The Chateau was quieter than usual the next morning. Zoe woke up to the smell of something burning—which, in the Chateau, could only mean one thing.

JJ was in the kitchen. She groaned, rolling onto her side, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the open window. Her head was still heavy from the night before—too much swimming, too much thinking, and way too many conflicting emotions.

She could still hear the way Rafe's voice had sounded at the party, low and sharp, the weight of his stare like a trap closing around her. But then there was JJ, laughing beside her in the water, shaking his wet hair at her like an idiot.

Zoe exhaled sharply and sat up. Nope. Not thinking about that right now. She pulled on a hoodie and padded into the kitchen, where JJ stood shirtless at the stove, flipping what looked like a very questionable pancake.

"Please tell me that's not supposed to be edible." JJ turned, grinning. "Morning, Z." Zoe crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "What is that?" JJ flipped the pancake onto a plate, staring at it like he wasn't sure himself. "Breakfast?" John B walked in at that exact moment, took one look at the plate, and turned right back around. "Nope." JJ scowled. "It's not that bad."

Zoe picked up a fork and poked at it. "JJ, this is charcoal." He gasped. "That is offensive." She smirked, shaking her head before hopping onto the counter. "I don't know why you even try." JJ leaned against the opposite counter, his usual smirk playing on his lips. "Because one day, I will succeed. And when that day comes, I expect a full apology."

Zoe snorted. "I'll be waiting." JJ just grinned, grabbing a piece of the burnt pancake and dramatically biting into it, immediately regretting it as he gagged. Zoe laughed, shaking her head. "You're actually insane."

JJ coughed, wiping his mouth. "You love it." She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Before either of them could say anything else, the screen door creaked open, and Kiara and Pope walked in, both looking half-asleep.

"Why does it smell like death?" Kiara groaned. JJ threw up his hands. "Okay, you know what—this is disrespectful." Pope peered at the plate and winced. "Dude..." JJ scowled, shoving the plate toward him. "Fine. More for me." Pope took a step back. "Yeah, I'm good."

Zoe smirked, watching JJ glare at all of them. The morning carried on like that—easy, lighthearted, the kind of peace that only ever lasted so long in the Outer Banks.

Because by the time the afternoon rolled around, trouble found them. It always did.

Zoe should've known something was up the second JJ started being weirdly agreeable. The boys had been acting suspicious all morning—whispering, glancing at each other like they were planning something. But Zoe had been too distracted by JJ's failed attempt at breakfast and the general chaos of the Chateau to question it.

So, when he, John B, and Pope suggested that she and Kiara come help with something on the boat, she hadn't thought too much about it. That was her first mistake. Her second mistake was actually getting on the boat.

Because five minutes later, as the boat rocked gently in the middle of the marsh, Zoe realized two things:

Kiara noticed her at the exact same time. "Are you kidding me?" Sarah let out a slow breath, clearly just as unimpressed. "Wow. Okay." Zoe blinked. "What the hell just happened?" Kiara turned toward the dock, glaring at the three idiots standing there, looking way too pleased with themselves. "You've gotta be kidding me!" Kiara yelled.

JJ, John B, and Pope stood there, smug as hell. JJ cupped his hands around his mouth. "Work it out!" Zoe shot to her feet. "Are you serious?!" John B shrugged. "Look, you guys need this."

Kiara scoffed. "We need what?" JJ smirked. "Some girl bonding time." Sarah groaned. "Oh my God." Zoe ran a hand down her face. "So, what? You're just gonna leave us out here until we magically become best friends?"

Pope held up his hands. "Hey, I don't make the rules." John B clapped his hands together. "See you later!" Before any of them could argue, the boys took off back toward the Chateau, leaving the three of them stranded on the boat. There was a long, tense silence. Then, finally, Kiara muttered, "I'm going to kill them."

Zoe sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Okay. I hate to agree with JJ about anything, but... we do need to talk." Kiara scoffed. "What's there to talk about? Sarah ditched us, and now you're just—" She gestured vaguely at Zoe. "—fine with it?"

Zoe exhaled sharply. "It's not that simple." Sarah crossed her arms. "I didn't ditch you." Kiara shot her a look. "Are you serious?" Sarah's expression hardened. "You know why I had to leave." The tension was thick, the boat eerily quiet except for the water lapping against the sides.

Zoe finally broke the silence. "Look, I get it, okay? I get why you're pissed, Kie. But I also get why Sarah did what she did." Kiara scoffed. "Oh, of course you do." Zoe's jaw tightened. "Yeah. I do. Because I spent years pretending to be something I wasn't just to survive. You think I wanted to play nice with the Kooks? You think I enjoyed being stuck between both sides?" She shook her head. "But sometimes, you don't get a choice. And Sarah didn't."

Kiara looked away, lips pressed into a thin line. Sarah hesitated. "I never wanted to hurt you guys. I thought—" She sighed. "I thought I was protecting you." Kiara ran a hand through her hair, staring out at the water.

Zoe sighed. "Look, I'm not saying everything's perfect. But if I get to be here—even with all the Barry stuff, even with everything I've done—then so does Sarah." Silence. Then, finally, Kiara let out a long breath. "I hate that you have a point."

Sarah let out a breathless laugh. "You always hated when I was right." Kiara rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it." Zoe smirked. "So, does this mean I don't have to listen to you guys sniping at each other all the time?"

Kiara sighed. "I guess I can tolerate her." Sarah grinned. "Oh, how generous." Kiara shoved her playfully, and just like that, the tension eased.

Zoe leaned back against the railing, watching as Kiara and Sarah settled into something almost like normal. Maybe the boys were idiots, but for once, their stupid plan had actually worked.

Zoe woke up with sunlight streaming through the curtains and a pounding headache that screamed bad decisions were made last night.

For a second, she had no idea where she was. The air smelled like salt and sunscreen, and the sheets beneath her were tangled. Then she heard the faint sound of John B and JJ arguing from the other room, and it all came rushing back. The boat trap, the tension, the screaming match between Kiara and Sarah, and then—somehow—actual progress.

Zoe groaned, pressing the heel of her hand to her forehead. As much as she hated admitting it, the guys had kind of done the right thing. Not that she'd ever tell them that.

She forced herself up, stumbling into the main room of the Chateau, where the usual chaos was already underway. JJ was leaning over the counter, shoveling cereal into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in weeks. John B was flipping through an old magazine, looking bored out of his mind. Pope was on the couch, half-asleep.

And Kiara and Sarah were sitting next to each other, actually having a conversation that didn't involve death glares or passive-aggressive comments. Zoe raised an eyebrow. "Well." JJ looked up, mouth still full. "Mornin', sunshine."

Zoe rolled her eyes, flopping onto the couch next to Pope. "How long have you idiots been awake?" John B sighed. "Too long." JJ smirked. "You're just mad 'cause you lost the bet." Zoe narrowed her eyes. "What bet?"

John B groaned, tossing the magazine onto the table. "We bet on how long it would take you three to stop hating each other." Zoe shot a look at JJ. "And you what—bet against me?"

JJ grinned, leaning closer. "I bet on you caving first." Zoe scoffed, shoving him back. "You're such a—" "A genius? A visionary? Handsome?" Zoe groaned, grabbing a throw pillow and whacking him with it.

JJ just laughed, ducking away. "You love me, Z." "Debatable." The easy banter filled the room, the weight of yesterday feeling just a little lighter.

And maybe—just maybe—things were starting to change.