𝟎𝟖𝟕.   𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦

kids         ────          current joys

☀︎ 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

𝖶𝖤'𝖱𝖤 𝖡𝖠𝖢𝖪 𝖠𝖳 𝖧𝖮𝖬𝖤 𝖭𝖮𝖶，𝖧𝖠𝖵𝖨𝖭𝖦 𝖩𝖴𝖲𝖳 𝖱𝖤𝖳𝖴𝖱𝖭𝖤𝖣 𝖥𝖱𝖮𝖬 𝖦𝖮𝖠𝖳 𝖨𝖲𝖫𝖠𝖭𝖣．We're outside, a gentle breeze in the air that is doing wonders to calm me down off this ledge JJ has so gracefully placed me on after telling Wes Genrette we'd help with his insane, cursed plan.

We're sitting with the manuscript and the layout of the ship, trying to figure out a way to "break the curse" or whatever shit we've been instructed to do. We've gotta get this amulet and stop this family from being further cursed by this fucking ghost of Elizabeth, not that I believe they really are cursed to begin with.

Some sick freak is probably taunting the family, let's be honest.

Now, seeing as JJ was an idiot── genius, as he keeps telling me── he's going to be the one to dive in search of this shipwreck. While I'm totally fine with him doing that, as is everybody else, I can't help but feel great anxiety at the thought of him diving without much guidance. The thought of losing him terrifies me, and to know that he's going to be so far under the water only fuels that fear.

I've been close to telling him that I'll join him in the water several times, but I know that won't go over very well with anybody, especially John B who's in that overprotective brother mode twenty-four seven.

He's sitting beside me, John B on the other side of me. His arm lays over the back of the sofa, his fingertips skimming my shoulder as we lounge in front of the others, watching as Pope reads from the printout of the ship and the manuscript.

"Okay so, look at the schematics of the ship, it'll probably be best for you to enter in around here," Pope instructs, drawing a large circle around the part he wants JJ to enter through later on tonight.

JJ hums, nodding. "Okay."

"And Genrette wasn't kidding about the stash." We lean in, looking at the layout of the ship in print. "Look. In the captain's log, there's a secret compartment. Right here," Pope points to said compartment which is part of the headboard. "behind the headboard in the captain's quarters."

"Okay, are we really still talking about this?" Looking at my brother, I know he isn't entirely on board with this idea. Neither am I, but it's a bit late to start questioning it now.

JJ's head bobs. "Yep."

"This ship's been down there for three hundred years. It's been salvaged, we know that."

"Come on, Great Seekers, it's not gonna hurt to check," Emory mocks, leaning against the wooden post beside JJ who clicks his fingers at her in approval.

"Look, it feels right," JJ continues. "And also, we know where it is. It's right in this area." He places the map on the table before us and points to Goat Island.

"Except we don't know exactly where it is."

"What about the Coast Guard? I bet they know where it is," JJ mentions, leaning back against the sofa. "Plus, I've heard coasties are quite chill, so we could probably just straight up ask them."

"Coasties?" Emory snorts. "That's not as cool as it sounds, dude."

"Hey, wait, Pope, isn't your uncle in the Coast Guard?" John B asks, pointing a finger at Pope. "Uncle Roger?"

Sarah grins. "Uncle Roger."

"My Uncle Roger?"

JJ flashes his signature smile that most fall for. Okay, that's a lie. Only I fall for it. My friends just tolerate it. "Pope?"

"No," he starts, shaking his head frantically. "No, that's not gonna work. My Uncle Roger is the most strait-laced, by-the-books person in the history of the world. It's not gonna happen."

"More by-the-books than you?" Emory toys, sitting on the armrest of the sofa.

"First of all, I didn't graduate high school. I had to get a GED. That's pretty loosey-goosey to me," Pope argues, trying to defend himself to a room full of people who didn't even bother to get a GED unlike him. Well, Emory actually did graduate high school── early graduate, as she likes it brag. Can you believe that. "So... other options please."

"Wait, JJ, isn't your friend, uh, your friend in the Coast Guard? Boogie."

"Get down!" Emory cheers, earning a few blank stares. "What? Get down and boogie. He must get that a lot."

JJ shakes his head, ignoring her joke that I find funny because I would've made a similar one had I thought of it. "Boogs? He's in the reserves, bro."

"Yeah, you know, but he'd probably know."

"That's not what I'm saying," JJ corrects, fingertips pressing into my shoulder blade. "He's a marina rat, right? Living paycheck to paycheck. So, if we're gonna get any intel out of him, well he's gonna need to be bribed." When JJ casts a look at me and John B, he watches as we both begin to shake our heads in disagreement. "Which, look, I'm totally fine with doing. It's just, you know..."

"Uh, no."

"No," Sarah contributes.

"Yeah, that's not happening," I add, patting my hand against his knee.

"See, in my mind, I'm like, the best-case scenario──"

"God help us all," Emory mutters under her breath, but we hear her loud and clear.

"I wasn't gonna say I'm the best case scenario," he scoffs, turning his attention away from Emory to Pope. "I was gonna say the best case scenario is if we had an uncle who knew where the wreck was, would maybe tell us for free..." His smile widens, his expression heart stopping. He's so pretty, I could just stare at him all day. "Oh, that's right, you do. So that should be our first stop."

"You're not listening, alright? I dropped a cracker in the man's garage one time, and he made me clean the whole thing." I laugh, finding that a lame and ridiculous excuse to not help us. "He is not the person who will give out classified information. He's just not."

"Not with that attitude," Kiara argues.

"Dude." JJ stands up, leaving my side to step over to Pope. "Your uncle might literally know where it's at. He might even tell us for free, dog, but you just gotta try."

"No, I-I don't think you're listening."

"He could say yes," I input, but if Pope is insistent on the fact that he won't help, I trust that he isn't lying about that. Then again, you never know until you try.

"Also, I thought all Pogues were all team players here, so..." He slings an arm around Pope's shoulders, hoping to tempt him.

"No," Pope fights, doing his best to stand his ground which I admire. I'm lowkey rooting for him.

"Whatever happened to Pogues for life?" The guilt tripping from John B is insane, but you can always count on a Routledge to guilt trip flawlessly. Thanks, Dad.

"It's not──" Pope's guard is slipping away. "Absolutely not."

"Take one for the team," Cleo offers, hoping that by being his girlfriend, she'll be able to trick him into doing it.

Hey, it's worth a shot. How do you think I get JJ to do shit? I mean, he doesn't listen a lot of the time, but I do have several methods of convincing the boy.

"That's it. I'm done. I'm not asking him."

"You're so asking him," I laugh, watching him storm off in a huff. He can deny it all he wants, he's going to do as we say and take one for the team because he's loyal through and through. He's a Pogue after all.

Thirty minutes later, we wait for Pope while he asks his uncle. While he argued the entire journey, we knew he'd give in and ask his uncle what he needs to find out. He's got our back, that much we know. Besides, if he doesn't try, we're totally going to hate him forever because the life of our home is in jeopardy, and he's one of our final hopes. No pressure, right?

The crew are sitting in the Twinkie while I sit on the back of JJ's bike, head leaning against his back as we wait for Pope to return. JJ fixed her up after the race, so now she runs smoothly again── so smoothly that I spent the entire ride with my eyes closed as sleep nearly took over. God, it was a good ride.

A phone rings, capturing our attention as we wait impatiently. It can't take too long to ask his uncle for help, can it? Then again, it may take a lot of convincing if he's anything like how Pope described. The more time passes, the more I think he'll turn Pope down and send him away.

"Sorry." Emory retrieves her phone from her back pocket, checking the caller ID. I don't need to ask who it is because based on the way her face pales, I know who it is as I've had similar expressions on my face in the past. "I'll be back in a second." She steps away, not looking at any of us as she moves away from the Twinkie, not even Kiara who looks painfully concerned.

In the past two days since Emory told us about her father── or not her father, according to her── she's been leaving to take phone calls from him constantly, and from the looks of it, they aren't pleasant discussions. Emory's mother is supposedly missing, not that Emory truly believes she's missing, missing, but her father seems to be arguing with that point hence why he calls her several times a day. This is the first time he's called her today which is surprising as it's now the middle of the day.

She's not the type of person who confides, not in most, but I know she'll likely speak to Kiara tonight if she's able to pull away from the phone. She prefers to remain in her head, let her thoughts stew and fester before she just snaps, and I can't say I blame her. I understand it.

I hope her mother returns soon so the phone calls stop because Emory obviously hates receiving them but she can't seem to decline them or hang up. Family's family as she said. You gotta be there for them regardless if you want to or not.

Before any of us can say anything, Pope returns with a face that resembles being slapped across the face, I swear. He looks anything but happy, so I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark and say it did not go well just like Pope predicted. "What happened?" Cleo asks as Pope moves to lean against the side of the Twinkie.

"I don't think he's ever gonna look at me the same way again," he replies, sounding awfully dramatic.

"Don't take it too hard, Pope," Cleo reassures, hitting her hand against his arm gently. "He probably gave up on you a long time ago." He frowns, not looking too amused at Cleo's attempt to cheer him up.

John B sighs, looking out the van window to me and JJ. "Plan B?"

JJ grins, hand squeezing my knee as he kicks his other leg over the bike. "Let's find Boogie."

"Hey!" I laugh, leaning my chin on JJ's shoulder. "Dumb and Dumber and me are back!"

"Whoo!" JJ cheers, not realising what I just said.

"Wait." John B holds his hand up as JJ starts up his motorcycle, still oblivious. Bless. "Who's Dumb and who's Dumber?"

I look from JJ to John B, smiling innocently. "I'll let you two figure that one out."

JJ's face scrunches as he realises what I said, and he shares a look with John B as the two try to figure out which they are. Before either of them can argue over their places, Emory steps back to us with her phone gripped tight in her hand.

"Hey." She sucks in a sharp breath, no longer appearing to be that forward, unafraid girl I just saw a moment ago. Her father must've done a number on her. "I-I've, uh, I've gotta go, alright? I-I'll catch up with you guys, um... later." She turns her body, looking to Kiara. Their eyes meet, and I watch as Emory tilts her head, silently asking for Kiara to talk with her away from us for a quick moment.

The two girls walk off, leaving the rest of us to awkwardly wait for another Pogue to be finished with a conversation. We don't hear their conversation, but from where I'm sat on JJ's bike, I can see the two of them talking.

Kiara nods along, her hands tucked into Emory's as she speaks, her eyes focused on their intertwined hands. A faint smile touches my lips as I watch them, finding that this is the first time I've ever seen this side of them── the caring side that shows they're a couple. While I've had my suspicions for months, it was never confirmed that they're together.

JJ leans back, also watching. "Huh. They're actually together."

"Don't act like you didn't know," I say, sliding my hand up her back.

"I thought they were just, I don't know, hooking up. I didn't realise they were together, together."

I scoff. "They never used the shell, babe."

"Like they need to use the shell, Sunny. We've had plenty of fun without putting that shell on the damn door." He casts a glance at John B who is talking with Pope and Cleo, oblivious to what we're talking about. "Yeah, he's the damn reason why." That is true. John B would rip JJ a new one if he found him putting that shell on the door.

Looking back to Emory and Kiara, we watch as they step back from one another, separating. "They're together," I whisper, failing to hide my smile as all I've ever wanted is for Kiara to be happy, and I think Emory makes her happy. I think they suit one another in the best possible way. Good.

Anybody else ship Emory and Kiara? You better.

Kiara rejoins us, hands clasped together. "I'm gonna go with Emory, is that okay?"

"Yeah, of course," I say, knowing we should be okay without them for now. We can catch them up on everything when they return. "Is everything okay?"

Kiara swallows harshly. "Uh, yeah. I-It will be. I'll catch you up later," she chuckles awkwardly, and I sense that something's happened── something bad, I suspect. "Okay. I'll see you guys."

We wave her off, watching as she and Emory head off to wherever they're going. It's nice they have one another to lean on, much like the rest of us do in the time of a crisis.

I pat my hand against JJ's back. "Let's go."

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𝖶𝖤'𝖱𝖤 𝖡𝖠𝖢𝖪 𝖠𝖳 𝖠 𝖥𝖠𝖬𝖨𝖫𝖨𝖠𝖱 𝖯𝖫𝖠𝖢𝖤── 𝖱𝖮𝖢𝖪𝖥𝖨𝖲𝖧．The place where they bash beer bottles over people's heads for sport, and the place where we met with Barracuda Mike the first time all those months ago. Ah, I'm feeling nostalgic the moment we set foot into "the place where all the coasts guards hang", according to JJ.

I have my two favourite people in the entire world here with me── Dumb and Dumber── and both of them are keeping me in between them as we walk inside for safety measures, of course. There's not a single woman in this place, and it's instead stinking with testosterone. I'm not a fan, but I'm also not afraid of measly men, thank you, so I walk in with my head held high.

We immediately spot Boogie── the coast guard who we pray can help us find that shipwreck. We just need coordinates. "There he is. That's my boy." JJ rushes to him, slapping a hand on his arm as he holds his pool cue, preparing to make the shot. "Boogie!"

He releases his cue, the white ball missing the black ball when he had such an easy shot. He turns to us, his gaze murderous as he looks to JJ who laughs awkwardly, acting like he didn't just crush this guy. "That's my bad," he laughs. "You know. Look, that was a tough shot, alright?" Easiest shot ever but whatever. Ha! "It's good to see you."

"Don't drop in on me like that," Boogie sighs, slapping his hand over JJ's as the two of them share that weird bro-hug thing men always do. Seriously, what's with that? You don't see me clapping my girls on the back and butting chests with them, do you? No, we give each other hugs that are full of love.

Moments later, the four of us are gathered around the nearest table, beers in front of us. Well, let's not lie. I don't have a beer, I'm just watching the boys drink because that's how fun my life is. Boogie reveals to us that he knows where the shipwreck is, but he doesn't give us the finer details, not that I expected him to. He wants to play hardball, make us beg and weep. Bastard.

"So, you're technically saying you do know where it is though. That's what you're saying."

"Of course I know where it is," he replies, a casual shrug in his shoulders. "I'm pulling rope on the cutters three days out of the week but, what, y'all the famous treasure hunting trio now?" His eyes flicker between the three of us as we remain silent, letting him fill in the answer to that. "Oh, hell no. Nuh-uh. No, that shit's a state secret. They do not want every yahoo coming in, tearing up the wreck."

I rear my head back. "Yahoo?"

"Boog, we can keep a secret. I've always kept them." JJ's fingers tap the side of his head, imitating a lock. "They're up there. Locked away."

"Yeah, and I'll be locked away if people find out," he replies, teeth clicking in imitation. "Plus, they'll take away my pension."

"Hey." John B claps a hand on his shoulder. "We'll be in and out, alright? We only need like, what, uh, sixty minutes," John B says while JJ says, "Max, like, thirty minutes."

I look from John B to JJ, realising they're not on agreement with that number so they attempt to find a middle ground again, both saying something else. "Forty minutes," John B inputs, contrasting with JJ who repeats, "Thirty."

I sigh, hitting my hand on the table, hoping they follow my lead. "Forty-five," I counter, hearing the boys repeat it back to me. I nod, proud of myself for that one.

John B clears his throat. "In and out. Easy."

"Thats what she said," JJ and I jinx, clapping our hands together.

John B glares at us. "What are you? Five?"

"You think I was making those jokes at five?" I scoff, leaning back in my chair with my arms crossed over my chest, acting like a child. "As if." Yeah, we're both as childish as we were at five, I'll give him that.

Boogie sighs, looking towards JJ. "At night?" My eyes bulge slightly, a little afraid of that because JJ is the one who's diving. At night, in nothing but darkness, is fucking terrifying. There's no way he can go down there, not when he isn't sure what could be down there. "Cause you'd have to do it at night."

"Why do we gotta do it at night?" JJ asks, hesitation in his tone.

"Cause of the location. It's by the base. Did y'all do any research?" Well, our boy genius isn't here, and we aren't exactly sure on the location, so I guess we can safely say that we didn't do any kind of research.

"It's by the Coast Guard base?"

"Nah, the other base," Boogie comments, tone sarcastic. "Yeah, the Coast Guard base. They'll spot you easy during the day."

John B and I share a look, a look that reads no in every single language possible, but being best friends with JJ means you never really hear that beautiful word of no a lot.

John B and I look to JJ, just about ready to decline and refuse to let him dive that late, but JJ speaks up, agreeing to this insane notion of diving at night. "Alright. We do it at night, then."

Over my dead body is he diving at night.

Boogie hums. "Good luck with that."

"No, no, no, Boogie." JJ places his hand in front of him, stopping him from leaving the table just yet. "Forty-five minutes, at the wreck, at night. Come on, man, all we need are the exact coordinates. What's your price?"

We have no money so it better not be money.

Boogie laughs, looking at us like we're the fools. I guess, in a sense, we are fools. "Price? I can't be bought, man. I ain't go no price."

He goes to leave, and I stand up too, deciding not to take no for an answer, not right now. I need a win after the shit that's spiralled today, after JJ agreed to a crazed man's cursed adventure. We need this win or else we're gonna be killed by that slicked-back-hair dude and buried by his shovel-wielding friend, and I can't allow that.

I step in front of Boogie, holding my hands up. "Hey, hear me out." He stops, peering down at me, and I flash him my signature B. Routledge smile that most, if not all men fall for. "Listen, everybody's got a price, even you."

His head shakes in disagreement. "No, I don't."

"Nuh-uh." I place a hand on his arm. "Maybe you do." I raise my eyebrows, my smile and gaze remaining captivating and charming, hoping I can convince him to name his price, whatever that may be.

"Okay." See, a smile from the right person goes a long── "How about that gray racer right there?" I snap my head to where he's looking, his eyes focused on JJ's beautiful motorcycle. Oh, shit.

JJ's ears practically prick. "Gray racer? What?"

"I like that motorbike," Boogie says, looking over his shoulder at JJ who looks mortified at the thought of getting rid of his beloved bike. "That thing's badass, bro."

"I know it's badass." He chuckles. "It's not for sale though, alright?" JJ's head shakes. "We're not trading that. No."

John B slaps his hand on his shoulder. "Hey, JJ."

He continues to decline. "No. Not happening."

I step towards JJ, leaving Boogie to stand and stare at the bike. I grasp JJ's chin in my hand, forcing him to meet my gaze head on. "Hey," I snap, fingers digging into his cheeks. "Take one for the team." Pope did, now it's his turn, I'm afraid.

While he listens to me sometimes, this is not one of those times. "No." He moves away from me. "Hey, Boogie, yo! Can I talk to you real quick?" He steps towards him, placing his hands on his shoulders. John B and I lean back against the counter, watching the interaction unfold, knowing which way it's gonna end up. "Bro, like man, that's my bike. Like, those are wheels. That's my freedom. Um..."

"He makes it sounds like he's tied down," I scoff, slightly offended because he does have freedom, I promise. He's not with me twenty-four seven.

"To you, he practically is," John B bites out, not helping matters.

JJ looks towards his bike and then back to Boogie, sadness in those beautiful eyes of his. "She's my baby," he whispers, not thinking I can hear him, and I feel my jaw quite literally scrape the floor in shock.

"Excuse me?" John B laughs beside me, earning a jab in the gut. This is so not the time to be laughing.

"I-I mean, uh, you know, um..." JJ looks to me, trying to salvage his words, but it's a little too late to save this. "Uh, second to my, um, my first... my first baby── m-my girl, you know?"

"Yeah, damage is already done, babe."

"That was cold," John B mutters, earning a hard glare from me. He so needs to shut up right now, or I'm casting him as Dumber in this scenario.

"Oh man, I... I feel you," Boogie says, nodding along, but I know he doesn't really care. "You know, but prices, prices."

Ten minutes later, we're holding the coordinates to the shipwreck, and Boogie is riding out of here in style on JJ's glorious bike that we will likely never see again. But at least we got what we came for even if JJ looks depressed, watching that bike in a way he's never, ever watched me.

Honestly, good riddance. Now he can focus on me── his one and only baby who ain't going anywhere.

I swear, I'm not jealous of a bike.

I place my hand on his arm. "Hey, if we get the amulet, then──"

"Not now," he interrupts, lips pressed together firmly. "Not now, Sunny."

It's a sad, quiet ride back to the house where we're greeted by Sarah, Cleo and Pope. John B leaves to rejoin Sarah while JJ and I move to The Snapper that resides at the dock. Emory and Kiara aren't back yet, but according to Sarah, Kiara is going to stop by soon, hopefully before we need to leave to dive into the water.

JJ's disappointed about his bike, but I keep trying to reassure him that we can get him a new one if we find this amulet── a new and better one. He claims it won't be the same, and I know it won't as he loved that bike, but it's still better than nothing, right?

The scuba gear is on the boat, ready to be looked through and checked before we need to set off for the coordinates. As JJ moves it, I notice that there's two suits for, you know, two people. Seeing as JJ has lost so much already, an idea springs to mind.

"Hey, uh..." I go to pick up one of the scuba tanks, double checking that there's enough juice in it as we don't want to make that mistake again. "So, you can't go down there alone."

A smile touches his lips. "I think I can."

"Well, yeah, you technically can go down there alone, but I'm..." I exhale, knowing that once I say this, I'm not backing down. I'm putting my foot down. "I'm going with you."

"No."

My head rears back, surprised with how fast he responded, no hesitation in his tone. "You didn't even think about it," I argue.

"What's there to think about?" He looks to me, head shaking. "It's dangerous, Brooke." I stare at him blankly. "It's eighty-feet down in the dark and moving through structures."

I squint, nose scrunching. "Okay, and?"

"Baby, even for experts, it's a hairball situation."

"JJ, you're an expert at many things, but not at diving," I say, keeping my tone as airy as possible as I don't want to sound too... pushy. Then again, he needs to understand that I'm definitely coming with him whether he likes it or not.

"Well, neither are you," he fights.

"I don't care. I already decided so..."

"No," he repeats, voice sterner like that will scare me away. He's cracked if he thinks he's going down there without me. "I'm not letting you go down there, Brooke, it's dangerous and your brother will kill me."

A laugh ripples out of me, his excuses entirely ridiculous. "Okay, I love you. I love that you're concerned about my safety, and that you're afraid of my brother, but I am not letting you go down there alone, alright?" He opens his mouth, about to argue with me but I hold my hand up. "No. I will handle John B, and you will accept that I'm going down there with you whether you like it or not, do you understand me?"

I jab a finger against his chest, watching as his eyes widen. "Huh." He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, blue glaring into my brown. "You know, you're awfully stern, Sunny."

"Well, you said you liked me stern."

His head tilts, dimples adorning his face as a grin breaks out across his lips. "You're right about that."

"Besides, it'll be fun," I say, knowing full well that this will not be fun, not in the slightest, but I've gotta try and make it worth every minute even if there's a raging storm in the pit of my stomach at the simple thought of diving without any kind of experience.

The things we do for love, I tell you.

I'm terrified of JJ going down there alone, but if I'm there, at least he'll be okay... I think. It'll be better if there's two of us, that's what I've decided. If we're dying, we're dying together, alright?

Couple goals, right?

His face scrunches. "It'll be fun?"

"So fun," I tease, sliding my hand into his. "We'll make it fun── like a game."

"A game?"

"Yeah, first one who finds that amulet thing gets head, alright?" I lean up, kissing his lips briefly, catching the surprised flare in his eyes at how fast I thought of that.

His hand reaches for my hip, that smile never faltering. "Hm. Okay."

"So we're in agreement?" I flash him a smile, knowing he absolutely falls for my charm. "I'm coming with you?"

He exhales a sigh, and I know he doesn't like the idea of putting me in harm's way, but I ain't about to let him be in harm's way either. He wants to protect me with his life, I get that, but I'm protecting him with my life, thank you. "You'll handle John B?"

I lean my head against his chest, chuckling. "Oh, you're cute. Afraid of John B."

"Sunny, he nearly broke my arm when he found out we were having sex."

He calls me dramatic? He's insane. "He did not."

"Yeah, whatever."

"Oh, this is gonna be so much fun."

Famous last words.

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❀ soph speaks

i'm currently ill but i think its given me some kind of writing stamina idk but i'm in such a writing frenzy right now

jj & brooke are freaky as fuck,, i swear i don't mean for them to be . . . the lines just come out in the midst of writing

things with emory will be explained in due time,, but next chapters are, of course, the lovely diving scene and getting the bends ;)

thankyou for reading!!