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The teens were sat around the living room. All of them minding their own business yet enjoying each other's company. Suddenly, Kie sits up, "Wait. You guys."
"What?" Sarah asks while Estrella looks over
"Holy shit." Kie says, "They... they wrote about us."
"What?" Estrella asks as Charlotte scoots closer to Kie
"The Outer Banks Sentinel wrote about us." Kie says as the others gather around, "The extraordinary discovery made by the young adventurers has validated the existence of the City of Gold."
"Oh my God!" Sarah gasps
"That's my name!" JJ points as they all cheer
•••
A few days later, the teens were sat on stage being recognized for their discovery. Estrella and JJ had found it amusing that the same locals that hadn't believed them and wouldn't give them a second thought were sat in the crowd cheering them on.
And with a man coming to them giving them an opportunity to find more treasure, the teens couldn't turn it down. They knew they couldn't. Although, they had become completely content with never "treasure hunting" again, the opportunity to save the shop was right in front of them.
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Estrella's eyes seemed to be glued to the ceiling. JJ was fast asleep next to her, but her mind couldn't seem to slow down. JJ groans as he turns toward her. His arm pulling her the slightest bit closer as he lets out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" JJ mutters
"Nothing." Estrella says softly
"It's gotta be something. It's..." He starts before lifting his head to read the clock Estrella insisted on keeping on her bedside table. He then plops back down again, "2:38 a.m."
"Just can't sleep." She shrugs
"Why not?"
"I don't know. I can't stop thinking."
JJ sighs, "Well, what are you thinking about?"
"My mom."
"What about her?" He asks softly
Estrella turns to him. His eyes were soft with sleep and she felt horrible for keeping him up, but she knew he wouldn't let it go, "Do you think I made the right choice by pushing her away?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, like.." She starts, "Yes, I've been so much happier without having to worry about her, but seeing her today at the celebration thing- I don't know, it just seems weird."
"I feel like you're kind of forgetting all the shit she did to you." JJ says, "I don't wanna be a dick, Star, but she wasn't exactly "mother of the year"."
