P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Bonfire

 It should feel good.

Cory wanted to feel good.

But something in her just couldn't.

The day after her and JJ's first kiss should've been the best of her life, but then everything just exploded. Literally.

To start, not long after their reunion with John B and Sarah, they had gotten a call and been forced to rush over to Heyward's.

Pope's father had gotten a visit from Limbrey's guy, and had a bleeding cut across his forehead.

Pope had then revealed that he had found the key the day prior. This had excited the Pogues, and put the want to get the prize back in their sights.

They had spent the next day visiting Pope's grandmother, who revealed that the Heywards are descendants of Denmark Tanny.

But later that day in their rush to figure everything out (which they had discovered that this was all about some mythical cross), they had gotten a visit from Limbrey and her goon. John B had given them an old key from Big John instead of the real key, earning the Pogues a little bit of time.

And later that day, John B had been called to the station to give a report on that day on the tarmac.

Rafe was officially being arrested.

For a brief moment, Cory felt happy. She was able to enjoy a drink with her friends, a grin on her face and no fear of Rafe Cameron in the back of her mind.

And then Sarah had gotten the call.

The call that confirmed that they were also going after her father.

Sarah had forced the group of Pogues into the Twinkie and they sped off to Figure Eight as quickly as possible.

When they arrived, the Cameron house was surrounded by cop cars and boats alike.

All the while Sarah and John B's relationship was becoming more and more strained.

They had arrived and immediately ran out behind the house, following behind Sarah who was already running to her family, out on the dock.

About 40 feet out into the water was the Cameron's boat, The Druthers. On top of it was Ward Cameron.

But as they approached, he disappeared down below deck. He had seen Sarah.

And then the explosion.

Literally. It was a literal explosion.

The Druthers had burst into flames, pieces of it ricocheting into the surrounding waters.

Just after the Pogues had finished shielding themselves from debris, they looked back up at the flaming boat.

Sarah was sobbing, and slowly falling to her knees, only to be caught by Topper who had appeared beside her suddenly.

John B didn't even see her.

He was staring forward at the boat sternly, wanting to watch the demise of the man who had destroyed his life.

Cory wanted to be happy, like John B was. But she couldn't feel anything but shock.

The day after was full of nothing but beers and hydroponic, in an attempt to dull the hole that Sarah left behind.

Cory was grateful for the return to normal.

That was, until she had to go back to school.

But she had allowed Pope to drag her along with the others, and she had reluctantly taken a test.