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''You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch!''

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I LEANED BACK next to Kiara, adjusting my sunglasses as the two of us stretched out on the deck, letting the heat seep into our skin. I had my scarlet bikini on, and I could feel the sun warming every inch of me, the ocean breeze making the air bearable.

JJ's whistle broke the quiet, pulling our attention toward him as he squinted into the distance. ''You guys see that?'' he asked.

I followed his gaze and spotted a sleek, shiny boat in the distance.

''That's the Malibu 24-MXZ,'' JJ announced, practically salivating as he watched the boat glide along. ''The world's finest wakesetter. Number one in luxury, quality, and performance.''

JJ leaned back, tipping his sunglasses down just enough to admire the vessel. ''200k, easy.''

Pope shook his head, scoffing slightly. ''We definitely picked the wrong parents.''

''Hate to break it to you guys, but that's Topper and his girlfriend,'' Kiara pointed out, nodding toward the boat. Her voice held that mix of disgust and annoyance that always came up around Kooks.

Topper, I thought bitterly. The guy was practically born in a polo shirt. I rolled my eyes as Kiara called out to them, ''You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch!''

Kiara and I exchanged grins, bumping fists as Topper pretended to ignore us. Just another day of keeping the Pogue-Kook rivalry alive.

A few minutes later, we were pulling into the dock. Kiara and I slipped back into our matching shorts and crop tops, the two of us sharing a quick glance as we hopped onto the land. JJ and John B were already scrambling into the van, with JJ immediately reaching for his gun.

''All right, keep a lookout,'' JJ instructed as he reloaded. ''We're behind enemy lines.''

I watched him. ''Do you really think you need that thing?''

John B looked like he'd already given up on the argument. ''Yo, come on, man. Just put it back.''

''You can never be too careful,'' JJ muttered, sounding as if he were in some spy movie.

''I predict that bringing a weapon to a four-star hotel will likely cause more problems than it solves,'' Pope chimed in, resting a hand on the door with a skeptical look.

''Thank you, Pope,'' John B muttered under his breath, clearly as done with JJ's antics as the rest of us.

Kiara glared at JJ, hands on her hips. ''Swear to God, I'll throw that thing in the ocean. Put it back!''

With a sigh, John B leaned over and wrestled the gun away, tucking it safely out of JJ's reach. ''There you go,'' he said satisfied.

JJ rolled his eyes, but didn't fight it. ''Fine. But you don't just grab a gun like that.'' He shook his head, clearly annoyed but moving on. ''Can't forget my badge, though,'' he added, holding up a fake ID with a smirk. ''Professional busboy.''

''So, where are we going now?'' Pope asked as we started walking toward the hotel.

JJ grinned, his eyes lighting up with excitement. ''We're getting on the internet, because only rich people have electricity right now.'' He led the way as we sneaked through the back entrance, slipping through the kitchen.

''Andrew!'' JJ greeted one of the kitchen staff, as if they were best friends. ''What's up, bro?'' he added, snatching a shrimp off a passing plate.

Kiara swatted at him with a wooden spoon, but that didn't stop him from taking the shrimp. Taking advantage of the distraction, I swiped a shrimp myself, whispering a quick ''Thanks, Andrew,'' before hurrying to catch up with the others.

JJ led us into a small room at the back, where a computer hummed softly on the desk. ''Sweet Lord, the internet!'' Pope practically dove toward the computer, like a kid who'd just been handed candy.

''Let me in there,'' JJ cut in, nudging Pope out of the way. ''Gotta check out my insta models.''

''You could pull in real life,'' I smirked crossing my arms. ''No need to waste time on that.''

Kiara huffed in agreement. ''And we don't have time for that anyway.''

John B's voice cut in, sounding excited as he unfolded a worn map onto the table. ''Hey, I got the map!''

''Coordinates, please?''

''34° 57' 30" north, 75° 55' 42" west,'' he read, leaning over Pope as he typed it into the computer.

''Boom, continental shelf right there,'' Pope announced as the computer zoomed in.

JJ leaned closer, squinting at the screen. ''Only 900 feet. That's not too deep.''

Kiara arched an eyebrow. ''So, is that doable?''

''Totally doable,'' JJ nodded confidently.

''And you'll be taking us in your personal submarine?'' Pope asked, eyebrow raised skeptically.

John B smirked, giving JJ a pointed look. ''How do you know this, Mr. Dive Master?''

JJ shrugged, nonchalant. ''Salvage yard. They got a drone that can go a thousand feet, with a 360 camera and everything. It's perfect.''

''And can your dad get his hands on that?'' John B pressed, eyeing him.

JJ sighed. ''My dad got fired. Guess the salvage captain frowns on showing up shitfaced. But the drone's still there—in the impound yard out back.''

''How much did you say was on the Royal Merchant again?'' Kiara asked.

''400 mil,'' John B and JJ chimed in at the same time, grinning.

Pope's face turned serious, and he moved in front of the door, crossing his arms. ''Absolutely not. Guys, this is insane!''

Kiara rolled her eyes, giving him a light shove. ''Move, Pope!''

''Come on,'' I urged, already feeling the adrenaline building as we all dashed out, Pope reluctantly following behind.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

JOHN B STEERED the van toward the salvage yard, his fingers drumming on the wheel as we rattled down the dusty road. I watched Pope in the back, looking deep in thought, while JJ rolled a joint beside him.

''Pope, we are not stealing the drone,'' John B announced. ''We're just borrowing it.''

Pope looked up, raising an eyebrow. ''Humans are the only animals that can't tell fantasy from reality.''

JJ blinked, pulling his attention from the joint in his hand. ''Wait, did you come up with that?''

''Albert Einstein came up with that,'' Pope clarified, ''but it applies to this whole treasure-hunting thing.''

I watched the way his eyes lit up as he spoke; Pope always had that spark when he explained something interesting. He was passionate, sure, and a lot smarter than he let on.

''So, which is it?'' Pope turned to John B. ''Fantasy, or reality?''

JJ just rolled his eyes. ''Why are you so weird, Pope?''

I couldn't help but interject. ''He's not weird; he's just smarter than you.''

Pope cracked a small smile at my defense. JJ, naturally, wasn't impressed. ''Yeah, yeah. Smart guy.''

Kiara leaned forward, studying John B. ''It's fantasy... but possible reality.''

John B smiled. ''Reality.''

''Virtual reality,'' JJ added, lighting his joint.

I grabbed the joint from him, but before I could even take a puff, Pope quickly reached over and put it out.

''Keep the signal clear,'' he insisted, as serious as ever.

JJ rolled his eyes but leaned back with a smirk. ''You know what your problem is?'' he shot at Pope.

''You?'' Pope replied flatly.

''No! It's that you need to relax, man! You're always so tense!'' JJ looked as if he truly believed he was doing Pope a favour.

Pope shook his head. ''I'm not too tense!''

I piped up, giving Pope a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ''He's not too tense, he's just not impulsive like you.''

Pope nodded at me appreciatively. ''See? Thank you.''

JJ smirked, leaning over to Kiara. ''Hey, Kie! Keep the man busy!''

Kiara rolled her eyes but played along. ''I will!''

I shot JJ a side-eye. ''That's just because you know you're quite reactive,'' he remarked, trying to exlain why he asked Kie instead of me.

He flinched dramatically when I lifted my hand to adjust my hair, making Pope chuckle.

Finally, we arrived at the salvage yard. The plan was straightforward: Kiara would distract the security guard while we made a break for the drone. We waited, crouched down behind a stack of rusty old car parts.

''How's it going with Kiara?'' Pope asked, nudging John B.

John B let out a chuckle. ''It's not awkward, weird, or anything.'' 

JJ grinned. ''Honestly, I didn't think you were actually gonna listen to me.''

''What?'' John B asked looking at him.

''I was 100% sure she was into you man... Pope and Mimi would agree.'' JJ looked at us both.

''Eh...'' Pope shook his head before looking back at me. I mean Kiara did kiss him on the cheek one time, I don't think I'd do that to someone I don't like.

''Yeah I think.'' I hesitated.

"So, like, Kie, she, like, definitely gave you the Heisman?" JJ turns to his best friend.

''Oh, no question. Yup.''

''Gotcha,'' JJ chuckled, glancing at Kiara from afar.

Pope cut in thoughtfully, ''Maybe she's just into somebody else.''

Before we could question him, Kiara gave us the signal. ''Go, go, go, go!'' she hissed.

The four of us sprinted toward the shed, hearts pounding as we moved fast, hoping security would stay occupied long enough. JJ tried the lock, fumbling with a scrap of paper where he'd scribbled the code.

''Do you have the right numbers?'' Pope asked, anxiously glancing over his shoulder.

''All right, so I might have the wrong numbers,'' JJ shrugged, looking slightly panicked.

''Ah, damn it!'' Pope exclaimed, just as we heard the sound of paws hitting the gravel. My stomach dropped when I saw a large dog charging right for us.

''Oh! Hey! Hey, hey,'' JJ tried to coax the dog, but John B took off in the opposite direction.

''That's a cougar. Never mind!'' 

''No, stay there! Good boy. No, you're okay,'' JJ said with a forced grin, backing away. Then, seeing the dog wasn't going to be easily charmed, he took off.

Pope stepped in front of me, clutching a rusty pipe he'd grabbed from the ground. ''Back off! Back off! Back off!'' he shouted, flailing wildly making the dog run after JJ.

I slapped his arm lightly, rolling my eyes. ''Really? With a pipe?''

Pope shrugged, glancing at the dog chasing after JJ before looking back at me. ''What else did you want me to do?''

I smirked. ''Actually, good point. Thank you for your service.''

He nodded with a satisfied grin.

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AFTER THE CHAOTIC drone chase, we pulled up to the Wreck in the Twinkie, our van rumbling to a halt in front of the beachside bar. Kiara stepped out first, stretching her arms overhead.

''Stealing drones makes you hungry,'' she remarked, glancing back at us with a smirk.

JJ sighed, leaning against the van. ''What I would do to a beer and some shrimp and grits right now...'' His eyes glazed over, clearly daydreaming about food.

Pope rolled his eyes. ''Trust me, it wouldn't be pretty.''

We walked into the Wreck and saw Kiara's dad, Mike, behind the bar, wiping down a glass. Kiara made her way over to him, pulling him into a quick hug, and exchanged a few words with him. The rest of us hovered awkwardly by the corner, unsure whether to sit or keep standing, but we each offered a little wave of acknowledgment. JJ threw in a two-finger peace sign, earning a small nod from Mike.

When Kiara returned, she jerked her thumb at a booth. ''Sit down, guys.''

The moment we dropped into the seats, John B. leaned back with a deep, satisfied groan. ''Oh,'' he breathed, shutting his eyes as if just sitting down was a luxury.

The food eventually arrived—plates piled with fries, grilled shrimp, and steaming, buttery grits. We dug in, passing plates and trading bites. Everyone seemed a little more relaxed now.

Out of nowhere, Kiara sprang up, grinning mischievously, and crooked her finger at John B. ''Come on, show me those dance moves,'' she teased.

John B. glanced around, slightly caught off guard, but quickly surrendered with a shrug and let her pull him up. They moved to a space near the jukebox, bobbing along to the distant beat of the music playing softly in the background. 

JJ watched them for a second before shooting me and Pope a look. ''All right, guess it's time for the singles' dance.'' Without waiting, he tugged both of us to our feet and out to the same space, creating a trio next to John B. and Kiara. Pope chuckled, a bit out of rhythm, and even I couldn't help but laugh as JJ spun me around, almost losing his footing in the process.

''Careful, JJ,'' I teased, catching him before he stumbled.

He straightened, giving me an exaggerated wink. ''It's all part of the charm, Mavie.''

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