high tide (J.M)

Blinding Possibilities

This is a story of adventure, friendship, treasure, and some properly unfair fights.

But before I get to best of it, let me give you some background information.

• • •

Arlo Claimont was not a special girl. She wasn't a genius or a star athlete or even a beauty queen. She was pretty average. She didn't consider herself all that unique and would rather die than have someone say that she's not like other girls.

She was a typical teenage girl, well as typical as you could be with her kind of life story. But we'll get into the deep stuff later.

When John B Routledge's dad disappeared no one really knew exactly how to react. But when they pronounced him dead, people were completely lost. It didn't help that John B didn't believe his dad was dead.

There was only one person who completely understood what John B was feeling, and that person was Arlo Claimont.

Her dad disappeared two days after her 10th birthday. They never really figured out what happened to him. Everyone on Outer Banks had stopped caring by the time she was 11 so it's not like she was bothered by it. She just wanted to know what happened. Arlo tried asking her mother about it once.

"That son of a bitch will get what he deserves for leaving us." Is all her mother said.

Three months after, she heard rumors. Rumors that her mother had cheated on him with some tourist and that's why he left. Arlo held on to that for years, she later decided that it was probably the truth.

But let's get back to John B alright, and where he was exactly 6 months after his father's disappearance.

He had been sitting on a dock by the boneyard with JJ and Pope. Arlo turned her bike and hopped off while adjusting her backpack strap. The girl quietly wheeled it and kept a steady walking pace. She was less than 10 feet away from the three when they noticed her.

"Arlo?" Pope spoke up. He was both shocked and confused.

"I uh, I brought John B something she said in a soft tone.

Confused, John b stood up and walked over.

"When your dad visited the library he always returned the books with with folded edges and it used to drive Mr. Sullivan crazy. He started writing down every time your dad returned a book with folds and however many folds there were. Your dad checked out this book a lot and left a new fold each time. I kind of miss having to flatten out his pages and I'm oddly looking forward to a day where I do it again."

It was silent.

"Your dad wrote your name in the margin of this book and I figured that meant he thought of you while reading or wanted you to read it." Arlo handed over the book.

It was dark red, a hard cover with gold detailing. It's title read 'Blinding Possibilities'.

John b opened and closed his mouth several times, unsure of what to say.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." He said. It had practically become an automated response.

"You're welcome."

That's all she said before climbing on her bike and riding off.

John walked over to his friends and plopped between the two.

"What did she say?"

"What's the book for?"

The boys asked at the same time.

"It's a gift, and she just said something nice about my dad." John b mumbled.

"I have lived on the same island as that girl for 16 years and I have never exchanged one sentence with her." JJ shook his head.

"Maybe because you have a habit of breaking the law and her mom is a lawyer." Pope raised an eyebrow.

"Anyways, what's this fancy thing about." JJ said before snatching the book and opening it.

He paused when he noticed there was note inside.

"I know what it feels like when someone you care about disappears out of thin air and I especially know what it feels like to want answers. So if you ever need help or just someone who understands, you got me. Sincerely, Arlo Claimont." JJ read aloud.

"I'm so confused." JJ said looking up at his friends.

"Arlo's dad disappeared a few years ago genius, remember? He disappeared like a week after her birthday and no one's been able to track him since." Pope rolled his eyes.

"Oh yeah, I remember. Everyone said he left after her mom cheated on him." JJ nodded, tossing the book at Pope who caught it with ease.

"She sounded like she believed he was alive still." John b finally spoke up.

His friends went silent. They didn't know how to react truthfully.

"No offense but I don't really think you should believing anything Arlo Claimont says. The girl gives off stalker vibes."

"Really JJ, stalker vibes?" Pope said cocking his head to the side.

"Yeah dude, she has no friends, works at a library. She's always looking around. Oh, plus how did she find us huh?" JJ said with both brows raised.

"How does working at a library make her a stalker?" John b asked.

"Yeah, please JJ, elaborate on how a normal job can make you a stalker?" Pope grinned.