______________________________________

"I'd like to remind you, the winner of the auction..."

"Listen up. Here's the plan." Pope whispers to the teens, "We go up in one-dollar increments, all right? It's gonna take a while, but we're gonna need to save every cent for construction."

"Pope's on point, JJ. Got it?" Estrella says sternly

"Mm." The boy hums as he scratches his head, "All right."

"Don't change the plan." Pope says

"...it is the foreclosure sale of 14 Rogers Point Road. Now, this is the old Maybank place." The man says, "Now, the bank has an opening bid of $80,000."

"Here we go." Pope says

"Looking for 81. I've got $80,000 going once."

"$80,000 and one dollar." Pope calls out

"Okay. One dollar more at $80,000, one dollar..."

"$80,500." A man yells out from the crowd

"$80,500. Right here at $80,500."

"It's okay." Estrella says turning to JJ, "Pope's got it."

"$80,500. $80,500 is going once..."

"$100K flat out. Right here." JJ yells before Pope can call out another number. Estrella's eyes go wide as the others teens turn to him.

"$100,000 right here to the gentleman in red..."

"Hey, what are you doing?" Pope whispers harshly

"Just a knockout punch. Knockout punch and we're a wrap." JJ shrugs

"That's not the plan. That's not the plan."

"I got the shit done."

"I've got 100,000 dollars right here, is going once, $100,000 is going twice..." The man starts

"$150K." A man says

"$150,000 from Mr. Zeasy. Good to see you, Dale at 150."

"Good to see you, Rog. Just give me a minute here, would ya?" He says before walking over to the teens, "You know, uh, The Cut's gonna be Figure 8 in a few years. You walk away now, you won't have to scurry off with your tail between your legs, and I'll, uh, give you a little taste on the back end."

Estrella immediately becomes annoyed as she stares back at the man. JJ turns to him, "Dale, was it?"

"That's correct."

"It's not happening, hoss." JJ says shaking his head and cracking his fingers, "Let's play ball."

"150 bidder with 200, I've got 200..."

•••

"I've got $775,000 bid..."

"This is way over our price range." Pope says

"Will you make him stop, please?" Sarah points

"Get him out of here."

John B steps in front of JJ, "Hey. Please. It's too much."

"Just let me handle this. I've got it." JJ says before raising his hand, "$775,010, right here, sir."

"$775,010 to the gentleman in red."

"Oh my God!" Pope exclaims

"That's too rich for my blood, Rog." Dale says

"775,010 bidder looking for 8." The man says, "That's 775,010 is going once...going twice, last and final call,sold right here to the gentleman in red. Congratulations."

"Can you believe they paid that much? Those guys got fleeced." A man says

JJ holds his hand out as Dale nods, "The most expensive property in The Cut, and it's not worth it."

"Well, it is to us, sir." JJ says shaking his hand, "If you can scurry to your side of the island, and stay there, that'd be appreciated." JJ then turns to his friends, "I get shit done. We got it. That's all that matters. Whoo! All right."

Estrella looks the man up and down before rolling her eyes and following JJ over to the man hosting the auction.

•••

JJ walks onto the porch and rips the yellow tape off of the door. He turns to them as he tears it up, "Ladies and gentlemen, I christen thee Poguelandia 2.0."

John B follows him as he stands by the door. JJ turns to him, "Let's turn this piece of shit into our home."

"Let's do it." John B smiles

"We're home, y'all." JJ says, "Welcome to the palace."

"Uh, what's the Wi-Fi password?" Cleo jokes as they walk in

______________________________________

"We're gonna have to do this Pogue-style." Pope says, "That means DIY, scavenge, whatever materials we can find."

"Look, we might have paid a little bit over on the dirt, but it's some of the best dirt, okay?" JJ says as they walk over to an old house, "And we'll make it up in construction. Because these boards right here, if we plane them, they're gonna be as good as new."

"These are rotten as shit, man." Pope says looking the wood over

"They're free as shit as well." JJ nods

Cleo takes a piece of wood off, "Look, not all rotten."

"All right. Yeah. Thank you, Cleo." JJ says using his crowbar to take another piece off

Estrella helps Pope take down the piece, "Okay, Jay. You're right, this might work."

•••

Sarah, Charlotte, Pope, and Cleo walk into an old pharmacy noticing there was a liquidation sale. As they enter an older man smiles at them and greets them before they split up to look for anything they can use.

"What about this old cooler?" Sarah says

"If you can haul it off, you can have it." The man says

"Really?" Charlotte says

"Things are getting harder on this island. Gonna need all the help you can get." He says

"Are you sure there's nothing we can give you for it?"

"Please, it's my contribution to your little venture."

"Score?" Cleo smiles

"Score." Sarah cheers quietly before the girls begin to push it out of the store

"Thank you." Pope says

"Thank you." The man nods

"This way." Charlotte says

"Just be careful with it." The man says as the girl mumble to each other to find the best way to get the cooler out.

"We'll take good care." Pope says discreetly placing a hundred dollar bill under a knick-knack on the counter, "Thank you."

"You got it." The man says as Pope starts to help the girls, "Have a good one."

•••

Estrella looks around the boat while JJ and Pope look through the scraps sitting on the table. Pope picks up a part before turning to JJ, "Could do something with this."

"I think you only know what to do with that." JJ says

"Ooh, sails." Estrella says holding it out in front of her

"No way." Pope exclaims catching JJ and Estrella's attention, "Yo! Check it out. It's coming with us."

"Yep." JJ says as they uncover a huge shark prop

"I dunno where we're gonna put it, but we need it." Estrella chuckles

"You good? You got it?" Pope asks as they pick it up

"I got it." JJ says, "Watch the fin. Watch the fin."

•••

"Hey! Over there! Let it go!" Cleo yells, "Let it go! Hey! Yo!"

"I'm by no means an expert, but..." Kie starts

"That shit don't look right." John B says shaking his head

"...that shit does not look right." Kie repeats, "How much weed did he smoke?"

"You didn't think to maybe give it to him after?" Sarah says

"Maybe like a reward system?" Estrella says

"He was gonna be baking either way. You can't stop Curry from shooting." JJ says before turning to the man they hired, "Yo, Buff. Get it together, bro!"

"Hey! This man's an idiot." Cleo yells, "Hey! Hey, man! Hey! Let it go! Let it go!"

"Help!" The man yells

"Buff! Come on, get it together. Get out!" JJ yells as he runs out to him

•••

"I need some more nails." Kie says as they all work together on setting up the dock

"Sweet." JJ says

"We do."

"You got the other end?"

"Yeah, I got the back..." John B says as Sarah makes sure a board is secure

"Working on a cramp. Working on a cramp."

"Super story."

"We're cramping." JJ says, "All right, you got the other end?"

"No, dude. Do that again." Pope says

"Why?"

"Because it's not right, okay?"

"It's fine."

"It's not... It can't just be fine." Pope says walking over

"Pope, it's fine." JJ says

"It's a dock. This isn't just like a school project, man." Pope says, "This is our dock, right? Our dream."

"Yeah. Yeah. It is."

"So it should be perfect." Pope says as he starts over

"You know what the key is here? You've just gotta make it a little janky and he does it for you." JJ says putting his hands on JJ's shoulders, "I love you, Pope."

"Sorry, I want my dock to be safe."

"I feel safe. I feel... I feel so safe." John B says making Estrella giggle at the old joke

______________________________________

After weeks of working to put the building together and make sure they had everything they needed to start the bait shop, they only had a few more days before everything would be done. They had worked all day and were finally calling it a night. Everyone had gone off to bed while Estrella decided she'd sit out on the dock. Her mind far from wanting to rest.

The girl turns at the sound of footsteps approaching and smiles realizing it was JJ. He grins at her as he approaches, "What are you doing out here by yourself?"

"Thinking." She says as he sits beside her

"Thinking?"

"Yeah."

"About what?"

"Everything." She shrugs, "I can't believe we were actually able to pull this off."

"Yeah." He says looking around them, "We did do pretty fucking good."

"Yeah." Estrella laughs. As her laughter dies down, Estrella turns to him to find his eyes already on her, "What?"

"Nothing."

"No, it's something." Estrella says, "Whether you know it or not, your face says everything you don't. Even if you don't want to."

JJ smiles softly before clearing his throat, "I actually wanted to ask you about something."

"Okay." Estrella nods

JJ lets out a deep breath as Estrella looks over at him. Suddenly feeling the nerves taking over. JJ nods to himself, "Alright, um.."

Estrella's brows raise playfully. JJ runs his fingers through his hair, "I wanted to ask you about.. us."

"Us?" Estrella repeats

"Yeah." JJ says, "I mean, I know Kie and Charlotte are together now. And Pope and Cleo. So, I just wanted to know about us."

"What about us?"

JJ sighs as he looks out to the water. Estrella bites her lip to contain her laugh. She knew what JJ wanted to know, but she wanted him to say it. She wanted JJ to be the vulnerable one for once.

"You know, like.." JJ says looking over at Estrella before sighing, "Come on, Star. You know what I'm trying to say."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Estrella chuckles

JJ sighs, "You're really gonna make me say it?"

"Unless you want me to pull it out of thin air, I don't know what you're talking about."

JJ's eyes narrow as she looks up at him. A mischievous glint lingered in her eyes and JJ knew then what she was doing.

"Alright, then." He nods, "Estrella, you and I have been through so fucking much and I truly don't understand how you forgave me for what I did to you. Or how you even deal with me on a daily basis, but I can't imagine my life without you. You don't get how much you mean to me and the kind of effect you have on me."

Estrella's heart races as JJ stares deeply into her eyes, "I love you. And I don't wanna imagine going on about my life without you."

"Jay-"

JJ cuts her off with a soft kiss. Estrella gasps as JJ cups her cheek. His head leaning to the side to deepen the kiss. Estrella lets out a small sigh as JJ pulls away. His eyes searching hers, "I want you. You're all I've ever wanted, Star. Will you please be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." Estrella says almost entranced. She blinks when she hears JJ chuckle. She shakes her head as she stands up, "I hate you."

JJ stands up and quickly grabs her arm pulling her into him. Her hands landing on his arms while he wraps one arm around her waist. His other hand comes up and cups her cheek as he smiles softly, "No, you don't."

JJ's eyes flicker down to her lips as she smiles. His eyes coming back up as she nods, "I love you."

JJ's smile widens as he leans down and kisses her. Estrella's shoulders relax as she melts into the kiss. Her arms coming up and circling around his neck. She pulls away with a smile.

"So, it's us now, right?"

JJ nods, "It's always been us."

Estrella bites her lip as her smile widens, "Always."

When JJ leans down again, Estrella gasps, "What-"

"Wait!" She exclaims as she pulls away and rushes into the shop. JJ's brows furrow as she rushes back over.

"What is that?"

"It's a camcorder." She beams as she turns it on, "I found it when we were at the salvage yard. Pope helped me figure out how to use it."

She stands in front of JJ as she presses record and turns the camera towards them, "It is- I don't even know what day it is anymore," She laughs, "but today is the day that JJ finally asked me to be his girlfriend." She then steps away and turns the camera toward him, "How do you feel?"

"Are you serious?" He chuckles

"Yes." She giggles

"I feel great." He smiles. Estrella hadn't even noticed that he wasn't looking at the camera, but at her, "I finally got my girl."

Estrella's smile widens as she points the camera to herself and lifts it above her head, "Took him long enough."

JJ then reaches forward and lifts her. Estrella squeals as he places her on his shoulder. Their laughter echoing before she stops the recording.

______________________________________