▶️ Down - Oceans Ahead

A F T E R M A T H

When the hurricane hit, I lost the ability to sleep. The loud winds howling at my window. Rain pelted on the house. I could hear trees breaking along with the booming of the thunder. Plus, my room was lighting up whenever lightening struck.

I glanced out my window to see tree branches and splintered wood scattered across the back yard. There was even wood drifting in the water. With a sigh, I quickly braided my hair to the side. The heat inside the house was already suffocating me. I threw on a bikini set and a pair of jean shorts and a crop top.

Grabbing my backpack, I slipped on some flip flops and exited my room. I went to the pantry and threw in some snacks, mostly the ones Papi brings from Mexíco. I made a quick note to my family to let them know my whereabouts and went outside to the pier.

I carefully avoided wood and loose shingles from the roof that laid on the ground. Not that far away, I spotted HMS Pogue flowing down towards my pier. The only people on board were JJ and John B.

"If you don't have the spicy goods then you are not allowed onto the boat." JJ informed me.

"As if I will ever go without them." I rolled my eyes and stopped at the end of the pier.

"Then permission granted to climb aboard." JJ sent me a large grin, holding out his hand.

"Only for the food." I grumbled, grabbing his hand and stepping into the boat.

"Someone's grouchy." John B notes, driving the boat away from my house. He reached over and pinched my cheek. "Did somebody not get enough sleep last night?"

"Shut up." I swatted his hand away.

"Aw, did little Nina not get her 8 hours of beauty sleep." JJ spoke in a high pitched voice.

"You two are annoying." I sat down on the edge of the boat.

"You're just saying that because we actually got our 8 hours of beauty sleep." John B teased.

"We slept right through that storm, baby." JJ smirked and shot me a wink.

"Stop winking. It looks like your eye is twitching." I huffed in annoyance.

"Please, you love it when I wink." JJ nudged me.

"Yeah, right." I released a snort.

"You do too, your face gets red." JJ pointed out. My face started to heat up. He poked my cheek. "Just like it's doing right now."

"It's because it's hot." I shoved him away.

"Because I'm here, right?" JJ stated wearing a shit eating grin.

"It's too early for this." I groaned out, sinking lower into my seat.

"You're telling me. Can you maybe turn down the flirting a notch or two?" John B stated as he drove the boat to the main ports.

"We're not flirting." JJ scoffed.

"I'm not, but you for sure are." I tilted my head to the side and smiled at him.

"Am not."

"Dear God!" John B groaned it. "It's not even noon yet."

"Okay. Okay, we'll shut up." I raised my hands in defense.

"So..." JJ trailed off. He stepped closer to John B and pointed towards the upcoming boats. "Start calling them type of boats that they appear to be starting now!"

"Meth lab." I quickly stated.

"What?" John B looked at me with furrowed brows.

"Yeah, I can see it." JJ slowly nodded with pursed lips.

"I feel like it's kind of a smugglers boat." John B told us. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing as I saw the owner of the boat make his way to the bow. The three of us awkwardly waved at him. "Uh...good mornin'!"

"Nice save." I giggled once we the owner was out of ear shot.

"Shut up."

"Sure hope Guffy's boat didn't sink. He doesn't have any insurance." JJ said.

"Yeah. Hi, Miss Amy! You guys get through it?" John B called out towards Miss Amy on the pier who was collecting trash.

"Still here!" She told us. "Nina, tell your mother I say hello."

"Will do Miss Amy." I sent her a nod and a smile.

"She totally looked at me." JJ loudly whispered towards John B.

"I saw it." John B agreed.

"She did not." I rolled my eyes.

"Did too. Couldn't keep her eyes off of all of this." JJ motioned to all of his body.

"Dude, look at this place." John B whistled out.

I stood up to see the water littered with trash and wood that the hurricane stirred up. Power lines were down. Some boats were even stuck on shore.

"Agatha, what did you do?" JJ shook his head.

"She is a crazy lady."

"We're just lucky it was only a category one. Imagine a category five?" I frowned.

"Hard-core dude. Hurricane surge." JJ commented.

"Yeah." John B looked at JJ and nodded.

"We're going to be cleaning this up all summer."

"It's going to be so much fun." I sarcastically pumped my fist in the air.

"That's is my nightmare." John B stated.

As we drew closer to Pope's place, I saw him sadly standing at the end of the dock. His dad probably has him cleaning up the wreckage at Heyward's.

"Well, look who we have here." JJ changed his voice before letting out a whoop.

"We have a safety meeting. Attendance mandatory." John B voice mimicked a walkie. He cupped his mouth and spoke into his shoulder as if he was actually talking into a radio. He even made the static sound after you finished talking.

"I can't. My pop's got me on lockdown." Pope informed us.

"He can't do anything to ya once you get in the boat." I smiled up at him.

"But he can when I get my ass back home, Nina." Pope gave me a look.

"Welp," I shrugged at looked at the boy, "can't say I didn't try."

"Come on, man."

"You're dad's a pussy. Over." JJ did the talkie thing as well.

"Don't be rude." I smacked his shoulder.

"Oh, I heard that, you little bastard." Mr. Heyward walked towards us with a broom in hand.

"We need your son." John B told him.

"Yeah, and island rules. Day after a hurricane's a free day." JJ held out his arms.

"Who the hell made that?" Heyward questioned.

"Uh...Pentagon, I think. We have security clearance. I have a card." JJ patted his short pockets.

"You're digging a hole for your grave." I nudged JJ to stop talking.

"Think I'm stupid?" Heyward narrowed his eyes at us.

"I'll do it tomorrow. I promise. Tomorrow." Pope told his dad.

"You think- no, no." Heyward shook his head at his son. "Hell no. You doin' it right now."

Pope looked at us for encouragement. I eagerly waved him over. JJ wrapped an arm around my shoulder and nodded in agreement.

"Get in the boat." John B whispered.

"Make a run for it, brother." JJ nodded towards Pope. "Make a run for it."

Pope gave his dad a pleading look. Heyward only responded with narrowed eyes. Pope started to jog towards the boat. I cheered him on.

"Boy, if you get in the boat-"

Pope cut off his father by jumping into the boat. I let out a laugh and patted Pope on the back. He looked at his father with worry.

"Go, go, go." Pope urged John B.

"Being your ass back here."

"I promise I'll do it tomorrow." Pope swore.

"I'll keep an eye on them, Mr. Heyward!" I gave him a thumbs up.

"That's not reassuring, Nina!" Heyward yelled. "You bring his ass back here right now."

"No can do, sir." I grimaced and shook my head.

JJ let out a cheer, throwing his hands up in triumph. Pope pressed his lips together and stared at his dad. John B sent Heyward a wave.

"You gonna be clean shrimp, clean fish-"

"Love you, Pops." Pope cut him off.

"Your ass is so in trouble when you get back." I laughed.

"You'll clean your dirty ass room!"

"We'll bring him back in one piece." John B promised. "I promise!"

"And I don't like your friends!" Heyward's voice faintly echoed as we drew further from him.

"He doesn't like me." I pouted, looking at Pope.

"No one can hate you." Pope rolled his eyes and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "It's like, physically impossible."

"The Kooks hate me." I perked a brow.

"Eh," JJ flicked his wrist," they don't count. They don't have souls."

"So, technically, the entire island loves you." John B reassured me.

"No, no, there was that one girl one of you was dating who hated my guts. Apparently, it's not normal to have guy friends." I rolled my eyes.

"It was that chick, Thea, remember? She was a tourist staying for the summer two years ago?" JJ snapped his fingers.

"Didn't she spread that rumor that you were gay and that's why you hanged out with us?" Pope asked.

"Yeah." I crossed my arms.

"Okay, but to be fair, I thought you were up until you drunk kissed JJ." John B stated. My mouth dropped in shock. He quickly raised a hand in defense. "Not that that would have mattered."

"To be completely honest, that was like the best drunk kiss I have ever had." JJ sent me a sly smile.

"Kiss? That was a complete make out for everyone to witness. I think I still have nightmares from that." Pope grimaced.

"Wonder how a non-drunk make out would feel like." JJ wiggled his eyebrows at me suggestively.

He walked over towards me with a large grin. I placed my hand on his chest and shook my head.

"In your dreams." I scoffed, pushing him away from me.

"Every night." JJ winked.

"Gross. You're disgusting." I stepped away from him, trying my best to fight off a blush.

"Please, you know you want this."

"I'd rather drown out at sea and be eaten by sharks."

"Ouch!" John B laughed.

"Want some ice for that burn, Jay?" Pope exchanges a hand shake with John B.

I rolled my eyes at their antics. Up ahead, Kie was making her way down the pier. She held a cooler. I sighed in relief. Finally, another girl on board.

"Oh, top o' the morning' to ya." JJ greeted Kie as the boat pulled up next to her.

"Good morning, boys. Nina." Kie smiled at us.

"Mornin'."

"Morning, sunshine." I waved at her.

"Watcha got? You got some juice boxes?" Pope asked.

"You know, just some yogurts and carrot sticks." Kie told us.

"What about my kind of juice boxes?" JJ held out a hand for her.

"Yeah." Kie grabbed JJ's hand and stepped into the boat.

"Brace for impact." John B joked.

"Pass the spicy goods, Nina." JJ opened and closed his fist, leaning towards me.

"Hold on." I scolded him, opening my bag up. "Candy or chips?"

"Surprise me." JJ beamed.

I reached into the bag and pulled out Palerinda lollipop. With a smile, I held it up for him to grab and twirled it in between my fingers. JJ quickly reached for it.

"You're the best." JJ quickly kissed my cheek before unwrapping the candy.

"Of course I am." I scoffed, pressing my lips together.

"Do you have that watermelon lollipop?" Kie asked as she opened the cooler.

"Got you." I grabbed the Rebanadita lollipop and handed it over.

"Here's your drink." Kie gave a bottle of beer.

"Pope, John B, what do you guys want?" I started to rummage through my bag, already guessing what they want.

Pope usually asks for chips, not really liking the candy. He mostly goes for Conchitas or Ruffles Queso. John B typically goes back and forth between Takis and Lucas Gusano.

"In the mood for those delicious Ruffles." Pope nodded towards me, taking a sip from his drink.

"Takis sounds really good right now." John B stated.

I gave them their chips. Kie finished handing out everyone's drinks. I opened a bag of Takis and popped one into my mouth.

"Salud." Kie raised her drink in the air.

"Sokoal." JJ copied her action.

It was a calm ride out into the marsh. We talked about the mess Agatha left behind for us to clean. Once we were further in the marsh, Pope switched with John B to drive.

"No, but really, imagine driving this boat all the way to Mexíco. The five of us. No parents. No rules. Just a whole lot of fun." I told them.

"Nina can be our translator." John B pointed at me with his beer.

"We can surf, fish, and live off of everything we catch." JJ added.

"The life, man, the life." Pope grinned.

"How can we afford to live there?" Kie asked.

"Sell what we catch." I shrugged.

"Or we can join the Mexican circus." John B thought out loud.

"Sounds like a plan." I raised my bottle.

"Hey. Bet you can't do this." JJ started. Kie laughed as the boys clinked their glasses. "Tell the world, right. Let me show you a party trick."

"Terrifying." Kie commented as JJ walked to the front of the boat.

"Hey, Pope. Can you go a little faster?" JJ called out.

"God, here we go." Pope muttered, picking up the speed. "I'm movin'"

"It doesn't work." John B told JJ.

"I got this!" JJ waved him off.

"We've tried this like 6,000 times."

"JJ, be careful. We don't need a trip to the hospital." I warned him.

"I got this. It's gonna work!" JJ stood at the edge of the boat.

He raised his bottle above his mouth. Kie let out a giggle. The moving of the boat allowed the beer to pour out of the bottle in the direction of JJ's mouth. However, it was completely missing the intended area. It was hitting Kie and I instead.

"Stop!" I laughed, wiping away the beer from my face and hair.

"You're getting beer in my hair!" Kie complained.

"Alright." Pope held up a hand to try and block the beer from hitting him in the face. "Alright!"

"Alright, you're done." John B told JJ.

"Alright, stop!" Pope continued.

"JJ!"

"You're going to hurt yourself." I called out.

The boat lurched as it hit something. My back hit the edge of the boat before I was thrown forward towards the ground. I let out a groan as my skin stung from the impact.

"Jesus, Pope!" Kie looked at him with wide eyes.

Everyone let out groans. My eyes widened at the thought of JJ. Worry flooded through my veins. I stood up on my knees to peer over the boatand saw him surface through the water. He managed to float on his back, spitting out water.

"You okay, JJ?" John B questioned from his spot on the ground.

"I think my heels touched the back of my head." JJ groaned out.

"Idiot." I breathed out, worry fleeing from my body.

"Kie, Nina, you girls okay?" John B check on us.

"I'm all right." Kie answered as John B stood up.

"I'm going to be sore." I whined, grasping onto the edge of the boat to ease myself up.

"Pope," JJ started to swim toward us, "what did you do?"

"Sandbar." Pope breathed out. "The channel changed."

"No shit." JJ neared the boat.

"Uh, this is probably gonna mess this whole place up." Pope stepped up to look at the sandbar.

"Hey, I saved the beer, though." JJ stated.

"Congrats, JJ." John B let out a sigh.

"You better not drink that." I scrunched my nose at the thought.

"You know what..." JJ started.

"Guys..."

"I will just to bother you." JJ raised the bottle towards his mouth.

"Gross, JJ! Don't drink that!" I shook my head.

"I think there's a boat down there." Pope informed us.

"Shut up." John B squinted at him.

"No way." Kie denied.

"What?" JJ pulled them bottle of beer away from his mouth.

"Where?" I stepped closer to Pope.

"No, no, guys. I'm serious. There's like a boat down there. For real." Pope pointed close to the sandbar. We all looked to where Pope pointed. My eyes widened at the sight of a sunken boat. "It's a boat!"

"Holy shit, he's right. Let's go." Kie started to strip off her shorts, leaving her bathing suit on.

"You think there's a dead body down there?" Pope questioned.

I quickly followed suit. John B and Pope started to do the same thing. John B was the first to dive in. Discarding my clothes on the floor, I stepped onto the ledge and dove into the water. I resurfaced, pushing back stray hairs from my face.

"Guys!" Pope called out. "Wait up!"

"Whoo!" Kie cheered as she jumped into the water.

"Get your ass in here, Pope!" JJ said.

"Come on!"

Pope did a cannonball into the water. I laughed at his sad attempt, wiping salt water from my face before it could reach my eyes. We all exchanged looks before going under. I swam down to the boat, reaching out in front of me and pulling myself deeper into the water while I kicked my feet.

We met at the bottom where the boat was. I grasped into the metal railing, looking around to see if there was a person or something significant. When we saw nothing, we quickly swam back up. I broke the surface, taking in a gasp of air.

"You guys saw that right?" JJ questioned us.

"Yeah." Pope agreed.

"Yeah, I did." Kie chuckled out.

"Yeah. What the..." John B broke into a laugh, the rest of the boys following after.

"This is crazy." I shook my head with a smile.

"That's a Grady White." JJ informed us. "A new one of those is like 500 Gs, easy."

We swam back to the boat. I grasped the ledge and pulled myself up. The boat swayed as the five of us climbed up at the same time. I swung a leg onto the boat before I placed both of my feet inside.

"Okay!"

"That's a primo rig." JJ looked at John B.

"Yeah. That's the boat I saw when I surfed the surge." John B said in a daze. He glanced at the boys. "Maybe it hit the jetty or something."

"What?" I snapped my head towards him.

"Your surfed the surge?" Kie looked at John B in dismay.

"Yeah." John B nodded.

"You said you weren't going to do anything stupid." I shook my head in his direction.

"That's my boy. Pogue style." JJ cheered John B on, slapping his hand.

"Wait, wait." Pope went toward the guys. "Do we know whose boat that is?"

"I don't." I bit my lip. "It could be a tourist. Everyone in the island knows better than to ride during a hurricane."

"No." John B answered Pope. Kie and I walked closer to them. He opened the hatch and looked up at us. "But we're about to find out."

"Dude, it's too deep." JJ told him.

"JJ's right. That's dangerous, John B." I exchanged a worried look with JJ.

"Oh, for the weak and feeble, you guys." John B pulled out the anchor.

"Well, I'm not resuscitating you. I'm just making that clear up front." JJ started.

"That's fine." John B walked towards the ledge of the boat.

"John B." Kie called him.

"What?" John B glanced at her, gripping the anchor near his chest.

"John B, don't be an idiot." I warned him fear clawing at my chest.

"I thought I was one." He raised a brow at me with a smirk.

"Diver down, fool." Pope saluted him.

"Diver down." John B breathed out, saluting him back.

"Yeah, he is." JJ shoved him off the boat.

"JJ!" I shrieked, rushing towards the edge to see John B fall into the water.

"What?" He chuckled.

"That was dangerous! He's carrying a freaking anchor against his chest!" I smacked his arm with tears building in my eyes.

"Ow! Okay, okay!" JJ grasped my wrist. He frowned when he saw my eyes look with tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't think about it like that."

"It's okay." I nodded, pulling my wrist away from him to wipe away any evidence of my tearing up. "Just please be careful."

"I will. Promise." JJ gave me a nod.

I bit my lip and hugged my body. Kie placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sure he's fine. It's John B." She gave me a soft smile.

"Yeah." I nodded, keeping my eyes focused on the water.

"How long has he been down there now?" Pope stepped closer to the edge of the boat.

"Pope." Kie gave him a look.

"He's fine." JJ walker over to me and pulled me into a hug. "He's going to come up anytime soon."

I wrapped my arms around him and placed my chin on his shoulder. JJ ribbed soothing circles into my back to calm me down.

"He should be back up by now." Kie inched closer to the edge of the boat.

I separated from JJ and grasped the ledge. The four of us were now staring at the water for our friend. JJ was mumbling under his breath.

"Should we go get him?" Pope questioned.

Suddenly, John B resurfaced. Relief fell upon me. The heavy weight I didn't know I held on my shoulders disappeared. John B coughed, pushing his hair back from his face.

"Oh my God, that took forever." Kie told him.

"Ah, jeez. Any dead bodies?" Pope called out.

"Can you stop with the dead bodies thing?" I quirked a brow at him.

"Looting potential?" JJ fidgeted from excitement.

"No. No." John B swam toward us. He held up a key. "I found this motel key."

"A key?" Pope restated.

"All that and almost giving me a heart attack for a stupid motel key?" I scoffed.

"Yes, a key." John B swam to us.

"Great!" Pope sarcastically cheered. "We salvaged a motel key."

John B managed to pull himself up onto the boat. Pope went to start the boat back up. I walked over to John B and pulled him into a hug.

"You're a big idiot, you know that?" I playfully punched his arm. "Don't scare me like that."

"Sorry, Mom." John B joked.

I rolled my eyes at him. Pope started to drive the boat out of the marsh.

"Guys, we should report the wreck to the coast guard." Kie said. "Maybe we'll get a finder's fee."

"She's right." I nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, and not work all summer." JJ commented. "Thanks, Agatha, ya bitch."

Super long chapter but I had to fit the finding of the boat in here.

What do you guys think of this story so far?