Later that evening, Zoe sat on the edge of the dock behind The Chateau, dipping her feet into the water, trying to clear her head. She was so over today.

Over Rafe and his smug looks, over JJ and Kiara grilling her like she was on trial, and—most of all—over the nagging feeling in her chest that wouldn't go away. It was the same feeling she got whenever she was around him.

Annoyance. Frustration. Something else she didn't want to name. She sighed and tilted her head back, staring up at the sky. The sun was just starting to set, streaks of orange and pink bleeding into the horizon. It should've been peaceful.

But then she heard voices behind her. Laughter. Her friends' laughter—mixed with hers. Zoe's stomach twisted. She turned, watching as John B walked toward the dock, Sarah Cameron right beside him.

Sarah, with her golden hair and perfect smile, laughing like she belonged here. And maybe she did. But it still didn't sit right. Zoe wasn't the only one who noticed.

Kiara, who had been standing near the porch with JJ and Pope, visibly tensed. JJ stopped mid-sentence, his expression darkening, and Pope pressed his lips into a thin line. The shift was instant.

And John B? Completely oblivious.

"Hey," he said, flashing a grin like nothing was weird. "Look who I ran into." Zoe didn't answer. Neither did Kiara.bJJ was the first to break the silence. "Oh, cool. The Kook Princess found her way to the Cut. That's... great."

Sarah's smile faltered just a little. "Come on, JJ." JJ just raised a brow. "Come on, what?" John B sighed. "Can we not do this right now?" Kiara crossed her arms. "I don't know, John B. Maybe we should do this right now."

Zoe stayed quiet, watching it all unfold. Because the thing was—she got it.bSarah seemed cool. And John B liked her. But that didn't change who she was.

Or what she represented. And after everything the Pogues had been through, trusting a Cameron didn't exactly come easy. Sarah shifted uncomfortably under Kiara's glare. "Look, I'm not here to start anything."

JJ snorted. "Oh, don't worry, Princess. It already started." John B groaned. "Jesus, can you guys just chill?" Kiara's jaw clenched. "You chill when you're bringing a Kook into our group like it's nothing."

Sarah flinched. And for a second, John B looked like he was going to say something. Defend her. Fight for her. Zoe could already see the divide forming.

It's happening. Just like before. The same way things always went. And she suddenly wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

The air felt thick, tension weighing down on all of them. Sarah shifted awkwardly, glancing at John B, like she was waiting for him to step in. He did.

"Look, I get it," he said, glancing between Kiara, JJ, and Pope. "I do. But Sarah's not like the rest of them." JJ scoffed. "That's what they all say." Kiara's voice was sharp. "You don't just get to decide that, John B." Sarah opened her mouth like she wanted to say something—maybe defend herself—but thought better of it.

Zoe finally spoke up, voice quieter than usual. "Are we really doing this?" All eyes turned to her. JJ threw his hands up. "Uh, yeah, we are. In case you missed it, John B suddenly thinks the Kook Princess is one of us."

Sarah exhaled sharply. "You know what? I didn't come here to get attacked." JJ raised a brow. "Then maybe you shouldn't have come at all." John B shot him a glare. "Dude, lay off."

Kiara's eyes flashed. "Why are you acting like we're the problem?" John B sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Because you guys won't even give her a chance." Kiara crossed her arms. "Some of us don't get second chances, John B."

That hit harder than anything else that had been said. John B's jaw clenched. "It's not like that." Kiara gave him a look. "Isn't it?" Another silence.

Tense. Heavy. Zoe let out a breath, dragging a hand over her face. She hated this. They were supposed to be them. The Pogues. Family. But now, they were standing on opposite sides of something that felt way bigger than just Sarah Cameron.

And Zoe knew what was coming next. It was the same thing that always happened when the Kooks and Pogues mixed.

Zoe found the Pogues huddled near the porch, JJ nursing a beer, Kiara still fuming, and Pope looking deep in thought. They all looked up when she approached, their expressions expectant.

She took a breath. "Alright. Let's talk about it." JJ scoffed. "Oh, now you wanna talk?" He leaned back, beer dangling from his fingers. "Thought you'd be busy making excuses for John B's Kook girlfriend."

Zoe rolled her eyes. "I'm not making excuses for anyone." She crossed her arms. "But I do think we should talk about it like rational people instead of—" she gestured toward JJ "—whatever this is."

Kiara's arms were still crossed, her jaw tight. "What's there to talk about? She's a Cameron, Zoe. She's not one of us." "That's exactly what people used to say about me."

The words landed like a slap. JJ blinked. Pope looked away. Even Kiara's expression faltered. Zoe let the silence settle before speaking again. "Barry and you guys don't exactly see eye to eye." She glanced between them. "But you still gave me a chance."

JJ exhaled, shaking his head. "It's not the same." "Isn't it?" Kiara's brows furrowed. "Barry's not Rafe. He's not out there jumping people and pulling guns." "No," Zoe agreed. "But he does business with him. And a whole lot of other people who would love to see you guys gone."

JJ clenched his jaw, but didn't argue. Zoe softened slightly. "I get it. I really do. I don't trust Sarah Cameron, and I sure as hell don't trust her family." She met Kiara's eyes. "But I also know that being a Kook doesn't automatically make someone a bad person."

Kiara looked away, lips pressed into a thin line. Pope was the first to break the silence. "I hear what you're saying." His expression was thoughtful, but guarded. "But this isn't just about her being a Kook. It's about John B bringing one of them into our lives and expecting us to pretend like it doesn't matter."

"It does matter," Zoe admitted. "But maybe shutting her out completely isn't the right move either." JJ groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I hate when you make good points." Zoe smirked. "I know. It's my best quality."

Kiara exhaled. "Fine. We don't have to hate her." She glanced toward the dock where John B had been standing minutes ago. "But that doesn't mean we have to trust her, either." "Agreed," Pope said.

JJ sighed dramatically. "I guess I won't immediately throw her into the ocean next time I see her." Zoe snorted. "Wow. Personal growth." JJ smirked. "I try."

The tension, while still there, felt a little less suffocating. Things were still complicated. But at least they weren't completely falling apart. For now.

The next day, Zoe was lying on the Pogues' dock, letting the sun warm her skin when she heard someone drop down beside her with a dramatic sigh. "Alright, we have to talk about it."

She cracked an eye open to see JJ staring at her, arms crossed, looking way too serious for someone who usually never took anything seriously. She groaned. "Talk about what?"

JJ scoffed. "Uh, the Cameron-shaped elephant in the room?" Zoe sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "I already talked to you guys about Sarah."

JJ rolled onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow. "Not Sarah." He wiggled his brows. "Rafe." Zoe's stomach dropped. She sat up instantly, looking around. "Jesus, JJ, say his name a little louder, why don't you?"

JJ smirked. "Why? You afraid he's lurking in the bushes somewhere?" He wiggled his fingers in mock horror. "Ooooh, Rafe Cameron's always watching!"

Zoe shoved him. "Shut up." JJ laughed but then gave her a look. "Seriously, though. What's the deal?"

"There is no deal." JJ just stared at her, waiting. She sighed. "He's an asshole, JJ. What else is there to say?" He raised a brow. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that he looks at you like he wants to kill you but would also die if you stopped looking at him?"

Zoe scowled. "That's literally the worst description I've ever heard." JJ grinned. "But am I wrong?"

She hesitated. And that was enough. JJ's smirk widened. "Oh my God. You like him." "No, I don't," she shot back way too fast.

JJ snorted. "You so do." Zoe groaned, flopping back onto the dock. "I hate you." JJ just grinned, lying back down beside her.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments before JJ spoke again, quieter this time. "You know he's no good for you, right?"

Zoe turned her head to look at him. His expression was serious now. JJ was rarely serious.

She swallowed. "I know." He nodded, like he was accepting her answer—but not really believing it.

Zoe exhaled, staring up at the sky. Because the thing was—she did know. But that didn't make it any easier.