Chapter Text
A blurred vision of the water in front of her catches her eye, forcing her to look through the kaleidoscope of waves crashing against the rocks of the island. Sitting down on the beach around her, their voices are all mumbled into one as Kiara can’t help but stop fiddling with the grains of sand in the new reality that is her life. Because one moment, she would be waking up in her comfortable bed in Figure Eight and then spending the rest of the day at the chateau with her boys until her mom calls her to come back home. That moment has been replaced with the crashing of waves and the uncomfortable, unfamiliar sand underneath her boots.
The Pogues sit in stunned silence, their breaths shallow, adrenaline rushing. They’d made it – but as the dust settles, they can see only the endless blue of the ocean around them and thick, green jungle on all sides. This place is nothing but an empty paradise, with no hint of civilisation in sight.
“Are you kidding me?” John B grins, staring out at the beach around him. “We’re actually here. This is insane!”
Cleo is the first to leap in front of the others. “We just survived the strangest boat ride, landing on a deserted island. If that doesn’t make us legends, I don’t know what does.”
Sarah laughs, already kicking off her shoes to sink her toes into the sand. Pope squints, shading his eyes as he gazes around him, taking it all in. But Kiara’s mind buzzes with something darker. A deserted island? No food, no water, no shelter. This isn’t some dream vacation – they are stranded. She wants to say something, but everyone else looks so thrilled.
“Come on, Kie!” JJ’s voice snaps her out of her spiralling thoughts. He grabs her hand, tugging her up. His smile is big and bright, his eyes crinkling as he looks at her. She feels her heart skip, like it always does when he is near. His blond hair, tousled from the wind, fell over his eyes. He looks wild and free, despite the bruise around his temple from his last reckless accident. It is a reminder of his unpredictability of the danger he seems to love dancing with.
“You okay?” he asks, his tone softening. For a second, Kiara thinks he’s seen the worry in her eyes. But then his gaze shifts, sparkling with excitement. “Can you believe this? A whole island to ourselves!”
“Yeah… I can’t believe it.” Kiara tries to match his enthusiasm, but it is hard. She is aware of his injury, still recent enough to make her wince. She wants him to rest, to slow down – but JJ can never sit still long enough for that. Still, her gaze lingers on the bruise as he laughs and runs off into the sand, as if she can protect him from a distance. JJ notices her staring and winks before running off to join the others
“Okay, guys,” John B is already organising, his arm around Sarah. “We have a whole day ahead of us. How about we find some coconuts or something? We need drinks if we’re gonna have an island party!”
Sarah nods. “Agreed! Cleo and I will grab some palm leaves for seating. Pope, you and Kiara check around for any fruit or anything we can snack on. And JJ…” She points a playful finger at him. “Try not to injure yourself any further.”
JJ salutes with a grin, as if he can ignore his head injury by pretending it isn’t there. It bothers Kiara more than she wants to admit, especially knowing how reckless he can be. She watches him run off, and something twists in her stomach. She doesn’t want to ruin his fun, but her concern feels like an itch she can’t scratch
Kiara and Pope walk together, following a worn path along the edge of the trees. The jungle is dense, filled with the sounds of birds they cannot see, of branches rustling with life. Pope shoots her a worried glance, sensing her tension.
“What’s up, Kie? You’re quiet.”
“Do you… I mean, doesn’t this worry you at all? We don’t have supplies, Pope. What if we’re here for more than a few days?”
Pope sighs, looking down. “Yeah, it’s not like I haven’t thought about it. But everyone’s so pumped, you know? And besides, we’ve got some time before things get really bad.” He shrugs, trying to reassure her. “Let’s just focus on finding something edible for now, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Kiara forces a smile. Pope is right – they had time. But she can’t shake her sense of unease. JJ’s voice, loud and laughing in the distance, cut through her worry, and she finds herself glancing in his direction again.
They find a few a few papaya trees with ripe fruit hanging low and gather as many as they can carry. As they head back, she notices JJ standing on a rock overlooking the beach, balancing on the edge, arms outstretched like he is ready to fly. Her heart leaps to her throat.
“JJ! Stop messing around up there!” she yells.
He looks down at her, grinning, then jumps down with a small, reckless laugh. “What? You worried about me?”
“No,” she mutters, though the rush of relief makes her voice shake. She pushes past him, cheeks heating up. He chases after her, his hand reaching out to stop her.
“Come on, Kie, don’t be mad. You know I’m just messing around.” There was a light in his eyes she can’t ignore, something soft that makes her want to forgive him for everything reckless he ever does.
She sighs, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Just… be careful, okay? You’re not invincible.”
The others gather around, oblivious to the exchange between them, and soon everyone is sprawled out on the sand, munching on fruit and laughing like they don’t have a care in the world. Kiara listens to them, feeling the warmth of JJ’s shoulder close to hers. She doesn’t know how to tell him that she cares, not in a way he’d listen to anyway.
As the sun dips low, painting the sky in colours she’s only seen on postcards, Kiara feels her worries start to slip away. But the sight of JJ rubbing his temple absently remind her – fun can’t last forever.
…
The bonfire flickers on the beach, casting shadows that dance across their faces as laughter echoes through the night. For the others, the island feels like a thrilling adventure. For JJ, it feels like freedom. A chance to escape from everything he has left behind – his father’s fists, the emptiness of his home, the constant ache of being stuck in a life he can’t change. Here, under the endless stars, he can finally breathe.
But as much as JJ wants to lose himself in the beauty of the island, he can’t shake the memory of waking up in Kiara’s arms. She had been crying, her face streaked with dirt and tears as she held him close, whispering his name like she was terrified he’d slip away. He still doesn’t exactly know what had happened before that. He only remembers her voice, soft and full of worry, pulling him back into the world.
When he sees the faint traces of sadness lingering in her eyes tonight, he hates himself for being the reason that they are there. He wishes he could take back every reckless moment, every scar and bruise he has ever made her worry over. But then he catches her glancing at him, a hint of something he can’t quite name in her gaze, and he pushes down his guilt and tries to just be here – whole, unburdened.
They stay by the fire long after the others have gone to sleep, talking about nothing and everything, like they always do. Kiara sat beside him, her face lit by the soft glow, her voice barely more than a whisper over the crackling flames. JJ tries to pay attention, to let her voice drown out the nagging pain that throbs at the side of his head. He is getting used to it – the ache that comes and goes, pulsing like a low hum, almost easy to ignore. Almost.
But tonight, it is sharper, digging into his skull like a knife twisting. He presses a hand to his head, wincing, hoping she doesn’t notice.
“Jage?” Kiara’s voice is gentle but edged with concern.
He forces a grin, looking away. “I’m good, Kie. Just… tired, you know? It’s been a day.”
Kiara raises an eyebrow, unconvinced, “Yeah, but you know you can talk to me, right?”
“Of course,” he says, deflecting with a laugh, hoping she will let it slide.
She doesn’t push, but he can see the worry in her eyes, the questions she is holding back. He feels a pang of guilt – she risked her life to save him, and her he is, pretending that everything is fine. But what else can he do? She deserves to enjoy this place, this escape, without dragging her down.
As the fire dwindled to embers, the pain sharpens, slicing through his thoughts. He tries to stand, to head back to the small shelter that they have created. But the world spins, tilting dangerously, and his vision blurs. Before he can catch himself, the ground seems to fall away, and darkness overtakes him.
When he opens his eyes again, Kiara is kneeling besides him, her hands on his shouldrs, her face inches from his. Her eyes are wide, her lips pressed together, her hand shaking slightly as she touches his cheek.
“JJ, are you okay?” Her voice is thick with fear, her fingers brushing over his forehead as she checks for any sign of injury.
For a moment, he is overwhelmed by her closeness, the way she looks at him like he is all that matters. He wants to stay here, to let himself be held by her, to sink into her warmth and safety she offers. But he can’t let her know – he can’t make her worry more than he already has.
He forces a laugh, sitting up, swaying only slightly as he tries to play it off. “Kie, you worry too much. I must’ve just… fallen asleep for a second. Guess I’m not used to camping out.”
Kiara’s brows furrow. “JJ, you don’t just fall asleep while standing up. Are you sure you’re okay? That hit to your head wasn’t small. Maybe we should try to – “
He cuts her off, forcing himself to stand. “Seriously Kie, I’m fine. Don’t go full nurse mode on me. I’ll be good by tomorrow.” He keeps his tone light, but the ache in his head pulses harder as if reminding him he is lying. He doesn’t care – he will not let her see him weak again.
Kiara stands, crossing her arms, her eyes narrowing as she studies him. He can see the battle behind her gaze, the tug-of-war between wanting to believe him and knowing better. But eventually, she sighs, glancing away.
“Fine. But if you need anything, you tell mee, okay?” Her voice is quiet, almost pleading.
JJ forces a smile, his heart twisting at the worry she tries to hide. “You got it Kie. Promise.”
They head back to the camp, the silence between them thicker than before. JJ lays down on his makeshift bed, staring up at the rusted ceiling, willing himself to ignore the pain, to stop thinking about the way Kiara had looked at him. He hates being the cause of her sadness. She deserves better.
The pain throbs again, a steady beat against his skull, but he bites his lip, refusing to let it consume him. He’s survived worse than this. This island is his freedom, and he isn’t about to let anything ruin it. And he isn’t about to let Kiara know just how broken he is, no matter how much it hurts.
…
The morning sun is just starting to filter through the trees when JJ finds her. Kiara is crouched near the base of a sprawling fig tree, her fingers working carefully to collect clusters of wild berries. She looks focused, her brow furrowed, so much so that she doesn’t even hear him approach.
JJ’s heart skips at the sight of her alone out here in the dense forest. He woke up, gone looking for her on the beach, and realised too quickly, too easily that she must have adventured out her on her own, again. The thought sends a flash of irritation through him. What is she thinking, coming out here alone?
“Seriously, Kie?” he says, his voice sharper than he intended. She turns, startled, her hands still mid-air, a few berries in her palm.
“Oh. Hey, JJ,” she says, trying to play it cool. “I was just… collecting some food. It’s no big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” he replies, unable to keep the frustration out of his tone. “Do you hav any idea how dangerous it is out here by yourself? What if something happened and no one was around to help?”
Kiara rolls her eyes, standing up and brushing the dirt off her hands. “I can take care of myself, JJ. I’m not exactly helpless.”
“That’s not the point,” JJ shoots back, felling his pulse quicken. “Look, we don’t know what’s in these woods. There could be wild animals, snakes, anything. And you’re just… wondering around, alone? You’re not invincible, Kie.”
Kiara’s jaw tightens, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Right, because you’re the one to lecture me on being reckless, aren’t you?” Her voice is tinged with sarcasm, and JJ knows she has a point. But this is different – this is her safety.
He steps closer, trying to keep his voice steady. “I get it, Kie. I know I’m not exactly the poster child for safe decisions, but I don’t… I don’t want you risking yourself out here. Not alone.”
Kiara’s expression softens, her irritation fading into something almost like understanding. “JJ, I’m just trying to keep us alive. I’m not wandering off for fun.”
JJ sighs, running a hand through his hair, still feeling that knot of worry tightening in his chest. “I get that. But it you’re going out here, we go together. Okay? We’ll watch each other’s backs.”
Kiara studies him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nods. “Fine. But that goes both ways. You don’t go off alone either. Deal?”
He manages a grin, relieved they are on the same page. “Deal.”
They spend the rest of the morning working side by side, searching the forest floor for any signs of edible plants or fruits. For once, JJ doesn’t feel the need to hide his glances at her, th way her hair catches the sunlight, the steady determination in her gaze. It is a side of her he admires – her strength, her resilience – but it scares him, too. Because the more time they spend here, the more he realises just how much he cannot lose her.
They don’t speak much as they work, but something has shifted between them. The argument lingers, unspoken but acknowledged, like a silent agreement between them. Whatever this place throws at them, they will face it together.
As they make their way back to the beach with baskets filled with berries, Kiara nudges him lightly with her elbow, breaking the silence.
“You know,” she says, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, “for someone who lives for danger, you worry an awful lot.”
JJ laughs, shaking his head. “Only for you, Kie. Only for you.”
…
The sun is high when they all gather on the beach, their faces set with a rare sense of purpose. It has been fun – an adventure, even – but as the hours pass and their stomachs growl, reality has begun to set in. They need shelter, food and some kind of routine if they are going to make it on this island for more than a few days. Kiara looks around at her friends, feeling a rush of determination. Together, they will be alright.
“Alright, team!” Pope claps his hands, grinning with a spark of energy. “We’ve got work to do. Kiara and I will keep foraging, and Cleo – you said you know how to make baskets, right?”
Cleo nods, crossing her arms with a smirk. “Leave it to me. I’ll need some vines and palm leaves. You guys bring ‘em and I’ll get to work.”
“Sounds good,” JJ jumps in, glancing at Kiara. “Kie and I can go gather those, and I’ll try to get some fish for later. Wouldn’t want our fearless leader, John B, to starve.”
John B waves a hand lazily from his spot on a rock, where he is reclining, eyes closed, one hand behind his head. “I’m conserving my energy. We’ve got all the time in the world, right?”
Kiara rolls her eyes, but a smile tugs at her lips. “Only John B would treat a survival situation like a beach day,” she mutters.
The others snicker, and Sarah shoots John B a look before nudging him. “Maybe help out a little bit, babe?”
“Yeah, yeah,” he says, half-smiling as he gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. But he doesn’t move.
Kiara shrugs it off, focusing on the task ahead. She and JJ grab a couple of makeshift satchels and set off toward the tree line, where a few palms stand tall, their broad leaves rustling in the breeze.
“I’ll race you to that cluster over there!” JJ shouts, dashing ahead without waiting for a response. Kiara doesn’t even try to keep up, laughing as he makes a show of running up to the trees, panting dramatically when he reaches them.
She catches up to him, shaking her head. “You’re such a show-off.”
“Hey, if I can’t show off for you, what’s the point?” He grins, leaning against a tree as he catches his breath. There is a warmth in his gaze that makes Kiara’s cheek flush, though she tries to play it off.
“Alright, Mr Athlete,” she teases. “Grab as many of those palm leaves as you can and bring them back.”
“Yes, ma’am.” JJ salutes, pulling down a few leaves as Kiara turns to gather vines from a nearby bush. They work in comfortable silence, each of them focused but aware of the other’s presence. Every so often, JJ tosses a comment her way, and she fires back with something just as witty.
By the time they gather enough leaves and vines, they are both breathless from laughter. JJ is balancing a stack of palm leaves on his head, striking ridiculous poses that make her giggle.
They carry their findings back to Cleo, who nods approvingly as she inspects their haul. “This’ll work,” she says, already setting to work weaving the vines into a sturdy basket. “We’ll have some storage in no time.”
JJ grins, leaning in toward Kiara with a conspiratorial whisper. “See that? We’re officially professional gatherers now.”
Kiara bumps him with her shoulder, a playful smile on her dace. “Yeah, right. Next you’ll be bragging about our fish-catching skills.”
“Oh, speaking of which!” JJ’s eyes light up as he grabs a makeshift spear the sharpened earlier and heads towards the shallows. “Watch this, Kie. Dinner’s on me tonight.”
Kiara crosses her arms, watching as JJ wades into the water. The sun cast golden light over his tanned skin, and she can’t help but feel a flutter in her stomach. He is ridiculous and reckless, but he is also the first to put in the work, to make her laugh, to bring a little lightness to an otherwise heavy situation.
With a deep breath, JJ raises the spear, poised as he focusses on a fish darting just under the surface. He jabs, missing by an inch, and lets out a frustrated groan, but he tries again, undeterred. Kiara laughs, shouting out encouragements and teasing him mercilessly whenever he misses.
After a few more tris, he manages to catch a fish, holding it up victoriously. “You doubted me,” he calls, a wide grin on his face. “And here we have it – the finest catch on Poguelandia!”
“Barely, but nice work,” she calls back, rolling her eyes but feeling that flutter again as he wades out of the water, water droplets glistening on his face as he brings over his hard-earned catch.
By the time evening settles over the beach, they have a decent pile of fish, berries, and a couple of half-finished baskets thanks to Cleo. They have even managed to fashion a rough shelter out of palm leaves and sticks, enough to keep the rain off if they need it.
Everyone gathers around the fire as JJ starts cooking the fish, flipping them over carefully, shooting glances at Kiara, who leans against a log, watching him. She can’t help but be impressed. Despite the teasing and the jokes, he has kept his word. They have gone into the forest together, gathered food together, and worked side by side. And it feels right.
John B finally sits up, looking at the shelter with an approving nod. “Not bad, guys,” he says, though Kiara can’t help but notice that he has not lifted a finger to help. Still, she is too tired to care, sinking onto the sand with a satisfied sigh as they settle in to eat.
JJ hands her the first fish, his grin crooked as he watches her take a bite. “What’d I tell you? I’m practically a master fisherman.”
“Right,” Kiara teases, savouring the taste. “I’ll believe that when you catch more than one at a time.”
JJ just laughs, sitting beside her and bumping her shoulder with his. “You know I live to prove you wrong, Kie.”
And as the fire crackles, the stars bright above them, she can’t help but think that maybe, even stranded on a deserted island, she has found something better than any adventure she has ever dreamed of.