Beyond The Outer Banks

Chapter 4

I wake up to my phone buzzing on the floor next to me. I'm on the floor with my back up against my bed, Kathy sprawled across the carpeted floor of my bedroom with her head resting in my lap. I squint at my phone screen and freeze when I see who's calling.

Pope.

                                                              "Hello?"

"Hey! How's it goin?"

                          "Pope! Hi! Umm it's going."

"You sound tired did I just wake you up?"

           "Yeah kinda. But it's okay I had to get up anyways. What's up?"

"Not much. Just thought I'd give you a call and see how everything was at home. I really miss you."

                                   "Yeah. I miss you too."

"Sooo ... Are you gonna tell me what happened?"

                                                              "What?"

"Last night. At the beach."

shit.

"I spoke to JJ."

oh my god—

                   "Mhmm...Umm okay look so—"

"I mean who would've thought JJ Maybank would actually go to all the trouble to make someone happy on their birthday! I mean that's kinda sus don't you think! AHAHHAA!"

At first I'm confused because he doesn't seem upset. And then I realize that he still doesn't know. I try building up the courage to tell him what happened but no words come out of my mouth. So instead I go on to tell him about everything we did last night, except the kiss. We talk for another 20mins or so before he says he has to leave, we say our goodbyes and hang up.

I've never felt my heart beat so fast in my life. This isn't something I do. I never hide anything from anyone. Not Pope, not JJ, not my parents. No one. But here I am. Covering up a lie that has the potential to break my relationship with two of the most important people in my life.

I sit still. Wondering what would happen if I told him. If it was out in the open. Pope and JJ probably getting into a heavy duty fist fight, Pope yelling, me crying. The whole scene. I look at my phone once more and go to JJ's contact. I stare at it, hesitating whether I should press "call" or just switch my phone off instead. He's the only person I can talk to. I want to call him. I really do. But I don't know if it's the right time. Last night was great until shit went down in the last half hour.

Thinking about everything that happened turns me from sad to angry. It's JJ's fault. He's the one that should call ME and see if I'M okay. Not the other way around. He's the one that had to ruin what was supposed to be a great birthday. He knows how much Pope means to me and still had the audacity to throw himself at me.

After a few seconds I decide I need to stop thinking about this as much as I can. I roll my sister off me and head into the shower. In about 30mins I change and head outside for a run to clear my head. I don't know where I'm going but I don't care. I just need to run.