In Uncharted Waters

Chapter Three

Parting is such sweet sorrow

I couldn't sleep that night. He definitely got the wrong idea. How could he just leave like that? We both believed in the philosophy that you never go to bed angry with each other. The sun rose in the morning and I was filled with anxiety. I waited around for a bit to see if he would come back over, but there was nothing. Finally around noon, I grabbed my keys and ran out the front door, unable to sit around any longer. As I rushed out, I collided with a body. The sweet scent of mint and weed filled my lungs and as soon as I saw him, my eyes began to water.

"Hey Princess," he said rubbing his neck. "Sorry for rushing out of here last night. I just was upset and I didn't even let you explain."

I wrapped my arms around him and cried. I don't know why I was so emotional, but the thought of losing him terrified me. He wrapped his arms around me and leaned his head down against mine, muttering another apology. I explained what had happened, my words whiny from the tears and he just caressed my hair.

"I only want you," I said. He chuckled and said that he knew that. I looked up at him and saw the fresh cut on his lip. I frowned, feeling guilty. He wouldn't have that if he stayed here. "You should just stay here all the time. At least for a couple weeks. I hate seeing you hurt."

His eyes went wide as he looked at me. He knew that I worried about him. He knew that staying here was against most of his morals, but if it made me happy, he would consider it. He thought long and hard before agreeing to stay for a while. I felt my heart soar with happiness.

"What do you want to do today?" he asked me. I thought long and hard before saying that I wanted to go see Kie and Pope. I just wanted to be surrounded by my friends today. JJ looked at me awkwardly and I knew he told them about Topper. I sighed.

"Let's go grab some things you need to stay here then and maybe go see the others," I said. He nodded in agreement and we got into my car. We listened to music and sang loudly without a care in the world. However, the mood drastically changed when we pulled into his driveway. It always did. I parked the car and got out with him. He protested and told me to stay in the car, but I wanted to go in. I frowned and told him that I was coming with him. He wasn't winning this argument. I walked up to the front door and together we went in. Luke was sitting on the couch watching tv and he almost smiled when he saw me. I watched JJ slip into his room and I sat down next to Luke.

"Hey Savannah," he said.

"You remembered my name this time," I said with a smile. I noticed the empty beer on the table. "Would you like me to make you some coffee?"

He looked at me and nodded. I could tell he was warming up to me. I got up and walked to the kitchen. I made a cup of coffee and JJ came out right as I was handing it to Luke.

"I put some sugar and a little bit of milk in it," I said. "You look the kind of guy who might want his coffee black, but I thought I'd switch it up a little bit." 

 I smiled kindly at him and Luke thanked me. I glanced up at JJ and he was looking at me in a new way. It was soft and loving like always, but there was a new layer to it. He told me that we should head out and I nodded. I told Luke that I would be back again soon and he smiled when he said goodbye. It was the first time I had seen him smile. I felt JJ's fingers interlock with mine as soon as I was next him and he looked so happy. I walked outside with him and he pulled me into a kiss.

"He likes you," JJ said, astonished. I giggled, feeling slightly proud. "He actually likes you."

"Should we go?" I asked. He nodded and told me we should go get food from Kie's. I smiled and agreed, driving quickly to The Wreck. We got out and walked in together. I listened to Pope mutter to JJ that he had no backbone. A bad feeling welled up inside of my stomach as we sat down. Kie looked at me, but didn't say hello. I was about to say hi when she spoke over me.

"Topper busy today?" she asked cruelly. For the first time in weeks, I felt like an outsider. I felt clearly unwelcome.

"It was a misunderstanding," JJ said, swinging his arm over my shoulder. I tried to smile, but I felt horrible inside. Kie didn't lighten up when she said that.

"Really?" he asked. "Because it was two days in a row and you said they were laughing like old friends. Face it JJ, you're blinded by love." "What's your problem Kiara?" I asked. I stood up and faced her.

"What's my problem?" she asked. "Maybe I just lost one of my best friends and you're all of the sudden great friends with someone who hated John B more than anyone else."

"We aren't even friends," I said. I wasn't lying. Topper and I weren't friends, we just were talking.

"You might not understand because you barely knew John B," she said. "But our lives are at a stand still, unlike your's."

"Let's go home," I said, rolling my eyes and then looking at JJ. "I'll make us lunch, plus I need to get the guest room ready."

"You're staying with her?" Kie asked. I could hear the annoyance in her voice. I listened to JJ say that it was temporary. "Isn't that how all of this started? John staying with Sarah? And you're just going to ignore that? God, JJ, what happened to Pogue life?" 

"Yeah," Pope agreed with Kie. "The old JJ would never have conformed to the Kook life." I stared at those two, obviously hurt on the inside. Why were they treating me like this? I looked back at JJ who was obviously torn on what to say.

"If things aren't good at home, you should stay with us not her," Kie said. It was like a dagger through my gut. "You hate kooks and now you're moving into the figure eight? C'mon JJ, wake up." 

 "JJ, let's go," I said. My eyes were pleading for him to get up.

"No JJ," Kie said. "We're your friends, stay with us."

This went on for a while. I was holding back my emotions as Kie got harsher and harsher. I watched as Pope stood up and slammed his hands on the table.

"Why don't you let JJ decide?" he asked. We all looked at JJ and waited. He stared at me apologetic and I knew whose side he was taking. I grabbed my bag and started storming to the door.

"Savannah! Wait!" I heard the sounds of his boots clanging against the door. He grabbed my hand and I pulled it away.

"You're always going to take their side," I said. "I get that."

"Sav..." he said. "You know it's not easy for them right now." "It's not easy for any of us!" I yelled back. They act like I wasn't involved. They act like I didn't suffer at all. They just think that I'm just some Kook.

"So, you're just going to storm away because I took their side?" he asked, getting frustrated. "I've given up so many of my morals to be with you!"

The argument shifted from me versus them to me versus JJ. He told me how frustrating it was dating me. How he was going against everything he thought he believed. How he didn't know what to believe about Topper and he couldn't trust what I said. He didn't trust me. He didn't believe me. 

 "I told you over and over," I said, breaking down. "I'm sick of fighting with you." 

"Maybe we should just break up then," he blurted out. I felt my world shatter around me. There was no regret on his face. I opened my mouth to say something, but it didn't come out. Finally I mustered up the courage and spoke.

"Is that what you want?" There was no reply. I could barely see through the tears that welled up in my eyes. "Fine. Let's break up."