topper looked up at the girl, trembling. "look i'm gonna be honest, i have no idea what's going on here, but he told me to call you" rafe looked into the girls eyes, longer than he should have. she broke his gaze to look down at the shaken up teen. she knelt down beside him, placing an arm on his back.

"top, whats going on?" she soothed. he sobbed uncontrollably with no response. meilani rubbed his back, shushing him softly. "it's okay, just breathe for me."

eventually he calmed down and caught his breath. "meilani i don't know what to do" he looked into the girls eyes. "thornton, whats going on?" "my life's a fucking mess." she didn't know what to say to him. every other encounter she's ever had with him had been negative other than the previous one.

"what is it top? you need to tell me so i can help you." he froze, looking at her wondering where to begin. "i'm a fucking idiot. i always have been. this whole kooks versus pogues is so stupid and i don't like being a kook because i'm perceived as better than everyone else. i get into fights all the time, i ruined rafe as a person so i lost him as a friend. kelce is literally so caught up in being this 'popular' kook so he doesn't give one shit about how everyone else feels. my dad beats me if i don't do well and my mom thinks i'm a disappointment-" he paused, realising the girl was in a state of shock. she didn't know why topper was saying all of this to her but she understood him. "continue" was all meilani could say.

"i just- when i was talking to you the other night, i started by grabbing your wrist and hurting you-" he was interrupted by rafe walking towards him, looking as if he were ready to swing for him. meilani put her arm out stopping him, "rafe stop it, i'm okay." the boy backed away slowly. meilani nodded at topper to keep going.

"but by the end of it i was sobbing into your shoulder, you not knowing why, but you let me. meilani any boy would be so lucky to have you, jj is, and i really hope he knows it. you have plenty of boys who would fall at your feet, and i never understood why, i knew your looks played a factor but when you get to know someone like you, you can see why" he looked into meilanis eyes, not knowing what to say next or if he had completely scared her.

"topper, you're confused right now. i know you want to be a better person but by serenading me with compliments doesn't do that. rafe proved to us pogues he was a better person and didn't give a shit about whether he was a kook or not, and that's why i have so much trust in him, and i love him" she looked at rafe who was smiling, "love as close friend of course" she rolled her eyes smiling. "but topper i can guarantee as soon as we part ways, the next kegger you'll be starting fights with my boyfriend and best friends again." toppers face fell. he knew what she was saying was completely and one hundred percent correct but he didn't want it to be that way.

"i want to change." "change takes a lot topper, look at rafe, it took him a full year. if you want to start now then be my guest. i want you to be happy, i truly do. i want everyone in the outerbanks to be happy no matter who they are, but it's about marking your word. and if you ever need me like this again then please call me, i want to help. but what you need to know now is all about your word and staying true to yourself" meilani explained to the fragile blonde. "i know i'm definitely coming off harsh, but it's what you need to hear."

topper got up, helping the girl up after. "thank you haywood, you really didn't have to come out here tonight."

"if it wasn't for rafe, i wouldn't have, i hope everything works out, and get the family situation looked into please."

the pair departed ways and rafe began walking meilani back to the carreras.

"why were you with topper anyways? you guys hate eachother" meilani said. "i found him sitting out front of tannyhill on the dock, didn't want sarah or anyone to find him so i did what i could" rafe explained. "you're a good guy rafe cameron" she smiled up at him. "i'm a good guy now." he said, putting emphasis on the 'now'

meilani thanked the boy for walking her back, and disappeared around the other side of the door.

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