riptide- outer banks

ninety | adjourned

〰⋅〰⋅〰

15 Months Later

Eighteen months after finding El Dorado and their dream was their reality. They had their bait shop and JJ ran his charter business. They all played a part and they were happy. It wasn't perfect or even close to the 'kook life,' but that didn't matter to them. They had recreated Poguelandia in the OBX. They had made themselves a place to call home. That's what mattered.

Because the truth was, half of them didn't have a place to call home when they'd first gotten back. Logan and Sarah? Homeless and technically orphans. Rose blamed them for Ward's death and because of that, Logan hadn't talked to his baby sister in over a year. He'd only gotten away with it for the few months he had because he'd used unknown, outlandish apps to communicate with her. Once Rose had found out, though, all ties were cut. And he was livid about that.

Moving on, there was JJ and Kori. Again, homeless–before they repurchased Luke's place–and technically orphans. Both of their parents were still alive, but where were they? Not in their lives, that's for sure. They had no one. The same was true for John B and Cleo, both of them homeless and with no family. But that's what made them who they were.

The Pogues– one traumatized little found family.

Kori wouldn't change what she had for the world. It was true; sometimes she thought about what her life would be like if her mom hadn't left. If her dad had never turned to the bottle and given up on them. But every time she did, she realized that the way her life was now was the way she wanted her life to stay. She had six friends that she considered family. She had six people she would do anything for and she knew they'd do the same for her. They were her home and no scenario could ever come close to bringing her the happiness she felt when she was with them.

She was happy because she finally had a home. A burning home that was on the brink of collapsing. That's why they'd decidedly taken Wes Genrette up on his offer. They needed the money if they wanted to keep their home and he was willing to pay. That meant that they were back in the G game. This time, with a lot more on the line.

Kori's gaze instantly shifted to her right as she felt something barely graze her thigh. Locking onto Logan's pair of dark brown eyes, she grinned. His fingertips continued to lightly trace something into her skin up until she grabbed hold of his hand, interlocking their fingers. That only made his smile curve higher as he dropped his head.

"Do you guys know anybody that's been here?" Kiara suddenly asked, her voice being the only other sound to compete with the motor of the boat as they neared Goat Island. "'Cause I don't."

"Nope." JJ quipped, running a hand through his hair.

"Hey, Sarah, Logan," Pope began, gaining the attention of both Cameron's. "You must know somebody who's been here, right?"

"The frick?" Logan murmured as Sarah's face contorted.

"I mean, like, all Kooks, they...they know each other. They go to the same parties." He continued.

"Are you kidding me?" Sarah asked, turning back to look at him. "You've heard the rumors, right?"

JJ perked up. "Oh yeah. About the daughter. I mean, that she drowned with her baby?" JJ paused to steal a glance at Kori. "That's what I heard."

"Bro, same." She remarked.

"Yeah, but I heard she was possessed first or something." Kie added.

"And then I heard that was all bullshit because..." Pope shook his head. "What?"

That was it. Cleo had had enough. "Okay, why are we doing this again?"

"We need the money." Half of them said in unison.