CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
plan in motion

     THE DRIVE TO the chateau with Juno was far from silent. For the entire journey from Figure Eight to The Cut, the two girls were catching up about everything the other had seemed to miss during the time they spent apart from each other. Nova will be honest, she didn't realise she had missed so much, especially during the last twenty four hours because even after hearing every last detail, the young blonde was still reeling from the news that seemed to fly out of Juno O'Connell's mouth like rapid wildfire.

For starters, after the group of Pogues left Midsummers last night so John B could collect some sort of map from Sarah, Topper of all people pushed the Pogue boy off the Birds Nest in the midst of a violent thunderstorm, almost killing John B in the process. Nova was horrified to say the least. Learning that your friend almost killed someone wasn't exactly good news to hear. But part of Nova understood his anger towards both John B. Sarah did cheat on him after all. However, John B could have still died. He could be dead right now and it would have been all Topper's fault.

Much like many of her friends, Nova was beginning to question whether she really knew them, or were they just painting on a facade to make her like them?

Shortly after John B's accident, everyone soon learned that the Pogue boy was going to be living with the Cameron family, which was even more shocking than the first thing Juno had informed her about. Nova was surprised because she didn't exactly peg Ward Cameron as the type to take strays off of the streets and invite them into his home.

     But she didn't think it was worth questioning.

Juno even filled Nova in on the Pogues most recent discovery in their hunt for the treasure they had all become so desperate to find. It turns out that a man, Denmark Tanny, took the gold from the Royal Merchant before it sunk to the bottom of the sea and made his fortune. Before he died, he left a coded message to his son telling him where the gold was, and it just so happened that millions worth of pure gold was buried underneath the old Crain Estate.

You know, the place where the murderous old lady lived? That one.

So in other words. . . Nova was not prepared to die at the hands of an evil old lady, and yes, she believed the stories. She wasn't an idiot.

And since they made a promise to stop lying to each other, Nova was discovering a lot about Juno that she didn't know before. One of those things being her secret relationship with the one and only Kiara Carrera. Sure, Nova had her suspicions about the two girls, especially since she had seen how close they had become since returning home from her trip. But it was still a surprise to learn the truth about the girls and their dirty little secret. Not only was Nova totally clueless, but so were the rest of their friends. Juno had mentioned the reasoning behind keeping their relationship a secret, and it had to do with a very important rule.

No Pogue on Pogue mackin'.

Nova honestly believed the rule was relatively stupid, especially since, one: neither Juno or Kiara were actually Pogues. They were both Kooks living on the rich side of town instead. And two: can you really expect a group of super hot and hormonal teenagers to not act on their greatest and deepest desires?

     However, Nova understood and supported her best friend with her newfound romance with the Carrera girl, expressing that as long as Juno was happy then she had nothing to worry about.

     Speaking of the famous Kiara Carrera, after the long drive to the chateau that resided all the way in The Cut, the group linked up outside of John B's home to discuss whether they should allow Sarah Cameron to join their hunt for the Royal Merchant gold. Nova didn't really protest against it. She had no need to, especially since Sarah was her childhood best friend ( and practically a sister to her ). Nova thought Sarah tagging along with the rest of them was the first chance for both of their worlds to collide — Pogues and Kooks working together for one thing: to find the gold.

     But it was safe to say not everyone was on board with that idea.

     "No effing way!" Kiara exclaimed loudly, pacing back and forth across the porch of the chateau for a moment, before she stood beside Juno, her eyes narrowing into a sharp glare whilst her eyes flicker between John B and Sarah. "You brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?" She questioned, making it clear that she wasn't happy with the idea of Sarah joining the treasure hunt, expressing her disdain.

     Nova was seated next to Sarah on the incredibly comfortable sofa, her blue eyes darting back and forth between Kiara and the blonde sitting beside her. Nova could tell Sarah had already grown fed up, but she didn't look surprised either, almost like she expected this kind of reaction from the Carrera girl.

     John B simply shrugged his shoulders and turns attention to glance between JJ and Pope, and Nova quickly caught onto what the boy was trying to do. He was hoping the boys would back him up since they weren't exactly biased on the idea like Kiara was. This caused for Nova sigh heavily, rolling her eyes in the process, knowing that if JJ or Pope chose John B's side over Kiara's, then there was bound to be more problems amongst the group.

     However, both JJ and Pope shrug their shoulders in response, whilst JJ parts his lips to speak. "Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share." The blond informs them.

     A bitter chuckle escapes past Kiara's lips, the girl turning back around to face John B. "The last time I checked, this doesn't concern her." She argued, shaking her head in the process. "This was always our thing, okay? A Pogue thing." Kiara then added, emphasising her last few words in hopes that it would get the point across.

Sarah shrugged her shoulders, staring daggers straight back at Kiara. "Nova and Juno are here, and the last time I checked, you're not a Pogue, Kiara." She pointed out, causing for a crushing wave of silence to flood the air.

Nova's eyes began to flicker between Sarah and Kiara for a short moment, before she sighed, parting her lips once again to speak. "She does have a point." She muttered underneath her breath, the sight of Kiara's disappointed face being enough to make Nova lower her gaze to stare at her hands.

"There's a huge difference. Juno and I are more like Pogues than stuck up Kooks." Kiara retorted, glaring down at the Kook Princess with an irritated look glazed over her dark eyes. "And Nova's here because the Royal Merchant had something to do with Riley." She elaborated further, the mention of her brother causing for Nova to lift her gaze and glance over at the Carrera girl.

     Juno then sighed loudly. "Well, I haven't got a problem with Sarah being here." She confessed, finally speaking up, causing for Kiara to narrow her eyes at the girl standing beside her.

     "Whose side are you on here?" Kiara argued, appearing seemingly unhappy with the girl. Juno simply shrugged her shoulders before a moment of overwhelming silence began to flood the air in the process.

     "I gotta say, I'm just a tad uncomfortable with all of this." Pope confessed, a look of uncertainty plastered across his face.

     A surprised look washed over John B's face, staring back at Pope with shock. "When are you not uncomfortable?" John B questioned.

     "I dunno." Pope argued, locking eyes with the boy. "I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably."

     Silenced briefly filled the air for a moment, all eyes slowly drifting to the blond, waiting for him to confirm what Pope had just told them. JJ then nodded his head. "It's true. Most relaxed I've ever seen him." He confirmed, seemingly unbothered by everything else happening around him.

     "You know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her." Kiara spoke up once again, nodding her head towards the blonde girl sitting opposite her.

     "Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Sarah yelled at Kiara, her eyes flickering back over to her for a moment, before she turned her head to the side to glance at John B, a scoff escaping past her lips. "I told you."

     A frown plasters across Kiara's face, her lips parting to speak. "Told John B what exactly?" She questioned, pausing for a moment with her brows knitting together in confusion. "That you're a liar...manipulator—"

     "No, that you're a shit-talking bitch!" Sarah snapped at Kiara, her words making JJ whip out some money and hand it over to Pope, the two boys placing bets on the girls, earning a disapproving look from Nova in response.

     The second those words left Sarah's lips, her and Kiara began to shout cursed words and profanities towards one another. And despite the hurtful words Kiara threw in the blonde's direction, Sarah stood her ground and began to shout back, defending herself against the Carrera girl. And the argument continued that way for a while, nothing else being heard other than the constant name calling, the bitchy attitude bouncing back to the other.

     It was beginning to give Nova a headache.

     "Everybody shut up!" John B shouted, and within seconds, the argument between the two girls began too slowly die down. Once it was quiet, John B began to speak once again. "Kie, you are my best friend. And Sarah, you're..." John B trailed off, a nervous chuckle slipping past his lips. "You're my..."

     Sarah smiled warmly at John B, the blonde beginning to nod her head. "Say it." She told him in a reassuring manner.

     John B smiled back at the girl. "You're my girlfriend."

     Kiara groaned in annoyance, the girl leaning back on the railing on the porch with a look filled with frustration evident in her dark eyes. "She's your girlfriend now?" Kiara questioned, a look of disbelief plastered across her face. "What was all that talk about you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose." Kiara continued to speak, her words causing for a shocked expression to wash over her face.

     A hurt look washed over Sarah's face, causing for Nova to send her a sympathetic look, whilst Sarah turned her head to stare at John B. "You said you were using me?" Sarah asked, her voice a little shaky with a saddened look glazed over her eyes.

     Nova frowned at him. "You said you were using her?" She repeated in a defensive tone, her harsh tone being enough to make JJ whistle from where he sat.

     John B shakes his head. "No—"

     "Yeah, you did." The rest of them say in chorus with one another, cutting John B off in the process.

     Juno then scoffed. "Dick move, John B." She muttered quietly under her breath.

     "Look, love just walked in, okay? I didn't expect it. It just...it kind of happened..." John B exclaimed, his words making Nova roll her eyes as she glanced at John B. Nova knew the girl was drop-dead gorgeous and anyone would easily fall for her. But Nova didn't expect John B of all people to say he was in love with the Kook Princess. "I'm not gonna deny it."

     Whilst JJ begins to fake retch, Pope laughs, "Oh, that's corny."

     "Look, cut the bullshit, John B. If she's in, I'm out." Kiara speaks up, the girl fed up with the constant back and forth debate on the matter.

     "I'm not doing this. I can't!" John B fires back, shaking his head in response.

     Kiara shoots John B a look. "I'm very interested, actually. Me or her?"

     "Both."

     Soon after John B had given them his answer, Nova sighed to herself whilst Kiara glared at the boy, before she storms off, walking down the porch steps and down the path with frustration rushing through her bloodstream. Nova could tell Kiara had to get away before she did or said something she would eventually regret. She wasn't the only one either. It didn't take long for Sarah to stand up and leave, walking into the opposite direction of Kiara, leaving the others to try and get away from all the drama.

     Truthfully, Nova Van Kirk wanted to do the same, but stayed anyways.

As time began to pass, Nova and the others had settled down inside the. The group huddled together in one room to discuss the best course of action in order to bring Sarah Cameron and Kiara Carrera together again, and hopefully force the two girls to solve their problems and maybe even become friends again. After careful consideration, John B and Pope had insisted that the rest of them listened to their "full proof" plan, the two boys fully convinced that it would work.

     "So, what is this amazing plan you've come up with?" Juno was the first to speak up, the girl pushing herself up so she could sit on top of the kitchen counter. "It better be something good since getting Sarah and Kie to be friends again seems literally impossible." She then commented.

     John B rolled his eyes, his lips parting so he could speak, "Do you seriously lack faith in me, Juno O'Connell?" He inquired.

     Nova hummed quietly, before modding her head. "Yeah, I do, actually." She replied, earning a nudge from Nova in response, the girl glancing at her best friend for a moment, before she turned her attention back to John B.

     "What's the plan, John B?" Nova asked curiously.

     "Well, I was thinking we trap Sarah and Kie on a boat together in the marsh with no way to get back to shore." John B announced, his vague explanation causing for Nova to furrow her brows together, a puzzled look evident in her eyes whilst Pope decided to cut in.

     "Okay, I'll probably sound better if I explain it." He spoke up, pausing for a brief moment, before he parted his lips to speak once again. "So, the plan is to trap Sarah and Kie together on my dad's boat. John B, JJ, and Nova, you guys will bring Sarah out onto the marsh. You guys act like the boat has broke down and then Juno and I will bring Kie to the boat, we trap them together in the marsh with no way back to shore overnight and hope that they become friends again by the next morning."

JJ cleared his throat, staring back at Pope with a weary look evident in his enchanting blue eyes. "Okay that's a good plan, but why do you need me and Nova there?" He asked, and Nova glanced at the blond boy for a moment, before she nodded her head, wondering the exact same thing.

"Well, we have to create a cover story behind our little trip out to the marsh." John B piped up, and Nova could easily spot the mischievous grin ghosting across his lips. "I'll tell Sarah it's a double date. Me and her, and you two." He informed the pair, the sudden news being enough to make both Nova and JJ stare back at the Routledge boy in surprise.

"What?" They both said in unison.

     Nova was surprised to say the least. Going on a double date with JJ of all people was the most unexpected thing to come out of John B's mouth, making Nova wonder if there was some devious undertones to his and Pope's genius plan. In her mind, JJ and her were just friends and even if she wanted it to be more ( which she definitely doesn't, she swears it ) having John B of all people set it up didn't make him some kind of mastermind by any means. In fact, it made him look foolish.

     Shaking her head, Nova gave her answer. "I get that having both Sarah and Kiara here on this treasure hunt is important, but we don't need to be dragged into this. Besides, Sarah will not fall for—"

     "Oh, she definitely will." Juno interjected, cutting the blonde off. This caused for Nova to glance at her best friend who was staring back at her with a ghost of a smirk across her lips, the girl wiggling her eyebrows in the process. Nova could tell Juno just loved the idea of her and JJ going on some fake date to trap Sarah and Kiara on the boat.

     Nova then sighed and turned her head to see JJ staring back at her, the boy shrugging his shoulders. "I'll do it if you do it." He told her, allowing Nova to make the final decision, everyone's eyes now on her.

     And after careful consideration, Nova let out a sigh filled with defeat and nodded her head. "Fine. I'll do it."

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     The plan was in motion.

     JJ had knocked on Nova's door early the next morning and dragged her out onto the boat in the afternoon alongside John B and Sarah. Nova was always good at lying. She was a drug addict who had to hide it from her family and closest friends, so of course she could lie her ass off if needed. Nova just hated lying to Sarah Cameron when it wasn't necessary, especially since she was lying to her friend about the devious and harsh plan the group had for her and Kiara.

     Nova just had to wait for John B and JJ to give her the signal to trap Sarah in a place where one, she wouldn't be able to escape from, and, two, where she wouldn't be able to see Kiara coming. The waiting game was the worse part, knowing it was nothing more than lying and stalling until she couldn't anymore.

     But at least she had a few distraction. One of them being the breathtaking sunset displayed in front of her crystal blue eyes.

     The sunset became more prominent as the yellow hue sky began to fade into a light tint of orange by the time John B announced the boat had broke down. Nova knew it was a lie but she had to play it cool if the plan was going to work. Nova was seated next to Sarah, their legs hanging over the edge of the boat, the girl shielding her eyes from the setting sun and looks further ahead to see the beautiful sunset in the distance, making Nova sigh at the sight, before she looked over her shoulder to see John B and JJ were talking back and forth with each other.

     The sight of a shirtless JJ was enough to make Nova swallow the thick lump forming in the back of her throat, her eyes wandering over the blond's abs whilst he stood with John B. It wasn't like this was the first time Nova had seen the boy shirtless in front of her, the girl knowing the boy could barely go a day without keeping his shirt on. But this time it was different because of her unknown and incredibly confusing feelings for JJ, the sight of his toned torso and sunkissed skin was enough to make Nova's hands dampen from nerves and her eyes wander for a little longer than usual, the girl beginning to feel things that she didn't originally feel for JJ before.

Unfortunately for her, Sarah Cameron was quick to pick up on Nova's sudden change in behaviour, her eyes flickering between the blonde sitting on the edge of the boat beside her and back over towards JJ, who Nova couldn't take her eyes off of. It didn't take a genius to realise that Nova was totally drooling over the blond surfer standing in the distance, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips whilst she continued to piece together the puzzle.

And that was when it clicked.

"JJ's the mystery guy?" Sarah gawked in surprise, her voice laced with excitement being enough to snap Nova out of her dazed state, her eyes widening as she turned her attention back to the blonde sitting beside her. "I mean, I was a little suspicious that you guys had something going on since John B said it was his idea to have you join the hunt for the gold."

Nova shook her head. "I told you there's no mystery guy." She denied.

"Okay, fine. He's not your mystery guy, but I am curious to know how you guys got so close." Sarah replied, a curious look twinkling in her dark eyes whilst she stared at Nova. "Before this summer, you guys barely knew each other and now you're hanging out twenty four seven, and let's not forget you keep drooling all over him." She elaborated further, raising a brow in the process.

"I do not drool." Nova scoffed, pausing briefly whilst she sighed in defeat, swallowing thickly before she parted her lips to speak. "Juno dragged me to a party at John B's chateau a couple of months ago. Rafe and I were on a break at the time, and she thought a party would take my mind off it. I saw JJ and one thing led to another, and we kinda, you know, hooked up." She explained, shrugging her shoulders in the process.

The second those words left Nova's lips, Sarah's dark eyes widened in shock. "Oh my God!" She gasped loudly, causing for Nova to shoot her friend a look. "Sorry. It's just you guys hooked up and you didn't tell me about it?" She interrogated further, knitting her brows together with a mix of confusion and hurt glimmering in her gaze.

"Well, it wasn't exactly the kind of news I wanted to put on blast." Nova answered. "Besides, JJ and I...we were drunk, we smoked some weed together and we were both grieving over Riley. It was a stupid mistake induced by drugs and alcohol. And now we're just good friends. Nothing more."

     In that very moment, Sarah noticed the way Nova looked over her shoulder to glance at JJ once again, her blue eyes softening at the sight of the blond haired boy in all his glory. Sarah has known Nova Van Kirk for a very long time ( they shared a crib together for christ sakes ) and she could tell Nova felt something a little bit more than friendship for the Maybank boy judging by the expression plastered across her face. This caused for Sarah to gently nudge Nova leg using her knee, causing for Nova to give the blonde her undivided attention.

     "But you want it to be." Sarah assumed, giving the girl a small half smile.

     Nova quickly realised what Sarah was indicating towards just by using a few words, realising her friend must have noticed the way she was staring at JJ.  Nova then sighed, lowering her gaze to look down at the ripples of murky blue water underneath her. "I don't know what I want." She muttered quietly, but loud enough for Sarah to hear.

     "Why not?" Sarah inquired. "You two clearly have a thing for each other. Why else would we be on this double date?"

     First of all, it's not a double date.

     Except Nova knew she couldn't tell the blonde that, so she inhaled sharply for a moment before parting her lips to speak once again. "Look, JJ and I's relationship is complicated, okay? After we hooked up, I hurt him over and over again to push him away, and, I guess, I'm scared of doing that again. Ever since Riley died, I've been on this path of self destruction and I'm worried that if I let him get too close then I'm just going to end up breaking his heart." She explained, tilting her head back up to lock eyes with Sarah, her blue eyes filled with sadness staring into Sarah's ones filled with pity.

     "Nova, you can't be scared of something that you may, or may not do." Sarah retorted, her soft and delicate voice being enough to ease some of Nova's worries.

"But it's not just about what I'm capable of." Nova argued back, a dull ache erupting in her chest when her mind flashed back to her last relationship and how it ended. "Rafe hurt me more times than I could probably count. He got me hooked onto drugs, he was never there for me in the way I needed him to be after Riley died, and if I did something he didn't like he would manipulate me into feeling guilty and sometimes do worse. Every guy I've been with has always found a way to hurt me one way or another, and I'm scared that—"

"JJ will do the same." Sarah interjected, cutting the girl off, her eyes flooding with sympathy.

Nova felt tears poke at her eyes, a burning sensation erupting when she tried to blink them away, the girl doing her best to stop her overwhelming emotions from going out of control. "I just don't think I'm ready to be with someone this soon after breaking up with Rafe." She finally confessed, relieved to finally get it off her chest and to confide in someone she knew she could trust.

     "Nova, I get it. I do." Sarah replied, nodding her head as a form of understanding. "Rafe treated you like shit, and I know because I was there every time he broke your heart. Finding out you guys broke up was honestly the best news I could have gotten since he's a complete dick."

     Nova let out a quiet chuckle. "He's your brother, Sarah." She reminded the girl.

     "He's still a dick." Sarah retorted, smiling back at Nova with a comforting smile ghosting across her lips. "And he didn't deserve someone as amazing as you." She then added in a reassuring tone.

     Nova sniffled and raised her hand to wipe away a tear that threatened to fall. "Thanks." She replied.

     "But you have to remember, Nova, that JJ isn't Rafe. He's the complete opposite. He cares about you more than Rafe ever did, and I know that's true because JJ was the one who got you clean in the first place. Rafe never did that for you because he preferred to see you fall apart instead of getting better." Sarah paused, reaching out and grabbing Nova's hand with her own. "No matter what, JJ was there for you when you needed him most, despite pushing him away as many times as you did. Nova, that boy is whipped for you."

     Nova frowned in response to Sarah's words. "You really think that?" She inquired.

     "I know that. And maybe you're not ready right now and that's okay, but take my word for it when I say that the day will come when you realise you and JJ are meant to be." Sarah elaborated, brushing her thumb gently over Nova's soft skin.

"Sarah, we work better as friends. I don't want to ruin that." Nova argued once again, shaking her head.

"Maybe..." The girl trailed off, before she leaned in closer towards Nova. "But friends don't look at each other the way you guys do."

     Nova continued to stare at Sarah for a swift moment, the thick air flooding with silence whilst the two girls continued to stare at one another. Nova even attempted to say something in response to Sarah's words, but before she could even get a word out herself, the familiar voice belonging to John B Routledge ripped through the silence.

     "Hey, Nova, Sarah!" John B called out, raising his voice for both of them to hear. This caused for Nova and Sarah to let go of each other's hands before they turn around to see what the boy wanted. "I was hoping you guys could go below the deck and take a look at something for us." He suggested, shooting Nova a look.

     That was when Nova realised what he was referencing towards, causing for the blonde to smile and nod her head. "Oh yeah! Come on." She said to Sarah, climbing over the edge before she made her way towards the door on the deck.

     "Why can't they do it?" Sarah groaned in annoyance, swinging her legs over before she followed after Nova. "What are we even looking for anyways?" She interrogated further, growing suspicious in the process.

     JJ nodded his head whilst Nova opened up the door. "You'll know it when you see it." He told them vaguely.

     "After you." Nova chimed, nodding her head down towards the dark abyss below the deck.

     Sarah stared at Nova and her smile for a moment, before she sighed in annoyance and began to walk down the steps leading her down below the deck. And when Nova realised Sarah was far enough into the darkness, the girl didn't even hesitate to slam the door shut, locking it soon afterwards. In a matter of seconds, loud banging echoed on the other side of the door, causing for Nova to back away and stand with JJ and John B.

"Nova!" Sarah's loud voice bellowed from underneath the deck, the girl continuing to slam her fists against the door. "Let me out!" She then yelled, trying to make her voice heard.

"I can't. Believe it or not I'm doing this for your own good." Nova replied, raising her voice slightly so Sarah could hear her. "And I wouldn't even bother making that much noise. No one's letting you out."

Right on cue, the HMS Pogue appeared in the distance, the small boat making its way through the marsh and even closer towards Heyward's boat, and soon after the second boat appeared, Sarah's desperate attempts to get herself out of the sticky situation she was in came to an end. Nova knew she must have given up after what she said to her only seconds before.

A few minutes later, the HMS Pogue came to a stop, causing for Kiara to climb out of the first boat and into the second one, the girl making her way across the deck. "What happened?" Asked Kiara the second she entered the Alp, the girl brushing past Nova.

     JJ then cleared his throat and nodded his head. "Uh, the alternator's, uh, not alternating anymore." The blond stammers over his words, tearing his gaze away from Kiara.

     "It's not charged." John B informed the girl, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. Nova noticed the taunting look in her the boy's eyes and knew it was just a matter of time before they had to escape and abandon Sarah and Kiara.

     Kiara crouched down next to JJ. "Did you check the plugs?" She asked and took the tool away from JJ, before analysing the alternator closely.

     All of a sudden, John B sends a nod over to Nova, giving the blonde the go ahead to leave. This caused for Nova to sneakily slip away from the others, before she quickly walked across the deck, quiet thuds echoing through the air in the process, her eyes landing on Juno and Pope, a small smile tugging at her lips. Nova then climbed over the edge of Heyward's boat and hopped back onto the HMS Pogue with the help of Juno, who held onto the blonde's hand.

"Go, go, go." Nova whispered to Pope, who was still stood behind the wheel of the boat.

Pope was quick to listen to the girl's orders as he switched on the engine, the low rumble ripping harshly through the air, before he began to steer the HMS Pogue away from the other boat, creating some distance so Sarah and Kiara couldn't escape even if they tried. In that moment, Nova turned to Juno with a smile of sweet victory painted across her lips, before the two girls high-fived one another, the boat they were standing in beginning to drift further out of the marsh.

     Suddenly, a loud splash echoed through the air and Nova turned her head to stare off into the distance, a soft, warm breeze blowing through her wave blonde locks whilst she noticed JJ and John B in the gentle waves of the marsh, the two boys swimming back to the HMS Pogue. Nova took a seat down on the edge of the boat and watched as the boys reached them, before they climbed back onto the boat, the girl smiling at them both.

     John B smiled back at Nova, clicking his tongue. "I told you we'd make a pretty good team." He informed.

     Nova frowned in response to John B's words. "You never said that." She deadpanned, shaking her head in the process.

     "Well, I'm saying it now, Van Kirk." John B retorted, before Nova turned her attention back to the other boat in the distance.

     Sarah was first to walk over to the edge of the deck with a frustrated look plastered across her face. "Are you serious?" Sarah called out in disbelief, her eyes practically pleading for the boys to come back, so she didn't have to spend another second trapped on the boat with Kiara of all people. Nova only stared back at the blonde, a twinkle of amusement evident in her eyes whilst she stood beside Juno on the HMS Pogue.

     "Are you joking?" Kiara was last to stand at the edge of the boat, standing on the other side of Sarah with desperation evident in her angered tone. "Get your asses back here!"

     "We can't. Not till you two figure it out." John B called back to them, and Nova could spot the amused smirk tugging at his lips from where she stood.

     Kiara sighed in frustration. "I will kill every single one of you!"

     "You can't just leave!" Sarah yelled, her voice cracking slightly at the end with desperation evident in her pleading tone.

"Yes, we can!" Nova yelled back at the blonde, a ghost of a smile forming across her lips, her response causing for Sarah to flip her off.

     Pope shields his eyes from the setting sun with a small smile forming across his lips. "There's food in the cabin, and JJ rolled a blunt." He explains.

     "Hydroponic!" JJ states, raising his arm and making a gesture with his hand with laughter escaping past his lips.

     Nova laughed in unison with the boy, a wide grin tugging at her lips whilst she continued to stare at JJ, before her eyes flickered to the rest of the group ( minus Sarah and Kiara, of course ) the girl beginning to realise that she had found what she had been looking for since the moment she lost Riley all those months ago: happiness.

     And it was all because of the Pogues. Nova Van Kirk had found friends that she could imagine having in her life for a long time. Compared to the ones she had in Figure Eight, they were there for her and understood what she was going through, and they didn't judge her for her problems. Instead they were supportive and helped her recover from her addiction, and even welcomed her into their group with open arms.

Nova wanted that feeling of happiness that the Pogues gave her to last. She just hoped Sarah and Kiara could reconcile their differences so their tight knit group can be whole again.

She just had to believe this plan would work first.

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authors note.
So this chapter was kinda boring since it was just a filler, but we did get a Nova and Sarah moment and even Nova questioning her true feelings for JJ. But anyways the next chapter is going to be more fun and is serving you guys with some drama for miss Juno O'Connell.

Until then. . . I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!!