Head Over Heels - 𝖩𝖩 𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖺𝗇𝗄

15 | 𝕃𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕥𝕒𝕝𝕜

｡･ﾟﾟ･･ﾟﾟ･｡Chapter 15 ｡･ﾟﾟ･･ﾟﾟ･｡

Following the recent events, the teens decided to meet up with John B and Kiara at the beach. They all agreed to enjoy their time surfing before the big day tomorrow, intending to relax and have fun since they hadn't had a chance to do something like this in a long time. When they arrived, Kiara was the first to ask about Pope's face. Fortunately, Frankie was able to come up with a lie, stating that he had fallen onto a dock. Lying wasn't something Frankie enjoyed doing, and she didn't like keeping secrets from her friends. However, if Pope had asked her not to tell anyone what happened, she would keep quiet.

After a brief exchange of looks with Kiara, the five teens began to enjoy their time surfing, basking in the warm sunlight that streamed down on them. The cooling effect of the water helped to counterbalance the heat, making the experience all the more enjoyable. They didn't keep track of how long they spent surfing, allowing themselves in the enjoyable moment. It wasn't until the sun started to set that they realized it was time to call it a day. John B suggested that they should camp out under the stars once it fully got dark outside.

As Pope, Kiara, and John B made their way back inside to tidy up and prepare for their overnight stay, Frankie and JJ remained outside in the water, perched on their surfboards and gazing out at the waves. The silence was comfortable and soothing, allowing for a peaceful moment between them.

JJ glanced over at Frankie, taking note of her windswept browm hair and the freckles that had become more prominent against her skin. "Hey, princess," he called out, successfully capturing her attention. "Yeah, J?" She responsed softly.

"You alright?" The blonde asked, watching the brunette hesitate for a moment. She shrugged, a nonchalant expression on her face. "I'm fine," she replied, before letting out a huff of air. JJ raised an eyebrow, skeptical of her response. "You sure about that?" he asked.

Frankie looked away, avoiding eye contact with him. "Yeah, I'm sure," she mumbled. JJ could see right through her. "You don't have to pretend, you know." Frankie's shoulders slumped as she let out a sigh, finally looking back at JJ. "It's just..." she began, her voice faltering slightly. "I don't know... I just can't stop thinking about it, you know? About what Pope said." Frankie fingers gently tapping against her surfboard. "I just feel bad," she said softly. "Rafe beating him up, but he didn't do anything to me." She paused, feeling conflicted. "It's stupid, but it makes me feel more like a Kook than a pogue." She looked down, her voice tinged with self-doubt. "Maybe I am more of a Kook than a pogue, after all. Rafe didn't even touch me."

JJ reached out and tugged Frankie's surfboard closer to his side, his gaze fixed on her. "You've never been a Kook, Frankie," he stated firmly, his hand still holding onto her board, "I'm born on Figure Eight. I'm a Kook-" Frankie protested, but stopped as JJ quickly lifted his hand, covering her mouth to silence her. "It doesn't matter where you're born," he interrupted, "because you've always been a Pogue, and you always will be." He states, pulling his hand away.

"Woah, did you just write that up before you could ask me?" Frankie joked softly, sending him a smirk.

"Oh yeah, definitely," JJ teased back, "in fact, I wrote it up a long time ago. You see, princess, I can see into the future." Frankie shoved him playfully in response, unable to contain her laughter.

"You're such a weirdo sometimes," she finally managed to say through giggles. "A weirdo? Ouch, princess. You hurt my feelings," JJ spoke, placing his hand over his chest dramatically. "Actually, you kissed this weirdo on the cheek. Let's talk about that," he teased.

Frankie's cheeks heated up at his sudden response. She stared at him quietly, watching his lips curl up into a smirk. He enjoyed teasing Frankie whenever he could, finding it quite enjoyable. "What's wrong, princess? Did I catch you off guard?" he teased, leaning closer. "How about we recreate it? I've never been kissed on the cheek before-"

Frankie sighed and shoved JJ back, watching his surfboard tip up, his body dropping into the water before he sprung himself back up, shaking his head. He stared over at Frankie, watching as she laughed at him.

"Hey you two!" Kiara shouted so the two could hear her, "Everything is set up!"

Frankie and JJ looked over at Kiara, then back to each other. "Coming!" Frankie responded. "Are you just gonna stay there all day, or are you coming?" JJ smiled, pulling himself back up onto his board.

"I'm coming, Princess." He responded with a grin.

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After they made it back to land, they all made sure they were dried and changed back into their regular clothes, ditching the swimming costumes they had worn earlier. John B found himself already lounging in one of the chairs outside the Chateau, Pope doing the same. Frankie was prepared to sit down beside Kiara, but before she could, she felt a tug on the back of the jacket JJ had given her. The unexpected pull made her body fall onto the hammock, landing beside JJ, who was already laying there.

The sun had already set, and now the sky was dark, without any light. It was peaceful. For once, the five teenagers were able to relax, enjoying a break from running away from danger. They could finally live out their teenage years without the constant threat of danger. Frankie's head rested against JJ's shoulder, her body slightly leaning towards him for warmth. Although it wasn't particularly cold, she felt a chill after spending time in the ocean.

"You really think it's out there? Like, no bullshit?" Pope suddenly spoke up to gain his friends attention.

"My father thought it was." John B replies.

"But do you?" Pope asked.

John B immediately understood what Pope meant. Of course, he believed it. He remained silent as he considered the best way to respond to Pope's question, as thunder rumbled in the background.

"After hear his voice on that tape...I think I do." John B replied.

"Only one way to find out." Pope nodded his head, lifting his hand up towards John B. The brunette nodded along leaning forward as the two created their handshake, eventually their hands lowering away.

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know? Even JJ and Frankie believes." Kiara smiled, looking over at the two.

"Oh, my god, JJ, Frankie, do you really believe?" John B asked changing his tone of voice in a jokey way.

"Oh, my god, yeah totally." Frankie responsed mimicking his voice, causing Kiara to laugh.

"Totally. Wait. Are we talking about four mil?" JJ asked not really listening well.

"Four hundred mil." Kiara and Pope spoke, saying at the same time.

"You two both jinxed each other." Frankie states, leaning her head back, "Why does no one jinx anymore?"

"Such a random question to ask Frankie." Kiara laughed a little, glancing at the brunette.

JJ hummed wrapper his arm around Frankie's shoulder. "I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks and princess over here. Good night, Bird!"

"Good night, bird shit!" John B replies.

"Hey, don't fall asleep, you weasel!" Frankie narrowed her eyes and poked JJ's side, a smirk on her face. "Why are you dreaming about me, huh?"

"Weasel, that's a new one to add to the list," Kiara chuckled, glancing at Frankie. "I should start a book with all the words you come up with."

"You'd win in an instant." Frankie replied, giggling with Kiara. Eventually, the two girls quieted down in response, a comfortable silence settling over the group. JJ pulled Frankie closer to him, allowing their heads to rest against each other, Frankie yawned, turning her head to the side and closing her eyes.

John B glanced over in their direction before turning his gaze away, looking up at the sky as thunder rumbled once more.