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Estrella smiles wide as she pulls away from Big John. The man smiles down at her before turning toward JJ, "JJ, come on, come on."

The man begins play fighting with him before Pope jumps in. The girls laugh at them as Big John tries to keep up.

•••

"Yeah, yeah, so we, um... we went to the archives in Charleston, and, uh..." John B pauses, "it was... it was a dead end. A dry hole. So..."

"So that's the gold, the cross, and now El Dorado." Pope says before he scoffs, "We're three-for-three, guys. The streak continues. That's great."

"See you, John B." Kie says before she walks off

JJ and Estrella look toward each other before JJ sighs, "I'm going fishing. Thanks for the beer."

He walks off just as Estrella stands up. She rubs her hands on her pants, "I'll see you guys."

She smiles toward John B and Sarah before leaving like the others.

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Upon hearing the bad news about the archives, Estrella decided she'd work on some surfboards. While some of her supplies were at John B's, she had to go back home to get an extra surfboard.

She unlocked the door to her shed before pushing the door open. She planned to be in and out seeing as she had no idea when her mom would be back. She had been looking around for a specific set of brushes for a few minutes before she sighed, "Where the hell is it?"

"Estrella?" The girl jumps as she turns around. Her heart races as she stares back at her mother. The woman's eyes go wide as she sighs, "Oh my god, Estrella."

"I-" She stammers

"Oh my god, you're alive."  Pamela cries stepping closer. Estrella takes a step back shocking the woman, "Estrella?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" She stammers, "I was just trying to grab some stuff to paint and then I'll leave."

"No, no, no." Pamela says, "Don't leave."

"What?" Estrella mumbles

Pamela takes a few steps closer before reaching out and placing her hand on Estrella's cheek. Estrella's brows furrow as the woman smiles, "I'm so happy you're alive."

Estrella's frown deepens when her mom pulls her into a hug. She feels Pamela let out a deep sigh before she pulls away. She cups her daughter's cheeks, "I'm so happy to see you."

"You're happy to see me?"

"Of course, I am, mija." Pamela chuckles

"The last time you saw me you told me you never wanted to see me again." Estrella says removing her mother's hands from her face.

Pamela sighs, "I didn't mean that-"

"My stuff was packed in bags and tossed outside."

"I was angry, Estrella." Pamela says, "Can you blame me? You were constantly going against what I was telling you to help those kids."

"They're my friends." Estrella says, "They were the only thing keeping me alive and safe while I was stranded. They're my family."

"I'm your mother." Pamela says

"Mothers don't leave their daughters to figure out their lives at 16." She says swallowing back tears. Estrella looks at her mother, "I just needed you to believe me, Mom."

"I'm sorry." Pamela says, "You're right. I should've believed you, Estrella. You're my daughter and I failed you. I'm so sorry."

Estrella's brows crease as she lets the tears fall down her cheeks. As much as she didn't want to forgive her mother, she was still a teenage girl. She was only 16 and she needed her mom. In all actuality, she'd always need her mom.

"I know it may take a while to work through it, but I do want to work through it, sweetie." Pamela says, "I want us to be okay again."

"I do, too." Estrella sniffles

Pamela smiles, "We can work on it."

Estrella nods as Pamela pulls her into another hug. This time, Estrella accepts it. Wrapping her arms around her mother.

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"You did what?" Cleo exclaims

"Quit school." Pope says as he sweeps the dock

"What about your scholarship?" Charlotte frowns

"I lost it." Pope says, "I lost all my old classes. I'll be lucky if I even passed the grade. My transcript is ass. Everything I had going for me, gone. And do you know why I'm screwed?
Because I tried to do the right thing. I tried to help John B with his treasure, to get my family's inheritance back, and you know what I got for it? Kicked in the dirt. It's over. I'm done."

"Pope!" JJ yells running down the dock

"Pope, it's not like you can just give up like that." Charlotte says

"Yo! Bombshell." JJ pants. He looks at the three, "What's going on? What happened? Detecting a real heavy vibe. What's going on?"

"Pope's quitting school." Cleo says

"Being a coroner's kind of weird anyway."

"Shut up, wrench dick." Pope says

"Right, great. So it's definitely not the time for this." JJ pants, "Okay, shit."

"What?" Charlotte asks

"So I was down at Guffy's, all right. I was trying to get my job back. And I see the catty
across the way, and on it..." JJ breathes, "is Rafe and Barry. I sneak over to hear what they're talking about. Pope, he has the cross. And he melted it down."

Pope stands as Charlotte's face drops. JJ breathes heavily, "I'm sorry, bro. All right. I know. I know."

"Fuck!" Pope yells, "Of course, it was Rafe."

"Yeah, I mean, we probably could've guessed that."

"The Cross of Santo Domingo, desecrated!" Pope says, "For money? God!"

"I know, so... I think we need to stay calm to make a plan, but we got to stay-" JJ's cut off by Pope taking a broom and slamming it down breaking it, "Getting better at that."

Pope tosses it to the side, "This is messed up, man. Even for them."

"I know. Couldn't agree more, man."

"They're just gonna keep getting away with it." Pope rambles, "They're gonna keep doing that shit. Gonna keep winning."

"I mean, Pope, is that news to you?"

"No. But I'm sick of being the good guy." He says before walking off

"Pope." Charlotte calls out as she stands

"Pope, where are you going?" Cleo tries, but the boy was already gone

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About an hour later, Mrs. Heyward had come out to start dinner. JJ, Cleo, and Charlotte stayed to help her prepare and hopefully be there when Pope came back.

"Well, I appreciate the help, you three." She says

"I ain't missing Mrs. Heyward's cooking." JJ says

"Unlike my derelict son. He's usually here by now."

"I'm sure he'll be back any second, Mrs. Heyward." Charlotte says as Mrs. Heyward smacks JJ's hand away from the food. Heyward walks out of the shop.

"Either one of y'all moved the pistol from in there? The one I keep under the register?" He says as the three teens look to each other, "JJ?"

"Whoa, okay. I didn't touch it. Okay?" He says holding his hands up in surrender

"Yeah, well, somebody did. 'Cause it's gone."

"Wasn't me."

"You see? I... Dang it. I gotta find it." Heyward says storming back into the shop

"All right, I'm sure it's somewhere. Heyward, I'm sure it's somewhere." Mrs. Heyward says following him

"It's him." Cleo says

"Yeah, he's going after Rafe." JJ says, "I'll check Tannyhill."

"We'll take the marina." Cleo says before all three teens rush off

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Estrella breathes heavily as she runs down the dock at the marina. After getting a call from Charlotte explaining what Rafe did and how Pope reacted, she wasted no time in getting there. She looks around before making quick steps when she sees Charlotte and Cleo.

"Where is he?" She pants

"Over there." Charlotte points. Estrella turns and spots Pope sitting with his back to them. Rafe's boat a few feet away in the water, "We figured we'd let you talk to him since he was able to help you."

Estrella turns back to the girls. Both of them giving her a small smile.

"I'll be right back." She says. The girls nod to her before she makes her way down the dock to Pope. As she gets closer, Pope lifts the gun up and cocks it.

She takes a deep breaths before stopping a few feet away from him, "Are you sure you want to do that? It'll feel good. Especially after everything he's done to us, but only for a second."

"I don't care." He mutters

"Care about your mom and your dad." She says taking slow steps closer, "What would they think?"

She watches as a tear falls down his cheek, "I think they would understand how I feel. For once, he would lose like we always do. It doesn't matter anyway. I've lost everything."

Estrella squats down beside him, "You have your family. And a home. And friends that would take a bullet for you. And you know you have me." She says, "You have a lot to lose before you have nothing."

Pope breathes heavily as more tears begin to fall. Estrella places her hands on his shoulders, "A few months ago, you stopped me from doing something that I know I was going to regret. Even if I didn't think so then. Let me help you." She says as a tear falls down her cheek, "Just let it go."

Pope lets out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding when Estrella pushes his hand down. He slowly lets go of the gun, placing it in her hands. She looks down for a second to put the safety on before setting it down on the dock.

She turns her attention back to Pope as he starts to sob. He holds his head in his hands before turning to Estrella, "Just breathe. Let it out."

Pope cries harder as she pulls him to her chest. His head rests on her shoulder as she holds him tighter, "I got you. You're gonna be okay."

"I'm so sorry." Pope cries

"No, stop. It's okay." Estrella whispers, "Everything's okay."

"I can't-."

"I know." Estrella says rubbing his shoulder, "But I'm right here. I'll always be here for you. I'm not going anywhere."

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