riptide- outer banks

sixty | leverage

〰⋅〰⋅〰

A dull ache was all she felt as Kori's eyes fluttered open. Light blaringly struck her line of sight, causing her green eyes to squint. As she came to, drowsiness gradually filtering out of her tired body, she realized where she was. Where all of them were littering the ground, attempting to wake up.

After yesterday's unsuccessful rescue attempt, the seven of them had found an abandoned building a little ways down the vast hill leading up to Vaux Hall. It wasn't much, but it was somewhere they could regroup. Somewhere they could hole up for the night and feel at least a tiny bit safe.

Kori sat up, palm pressing into the right top corner of her head. First it was the left side, now it was the right. How long was her head going to be collateral damage in their stupid feud with Ward Cameron? She was so sick of it.

"You okay, blondie?" Cleo asked, noting the forced expression on her face.

"Just great. Thanks, Cleo." She responded, dropping her hand with a sigh.

The brunette simply leaned forward, dark eyes pinned on the slit-like cut still residing in the corner of her forehead. "Here. Let me take a look. See how tings be lookin'."

Kori didn't say anything, silently sending her a look of appreciation as Cleo brushed a stringy wave of blonde hair from out of the way. Her gaze narrowed at the cut, but no type of panic or distress appeared on her face. After another moment, she dropped her hand.

"She okay?" Logan asked, sitting up with Sarah as the others stirred.

"Yep. All good here. Good ting we cleaned it last night doe." Cleo remarked, head tilting. "From da likes of it, you probably got yourself a concussion."

Kori smugly smiled. "What else is new?"

"Hey, happy birthday— by the way."

Kori's brow drew together as she turned in the direction of her brother. Her gaze immediately shifted down to the phone he was typing on where he sat on the ground. The phone he had to have stolen.

"Look like we both got the date wrong, huh?" JJ continued, lifting his gaze to Logan's for only a moment. "29th is today. Happy birthday, man."

Logan's lips parted as he stared at the blonde. He didn't even care what had been said. Hell, he probably didn't even realize what that meant. Instead, his eyes were completely engrossed on the cellular device in JJ's grasp.

"What the frick, J?" Kori blurted out.

"This is a little souvenir I plucked from Portis' pocket."

"You have a phone?" Sarah exclaimed.

"I forgot I had it. It was in my back pocket. That's my bad." He expressed, placing his hand over his heart.

"Oh my God, dude." Pope breathed out, sitting up. "This is Kori with the video all over again."

The blonde's face contorted as she turned to him. "Really on a roll, Pope. Love you."

He just rolled his eyes, neck craning back as he readjusted against the rock he was propped up against. "Can we go anywhere without you stealing?"

"You know the answer to that." JJ acknowledged.

Kori's brow raised, head tilting at him. "We're Maybanks. It's what we do."

"Nice work, rude boy." Cleo said, head shaking at him as he stood, making his way over to the rest of them.

"I steal shit. That's my job." JJ continued, handing the phone down to Pope.