╔═══━━━─── • ───━━━═══╗
— THE FORBIDDEN ZONE —
season one, episode three, part one

❝𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤!❞

─── • ───

"That's not gold," Pope stated with disappointment as Kiara handed a FedEx envelope with 'For Bird' written on it in permanent marker to John B through the gap in the mausoleum wall.

John B, his eyes wide, looked as if he couldn't care less about the gold as he stared at the envelope in his hand. "Holy shit," he gasped quietly. "This is from my dad."

While the Routledge boy awed at the mysterious envelope, Nick helped Kiara down from the wall. He grabbed the girl by her hips and lifted her down on to the ground. Once she was out of snake-infested mausoleum, Kiara already felt herself breathing easier.

"You okay?" Nick asked.

The girl nodded, whispering tiredly, "Yeah, I think so."

Nick let his shoulders relax at the reassurance that Kiara was safe. He reached for his Juul again and took a long drag, holding his breath before releasing it slowly. His eyes fell shut gently as his head lolled back, reminding himself to calm down in the hopes that it would somehow make the drug kick in faster.

He shifted his attention back to John B and the envelope, his flashlight illuminating the smoke. Nick was just about to say something, when he suddenly noticed JJ looking over his shoulder with wide eyes.

"Guys – code red! Code red!" The blond boy alerted his five friends quickly as a vehicle approached the cemetery gates. "Square groupers! Square groupers! Come on, it's the guys who robbed your house!"

Without any hesitation, the six Pogues all ran around the side of the mausoleum and dropped to the ground. Nick felt his heart pounding in his chest as squinted through the trees, trying to get a closer look at the pair of burly men approaching them.

"Lights!" Kiara said quickly, and they all did as they were instructed. Every flashlight, along with JJ's headlamp, switched off and plunged them into darkness.

There was no hiding the panic that lingered in the air as they huddled together and tried to keep as quiet as humanly possible. They could hear the sound of an engine revving as whoever JJ had spotted got closer.

"Do you really think it's them?" Olivia asked as JJ and Pope peered around the corner.

"Yeah, and homie's got a gun," JJ informed them all.

"Screw this."

Without warning, Kiara picked herself up off the ground and took off in the direction of the Twinkie. The rest of the Pogues looked at each other with wide eyes, before getting up and following her lead without second thought. The men shouted after them, shining their own flashlights on the group when they saw their fleeting silhouettes.

"Go, go, go!"

The Pogues ran back the way they came and climbed over the fence, jumping down to the other side as fast as possible. They were almost home free when Pope was suddenly calling out to all of them, signalling that he was stuck. Olivia, John B and Kiara went over to the gate to help, but JJ reached into his back pocket and pulled out the gun he stole from the motel.

"Pope, don't move, okay?"

"Are you insane?" Nick scolded him, grabbing his arms and dragging it downward so that he was no longer pointing at Pope. "For fucks sake, Jage. Put that away!"

While the two boys fought over the gun, Kiara resorted to gripping onto Pope's shorts and pulling as hard as she could. The Heyward boy told her to stop, telling her that she was going to rip his clothes, but what he failed to realize was that that was exactly what Kiara was hoping would happen.

As the square groupers drew closer, Kiara pulled even harder. The fabric eventually gave, and they all heard was the sound of tearing before Pope was free. Nick turned around and noticed Pope's still shorts hanging on the fence. He quickly brought a hand to his mouth, trying not to laugh.

Everyone but Pope joined in on the laughter as they ran to the Twinkie, and they climbed into the vehicle as the square groupers reached the gate. John B and JJ sat upfront while the others climbed into the back; Pope frantically tried to cover himself as Nick slid the door to the van shut, the engine roaring with the start of the ignition.

When they finally drove back down the dirt road, away from the cemetery and square groupers, Nick let himself chuckle as he looked over at Pope, who was desperately trying to cover his privates.

"Look, it's a little tootsie roll!"

─── • ───

Back in the safe four walls of the Chateau, the gang of Pogues regrouped and composed themselves, before Pope excused himself to find a new pair of shorts in John B's closet. The remaining five Pogues lit a few lanterns, setting them up around the room to provide some necessary light after Hurricane Agatha stripped them of electricity.

By the time Pope had returned, he had spotted JJ rustling around in the kitchen, grabbing everything he needed to make himself a sandwich.

"That bread had mould on it three days ago," Pope informed the blond boy, his nose scrunched in disgust.

"I'll just pull off the bad parts." JJ shrugged, continuing to make his sandwich. "Plus, mould is good for you. It's, like, a natural organism."

Olivia shook her head at him, "That's disgusting, JJ."

"Just come here," Kiara called out to them, and the six of them gathered around the table to watch John B open the envelope. JJ took a bite of his sandwich and immediately spat it into his hand, coughing in an attempt to clear the taste from his mouth.

As John B opened the envelope from his father, Nick expected to see JJ throwing the sandwich out. Instead, not much to his surprise, the blond boy proceeded to pick the green bits off of the bread as John B unfolded a map. They all stared down at it, noticing handwritten notes in the margins, more than likely left by Big John.

"X marks the spot," Pope said as he pointed to a small 'X' drawn onto the map.

"Longitude, latitude," John B mumbled as he ran his finger across the map, before picking up the envelope once again. "Wait – there's something else." He reached into the envelope again and pulled out a small grey object, and JJ immediately asked what it was.

"It's a tape recorder, dumbass," Kiara answered.

John B clicked the recorder on, playing the message left behind.

"Dear Bird."

"Who's Bird?" JJ inquired.

But John B didn't take his eyes away from the recorder, still shocked to be hearing his dad's voice.

"That's what my dad called me..."

"I hate to say I told you so... But I told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect, at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight. But don't kill yourself yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either –"

All of the Pogues shared a look of disbelief, hoping what they heard was true. Had Big John really found the gold in the end?

"You were probably right to call me out. Wasn't exactly the father of the decade. What can I say, kid? I could smell the barn. And hopefully, we're listening to this in our brand new sugar shack in Costa Rica, living off passive investments and pulling on permits."

With each passing second, John B's eyes got glassier. They filled with unshed tears as he listened.

"If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If something happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold, kid. I love you, Bird. Even if I didn't always act like it... I'll see you on the other side..."

There was the sound of static, and then the tape cut off. John B got up from the table, dropping the recorder as he took unsteady breaths. He gripped the doorframe for stability, attempting to take in everything that had been said. Olivia walked over and offered him an embrace that he seemed to melt into.

"Holy shit," JJ gasped. "So Big John– he found the Merchant–"

"Not now, Jage," Nick whispered, noticing the sobs coming from where John B stood.

The blond boy turned to his friend, his smile falling as he apologized. Olivia hugged John B tighter in her arms as he cried into her shoulder, soothing him.

The gold, Big John, the square groupers – It was a lot to take in. Not only did they now have evidence that Big John had found the Merchant, but they also had a map that would lead them directly to the wreck...

But with this tape recorder also came the hard realization that John B's dad was really gone, which meant that they needed to find that gold before the DCS had the chance to take him away from the OBX.

The Merchant gold was their only way out...

─── • ───

Later that night, under the stars, the Pogues found themselves sitting out on the dock outside the Chateau. John B was sitting up on the wooden railing at the end, staring out across the water. Nick couldn't help but feel for him. He had had faith that his dad was still out there this entire time, and that recording just ripped every single bit of hope away from him.

Nick sighed and rested his head back against the railing, listening as Kiara plucked a few chords on her ukulele beside him. The sound of thunder crashing in the distance, and the sea birds calling from the water, was enough to make the Warren boy smile a little. He always loved the natural sounds of the Outer Banks, like gentle music in the background.

"How much was it again?" JJ asked quietly from across the dock, referring to the only thing on all of their minds.

"Four hundred mil," Pope answered.

There was a moment of silence as the realization washed over them. They had a map leading them to four hundred million dollars. If they did manage to find it, this would change all of their lives forever.

JJ nodded, "All right, let's talk splits. Now, before we say evenly, may I remind you that I am the only one that can properly defend us from those groupers who were after us." He held up the gun he had become far too attached to. "Protection? Not cheap, okay?"

Nick sent him a glance over his shoulder, eyebrows raised. "You literally pointed that thing at Pope an hour ago when he was stuck on a fence," he chuckled. "If that's your idea of protection, then we're done for."

JJ rolled his eyes dramatically, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Hey, I was just testing its effectiveness, okay? Gotta make sure it's up to par for when we stumble upon that treasure and have to defend ourselves from all the greedy pirates out there."

"You watch too many movies, Jage." Olivia shook her head at him, an amused tone to her voice. "This isn't Pirates of the Caribbean."

"You haven't trained, either," Pope tacked on. "You've done zero training on how to operate a handgun."

"YouTube, bro!" JJ countered with a shrug. "That's at least a five percent bump right there. Any objections? No? Didn't think so."

Kiara raised her hand. "I object so strongly."

"Yeah, me too," Pope agreed.

But the blond boy continued to ignore them all, raising a finger to his lips. "I don't hear any, so..."

Rolling her eyes, Kiara decided to ignore JJ and instead turn her attention to the Heyward boy. "So what are you gonna do with your sixty mil, Pope?"

The boy thought for a moment, putting real consideration into his answer. "Pay for college in advance. And also, textbooks. Those are expensive."

Nick yawned, "That's so boring, bubba."

Pope shot him a playful glare. "Hey, education is important, okay? Plus, I'll probably invest some of it, maybe start a business or something."

Nick chuckled. "Alright, alright, I get it. Responsible choices and all that. What about you, Kie?" He flashed a charming smile at the Carrera girl, "What's your plan with your share?"

"Yeah, what does a socialist do when she's rich?" JJ asked teasingly, earning a smack on his leg in response.

"I just wanna make a double album. About the OBX, the Pogues." Kiara paused, strumming her ukulele absentmindedly. "You know, the same way Catch a Fire is about Kingston. Record it at Marley Studio, Peter Tosh producing."

Pope's brows pinched as he said slowly, "Peter Tosh–"

"Peter Tosh is dead, I know. But the spirit of Peter Tosh will never die," Kiara said at almost the exact same time. "What about you, Liv?"

The youngest Warren thought for a moment, lips pursed. "I've never really thought about it," she shrugged. "Maybe I'll travel, see some new beaches. I've heard Australia has some gnarly waves."

"Then you should learn how to surf properly," Nick teased his sister. "You know, before you go and embarrass yourself in another country."

"Yeah, right. You're just mad that I'm a better surfer than you." Olivia scoffed as she looked at him. "But I'm curious, what would you do with your share?"

"I don't know, probably buy a boat. A real nice one, with a minibar built-in." Nick shrugged, taking a puff or two from the Juul he pulled from his pocket. "Hell, maybe I'll even start a charter business. I've always loved being out on the water, and this could be my chance to turn it into a career."

Pope let out a laugh. "Yeah, just make sure you don't crash it like you did with the last one."

"No promises. That's the beauty of being rich, Pope. If I break something, I'll just buy a new one." Nick smirked, blowing a ring of smoke into the Heyward boy's face playfully. He then turned to the blond of the group, and asked, "What about you, J?"

"Oh yeah, I know what I'm gonna do," JJ nodded. "I'm gonna get a big ass house on Figure Eight and go full Kook."

Nick almost choked on the smoke in his lungs. "You're gonna go full Kook?"

"Yep. Gonna get a marble statue of myself, and then I'm gonna get a koi pond. Buy a bunch of those fish–"

"I'm never visiting," Kiara informed the boy.

Olivia nodded, agreeing. "I second that."

Everyone shared a laugh. Pope then turned to the boy across the dock, the one who'd been quiet until now.

"What are you gonna do, JB?"

John B finally stopped staring across the water and turned around to face his best friends. They were all staring back, small smiles on their faces. Since coming outside, none of them had mentioned the boy's father or the message that he had left them, and honestly, John B was thankful for it, because talking about it just made it more real. It was real enough knowing that he had to track down the Merchant gold, to finish what his dad had started...

But in that moment, as he looked between his friends, John B knew that he had chosen the best possible group of people to go on this treasure hunt with.

He smiled back at them finally.

"To going full Kook."

"To going full Kook!" The others echoed, raising a hand in a solidarity as they all burst into laughter, the tension from earlier dissipating into the night air.

Right there, on that dock, they could almost pretend things were back to normal. They were just hanging out after a day out on the HMS Pogue, having a laugh and chatting like they usually would, with nothing like gold or death hanging over their heads.

─── • ───

"So... how're you holding up?" Nick let the words fall from his lips as he approached John B on the dock.

The others had gone back inside to take another look at the map, while Nick felt he should keep John B company outside. The five of them who didn't live there had decided to stay the night at the Chateau so that John B didn't have to be alone. Neither of the twins had work the next day, so they knew their parents would realize where they were when didn't come home. Besides, Olivia wasn't ready to face the wrath of Natalie Warren, who had probably learned of her daughter's arrest from Sheriff Peterkin by now.

So for now, Nick wanted to be there for John B. He sat down next to his friend, listening to the sound of crashing waves that could be heard in the distance. He didn't say anything else. He didn't want to force John B to talk to about it if he wasn't ready. The Routledge boy's eyes were still red and puffy from all of the crying he had done over the past few hours.

There was a moment of silence that stretched between them. The daytime was fleeting slowly, with only the sunset over the horizon providing a soft glow. But then, John B looked up, his eyes meeting the edge of the dock where Nick sat. He wiped away his tears and nodded slowly in a delayed response to the question. He wasn't okay though, Nick could see that.

So Nick placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder, a look of concern stretching across his features.

"I'm sorry about your dad."

John B let out a shaky breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thanks, man. It's been a rough day, huh?"

Nick nodded, his grip on John B's shoulder tightening slightly. "I can't even imagine what you're going through, man. But you're not alone in this, John B. We're all here for you... whatever you need."

"I appreciate that, bro. I really do." John B's eyes welled up with fresh tears, his voice cracking as he spoke. "It's just... everything feels like it's falling apart. Losing my dad, trying to find the gold, getting fired by Ward – it's all too much."

Nick's heart sank a bit. He didn't know that last part.

"You got fired today?" he asked.

"Yeah, I guess Ward found out about the tanks and he knew it was me. He said he couldn't trust me, or that I wouldn't steal from him again." John B sighed, his voice now heavy with disappointment. A bitter laugh then escaped his lips. "You know, I'm starting to think the universe has it out for me."

Nick's brows furrowed as he tried to process the information. He couldn't believe that Ward would go to such lengths to get John B fired. It also didn't sit well with Nick knowing that the Pogue – the poor kid with no family – was punished for something so small. It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense anymore. But still, Nick realized in that moment who Ward Cameron was, and what he represented in the world.

And he hated him. Like, really hated him. Him, and all the other spoiled rich Kooks, who don't give a shit what happened to the rest of the world. There was even a part of him that hated himself for ever thinking that things could be different. So foolish. So naive...

"That's bullshit," Nick heard himself say, the anger spurring him on. "What's that dude's problem, anyway? You put the tanks back, right where you found them. How did he even know the tanks went missing? I thought you said you were careful."

"I was!" John B defended himself, his eyes now filled with a mixture of frustration and sadness. "I don't know, man. There's only one explanation I can think of."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

"I think Sarah must've told her dad." John B clenched his jaw, and Nick felt his heart sink further at the sound of the Cameron girl's name. "She's the only one who saw me, Nick. It had to have been her –"

"But I talked to her...?" The confusion in Nick's voice was clear as he spoke. "She told me she wouldn't say anything."

His mind raced, desperately searching for a way to defend Sarah. He didn't understand why, though. After all, she was a Kook. He should've known better than to trust her. What reason could she possibly have for telling her dad? To protect her precious Kook world? To keep her family's secrets safe? Nick sighed, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on his shoulders. He knew he couldn't change John B's mind, not while he was hurting so deeply. But he couldn't help but hope there was still a hope for forgiveness.

John B let out another bitter laugh, his tone laced with disappointment. "Well, she did," he spat. "Now I've got no dad, no job... nothing. I've got nothing."

"No, man, don't say that. You've got us." Nick's mixed feelings for Sarah were replaced with concern, his grip on John B's shoulder tightening. He couldn't bear to see his best friend in so much pain, especially when it seemed like everything really was falling apart for him.

"You've got us," the Warren boy repeated, referencing the Pogues. "And we're in this together, John B. We've always had each other's backs, and that's not gonna change now. We'll find the gold, just like your dad wanted. We'll make him proud, I promise."

John B's gaze flickered with uncertainty, his own anger slowly ebbing away. He looked out at the sunset, his expression pensive. After a moment, he turned to Nick, a newfound glimmer of hope in his eyes. "You really think there's a chance?"

At this, Nick nodded, his own determination shining through. "I do, John B. We'll follow all the clues and find that fucking gold. It's what your dad would have wanted, and it's what we're gonna do."

John B's lips curled into a small smile, gratitude and hopefulness mingling in his eyes. He knew he was lucky to have a friend like Nick, someone who never gave up on him, even in the darkest of times. "Thanks, man," he said, his voice filled with genuine appreciation. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You don't have to worry about that, bro." Nick laughed and ruffled John B's shaggy beach curls with his hand. "You're stuck with me."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," John B told him, and the two best friends did their signature Pogue handshake, almost as if it was their way of making a promise to each other.

Nick could see the renewed light in his friend's eyes, the excitement at the idea of finding the gold made John B smile in a way that made the Warren boy want to smile, too. The subtle crashes of waves around them served as a reminder of the challenges they would have to face, and yet, Nick was ready to take them on if it meant John B would finally know peace.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a dark orange glow back over the water, John B leaned back against the dock, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky. Nick stayed by his side until nightfall, offering silent support. They didn't need any more words in that moment. Sometimes, all you needed was someone to be there, to let you know that you weren't alone...

And as the waves continued to brush up against the sturdy wooden dock, a glimmer of hope flickered in John B's eyes as he looked out at the water. He may have lost his father, but he still had his friends. And together, they would face whatever challenges came their way, for each of them was determined to uncover the truth and find justice.

Because in the Outer Banks, loyalty ran deep, and they would fight for each other until the very end.

─── • ───

The next morning, the rising sun peaked through the curtains of the Chateau's living room, casting a warm glow on Nick's face as he lay sound asleep, sprawled out on the couch next to JJ. The room was filled with the gentle hum of the ocean breeze, a contrasting reminder of everything that happened the day before – the Merchant gold, the truth about Big John...

But Nick's peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open. He groaned and rolled over, burying his face deeper into his pillow, hoping to drown out the disturbance and return to his dreams.

"Nick, wake up!" a voice called out, filled with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Nick's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of the figure standing by his bed. As his vision cleared, he saw Olivia, hovering over him with a mischievous grin on her face and a glass of water in her hand.

"What the hell, Liv?" Nick grumbled, sitting up and wiping the sleep from his eyes. "Can't a guy get some sleep around here?"

Olivia's grin widened, and without warning, she tipped the glass of water over Nick's head, drenching him from head to toe. Nick sputtered and shook his head, water droplets flying in every direction.

"What the actual...?" Nick exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and annoyance. He shook his head, spraying water all over the couch like some kind of wet dog.

"Morning, sunshine!" Olivia burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she doubled over. "Come on, get up! I need your help. We're going to get breakfast before the others wake up. We need a few stacks of pancakes to boost morale around here."

Nick's irritation reluctantly melted away, replaced by a begrudging smile. He couldn't stay mad at his sister for long, especially when she had a knack for bringing a sense of adventure and spontaneity into his life.

"Fine, fine," Nick said, his voice laced with amusement. "You win, Liv. Let's go get breakfast."

As they made their way out the front door, Nick couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for his sister. She was always there to shake him out of his comfort zone, to remind him that life was meant to be lived to the fullest. They stepped out onto the porch, the salty air of the nearby marsh filling their lungs as they made their way towards the town. The sun was rising higher in the sky, casting a golden glow over the beach and the familiar streets of the OBX.

By the time they got into town, Nick couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy returning. The streets were bustling with locals and tourists alike; the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air flooded his nostrils. It was a stark contrast to the chaos and danger they had been facing over the last few days.

They parked the car near the surf shop before splitting up to gather breakfast for the Pogues, agreeing to meet back at their usual spot in half an hour. The plan was in motion: Olivia was in charge of pancakes, while Nick opted to get coffee. He wandered through the crowded streets, his mind still heavy with the weight of recent events. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there was more to the story than what they uncovered...

Lost in his thoughts, Nick almost collided with someone coming around the corner. He quickly sidestepped, avoiding the collision, only to find himself face to face with Sarah Cameron. Her brown eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of him.

"Nick, hey," Sarah flashed him a small smile, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and apprehension.

But Nick's expression only hardened as he looked at her, his mind clouded with what John B had told him on the dock the day before. "Sarah," he said curtly, his tone already laced with accusation. "You just couldn't help yourself, could you?"

Sarah's smile faltered, confusion replacing the look of relief on her face. "Oh, and what did I do now?" she asked him, her voice tinged with slight annoyance.

Nick took a step forward, towering over her.

"'Your secret's safe with me'?"

"What secret... Oh, that secret."

"John B just got fired because of you." Nick scoffed, his frustration boiling over at her lack of sympathy. "And I know you can't imagine this, being the Kook Princess and all, but some people need jobs so that they can eat."

"What the fuck?" Sarah's jaw tightened, but Nick could still see the hurt behind her eyes. "I didn't say anything –"

"Save it. You two were the only ones on the boat, Sarah." Nick said in a harsh whisper, noticing how the eyes of passerby were carefully watching the Kook and Pogue interact. "You must've thought it was real funny, huh? Getting the Pogue fired from his job? The rest of the world is just fucking disposable to you Kooks –"

"You know what? Screw you!" Sarah spat, shoving him back, though Nick didn't seem to budge. "You have no idea what you're talking about – the same way you don't know the first thing about me."

But Nick didn't seem to listen as he shook his head bitterly. "You know, you almost had me fooled," he laughed in spite of himself. "But I guess it's just in your Kook nature to ruin everything, isn't it?"

Without thinking, Sarah's hand shot out, her palm connecting with Nick's cheek in a resounding slap. The sound echoed through the air, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Gasps and whispers filled the space around them as Sarah stood there, her hand trembling and her eyes filled with a mix of regret and defiance.

Nick's head snapped to the side from the force of the slap, his eyes wide with shock. He brought a hand to his stinging cheek, his anger momentarily replaced by surprise. The pain radiated through his face, but it was nothing compared to the pain he saw in Sarah's eyes.

For a moment, the world stood still as they both processed what had just happened. The onlookers held their breath, waiting to see what would unfold between the two of them.

Sarah's chest rose and fell with each ragged breath, her tears threatening to spill over.

"N-Nick... I-I-I'm s-sorry –"

But Nick refused to look her in the eyes, unable to stop his jaw from tightening after the impact of the slap. "You know, you are exactly who I thought you were, Sarah Cameron," he said in a voice barely above a whisper, as he rubbed his reddening cheek. "J-Just tell Wheezie I'll see her on Friday for her surf lesson."

"B-But–"

"Don't bother showing up, either." Nick started to walk away, his heart heavy with anger and disappointment. He couldn't bear to stand next to her anymore, to hear the regret in her voice, to see the pain he had caused. "I think it's better for both of us if you just stay the hell away from me."

Sarah recoiled slightly, her hand still trembling. She wiped away her tears as she watched Nick walk down the street, and the last glimmer of hope in her heart darkened when he rounded the corner and never looked back. She continued to stand there, her heart pounding in her chest, feeling the weight of her actions settle heavily upon her. Her tears streamed down her face as she watched him disappear from sight, her mind racing with regret and disbelief.

With onlookers watching his every move, Nick let his legs carry him forward. He felt a mix of anger and disappointment, both at himself and at the situation that had unfolded.

How had everything gone so wrong?

As the reality of the situation sank in, Nick's shoulders slumped, and he turned to walk back to the car. The weight of his actions hung heavy in the air, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. He had started doubting everything he thought he knew about Sarah Cameron, because he wasn't sure if there was any way to repair the damage she had caused.

When Nick reached the car, Olivia was waiting, pancakes in hand, concern etched on her face. She took one look at her brother's ever-reddening cheek and knew that something had gone terribly wrong.

"What happened?" Olivia asked, her voice filled with worry. "I thought you were getting coffee?"

But Nick simply shook his head, unable to find the words to explain. He climbed into the car, his hands trembling as slammed the door shut behind him. Olivia climbed in after him and started the engine, but the silence between them was deafening.

As they drove away from the surf shop, Nick couldn't help but glance back one last time, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sarah on the sidewalk. But she was nowhere to be seen, and the reality of what had transpired settled heavily on his heart.

Well, fuck, that definitely could've gone better...

─── • ───

The car ride back to the Chateau was filled with an uncomfortable silence. Nick's mind was consumed with thoughts of Sarah Cameron, replaying their encounter over and over again. He couldn't shake the feeling of loss, of the deep rift that had formed between them.

When they arrived back at the Chateau, the rest of the Pogues were waiting, their excitement for breakfast quickly fading when they saw the somber expressions on Nick and Olivia's faces.

"What happened?" John B asked, his voice filled with concern.

Nick waved him off. "Nothing," he grumbled, not wanting to burden his friends with his own personal problems. He needed some time alone to clear his head, to figure out what he was going to do next.

Without saying another word, Nick made his way towards the backyard of the Chateau, where a cozy hammock was nestled between two palm trees. It was John B's favourite spot, a place where he often retreated to when he needed to think. Nick hoped that maybe some of John B's clarity would rub off on him.

As he settled into the hammock, Nick closed his eyes and let the gentle sway of the hammock lull him into a state of relaxation. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance provided a soothing backdrop, and for a moment, he forgot about the chaos that had consumed his life.

But just as he was starting to find some peace, the sound of footsteps approaching interrupted his solitude. Nick opened his eyes to find Olivia standing there, concern etched across her face.

"Hey," she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. "Are you okay? I don't think I've ever seen you pass up on pancakes."

"I'm not hungry," Nick sighed, sitting up in the hammock and running a hand through his hair.

Olivia took a seat on the edge of the hammock, her presence offering a small comfort. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Nick hesitated for a moment, unsure if he was ready to share his feelings with his sister. But he knew Olivia would understand, that she would be there for him no matter what. So he took a deep breath and began to pour out his heart.

"Everything's just so... messed up," he admitted, his voice filled with regret. "And it's a lot to process, you know? Because you think you know something, or maybe even someone, and then..."

He trailed off, but Olivia nodded her head along with him, her eyes filled with understanding. "Is this... is this about mom and dad?"

Nick hesitated, his mind racing for a plausible explanation. He couldn't bear to tell Olivia the truth about his fight with Sarah, knowing that they rivalled each other more than most Pogues and Kooks. He couldn't tell her. She wouldn't understand. Not yet, at least. So, he nodded, deciding to go along with the lie.

"Right, yeah... mom and dad," he said, his voice filled with a sadness he hoped would convince Olivia. "Uh, their arguing has been getting worse, and it's just been weighing on me."

Olivia's expression softened, her eyes filled with sympathy, as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Whatever's going on with mom and dad... it's not your fault, you get that, right?"

Nick looked up at his sister, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I do. I just wish I could do something to... to fix things."

"I get it," Olivia smiled warmly at him. "But hey, if it makes you feel any better, I'm right there with you. Comes with the territory of being twins, you know."

Nick forced a smalls smile, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "Thanks, Liv. I needed to hear that."

Olivia stood up from the hammock, offering her hand to help her brother up up. "Come on, let's go back inside. Maybe JJ and Pope left us a few stacks of pancakes."

Nick chuckled. "Seems highly unlikely," he said, but nodded anyway, letting his sister pull him up.

But as they walked back towards the house, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for lying to Olivia. He knew he had to withhold the truth from her, at least for now. She wouldn't understand. None of them would...

As they entered the Chateau, the rest of the Pogues greeted them with concerned looks. But Kiara, in particular, seemed worried.

"Everything okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Nick forced a smile, not wanting to burden his friends with his own problems. "Yeah, just some family stuff. I'll be fine."

Kiara nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. "If you ever need to talk, you know I'm here for you, right?"

"Thanks, Kie," Nick flashed her a smile, grateful for her ability to know him better than most. "I appreciate it."

And as they all sat down for breakfast, Nick couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Guilt for lying to Olivia, sadness over his fight with Sarah, and gratitude for the support of his friends.

Sure, he had a long road ahead of him, but he was more determined than ever to find a way to mend things, to have everything go back to the way it was.

─── • ───

Later in the afternoon, after they loaded themselves into the HMS Pogue, the six best friends decided to go for a short ride down the marsh before the hotel opened later. JJ worked as a busboy over the summer and had a employee badge that would be able to get them inside. They planned to use the computers there to search the coordinates that they had found on Big John's map.

The six Pogues climbed onto the boat and John B got it started, heading out down the waterway. With the sun beating down, Kiara and Olivia ended up stripping down to their bikinis and the boys all removed their shirts, trying their best to keep cool in the heat.

About ten minutes in, they heard another boat heading towards them. JJ let out a whistle, "You guys see that? That's the Malibu 24-MXZ, the world's finest wakesetter. Number one in luxury, quality, and performance."

"200K, easy." Nick remarked and ran a hand through his hair, lifting his sunglasses for a closer look."Looks like a total Kook-mobile to me."

"We picked the wrong parents," Pope joked.

Kiara frowned as she looked ahead, adjusting her sunglasses. "I hate to break it to you guys, but that's Topper and his girlfriend."

And as the boat got closer, the rest of the Pogues could see that Kiara was indeed right. Topper Thornton was stood at the helm of the expensive boat, with one hand on the wheel and one arm around his girlfriend, Sarah Cameron.

Only when Nick locked eyes with Sarah did a shiver run down his spine. He looked away quickly, knowing Sarah Cameron wasn't someone spoken about a lot amongst the Pogues, given both Olivia and Kiara's dislike of the girl. His expression soured even more when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sarah lean further into Topper's side and stick her nose in the air at the sight of him.

As the couple passed by, Sarah pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, barely giving the Pogues a second look. She did, however, send a quick glare in Nick's direction. He shrugged it off, his jaw tightening as he remembered their last encounter.

Kiara scoffed, "You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch."

And even though she had definitely heard Kiara's comment, the Cameron girl didn't look back. Sometimes, Nick was really sick of how the Kooks thought themselves so much better than the Pogues. And why? Because they lived on the other side of the island? Because their parents were rich?

"C'mon, let's stop by my house so I can get my badge," JJ suggested, and John B quickly steered them away before the inevitable Kook versus Pogue rivalry could burn even brighter.

─── • ───

Once they had JJ's employee badge, they took the HMS Pogue back to the Chateau and all piled into the Twinkie. Stretched out in the backseat, Nick had lost track of what they'd been planning to do until they rolled to a stop and John B cut the engine. He looked out the window and saw that they had pulled into the hotel parking lot.

"All right, keep a lookout," JJ instructed from the front seat, taking his gun out from the glove compartment. He cocked it, and said, "We're behind enemy lines."

John B stared at him in distaste, "C'mon, man, just put it back."

"What?"

"You're not bringing a gun into a hotel full of people," Nick reached out and smacked him on the back of the head. "Are you trying to cause a scene? Sheriff Peterkin is already on our asses. Don't give her another reason to throw us all in jail, for fuck's sake."

"You can never be too careful," JJ shrugged.

Pope opened the back sliding door and climbed out to stand at the passenger window where JJ was sitting. "I predict that bringing a weapon to a four-star hotel will likely cause more problems than they solve."

"For once, I agree with Pope," Olivia joked, sliding out of the Twinkie and throwing an arm playfully around the Heyward boy.

Kiara leaned between the two front seats, "I swear to God, I'm gonna throw that thing in the ocean, JJ. Put it back."

When JJ still didn't make a move to put it away, John B reached over and snatched it from his hand. As the others climbed out of the back, the Routledge boy put the gun back in the glove box before getting out of the car. Like a sulking child, JJ relented and climbed out of the Twinkie to follow after them.

"So, where exactly are we going?" Nick questioned as they made their way up the front steps of the hotel.

"We're getting on the internet because only rich people have electricity right now," JJ rebuffed, clipping his employee card to his belt loop.

The Pogues followed him into the building, through the employee entrance at the back, and made their way through the operating hotel kitchen. Steam, loud utensils and the cooks shouting back and forth made it hard to think straight. But no one seemed to protest their passing presence, too occupied with the orders flooding in.

"See, they got backup generators going." JJ practically scoffed as they walked out into the hall. "Kooks don't miss a beat."

When they finally made it to the computer room, which was complete with a few screens and a steady wifi connection that was unaffected by Hurricane Agatha, they all let out a breath of relief. Once everyone was inside, JJ closed the door behind them.

"Sweet Lord, the internet!" Pope said excitedly, running over to the computers. "I've missed you."

"Let me get in there," JJ practically wrestled over the mouse and keyboard as he walked over. "Gotta check out my Instagram models."

Rolling her eyes, Olivia took a seat beside Pope. "We don't really have time for that, JJ."

"Here, I've got the map," John B dug through his bag, retrieving the parchment and leaving it on the desk in front of Pope. "Coordinates are: 34°57'30" north, 75°55'42" west."

As Pope hit Enter on the keyboard, the world spun on the Google Earth website, zooming in until it reached its destination. It wasn't too far, boating distance even.

"Boom! Continental shelf right there," John B said, pointing to the screen.

But Pope remained skeptical, and said, "Well, if it's off the deep end, it's not going to be much of a treasure hunt, is it?"

Eyes fixed on the screen, the Pogues watched in anticipation as Pope zoomed in, closer and closer.

"Shit, it's on the high side. But it's only nine-hundred feet," John B concluded with an excited look on his face.

"Oh, yeah, only nine-hundred feet. No problem at all," Nick's sarcasm was met by a subtle nod from JJ and pointed looks from Olivia, Pope and John B.

"Is that doable?" Kiara whispered, brows knitted together in confusion.

"Totally doable," JJ reassured her.

Pope turned in his chair and scoffed. "Yeah? Will we be taking your personal submarine, then?"

Nick couldn't help but laugh as he tacked on: "How do you know this, Mister Dive Master?"

"The salvage yard," JJ replied, matter-of-fact, "They've got a drone that can drop a thousand feet. It has a three-sixty camera and everything. It's for, like, deep dives and stuff."

"It sounds exactly like what we need," Olivia stated in agreement. She was willing to do anything to help John B find some ease over his dad's disappearance.

"Can your dad get his grimy little hands on that?" John B questioned, clearly not convinced.

"Well, my dad's grimy little hands got his ass fired," JJ informed them all. "I guess the salvage captain frowns upon showing up shitfaced, turns out. But the drone's still there. It's in the impound yard out back."

"How much did you say was on the Royal Merchant again?" Kiara asked, shuffling in her chair and tucking a few curls behind her ear.

"Four-hundred mil," John B and JJ said at the same time.

"Right, that's all I needed to hear," Nick whistled, and he stood up from his chair and put a hand on JJ's shoulder. "Lead the way to the impound yard. We're getting that drone."

Kiara was up as well, following quickly behind the Warren boy, though Pope had somehow beaten them all to the door. The Heyward boy stood in front of the exit, his arms extended out to keep his friends from passing.

"No, absolutely not," Pope told them firmly. "No, no!"

Walking over, Kiara stopped in front of him. "Pope! Move."

Grabbing ahold of his arm, Olivia, with the help of Kiara, pulled the boy out of the way. "Sorry, Pope, but it's five against one," the Warren girl concluded.

Together, they all walked out the door and made a dash out of the hotel. On the way out, Pope shook his head bitterly, and said, "Can't we do anything legal for money?"

"Maybe," Nick threw an arm around his friend's shoulder as they walked back to the Twinkie, "but where's the fun in that?"

─── • ───

author's note:
*this chapter was not proof read*

we're BACK baby! excited to welcome the new year with this long-awaited update! so sorry that I left you guys hanging, but I had a lot going on... I hope you can forgive me <3

I'm hoping to update this a lot more in the new year!

[insert begging for comments and votes here]

love you guys <3 happy new year!

xo, selena

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