Lost at Sea 2 ⋆ JJ Maybank

𝖝𝖎𝖎𝖎. Teenage Dream

Kathryn never thought she'd say this – moreso because she never thought they'd be in a situation like this – but Kie and her just seem to be two faces of the same fucked up coin lately. This isn't a good thing, mostly for the latter. Kathryn is used to burning bridges before she crosses them. Kie, not so much.

Maybe that's why they're drawn to each other as they sit in the truck, on the ferry to Charleston. Shoulder to shoulder, thigh to thigh, the two girls contemplate how it feels to have their whole lives ahead of them; and still feel time is running out.

They must be a sight to see, considering the little glances JJ and Pope keep sending them. Neither of them are exactly in the mood to talk about what happened. Kathryn is still trying to get over the unopened can of worms Henry decided to chuck at her face.

"My parents are so paranoid of me being a Pogue," she says, "like it's the worst thing that could ever happen."

"Not to defend them," her friend starts, shrugging. "You are sitting on a ferry to Charleston to meet up with someone who could try to kill us and you know what? That wouldn't even be the first time."

Kie vehemently shakes her head. "Yeah, but you're the best thing that happened to me." When optimistic meets pessimistic.

"We broke into Crain's house."

"You're my best friends."

"We got arrested."

"We found the Royal Merchant."

Kathryn rolls her lips in her mouth. "Yeah, you got me there."

Kie revels in her small win by bumping her shoulder with hers. Once upon a time, Kathryn cowered away from any physical touch, so this is a win.

JJ sits down next to her, rolling his joint, without a care in the world. "Hey, I hear they got good weed at boarding school, though."

"She's not going to boarding school," Kathryn says, a bit too hotly.

"I'm not going to boarding school," Kie repeats. "They're gonna have to kidnap me, tie me up, and throw me in a van."

"We need to work on your exit plan," she mutters.