「 ✦ I'LL TAKE THAT ✦ 」

────

"THEY'RE A BUNCH of fancy people," Kie announced, trying to take in the sprawling estate as they sat outside the Limbery's house. "They've had, like, three governors in the family. They've been running Charleston for, I don't know, 300 years or something."

"Yeah, these people make Kooks look like Pogues," MJ said, eyes wide as she glanced at the mansion. She slapped her hands on her thighs. "I should've brought a monocle and a top hat. I don't think my hoodie is gonna cut it here."

JJ nodded dramatically, looking up at the mansion in awe. "This place is straight out of a fairy tale. Are you sure this is the right place, Pope? It doesn't look like the kind of place I wanna get caught trespassing."

"Pretty sure," Pope said, climbing out of the car and glancing back at MJ and JJ. "27 King Street. This is it."

"Right," MJ said, still eyeing the place like it was about to eat her alive. She looked over at JJ. "I bet they have servants who know how to fold their towels into swans. You think they have a butler named Jeeves?"

"I don't know, but I hope he doesn't let us in looking like this," JJ said, motioning to his scruffy outfit and MJ's oversized shirt. "I'd be lucky if they let me in just for the free snacks."

Pope walked ahead, clearly getting a little nervous, and MJ and JJ fell into their usual rhythm of verbal chaos, feeding off each other's energy.

"Do you think they have those weird glass bottles of milk with the foil tops? The kind where you have to use the bottle opener just to get to the actual milk?" MJ asked, pacing around in circles as she tried to stay still for about two seconds.

"I don't know, but I bet they've got, like, a huge collection of fancy cheeses that none of us will recognize," JJ replied. "You ever heard of Gruyère? Sounds like something you'd only eat if you were a billionaire or something."

"I think it's just fancy Swiss cheese," MJ quipped. "Still, I'd probably eat it just to see if it makes me smarter or something. You never know with cheese. Like, maybe it gives you superpowers or a second brain."

"You have two brains, MJ," JJ shot back, "and neither of them seems to be working right now."

"You wish, Maybank," she retorted, but then her gaze fell back to the mansion. "I'm just saying, how did we end up here? We're like a fish out of water."

"Are you talking about fish again?" JJ asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because I'm starting to get the vibe you want to talk about fish for the rest of the day."

"I mean, fish are weird, but I was thinking more about how fish swim through the ocean in packs," MJ said, her eyes lighting up as she started rambling again. "Like, they don't just go solo. They have a whole squad. And then, bam! They get caught in nets because the fisherman is like, 'I want a fish buffet!' That's what I'm saying. We need a net, JJ. But we're the fish. Wait, no, that's not how it works. Forget I said that."

JJ just stared at her, slightly lost but trying to keep up. "I'm just gonna pretend I understood that," he said, making a mental note to never bring up fish again.

Meanwhile, Pope was looking more and more tense as he approached the gate. MJ bounced back and forth on her feet, still not able to sit still. "Do you think they have a pool with a waterfall? Like, a legit waterfall, or is it just one of those lame ones that's more like a trickle?"

"Honestly, with this place, I'm sure they have a waterfall," JJ said, rubbing his hands together. "I'm hoping it's the kind where they let you swim in it and give you a free towel afterward. You know, to really feel fancy."

"I don't know, I think I'd feel too fancy for a towel," MJ mused, then turned to look at JJ. "Like, you ever feel like you're too fancy for a towel? Like you need to level up your towel game?"

"Are we still talking about towels?" JJ asked, exasperated.

"I'm just saying," MJ shrugged, "a towel is a towel, but could you imagine if it was one of those hotel towels that's like a bath sheet? You could wrap that thing around your whole body like a cape."

JJ blinked at her. "Did you just call a towel a 'bath sheet'? What are you, a walking dictionary?"

"I'm just saying, 'bath sheet' sounds cooler than just 'towel.' It's a vibe," MJ said. "You just don't get it, man."

"Alright, alright, you two, enough!" Kie snapped from the front. "Either go for a walk or shut up. Seriously, you're both gonna talk us into a headache before we even get inside."

"Fine, fine," MJ said, rolling her eyes but grinning. "We'll be quiet. But no promises on how long it'll last."

They finally made their way to the door, but as they waited, MJ couldn't resist adding one last thought. "What if they have a butler, but it's like a secret butler? You know, like, the kind who only comes out when it's necessary?"

"MJ shut up about the butler," JJ groaned.

Before she could respond, the door swung open. A man stepped out and stared at the group, his eyes immediately landing on Pope.

"You must be Pope," the man said, his voice oddly measured.

Pope nodded nervously. "Uh, yeah. Are you Mr. Limbrey?"

"Mrs. Limbrey was expecting you yesterday," the man said, glancing briefly at MJ, before offering a tight smile.

MJ crossed her arms, trying to hide the feeling of being watched. "Sorry about that," she said, but the man's eyes lingered on her for a second too long.

"We had car trouble," MJ added quickly, wanting to move things along. "His car broke down, we didn't have a number to call."

JJ quickly jumped in. "Yeah, sorry about that. The carburetor just decided to take a vacation in the middle of nowhere."

The man nodded, looking entirely unfazed by their excuses. "Well, Mrs. Limbrey was hoping you'd arrive sooner," he said, leaning slightly against the doorframe. "But you're here now."

"She also expected you to come alone," Renfield said, turning his attention to Pope and eyeing the group behind him.

Pope shifted awkwardly. "I mean, these are my friends. They helped find the Royal Merchant too," he explained, gesturing toward everyone with a small, awkward wave.

MJ shot a glance at JJ and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, because we're just here for the snacks and the atmosphere." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Don't mind us, just a bunch of meddling kids."

Renfield raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, his eyes flicking over to MJ as if sizing her up.

"Your friends can stay outside," Renfield said coolly, his gaze sweeping over the group like they were a bunch of unruly dogs.

"Not a chance," MJ snapped, stepping forward before Pope could even respond. "You're not kicking me out of the party, dude. I'll stand here all day if I have to."

JJ, standing beside her, gave her an exasperated look. "MJ, let's not cause a scene right now. We don't need you yelling at anyone else today," he said in a voice that was equal parts tired and amused.

"Oh, trust me, I wasn't planning to yell. Yet," MJ replied with a smirk. She glanced at Pope. "Seriously, if you think I'm just gonna stand outside and twiddle my thumbs while you go play with the creepy mansion guy in there, you've got another thing coming."

Pope looked back at her, unsure. "It's fine, MJ. I'll be okay. I'll call if anything weird happens," he said, trying to reassure her.

"Well, just make sure you do," MJ quipped. "Because if I'm standing out here all day, I want a good story for my trouble."

Kie gave MJ a playful shove. "You'll be fine. We'll be right here, keeping the car warm and pretending like we know what's going on."

MJ shot Renfield a look, not even trying to hide her discomfort. "Yeah, sure. Just make sure I don't get abducted by some creepy old dude while I'm out here. I don't want to end up as his new 'angel.'"

Renfield smirked at her comment but didn't respond. He glanced at Pope one last time. "Keep the car running," Pope requested, a little tense but trying to stay calm.

"Sure thing, dude. No one's leaving me here with these maniacs alone," MJ muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms and watched Pope head inside.

Renfield hung back a moment, preparing to close the door. He glanced at MJ one last time, his lips curving into a faint smile. "You're a little attack dog, aren't you."

MJ froze, her brows shooting up in surprise. "Excuse me? What did you just call me?" Her voice was laced with a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

Renfield didn't answer, and with a quick, almost dismissive motion, he shut the door behind him.

MJ took a step back, "Did he just call me 'an attack dog'? Who the hell does that guy think he is?"

JJ gave her a weary look. "Maybe we should just let Pope handle it for now. It's not like we have any idea who this guy even is."

MJ wasn't listening, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. "I don't know, JJ. That guy's creeping me out. And now Pope's in there with him, so who knows what's going on? He doesn't even know what kind of weirdos we're dealing with. We can't just stand out here like nothing's happening."

JJ shook his head. "We'll stay put. Let Pope do his thing. If anything goes south, we'll be right here."

"Right here?" MJ repeated, looking back at the mansion with narrowed eyes. "Uh, sure, we'll be right here. Just waiting for him to pop out and tell us we've got a new family member or something."

She stood there for a moment, still seething with curiosity, before letting out a breath. "I'm not letting this go. Whatever weird stuff's going on in there, I'm going to find out. No one gets to call me an attack dog."

────

"Look, if Limbrey's legit, then Ward gets arrested, and maybe Sarah gets the gold," Kie said, eyeing Pope and Renfield as they walked out of the house. "Does that look voluntary to you?"

"Big nope on that one, Sarah is dead," MJ muttered, crossing her arms as she leaned back against the car. "If Pope's walking out of there like a free man, I'm a fairy godmother."

JJ snickered, leaning forward. "What, like 'I wish you a thousand happy endings'? 'Cause that's what I'm getting from this whole situation."

Kie gave him a skeptical look. "Yeah, no. That's not it at all."

JJ shook his head, a mischievous grin on his face. "I'm saying they're definitely up to something. Why else would they be sneaking around back? Into an alley? This isn't some fairy tale, Ki."

"Wait, hold up." MJ cut him off, her voice sharp. "Alley? You mean to tell me we're stalking them like we're in some dumb noir film now?"

Kie sighed. "Just pay attention, MJ. We're trying to help Pope here, not start a movie review."

"Yeah, yeah, let me guess, the bad guy's wearing a fedora, too? Give me a break." MJ pulled her knees up to her chest, settling into her seat. "But seriously, JJ, you don't think this is all a little...too convenient? I feel like I'm in a bad episode of C.H.U.D.."

JJ shot her a grin. "Yeah, and in this one, you're the attack dog."

MJ flinched, her hand tightening around the door handle. "Excuse me? Attack dog? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Focus, MJ, focus," JJ said, turning the wheel. "We're not here for your drama, we're here to find Pope."

"Drama? You want drama, try calling me an attack dog and see what happens," she muttered under her breath. "Just because I don't take crap from people doesn't mean I'm some rabid animal." She huffed, sinking further into her seat. "Clearly I'm the only one who thinks this whole thing is fishy."

JJ shot her an apologetic glance. "Yeah, alright, sorry. But look, I'm with you. It's just, that I'm not trying to lose Pope right now."

"Yeah, well, good luck with that," MJ retorted, her eyes scanning the street. "If we can't find a back entrance, we're all gonna be running around looking for breadcrumbs."

JJ drove around the block, slowing the car as he turned into another alley. "This better not turn into a whole wild goose chase. And for the record, no, I'm not getting you any more snacks if you're just gonna keep being cranky."

"Just get us out of here, JJ," MJ grumbled, looking out the window. "The world isn't gonna stop for your ADHD rants, trust me."

JJ rolled his eyes, pulling up to the fence. "See that? That's Pope. Let's go."

Before the car even came to a complete stop, MJ was out of the car, already on her feet, ready to dive in. "Well, we can't just let him do this alone, can we?"

She saw Renfield going for Pope, a taser in hand, and she didn't waste a second. "Hold up!" MJ shouted. "I've got this."

Before anyone could stop her, she lunged forward, grabbing Renfield by the arm and yanking him off Pope. The taser dropped to the ground, and MJ kicked it away. "Nobody's electrocuting my friend today, you creep."

JJ was right behind her, pulling Pope up as MJ kept Renfield at arm's length. "Pope, let's go, now!" she barked, dragging him with her as she started running.

The sound of footsteps followed them. "Shit, they're not letting us get away that easily," MJ muttered, looking over her shoulder.

JJ's hand landed on her back, pushing her forward as they ran. "Faster, MJ! We can't stop!"

"Yeah, I know," she snapped, her breath coming in short bursts as she pushed herself harder. "Wouldn't have to run if you didn't call me an attack dog."

Pope groaned, out of breath but keeping pace. "Guys, we need to go faster! There's a car coming up behind us!"

"Great. Another one?" MJ looked behind her, seeing the headlights of a car approaching. "Just what we needed. Maybe we can make a run for it, make them think we're too stupid to know what's happening."

"Get in the car!" Sarah shouted, appearing in the alley just as they rounded the corner. "Now!" 

Everything felt like it stopped all of them smiling and completely forgetting that they were all being chased. 

"God, it's like a damn sitcom," MJ muttered but didn't waste any time climbing into the backseat next to Kie. She slammed the door shut, heart still racing.

"We're not out of the woods yet," JJ warned from the front seat, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror.

"Please, we're fine. I'm just tired of running," MJ grumbled, catching her breath. "But thanks for the ride, Sarah. You're a lifesaver."

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it," Sarah shot back, eyes on the road. "I'm not going to be your getaway driver every time."

MJ snorted. "Who said I'd want you to be? The last thing I need is more drama."

Pope grinned, despite the chaos. "Well, at least we're all still alive. That's something."

"Yeah, for now," MJ muttered under her breath, glancing behind them. "But trust me, this isn't over. Not by a long shot."

Pope grinned, still catching his breath as the adrenaline slowly faded. "Glad to have the real MJ back."

MJ raised an eyebrow, her expression half sarcastic, half thoughtful. "The real MJ? Maybe I'm just a skinwalker or something," she muttered, her fingers tapping the side of her leg rapidly. "You know, just shapeshifting into whatever version of me suits the situation."

Kie snorted, shaking her head. "Skinwalker? MJ, you've got more ADHD than an entire middle school classroom. You're just hyper."

MJ threw her hands up dramatically, her voice rising. "You ever stop to think maybe I'm just adapting to my surroundings? You can't expect me to stay in one mental state for more than five minutes, it's like... a survival thing at this point!"

JJ, who had been listening to the back-and-forth with his usual mix of amusement and mild exasperation, glanced over at her. "We've all noticed," he said dryly. "But it's kinda nice to have the real MJ back, even if she's a little... chaotic."

MJ rolled her eyes but smirked. "I'm a beautiful mess, JJ. Learn to love it."

Pope laughed, shaking his head. "I mean, honestly, I've missed this version of you."

"Yeah, yeah," MJ grinned. "But seriously, what if I was a skinwalker? Pretty sure I could totally pull off being one of those creepy woods creatures."

Kie looked at her like she was crazy. "I mean, with the way you're acting, you'd be a terrible skinwalker. They're supposed to be sneaky, not... whatever this is."

"Hey, I can sneak when I want to," MJ shot back, nudging Kie with her elbow. "But I like to make a scene now and then, just to keep things interesting."

JJ threw his hands up in defeat. "Great. Now we're all probably going to die because MJ's going to turn into a skinwalker in the middle of the night and eat us all."

"Only if you keep talking like that," MJ shot back with a wink. "But hey, at least it'll be an adventure."

Pope and Kie exchanged amused glances, while JJ just groaned. Typical MJ.

As they all settled in, catching their breath and letting the chaos of the moment pass, Sarah and John B exchanged a glance. Sarah, with her usual smirk, raised an eyebrow.

"Honestly," she said, half-grinning, "I kinda missed the whole... ADHD tornado you've got going on, MJ."

John B nodded in agreement, giving her a playful, teasing look. "Yeah, like, it's good to have you back in action, but also... I thought we were gonna get through one day without you turning into a walking circus."

MJ threw her hands up dramatically, eyes wide. "Oh, so now I'm the problem? I thought you guys liked me better when I'm this entertaining." She shot them both an exaggerated pout.

Sarah smirked. "We do. It's just... sometimes I wonder if you're always like this or if it's just the last few years catching up with you."

John B snickered, leaning back casually on the truck bed. "We're just saying, MJ, when you're not hyperventilating your way through life, it's like everything's boring around here."

MJ's eyes widened, and then she put on a faux serious face. "Well, excuse me for being the only one with character, John B. I'm here to keep things spicy—you should be thanking me."

Kie laughed, giving a teasing look to both Sarah and John B. "Honestly, I'm just glad someone else is keeping things weird for once. I was starting to get bored of the normal level of chaos."

Pope added in, grinning, "Yeah, I can't remember the last time I wasn't worried about you turning into a one-person circus."

"See?" MJ shot back with a smirk. "I'm an entertainer. Get in line. You all love it." She shot a wink at Kie and Pope as they both shook their heads, clearly amused.

Sarah snorted. "Yeah, maybe we do, but you're gonna be the one to explain it to me when I can't sleep for a week because of your nonstop rants and flips in the back of the truck."

"Hey!" MJ objected with a grin. "Those flips were impressive. And maybe if you all had a little more adrenaline, you wouldn't be so tired."

John B chuckled, shaking his head. "I swear, MJ, you're like a walking, talking Red Bull commercial."

MJ flashed a grin. "I mean, if I were sponsored, that would be a sweet deal, right?" She leaned in closer to Sarah. "Honestly, though, I'd probably just get the no-sleep sponsorship, right?"

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Oh, definitely. You'd be the poster child for chaotic energy."

MJ nodded dramatically. "That's what I'm here for. Keeping you all on your toes."

John B shot a grin over at Sarah. "Well, we missed it, MJ. Honestly, it wouldn't be the same without you turning the chaos dial up to 11."

"See?" MJ flashed a grin, crossing her arms. "They can't live without me."

Kie rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Don't get too cocky. You're one step away from getting us all arrested with your spicy chaos."

"Spicy chaos is a lifestyle, Kie. Get used to it," MJ shot back with a wink.

Everyone laughed, but it was clear that, no matter how much MJ annoyed them, they wouldn't have it any other way.

────

MJ left the boat with Sarah and Kie, her arms crossed and her usual snarky smirk firmly in place. She stuck close to Sarah, her mind still reeling from the chaos that had been their lives. The fact that they were all finally back together? It still hadn't quite sunk in.

"Ugh! Jackpot!" Kie shouted, holding up a watermelon like she'd just found a treasure chest. She slammed it onto the ground, cracking it open like she was in a movie.

The three girls gathered around, tearing into the watermelon. MJ rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. This was probably the happiest she'd been in a while—since everything with the gold and the Royal Merchant had gone down, anyway.

"So, you really got married?" Kie asked after Sarah finished talking about everything she and John B had gone through while trying to get back to the Outer Banks.

"It wasn't exactly legal, but yeah," Sarah replied with a grin that could've lit up the whole island.

MJ shot Kie a look, sharing a quiet grin with her. Sarah's smile was contagious, but that didn't mean MJ wasn't going to mock it.

"Am I crazy, or is there definitely something going on between you and Pope?" Sarah asked, looking between the two girls with a knowing eyebrow raised.

MJ looked down at the watermelon in her hands, pretending to inspect it. She could feel Kie's awkwardness, but she wasn't about to spill her thoughts. She let Kie take this one.

"Maybe," Kie shrugged nonchalantly.

"That's not a no," Sarah teased, clearly enjoying herself.

Kie shot her a glare, but it was clear they were both in on the joke. MJ watched the exchange with amusement before Sarah's gaze shifted to her.

"And you, MJ? What about you and JJ, still good?" Sarah's voice was quieter this time, her arm slipping around MJ's shoulders, pulling her close.

MJ flinched slightly but didn't pull away. She knew Sarah meant well, but the question hit too close to home, too soon. "JJ and I? Are you seriously asking me that?" MJ's voice was flat, though there was a certain edge to it, her snarky armour slipping into place. "We're twins, Sarah. Of course, we're close."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing the discomfort in her tone, but she didn't press further. Instead, she nudged MJ playfully. "Good, good. Just checking."

The mood shifted as MJ bit into another piece of watermelon, trying to keep things light. But Sarah wasn't done yet.

"So, MJ," she said softly, her eyes searching MJ's face, "I've been meaning to ask... how are you doing with everything? With... well, everything that happened with your addiction?"

MJ's body went rigid at the mention of it. Her gaze dropped to the watermelon in her hands, not wanting to meet Sarah's eyes. For a second, the weight of the past hit her all at once. The chaos, the desperation. The fight to get clean.

But then, MJ took a deep breath and set the watermelon down, pushing the memory of her struggles away. She wasn't that person anymore. Not entirely, anyway.

"I'm clean now," she said, her voice quieter than before. "Been for a while now. It's not easy, but I'm good. I'm managing." Her eyes flickered up to meet Sarah's, her expression hardening as if daring Sarah to comment.

Sarah gave her a soft, understanding nod. "I'm proud of you, MJ. Really." Her voice was gentle, but MJ could hear the sincerity in it. Sarah didn't need to say more.

MJ let the silence hang between them for a beat, before Sarah added, "What about Rafe? Is he still... a problem?"

The mention of Rafe immediately made the tension return to MJ's shoulders. Her jaw tightened, and she glared into the distance, anything to avoid eye contact with Sarah.

"Rafe?" MJ repeated, her tone flat, almost robotic. "What about him?"

Sarah bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. "I just... I see the way he looks at you. The way you two interact. I know there's history there. You okay with him?"

MJ's stomach twisted, and she fought the urge to snap. "Nothing is going on." 

Sarah didn't push further, but the quiet understanding in her eyes told MJ that she didn't need to say anymore.

"Just... don't let him drag you back into his mess," Sarah said gently, a protective edge to her voice.

────

"There she is," John B said, a grin spreading across his face as the Château came into view.

"Bet it feels good to see her old bones," JJ added, clapping John B on the back. "Welcome home, guys."

MJ rolled her eyes, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "Yeah, nothing like the smell of saltwater and questionable decisions to make a girl feel like she's back." She hopped off the boat with her twin, JJ, beside her, her boots landing on the dock with a soft thud. "Though, honestly, not looking forward to the homecoming. My dad probably already arranged a welcome-home party with my funeral as the main event."

Kie snorted, shaking her head as she climbed off the boat behind them. "I hear ya. My parents are probably still drafting the obituary, but you know, at least it'll be creative."

MJ shot her a side-eye. "Oh, you mean like the one they wrote for me last time? Classic 'lost girl' routine."

"Speaking of getting into trouble," Pope cut in with a tight-lipped smile, "I'm predicting some major drama at the Heyward household after I left the truck in Charleston."

MJ barked out a laugh. "Yeah, not your best move, Pope. But hey, at least you can tell your cousin where it is, and he can pick it up for you. Consider it a 'Sorry I almost wrecked your truck' gift."

Pope rolled his eyes but was trying not to laugh. "I'll make sure to send him a thank-you card."

JJ's eyes narrowed as he looked around. "So, no one knows we're here, right?" A smirk crept across his face as he formulated a plan in his head. "And no one's gonna get into trouble for showing up twelve hours late, right?"

MJ raised a brow, crossing her arms. "You're not wrong, but you are stupid if you think this is gonna go off without a hitch."

"No, you're not wrong," Pope agreed, his smile wry.

"Well then," JJ said, leaning in and clapping Silas on the back. "That means we've got twelve hours to do whatever the hell we want."

"A little pogue fellowship. What do you say?" JJ grinned, clearly feeling like he had just figured out the best plan ever.

MJ could feel the old adrenaline kick in, her fingers itching for something to do, but Sarah's voice cut through the excitement.

"The cops could be looking for us," Sarah pointed out. "This could be really stupid."

MJ rolled her eyes but couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, you're probably right, but you know, 'stupid' is kind of my middle name."

She shot JJ a sideways glance, the familiar mischief creeping back into her expression. "Though, honestly, I'm kinda feeling it. A little trouble's never hurt anyone."

Sarah gave her a deadpan stare. "I don't think 'stupid' has ever not hurt us."

"Sarah Cameron, you've heard of my philosophy, right?" JJ teased, flashing a grin at her. "Stupid things lead to the best outcomes. Who's with me?"

MJ threw her hands up in mock surrender. "I'm in. It's like the universe keeps telling me to make bad decisions, so who am I to argue?"

"You know what they say," Kie added with a smirk, "the best decisions are the ones that make you wonder how you're still alive afterward."

Pope groaned but couldn't stop the smile from tugging at the corner of his mouth. "This is going to be a disaster."

"Probably," MJ said, already starting to walk toward the town. "But it's our disaster."

────

The hot tub was steaming, the night air thick with the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the staccato of laughter. Music played in the background, the beats mingling with the chaotic joy of the group as they took turns throwing back drinks. The water splashed around them, as each of them settled into their respective spots, the bubbles of the hot tub lapping at their skin, keeping them warm despite the cold night air.

MJ, already three drinks deep, was leaning back against the edge, her head tilted to the side, eyes half-lidded with the warm, fuzzy buzz of drunkenness. JJ, always the instigator, had somehow convinced her to take part in an impromptu play for the others, because, according to him, they needed to "entertain" the group in a "high-class theatrical manner."

"Alright, alright," MJ slurred, swaying slightly as she stood up in the tub, her legs a little too wobbly for her liking. "This is gonna be epic." She shot JJ a wide grin, but her words were more of a jumbled mess than anything that made sense. "I mean, who else could pull off Shakespeare after... this many shots?"

JJ, equally buzzed, was already holding up an imaginary script in front of him. "The play is Hamlet, MJ. We're doing Hamlet. The classics." He gave a dramatic bow, his balance threatening to topple him, but he managed to right himself, clearly proud of his performance. "Act one, scene one: 'Who's there?'"

MJ blinked at him, the words hanging in the air as she tried to remember them. Her face scrunched in concentration, but then a giggle broke free, and she leaned against the side of the tub for support. "Wait, wait... what are we... What's the first line again?"

JJ looked at her with wild eyes, a grin spreading across his face. "You know... it's like, uh, Who's there?" he repeated, his voice dripping with the kind of dramatic flair only a drunk person could pull off. "We're in a haunted castle, MJ! It's spooky, okay? Spooky."

"Right, right," MJ said with a huff, clearly losing the plot. She cleared her throat, dramatically straightening herself up, ready to deliver her line. "I got it!"

She opened her mouth and then promptly stopped, her lips still forming the words, but no sound came out. She blinked at the others, her hand flying to her forehead. "Okay, okay, no. You start again, JJ. I... I forgot what I was supposed to say."

The entire group erupted into laughter, as JJ took his place again, overly dramatic as always, ready to deliver his line.

JJ took a deep breath and said, "Who's there?"

The words hit MJ's ears, and she nearly fell backwards into the hot tub, shaking her head. "That's right!" she yelled with exaggerated glee. "Who's there?" She said it like a question—her voice way too high-pitched, almost a screech, as she pointed at JJ.

"Uh, no, no," JJ waved her off, losing his composure as he fought to stop from laughing. "The line's supposed to be, like, Who's there? in a deep voice, you know, like a ghost or whatever."

MJ squinted at him, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of it. "But it is a ghost, right? Why are we in a castle? Was I supposed to—?"

She was cut off by another round of giggles from the group. John B, trying not to snort into his drink, called out, "You two are such a mess."

Sarah added, "We'll never get past this scene if you keep laughing!"

"Okay, okay," JJ finally managed to get out through his laughter, his voice cracking. "Who's there?" He dramatically waved his arms like a spooky ghost and looked expectantly at MJ.

MJ took another dramatic pause, eyes scanning the air as though the answer would appear before her. "I don't know, JJ," she said seriously. "But whoever they are, they sound really lost."

The entire group burst out laughing, nearly spilling their drinks as they dissolved into chaos. JJ almost slipped on the wet edge of the tub from laughing so hard, and MJ had to clutch onto his arm for balance.

"Okay, okay!" Kie gasped between breaths, holding her stomach. "You two need to try to do it. We can't keep dying on the first line."

"I can't help it," MJ shot back, still in full snark mode. "This is art. You can't rush perfection. We're crafting the best rendition of Hamlet you've ever seen. Next line—what's next, JJ?"

JJ was still clutching his stomach, trying to breathe through the laughter. "Next line?" he croaked out, wiping away tears. "There's no next line, MJ. I think we broke the play. There's no saving this."

"Right," MJ said, leaning back with a satisfied grin. "We're cultural geniuses, obviously."

MJ, still grinning from their disastrous attempt at a Shakespearean performance, leaned back against the edge of the hot tub, her eyes flickering with the kind of fondness that only came from a mix of alcohol and nostalgia.

"You know," she started, her voice a little softer, "I used to do plays all the time with Zaza. She was like, my partner in crime." Her gaze wandered off into the distance, as though the memories were drifting back to her like a tide. "We'd always put on little skits for the family. I was always the lead, of course. She was the supporting act—" She paused, her face suddenly a little less animated like the memory had hit her harder than she expected. "Until she died."

There was a sudden, uncomfortable silence. John B, who had been sipping his drink, froze mid-sip, blinking a couple of times as though trying to process what she'd just said.

"Wait," he started, his brow furrowing. "She died?"

MJ didn't answer right away, her gaze fixed on the water, the jovial air around her starting to shift. She let out a half-snort of a laugh, her shoulders shaking as she tilted her head back. "Yeah," she said casually, as though talking about it didn't make her stomach twist. "She did. She died a while ago."

Sarah looked at John B, both of them exchanging confused, worried glances. The mood had just turned from carefree to awkward in a second. "MJ," Sarah said gently, her voice soft with concern. "I didn't know—when did this happen?"

MJ shrugged nonchalantly, her lips curling into a wobbly grin. "Oh, it was ages ago. You know, people come and go, right?" She let out a forced laugh, trying to brush off the weight of the words. "Life, death, all that jazz. But hey, enough about that—let's get back to the play, huh?"

But before she could even finish her sentence, her feet slipped on the slick side of the hot tub.

"Whoa!" MJ squealed, her arms flailing as she lost her balance, and with a final, dramatic gasp, she fell backward, splashing into the water with a loud splash.

The group stared for a moment, all of them equally unsure of how to react before the sound of her laughter bubbled up from beneath the surface. She surfaced, dripping wet, her hair clinging to her face, and gasped for air. "Okay," she gasped between giggles, "that wasn't part of the performance!"

JJ, still grinning like an idiot, leaned forward. "Well, at least someone got a splashy exit," he teased, as MJ clambered back into the hot tub with a dramatic groan.

"Oh, shut up, JJ," she said through her laughter, rolling her eyes. "It's not like I'm an actual actress or anything. I'm a mess, clearly." She pushed her soaked hair back, shooting them a grin. "Besides, you guys don't need to worry about me. I'm fine. Totally fine."

But there was something about her smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, and Sarah and John B exchanged another glance, both feeling a bit uneasy. Yet, they knew better than to press her for more right then.

"Okay, well," Sarah said, attempting to steer the conversation back to lighter waters, "how about we get back to Hamlet... or whatever that was?" She raised an eyebrow, trying to coax MJ into a change of topic.

MJ winked at her, now fully submerged in the warm water. "Sure, sure, Hamlet, right. I've still got that opening line down—Who's there?"

And with that, the group dissolved back into laughter, even as MJ's snarky grin remained, hiding whatever lingering thoughts she wasn't ready to share.

────

The morning light was soft, filtering through the curtains and casting a golden hue across the room. MJ stirred, her head throbbing slightly from the previous night's festivities. She groaned, squinting at her phone when it buzzed on the bedside table. Reaching out with a sluggish hand, she picked it up, blinking at the screen as her eyes adjusted.

An unknown number had texted her.

"Meet me at the warehouse. It's urgent."

Her brows furrowed as she sat up, the fog of sleep quickly evaporating, replaced by a mix of confusion and a hint of irritation. Warehouse? What the hell? Her phone buzzed again before she could even think about responding.

"Don't keep me waiting, MJ."

The message sent a chill through her spine. There was something in the tone she didn't quite trust. And the fact that the sender didn't identify themselves made her even more suspicious. But deep down, she knew she had to go—she couldn't let this go unanswered, especially with the cryptic "urgent."

With a heavy sigh, she tossed the covers off and stood up, stretching her limbs to shake off the grogginess. The others were probably still sleeping, or nursing hangovers. She grabbed a hoodie from the floor, pulled on some sneakers, and left the house quietly, making her way to the old warehouse on the outskirts of town. The air was still cool, and the streets were empty except for the occasional stray dog or car zooming by in the distance.

As she approached the warehouse, her gut twisted, the unease creeping in. She could hear the distant hum of her sneakers against the pavement, each step feeling heavier as the place loomed closer. The warehouse was just as rundown and desolate as it always had been, a forgotten relic of the town's past. It had been empty for years, save for the occasional misfit or criminal looking to hide from the law.

MJ pushed open the rusted metal door, the squeal of the hinges cutting through the silence as she stepped inside, squinting through the dim light. She could barely make out the shadow of someone standing in the corner of the vast, space. The air was thick with dust and the smell of old wood.

Kenyon was standing in the middle of the empty room, his posture relaxed but his eyes full of something MJ didn't expect: sincerity.

"Kenyon?" MJ said, her voice cautious. "What the hell is this about?"

Kenyon shifted, running a hand through his hair before meeting her gaze. "I know it's been a while, MJ. I didn't think you'd show, but I'm glad you did."

She crossed her arms, suspicious but intrigued. "You didn't text me to meet here just for a catch-up, so what's going on?"

Kenyon hesitated, his usual confidence wavering slightly. "I need your help. But more than that... I need you to know something. Something that's been weighing on me."

MJ raised an eyebrow, her skepticism mounting. "Okay, you've got my attention. What is it?"

Kenyon stepped forward, voice lowering, as if he was afraid someone might overhear. "I need to know if you've heard anything about Zaza. I—" He paused, his throat tightening, "I just need to know what happened to her. I... I think about her every damn day, and I can't shake the feeling that something's not right. I don't believe either of us killed her, MJ. But I can't move on without knowing the truth."

MJ felt her stomach drop at the mention of Zaza. She hadn't thought about her in a long time, and the pain of losing her, of not knowing what happened, hit her hard. But seeing Kenyon this way—so earnest, almost desperate—shifted something inside of her.

"You think I know something about what happened?" she asked, her voice quiet but sharp. "You think I'm hiding something?"

Kenyon shook his head quickly, his eyes pleading. "No. God, no. It's not like that. I swear to you, MJ. I know neither of us was involved, but I—" His voice cracked, and for the first time, he looked completely vulnerable. "I just need you to help me figure out what happened. I need to know if you have any idea if you've heard anything. Please."

MJ looked at him for a long moment, torn between the anger of the past and the raw emotion in Kenyon's voice. She had her own demons, her own questions about Zaza's death, but seeing Kenyon—someone she'd always known to be rough around the edges, but never malicious—like this, made her hesitate.

"Why come to me?" she asked, her voice laced with frustration. "Why not someone else? You could've gone to anyone for help."

Kenyon took a deep breath, his gaze dropping to the floor before meeting her eyes again. "Because... you were close to her, MJ. You're the one who'd understand. And you're the only one I trust to tell me the truth, to help me figure this out. I swear on everything, I'm not trying to drag you into anything bad. I just want to know what happened to her."

MJ's mind was racing. She knew how messed up everything had been surrounding Zaza's death—how it had thrown their lives into chaos. She didn't have the answers, but Kenyon was asking, and his desperation was palpable.

"I don't know, Kenyon," she said softly, rubbing her temples. "I don't have the answers. You know how everything went down... the lies, the confusion, the mess. I don't even know where to begin looking."

Kenyon stepped closer, his voice almost pleading. "I don't care how long it takes, MJ. I just need to know. Please. It wasn't either of us, I swear. I couldn't live with myself if I thought that. But I need to know what happened to her. Please, help me find out."

MJ stared at him, the weight of his words settling deep in her chest. She had kept her distance from the whole situation for so long, buried it all under layers of sarcasm and deflection. But now, faced with Kenyon's raw plea, she could see how much it was eating him up inside.

She let out a long breath, finally meeting his gaze. "I'll see what I can find out. But I'm not promising anything. I don't know where to even start. But I'll try, okay?"

Kenyon's face softened, relief flooding his features. "Thank you, MJ. I promise you won't regret it. I just need to know the truth."

MJ nodded, but her stomach churned with the weight of what she was about to get pulled back into. "Let's just hope the truth doesn't screw us both over."

With one last look at Kenyon, she turned, her heart still heavy with unanswered questions, the past she'd tried to bury creeping back up like an old ghost. She didn't know if she was making a mistake by getting involved, but she couldn't ignore the feeling that she had to help. The truth about Zaza—whatever it was—needed to come to light.

────

authors note:

sorry for the constant updates
(is anyone really bothered by them, let's be honest).

I have all the way to the second episode of season 4 written,
and I'm super excited to get to that point in the story,
so I've been pumping out the updates.

also, I want to get this book up to season 4
so I can go back and get my other hiatus Outer Banks books updated
PLUS start the ones I have in my drafts...

(I have a problem lol).