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"Plot twist, everything's happening so quick

I only wanted a taste of your lips

Lips became your body, nights turning to naughty."

Plot Twist

Marc E. Bassy

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Chapter 3 - Tourist Trip

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"You better not have been at that ruckus that is now blowing up my radio." My aunt mumbles while lacing up her shoes before I could even get my key out of the door.

"You encouraged me to go make friends, a beach party seemed like a great idea." I defended, knowing the situation was not ideal for my first outing.

"Samantha." She says with a disapproving sigh.

"No one got hurt... to the point of hospitalization. And I stayed out of trouble." I tried to ease her.

"You kids live to make my life harder. Yesterday a dead body, today gunshots from a kid." She groans, "Any chance you can tell me to make it a little easier?"

I slouch my shoulders, and she already knows the answer, "Aunt, don't ask me to be a snitch."

"Just remember..."

"Yes, I know. Stay out of trouble, stay on the island." I rolled my eyes with a teasing smile. She sighed, never asking to be responsible for a 16-year-old and yet taking one under her wing when help was truly needed. I will forever be grateful for what she has done for me. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll see you in the morning. Get some sleep."

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"Y'all ready for a water party?" One of my aunt's deputy's shouted on a megaphone.

That made me regret the offer I received to see more of the island from the view of a boat. Avoiding it now would be rude and I don't need to raise any suspicions at the moment.

"All kiddin' aside, your job today is to keep privates out of my marsh so we can do our job and find this wreck." He announced to the locals. "Don't forget sunscreen ladies, lots of liquids."

Someone made a joke about drinking something other than water and he chuckled, "What I don't see I don't worry about! Now let's go!"

"Deputy." My aunt called out, bringing his attention to me. "This is niece, Sam, I figured an extra set of eyes might be nice."

"Well, why not? She can ride-along." He agreed.

"Great." She smiled at her coworker. I smiled too, trying to make the best out of this. My aunt said her goodbyes, and I hopped in the boat.

As I examined the boat two large men dressed in black long sleeve button-downs and jeans came up to the deputy shaking his hands. This heat was not the best for dark clothing like that, it seemed like I wasn't the only one out of place here.

"What can I do for you fellas?" He asked, looking between the two.

"We're associates of the owner just trying to help in any way we can." The first bearded man said.

"Devastated about Scooter. It makes me sick to think about it." The second followed up, "Mind if we join your armada? Take a look for ourselves?"

He hesitates for a moment, probably registering the same sketchiness about them that I was, "More help the better."

"We'll let you know if we find anything officer." They finished jumping into the boat and starting the engine.

"You do that." He eyed them for a second as they took off, before heading back to the boat.

He turned with a smile, "Ready, little lady?"

I nodded in response, still monitoring the two overdressed men sailing away.

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It got really boring about two hours into the trip and I was able to convince the officer into letting me drive the boat for a little entertainment. I had mindlessly driven to the marsh, carefully making my way through a low speed when the deputy pointed something out.

"Do you see that?" He questions, squinting into the sunset. I looked over to see a small boat, three people stood inside.

"These damn kids." He murmurs, "Can you drive over there?"

As we grew closer, I realized who the three people were. Kie, Pope, and JJ. Surprisingly, no John B. I pulled up slowly, and the deputy took over while I attempted to slump myself as far down in my seat so they couldn't see me hanging out with a cop. It wasn't exactly the best introduction. That's even worse than being a teacher's pet.

The cop cleared his throat, "What are you kids doing? You know the marsh is closed?"

"No." They chorused together, only making themselves more suspicious.

"Why is it closed?" JJ asked.

"Boat went down. See anything?" He asked, stepping onto their boat, not very subtlely looking around.

"No, no boats," Pope told him, shaking his head.

JJ was a decent liar but Pope, on the other hand, couldn't look him in the eye as he spoke.

"Where's your little friend you always hang out with?" The deputy questioned them, looking between the three of them.

Kie hesitantly spoke up with time, "He's working."

He nodded, not fully convinced, "Mhm, mind if I check your boat out?"

"Yeah sure, go ahead." Multiple voices agreed.

He walked around the boat, looking for the required number of lifejackets, asking where they were, basically innocent questions that gave him a chance to search for something illegal. . As they were talking, I was startled by a noise beside me. I peered over the boat, seeing bubbles arise from somewhere deep blow. Another round of bubbles followed shortly after.

Kie looked overseeing my curiosity over the side of the boat. First, she looked confused, but then she violently shook her head when the deputy wasn't looking. I put together where John B was.

"Um, deputy," I call out. And all three of the Pogues eyes shot up, worried for my next move. "I should probably get back before it gets too late. What if I caught a ride back with them so you can cover the rest of the marsh before nightfall?"

He stopped his skeptical searching, "Mhm. I suppose you could make sure these kids head straight home."

"Of course." I agreed.

She straddled the boat, helping me transfer to the other boat and heading to the wheel. "Stay out of trouble."

"Always." I smiled as he started the engine and pulled away.

Kie turned me around, hugging me when he got farther out of sight. "You just saved us."

"So where is the 'working' John B?" I asked, looking between all the pogues.

They all desperately looked over the side of the boat into the water where nothing appeared.

I couldn't see more than a foot down into the water, "How long has he been down there?"

"He's definitely out of air by now," Pope answers, causing shocks of worry to go through me.

JJ throws his arms up as bubbles flood the surface, "There he is!"

We all sigh in relief as he swims to the side of the boat.

"Did you find anything on the boat?" JJ asks excitedly.

He throws a black bag from under the water.

"Wait, the boat, like the boat?" I question.

"Yeah, keep up." JJ sassed, now acting butthurt from the last time we met.

Kie concerning looks at John B, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I ran out of air." He answers, pulling himself out with JJ's help.

While everyone was focused on the bag, John B pointed at me, "Did someone airdrop another female?"

"Long story." Pope answers. "She convinced the cops to get out of here so you could get air."

"Why were you with the cops?" He adds.

"Long story," I repeat.

I helped him get the scuba gear off as it tangled around him. "How did you guys find it?"

"We went out fishing yesterday and..." Pope explained before Kie called out to us.

"Guys, bogey, two o'clock." Kie notified us.

"Do you recognize that boat?" John B asked his friends

They all shake their heads in response. Maybe I should have stayed with the cop.