Chapter Six

The next day, I was at John B's again. I had to sneak out of home in order to get here and not get questioned by Sarah or Wheezie. God, it was difficult but worth it. John B had successfully grabbed the drone and we were gonna use it today.

John B and I swim around under the water as we faced the drone. JJ and Pope were trying to work it out while Kie, John B, and I swam around in the water. I made a silly face at the drone, then pulled the middle finger at them and I chuckled before going up for some air.

We were set up on the dock. John B and Kie had come up for air as well and I grinned. All I heard from JJ was, "shut up, shut up, it's too early for that right now." He was speaking to Pope.

"Hey, look, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll bring it to a lawyer in town, and file a formal claim." John B had told us.

"It's such bullshit." JJ groaned, leaning on the rail on the dock, his eyes casting over to me for a second. "Why do we have to do that?"

"Well, there is maritime salvage law." Pope had said. "You can just go to the ocean floor and scoop up a bunch of stuff up." Pope was leaning on the rails next to JJ.

"I know, I know." JJ nodded. "It's just, Lawyer's aren't cheap, bro."

"Well, as soon as they see this footage, they'll work for a chomp." John B reminded us. I laid back in the ocean and just floated, looking up at the sky.

"How do you know all that?" Kie asked.

"Cause my Dad said it, like, a million times." John B informed her.

"Yeah, that's fair," Kie said. I had begun to swim to the ladder and climbed up it, standing next to JJ who turned to me with a grin.

"This tether is like, really, long," Pope pointed out. "In the wrong weather, it could get pushed around."

"I think someone needs a hug," I was looking at JJ as I said this and opened my arms wide.

"No, Stormy," JJ warned, his eyes widening and before he could even run away, I had wrapped my arms around him, completely drenching him. I giggled when JJ had finally embraced that he was wet and hugged me back, wrapping his arms around me.

"Then we'll go at a dead calm." John B responded to Pope's comment. I pulled away from JJ, hearing thunder in the distance.

"At slack side?" Kie asked, climbing halfway up the ladder.

"So now, we just gotta wait around for the right weather." Pope had said. "And today is not that day."

I gaze up the storm clouds at the distance. I then let out a chuckle. "A storm's coming." I pointed to myself. They all looked at me, not even laughing. "Oh, come on, that's funny!"

✫✫✫

"I don't want to go fucking golfing with you lot." I scowled at Topper and Rafe the same day. Topper is insisting that I go golfing with them. I mean, I'm already here in the golf yard.

"Hey, I brought you something," Topper had handed me a bottle. I opened the lid and sniffed it. It was vodka and lemonade. My favourite. "You can drink that and chill out in the golf cart and follow us around."

I scoffed. "Yeah, all right." I rolled my eyes and I took a gulp of the alcohol drink. "So, what's the point in me coming if I'm just gonna watch and drink?"

"We haven't hung out in a while." Topper pointed out as he takes his first shot, the ball going far. "I miss my best friend."

"Of course, you miss me. Everyone does." I take another sip of the alcohol and watched as Rafe hits.

"You know, Sarah's worried about you." Rafe and Topper were taking hits on the golf course back and forward while I drove around.

"What's there to worry about?" I asked as I pulled to a stop. "I'm completely fine."

"She thinks you're lying to her." Topper hits the golf ball. My face fell when Topper wasn't looking. Okay, maybe I feel a little guilty for always making her cover for me when I'm hanging out with the pogues... Fuck, I can't tell Topper this, he'll get fired up.

"Tell her I'm not lying to her." I shake my head. "I'm her twin, I tell her everything." Except maybe one thing.

"Oh shit, look at that golf ball fly!" It had hit the sandbars. "Let's go get it, bro." I decided to hop off the cart and followed behind them, listening to them talk about the party. "That party was insane. I mean, my first thought when I did the line was... 'bro do we have enough?'. It was crazy!"

"You did what now?" I stared at Topper with wide eyes as he flashed me a sheepish smile.

"I know, right?" Rafe said. "It was good shit." He turned to glare at me. "Stormy, you tell anyone, you're dead. I don't need your big mouth blabbering to Dad."

"Whatever." I snapped, rolling my eyes. "Just don't come crying to me when Dad finds out and kicks you out of the house."

"That's not gonna happen." Rafe had told me, shaking his head as he prepares to hit the golf ball.

"And uh, Storm, don't tell Sarah either... Okay?" Topper questioned carefully.

"You want me to lie to my twin sister?" I accused.

"It's not lying if you don't say anything, Stormy," Rafe snapped. God, he was always snapping at me. Rafe and I never had a good relationship. He absolutely hates Sarah and I for some reason.

Rafe hits the ball and it lands by a few men. "Hey, come on, now!" The man complains.

"Shut up!" Rafe had yelled back.

"Sorry!" I had apologized for my brother's reaction. "Have a good day!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Rafe had muttered to us, his eyes landing on Pope as he walked down the track. I smiled when I saw him carrying some shopping bags.

"What?" Topper turned and saw that too.

"I don't think he's a member, do you?" Rafe questioned.

"It's fine, Rafe. Just let him go. He's delivering shopping bags." I pointed out, rolling my eyes.

"Let's go grab your ball," Topper agrees with me.

"They put a gun to your head, bro," Rafe reminded Topper.

"That's fine." Topper brushed it off. "Let's it go. Let's go." Rafe began to approach Pope. "Hey, Rafe! Let's go get your ball man!"

"Rafe, let it go," I pleaded as I followed him. Topper also follows me as we head towards Pope, both holding golf clubs.

"Hey, what's up, man?" Rafe questioned as we made it to the footpath.

"Rafe, can we not?" I questioned, giving Pope a look as he glanced at me.

"Hey, how much for those beers?" Rafe pointed at the beers with his golf club, stopping him from moving.

"They're not sale," Pope speaks confidently and I smiled. Pope tried to move but Rafe stopped him.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait." Rafe stopped him. "You can just give us one, right?"

"Or you can order one, like everyone else." Pope had said and I crossed my arms nervously. I've grown to like Pope. He's a good guy.

"Listen." Rafe placed a hand on Pope's shoulder. "Wait, wait, wait. You're not listening to me. Um... You've got so many, bro, we've got nothing."

"You can have some of mine—" I tried to reason with my stupid brother but he doesn't listen to me.

"No, no! Shut up, Stormy! Just shut up!" Rafe glared at me.

"They're not even mine." Pope had pointed out. "They're already paid for."

"Already paid for?" Rafe inspects the shopping bag. "What the hell? You probably stole them, right?"

Rafe rips the bag. "What the hell?!" Pope snapped. "You owe me for that."

"Rafe!" I yelled over Pope. "Fuck off, idiot! Go back to your stupid game!"

"Dude, I don't owe you shit, Pogue." Rafe spat. Pope had shoved him back out of self-defence.

"Hey, come on, man, we just want one of these beers!" I glared at Topper for even saying that.

"Topper, Rafe, stop—"

Topper tried to take the beers from Pope, but Pope wasn't giving up. "You guys are freakin' crazy!"

"Topper, fucking stop!" I cried out, extremely annoyed. Topper throws Poper to the ground and I let out a gasp. "Pope!" Pope cuts his head on a rock.

"Shit, my bad, man," Rafe said as Pope began to struggle to get up. I stepped in front of Pope and Rafe.

"Rafe, get the fuck out of here, now!" I boom, glaring harshly at Rafe. Rafe took a step in towards me and I had shoved him back. "I mean it—"

Rafe had swung at me and punch me across the face. I let out a gasp, falling onto the ground, landing face-first into the sand.

"Rafe—" Topper nervously said, but Pope cuts him off. Pope swings at Topper, but Rafe hits Pope at his golf club. "Rafe, Rafe, come on!"

"Stay down, bitch!" Rafe spat.

"Hey, let's go, man!" Topper had told Rafe. Topper walked towards me and tried to help me up but I flinched away from him, shuffling backwards. "Stormy, come on."

"I'm not going anywhere with you psychos!" I cried out, tears welling up in my eyes. I can't believe Rafe hit me. "Get the fuck away from me! Now!" Topper puts his hands up and takes a few steps back,

Rafe pats Pope on the cheek and I was worried for him. I staggered to my feet and quickly threw a punch at Rafe, but I didn't punch hard enough to knock him down, but my hand was throbbing, and I let out a sob.

Rafe glared at me heavily. He shoved me to the ground. "I said stay down, bitch!" Tears were streaming down my face as I stared up at my brother fearfully.

"Rafe!" Topper had yelled. "Just let him go."

Rafe bends down in front of Pope again. "We don't want you over here. Got that?"

"Let him go, man." Topper had gently said behind Rafe, guilt written all over his fucking face.

"Stay off Figure Eight, Pogue." Rafe stands up. "Let's go, Stormy,"

"No," I muttered out.

"I said let's go!" Rafe had yelled, turning back to me.

"I said no!" I screamed back. "Get the fuck away from me, both of you!" The boys stood there for a moment as I cried. Everything hurt. My eye hurts and my fist hurts. The boys had begun to stagger away, looking back at everyone once and a while until they were gone. I crawled over to Pope. "Pope. Pope..."

His mouth was bleeding. He spits out some blood, squinting at me. "Stormy?" He croaked out.

"Oh, my God, Pope." I whimpered. "I'm so fucking sorry. I'm so, so, so sorry. My brother is an actual psychopath—"

"It's not your fault." Pope had told me, giving me a half-smile and getting up. "But man everything hurts."

I sighed, tears still forming in my eyes as I replayed everything in my head. "Oh, my God," I muttered.

Pope had offered me a hand and I took it. He brings me in for a hug and I cried into his shoulder.

✫✫✫

We had gotten back to Pope's boat in silences. I felt guilty for Rafe's action. I was sitting on the boat, waiting for JJ to return to the boat.

JJ comes running from the dock. "Pope! Hey!" JJ called out. "Oh, hey, Hollywood! Guys, you are not gonna believe what just happened to me, man! Whoo! That was the best 100 bucks I've ever made!" He climbed onto the boat as Pope leaves the dock. "When I say count me in on all these grocery deliveries, I mean it."

Tears formed in my eyes and I looked down. That's when JJ noticed it. "Hey, Stormy, what happened to your face?" JJ stood close to me, noticing the black eye that was probably forming. "Fucking hell, who the hell did this?" Hatred filled the boys' eyes.

My lips begin to quiver, and I burst into tears again. "I—I—" I couldn't form words in my mouth.

"Jesus!" JJ muttered, noticing Pope's cut too. He pulled me into a hug, trying to calm me down and I buried my face into his shirt. JJ rubs my back gently. "What happened?"

"Rafe and Topper jumped me." Pope lowly said and JJ pauses rubbing my back.

"JJ," I whispered out, looking up at him. "I tried to stop them; I swear. But then Rafe hit me and shoved me and—"

"Your own brother hit you?" JJ growled out.

"They said no Pogue's on their side of the island." Pope mocked my brother and I tried not to cry again because hurts when I do. JJ clenches his jaw, bringing me in for another hug.

"What are you gonna do?" JJ had asked Pope. Tear tracks marked under Pope's eyes.

"You know," my voice cracked. "There's one other thing that Topper loves more than Sarah." I made eye contact with JJ. "His Malibu."

✫✫✫

Now, JJ, Pope, and I stand on the boat that floats a few meters away from the Malibu. I'm glaring at it, as if in a few seconds laser beams would flash out of my eyes and destroy it. I have so much hate towards my brother and Topper.

"2020 Malibu, 24-MXC." Pope speaks as he glares at the Malibu in the dock. "The world's finest wakesetter. Number one quality, luxury, and performance."

"This is war, Pope." JJ declared. "They hit us, we hit them." JJ puts a gator mask over his head covering his mouth and nose. I do the same. "Let's do it." 

Pope takes off his shirt and hat. JJ hands me a pair of sunglasses and I wear them, while he does the same. Pope jumps into the water. We were planning to sink this baby.

I let out a shaky breath. "I still can't believe Rafe would hit his own sister like that." JJ shakes his head, turning to me. "Are you okay?"

I felt the tears welling up again but I willed myself not to cry, I've already cried too much today.

JJ wraps his arms around me, pulling me in for a close embrace. "Rafe has always had this dark side," I admit in a shaky voice. "He's always had it out for me and Sarah, basically since day one and I'm not sure why."

He grabbed onto my hand and I winced, pulling back. "What's wrong?" JJ quickly asked.

"I might've tried to punch Rafe back." I winced, showing my bruised knuckle. JJ stares at me and I could tell he was smiling behind the mask.

"I've never felt prouder," JJ told me and kissed my knuckle through his mask. I blushed deeply, grinning under my mask. He pulled me back in for another hug. "I guess you're part of our little Pogue family, huh?"

"I guess I am." I agreed, nodding my head. "Honestly, fuck Kooks."

"Fuck Kooks." JJ agreed and suddenly Pope pops back up and into the boat onto the ladder, holding up a drain plug and smirked. "Wow, you did it." JJ takes off his sunglasses and I do too, as well as the masks. He pulls away from me. "I'm so proud of you right now. Holy crap."

Pope climbs out of the water and onto the boat, dripping wet and I hand him a towel. "JJ? Stormy?" Pope whispered.

"Yeah?" JJ questioned.

"You guys can't tell anyone." Pope looks at us.

"Oh, no, yeah. Totally, dude." JJ nods his head.

"I promise I won't." I swore.

"No, I'm serious, guys." Pope stresses. "Not Kie, not John B, nobody."

"Yup, my lips are sealed!" JJ told him.

"Mine too," I grinned, feeling slightly better.

"Give me that," JJ had taken the drain plug and throws it away into the ocean. "Okay! Let's get out of here." JJ pulls me further into the boat, next to driver's seat. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his chest.

I watched as the Malibu sinks, Pope driving us away.

✫✫✫

"Hey! Save some waves for us!"

I was ecstatic when JJ invited me to go surfing with them. Kie and John B were already floating on the water. John B and Kie looked over at us, giving us a smile.

I had stripped down to my bikini, I wore a light green bikini suit. I held my surfboard and ran into the water.

Once I was deep enough, I laid on my tummy and swam to them. I sit up, grinning. "Hola people!"

"What happened to your face?!" Kie had gasped, staring at my face. "It's bruising up!"

I shrugged my face. "Ya know, sibling antics. Nothing to worry about. Now shall we get our surf on?"

We had spent probably at least an hour out on the waves. It felt good to finally surf with people that aren't Kooks.

I had stopped after a while, just floating on the water with my board. I was watching JJ surf; he was extremely good. And my god, his abs...

"Hey, Storm," I looked over at Kie who was on her board, grinning. "You're drooling."

My mouth dropped and I raised an eyebrow. "I'm drooling? Me drooling?" I flick some water over to her and she lets out a fake gasp as it reaches her, letting out a laugh.

"Oh, it's on!"

✫✫✫

"You really think its out there?" I sit on the hammock, cuddled up next to JJ as it was currently dark outside John B's house.  "Like, no bullshit?"

"My father thought it was." John B said, he was sitting on a deck chair, like Kie and Pope were.

"But do you?" Pope questioned.

The thunder rumbles over us and I snuggled further into JJ. JJ kept his arms wrapped around me; a blanket was on top of both of us.

"After hearing his voice on that tape... I think I do." John B admits.

"Only one way to find out." Pope had said and I could feel myself falling asleep as we drift back and forward on the hammock.

I had gotten a text and I squint at the bright light.

Sarah: Okay, where the hell are you? Haven't seen you all day.

I quickly typed back to her asking if she can cover for me. I know she's getting annoyed at me for always not being around. But I have to admit, I liked Pogue life better than Kook life. I have so much freedom.

I locked the screen and chucked it aside. I laid my hand back on JJ's abs; I had begun to trace the outside of them. He has a 6 pack.

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know?" Kie told us. "Even JJ believes."

"Oh, my God, JJ do you really believe?" John B teases him and I felt myself smile.

"Totally. Wait." JJ paused. "Are we talking about the 500 mil?"

"500 million." Pope and Kie had said, and I said right afterwards; half asleep. They laughed at me.

"Jinx." Kie quickly said afterwards.

"I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks." JJ had gotten comfortable and I rest my head on his chest, he re-shifted his arm around me. His thumb rubs up and down in small patterns on my arm which was insanely soothing. "Goodnight, bird!"

"Goodnight bird shit!" John B had called back, and I giggled, before falling asleep.

✫✫✫

The next day, we were up and early, sailing on Pope's Dad's boat down the channel. I stand in front of JJ as he drives. He rests his head on my shoulder, his hands on top of my now, on the steering wheel.

The other three were at the front of the boat, lounging around.

We followed the right coordinates and had slowed down once we were on top of the coordinates.

"All right, JJ, pin it here." John B had called out.

"Roger that! X marks the spot." JJ called and I giggled as we had completely stopped. "Thank you for driving, ma'am." JJ told me, grinning.

I turned my neck to face him, smiling also. "You're welcome." My eyes flickered to his lips, but I restrained myself from kissing him. 

"All right, ladies and gentleman," I snapped myself out of it when Pope had said that.

"To going full Kook." John B had said as he holds the drone in his hands. John B lowers the drone into the water. I smiled when it was working. Kie feeds the tow line into the water. Pope watches the drone's speed and manipulates the joystick, John B holds a tablet.

The screen displays a map with a boat shape with a large red dot. His father's map rests below his hand.

"All right, JJ, we're right over it. Ten seconds northwest." John B called.

"Got it, ten seconds Northwest." JJ responded, moving in that direction. JJ turns the starring wheel. I still stand in between him at the staring wheel, I was short, so I wasn't in the way of JJ's view.

"One hundred feet." Kie called out.

Pope had gasped and John B quickly looked over at the screen. "What, what, what, what?"

"It's nothing." Pope responded and I rolled my eyes. John B groaned. "Sorry, I thought—"

"Don't do that to me, man!" JJ had called from inside.

"My bad." Pope muttered. Pope continues to watch the drone. "And to quote the hobbit, 'down, down, to Goblin Town. Down, down, you go, my lad.'."

"What's up with Pope quoting stuff?" I asked softly to JJ, intertwining our fingers, my heart beating nervously.

"No clue, man." JJ responded, resting his chin on my head.

"Four hundred feet!" Kie called. JJ continued to spin the wheel a little. "The tide's turning."

John B regards the tablet. "Hey, JJ?"

"Yup?" JJ responded.

"Ten seconds easy," John B called. "South-southeast. All right?"

"Copy that!" JJ agreed, JJ turns the boat to the left. "JJ, 20 seconds mid-speed, all right? South."

"Copy that, aye, aye!" JJ nods. I watched nervously as storm clouds loom in the distance. JJ kept close to me. "No need to worry, beautiful, the storm's not coming yet."

My heart does twists and turns. Butterflies filling my stomach. He called me beautiful. "I'm not worried," I whispered.

"Keep the tether out of the prop!" JJ had yelled.

"I'm trying!" Kie called back.

"JJ, keep going!" John B encouraged.

JJ turned back around. "John B, is that good?"

"We're good!" John B had called back.

"Okay, 700 hundred feet!" Kie yelled. I flinched when the thunder rumbles and I could only imagine how Sarah must be feeling. I turned and faced JJ, looking up at him. He smiled lightly at me and tucks some of my strands of hair behind my ear.

"It's gonna be okay," JJ told me softly. "You scared of thunder?"

I shake my head. "No, but my twin is, and I can like sense her fear, it's weird."

"That's cute," JJ told me his hand cupping my jawline. The waves were rocking the boat and I bite my lip nervously.

"However, I have a fear of drowning," I admitted.

He pulled me into a small hug. "I won't let you drown, I promise."

I nodded, believing every word he's saying. I turned back around and looked up at the storm that was heading our way. There was lightning flashing in the sky now.

"JJ, hold it steady!" John B requested.

"Okay, 900!" Kie informed.

"JJ, we're gonna turtle into this storm, man." My eyes widen at Pope's words.

"920!" Kie yelled.

"Crank it northwest! Ten seconds!" John B called.

I slipped out from JJ and stood behind him. He's needs to be concertante at all costs. "John B, there's too much current!" Kie yelled. "We're gonna lose it!"

"South, southwest, JJ! Hard!" JJ turns the wheel, hard. "Half speed. Steady at this bearing, JJ!"

"Kiara!" Pope yelled over the thunder.

"960!" Kie informed. "970!" I walked over to the drone feed, there was absolutely nothing in the sea. "980!"

"I'm at the bottom!" Pope informed. "I'm at the bottom!"

"Okay, steady here, JJ." John B told JJ. "Steady here. Qaurter speed, all right?"

"We should be seeing something, right?" I questioned.

I gape; seeing what we've been hoping to see. "Good, god."

"See anything?" JJ had yelled.

"It's the Royal Merchant," John B had whispered. The Royal Merchant comes on the screen and I smiled widely. We had did it. We found it!

"We found it!" I had yelled, throwing my hands up in the air.

"We found it?" JJ questioned, excitement filled his voice and I ran over to him, grinning widely. "We found it?"

"We found it!" He wrapped his arms around me, twirling me around widely, and we all let out one big cheer.

We found the Royal Merchant.

A/N

I'm updating again coz I'm really loving this book. I'm one chapter away to finishing season 2!! Can't believe I've been working on this book for a week already and I'm already at season 2 basically. Lock down really helps, though.