it had been nearly a week since the group last saw meilani. nothing felt right with the group since then. anytime one of the pogues showed up at her house, it was like she was never there. the girls dad hadn't been home for weeks, he didn't know what his daughter was going through, he was too caught up with work. cayman had been playing on meilanis mind more than usual too. she had never thought about her brother this much before, it was unnatural.

-

-

meilani was laying in bed, thoughts filling her mind; the pogues, her mom, jj, cayman. her thoughts soon interrupted by a loud banging coming from her porch, she immediately assumed it was one of her best friends but then "KILDARE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, MEILANI HAYWOOD ARE YOU IN THERE" rang through her ears. she panicked. she sprung out of bed and threw on her sweats.

meilani walked up her small hallway and saw sheriff shoupe standing at her porch door. "meilani, so glad to see you" he smiled. "sheriff, what brings you here." "a couple of those old friends of yours called me asking if i could just do a quick check up on you, heard you've been ignoring them for quiet some time now." the pair were standing in her kitchen at this point. "oh there was no need sheriff, honestly. i'm good" she slapped on her most fake and most convincing smile.

"hey look haywood, i know you by now, you're hurting" meilanis face fell. "could they not send my dad out to see me?" she questioned. "uhm, he was on another call, i apologise." she brushed it off, not letting the fact that her own father had to send someone else to check on his daughter crush her soul. "well thank you for checking in, sorry it was a waste of time" meilani began to escort the sheriff out of her house. "hey meilani, if you ever need anything at all, even just a friend, call us okay?" shoupe said sincerely. meilani nodded and smiled.

she knew for a fact that would never happen and there was no way she'd call the sheriffs office for anything. the sheriff hopped into his cruiser and drove off her property. she took a breath out, glad that it wasn't another dcs case for the group.

'look meilani its been over a week now, kiara still hasnt told us anything, we all understand that theres something pretty big going on for you right now but we miss you so much, i hope everythings alright, love you always sweet girl' the 4th voicemail from jj on her house phone since she didn't show up that day for surfing. she felt awful, she didn't want her best friends worrying, and they clearly were really worried since they sent the sheriff out. she decided to get ready and head out.

"guys stop worrying okay? shoupe said she was doing fine, if anything serious was happening, he'd know" john b started, "no that's not the point, has NOBODY noticed that she never shows real and raw emotion? sure she flirts with jj and used to with john b and hell maybe pope at times, but have any of you seen her properly cry?!" kiara raved.

"why do not a single one of you idiots notice that? i understand you have 2 single brain cells between you all but it doesn't take much to see that she's hurting? she lost her mom, then her brother and now her dad doesn't make time for her anymore, i'm sick and tired of your guy's bullshit-" she continued, "oh OUR bullshit? how come you've never done anything for her before now?" jj started. "jj shut the fuck up, you have no idea how much goes on behind the scenes with her? the poor girl has been through HELL and bac-" kiara went on. "hey guys..uhm..." john b interrupted.

no one listened, "GUYS SHUT THE FUCK UP" he shouted. the group turned their attention to where john b was looking. there stood a frail meilani. she looked as if she hadn't eaten or slept in days. "lani" the group chorused. she stared at them all. "we're sorry, how much of that did you hear?" kiara asked.

"most of it" she sighed, "it's okay, i understand, i apologise for all the worry i've but you through" jj rolled his eyes, "are you kidding me? there's no need to apologise mei" he approached her, arms wide open. she walked right into them and was immediately hit by warmth and safety. "i missed you" he whispered into her hair. in response, she squeezed him tighter. the rest of the group approached the pair and joined in on their hug. "it's so good to have you back" pope said. "we all missed you like crazy" john b carried on, "we're glad you're safe lani" the curly haired girl spoke. "guys i'm okay, i'm alive and i'm with you guys, i'm all good."

pope lit a fire, the group sat around it, laughing and making jokes with eachother. meilani lay on the ground in between jjs legs, she looked up at him. "so you gonna tell me who's idea it was to call shoupe?" she lightly giggled. "uhm that would be me" he smiled down at her. "hey you're cute when you care" she joked, sarcastically, "hey! i always care, especially when it comes to you" the pair stare at eachother, "very unnatural for you to be this soppy." the two laughed looking at one another. meilani felt much better than ever before, she needed this, to be back with her friends. it made her appreciate them so much more, she figured out, this was her safe space.