~.🐚.''.🥥.''~❀˖ °⋆

                 THAT SICKENING FEELING HASN'T GONE away in my chest. Even when my old home disappears from my mirror. My knuckles are white around the steering wheel, foot on the gas.

                              "Baby, sit this one out," JJ says over the engine. I do a double take. I can handle this. "I'm fine," I huff. "Alright, yeah? We're not Paul Walker so, slow down a bit," JJ nervously jokes before kissing his fingers and pressing them to his heart. To Paul Walker I presume.

                                I listen, slowing the car down a bit, my shoulders untensing slightly as we cross the bridge between worlds. "Go hang out with the girls—and Pope. Ease the mind a bit, princess," JJ coos, a gentle hand brushing through my hair. Our home finally comes into view. "It would give me time to tell them. Or whoever is there," I mutter but I know he hears me by the sound of his groan. "You need to relax before you have an fuckin' gallbladder explosion baby," JJ says. Gallbladder explosion? "Does stress cause that?" I ask as I pull into the driveway. JJ shrugs, "Stress does a lot. That's why you're gonna stay back."

                      He puts his hand out for my keys to my Corvette. I give him a disapproving look, "That's never gonna happen, babe. And I didn't even say yes to staying back!"

                           "So say yes!"

                           "No!" I rebuttal, hands flying to my hips. I can do this. I can handle Boogz of all people perfectly fine. JJ glances up at the sky, blinking and walking closer to me, "You just got some of the worst news of your life. I can tell when you're about to lose your shit. Stay back," He says gently, no angry or annoyed undertone. His eyes are glazed over with love. I'd like to imagine mine look the same. I gulp, "Fine. Fine," I throw my hands in the air. JJ pulls me in for a kiss, "Do I still have to drive the Twinkie?"

                           "Yes, oh my God," I laugh, shoving him towards the front door.

                                I CAN'T TELL IF IT'S A CURSE whether or not the shop is busy. JJ and John B left a bit ago and I still haven't told Cleo or Sarah about the burning lava sitting in my pocket.

                            "No we don't. I'm so sorry," Sarah softly speaks to a customer on the phone while I ring the one in front of us up. She hangs up the phone and I stare at the guy's total. "Okay, $11.45," I tell him with the kindest smile I can muster up. I'm still a working woman at the end of the day. He hands me his money and I give him his change and receipt. After he leaves, the place is empty. I slump against the counter, "Christ." Cleo laughs, "Smell that? Money!"

                                "It's good business," Sarah reminds me as she smacks my thigh. "Freak," I swat her hand away, "I know. I just hate talking to that many people."

                              The card. Weston.

                            I slip my hand into my pocket, feeling the opening of the card. It feels like it's slicing my fingers open even though I know it's not. "Hey, I need to tell you guys something—"

                         "Good afternoon, ladies," A man's voice booms from behind us. It's weirdly familiar. So much so that I'm not mad he interrupted me. Until I spin around and see who is it. That Mr. Zesty? Zeze?

                             Dale! He had a weird last name though. The fucker from the auction. He smiles with a fake sense of sweetness, "You remember me?" I stiffen up, standing straight. "How could we forget?" Cleo quickly sasses. Dale nods, sensing the hostility already. "I like that accent. Welcome to our country," He pipes up. My head snaps to the side, "Did you come here to make passively racist remarks or with more bullshit, Dale?" I sneer at him. His eyes widen with a bitter chuckle and a clearing of his throat, "I've got something for you here," He hands Sarah a paper across the counter. "You shouldn't have," Sarah sarcastically says.

                                    "I can take this place off your hands any time. For a fair price," Dale says like it's the craziest offer we'll ever get. Stupid fuck. Sarah hums, "I don't think that's necessary. But can we offer you a keychain?" She smiles her bright smile at the man, "Maybe a....glass bong, a pipe?" 

                               "Maybe an edible too," I add. "Yeah. You might need both," Sarah softly speaks. "You know, y'all are gonna lose this place. You might as well sell now. And you have safe travels back to your homeland," He remarks before knocking on wood. I clench my fists, "Kill—" Sarah's hand is thrown over my mouth and it doesn't leave until Dale is gone. "You can't just tell people to kill themselves, Sam," Sarah shakes her head as she finally looks down at the paper.

                        "Racist ones I can," I retort. "The woman's right," Cleo adds. She swings around so we can all se the paper. By Sarah's furrowed brows, it's nothing cheery. "What is it?" Cleo asks. "One second," Sarah mutters. She mumbles before handing the paper to Cleo for both us to read. My eyes scan over the paper. Change of zoning. Change of zoning? They want to make it residential. Fuck.

                            "My dad used to do that all the time. It's changing the zoning," Sarah worriedly explains, "It's a way to force owners out of their property." I need someone to sedate me. I'm serious. Can any of us ever get a break, man? "Is that legal?" Cleo questions. Sarah bites at her fingers, nervously staring forward, "If you have the money to do it."

                     A sharp exhale leaves my nose, my fingers fall to grip my J pendant. "How much would that run us?" I wearily ask. "We're gonna need a lot more than $5,000," Sarah sighs. This is how I imagine men feel when a baseball bat connects with their nuts. I scratch at my head, "I need weed. I'm gonna go smoke weed."

                         UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MY BOYFRIEND, BOOGS' price was his beloved dirt bike. Hence why he is currently pouting as we set up the boat for the diving mission.

                        I watch as he gets the ropes and other stuff together. I sit anxiously, my leg shaking as I imagine JJ down there, in the dark, alone. "You didn't tell them, did you?" JJ asks. The sun shines down on him, lighting up his blonde hair and sky blue eyes. "No. Got too pissed with Dale the Racist," I wave my hand through the hair, "I'm gonna tell them." He throws his hands up, "I don't care whether you do or not, baby. But you need to do it or else you might crash out."

                            "Would you fuck off?" I tease him. I stare at the scuba gear and imagines of JJ nearly drowning to death flash through my mind. The weight of him and how I knew if he went down, I was going too. That shouldn't change.

                          "I'm going down with you," I exclaim, fearing his immediate no. JJ freeze, hands out at his sides in bewilderment, "It's 80 feet down...in the dark. In one of your least favorite places on Earth." I bite my lip. I hate the ocean. Everyone knows this. I hate seeing JJ face down in the water more. "You need a diving buddy. That's like, a rule," I say. JJ throws his head back, "Baby, you've never been diving. No. Even for experts, it's a hairball situation," JJ tells me, now looking at me with pleading eyes.

                          I stand my ground, "You go down, I go down too."

                         "I meant that only for the bedroom."

                            "You're an ass. I'm going," I stubbornly repeat, "It's not changing. Period. Nada. Give me," I make grabby hands at the other scuba gear. JJ sighs but gives in, grabbing the gear, "Whatever I say, listen, okay?" I grab the gear from him, smiling up at him, "Thought that was a bedroom rule only—"

                         "Alright, freak. Get packed," JJ laughs, gently pushing me back by my chest. Kie and Bailey come strutting down to the boat. Kie kisses her on the cheek and Bailey smiles before helping her onto the boat. I wait for Bailey to get on but she never does. "You not comin'?" I ask her, blocking the slow setting sun from my eyes. "I'll stay back. Keep the fort down," Bailey clears her throat. Kie shakes her head, "She thinks there's ghosts in the ship."

                           "That's not—okay, it is," Bailey says defeatedly. "So mature of you, really," JJ comments. "You were ready to cry at the Crain house," Kie swiftly reminds him. JJ pauses, "That was rude," He points at her. I laugh and he points at me next. "Alright, you ready?" JJ changes the subject as the other four come over, "All aboard!"

                               John B and Pope join us on the boat. "Alright, listen up," John B starts, "We got the nav points, and we've got the gear. We're in and out, alright? This is one night only. We slip down under. We stay under the radar. JJ, you're going down."

                           I press my lips together, glancing over at JJ and then John B, "Me too." There is a loud uproar of my friends saying no or that I've never dove. "When's the last time you went in...the water, Sam?" Pope asks, waiting on the answer because I can't even recall. I puff my cheeks up with air and release it. "I will be fine," I assure them but the scared looks across their faces do not believe me. "We're losing daylight, Fine, you dive too," John B gives up, "JJ and Sam go down, Pope, Kie and I stay up. Sarah, Cleo and Bailey, you guys drive out to the lighthouse by the Coast Guard base. Do this right, we're home by midnight."

                                  JJ starts up the engine, Pope and Cleo bid farewell and the boat sets off into the pink and orange skies. Normally, I'd take this all in. But so much has happened today, I can't take another bad thing. I wrap my arm around JJ's as he drives. He looks down at me and the fear must be obvious on my face. He clicks his tongue, "Lighten up! Alright? You're making me nervous," JJ tries to diffuse the feeling of doom we all seem to have except him, "We're gonna slide down there, take a peek. Worst that can happen, it's not there, old fart's disappointed, we go home. Pogues win. Okay, that's the worst."

                                "The worst is death I think," I bluntly say. "Thanks," Pope says under his breath. "Meantime though, who wants to crack one with me?" JJ pulls a beer out. Why'd he bring beer? This is the worst time to be on anything. John B grabs the beer can, "Hey, hey, no, no," He pushes JJ away as he reaches, "No drinking."

                                       I squeeze JJ's bicep, "Really, dude?" He glances at me and then back st the ocean, "Takes the edge off."

                         REASON NUMBER A MILLION TO HATE THE OCEAN—how fucking dark it gets at night. There has been multiple times that while I was high I convinced myself something would come at us. Normally, I'm the only one tense.

                                    That's not the case as we get closer and closet to our stop. "We're in Coast Guard territory now," Pope says and I follow his eyes to a buoy bobbing with the warning of Coast Guard territory, "Should be about 20 yards. One o'clock."

                         My hands anxiously twitch. I'm going down in that dark water, to a ship that's been abandoned for hundreds of years. My heart twists in fear. My eyes glide to JJ, a sense of relief washing over me. For JJ. I feel eyes on me and peek my head towards Kie. An expression of concern sticks to her face. I share the same look once again. I'm fine. If I die, I don't have to deal with Weston.

                             Pope tells JJ to slow the boat down and he complies, lowering our speed as we approach the ship. I make the mistake of glancing over at the water from the boat. The moon bounces off the ripples from our arrival. I hate it. Ugh, I hate it. "JJ, what's our depth?" John B asks. The monitor beeps and I stare at the screen. They've all told me a hundred times how to read it, it slips my mind every time. "78," JJ replies. My ribs feel like their crushing my lungs before we even get the wetsuits on.

                            "Switch out. You guys get ready," Pope tells us. A sharp exhale leaves my mouth. "Sam," Kie gently hands me my wetsuit, "You'll be alright, okay? You've done harder and gotten out," She smiles sweetly at me. I inhale the tears that try to fall. I really didn't comprehend how scared I am. I lock eyes with Kie and I'm reminded of how she was the first person to know what I did, what I thought I did on that boat.

                                   A part of me believes she should be the second Pogue to know.

                                But, not right now. Not as I once again fear for my life and JJ's. I slip my sneakers off, slipping off my shorts, shirt and hoodie to reveal a dark blue bikini. By the way, as you get older, you start to hate your body less. I step into the wetsuit, shimmying my way in with a lot of groans and curses before JJ helps me with the zipper. He slides his hands down my back in a comforting matter, "I was gonna say it's like surfing The Point but, uh—"

                             "I don't surf."

                            "Yeah, you don't surf," He chuckles and I can feel his breath fan my neck. I spin around to face our friends. The people this all started with. Nostalgia, the mind's silent killer. "Sam, you sure you're okay with this?" John B questions. They all give me a look like if I say no, they won't be mad. I'll be mad at myself.

                       "A-okay," I make the okay symbol with my fingers, "Someone help me with this fuckin' gear," I groan as I drag up the vest with full tanks on it. Pope helps me slip it as JJ gets his own on.

                             Suddenly, JJ reveals a speargun. A fucking speargun. "When—why?" I tilt my head at the object. "Reef, fish..." JB trails off. "And the man in a gray suit," JJ adds. I whip my head around, "Who? Who's that?" But JJ does not answer, neither does John B when at glare at him. "Don't forget your safety stop, alright?" Pope sternly reminds us, "Fifteen feet for three minutes. Hear that, JJ? Fifteen feet, three minutes."

                               "I'm gonna miss being able to breath," I mutter nervously. "Copy that," JJ remarks, shoving the mouth piece in. I stare at my own mouth piece in my hand, "Remind me what happens if we don't do that."

                           Pope raises how brows, "The bends, remember? Nitrogen in the blood, excruciating pain, death, et cetera." I click my tongue, "Right. Cool." I have no expression on my face but my heart feels like it'll be one with the fishes in a moment. I look up at JJ as he sends Pope a disapproving shake of the head, clearly knowing I'm even more panicked. "She should know. It's part of it," Pope states.

                               JJ rolls his eyes, looking down at me, "You good, baby?" He softly asks, holding my chin in his hand. "As good as I can be," I answer. He gives me a small smile and then kisses my forehead. He holds my hand, guiding us to the edge of the boat to sit. I slip the hood on and the mouth piece in. I look at the other three until I convince myself we will all be alright at the end of this.

                           "Diver down?" Kie pipes up. JJ and I both chuckle, "Diver down," We repeat, words muffled and airy, sending us back to the age of 17. "You ready, sunshine?" JJ yells through the mask. "Who's the man in the gray suit?" I fearfully ask. "You'll if he's down there," JJ shrugs, falling back first into the water and leaving me with no answer. "Asshole," I mumble, copying what my boyfriend just did and flopping back first into the fucking ocean.

                              Bubbles float around me as I sink deeper and deeper. The bottom of the boat is nowhere to be seen in the vast darkness now. My flashlight. I flick it on, seeing JJ with his swimming towards me. We keep swimming down and down but it just feels like the nonexistent walls are closing in on me.

                         Follow JJ. We shine our lights everywhere until eventually, it bounces off a barnacle, seaweed infested ship. The Adventurer. My eyes lights up and I swim slightly faster, caught up in the excitement. The whole back of the ship is open. The fishes and I enter the carcass of the ship, JJ in front of me. He pushes open a window, making more bubbles wrap around us. I almost shudder at the darkness as we enter where we need to be.

                              It's eerie knowing someone's life once revolved around living on this boat, getting treasure and killing people. I shine my light on the old headboard, right where the treasure is supposed to be. As much fear runs through my veins, an equal part of excitement now runs through them as well. JJ inches closer, slamming his knife into the hundred year old barnacles that have grown. But it doesn't seem to be doing much. Until, a large chunk of it falls off, floating towards me.

                           A hole is revealed and JJ immediately looks into it. I look around the ship, shining my light to make sure we don't become shark food. I spin it around. Something blue and gray catches my eye, something that did not look like it belongs in this ship if it's abandoned. I swim closer, gasping when I notice it's a backpack. "Jay! Come 'ere!" I yell and he swims over, staring at the bag. That excitement has now evaporated from my veins. It's not just us that found this place.

                               "We need to—" I'm cut off by suddenly being tackled, my mouth piece in their grasp. I scream, grabbing onto the man's wrist as he thrashes me around in the water. I try to kick but it doesn't do much damage. I'm screaming as the man still has a hold on me. "Sam!" JJ screams in pure agony. The man yanks my mouth piece out and in my panic, I inhale way too much water.

                          My ribs are really crushing my lungs now. I duck away from the man as JJ rushes at him with the spear gun. Hold your fucking breath. Stop panicking. I puff up my cheeks, holding as much air as I can. My head is spinning as I shove my mouth piece back in. The black dots I hadn't realized invaded my vision disappear as I inhale the oxygen.

                            "Hey! Help!" JJ yells but I can barely hear him. He's getting further away. "Sam!" JJ yells from behind me suddenly, through the broken slats of the boat. "JJ?!" I panic. Is he out there with the guy? Fuck. Fuck. I push my arms through the water, my heart beeping rapidly as I try to navigate my way out of the ship.

                            I kick my leg to push forward but as I do, someone grabs it. It's not JJ, not with how rough I'm being tugged. I scream as I'm pulled through the water. I can't see anything as my flashlight falls from hand. I'm put in a headlock. I try to throw elbows but underwatering fighting is more difficult than it fucking looks. I'm throwing my elbows, kicking—but it doesn't stop the man from slicing my air supply open.

                           My breath is sucked from my lungs once again but this time, I'm fucked. Truly fucked. I puff up my cheeks again, swimming towards where I saw JJ last. "Babe!" I yell at the risk of my oxygen. My head is starting to hurt as the pressure gets to me. I make it back to JJ who unlocks the door for me. He drags me closer to him and I can't even protest before he shoves his own extra oxygen into my mouth.

                           My lungs feel electrified as I breathe in, grabbing onto JJ's bicep. "We gotta go, now!" JJ exclaims as the oxygen tanks being to beep. We push through the rusted doors of the ship, swimming as fast as we can to the top. The ocean just seems so never ending. JJ wraps his arms around my waist as the glimmer of moon shines down. We're close to the surface.

                         I keep kicking and kicking up until the air hits my face, entering my lungs. I pant as my lungs constrict and unconstrict like an accordion. JJ and I both cough up a storm until my chest caves in. "You okay?!" JJ asks, spitting out more water. The waves have gotten more rowdy. And there's a thick fog around us. I put my hand to my chest, gasping and swallowing before I can speak, "Was that the man in the gray suit?!"

                             JJ laughs, pulling my head into his chest, "Okay, you're okay." I cannot see through this fog. Where the hell are the others? "Where are the others? Babe, we can't see shit!" I yell in frustration. I paddle around, my limbs feeling weak as well as my head. "Hey, hey, look! John B!" JJ points at the shadow of a boat through the fog. "John B!" We repeatedly yell and wave our hands. They're not moving the boat towards us so we start to swim even as my arms and legs burn.

                               The boat is at my fingertips now. I grip the ladder, throwing up what;s left of my gear. "Where's your BCP?" John B asks as he helps me into the boat. I land back first, coughing and trying to blink away the dots from my vision again. "Is that the—oxygen?" I gasp for breath. "Yes!" John B yells. "Would you—it's—gone," I reply, forcing myself to sit up as JJ gets in. "Gone?!" Kie yells. "Gone! Fucking got grabbed off of me!" I throw my hands in the air. That took way too much energy out of me.

                                "There was a guy that tried to kill us, Pope!" JJ's voice cracks as he yells. "We saw a boat out here too," Pope tells us. Holy shit. I don't feel well. JJ and Pope start yelling at each other but my world is going in circles. I place my hands flat against the boat, trying to stabilize myself. John B starts the boat up, moving as fast as we possibly can.

                            A storm conjures up around us. My skin is itchy. And I can't stop panting. Panic attack? The trip back to the house is a blur. I don't get once and neither does JJ from our spots on the floor. Once we're docked, Pope starts up with his a million questions.

                            I can't focus on that though. Cramps are slashing through my stomach like a sword. JJ's groans grab my attention. He's gripping his stomach and looks about ready to pass out. "JJ?" I manage to get out but it hurts my stomach more. Cleo holds his head up. My skin is clammy. My eyes drift to John B, "JB, my stomach—" I'm interrupted by my own cry of pain, making me double over. John B rushes over, making me sit upright, "You didn't take your safety stop, did you?" He gulps.

                                  I take a shaky breath, wearily shaking my head no. "They have the bends. They need a hospital now!" Pope shouts. I'm going to die. This is such a stupid way to go out. Bailey and John B holds me up, each one of my arms around their necks as we rush towards the Twinkie. The pain is getting worse. Like a saw gliding into my skin constantly. "You're fine. Just some bubbles in your blood," John B tries to reassure me. "Fuck, bubbles in blood can't be good," I say, sounding borderline delirious. "You'll be alright," Bailey says, Swinging open the door to the van.

                                         JJ and I both flop into it. My frame molds with his. Sarah's hand is on my back. The van starts, speeding up as soon as we leave the driveway. "John B, faster!" Cleo desperately yells. I snap open my eyes, meeting a set of panicked eyes belonging to Sarah Cameron. The van swerves, cars honk. A cramp splits my stomach out and I scream out in pain.

                              "Deep breaths," Sarah coos, "John B, please go faster! They're getting pale!" My nails dig into my stomach, "Oh my God, I'm never having a kid."

                               "Who was down there with you guys?" Pope asks from the front seat. JJ hisses in pain, "No idea, Pope. But, y'all are not gonna believe this."  I watch while JJ displays a rag. The amulet. He got it. When did he get it? He hands it to Sarah. I kick myself up, holding my chest now as she unravels it. "No fuckin' way, man," Bailey says with hope in her tone. "Oh shit!" Cleo curses.

                           I stare at the amulet covered in years upon years of sea life. A small slither of red shines through the dirt. I gulp, "Oh, thank God."

                                       "That's the thing he was lookin' for!" Cleo exclaims. A sharp pain slices through my gut. A yelp of pain slips passed my lips. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?" John B beams. Even in pain I glare at his stupid question. "I was too busy dying!" JJ groans. Cleo grabs my arms, "You're a rockstar, girl! Fifty thousand!" I can't even muster up a fake smile. Instead, a groan of agony comes out. "JB, faster!" Bailey yells. The van speeds up and I try ton pretend it doesn't make me even more ill.

                              A few minutes later, the tires screech to a halt outside the hospital. A siren blaring gives me an instant headache. I try to push myself off the floor but my arms as weak. Chaos ensues, yelling and panic as I'm lifted up by Cleo and out of the van. My feet hit the ground and I try my best to stand upright. I look around for JJ, gulping when I see Pope escorting him behind us. The others in front swing the hospital doors open, marching up to the desk and demanding help.

                               "Oh, fuck," I groan, catching my breath. Sarah holds me up as Cleo and John B bombard the nurses. "You're alright, hun," Sarah coos. Whatever they say to them gets two nurses running at us. One to JJ, one to me. My body is limp at this point as I get tossed around. Now the nurse and John B hold me up while Pope still has a hold on JJ. His panicked, hazed over blue eyes catch mine as we're rushed down the busy hospital hallway.

                                 We're escorted into a room, and then a tube lit up with a dim red light. Pillows and a mattress pad my back as I roll over in pain. JJ is soon shoved in after me. My hand shakes, patting the bed to find his while my other clutches my stomach. Hyperbaric chamber. That's what we're in.

                               Fuck. My mom is gonna be so pissed, man. I lay, sweat sticking to my skin but I don't to hold my stomach. I glance though the small circular window on my side to see John B, arms crossed with a look that reminds of a worried father. Just how Big John used to look at us when we'd come back from our adventures as kids with scrapped knees.

                                    He stares back at me once the doctor leaves. I put my left pointer and thumb in the shape of an L, holding it up to my forehead and pointing at him. The tenseness in his shoulders falls and a relieved smile flies across his face.

                                 The others leave. There's a silence between JJ and I for a couple minutes, just holding each other's hand. "I should've never let you go down there," JJ mutters. My heart breaks. I knew he'd blame himself for this. I caress my thumb across his hand, turning to face him. I analyze his face. His long lashes/ The very light spreads of freckles from the sun across his cheeks. How his lips are slightly parted. "You would've died," I whisper. "Okay," JJ speaks, a gruffness to his voice, "I saved you too."

                               I roll my eyes at him with a smirk on my face, "You always do," I whisper, staring right at him. "Thank God," He chuckles, "Mama Rachel would hang me if I let you get killed." I gasp, smacking his chest but he coughs loudly. I wince, "Babe, I'm so sorry," I laugh, scooting closer to him. He shakes his head, flickering me on the head. The chamber fills with giggles. I push myself up on my elbows, leaning down to finally kiss JJ on the lips. We melt together, his hand slowly making its way to my neck. He pulls away with a grin, "That's the second guy I've stabbed for you."

                            My eyes widen, "You stabbed him?" JJ nods yes, pulling me back in for a kiss. I bite his bottom lip, pulling away. I smirk, grabbing the pillow and covering my window with it. JJ raises his brows, "I was too scared to ask." I roll my head, crawling over to him best I can with a slight ache to my bones. "Don't fib," I laugh, leaning closer to his lips but not touching them.

                         His eyes are lit up staring at me, "Deny," He leans closer to my lips, "Deny," He's so much closer now, "Deny, right?" I bite the insides of my cheeks. Any witty comment gone from my head as the urge to kiss my boyfriend takes over. I let it and smash my lips into his, letting my hands roam his body as his roams mine.

                               "12 hours," He whispers, slipping his shirt off. I trail my hands down his abs, giggling before I'm slipped under JJ.

———-

hi, next chapter will be in baileys pov 🫡 get excited.