Kiara Carrera slumped through the front door of her family's posh, beachside home, her Vans scuffed with sand and her hair tangled from the salty breeze. She knew the storm she was walking into, but that didn't make it any easier. She braced herself as her mom, Anna Carrera, stormed into the foyer, her face etched with fury.

"Where the hell have you been, Kiara?!" Anna's voice echoed through the house like a clap of thunder.

"Out," Kiara replied nonchalantly, dumping her backpack on the ground with a loud thud.

"'Out'? Out where?" Her dad, Mike Carrera, followed behind, his voice more controlled but no less stern. "With those Pogues again? You've been gone for two days, Kiara. Two days."

"Relax," Kiara muttered, kicking off her shoes and heading toward the staircase. "I'm fine."

"Don't you dare walk away!" Anna shouted. Kiara froze mid-step, turning slowly to face her parents.

Mike crossed his arms, his disappointment palpable. "Do you think this is a joke? You disappear without a word, no calls, no texts, nothing, and now you come home like this? What were you even doing?"

Kiara shrugged. "I was with my friends. Helping them."

"Helping them with what? Another treasure hunt?" Anna spat, her hands on her hips. "Let me guess: JJ roped you into this again. That boy—he's a bad influence. He's reckless, Kiara, and we've told you a million times to stay away from him!"

Kiara's temper flared. "Don't talk about JJ like that. You don't even know him."

"Oh, we know enough," Mike retorted. "We know he's trouble. And look what it's done to you! Sneaking out, lying to us—this isn't who you are, Kiara."

Kiara rolled her eyes, exhaling sharply. "Who I am? You don't even know who I am. You've been trying to shove me into this perfect little box my whole life, and I'm sick of it."

Anna's voice rose to a fever pitch. "Don't you dare turn this around on us! You've been selfish, irresponsible—"

"Selfish?" Kiara barked out a bitter laugh. "Right. Because I won't sit around and play the role of your perfect little Kook daughter? Sorry I'm not what you want me to be."

Anna's face turned red with anger, but before she could respond, Mike stepped in. "That's enough. You're grounded. Go to your room."

Kiara stared at them for a long moment, her defiance simmering just beneath the surface. "Fine," she said finally, her voice cold. She turned on her heel and stomped up the stairs, but just as she reached the top, she turned back and flipped them the middle finger.

Both Anna and Mike gasped. "Kiara!" Anna shrieked, her voice a mixture of disbelief and rage. "What the hell has gotten into you?"

Mike's voice boomed, uncharacteristically loud. "Get back down here right now and apologize."

Kiara didn't budge. "For what? Telling the truth?" she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Misbehaving!" Anna exploded. "We raised you better than this, Kiara. You're grounded for the rest of the month—no friends, no phone, no leaving this house unless it's for school. And if you pull another stunt like this, you'll be looking at boarding school."

Kiara's eyes widened. "Boarding school? Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," Mike said, his jaw clenched. "We are not going to let you throw your life away because of those Pogues."

Kiara felt her chest tighten. "They're not just 'those Pogues.' They're my friends. My real friends. Not the fake, plastic Kooks you wanted me to hang out with."

"You don't get it, do you?" Anna said, her voice quivering with frustration. "We're trying to protect you, Kiara. From them, from yourself—"

"I don't need your protection!" Kiara screamed, tears of anger welling in her eyes. "I'm not a little kid anymore."

"You're acting like one!" Mike shot back. "Go to your room. Now."

Kiara let out a furious scream before slamming her bedroom door so hard the walls rattled. Inside, she threw herself onto her bed, breathing heavily. Anger coursed through her veins, but beneath it, a pang of guilt lingered. She hated fighting with her parents, but she couldn't stand the way they talked about JJ and the others, as if they were criminals. They didn't understand. They never did.

Downstairs, Anna collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. "What are we going to do with her, Mike?"

Mike sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't know. But we can't let this keep happening. She's slipping away from us."

"I just wish she could see that we're trying to help her," Anna said softly, her voice breaking.

Mike nodded. "We'll figure it out. But for now, she's not leaving this house."

Upstairs, Kiara lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling, her anger giving way to an overwhelming sense of frustration and sadness. She pulled out her phone, even though she knew she wasn't supposed to. Her fingers hovered over JJ's contact for a moment before she typed a quick message.

Kiara: They're blaming you again. Said you're a bad influence. I can't stand it here.

A moment later, her phone buzzed with a reply.

JJ: Classic. Want me to break you out?

Kiara smiled faintly through her tears.

Kiara: Not this time. But thanks.

She put her phone down and rolled over, staring out the window at the ocean. For all the chaos and tension, she knew one thing for certain: the Pogues would always have her back. Even if it meant standing up to her parents again and again.