what now? | outerbanks

• fourteen •

    "Because as far as I'm concerned, my daughter was a good person until she started hanging out with you, you piece of shit."
    "What did you just say to me?" I start to puff my chest, and my hands almost reach his face when I hear my name from further down the porch.
    "JJ?" It's Kie. She has a couple of bags in her hands. "JJ, get in the car."
    "Oh but we were just getting started."
    "JJ. Car. Now." She's mad. As much as I want to continue arguing with Mike and as much as I would like to stick up for Kie, I listen to her and open the car door. This time, she gets in the driver's seat, and I let her. Immediately, she pulls out of the driveway and doesn't stop the car until we're on the side of the road somewhere. With her foot on the break, she keeps her arms locked on the steering wheel and her eyes trained forward. I crinkle my fingers through my dirty hair and try to find something to say.
    "JJ," Kie starts.
    "Kie, look, I'm sorry, okay? You know how I get. He just- he keeps saying these things, and I can't take it anymore. I- I cant-"
    "JJ, stop! I know. Trust me, I do. But you can't keep doing this. He's my dad. Maybe I don't always like him, but he's still my dad. And he's never going to like you if you keep doing this."
    "I just get so mad." I hold my head in my hands and my teeth are clenched. "I was gonna hit him. I really was."
    "I know. I know you. Just try your best, please. For me?"
    "Okay, I'll try."
    She sticks out her right hand, and I hold it while she drives with her left.

Sarah

    When Kie and JJ get back, they're carrying multiple duffles. Kie opens one full of clothes, some for us girls and a couple of bigger t-shirts for the boys to change into. Another has some hygiene items and soaps, with which we gladly clean up by the dock.
    Between the bags, she also has a phone, some money, some shoes, and thankfully, some food. She passes snacks and drinks among us, including a case of beers.
    "All hail Queen Kie," I say laughing, popping open a bottle. I take a big sip and then remember the mission at hand: calling Jennifer Rockwell. John B. raises the bottle to his lips, but I lower it back down before he can drink any. "Let's make this phone call first, and then we can celebrate."
    "Would you like to do the honors, madame?" JJ hands me the phone and bows, making everyone laugh.
    "Absolutely, I would." I google the name and scroll through a couple of websites before finding a number, and with a deep breath, I dial it in. It rings, and rings, and rings some more before going silent. Nothing. "Should we try again?"
    "Yeah, one more." Cleo pipes in. So I do; I dial the number again and wait. One ring. Two rings. The third ring plays halfway through and then cuts: a voice.
    "Hello, this is Jennifer Rockwell speaking. Can I help you?"
    "Yes, ma'am. This is Sarah Cameron, Ward Cameron's daughter. I think I have a good story for you."
    "Oh is that true?" The phone call lasts almost an hour. A chaotic retelling of events and confused questions, but eventually, we get through it.
    "Do you think you guys could come into my office one day this week? I would love to get more information."
    "Absolutely. Does today work, actually?"
    "It does." She gives us the address of her station, and we make a plan. The boys get cleaned up and change into new clothes, and us girls make ourselves look a little nicer before we head into town. She's located in Scranton, North Carolina, which is about a two-hour drive from OBX, so we load into the van and get on our way.
    I sit in the passenger seat next to John B. in the driver's. Kie and JJ and Cleo and Pope sit in the back. They're making jokes and poking fun at each other, but the air in the front of the van is much more still. We haven't talked about last night; about our argument. It hurt my feelings. I felt like he was completely disregarding everything I've gone through and everything I've sacrificed up to this point. I understand that that isn't what he was trying to do, but it still hurts nonetheless.
    "Sarah, I'm sorry." I roll my eyes, because I'm not sure that he really is. "Honest, Sarah. I know I hurt your feelings, and I feel awful that I did."
    "You called me a Kook." I turn to him and purse my lips. "Realllly, really not cool."
    "Yeah, I take it back. I take all of it back." Looking into his eyes, I know I'm whipped. I can't stay mad.
    "Fine. I'm forgiving you this time, but if you ever call me that again- or even so much as hint toward it- I will file for divorce."
    "You can't file for divorce if-" I already know what he's going to say.
    "Yeah, I know, we never legally filed for marriage. Don't make me take it back."
    "Relax, I'm kidding." He squeezes my knee and gives me a toothy grin. "I love you, Sarah Routledge." He quickly leans over and kisses me before focusing back on the road.
    "Ew, vomit." Kie makes fake gagging sounds from the back, and I swat my arm behind me, trying to hit her. The other three join in with her, and a new feeling comes over me.
    It's weird to say, maybe, but right here, sitting in the front seat with John B. and having the others in the back is making me think about my future. About finally settling down and getting married; having babies. It's something I've always dreamt about, but right here, right now, it feels closer than ever. I'm not ready for kids yet, in any way, but I know that when I am, so will John B. We'll be a team until the end.
    We make it to her office as soon as the sun begins to lower in the sky, and as we tell her more about our story, she types on her laptop. By the time we're done, the sun has fully set.
    She calls to us as we walk down the front steps, "The story should be on the news by tomorrow morning; don't miss it!"
    "We wouldn't dream of it, ma'am." Pope responds in his usual respectful manner.
    "We don't have a TV.' JJ whispers, confused.
    "I do..." Kie and I say in unison.
    "And which one of you guys is willing to go home?" Cleo asks sarcastically.
    "You're right. We can just go to the Wreck. My parents might be there, but they can't turn down customers, so we should be safe."
    "Sounds like a plan." JJ gives Kie a high five and then wraps his arm around her waist. Pope slides open the van door to let Cleo in, but John B. stops him and asks if he wants to drive instead. Pope and Cleo move to the front of the van, and we all get in the back, sliding the door shut behind us.
    "I'm not trying to start anything, but I just want to bring us back to the last time Pope drove us somewhere." Kie says.
    "You're right, maybe this isn't a good idea." I giggle.
    "I was like, high off of my mind. It was pretty much JJ's fault. I'm a good driver, I swear."