between the raindrops ✫彡 outer banks

xxxix. revelations

Isis didn't know why she didn't follow JJ. Because he was all she could think about. Even when they settled in Kie's restaurant, she just had his face in mind. John B sighed and stroked her arm.

"Look, he'll come around, all right?" he tried to soothe her. "It's... He's doing a JJ thing."

Isis briefly shook her head. "No. It's a lot worse this time. I think we really hurt him," she said in a broken voice.

Kiara shared a look with her. "You think he'll go home?"

Isis pursed her lips, tears filling her eyes.

"There's about a zero percent chance that JJ goes home," replied Pope, staring out the window.

Isis let out a deep sigh, and took her face in her hands.

"You okay?" she heard John B ask Sarah.

"Yeah," she nodded. "Are you?"

"I mean, I'm in one piece, so..."

Isis held back a grunt. She didn't care about them right now. She didn't care about anyone except JJ. Cause they were all here, and he was not. Cause he was alone, and they were not. So fuck Sarah, and fuck John B. JJ was on his own, she wasn't with him, and it hurt so much she thought it would never end.

Kiara was the only one who noticed her quiet tears, and took her hand. Isis gave her a half of a smile.

"I think I-- I'll just go home," she then said in a low voice. "Nothing against you guys, I just need to be alone for the night."

They all nodded.

"See you tomorrow?" asked Kie, looking worried for her friend.

Isis shrugged. "Yeah," she said, unsure.

"Do you want a ride home?" asked John B.

She shook her head. "No, that's fine. I'll walk."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, don't worry. See you later."

She left the Wreck with nothing but her hands in her pockets, and JJ's hoodie knotted around her shoulders.

She walked for about twenty minutes before arriving in front of her house. She had barely come inside when her mother ran over to hug her.

"Huh, hello? Are you okay?"

"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," sobbed Lana. "I couldn't stop thinking about the other day, I didn't want you to leave when you were angry at me... I never would have forgiven myself if anything had happened to you..."

"Mom, I'm fine," said Isis. "Okay? Everything's fine."

"No, it's not. It's not fine at all..."

"What do you mean?" Isis frowned.

Lana let out a deep sigh.

"I should've told you a while ago..."

Isis felt her heart beat louder. Finally, she was going to learn the truth. She sat with her mom, and a cup of tea.

"Remember when Big John disappeared?"

Isis nodded.

"You were sick that day, so I came home early. But you were sleeping, and I found Scooter talking to Ward Cameron. He kept saying it was an accident, that he didn't want to hurt him..."

Isis felt a shiver down her spine. "Was he talking about Big John?" she asked, shaking.

Lana replied with a nod. Isis turned pale, and took her face in her hands.