𝟎𝟖𝟏.                           𝐩𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝟐.𝟎

walking on sunshine ──── katrina & the waves

☀︎ 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

𝖶𝖧𝖨𝖫𝖤 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖲 𝖨𝖲 𝖬𝖸 𝖲𝖳𝖮𝖱𝖸 𝖠𝖲 𝖸𝖮𝖴 𝖠𝖫𝖫 𝖪𝖭𝖮𝖶 𝖡𝖸 𝖭𝖮𝖶， 𝖨 𝖪𝖭𝖮𝖶 𝖸𝖮𝖴'𝖵𝖤 𝖬𝖨𝖲𝖲𝖤𝖣 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖢𝖧𝖠𝖱𝖬𝖨𝖭𝖦 𝖬𝖮𝖭𝖮𝖫𝖮𝖦𝖴𝖤𝖲 𝖬𝖸 𝖡𝖱𝖮𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖱 𝖦𝖨𝖵𝖤𝖲．So, in honour of this new beginning in our story── a new act, if you will── please welcome back John B and his constant need to interrupt my story.

So, you might be wondering what happens after you find the lost city of El Dorado, get blown up, two of your parents die, and you're stranded in South America with a sack full of gold. Well, let me catch you up.

And by me, I really do mean me── B. Routledge. I don't want him interrupting anymore.

After all, this story is about me.

First, we had to catch a ride back home from South America. I swear, on that journey back, I slept for, like, three weeks with JJ acting as my pillow. We're all now extremely well rested, maybe too well rested.

While our journey back to OBX was peaceful enough, our imminent arrival on the island was difficult to say the least. Other than me, John B and JJ, each of our friends had to make peace with their families, and let's just say that we were not welcomed back by all, more specifically Kiara's parents and Sarah's stepmother.

The Heyward's, unsurprisingly, were thrilled to see Pope and Cleo alive and well, even more chuffed to see all of us together. Their kindness and welcoming behaviour instantly made me feel better about my lack of home. Upon arriving back on the island, I remembered quickly that I didn't exactly have a home nor a parent to come back to.

Kiara's parents didn't like seeing us, especially JJ and I as they knew we were the ones to help Kiara escape the psycho wilderness camp. Regardless of that fact, they did welcome Emory back with open-ish arms as she didn't go back to her parents, so I didn't have the displeasure of being introduced to Emory's family, none of us did. I guess I hadn't expected her to actually go home when they were the ones to kick her out, but it would be nice to meet the bastards.

As well as Mike and Anna's disdain towards us, Rose Cameron has a grudge against her stepdaughter and is insistent on keeping Sarah from seeing her sister because she believes Sarah was the one behind Ward's death.

I can talk about family drama till I lose my voice, but let me focus on something a little happier because I think we deserve that, don't we? After all the loose ends were semi-tied up with said families, the gold was the only thing on our minds.

Pelican Gold Trust is where we went to have the gold examined and translated into real money. Sitting there, watching as the scary men in suits looked at each heavy ingot of gold to test its worth had my anxiety through the roof. I'd never been so nervous in all of my life, waiting and anticipating the worst. I genuinely feared that the gold wouldn't be real and that our journey to South America had been a waste, but all my worries and anxieties were washed away the moment the gold was transferred to money.

More specially, the money was translated into one point one million, seventy-two thousand, five hundred and forty-nine dollars.

The moment the number was relayed back to us, my eyes found JJ's instantaneously because this is what we were waiting for. Looking at one another, there was quite literally only one thing we both wanted to do, and that was to run away. I could see it in his eyes, the desperation and temptation to take for the seas and run with a truckload of money stashed away. Well, a boatload of money, if you will.

Alas, we're yet to run away as taking off in such a way would not be tolerated by our friends who deserve the money just as much as we do.

Instead of taking for the seas, we're gathered as a group of eight, beginning to devise a suitable plan on what we should do with our one point one million. Gosh, it feels incredible to think that such a large amount is ours after all this time.

"It's not like we can all go off and buy houses or anything," Pope says, cutting into our friendly bickering over how we should spend the money. While I'd love to just buy a house and kickstart the future I long to have with the boy I love, I know what Pope is saying is true. We can't just go and do stupid things like that, not when we need to still be practical and safe as that much money can disappear in a blink of an eye if we're not careful.

"I mean, split between all of us, that's about one-hundred and forty-six thousand," Pope tells, doing the math in his head flawlessly. Even split, that amount of money for each of us to possess is incredible. It's insane to me.

Emory holds her hands up. "Hey. I'm not taking anybody's money." She's saying that as she's only just been introduced to everyone. She spent the entire journey back to OBX insisting that she wouldn't take a dime of our cash. However, what she continued to ignore was that the cash is also hers now. Sure, most of us have been here since the beginning of this gold search, but that doesn't make her less than us.

Also, without her, we may have never gotten Kiara back, so she deserves just as much as we do, and one day, she'll eventually realise that.

She's a Pogue now, she's gotta understand that.

Kiara places a hand on her arm, the relationship between the two girls still a little confusing to me as neither of them have explicitly stated anything. Although, based off common sense, there's absolutely something going on between them. Whether it be a relationship or not, there's feeling behind their exchanges. "It's just as much your money as it is ours," Kiara tells her, her tone soft.

I raise my drink, nodding my head to the girl who I think is starting to warm up to me. "Preach."

"We owe Barracuda Mike too," John B adds.

"Let him try and take this. I'll mess him up." I roll my eyes at my boyfriend, knowing he won't try anything, not if I have anything to say about it. We're paying Mike back, it's only fair after all he offered us. He deserves a sum of money plus a tip because I'm a little too nice not to.

"Look, I think if we divide this up, we're all gonna blow it." Each person except me glances at JJ who stands behind me, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder.

I hear him scoff. "Woah, okay." I look at everyone, their eyes still trained on the boy who they believe will blow our chances of maintaining this money. I laugh at his attempt to be offended. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

I trust him with the money. I may regret saying that but I trust that he won't be foolish, not with something as big as this. I really hope I don't regret putting my trust in him to keep an eye on our money as it will disappear if we aren't careful.

"But maybe if we pool our money together, we can create something with actual economies of scale."

I hear what Pope is saying, of course, but say we were to, I don't know, split the money between us, JJ and I could ditch this town and travel with our shares pooled together to create just under three-hundred thousand.

I'd love nothing more than to take our money and do whatever the hell we want, but that's not what our friends want, and part of me knows that JJ isn't going to argue with Pope of all people. Besides, if we are smart with the money we have now, JJ and I will still have the opportunity to travel and explore in our early twenties at the latest which is better than never.

"Like what?"

"You remember the island?" I'm reminded of the days we spent on Poguelandia── of the home that we created for ourselves out of nothing. Part of me longs to be back there as I loved that island, I truly did. I'll forever treasure it.

Each of my friends nod, reminiscing the island. "Duh. Of course."

Emory raises her hand. "Uh, no."

Kiara groans, nudging her. "I told you about it." Emory stares blankly at her, obviously not remembering all that Kiara confessed about us as I imagine there was a lot of story to cover. "Poguelandia?"

"Oh." She speaks like she remembers but it's obvious that she doesn't. "Right. Sure."

"It was our own island," Pope continues. "We built everything from basically nothing, right?"

I feel JJ's hand squeeze my shoulder. "It was perfect," I say, lifting my hand to rest over his.

"The best life."

"That whole island just to ourselves." It was certainly blissful, I will admit that, but it wasn't entirely practical. I mean, we survived for a long time, but if we were still there, I'm not sure we'd be surviving too well. "All of us together. I think we can have that again. Right here."

"Can't be too hard," Emory comments, crossing her arms over her chest. "Just don't shave, shower in dirty water and eat all your food with your bare hands." While she's settled into our group nicely, her sarcastic comments haven't failed in bringing the mood down ever so slightly.

"Anyway..." Yeah, let's move on from our newest member of our crew and the most sarcastic. "JJ's property is going up for auction, right? So let's buy it back."

My eyes widen, surprised that Pope would want to live in JJ's old house given its history. I guess, if we were to buy it, we could make it into more of a home. We can create a future for it, turning it into something that can treasure memories rather than trap them.

"I mean, look around." We do, examining the land as well as the house we sit in front of. I never, not in a million years, ever considered living anywhere but the Chateau but that's, you know, gone. "A lot of land. Deepwater access."

"He's right."

"Unless any of you are planning on going back to school, we're gonna need a place to work, a place to stay and live."

"Hey, who's to say I wont be going to school?" I'm messing with him. I have no outstanding plans to go back to school, not when I flunked out of it the moment I walked through the door. Sure, in the past, I've considered what it would be like to go to art school or something, but compared to everything else I want to do, art school doesn't even reach the top ten. 

"What's eight times four?" Pope can't seriously think that I, the girl who preferred to draw all over her desk in every class, want to do anything other than art if I were to go to school. I glare at him, still attempting to solve the problem in my head that caught me off guard. A beat of silence passes, the problem shunning me as I haven't got a damn clue. "Yeah, you aren't going back to school."

Emory snorts. "You don't know eight times four?"

"It's fine, B. I got all the brains." I snap my head over to my so-called twin, appalled he'd say such a thing when he isn't exactly equipped in math either, or English for that matter.

I lean my head back against JJ who I find to be trying to bite back a laugh. "Fuck off all of you." Like he knows the answer either.

"Hey, I didn't say a thing," Kiara laughs.

"Look." We train our attention back to Pope. "First things first, we get the land, right?" We nod, agreeing to this plan as Pope is the only one I can trust to listen to about stuff like this. "And then over there..." He points to the open water facing JJ's house. "...we could build, like, a surf shop. And then maybe we can make our own dock."

"This place totally needs a dock," I say, speaking at JJ like he had any choice in what this house needed.

"Ooh, what about a bait and tackle shop?"

Pope snaps his fingers. "Exactly. And who knows these waters better than us?"

"Very true." Well, I'm not exactly trained in these waters but my friends certainly are. I just go along for the ride, but I know enough about the water to know which direction home is.

"JJ, you can get a new boat and run a fishing charter," Pope tells, looking to JJ who I can see loves this entire idea based off the smile he has on his face. I want him happy. I like seeing him happy, especially when it relates to this house. "We can all live and sleep in the house."

Pope's the mastermind. He's my boy genius for a reason. He sees not what this place was but what this place could be, and I applaud him on that. He views it as a place where we can work and live together, all eight of us. A shop, a marina, a place to chill. He's sees the future.

Poguelandia 2.0, that's what we're going to create here, and while it would be fun to run away, I can't say no to something as great as that.

However, before we get ahead of ourselves, we need to buy JJ's land back from the bank which shouldn't be too hard, right?

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𝖨 𝖳𝖧𝖮𝖴𝖦𝖧𝖳 𝖶𝖧𝖤𝖭 𝖯𝖤𝖮𝖯𝖫𝖤 𝖶𝖤𝖭𝖳 𝖳𝖮 𝖠𝖴𝖢𝖳𝖨𝖮𝖭𝖲，𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖸 𝖧𝖠𝖣 𝖯𝖠𝖣𝖣𝖫𝖤𝖲？Where is my paddle? I'd love to hold it up and fight with another fellow paddle-holder, but it doesn't look like I'll get to do that. It seems incredible boring in comparison to what image I'd created in my head.

A large sum of us are gathered outside the town hall, staring at the auctioneer, and we're completely paddle-less. It sucks. It's unbelievably boring. The auctioneer is rambling on about something that means nothing to us as we're only interested in one property── the Maybank residence.

I hope we get it for a decent price. I mean, if we don't get it, I'm sure we'll find something else but our plan revolves around that house. I also know it means a lot to JJ, so we're going to do everything in our power to make sure we get it.

"Here's the plan." Our boy genius, of course, has a plan worked out, not that I expected anything less from him. "We go up in one-dollar increments, alright?" I can feel JJ disagreeing with Pope's plan, and I don't even have to look at him. I just know him that well. "It's gonna take a while, but we're gonna need to save every cent for construction."

I nod along, knowing we don't have a better plan than this, and also knowing that Pope's right. If we want to transform JJ's house into something we can all live in, we absolutely need all the money possible. This house needs to barely touch the money, that much I know.

I hook my arm around JJ's, knowing he loves to jump right into the chaos, but he cannot, not under any circumstances, mess with this money. "Pope's got a point, J. Alright?"

He musters up something of a smile that's not entirely convincing. "Okay."

"Don't change the plan," Pope whispers, and we each agree before averting our attention back to the auctioneer who is awfully excited. I mean, I guess part of the job is to be excited and upbeat and completely over-the-top. You've gotta sell properties one way or another.

I pout, leaning my head against JJ's arm. "I wish I had a paddle."

"...the foreclosure sale of fourteen Rogers Point Road," the auctioneer tells, pointing to an enlarged image of JJ's house. "Now, this is the old Maybank place. The bank has an opening bid of eighty-thousand dollars."

Pope smiles at us. "Here we go."

Eighty-thousand isn't too high, so if we could get it for under one-hundred-thousand, that would be something. That would give us plenty of money for construction and for us to have a little bit of fun on the side, and I know we all need that. I want my date, thank you very much.

Pope raises his hand, playing his role excellently. "Eighty-thousand and one dollar."

"You know, you'd look better with a paddle."

John B elbows me. "Shut up about the paddles, B." I will never shut up about how much I want a paddle.

"Okay. One dollar more at eighty-thousand, one dollar..."

A man behind us holds his hand up, and I find that he would also look better with a paddle. Seriously, the budget can't be that low, can it? Where are the paddles? "Eighty-thousand, five hundred."

"Eighty-thousand, five hundred," is repeated back. Okay, so we just need to keep going up in one-dollar increments like Pope said.

I can feel JJ fidgeting beside me, obviously not doing too well to stay put. He doesn't want to say goodbye to the house regardless of the pain he's suffered in there, but he's got to know that we won't let that house be lost. We'll get it, we just need to be patient and take our sweet, sweet time.

I reach down, slipping my fingers between his. "It's okay," I assure. "Pope's got it, babe."

Pope goes to raise his hand again, and that's when my very gorgeous, very intelligent but very stupid boyfriend slips his hand out of mine, raises it above his head, and shouts, "Hundred K flat out. Right here."

Was I the one who said he could be trusted with this boatload of cash? Well, I think I said that a little too soon because now I'm standing here wishing I could go poof and disappear.

My friends look to me like I'm the one who can control this boy. They've got to know that I can't control him, that I can't say anything to stop him, but they're each looking at me like it's my fault he opened his mouth. If he's got his mind set on something, I tell you that he will not stop until he's got it.

"Why are you all looking at me?"

What do they want me to do? Leash him? Tape his mouth? They should've thought of that, not me. I'm not responsible for him. He does whatever he wants to do, they should know that by now.

The auctioneer points, giving us attention that we did not want as if somebody sees the desperation we have for this house, they'll attempt to steal it right from under us, I just know it. "One-hundred-thousand right here to the gentleman in red..."

"Hey, what are you doing?"

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

"That's not the plan," Pope argues, voice raising slightly. "That's not the plan."

"I got the shit done." That's his line of defence.

I tell you, JJ better hope that we get this property for one-hundred-thousand because going any higher will be scarily damaging.

"I've got one-hundred-thousand dollars right here, is going once, is going twice..." And just when I think we've snatched the property for a decent enough price, a man who is so obviously a Kook opens his giant, money-eating mouth.

"One-hundred and fifty K."

I glance at the man who stands a mere few inches from us, his face not working those sunglasses in the way he wants them to be. He's obviously trying to appear younger than he actually is, maybe hoping to fit into the younger demographic, but I can safely tell you that it ain't working. I suspect he comes to these auctions a lot, playing them like a goddamn sport when in actuality, he looks like the type who plays like lacrosse or golf.

Mr. Dale Zeasy, otherwise known as Rich Bastard is the one trying to swoop in and steal our property, but I refuse to let another Kook best us. What's worse than seeing his smug face from afar? Well, seeing it up close and right next to us.

He comes to stand beside JJ, and we each look to him with as much disdain and disgust as we can muster. "You know, uh, the Cut's gonna be Figure Eight in a few years," he tells like we don't already have that fear. "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."

I scoff, wishing I had the power to silence insignificant, small men like Dale. Seriously, who the fuck does he think he is telling us what we should do? No.

I shake my head, knowing I love JJ a little too much because I'm the one who raises her hand and defends his insane decision to continue this. Except, don't worry, I don't jump too far, instead following Pope's tactic like it'll help once Dale sinks his claws in.

"One-hundred and fifty-thousand and one."

I catch Pope giving me a small nod of approval, but my bid is squashed before the auctioneer can even acknowledge it. Dale sinks his claws in, raising my bid to two-hundred thousand. Fuck.

Yeah, we're going to be here for a while, that much I know as JJ has decided to go fucking head-to-head with Rich Bastard.

While I'd love nothing more than to share my thoughts on this shitty auction── I'm kidding, I'd love nothing more than to never talk about it ever again. It was the most painful, most harrowing experience of my life. Seriously, I thought I was going to die from boredom and frustration.

No, instead of letting you endure in the pain I just experienced, I'm going to skip right ahead to the monumental moment where we were granted the Maybank property for the low, low price of seven-hundred and seventy-five-thousand and ten dollars.

Yeah, so as I was obviously kidding about that being a low price, and you can see that things did not go according to plan.

While my friends attempted to stop JJ while he was set on beating Dale in this dick-measuring contest, nobody could pry him away from his goal. I didn't even try which my friends did not appreciate as they truly believed I had some kind of power over JJ that they did not have. While he loves me, he wouldn't listen to me, not about this.

The second Dale backed out, I felt my heart plummet to the floor and that anxiety I felt when we were told how much money we were getting resurfaced. Yes, we've got the house but we've got little money for construction which we desperately need if we, you know, want to live. While I could absolutely berate JJ until I drop dead, the second he turns to me with that gracious smile on his face, I don't think to say a single word. I'm weak like that.

Completely and irrevocably in love with him, so much so that I can't argue when he's overjoyed at the idea of us all living together, of us all being under that one overpriced roof.

His arm falls over my shoulders, and he squeezes me to his side as he pushes his lips against my cheek. "We got it, baby."

I offer him something of a smile, still a little regretful that I trusted him with the money. JJ steps away from me, heading to the auctioneer so he can sign for this overpriced house that is now officially ours. I watch him practically bounce with joy, over the moon about how much of our money he just spent.

I feel my heart twinge, my heartstrings being pulled in every direction because he's so, so happy, and I find that that means more to me than any money in the world.

My eyes flicker to my brother who looks just about ready to kill me. For what reason, I don't know, but I don't want to argue. "What?"

"You're, like, the only one who could've stopped him, and you didn't say a freaking word."

"What was I supposed to say? He's JJ!" Like I said, if JJ has his heart and mind set on something, he will get it.

"Wow." Emory whistles, arms crossed over her chest. She's finding this downright hilarious. "He must be really good in bed." My mouth gapes, not a word falling out as I'm truly horrified that she just said that in front of my brother.

"I──" I sigh, knowing I can't say anything to make this better as the damage has already been done. That house is ours. The money's been spent.

"Thirty-three percent above market value, Brooke." I turn my head towards Pope, hating that I've let him down when I agreed to follow through with his plan. Perhaps I should've said something to stop JJ, but I truly don't think he would've listened to me regardless of the fact that I'm his girlfriend. "Widely overpaid."

But he's happy, does that not make it worth it?

I don't say that out loud, I don't dare.

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𝖨𝖳'𝖲 𝖨𝖬𝖯𝖮𝖲𝖲𝖨𝖡𝖫𝖤 𝖭𝖮𝖳 𝖳𝖮 𝖡𝖤 𝖨𝖭 𝖫𝖮𝖵𝖤 𝖶𝖨𝖳𝖧 𝖩𝖩．Throughout everything, whether things are rough or joyful, he is unfailingly larger than life. He smiles, and the world stands still. He laughs, and everybody laughs with him. He's there, existing, wanting to be kept in the loop and be involved. One of the reasons I fell in love with him was because, despite what others think, he remains this giant ball of Sunshine.

I spent the entire journey back to JJ's house listening to him talk on and on and on about this house and what we can do with it. I sat beside him, just watching that smile widen with every passing minute, thinking of how this, despite how much money we spent, was not a bad idea because he's happy.

I love seeing him happy. I love seeing him find a reason to make any situation wholesome, even one where he knows just how much money we've spent, but knowing how to fix it all at the same time. I just like to see him happy.

I want all his dreams and wishes and desires to come true. It's what he deserves after all the pain and trouble he went through to get to where he is. I know how badly he wanted this house── that much was obvious from the fact we spent over seven-hundred-thousand dollars── and to see him achieve that goal, regardless of how it was brought about, made me relieved for him.

Sue me, alright. I want JJ to have everything and more. If it was possible, I'd give him the Earth, the stars, the moon, the sun just because he truly deserves it all.

For now, however, I think this house is just enough for him.

He's pulling the eviction tape from the door, and turning to face us. "Ladies and gentlemen." He rips it apart in his hands, remaining totally cool over the fact that we own a property. "I christen thee Poguelandia 2.0." He turns away, going to rip the rest of the tape from the house.

Passing my friends, I move up the steps to the front door── our front door. I slide my hand up his back, my chin pressing into his arm as I stare up at him. "We got it, baby," I say, repeating the words he said to me earlier.

"Let's turn this piece of shit into a home."

I lean up, pushing my lips against his. When he pulls back, he goes to yank open the door, arm slotting around my back. "We're home, y'all!"

Now it was time for what us Pogues do best── work, work, work. We're awfully reliable when we need to be, so to stay on a budget, we do everything in our power to find resources that are either free, easy to find, or very, very cheap.

First on our long list of jobs was getting wood. With JJ, Cleo and Pope, we were sent in the Twinkie to an abandoned home where we found we could get a decent amount of wood without spending a penny.

Pope, of course, is the one managing our budget as he's the only one we all trust with handling the last of our money. He's the one who's keeping us from overspending again. With our friends growing less and less mad at JJ and truly believing we can make this situation worthwhile, we were beginning to work in harmony and it was all thanks to Pope's organisation.

"We're gonna have to do this Pogue-style," he tells as we leave the Twinkie, heading for the abandoned house. "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 is the most optimistic out of us, believing that this is gonna work, and I'm falling right on that wagon with him. With a little bit of faith, I trust we will make this work in the end.

"And we'll make it up in construction," I say, trying to sound as chipper as possible.

"These boards right here..." He hits his hands on the boards of wood that make this house. "...if we plane them, they're gonna be as good as new."

"These are rotten as shit, man."

"They're free as shit as well." Well, things that are free are always better, don't you think? Rotten or not.

"Not all rotten," Cleo says, pulling at one of the boards that doesn't appear to be rotting away.

"Alright. Yeah. Thank you, Cleo."

I go to check another board of wood, finding that it's also not rotting. "Okay, J. You're right, this is gonna work."

With these boards of wood in our possession, we bring them right back to the house so JJ can get to work on planing them, whatever that means. I'm sure he'll show me the ropes at some point, but I'm doing everything in my power to prevent being taught how to plane wood.

I'm an artist. I'm here for the fun part, not the practical part. Sorry, not sorry.

Besides, I ain't wearing the funny ass googles you have to wear when you plane wood. Unsurprisingly, JJ pulls it off, much like everything else. I mean, seriously, it's hot watching him, don't get me wrong, but funny regardless. I just ogled him the entire time he was planing the wood down into usable planks.

Hey, I'm allowed to ogle. I'm the girlfriend.

More was accomplished as the weeks droned on, making this entire process much easier. Sarah, Pope and Cleo scored big when they came home with a cooler which was given to them for free. The man who offered them the cooler was incredibly generous and applauded our efforts. Pope proceeded to leave him a tip, of course.

JJ and I moved into his old bedroom── the bedroom that means a lot to me as it became Paris for a little while just a few weeks ago. We've been waking up to one another every morning and falling asleep beside each other every night, so I will go as far as saying that it's been fucking perfect. I never thought permanently living in such close quarters with somebody would be this great, but in the last few weeks, we've really managed to make it work.

Perhaps it has something to do with us visiting Paris a few times.

Anyway, let's move on.

JJ bought a charter boat── with me, might I add. He let me tag along, and we spent a good few hours checking out several boats he had his eye on. I listened to him blabber on and on and on about each boat, telling me things I didn't need to know, but I listened because he's pretty.

The boat that we both agreed on was this beauty called The Snapper. It runs like a damn dream despite the way it looks. It needs a new coat of paint which is where I come in as I am the artist of our crew. I was thinking, if I could dip into the budget ever so slightly, I could paint this boat more exotic colours just to make it stand out in the water. While the green and white is nice, I know it can look even better.

I've been feeling inspired a lot throughout this time we've spent constructing and creating something beautiful that I've basically gone and filled every single page of my sketchbook, now struggling to fit anymore pieces of art inside now. I'm afraid to ask if I can buy a new sketchbook as Pope may kill me, especially since he allowed me to buy all kinds of paint for the house and the boat. In my defence, I didn't know how expensive boat paint was.

More weeks were further spent searching through construction lots in the hopes of finding something worthy. Imagine my surprise when JJ and Pope came home with a fucking giant, plastic shark. None of us had any idea where to put it but we promised we'd find it a suitable place, it deserved that much.

Why somebody had a plastic shark in their home, I'll never know, but it's ours now.

When construction on the house was close to being finished, only a few final touches needing done, we moved onto the hardest part── the dock. We needed the help of Buffy who helps out everybody on The Cut as his prices are low. However, regardless of how cheap his prices are, we were still on a budget, and there was only one other way we knew how to convince Buffy.

This special, special plant called weed.

Kiara began to grow the plant in our garden that she and Sarah started. We don't just grow weed, by the way, we grow all sorts of vegetables and fruit to save more money, but there's no harm in having a little fun with gardening.

With that special plant and a very persuasive smile that has convinced many in the past, JJ and I were able to convince Buffy to do the work for us. We watched from the porch as Buffy moved wooden pillar after wooden pillar, but he was not doing a fine job. In fact, he was screwing up left and right, and was instead being yelled at by Cleo for his poor work.

I then realised the mistake JJ and I had made. "You didn't think to give him the weed after?"

No. No, we didn't think of that. Honestly, I didn't think he was stupid enough to work while stoned, but apparently I was way off on that front. Whatever. The work will get done one way or another because Cleo will make sure he gets this shit to a better standard than what it is now.

After Cleo looks just about ready to attack him, JJ insists that Buffy slows down and stops, meaning we were responsible for sorting this dock out with our bare hands. Like I said, one way or another, we'd finish this dock.

Now, building this dock was like a hazard in itself. I chipped four nails, got major cramps in my legs over the days we spent cramming it out, and I got my shirt caught in a screw and ripped it which was depressing, more for JJ as I soon realised it was his shirt, not mine. Despite that, I still worked hard and thoroughly.

Pogues are hard workers after all.

You know who the hardest worker is though? Not me, I'll tell you that much. I'm not going to lie.

When JJ saw that I was just about ready to break another nail, he stepped in and aided me, attempting to teach me the ropes, but all I did was ogle him again because I've never known anyone to make construction look this good. Seriously, he ought to consider a career in it because he's not just unbelievably attractive, he's insane with his hands.

Well, I would know, wouldn't I?

Sorry! Inappropriate.

After our dock was completed, we had to get to work on crafting the shack that would go on it. I made a promise to myself that I would be more help than I was when sorting out the dock. We planned for this shack on the dock to be a bait shop so we could make money whilst living here. We needed money, and we needed it ASAP, so having a bait shop only made sense.

With us girls minus Emory finishing the final touches on the house, the boys plus Emory worked together to set up the foundations for the bait shop. While I spent most days creating and painting and drawing, I wanted to be of more help, so with JJ's guidance, he gave me power over an electric drill.

What I mean by his guidance, I mean I acted like I knew nothing just so he could put his arms around me and do it for me. Again, watching the muscles flex in his arms while he worked made the entire process worth it. I swear, I did actually get some work done. I drilled in one screw, and after I did so, he whispered, "Atta girl" in my ear. I haven't been the same since.

I think my boyfriend is insanely hot.

Six of us lifted up the wall that I contributed to while two of us drilled it against the standing beams to keep it in place. Once that first wall had been placed, the rest of the walls followed like clockwork. With every achievement, we applauded one another, over the freaking moon at what we'd accomplished.

I further helped by aiding Kiara in painting surf boards as we had a plan to open a bait shop on the dock and a surf shop on land. I think it's safe to say that I'm best used as the creative one, not the practical one. Besides, sitting here and painting gives me ample opportunities to stare at my sunkissed boyfriend from across the lawn.

Additionally, we used metal planks as roof panels. I didn't help fit those on, not that anyone would have expected me to. I instead watched as my brother and Emory fitted them, meaning it was Sarah and Kiara's turn to ogle.

We found a suitable place for the plastic shark, choosing to lift it up right in front of the surf shop as that's where it was best suited. The boys heaved up the shark as us girls watched from down below, cheering them on. If we had pom-poms, we'd be the best cheerleaders.

"Bring it on home, John B!"

Once our shark was hung up, Emory, Kiara, Sarah and Cleo pushed the cooler inside that we'd bought prior. I watched from the porch up top with JJ who was helping me in creating the flag. I was responsible for the flag back on the original Poguelandia, so it was only right that I did it again.

Without a flag, Poguelandia wouldn't be christened, so with JJ yammering on in my ear, I drew the same image I had all those months ago when we were on that island. A chicken smoking a joint whilst wearing a coconut bra and crocs. The second the flag was hoisted up, everything was basically finished, only final touches needing to be carried out.

Everything had come together. After months of hard work and determination, we had created something truly incredible.

𝖩𝖩 𝖬𝖠𝖸𝖡𝖠𝖭𝖪 𝖣𝖤𝖤𝖯 𝖲𝖤𝖠 𝖢𝖧𝖠𝖱𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖲── that's what we named our bait shop on the dock.

We partnered this shop with our surf shop on land. I leaned against the wooden post, watching as John B and Cleo drilled a sign that I wrote into the wall. It explained what bait and tackle we would be selling so those who pass by will know and want to buy. Well, we hope that people will want to buy.

It's hard to take my eyes off what we've created. I'm in awe, completely shell shocked by all that we've done with our bare hands.

I'm proud of us, but more proud of the boy who's beginning to dance on his boat.

"We're in business, baby!" He screams, feeling nothing but content. He moves in a strange way, waving his arms and kicking his legs out excitedly, acting almost like a child crossed with a hyperactive monkey dancing. "Whoo!"

"That boy's mad," Cleo comments.

"Captain Maybank at your service!" I laugh, unbelievably proud that this madman is all mine.

I'm lucky that I get to be the one who watches his mind work in the most wonderful way. I'm the one who has fallen asleep beside him every night while he tells me all about his dreams and wants for this place, and now he's created it. After all those mornings where instead of staying in bed longer as he rushed off to begin working at the crack of dawn, we've finally finished.

I might actually get to keep him beside me for longer than a minute in the morning.

"Now, that has a ring to it!" He's in his own little world of fulfilment and joy, and it's refreshing to see. "Nothing can stop a Pogue. Nothing!"

He's right about that.

"Whoa! That's what I'm talking about!"

"Is he okay?" John B asks, laughing with the boy we've known for just short of ten years.

"He just never really had a home," I say, the back of my eyes burning as, after so long, he's finally gotten this── a home with all his friends and a life he can be proud of. "He's happy." He's so, so happy, and that's what makes all this worthwhile. That's what makes spending a shedload of money on this house worth it.

He's doing a ridiculous full dance routine to celebrate our achievements, and that's when I step down to join him, wanting to let him know one thing.

I walk across the dock that, thanks to us, is sturdy as hell. Ain't nothing gonna break it, that's for certain.

I reach JJ who stumbles forward slightly but I capture his arm, bringing it to lay around my back so he can stand upright. I gaze up at him, finding that I'm more and more in love with him with every passing second. "Hey, you."

He hums, sounding content. "Hey, Sunshine."

"I'm really proud of you." I reach my hand up, sliding my thumb across his cheekbone. "You did it, baby."

"We did, Sunny." His head drops, forehead resting against mine. "We did it."

With my lips hovering over his, I speak with a soft tone. "I love you."

Sliding my hand around to the back of his neck, I bring our faces together, slotting my mouth over his. A surprised grunt crawls up his throat, his hand tightening around my back. I relax against him, my lips gliding over his frantically yet passionately. I then hear the hollering and whistling behind me which forces me to bring my face back, my body still flushed against his.

His lips press against my cheek as I squeeze the back of his neck. "I love you, Sunshine."

"Well, Captain, we oughta make some money."

"Ooh." He laughs, fingers pressing into my hip. "Now you can definitely call me that in private."

My cheeks flush. "Shut up."

"I'll even get you a sailor's hat, angel."

I press my face against his shoulder, feeling slightly embarrassed but relieved nobody can hear this conversation. "You're insane."

I then look to our friends who I've never known to be this happy. I raise my hand, cheering. "Captain Maybank!" My friends repeat the words back, speaking much louder than me.

We did it. We made Poguelandia 2.0.

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❀ soph speaks

the first chapter of act four and it just made me so happy, you have no idea

very excited to write season four,, just terrified for the ending as i have several endings laid out and not a clue which to pick . . .

thankyou so much for reading!!

lil preview for next chapter:
you'll see the first real date of our couple,,
jj has a few surprises for brooke,,
i may also write a lil bit of spice bcos these two absolutely put out on a first date

sorry, not sorry