Song of the Chapter: Hot Wax by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
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About an hour had passed and any evidence of the sun had disappeared fully as well as all of the whiskey from the bottle that laid discarded in the sand. The sky was dark and the stars were out on full display. Remi sat against the tree John B and his pretty tourist friend had left a while ago. The bark scratched her back and she sat in the sand, her head tilted up to the stars as she gazed, captivated by their beauty. Beside her, JJ stared at the sky as well, trying to follow along to her every drunken, slurred word.
"-And there's this theory, that if you could taste the dust from a nebula- which you probably shouldn't do, I don't exactly know why but it feels like something you shouldn't do- anyway, if you taste the nebula, scientists think it would taste like raspberry. Which is like-really weird. But, it's because their chemical compounds are so similar. How weird is that?" The words spilled out of her mouth faster than JJ could fully comprehend. A light sheen was on Remi's skin, the hot North Carolina air making all of the teenagers sweat a little.
"Yeah." He muttered, actually listening.
"Space is just so weird! Its crazy how earth is the exact right distance from the sun to sustain life, any further or closer and nobody would be alive. And the stars- they're all like ghosts because if-if you think about it, their light takes millions of years to reach us so really, they're all dead! Like- they've all collapsed and it's like looking back in time!" She explained, her eyes never leaving the twinkling lights that had enchanted her thoughts. JJ glanced over, amazed by her intelligence. He'd never admit it, but he loved when she would ramble. She was the only one who could go on for as long as him. And she rambled a lot in his company. It was only exaggerated by the beer she had drank that night, loosing count of how many refills she gotten. She appreciated that he let her carry on, spilling every thought that had been stored in her mind from reading about all kinds of topics. Boys that she had been with and dated had always shushed her, having other things on their mind and never wanting to feel inferior to her intelligence. She was thankful that she had a friend who would always listen.
And listen, he did. It was like all of his worries faded away and she was the still point of his rapidly spinning universe.
"Weird." He simply said, looking back up at the sky. His eyes were squinted slightly, something he did when he had drank a lot.
It was rare that he didn't have anything to say back, so he just sat there, feeling swimmy from the alcohol. Remi's eyes stayed stuck on the sky, dancing over the Ursa Minor constellation and the Cepheus and Cassiopeia constellations, taking them in.
She remembered the late night she had spent at Sarah Cameron's house long, long ago. They had gotten onto the roof of the unnecessarily large house, staring up at the stars with snacks by their sides. Both girls had known that if Ward and Rose Cameron knew they were up there, they'd see no end to their punishments. Despite them being in elementary school, Sarah had been the one to tell Remi most of what she knew about the stars, random facts that she still knew. Now, Remi's eyes were stuck on the same stars she had seen that night. The memory was bittersweet.
Her eyes drifted down from the sky, feeling unsettled as if someone was staring at her. She glanced to JJ, yet the boy was watching the crowd. Looking to her right, she noticed Sarah Cameron standing with Topper and his friends. The girl was already looking back at her, and they both felt frozen in place. Remi knew Sarah had caught her staring at the stars and by the look on the girl's face, it must have hurt a little. Maybe she regretted shutting Remi out all those years ago.
Maybe.
For a few more seconds, it was a question of who would look away first. Green and brown eyes rivaling one another, stuck in a melancholy trance. They had avoided each other like the plague, and it had generally worked out great. Both girls had spent such a long time not talking that it created an awkward but knowing strain between them. So much tense air begging to be filled with shouted words and tears.
But nothing ever filled that space left behind by their once close friendship.
Remi watched as Topper threw an arm over Sarah's shoulder, the kook princess being the first to look away and Remi immediately followed. Her attention was dragged away to the boy shifting uncomfortably beside her.
"I think there's sand in my ass." JJ grunted, standing up. She snorted, nearly laughing at him in response. Using the trunk of the tree to help her up, Remi followed. She wiped her hands across her backside, knocking off any sand from her jean shorts and legs. JJ leaned his head to the side, cracking his neck. "Ugh, I think I drank too much." He groans, feeling like he was swimming while in reality he was standing still.
He spotted John B and quickly bent down, grabbing the refills he had gotten for the boy and his pretty tourist friend. Sand stuck to the condensation on the bottoms of the red solo cups.
Remi followed as the blonde rushed off, his backpack hitting his back as he bounced to his friend. He whistled, effectively getting John B's attention and the boy met them in the middle of the crowd.
"Yo, what's up?" He smiled at the two, clearly having a good time.
"I got this for you!" JJ held out one of the cups. "You want this one?"
"For me? Yeah, sure. I'll take a sip." He agreed.
"Where'd your friend go? She was pretty, huh?" Remi wondered, a knowing smile on her face. She jabbed her elbow at the boy's arm, suggestively. It had looked like John B and the girl got along rather well-- and instant connection with the girl who was here today, gone tomorrow.
He looped his arm with hers, the girl holding onto him, but before John B could answer, the dopey smile on his face faltered as JJ called out.
"Wait." He pulled the cup away from John B's grip. Remi looked at him, the smile still on her face. Her eyes shifted just past where JJ had turned, her gaze landing on Sarah Cameron. Her smile fell the instant she noticed the girl, her hand intertwined with Topper Thorton's. "Hey, hey! Hey, Sarah. Can I interest you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?" He asked the girl who stopped in her tracks in front of him, the kook princess' eyes darting around the group of pogues. The smile on her face wavered as she looked to Remi, the air suddenly thick and awkward.
"Um, no thanks." Sarah said to JJ, tearing her eyes off of Remi, who stood beside John B.
"C'mon! Is it not fancy enough for you?" He carried on, the alcohol clearly taking control of his judgement. Remi didn't know whether to smile at his comment or to walk away and avoid Sarah Cameron entirely. All she knew was that JJ had been right, he probably did have a little too much to drink.
"No, we were just leaving." Sarah explained, not wanting to come off as rude. Out of nowhere, Topper waved his hand in front of Sarah, as if to tell her to stop talking. A disgusted look appeared on Remi's face at the boy's actions.
"Hey, you know what? I'll take it. I'll-- thank you man. I appreciate it." The entitled kook boy butted in, an off-putting smile on his face.
"Aww, that's a nice suggestion there, Topper. But I didn't ask you. Now, if you said, pretty please, maybe! But you didn't." He joked, immediately pressing Topper's buttons as he joked.
"Oh, pretty please?" Topper smiled along, clearly annoyed by the pogue. In the time that Remi had known Topper, he had always looked down on those who lived in the cut. He fed into the 'entitled trust fund kid' act all too well and now, she was a little ashamed to say she had been friends with him once. Granted-- it was when they were little kids, but still. She picked up on the rise in emotions, feeling antsy and knowing something was bound to happen.
"So, anyway." JJ spun back to Sarah. "You can have it." He extended the cup towards her.
Before Remi could process it, she flinched as beer splashed into her face, coating her hair. The liquid dripped down her face and body as she gasped in surprise, letting go of John B's arm. Droplets of beer fell onto the tops of her bare feet. Others in the crowd looked over at the sudden commotion, eager to catch any glimpse of a fight. Somehow, Topper had managed to splash the contents of the cup on all three of them, JJ reacting immediately and grabbing hold of the kook's expensive shirt collar.
"She doesn't want it, you--" Topper shouted at the blond as he shoved back.
Pope rushed out from the crowd, helping John B pull JJ away from Topper. Running her hands over her arms, Remi wiped the sticky, cheap beer off of her skin. An irritated grimace was on the girl's face and if looks could kill-- Topper Thorton would drop dead right then and there. Sarah could only glance from her boyfriend to Remi, not knowing what to do.
"No, no, no, no." John B urged, his hands gripping JJ's arms tightly. With the initial shock leaving her system, Remi stepped over to her friends. She placed a hand on JJ's arm, standing there to help pull the boy back if he jumped for Topper again and also to hopefully calm her friend down.
"You're so funny, man!" JJ yelled over his friends holding him back.
Remi swore it'd probably take a few washes to get the smell of cheap beer out of her clothes. "Ugh, thanks a lot, Topper." She groaned, already tired of this encounter with him.
"Dirty pogues!" Topper called out, standing back and straightening his shirt, his eyes on the girl. Remi's jaw clenched. Maybe he spoke the words at all of them, but he meant it for Remi and everyone caught on. It was like the boy thought so little of her now that he didn't care what he said. Sarah's eyes even widened, shocked by his boldness.
This time it wasn't JJ rushing to take down Topper, it was John B. The boy grunted as he spun around, taking only a few strides before he shoved the boy backwards. Pope shouted after the boy, staying still to make sure JJ didn't follow behind. Sarah Cameron gasped out loud as Topper stumbled before regaining his balance. For a split second he just stood there, staring John B down in anger. JJ struggled, wanting to back up John B. They all knew Topper would retaliate.
Remi now had both hands wrapped around the boy's forearm, trying her best to hold him in place as he moved to step forward. There was way too much testosterone on this beach. Pope spun around, pushing the blond back.
"We're supposed to be incognito, remember?" He shoved against JJ's chest, the boy calming down and glancing to Remi, her grip on his arm feeling warm.
Remi stared right at Topper, knowing that the night was about to go to utter shit when she noticed the rage in his eyes. Her stomach dropped as she saw the boy bring his arm back, his eyes never leaving her friend who was now facing them.
"John B!" She shouted as Topper threw his fist in a nasty punch, his knuckles connecting with John B's cheekbone in a sickening crack. Her blood boiled, now angry at the kook boy-- more than ever before. Her face heated and adrenaline pumped through her bloodstream.
"Babe, babe, babe, babe." Sarah begged Topper to stand down but the boy only loomed over John B, waiting for him to stand and face him.
Since she came to the Cut all those years ago, the boy and her friends were by no means on good terms whatsoever. But, never before had he thrown a punch at any of them. It had always been pointless and fleeting insults, everyone moving on quickly and ignoring the other group. But this was new and intense.
But also a long time coming.
Whether it was the alcohol or simply her anger, Remi stepped forward, not quite knowing what she was planning on doing, but prepared to defend her friend. She'd do anything for her friends and couldn't stand still as John B got hit by a rich, entitled prick.
The girl only wanted to bring good into the world, showing kindness to those around her. Her heart was pure and good, but her friends were her chosen family-- and you do everything in your power to protect family.
It was a grand paradox.
The girl, personality of sweet sugar and golden honey wanted nothing more than to send Topper to the ground with an uppercut. She was a personified contradiction.
Pope stepped in front of her now, his hands on her shoulders and stopping her in her tracks. They rarely saw her like this. Could the change in her be foreshadowing their summer to come?
"Hey, hey. No." Pope begged, not wanting the situation to boil over anymore.
It was JJ's turn to hold a friend back from a fight. His hand wrapped around her upper arm, helping Pope to keep her in place as she cooled down, watching as John B was on his hands and knees. The tide rolls in, soaking the ends of his shorts and rolling over his hands and legs.
"Guys? Guys, chill!" Sarah shouted as her boyfriend sent a kick to John B's side-- kicking him while he was already down. John B fell onto his side, splashing into the ocean water that crawled to the shore.
"Hey, John B! Don't make me drown you like your old man, alright?" Topper spat down at the Routledge boy.
Once again, Topper had said something so offensive, so disrespectful that it sent Remi spinning in anger. She gritted her teeth, fighting against JJ's grip. They boy had to throw his other arm around her to keep her from rushing out of his hold, pressing her against him as she wanted so desperately to hit Topper. His heart beat in his chest and she could feel it against her shoulder. She was sure her heart was beating rapidly. Pope stayed in front of the girl, trying his best to calm her down with reassuring words.
"Oh my God." Kiara muttered, rushing to their sides and staring wide eyed at the scene in front of her-- it must have been bad if Remi had to be held back. She backed up to stand on Pope's left, worry coursing through her.
They watched as the crowd gathered, egging on a fight. Of course, John B gave in. He bounced to his feet, soaked in salty ocean water and tackled Topper to the ground. Both boys landed in the foamy water that washed on shore. Seeing as it was now a fair fight, JJ dropped his arm from around Remi's front, the girl stepping back to stand between him and Pope. All she could do was watch as her friend and Topper sent punch after punch into each other's sides.
"Stop, you guys!" Kie shouted, raising her hands to run anxiously through her hair. Standing beside one of Topper's friends, a kook boy named Kelce, Sarah shouted, begging for her boyfriend to stop. He didn't, of course, yet she kept yelling.
"Come on, John B!" Pope supported his friend. They all watched as the boys broke apart, circling, with their fists raised in anticipation for whoever would make the next move. Topper lunged forward, trying to tackle their friend to the ground but John B dodged out of the way, landing a solid punch on the rich kid's sides.
"That's what I'm talkin' about!" JJ yelled.
John B managed to force Topper to the ground, the boy landing in the ocean water, his expensive button up getting soaked.
"Come on, Topper!" John B's voice rumbled from his chest. "Let's go! Come on!" He urged as the boy picked himself up, running back to him for more. Both boys land hard punches to each other's stomachs and faces.
Remi watched on uneasily, her stomach dropping every time her friend got hit. Topper shoved John B backwards, the boy losing his footing and falling into the water. Just as John B gasped, his head barely above the water, Topper crouched over him.
"Topper! Topper stop! No!" Sarah called out to him as he shoved John B's head under the water, not letting him up to breath.
Remi was terrified, her breathing picking up as she watched on. It was one thing to settle a disagreement with a fight, but it was another entirely to drown another human being. Why wasn't he stopping? It was no longer a fair fight and he wasn't stopping.
God, why wasn't he stopping?
"He's drowning him! We have to do something!" Remi shouted to her friends, her eyes met JJ's as her hands tugged on his arm. He watched their friend in the water, knowing he had to do something. Beside her, Kie and Pope voiced their own concerns, JJ slipping from Remi's grip but she was too concerned with the situation in front of her to pay any mind.
She was weighing her options.
Remi could just do the brash thing and tackle Topper into the water, but then he would turn on her, maybe going so far as to drown her too. She though about the alternatives, she could kick him, or punch him, but would that really subdue him? He had held his own pretty well against John B and surely he was a better fighter, right?
As she was stuck in her own head, thinking about how to help, JJ stepped forward. The boy passed her, not even looking back as he approached Topper. Her eyes widened as she watched JJ press an shiny, black object to the rich kid's temple. She heard the click of a gun safety switch and instantly knew what it was.
The gun from the motel.
Her lips parted in distress and her hand grabbed Pope's arm for moral support. The boy brought his own hand to lay over top of Remi's.
What were they getting themselves into this summer? They had scavenged a sunken fishing boat, ravaged a motel room and stolen from a dead man who's body washed up later that day. And now, JJ held a gun against someone's head and while she understood it-- Topper had been drowning John B, for God's sake-- how far would things escalate?
"Yeah, you know what that is." The blonde affirmed Topper's thoughts. His hand was wrapped around the gun, his veins popping out with his heart pumping blood rapidly. "Your move broski!"
The crowd quickly began to disperse, party goers shouting about the gun and wanting no part of it. Remi stayed planted in the sand as the world carried on around her. Her friends begged for JJ to put the gun away, not wanting him to do anything irrational-- well, nothing any more irrational than he was already doing.
"Put the gun down!" Sarah Cameron was just about hyperventilating, begging JJ to stop.
"Say something, princess?" JJ shouted back, keeping the gun against Topper's head as the boy leaned away from John B. He held his hands out where JJ could see them clearly. Most of the beach was cleared by now, a few teenagers staying behind to watch the end of the fight.
"We're good. We're good!" He assured, the enraged look dissipating from his features.
"Kie! Remi! Can you guys check your psycho friend, please?" Sarah Cameron shouted at the two girls, earning a targeted glare from Remi. JJ shoved Topper away from him, turning back around and stepping away from the boy.
"Okay, everyone, listen up! Get the hell of our side of the island!" He shouted into the night at the remnants of the crowd. Remi spun to keep an eye on the boy as he passed her, his arm raising the gun into the air. Two shots rang out, Remi flinching and slightly crouching instinctively.
"JJ!" She screamed, the fear in her voice being the only thing to take his wild eyes off of the crowd that was rushing away. They were all infuriated with their friend at this point.
"Are you crazy? You idiot! Why would you do that?" Pope stepped to JJ, shoving against his chest.
"It's not worth it!" Kie shouted at him.
"I'm saving his life, okay?" JJ shrugged Pope off of him.
"Stupid! You're gonna jeopardize everything!" He shouted at the blonde.
Knowing that it was no use to yell at him until he calmed down, Remi turned away from her friends. She hurried to John B's side, the boy still dazed from being under the water so long. He leaned back, letting his body fall into the water and Remi was worried he had passed out. The second the ocean water rolled over her feet, the sand was washed away. She waded until the water was just over her knees, bending down and ignoring her clothes getting wet.
She reached right into the water, tugging John B above the surface by his shirt. The boy's eyes opened and he panted, not fighting as she brought him into her arms. Blood trickled from his knuckles dripping onto her arm, but she didn't care. They stayed like that, John B clinging onto his friend as the rest of the group shouted at one another.
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Remi walked out of the Chateau and into the screen room, not bothering to lock the door behind her. She had helped John B home, the boy tired from being in the fight with Topper. Her bare feet padded against the wooden planks of the floor as she plopped onto the old couch. She dropped her shoes on the ground, bending down to put them on and lace them up. Sounds of the marsh wildlife echoed in the starry night. It was as if the universe knew how incredibly tired she was, making it one of the darkest night so far in the summer as if to coax her to sleep.
"You okay?" JJ questioned, leaning against a post, his eyes not leaving the girl as she finished tying her shoes.
"Yeah, are you?" She turned the question back on him, genuinely worried.
Never in the time that she knew him, did she think that he'd pull a gun at a party. Though she knew why he did it, it was still rather reckless, even for him. She leaned against the back of the couch, looking up at her friend. Crickets and cicadas chirped all around them, the running water of the marsh being heard in the background. The only light that shined on them was the dim porch light and the moon, blocked by clouds.
"Yeah." He muttered as if he was unsure, himself.
"Get some sleep, JJ. I know I am." She smiled the best that she could, standing up. Her clothes were still wet from pulling John B out of the water and she wanted nothing more than to take the denim shorts off and crawl into bed. She stepped over to the door, right beside JJ.
Remi was always one to pick up on her friends' emotions. She had known them for years and they all had their own little quirks. When JJ didn't throw out a comment or even say goodbye, she knew something was up. He had even shocked himself with holding a gun to Topper's head and now that adrenaline was no longer pumping through his blood, he felt guilty. He reminded himself of his own father and Remi had caught on.
Without a second thought, she reached over, snaking her arms around his torso. She tucked her head down, leaning against his hard chest. She grabbed his shirt in one of her fists, holding him close and closing her eyes. It took JJ a second to respond, it felt as if his stomach was flipping in response to her hugging him. He wrapped his muscular arms around her slender figure, holding her tight against him. The boy leaned his head on top of her's, closing his blue eyes and taking in the moment. He had no idea why God had graced him with a friend like Remi, someone who never left his side despite who he was.
He was always too loud, or too crude, or too-- himself. It seemed as if his very existence alone set his dad off.
Remi never faltered in their friendship, even though she knew him better than anyone on this damn island.
At least John B was safe now. That was what mattered.
"Go sleep" Remi urged the boy. The two separated, Remi lightly smacked her hand against his cheek, stepping out of his arms and to the door.
Leaving him on the porch, she made her way to the road that would lead her home. He gazed after her for a moment before dropping down onto the couch. With the summer breeze filtering through the screen room and the sound of Remi's footsteps in the distance, he drifted off to sleep rather quickly.
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A/N: What does everyone think about the story and Remi so far?