— CHAPTER THREE
compass

***

AFTER the news of Scooter Grubbs broke, Juliette's mother demanded she'd come home instantly. The ride back to her house was quiet, mostly out of disappointment that she'd be leaving them, but it was also partial shock.

Scooter Grubbs had been the owner of the Grady-White. And Scooter was no Kook. How the hell he managed to afford a boat like that would only remain a mystery, but assumptions would definitely be made.

"This blows," Kiara sighed, breaking the silence. "You're gonna miss the kegger."

Juliette shrugged. As much as she loved a good Boneyard party, she didn't exactly fancy getting grounded again for staying out late. She'd just gotten over her latest punishment, and if she wanted to continue to be allowed out, she needed to stop breaking her mother's rules. Even if most of them were complete bullshit.

After her brother had cut all ties with them a few months into his first semester at college, Zoe Matthews had gone off the rails. The following weeks after, Juliette had faced the hell-wrath that was her mother. And now, she was still suffering the consequences. New rules that had never existed prior to her brother's disappearance became the new regular. The fear her mother had that Juliette would follow in her brother's footsteps.

It was still so weird to her. Colin had never been the branch-off type. He was a good kid. He had great grades, it's the same reason he got that scholarship. Their parents were proud of him. If either child were to cut all ties with the family, it would've been Juliette. Not that she ever would—yes her mother had her moments, but they'd never gotten to the point of disownment.

Colin leaving still didn't make sense, even after three years. Juliette didn't know what it was about. Maybe their mother had truly done something to piss him off, but if that were the case, it had to have been something genuinely awful. Something unthinkable, something that had to be too big for Juliette to understand.

He attended the University of North Carolina. It was a four hour drive from the OBX, one that Juliette had traveled plenty of times. She could probably get to Chapel Hill with her eyes closed. Her mother had been in denial. They visited up there every weekend for two months. But Colin had refused to open up his dormitory door. Every time.

It was awful, seeing her mother like that. But it was even more awful that Juliette would never get an explanation. What did she do to deserve her brother dropping them like they meant nothing?

She checked up on him once and a while. He couldn't block all of her burner accounts on Instagram. He worked at a local surf shop near his school, spent most of his afternoons studying at the library. Occasionally posted his girlfriend and his friends. He seemed to be doing alright.

Juliette would never understand him.

They docked at her house. Chimney, who was laying under a tree, immediately raised his head and started to make his way over. Juliette climbed to her feet. "Well, if you guys run into any hot tourists, make sure to send them my way."

"Will do," Pope said, nodding affirmatively.

"Have fun," she told them. "But not too much fun. You know I get FOMO."

"Yeah, yeah," John B waved her off.

"No promises," JJ added.

She watched them speed off into the marsh, and quickly crouched down to scratch behind Chimney's ears. "Come on, boy. It's hot as balls out here. Do we have power yet?"

Chimney's way of responding was by chasing after a nearby squirrel.

The rest of her afternoon was uneventful. The phone lines were finally up again, and other than a few occasional update texts from Kiara, Juliette spent most of her time doodling in an old sketchbook. It wasn't until around six that the power finally came back on.

She sat in front of the fan, pulling her hair off her sweaty neck, and sighed in satisfaction. Chimney was fast asleep on the floor by the door, and her mom reclined in the living room, watching television.

The sun set on the horizon, and Juliette closed her curtains. She was bored out of her mind. She could only imagine what her friends were getting up to right about then.

***

"It was crazy," Kiara filled her in on everything the following day. How big the party turned out, how Sarah Cameron and her boyfriend Topper had shown up, too. How John B got his new designer black eye, and how JJ pulled a fucking gun on a kook.

The second Juliette caught sight of John B's face, she was ready to become a felon.

"It's fine," he assured her after a series of curses and threats back at the Château. "Seriously. I can't afford anymore trouble."

"I've always hated that guy, you know," she said, slumping into a chair. "Fucking prick. He has such a punchable face. God. I can't believe he tried to drown you."

"Yeah, well," John B shrugged.

Suddenly re-angry, Juliette glared at JJ. "And I can't believe your dumb ass pulled out the gun."

"I did what I had to do, man."

"What you didn't have to do was instigate a fight, JJ."

"She's got you there," Kiara agreed.

"Look," John B sighed before they could debate further. "I'm calling it off. All right? Peterkin said that if I stay out of the marsh, she'll help me with DCS."

"And you believed her?"

"Yes, I believe her, JJ."

"An actual cop, John b. You believed a cop."

"Look, all I gotta do is stay out of the marsh for a couple days, and she'll help me out. It doesn't help that your ass was the one shooting a gun."

"You know what I should have done?" JJ asked. "Just let Topper drown your ass. Since I'm always instigating fights," he shot a look towards Juliette. "Maybe I'll stop saving all your asses, too."

"Yeah, because Topper was gonna drown me?"

"Sure looked like it."

"Funny."

JJ stood. "I mean, have you looked in a mirror recently?"

"Come on. Tell me some more. Come on."

"They always win, don't they, man? Kooks versus Pogues. They always, always win! Goddamn!"

"Look, it's okay!" Kiara tried to intervene, but JJ quickly shut her down.

"No, it's not okay! It is not. They don't want us to go down into the marsh. That means there's something valuable down there, and you know it. I know you do. And I understand why you don't wanna go," he directed at Pope. "You're the golden boy. You got way too much to risk. And Jules can't stay out past 8 pm because of her psycho mother so that's her excuse."

"Psycho is a little far fetched, dude—" Juliette started, but JJ just spoke over her.

"And you, I mean, you're already rich as fuck anyway." Kiara rolled her eyes. "Why would you bother? But you and me, man, we got nothing to lose! And I know it didn't used to be that way for you."

"I don't want to talk about this," John B stated. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"So that's it?"

"Just get out of my way, bro."

"John B, listen to me. I have a plan."

"Your plans are suicidal, JJ," Juliette said. "And I know you think you have nothing to lose, but you're still a long way from rock bottom."

JJ waved her off, and charged after John B. Juliette scrubbed a hand over her face, and remained where she was, shaking her head along with Kiara and Pope. "Fucking idiots."

"Don't tell me you're actually going along with whatever bullshit plan JJ mapped out for you," Juliette demanded once the others had left. Pope usually went home first because his father requested work, and Kiara always had errands to run. JJ was somewhere else in the house, but for now, it was just the two of them.

"It's not complete bullshit this time."

"You've gotta be joking. Do I need to remind you of the tote bag incident?"

"You don't," he resumed packing a bag. Juliette groaned from where she sat on his bed. "I'm very aware. But JJ is right, okay? I need a win. I cannot go into foster care. It's only a bad idea if I get caught, right?"

Juliette stared at him skeptically. "I think we both know the answer to that question, dude."

***

They regrouped back at sunset. John B had acquired a few tanks from the Cameron's, and Kiara sorted through them, unimpressed. Juliette adjusted the bracelets on her wrist as the other girl sighed. "This is empty. You took empty tanks?"

"I..." John B shrugged, trailing off.

"Okay, this one's a quarter full. It's enough for one of us."

"Love it when a plan comes together," Pope mused.

"Does anybody know how to dive?"

"Into a pool, yes," Juliette said. "With scuba gear, no."

"It's kind of a kook sport," JJ replied when Kiara asked again.

"I... read about it."

"Great, Pope read about it, so someone's gonna die."

"Look you put the thing in your mouth and breathe. How hard could it be?"

"Well, if you come up too fast nitrogen gets into your blood and you get the bends," Pope explained.

"Bends like.." JJ stuck his ass out. Juliette scoffed. "Bend over and-"

"The bends kill you."

JJ straightened, all traces of humor from his expression had faded. "Right."

"I can dive," John B offered.

"You can dive. I'm cool with that."

"Since when can you dive?" Kiara questioned.

"I'll do it. It's fine."

"Let me do some calculations real quick."

"You serious?"

"That boat's about thirty feet down," Pope started. "So it'll take twenty-five minutes at that depth. Which means you need to make your safety stop at about ten feet. All right? For two minutes."

"Yeah, yeah," John B nodded. Kiara's movement caught Juliette's eye, and she watched the other girl take off her shirt. Her brow furrowed. The hell was she doing? "Ten feet. Two minutes. Got it."

Without a word, Kiara jumped into the water. They lapsed into a quick silence. "Uh..."

"What was that all about?"

"I don't know," JJ admitted. "But I liked it. A lot."

"Gross," Juliette shoved him away from her.

John B shook his head as if to unscramble his thoughts. "Uh, right."

"Yeah," JJ cleared his throat.

"Oh my God," Juliette buried her head in her hands. "You're both idiots."

"When you're down there, you look for the cargo hold," JJ told him, ignoring Juliette. "You stick this thing inside and twist and pull, okay?"

"Twist and pull. Got it."

"Yeah, my dad moved some weight back in the day."

"Who didn't?"

"Hey," Kiara's voice echoed from the water. "I tied my T-shirt to the anchor chain about ten feet down. It's where you need to do your safety stop."

"Cool," John B said, almost absently as he geared up with the tank. Juliette reached forward to straighten out a twisted strap strung along his shoulder, and tried to ignore the feel of John B's skin underneath her fingertips. "Thanks."

"Mhm," she answered, moving out of the way as Pope approached.

"You need to keep an eye on this. Make sure you have enough air to decompress."

"Okay. How much do I need?"

"Unclear. Breathe as little as possible."

John B pursed his lips, but JJ patted him on the shoulder. "Zen. Think Zen, you know?"

"Hey, if we get caught out here in the marsh, we're basically screwed so..."

"Do not put that into the universe," Juliette grumbled. "You're gonna jinx us."

"I'm just saying," Pope held his hands up. "Better get a move on."

"Copy that," John B murmured, holding the scuba mask above his face still. Kiara stepped to where he was standing, and Juliette momentarily caught his eye from over her shoulder, just before Kiara leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek.

Juliette's stomach twisted, and for a split second, she felt sea-sick. She noticed the two boys share a quick glance from beside her, but she couldn't stop staring at the floor.

"Diver down?" John B asked.

Kiara nodded reluctantly. "Diver down."

The next few minutes were silent. JJ and Pope hovered near the wheel, Kiara strayed where John B had just dove, and Juliette tapped her foot anxiously from where she sat. The only sound to be heard was the water slapping against the bottom of the boat—that was until a siren blared from behind them.

"Uh..." Juliette's heart dropped. "We have a surprise guest appearance."

"Shit," Pope swore. "JJ, that's the cops."

"Alright, just act frickin' natural," Kiara instructed.

"Evening officers," Pope greeted, and Officer Shoupe tossed over the rope. "Here, JJ, tie this off."

Juliette slid next to Kiara, attempting to block the view of the boat underneath them. Shoupe glanced between their group. "How you kids doing? You know the marsh is closed?"

"It is?" Juliette asked, sharing confused looks with the others. "No, we had no idea. We've been out on the water for most of the day."JJ shot her a withering look, but she remained calm. "You know how my mom gets with big catastrophic events. I had to get out of that house, man."

Shoupe nodded like he understood. Which he probably did—her mother could be a complete menace for the cops at times. "We're conducting a search out here. Boat went down."

"Huh."

"Oh, wow."

"Seen anything?" Shoupe asked.

"Nah."

"No boats, no."

"Where's your friend you're always hanging with? He here?"

"He's working," Kiara answered.

"Hm," Shoupe did not seem convinced. It took everything inside Juliette not to peer over the edge of the boat to make sure John B wasn't going to return at the worst moment possible. "I'm gonna check your little boat out."

"Yeah, sure."

"Hop aboard."

Shoupe examined everything they had. From Juliette's "emergency" bag kit, which held an extra bathing suit, gum, scissors, the speaker, and a box of Cheez-Its, to the storage compartment underneath. He also made sure they had another life jacket. The whole thing was weird. Juliette couldn't tell if he knew they were lying, or if he was just being nosey.

Her anxiousness only grew. John B's time was running out. She was sure by now he must've noticed the shadow of the other boat, but if he ran out of air, the only choice he'd have would be to come up. Shoupe needed to get the hell out of there.

The officer climbed to the front of the boat, pulling his glasses down. For a moment, he said nothing, only stood. Juliette was so stressed she was sure she'd sprouted a couple of gray hairs.

"All right," Shoupe finally said, and they all repeated the phrase back to him. "Beautiful day, ain't it?"

"Sure is."

"You let us know if you see anything on your way out."

"Will do," Pope said. "Will do."

When the police boat was finally out of sight, Juliette sagged in relief, and John B submerged from the water. "Jesus Christ."

"Don't scare us like that."

"How'd it go down there? Find anything?"

"Did I find anything?" John B scoffed, and tossed up a duffel bag.

"You good?" Juliette asked, helping him unstrap the tank from his body.

"You scared the shit out of us," Kiara said.

"Yeah, I'm good. I ran out of air."

"The cops were up here," Pope told him. "But, uh, we took care of them."

"Yeah, you kinda missed the show, brother."

Kiara nudged Juliette, who quickly turned to follow her line of sight. There was a boat approaching. Alarmed, they hurriedly alerted the boys. "Uh, guys?"

"Bogey. Two o'clock."

"What?"

In unison, the boys snapped their heads in the direction Kiara had stated. Juliette could feel the panic rise in the group.

"Do you recognize that boat?"

"I've never seen it."

"Me either," Juliette tensed. "Let's get out of here. Hurry, Pope."

"The marsh is closed," Kiara said. "What are they even doing back here?"

"Let's not stick around and find out," JJ answered. "Jules is right, let's get a move on, Pope. I'll get the bowline."

"I don't like the look of this," John B murmured as their boat neared closer, and JJ rushed to pull out the anchor. "Are they coming after us?"

"Pope, hurry," Juliette demanded, her voice wavering. "Go, dude. Go."

"Act natural. Act natural."

"They're definitely following us."

"Shit."

"What the fuck? Who has beef with teenagers? These guys look like they're straight outta prison."

"You gotta go faster!"

"Gun it."

"I'm going!"

"Oh God," Juliette felt sick as she glanced back. "Oh God, they have guns."

The word 'gun' had barely left her mouth before a bullet was fired at them. A series of panicked curses ran throughout the HMS Pogue, and they all ducked.

Another gunshot. Juliette squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh God."

"We're gonna die!"

"Pope, move. Julie, help me."

Juliette, still crouched, helped Kiara quickly tie together the fishing net and rope. "What are you doing?" She asked, finishing the knot.

"This," Kiara stated, chucking the materials off the boat into the water.

Juliette watched the fishing net catch around the boat, and the two men driving it nearly lurched forward as they were pulled to a sudden stop.

Flooded with relief, Juliette released a humorless laugh. "Holy fucking shit."

"That was insane."

Back at the dock of the Château, they grouped around John B, who eagerly unzipped the bag and opened the silver canister.

He pulled out a small circular object, one that looked vaguely familiar to Juliette, like she'd seen it lying around somewhere before.

"Great. We found a compass."

"Dude, what?" JJ wondered, staring at John B who was stunned at their discovery. "It's not worth anything."

John B looked up to meet their eyes, but he only caught Juliette's as he spoke. "This was my father's."

***