The ride to the Chateau was quiet, the distant hum of JJ's dirt bike filling the space between them. Zoe had her arms wrapped around his waist, her duffel bag slung over her shoulder, the cool night air biting at her skin.

She still felt wired from earlier—the fight, the words she had finally said out loud, the way Rafe had just stood there, watching her like she was some puzzle he couldn't quite figure out. But the second they pulled up to the Chateau, it was like the tension melted away.

Laughter spilled out from inside, warm and familiar. The dim glow of lanterns and string lights lit up the porch, and for the first time all day, Zoe felt like she could breathe. JJ killed the engine and looked back at her. "You ready?" Zoe let out a breath. "Yeah."

Inside, the rest of the Pogues were sprawled across the living room. Kiara was sitting cross-legged on the couch, Pope was flipping through an old magazine, and John B was messing with the radio, trying to find a song that wasn't static.

Sarah was there too. Zoe still wasn't sure how she felt about that. The second JJ stepped inside, all eyes turned to them. "Well, well," Kiara said, raising an eyebrow. "Look who finally decided to move in."

Zoe rolled her eyes. "It's not permanent." JJ threw an arm around her. "That's what they all say, Z." John B smirked. "You did kinda pass the final test today." Zoe raised a brow. "Final test?"

He nodded. "Telling off the Kooks in front of Rafe Cameron? That's Pogue certification right there." Kiara grinned. "Honestly, kind of iconic." Zoe felt a small, tired smile tug at her lips. For a second, she let herself relax.

This—this—was what she had needed. No bullshit, no pretending, just her people. Pope sat up. "So what's the plan for tonight?" JJ clapped his hands together. "I say we celebrate."

Kiara groaned. "We just got into a fight. Can we take a night off?" JJ scoffed. "No such thing, Kie." Sarah suddenly perked up. "We could go night swimming." John B smirked at her. "You just want an excuse to get me in the water." Sarah nudged him. "And?"

Zoe watched the exchange, and something tugged at her chest. The way John B looked at Sarah—it was real. Undeniable. And it hit her that maybe, just maybe, Sarah Cameron wasn't the enemy.

JJ nudged her. "You down, Z?" Zoe blinked, shaking the thought away. "For what?" "Night swim," he said, wiggling his brows. "Unless you're scared." Zoe smirked. "You wish." Kiara groaned again. "Fine. But if JJ drowns, we leave him."

Pope sighed. "That's fair." JJ clutched his chest. "You guys suck." Zoe laughed, shaking her head as they all grabbed their stuff and made their way toward the water.

For the first time all day, she wasn't thinking about Rafe. Or Barry. Or the mess she had left behind. She was just here. With them. Where she actually belonged.

The night air was warm against Zoe's skin as they made their way toward the water, laughter echoing between the trees. The Pogues had a way of making everything feel lighter, like even the worst days could be shrugged off with an inside joke and a half-assed plan.

The beach was quiet, the water stretching out in endless darkness, broken only by the silver glint of the moon. It was the kind of night that made you forget all the bullshit waiting for you back home.

JJ was the first to strip his shirt off, running toward the water like a maniac. "Last one in is a Kook!" Kiara rolled her eyes but kicked off her shoes anyway. "You're an idiot." Pope let out a tired sigh. "Why do I even hang out with you people?"

Sarah was already pulling John B toward the water, laughing as he scooped her up and threw her in. She surfaced, gasping before splashing him hard. "You suck!" John B grinned. "And yet, you love me."

Zoe lingered at the shoreline, her toes sinking into the cool sand. This was good. This was normal. JJ suddenly appeared beside her, bumping her shoulder. "What, you afraid of the water?" She scoffed. "No." JJ smirked. "Then what's the holdup?"

She hesitated. Because the second she let herself have this, it felt like she was really choosing—leaving behind the past, the weight of everything she had been tangled in for so long.

But maybe that wasn't a bad thing. Before she could second-guess it, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it over her head, tossing it aside before sprinting straight into the water.

JJ whooped, running after her. The second the cold water hit her skin, she gasped, but the shock only lasted a second before she was laughing—really laughing—like she hadn't in a long time. JJ splashed her, grinning. "There she is."

Zoe shoved water right back at him. "Shut up, Maybank." He laughed, his blue eyes shining under the moonlight. Somewhere to the side, Kiara dunked Pope under the water while Sarah and John B were tangled up in their own little world, and for once, Zoe didn't feel like she was caught in between anything.

Zoe floated on her back, staring up at the endless stretch of stars. The water lapped gently around her, cool against her skin, the distant sound of JJ and Kiara bickering making her smile.

This was peace. No Kooks. No Rafe. No Barry. No bullshit. Just the Pogues, the ocean, and the feeling of being free. A splash hit her face, yanking her out of her thoughts.

She coughed, blinking through the water as JJ grinned at her. "You looked like you were thinking too hard." She wiped her face. "And you look like you have a death wish."

He smirked. "Wouldn't be the first time someone's told me that." Zoe rolled her eyes before kicking water at him, making him gasp dramatically. "Oh, it's on." Before she could react, JJ lunged, grabbing her by the waist and tossing her under. She surfaced, gasping for air, her heart pounding as she shoved him back. "You ass!"

JJ just laughed, brushing his wet hair out of his eyes. "C'mon, admit it. You're having fun." She huffed, crossing her arms. "Maybe." He grinned. "That's what I thought." Zoe shook her head, but she was smiling. She hadn't felt this light in a long time, and despite JJ being JJ, she had to admit—he was the reason for it.

She let herself relax, floating again as the others splashed and yelled around her. Somewhere nearby, Kiara was dunking Pope again, while John B and Sarah had drifted off to their own little world, wrapped up in each other. Zoe exhaled slowly, letting herself exist in this moment.

No expectations. No pretending. Just this. JJ swam up beside her, quieter now. "Hey." She turned her head slightly. "Yeah?" He was looking at her, his usual smirk softened, something unreadable in his expression. "I'm glad you're here." Zoe swallowed.

Because for once, she didn't feel like she had to come up with a smartass response. She just nodded. "Yeah. Me too." And for the first time all day, she meant it.

Eventually, the chill started to sink in. The excitement faded into tired, content laughter, their limbs heavy from the water and the weight of the day.

"Alright, I'm freezing," Kiara announced, shivering as she waded toward the shore. "I don't know why I let you idiots talk me into this."

"You love us," JJ called after her, his grin smug. Kiara didn't answer, just flipped him off over her shoulder as she reached the sand. Zoe followed, feeling the way the ocean pulled at her ankles before finally letting her go. The night air wrapped around her, cool against her damp skin. She squeezed some of the water out of her hair, sighing as she plopped down onto the sand.

The others did the same, collapsing into a loose circle around the dying embers of an old bonfire. Pope groaned as he stretched out on his back. "I don't think I have the energy to move for at least an hour." "Same," Sarah mumbled, curled up next to John B, her head resting on his shoulder.

JJ, of course, was still full of energy. He flopped down next to Zoe, shaking his wet hair directly at her. She gasped, shoving him. "You ass! You did that on purpose." He just grinned. "Maybe." Zoe rolled her eyes, but there was no real heat behind it. Kiara, who had wrapped herself in a towel, looked over at her. "So, are you actually staying at the Chateau now?" Zoe hesitated for a moment before nodding. "For now."

JJ nudged her. "Told you. They always say that." Zoe smirked. "Maybe I just like keeping you on your toes." JJ tilted his head, considering. "I do enjoy a challenge." John B let out a groan. "God, can you two not flirt for five minutes?"

Zoe and JJ both turned to him at the same time. "We're not flirting!" The group burst into laughter. Zoe sighed, shaking her head as she leaned back on her hands, letting herself sink into the moment. The sound of the ocean, the warmth of the fire, the way her chest didn't feel as heavy as it usually did.

This was home now. And for the first time in a long time, she felt okay with that.