Kie rolled over, staring up at the ceiling. Memories of laughter and adventure with the Pogues flooded her mind. They were the ones who made her feel alive, who shared her love for the ocean and the thrill of the chase.
Just then, her phone buzzed on her nightstand, pulling her out of her spiral. It was a group chat with the Pogues, and a message from JJ caught her eye.
JJ: Where you at? We miss you already! 😭
Kie's heart ached at the message. She felt a pang of guilt for not being able to share her struggles with them, to let them know what was happening at home. But she couldn't bring that negativity into their space; they had enough to deal with.
