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'You know what the key is here? You've just gotta make it a little janky, and he does it for you. I love you, Pope.''

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THE BANK WAS cold, the kind of air-conditioned chill that made goosebumps rise on your arms no matter how warm it was outside. The gold sat heavily on the counter, glinting under the fluorescent lights. My heart thudded as the man behind the desk meticulously weighed the bars. 

''Twenty pounds,'' he announced, peering at the numbers with a precision that made me nervous for no reason. ''Ninety-eight-point-five percent... gold.''

''And that translates to...?'' John B asked.

The man looked up, his expression a mixture of awe and professionalism. ''This is money. A whole lot of money.''

It took a second for the words to sink in. John B let out a loud whoop, pulling me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. JJ was next, grabbing both of us and spinning us around like we'd just won the lottery, which, in a way, we had.

''This is insane!'' JJ hollered, his grin wide enough to split his face. He held up his arm, the bracelet I made for him catching the light as he moved. ''Mimi, JB, we're rich!''

''Calm down, JJ,'' Kiara teased, though her smile was just as big. She stood slightly off to the side, her arms crossed but her eyes sparkling. ''You're acting like we can buy a whole island.''

''Why not?'' JJ shot back, winking at her. ''Think big, Kie.''

Cleo let out a laugh, leaning casually against the counter. ''Man, you're all acting like you ain't never seen money before.''

''Not this much at once,'' Pope added, shaking his head, though even he couldn't hide his amazement. 

As the celebration swirled around me, I glanced down at my own bracelet, the one with JJ's and John B's initials separated by the little heart. I couldn't be happier with my new found family.

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I LEANED AGAINST the counter, watching John B fumble with the buttons on the ATM-like machine. The numbers flashed on the screen as his fingers hovered over the keypad.

''Moment of truth. All right,'' he declared. ''Pin is 0-0-0-0. Enter.'' He pressed the button with dramatic flair.

''You're kidding,'' Sarah deadpanned, her arms crossed and an unimpressed look on her face.

''What?'' John B turned to her, his brows furrowed.

''Tell me that's a temporary pin,'' Kie added.

John B shrugged casually. ''Well, I just thought nobody could guess that.''

''You need to change that immediately,'' Pope remarked, shaking his head.

''John B,'' Sarah muttered, her expression one of pure disapproval.

''Here it comes,'' JJ interrupted, practically vibrating with excitement as the receipt began printing. ''That's me. That's me.'' He lunged for it, only for John B to yank it away, holding it triumphantly above his head.

''It's not even the money. It's just the receipt,'' Pope pointed out, smirking at the ridiculousness of the scuffle.

''Okay, okay,'' John B announced, unfolding the slip of paper with a theatrical flair. ''Our joint account balance... after paying JJ's restitution at 10:04 a.m. on Tuesday...''

''Oh, come on, get on with it!'' Cleo urged, leaning forward impatiently.

''Our joint account balance is... one point one million, seventy-two thousand, five hundred and forty-nine dollars,'' John B finally revealed.

There was a moment of stunned silence, followed by a collective explosion of noise.

''You said mil?'' JJ asked, his jaw practically on the floor.

''Million?'' Pope echoed, his voice incredulous.

''With an M,'' John B confirmed, grinning ear to ear.

''That'll do it!'' Pope exclaimed, throwing his arms around John B.

''That'll do it!'' John B laughed, hugging him back as the rest of us broke into cheers.

The excitement spilled over, each of us shouting and celebrating, our voices overlapping in a chaotic symphony. JJ jumped onto a nearby bench, punching the air like he'd just won a championship.

''Okay, wait. Hear me out,'' JJ declared, his voice rising above the chaos. ''Rally truck with yellow LEDs to replace the Twinkie for right now.''

''No,'' I cut in firmly, crossing my arms. ''We're not getting rid of the Twinkie.''

''Yeah,'' John B chimed in, backing me up.

JJ groaned dramatically. ''But what about solar panels, maybe?'' Kie suggested, tilting her head thoughtfully. ''If it's in the budget.''

''And a bigger boat,'' Cleo added, smirking as she leaned back.

''Guys, hold on, hold on,'' Pope interjected, raising his hands to get our attention. ''It's not like we can all go off and buy houses or anything. I mean, split between all of us, that's about $211,000. Minus what we owe Barracuda Mike.''

''Let him try and take this. I'll mess him up,'' JJ threatened, puffing out his chest.

''Just gonna say it. I don't wanna piss off the drug dealer,'' John B remarked, his voice flat.

''Yeah, last time I ended up getting kidnapped, so,'' I added with a pointed look.

''Listen, if we divide this up, we're all gonna blow it,'' Pope stated, glancing meaningfully at JJ.

''Wow, okay. Why are you looking at me like that?'' JJ shot back, feigning offense.

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

''Like what?'' I asked, raising an eyebrow.

''You remember the island,'' Pope began.

''Duh,'' Kie chuckled.

''Of course,'' Sarah chimed in, her smile softening.

''I mean, it was our own island, and we built everything from basically nothing, right?'' Pope pressed, glancing around at each of us.

''It was perfect,'' Kie murmured, her expression dreamy.

''The best life,'' Cleo agreed, nodding.

''That whole island just to ourselves. All of us together,'' Sarah added wistfully.

Pope leaned forward. ''I think we can have that again. Right here. JJ's property is going up for auction, right? So let's buy it back.''

The group fell silent for a moment.

''I mean, look around,'' Pope continued. ''A lot of land. Deepwater access. 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. I think we can have both of those things here.''

He gestured toward the open space beyond the bank. ''First things first, we get the land, right? And then over there, we could build, like, a surf shop. And then maybe we can make our own dock.''

''This place needs a dock,'' Kie agreed, her eyes lighting up.

''Ooh, what about a bait and tackle shop?'' John B suggested, grinning.

''Exactly,'' Pope nodded, his excitement growing. ''And... and who knows these waters better than us? JJ, you can get a new boat and run a fishing charter. We can all live and sleep in the house.''

I found myself smiling, the idea of having a place we could all call home filling me with a sense of hope. ''It sounds... perfect,'' I admitted softly.

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''I'D LIKE TO remind you,'' the auctioneer began, ''the winner of this auction...''

''Listen up. Here's the plan,'' Pope murmured, leaning in slightly so we could all hear. ''We go up in one-dollar increments, all right? It's gonna take a while, but we're gonna need to save every cent for construction.''

''Pope's on point, JJ,'' Kie agreed.

''Yeah, yeah,'' JJ muttered, but I caught the twitch of his jaw. He hated playing by the rules when it came to situations like this.

Pope straightened, looking directly at him. ''Don't change the plan.''

The auctioneer cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to the podium. ''It is the foreclosure sale of 14 Rogers Point Road. Now, this is the old Maybank place. The bank has an opening bid for $80,000.''

''Here we go,'' Pope whispered, his hands gripping the sides of his jeans as if to keep them steady.

The auctioneer's voice rolled out. ''Looking for 81. I've got $80,000 going once.''

Pope raised his hand. ''$80,000 and one dollar.''

The auctioneer gave a quick nod. ''Okay. One dollar more at $80,001.''

''$80,500,'' a sharp voice called out from the other side of the crowd.

''$80,500. Right here at $80,500,'' the auctioneer repeated, scanning the crowd for more bidders.

''It's okay. Pope's got it,'' Kie said softly, offering a reassuring smile as JJ started shifting on his feet.

But just as Pope opened his mouth to speak, JJ stepped forward. ''$100K flat out. Right here.''

My stomach sank, and I heard Pope let out a sharp breath beside me.

''$100,000 right here to the gentleman in red,'' the auctioneer announced with a wide smile.

''Hey, what are you doing?'' Pope hissed.

JJ shrugged, not bothering to look at him. ''Just a knockout punch. Knockout punch and we're a wrap.''

''That's not the plan. That's not the plan,'' Pope seethed.

''I got the shit done,'' JJ retorted.

The auctioneer continued, his voice rising. ''I've got $100,000 right here, going once, $100,000 going twice...''

''$150K,'' another bidder interrupted.

''$150,000 from Mr. Zeasy. Good to see you, Dale, at 150,'' the auctioneer confirmed, gesturing toward a man who stepped forward, his posture smug as he locked eyes with JJ.

''Good to see you, Rog. Just give me a minute here, would ya?'' Dale said, striding over.

He stopped a few feet from JJ, tilting his head slightly. ''You know, uh, the Cut's gonna be Figure Eight in a few years,'' Dale remarked, his tone oozing condescension. ''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.''

JJ's jaw tightened as he squared his shoulders. ''Dale, was it?''

''That's correct,'' Dale replied, his smirk widening.

''It's not happening, hoss,'' JJ shot back. ''Let's play ball.''

The bidding escalated rapidly from there, numbers being thrown around faster than I could process. Pope's face grew more alarmed with every step, and even Sarah reached out to touch JJ's arm.

''This is way over our price range,'' Pope muttered.

''Will you make him stop, please?'' Sarah urged, looking to John B for help.

John B moved toward JJ, speaking in a low tone. ''Hey. Please. It's too much.''

But JJ brushed him off, his voice firm. ''Just let me handle this. I've got it. I got it.'' He raised his hand again. ''$775,010 right here, sir.''

''$775,010 to the gentleman in red,'' the auctioneer called.

''Oh my God!'' Pope exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

''That's too rich for my blood, Rog,'' Dale remarked, stepping back with a shrug.

''$775,010 bidder, looking for 8. That's $775,010 going once... going twice... last and final call...''

The auctioneer paused for dramatic effect. ''Sold right here to the gentleman in red. Congratulations!''

A ripple of murmurs swept through the crowd. ''Can you believe they paid that much?'' someone whispered.

''Those guys got fleeced,'' another chimed in.

JJ turned to Dale, extending his hand with a wide grin. ''Well, it is to us, sir,'' he remarked. ''Now, if you can scurry off to your side of the island and stay there, that'd be appreciated.''

As Dale walked off, JJ threw his arms into the air, letting out a triumphant cheer. ''I get shit done! We got it! That's all that matters!''

I glanced at Pope, who was pinching the bridge of his nose. ''33% above market value,'' he muttered under his breath. ''Wildly overpaid. That's, like, all the money.''

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JJ RIPPED THE yellow tape off the doorway with an exaggerated flourish, his movements dramatic as if he were unveiling some grand masterpiece. The tape fluttered to the ground, catching on the edge of the porch railing. He turned to face the rest of us, arms wide like he was presenting treasure.

''Ladies and gentlemen,'' JJ declared, ''I christen the Poguelandia 2.0.'' He stepped up onto the creaky porch and gestured to the ramshackle house behind him.

Kiara raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. ''We're actually gonna live here?'' she asked as her gaze flickered over the peeling paint and cracked windows.

JJ shot her a look, grinning as if he saw something none of us could. ''Fix it up, won't even recognize it,'' he promised, giving the porch post a confident pat, though it wobbled slightly under his hand.

''Let's turn this piece of shit into our home,'' JJ added.

John B nodded, his expression softening with a small smile. ''Yeah.''

''We're home, y'all,'' JJ saluted dramatically, stepping back as though he'd completed some great deed.

I couldn't help but whisper, ''That's gonna be hard.'' The house looked barely standing, like one wrong move might bring the whole thing down.

JJ caught my words and turned toward me, rolling his eyes as he pointed at Pope, Cleo, Sarah, and me standing in a cluster. ''Or instead of complaining, you all go and get some cheap stuff while we clean this place up?'' He motioned between himself, John B, and Kiara.

I let out a low grumble, crossing my arms. ''Okay, fine, whatever. Quit the attitude,'' I replied, my voice clipped as I turned toward the path leading back to the main road.

''Whatever, quit the attitude,'' JJ mimicked in a high-pitched voice, earning a chorus of laughs from John B and Kie.

I spun halfway back, glaring over my shoulder. ''I can still hear you!''

''I can still hear you!'' JJ mocked again, his voice even higher this time, holding his hand up to his ear theatrically.

Letting out a resigned sigh, I shook my head and kept walking.

The shop was dimly lit, the faint smell of old wood and saltwater hanging in the air. Shelves were cluttered with random odds and ends—some of it useful, most of it junk. Sarah was scanning the corner when her eyes landed on a beat-up old cooler tucked near the back.

''What about this old cooler?'' she asked, nudging it with her foot.

The shopkeeper leaned over from the counter. ''If you can haul it off, you can have it,'' he replied with a shrug.

Sarah's brows lifted in surprise. ''Really?''

The man chuckled. ''Things are getting harder on this island. Gonna need all the help you can get.''

Sarah hesitated. ''Are you sure there's nothing we can give you for it?''

The shopkeeper waved her off with a dismissive hand. ''Please, it's my contribution to your little venture.''

I exchanged a look with Cleo, who shrugged. ''Score,'' Sarah whispered, her grin spreading as we moved to pick up the cooler.

''Thank you,'' the three of us chimed, carefully lifting the cooler and heading toward the door.

Pope lingered behind for a moment, slipping a few bills under a salt shaker on the counter. ''We'll take good care of it,'' he promised the man.

''Have a good one!'' Sarah called as we exited.

By the time we got back to the house, the others were already deep into their respective projects. JJ was on the dock, barking orders with all the authority of someone who didn't really know what they were doing but wasn't about to admit it.

''Over there! Let it go!'' Cleo hollered, her hands cupped around her mouth as she waved toward Buffy. ''Let it go! Hey! Yo!''

''I'm by no means any expert, but...'' Kiara began, squinting at the dock.

''That shit don't look right,'' John B finished for her, shaking his head.

''How much weed did he smoke?'' Sarah asked, stepping up beside them, her arms crossed. ''You didn't think to maybe give it to him after?''

John B raised an eyebrow. ''Maybe like a reward system?''

JJ, who was holding a rusted pole, shrugged unapologetically. ''He was gonna be baking either way. You can't stop Curry from shooting.''

''Yo, Buff! Get it together, bro!'' Cleo called out.

Buffy teetered near the edge of the dock, the pole slipping from his grasp into the water. ''Help!'' he screamed, flailing as he stumbled.

''Buff! Come on, get it together! Get out!'' JJ hollered, running toward him.

Soon after, we all got to work together to patch up the dock.

''I need some more nails,'' Kiara called out, brushing her hair out of her face with her wrist.

''You got the other end?'' JJ asked, leaning over the side of the dock to check the alignment.

''Yeah,'' John B confirmed.

JJ shook his arm, grimacing. ''Working on a cramp. Working on a cramp.''

Pope frowned as he walked over, inspecting JJ's work. ''No, dude. Do that again,'' he instructed, his tone sharp.

JJ straightened. ''Why?''

''Because it's not right, okay?'' Pope replied firmly.

JJ waved him off. ''It's fine.''

''It can't just be fine,'' Pope argued, stepping in to redo the section. ''This isn't just like a school project, man. This is our dock, right?''

JJ groaned dramatically. ''Yeah.''

''Our dream,'' Pope pressed.

JJ threw his hands up in mock surrender. ''Yeah, it is,'' he mumbled under his breath, clearly mocking Pope.

Pope ignored him, his focus on making the dock as perfect as possible.

''You know what the key is here?'' JJ said, his tone playful as he patted Pope on the shoulder. ''You've just gotta make it a little janky, and he does it for you. I love you, Pope.''

Pope gave him a dry look. ''Sorry I want my dock to be safe.''

John B leaned back on his elbows, smirking. ''I feel safe. I feel... I feel so safe.''

The sun was relentless as it beamed down on the shop we'd been working on all morning. Sweat dripped down my back, but I ignored it, standing a few feet away as JJ, John B, and Pope tied the last knot on the roof beams. It wasn't glamorous, but it was ours, and that thought alone made the effort worth it.

''Damn, that looks good,'' John B remarked, stepping back with a grin as he admired the new roof.

''One, two, three!'' Cleo counted, and together, we heaved the rope to hang the giant fake shark upside down from the shop's awning. The shark swung slightly before settling.

Cheers erupted as we tied it off.

''Bring it on home, John B!'' JJ yelled, hyping him up as they moved to raise the Poguelandia flag.

John B adjusted the flagpole while JJ pulled the rope to lift the flag. ''Come on, get her up there,'' John B encouraged, shielding his eyes from the sun to watch it rise.

When it unfurled and caught the breeze, the Poguelandia logo stood bold and proud against the bright blue sky.

''She looks good,'' John B said, the pride in his voice.

The shop was open now, but the grand reveal hadn't exactly drawn in a crowd. Inside, we were sprawled out, waiting, the slow moments stretching into boredom.

Pope sat in the corner, his nose buried in a thick book, flipping the pages occasionally. JJ and John B were stretched out on a bench, heads tilted back, fast asleep. Cleo leaned against the counter, tapping her fingers idly, while Sarah and Kie stood by the open door, staring out at the water.

''It's a nice