THE first tests of the school year were never too difficult. 

Eden sits relaxed at her desk, Airpods in yet again as she stares down at the sheet of paper in front of her —some test on Diocletian, whom the Bexley had only listened half about. She hadn't had much time to study between almost drowning and watching a murder in the rain, but looking down at the questions, Eden felt decently confident with the answers summoning up in her mind. 

She lightly scribbled down answers and paragraphs, trying her best to recall the words Mr. Sunn had spewed the previous days. She's sure Pope is passing with flying colors, Kiara doing decently where as JJ is probably failing, confused and regretting the fact that he was sleeping instead of studying.

Her point if further proved when her music cuts out, signaling that a text had been sent to her.

Eden sighs and looks at Mr. Sunn—who's busy on his computer—before pulling her phone from her pocket, keeping it low inside of her desk in case her teacher was to look. Her fingernail taps against her screen and it lights up to show a text message from none other than JJ Maybank sitting atop of her background. 

With a deadpanned expression, the girl looks to her side at the blonde boy—sitting next to JJ was both a blessing and a sin at the same time. He met her gaze and nodded towards his phone, which was also sat in his lap, signaling for her to check the text message.

Eden rolls her eyes and opens the message.

pain in my ass: 

what's the answer to  3 pretty please 

The Bexley girl had already known the category in which the question would have been placed before he even sent it, and lightly shook her head as she read it. Since elementary school, JJ had been cheating off of Eden—she'd always get texts from him in the middle of classes if they shared it, or would spam her questions until she googled the answers for him if they didn't.  

Eden replies back; Why should I grace you with my answers. You had the chance to join the group study Google Meet we did when we got home last night but didn't so this is your own downfall.

pain in my ass: 

because you love me.

also that google meet was at like 2am so it was a hard pass.

She types; I really wish I didn't.

The girl spares a glance at Mr. Sunn yet again before sliding her paper down to her lap. She raises her phone and snaps a quick photo of the front sheet of the test before sending it to the Maybank without a second thought—she always gave him shit about studying, but would always provide answers. She doesn't care if it's "unfair". 

pain in my ass: 

you didn't need to send the whole page but okay

actually hold up

okay i failed the whole front page so actually thanks

Eden looks over at JJ for a moment, who's writing down the Bexley's answers, eyes darting back and forth between his test and phone, which was still hidden in his lap.

 From the corner of his eye, JJ notices her looking, and when they make eye contact, Eden mouths the word, "Dumbass." 

The blonde boy flicks up his middle finger at her from below his desk, but quickly puts it away when the door opens.

Eden glances up at the door, watching as a man comes in. He's dressed in a nice suit, and looks professional. "Mr. Sunn, can I borrow Pope for a moment?"

Quietly, Mr. Sunn stands up and walks towards the man, "We're in the middle of a test right now—"

"I'm from the Vanderhorst Foundation."

The name catches Eden's attention, and she looks at the man. Pope had lost the scholarship, so why were they here?

Mr. Sunn looks at the Heyward boy, "Mr. Heyward, it's for you."

Pope gets out of his seat and follows after the unknown man. Eden, Kie, and JJ share a look before the Carrera turns around to continue her test. Since they were beside one another, the Maybank and the Bexley decided to question towards one another rather than do their work.

"What do you think that's all about?" JJ asks quietly, trying to keep Mr. Sunn off of their case.

Eden shrugged, "I don't know, maybe they're letting him re-do his scholarship?"

"JJ, Eden." Mr. Sunn's voice raises from the front of the room, and the two Pogues look up to see the man staring daggers at them. Eden meekly smiles before returning to her test, and JJ gives an awkward thumbs up.

Though, his attempt at getting them back to work is rather useless, as a few seconds later, Pope runs back into the room.

Eden leans forward, and hears Kiara whispers, "Okay, what was that?"

To reply, the Heyward boy holds up an envelope.

Eden's eyes slightly widen when she notices what's stamped upon it. The wheat symbol.

Gold.

"Is that the wheat symbol?" Kiara asks the question on everyone's mind.

Pope firmly nods. "Yeah."

JJ's narrowed eye gaze widened in shock and he lets out a loud exclaim, "What the f—" the boy chokes on his words as Eden kicks him in the leg, Mr. Sunn's head whipping around at the language that was about to slip. "—fu....fu....fudge."

Eden bites her lip and stares down at her test to avoid the eyes of her fellow classmates, who were probably getting tired of the Pogues' constant interruptions, and continues her test with the wheat in her head.

Ten minutes later, Eden, Kiara, and JJ are chasing Pope around the school.  

The moment the bell rang, the Heyward boy was out of his seat, and the three had no choice but to follow their friend around the school, ultimately ending up in the library. 

"Is this a game of tag?" JJ questions as the Heyward boy enters the library, the others filing in at his heels. 

Kiara mutters, "I don't know."

"Am I gonna have to beat you with your protractor? What's going on?" JJ says loudly, earning a sh! from the librarian, as well as a pointed stare.  Eden sends her an apologetic smile, and nudges the Maybank, who pulls off his hat and mutters a small apology under his breath to please her.

The group comes to a stop around a computer and gather around Pope, wanting to keep the conversation closed as possible. Eden ushers him to start explaining with a curious look in her eye, "Seriously, Pope. Spill before we piss off the librarian."

"Okay, so that guy was from the scholarship committee." the Heyward starts. He pulls the wheat in-crested letter out and holds it out for his friends to see, "Take a look at this."  The Maybank is quick to snatch the letter from his hands, causing Pope to usher, "Read it."

JJ opens the envelope and pulls out the letter, eyes scanning over the written words with narrow eyes.

Kiara sighs, "Out loud." 

At the request, JJ looks between all three friends and back at the letter before bluntly admitting. "I can't read cursive."

"My mom forced me to learn cursive when I was, like, six. I got this." Eden states before taking the letter from the blonde boy, scanning over the connected and slurred letters as she read aloud, "Dear Mr. Heyward, I am reaching out because I have material evidence that can exonerate John B. Routledge." 

Her heart rises in her chest, and she pauses for a moment before continuing, "It is of vital importance that you come meet with me in person at my offices at 27 King Street, Charleston, at 8:00 p.m sharp tonight. Please come alone. Regards, C. Limbrey."

JJ guffaws, "Charleston?"

Pope nods, "I know. It's like an eight-hour drive, plus the ferry. How will we get there tonight?"

Eden looks between her friends, "If we're going, we need to leave, like, now to have even a chance at making that 8:00 sharp time frame."

Kiara shrugs, "I have a free period."

"Material evidence?" JJ states out loud, voice quiet. "What does that even mean, 'material evidence'?"

"It means he can clear John B."

The letter suddenly seems to click in JJ's mind, and he tosses the envelope down and exclaims quickly, "Oh shit, then we're going to Charleston."

Kiara leans forward and sighs, "I gotta tell my mom."

Eden pulls out her phone to find Dr. Fraser's contact, "I need to cancel my grief counseling tonight." She unlocks her phone and finds her therapist's contact, sending a quick text that she was unable to make tonight's appointment—she didn't give an explanation, as it was needed with Dr. Fraser.

Pope begins to type rapidly on the computer beside them, and Kiara states, "Look, if we get it this time, we are not giving it to Shoupe."

JJ chuckled, "Yeah. No duh."

Eden recalls the night before and says, "I actually humbled him last night, so he might start doing his job."

Pope lets out a sigh, putting the teens back on track.

Kiara darts her eyes to the screen, "What?"

"I'm not sure, but I think whoever this Limbrey person is...." the teens look at the screen as Pope explains. Eden recognizes the image of a man on the page, and is sure she's seen it inside of Big John's office before. ".....they might be related to the captain of the Royal Merchant."

Eden's tongue poked the inside of her cheek.

That stupid ship was making it's way back into the story—the ship that started this whole gold hunt.

Eden waves to her friends as she hops out of Heyward's truck, staring up at the two story palace she called her home.

After discovering what was within the letter, the group had ditched school for the Charleston plan—if they wanted to make the deadline the Limbrey person had given, they had to leave as soon as possible, (and pray for no traffic!).

But, before they could leave the OBX entirely, three out of the four Pogues had parents to convince.  

Pope's had been the easiest—the group had stopped at Heyward's shop and Pope had created some fake story about how he had to go and get the truck repaired at his cousins house, giving both an excuse out of the OBX and for having Heyward's truck—but now the two Kooks of the group were left to beg their own parents, more so their mothers, to allow them to go to Charleston, which posed much more of a challenge.

Since Kie and Eden lived mere houses away, Pope had dropped each teen at their respective home to allow them a few minutes each to convince their parents, ultimately deciding to wait out the time in the Carrera driveway—Anna could tolerate him and JJ, but he's sure Isla would kick them out because the trucks tires are too dirty.

So, Eden sends a final wave to the truck before walking up to her front door. She hears the engine of Heyward's vehicle pulling away as she grabs her house keys from her jean pocket, twisting the item into the lock, lightly sighing as she hears the small click of granted entrance. 

"Mom? Dad?" Eden's voice echoes through her house as she steps in the door, not bothering to kick off her shoes since she wouldn't be straying long. She sets her bag down, and repeats herself, "Mom? Are you home?"

Tom Bexley calls back, "We're upstairs in your room, Angel!"

Eden goes upstairs to her room, quick to catch the sight of her mother and father. They're folding laundry in her bedroom, her windows open to allow natural light to illuminate the room rather than her LEDs.

Isla doesn't look up from the piece of clothing she was folding upon Eden's bed, "Why are you home from school, Eden? There's still four hours left."

"I just wasn't feeling it today." Eden knows her excuse is lame, but she doesn't feel like spilling the question yet, so it's the best she has. Her mom had been more easy on her about school since she changed to the public school and with the whole John B. situation. 

Isla nods, sparing a glance at her daughter, "Okay, but please try to rest tonight then, honey. I know it's hard, but I don't want your grades to start slipping because you start skipping."

"Got it..." Eden trails off. 

It's silent for a few moments before Isla speaks again, "Remember you have a meeting with Dr. Fraser at 6 tonight. I can drive you if you need it."

Eden rocks on her heels. Here goes nothing.

"Uh, actually, I canceled the meeting tonight, Mom. We'll have to reschedule." the Bexley admits, ready to ask her mom and dad permission to travel to Charleston—she's not sure it's really approval, though. Her mother and father won't approve of her going, she more so just wants them to know she's going. 

"Why did you cancel?" Isla sets down the pair of jean shorts in her hands and looks at her daughter, confused. 

"Me and the Pogues are going to Charleston and need the time to get there." 

Isla slightly laughs, "Charleston? On a school night?"

Eden meekly nods, "Yeah."

Tom speaks up, slightly confused. "Angel, that's at least an eight-hour drive. You wouldn't be home in time to get enough rest for school tomorrow. Maybe on the weekened, but certainly not randomly like this."

"I know, I know. Believe me, I don't want to go to Charleston; I have to." Eden starts to rant. She knows her parents will never let her go, but she needs them to understand that she has to do this whether or not they allow it. She has to do it for John B. "Pope got a letter and it said that this Limbrey person has evidence that can clear John B's name. Material evidence."

Isla puts her fingers on the bridge of her nose, "Eden, I don't know how many times I can tell you this. The only person who needs to be sticking his nose into this business is Shoupe; not you and your friends. I do not want any more calls from him telling me that you're getting yourself in trouble by trying to solve a case that's already been closed."

"But it's not closed, Mom!" Eden whines. She sounds pathetic but she doesn't know how many times she can tell her mom that John B. Routledge is an innocent boy. "This whole island pinned Peterkin's murder on him without evidence! I have tried to tell Shoupe about the evidence I have against it and he doesn't do anything. He's lousy and incompetent and only cares when it involves his—"

Tom scolds his daughter, "Eden. Shoupe has done enough just by stepping up to be Sheriff within the anxious situation that was Peterkin's death. I don't want to hear you say anything about him just because he doesn't believe this little story you have."

"Oh, so you just think I'm making this up?" Eden catches the way her father said 'this little story' and can tell that him and Isla don't believe a word coming from her. "That I'm making up the fact that Rafe and Ward Cameron pinned Peterkin's killing on John B.? That me and the Pogues found the gun used at the killing? That I watched Ward kill his pilot because his pilot  knew the truth?" She's loud as she repeats, "You think I'd make something so fucked up like that?"

"And your telling me you watched a murder and just kept it to yourself? Didn't bother to tell me or your father?" Isla countered, eyes wide as she heard the news for the first time. 

"No, I told Shoupe and he just sat on his ass—"

The Bexley woman turns to her husband, "See, Tom? This is what I was telling you about. She clearly needs help—this Routledge boy has gas-lighted her to the point where her stories don't even make sense anymore."

"Help? I don't need help." Eden guffaws. She's starting to loose herself as her voice gains volume, "I just need someone to fucking believe me! And clearly, the only one willing to do that, is some mysterious person in Charleston, and you know what? I'm willing to take that risk."

Tom can tell his daughter is starting to grow upset and he tries to calm her down before this turns into a full blown argument, "Angel, I know you're going through something hard right now, okay? You lost your friend and found out he was a murderer in the same night but this is not how we're going to handle it. You're not just driving off to Charleston. You're going to go to counseling, and Dr. Fraser is going to help you with this problem. We can get you some meds, sign you up for more—"

"Send me to as much therapy or counseling or whatever youth group you want—gives me meds, I don't care. It's not going to change the fact that John B. is innocent and everyone in this town is too closed minded to do it." Eden states, voice firm. "I'm going to Charleston, whether or not you like it."

The Bexley then turns around—she'd gotten everything out.

Isla though, seems to be far from finished and chases after her daughter who was beginning to walk out the door. 

"Eden Brielle, we're not going back to this." Isla runs down the stairs after her daughter. "We're not playing this game where you just disappear wherever the hell you want to, and come back a week later to tell me you're okay before repeating the cycle. That ended when John B. died!"

Eden snatches her father's wallet from the small dish on the door side counter and twists the door open, unable to stop her blunt reply, "Well, lucky for you, John B. isn't dead!"

Isla's face twists in confusion, "What?"

The Bexley realizes the slip up she'd made and ignores her mother, storming off in the direction of Kiara's house where she could see Heyward's truck. 

Sometimes she wonders how she's even a Bexley. How Isla managed to give birth to a girl so polar opposite—someone whose morals, personality, ideas completely differ from its predecessor. 

Eden watches as Heyward's truck backs out of the Carrera driveway, and starts driving towards the Bexley. It brakes in front of her—she's halfway between her house and Kie's—and Eden sends a final glance to her mother, who stands in their front yard, arms crossed with a pierced expression, before getting in the back seat.

Her mother could wait. Clearing John B. was all she cared about right now. 

mara's misc

woah i wrote this in a day.....crazy for swayze

i was at my grandma's house all day and when we weren't being a chaotic family watching football or being very competitive while playing disney bingo, i was writing ALL day. usually it takes me like two days to a week to push a chapter out but nope. 

my uncle is the most unique person i've ever met tbh.....i caught two memorable quotes of his yesterday: "son of a biscuit in a basket" and "sack his ass times three, bitches!" (what football does to people).

i'm bopping to adele rn. she's underrated and i know a lot more songs than i thought i did......skyfall is gorgeous.

also can't catch me now by olivia?????? literally my favorite song rn it fits tbosbas so well (liv did her homework fr)

speaking of tbosbas i'm still fighting the urge to make connected hunger games fics  😭 i'm back in that dystopian era that originally started me on this app.....

anyways, this chapter is for my lovely pookie mvybanksss as summertime sadness always is. 

hope you enjoyed <3 see you back with chapter 35!!