ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤJJ grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Well, that was fun,” he mused.

ㅤㅤ“You sure did have fun pinning your body over Lyra’s,” 

ㅤㅤKiara’s words hung in the air, a playful accusation that sent a jolt of embarrassment through JJ. He turned beet red, his eyes darting away from her gaze, glancing at Lyra. “Lyra enjoyed it, too.” He retorted, his voice a mix of defiance and embarrassment. He tried to play it cool, but the heat in his cheeks betrayed his discomfort.

ㅤㅤ“Of course, you’ll say that,”

ㅤㅤ“You can disagree,”

ㅤㅤ“Maybe I don’t want to,” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. JJ’s jaw dropped in surprise. He glanced around, scanning the others to see if anyone had caught the exchange, just to be sure that he wasn’t being delusional that he heard Lyra’s words right, but they seemed oblivious.

ㅤㅤWith a smug smile, he kept it to himself as he changed the subject, “Could have warned us a little sooner,” JJ spoke out, pertaining to Pope and Kiara.

ㅤㅤLyra nodded in agreement, “Yeah, what happened to you guys being the lookouts?” she raised a question, relaxed, and a few inches away from JJ at the bow.

ㅤㅤ“Well, yeah, unfortunately, Pope was on the math team,” Kiara responded.

ㅤㅤ“You were on the math team?”

ㅤㅤ“JJ, I literally dragged you to create a banner for one of his contests last year.”

ㅤㅤ“Oh,”  JJ replied, his memory clearly hazy.

ㅤㅤ“The cops took everything like it was a crime scene. Did you guys find anything?” Pope queries, ㅤㅤdismissing how forgetful JJ sometimes is—though it was expected from Lyra to remember it.

ㅤㅤ“Did we find anything? No, I don’t think so?” JJ said, his voice dripping with mock innocence. Then, with a flourish, he pulled out a bundle of cash and a firearm from his pockets. “Oh, yeah, we did,” he announced, his pride evident.

ㅤㅤPope stood up, his face a mask of shock and disbelief. “Dude, what the hell?”

ㅤㅤ“Dude, what?” Kiara clamored; she echoed, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and fear. She glanced at John B, her eyes searching for a reaction, before turning to Lyra. “You were supposed to stop him from doing anything stupid!”

ㅤㅤLyra, however, seemed nonchalant and said, “Kie, you should know it by now, if someone told JJ ‘no’, he interprets it as ‘go’.”

ㅤㅤJJ winks at Lyra, “You really know me so well, Ly—that’s why I love you,”

ㅤㅤ“Yeah, I love me too.” 

ㅤㅤPope and JJ began to argue about the stolen items. Pope was apprehensive about losing his merit scholarship, but the latter had a weird way of calming him down by saying, “At least you have us, right?” JJ hushes him like a baby as he massages his hand on Pope’s cheeks.

ㅤㅤ“That wouldn’t make him feel better,” Lyra piped in as Kiara agreed. “No, it wouldn’t.”

ㅤㅤAfter scouring the Grady White boat, the five-membered group returned to the docks. But as they were hanging out at the port, they found out who the boat’s owner was. It was Scooter Grubbs, and before they could ask for the finder’s fee, Grubbs was already pronounced dead. According to Peeler, the known marina rat on their island was out during the storm.

ㅤㅤAs they apprehended the new information they gathered, the five teenagers drove back to the Château, still processing that the person they were looking for and the man who was the owner of the money and gun JJ stole was already dead.

ㅤㅤLyra’s mind was still replaying the time she had a peek at the man’s dead body. That was the first time she ever saw a lifeless body with her own eyes. It was both terrifying and sad even if she wasn’t exactly familiar with Scooter Grubbs. Lyra crouched on the empty seat right next to JJ. 

ㅤㅤJohn B, JJ, Kiara, and Lyra were on the porch waiting for Pope. Moments later, Pope burst through the front door, his breath ragged. “Okay. So, um… we didn’t see anything. We don’t know anything. We need to have total and complete amnesia.”  he blurted out, his voice filled with urgency.

ㅤㅤ“Actually, Pope’s right.” All heads turn to where JJ is sitting; it wasn’t every day that JJ agrees with Pope. “See, I agree with you sometimes.” He stood up, his juul dangling from his lips.

ㅤㅤLyra rolled her eyes, a teasing smile across her face.  “And now, you’ve ruined it,” she muttered.

ㅤㅤ“Deny, deny, deny,” JJ declared, walking towards the porch railings. He stood a few inches away from John B, who remained surprisingly silent.

ㅤㅤ“Guys, we cannot keep that money.” Kiara blurted out, her voice filled with conviction.

ㅤㅤ“Okay, not all of us cannot afford unlimited data plans, Kiara.”

ㅤㅤKiara disregarded JJ’s harsh comment and resumed, “We have to pass that off to Lana Grubbs; otherwise, it’s bad karma.”

ㅤㅤ“Bad karma to be implicated in a felony, too. We got to go dark.” Pope added, his voice filled with urgency. He darted a glance at Lyra, seeking her opinion on their next step.

ㅤㅤJJ spoke up fast, eagerness evident on his face, “If that means we get to keep the money, then I agree,” he said, cutting off Lyra before she could even say a word.

ㅤㅤJohn B witnessed JJ’s enthusiasm and gently touched his shoulder. “I don’t agree,” he said softly, making his opinion known to the group. 

ㅤㅤ“What? Why? Lyra, what do you say?”

ㅤㅤAll eyes are on Lyra, waiting for her reply. She’s horrible at making decisions especially when put on the spot. Lyra is in a dilemma as she does not want JJ to feel like they’re ganging up on him, but she can’t tolerate theft, and if she does, her brother will never forgive her. That was the verdict she chanted inside her head, “I guess the majority wins.” She whispered.

ㅤㅤJJ’s dismay is evident on his face. His brow creased and his jaw clenched which was seen by Lyra, “JJ, it’s two on three, what do you want me to do?” she blurted, earning a pout on the boy’s lips.

ㅤㅤAs John B, Kiara, and Pope enter the Château, JJ, and Lyra are silently left alone on the couch. Lyra cannot stand the silence and wants to talk to JJ. She starts a new conversation, hoping to break the awkward silence. 

ㅤㅤ“JJ, I couldn’t care less if you call me a party pooper or a buzzkill but if this starts to bite us in our asses, it’s going to be a problem.” She gazed at JJ, his head lowered in defeat. 

ㅤㅤWith a gentle touch, she held onto his chin, turning his face towards hers. Her eyes pleaded with him as she spoke urgently. “JJ, please, we gotta go under the radar. We also can’t let Pope lose the scholarship. He worked so hard for it.” 

ㅤㅤJJ licked his lips, his expression pained. He grumbled, his voice rough, and brushed his palm aggressively over his face. Finally, he conceded. “I know, Lyra,” he muttered. “It’s just...you wouldn’t…” He trailed off, his words unfinished. “Alright,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. 

ㅤㅤLyra nodded, a warm smile spreading across her face. She settled her head on his shoulder. “I love you, JJ.” 

ㅤㅤHe sniffed,  “Yeah, I love me too.” he replied, a hint of humor in his tone.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

ㅤㅤThe sun was setting over the island, and the Pogues were preparing for their keg party at the Boneyard. They had planned it meticulously, making sure to keep it a secret so that no one would suspect them. The idea was to lay low and act normal, using the party as a front for their illicit discovery. However, it was summer, and young people like them loved to party.

ㅤㅤAs soon as the Pogues had finished setting up, and the word that a party at the Boneyard was spread: pogues, tourists, and kooks graced the Boneyard with their presence. Lyra didn’t care much about the Tourons but was wary of the Kooks. The rivalry between the Pogues and Kooks had been going on for years. 

It is a wonder when it will end.

ㅤㅤ“Is this how we lay low? Throw a big-ass beach keg party?” Lyra murmurs to JJ as he leans nearer to pay attention to what she says. Lyra melted like butter when she heard him chuckling in response. Then he suggested a refill, but she refused. 

ㅤㅤJJ, on the other hand, “Sucks to be you because I need one, so I’m just going to snatch another drink.” JJ commented, “Will you be fine on your own?”

ㅤㅤ“Gosh, JJ. Shoo! I’m not a child. You don’t have to babysit me.” She rolls her eyes; it aggravates the hell out of her when people treat her like she’s eight. JJ taps her back playfully before fleeing.

ㅤㅤLyra shot a satisfied smile at the sight of her friends having a good time and flirting with strangers before she decided to walk on the beach. Currently, she’s a few feet away from them, sitting in a giant tree trunk that was washed ashore. She enjoyed the sight of the sunset with a red plastic cup of beer in her hand. Being on her own gave her a sense of freedom and peace.

ㅤㅤ“Penny for your thoughts?”

ㅤㅤUntil somebody decides to ruin Lyra’s alone moment, she turns to see Rafe standing there, with his greasy hair and a smirk on his face. She chugged her drink before responding, “Rafe. You’re here.” She sighed, not in the disposition to argue.

ㅤㅤ“Heard some pogues were throwing a keg party. Should’ve known it was your friends,” he spoke as he cowered down on the sand across from her, offering her a cup of beer. “I didn’t put any shit on that, I promise.” He noted—he must have sensed her doubts.

ㅤㅤLyra shrugged and let out a sigh. “Chill, stop being defensive, Rafe. I didn’t say anything.” Rafe chortled as he took a sip of his drink while she accepted the cup. It’s not like she’s going to drink it, Lyra’s already had four glasses, she just finished her limit. 

ㅤㅤ“I heard you and your family are gonna attend the Midsummers this year?”

ㅤㅤLyra’s pale blue eyes slightly widened before cursing, “Oh, fuck, I’ve forgotten about Midsummers. But yes, we’re going.” She swore that her family wouldn’t attend again after the humiliation they encountered but it seems there were some changes of plans since they are attending the most anticipated summer event in Figure Eight this summer.

ㅤㅤ“Would you like to be my date?” Rafe abruptly asked.

ㅤㅤ“That’s the worst way of asking someone.”

ㅤㅤ“So?”

ㅤㅤ“No,” Lyra couldn’t help herself not to grin. Klyd, her older brother, despised Rafe with every fiber of his being. She guaranteed he would never allow his younger sister to be seen or be in near proximity with Rafe.

ㅤㅤ“Fine, be that way. You know I’ll have my ways.”

ㅤㅤ“Oh yeah? Then be a man enough first and tell that on Klyd’s face,” Lyra rolled her eyes out as she took another sip of her drink, “Did Sarah come here with you?” she curiously asked. 

ㅤㅤ“With her boyfriend, I think. I don’t know.”

ㅤㅤ“Brother of the year,” Lyra mumbled, loud enough for Rafe to hear, and then she received a glare from him.

ㅤㅤTheir casual conversation lasts for a few minutes. Technically, they aren’t alone, but it just occurred to Lyra that she and Rafe haven’t hung with each other without their tongues on each other’s mouth. Their relationship—if you can consider it as one—was purely physical and personal gains and pleasure. Sure, they were physically intimate, but emotionally far from each other.

Lyra pursed her lips, turning her head in Rafe’s direction that’s already fixed his eyes on her.

ㅤㅤRafe leaned closer, his nose touching hers. Lyra could practically smell his expensive perfume as the cold salty breeze blew on her face. She thought he still used the same fragrance she gifted him, making her smile slightly. 

ㅤㅤLyra can vividly remember the first time they shared a kiss. It was the summer after freshman year. At that time, what was important for Lyra was that she enjoyed every bit of it—as selfish as that may sound. No thoughts about what’s wrong or right. Or what would be her friends’ reaction if they knew about what she did with Rafe. All she could focus on was how good it felt as Rafe hungrily looked at her lips right now just like he did back then.

ㅤㅤBefore Lyra can make another mistake by having her lips on Rafe’s, an image of her friends flashes in her mind, filling her with guilt, regret, and shame. She gradually pulls away from Rafe’s proximity. Looking around, she notices that the sun has finally set, casting a shadow over their surroundings. She can see Rafe’s expression change in the dim light as he realizes what has just happened. He was denied a kiss. 

ㅤㅤMeanwhile, in Lyra’s head, she wondered where her friends were and what they were doing.

ㅤㅤ“You’re not a part of them, Lyra,” Rafe grumbled as if he was able to read what was on her mind.

ㅤㅤ“Oh, gosh, here we go again.”

ㅤㅤRafe’s attempts to keep her away from her friends are not new to her. When they had their summer affair, that was his constant reminder. And every time Lyra would protest, he grew more agitated, grinding his teeth while pacing back and forth “Because it is the truth! You’re one of us now, Lyra. You don’t belong to those dirty pogues.” He pressed, gritting his teeth, standing up as he paced in front of her.

ㅤㅤ“I don’t belong to anybody, Rafe,” Lyra declared, her voice a mix of defiance and fury. The indignation bubbled within her, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her at Rafe’s condescending words. “And I will never become one of you. I refuse to measure the worth of people by the weight of their wallets.” Her eyes blazed with intensity as she glared at him, anger pulsing through her veins. “You have no right to dictate who I choose to befriend, especially since I met them long before you ever existed in my world.” 

ㅤㅤWith that, she rose to her feet, determination firm as she prepared to walk away, to leave Rafe and his shallow judgments behind. But just as she turned, his hand shot out, fingers wrapping tightly around her wrist, a physical barrier that rooted her to the spot and denied her the escape she desperately sought.

ㅤㅤLyra fought against Rafe’s vice-like grip on her wrist, her heart pounding as she strained to push him away. The salty air was thick with tension when, without warning, two sharp gunshots rang out across the sandy expanse of the beach, breaking the uneasy silence and sending a jolt through her body. In the chaos, Lyra’s wrist slipped from Rafe’s hold, and she seized the moment to bolt away from him.

ㅤㅤ“Let go of me!” she yelled, in desperation. 

ㅤㅤ“Lyra! Come on!” Rafe’s voice echoed behind her, laced with frustration and urgency, but she refused to look back. Instead, she sprinted toward her friends, the weight of annoyance weighing down on her chest. 

ㅤㅤRafe was like a persistent parasite, wriggling under her skin, always finding a way to infiltrate her thoughts and emotions. She was fully aware of his manipulative charm, yet she felt the familiar tug of confusion and regret. Why had she almost succumbed to his advances once more?

ㅤㅤForgetting Rafe and the turmoil he brought to her mind, Lyra dashed toward her friends, her heart racing as she took in the unexpected chaos unfolding before her. Not minding the people running away from them and the others who were just bystanders: JJ, desperation etched across his face, gripped a gun tightly in his hands, its cold steel glimmering in the fading sunlight. John B, drenched and shivering, struggled to catch his breath, his chest heaving as if the very ocean had tried to swallow him whole. Nearby, Kiara and Pope were locked in a fierce argument, their voices rising above the crashing waves, each word sharp with frustration and urgency.

ㅤㅤSuddenly, amid the tumult, Lyra’s gaze fell on John B, who staggered and collapsed onto the damp sand. Panic surged through her as she rushed to his side, her heart pounding in her chest. She knelt beside his unconscious form, feeling the coolness of the sea breeze against her skin. 

ㅤㅤThe moment JJ locked eyes with Lyra, a spark ignited within him. Without hesitation, he dashed alongside her. Kiara and Pope quickly fell in step behind them.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

ㅤㅤLyra was perfectly content living alone. Unfortunately, her parents had other plans. They frowned upon the idea of their youngest child living independently, so they put Klyd in charge of their home and their business, ostensibly to keep an eye on her whenever they were away. Their plan had backfired spectacularly. Klyd was rarely at the house, too preoccupied with managing their resort. As a result, Lyra had found herself staying at John B’s humble abode.

ㅤㅤJust last night, after finally piecing together the whole debacle and ensuring that John B was perfectly okay, Lyra decided it was high time to return home. It had been far too long since she had stepped into her family’s home.

ㅤㅤThe sight of Klyd cooking breakfast put confusion on her mind. She rarely saw her brother, and when she did, it was usually for a specific reason: it was either he needed something from her, or their parents had asked him to cook and bond with his sister—Lyra preferred the latter.

ㅤㅤLyra scrunched her nose at the sight of the table. He had cooked an amount of food the two of them couldn’t finish. As Lyra sat down, Klyd greeted her with a cheerful “Good morning” and placed a bacon sandwich in front of her. “Morning,” she replied, her voice a bit muffled as she took a bite.

ㅤㅤCuriosity getting the best of him, Klyd asked, “I heard there was an incident at the Boneyard, gunshots were heard.” Lyra remained mum, knowing it was best to avoid any mention of her recent escapades. But Klyd persisted. “You were there, weren’t you? Who were you with?”

ㅤㅤLyra tried to divert the conversation by stuffing her mouth with food, but Klyd was relentless. “Friends,” she finally admitted, hoping to put an end to the interrogation.

ㅤㅤKlyd replied with a scowl. Of course, Lyra was with her friends, why’d he even bother to ask? It’s not like a shocker for his sister to hang out with her long-time friends. Lyra rolled her eyes, her frustration evident. “Klyd, if you’re going to forbid me to see them, it won’t work,” she snapped.

ㅤㅤ“Since when did I forbid you to be with your friends?” Klyd retorted, his voice laced with annoyance. He felt insulted. He didn’t even think of doing that. He must admit he is pretty strict but he’s not cruel. No way he’ll be the evil older brother to her. “You’re putting words in my mouth, little sister.”

ㅤㅤLyra tilted her head, her gaze fixed on him. “Right, ‘cause scaring them would be a good move, right?” she scoffed, banging her slicer on the table, the noise echoing through the room. “Oh, please, drop it. Stop acting like they’re completely strangers to you.” Her words were sharp, a reflection of her growing anger.

ㅤㅤKlyd took a deep breath, his voice calm and measured. “Lyra, I assure you, they don’t feel like strangers to me,” he said. “I’ve known those kids longer than you did. But that doesn’t mean I tolerate their wrongdoings as you do.”

ㅤㅤ“Ah, ‘cause you’re clean and innocent from all those so-called wrongdoings, right?” Lyra countered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

ㅤㅤLyra and Klyd sat across from each other at the breakfast table, their conversation growing more intense with each passing moment. Klyd’s face twitched as Lyra’s words cut deep. “I never said that I was,” he admitted, his voice filled with a hint of vulnerability. “I’m far from perfect. That’s why I’m doing all things necessary to protect you. To keep you from making the same mistakes that I did. What kind of an older brother would I be if I let you ruin your life?” Klyd’s expression softened, his tone becoming more delicate.

ㅤㅤThe room grew quieter as they spoke, the air heavy with tension. Lyra realized she had been too harsh, her words a stinging reminder of Klyd’s past struggles. She might have been young, but she had witnessed her brother’s suffering, and it was unforgivable to bring it up so casually.

ㅤㅤ“And I appreciate you for looking after me, Klyd,” she said, her voice filled with sincerity. “I do. But you must have forgotten that I’m not a kid anymore. I might make wrong choices, so what? At least, let me face the consequences of my own stupidity.” She paused, her eyes pleading with him. “I want your full support, no judgment. You know my friends through and through. We’re just teenagers, Klyd. We’re bound to make mistakes.”

ㅤㅤLyra had been waiting for this moment, a chance to have a real conversation with her brother. “Klyd, you can’t blame yourself forever,” she continued, her voice filled with compassion. “And I know my limits, I promise you I won’t cross them.”

ㅤㅤKlyd darted a worried glance at Lyra, his voice becoming severe. “You might be aware of your limits, but that doesn’t mean you won’t cross them. Peer pressure is real, Lyra, and I’m hoping you’ve never felt that with the set of friends you have.” Then he unleashed a hefty sigh, his shoulders slumping. “Lyra, I just want you to know that I’ll never put you in a position where you’ll have to avoid your friends,” he said, his voice filled with sincerity. 

ㅤㅤLyra was taken aback by her brother’s words, her mind racing as she processed his concerns. She sat silently, mimicking his actions as he continued eating. The weight of his words hung in the air, forcing Lyra to reflect on her past experiences with her friends and contemplate the importance of staying true to her own boundaries.

ㅤㅤ“Just… be responsible, Lyra. Don’t be like me.” Klyd sighed softly, the weight of his words hanging in the air as he looked at his wrist watch. 

ㅤㅤLyra watched him wipe his mouth with a table napkin before he stood up in his seat and walk away, feeling a sense of regret wash over her, the only thing she could do was look at her older brother’s disappearing figure. 

•─────⋅☾ 𝔫𝔶𝔵 ☽⋅─────•

hello, everyone! it's been a while, apologies for the long wait. in honour of the Christmas season, here's an update! and i hope that you enjoyed reading this chapter.

happy Christmas and happy Holidays for non believers! <3