NO PERSPECTIVE

The three boys spent the night at the chateau, drinking an entire crate of beer and joking about whether or not Kiara and Sarah would've resided their differences. The boys were sceptical of Sidney's plan, and since she wasn't there to back it up they concluded that the girls would be angry at each other, and even angrier at the boys.

But the boys were wrong, they underestimated the girls, all it took was JJ's exquisitely rolled joint to break the ice and they were sorted. The girls were able to discuss how the situation made them feel for the first time in years, and Sarah confessed that she had really missed Kiara.

And the rest? Well that's just history.

So the last thing the boys expected to see as they pulled up alongside the boat, was the two girls sitting together.

"Morning ladies!" John B exclaims as they approach paths bigger boat.

"Did you ladies have a good night?" JJ asks.

"I've had better." Kiara sighs.

"So have you two reconciled your differences?" Pope asks.

"No," Kiara smirks, knowing Sarah and her has agreed to wind the boys up some more, "But we're willing to be civil for the sake of the gold."

"Good," John B nods as the two girls climb onto the boat.

"You still love us right?" JJ says, "Because this was actually all Sid's idea."

"Where is Sid, anyway?" Kiara asks the boys.

"She had a hot date last night," John B grins.

"Who?" Sarah asks, clocking the mellow look on JJ's face.

"She won't tell us," Pope replies, "But we think it's a kook."

"Seriously?" Kiara replies, shocked that Sidney would ever date a kook.

"She's being incredibly secretive about it." John B adds.

"What do you think JJ?" Sarah asks him.

"I think it's her business, and we wait till she tells us herself, she's obviously keeping it a secret for a reason." He sighs, meanwhile deep down a part of him hopes it isn't true.

The bond between JJ and Sidney is something he treats as sacred, he knows that Sidney loves him, and he loves her, it'd be impossible for that not to be the case, given how long they've been friends. The only difference is that JJ is entirely convinced that Sidney could never be in love with him.

SIDNEY 'S POV

It's the sun peeping through the gap in the curtain that wakes me up, but it's the arm around my torso that reminds me what happened last night.

I open my eyes properly and realise that at some point in the night I must've rolled over because my head is resting against Rafe's bare chest. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and shuffle back slightly to see that he's still asleep, a small but peaceful smile on his lips.

I roll over and grab my phone from the bedside table to see that it's 11:37, meaning my parents are probably already at work. I check my messages to see a message from my dad, telling me they left for work about three hours ago which is a massive relief.

There's also messages from the boys, telling me they're going to get the girls from the boat, but that was over two hours ago, and I haven't had anything since. Hopefully that means everything went well, and they're all hanging out at the chateau.

Before I can reply to the boys' messages I feel Rafe's embrace tighten as he presses a kiss to the side of my neck.

"Good morning to you too," I whispers, placing my phone down and rolling back to face him.

"Good morning indeed," He mumbles, moving closer to kiss me before I pull away.

"I've got morning breath." I mutter through closed lips.

"Sid, I really don't care," He grins, taking one hand from my waist and cupping my cheek before kissing me gently.

"We need to get up," I whisper against his lips, "It's nearly midday."

"Are your parents here?" He asks.

"No, they're at work." I sigh.

"Exactly," He smiles, propping himself up on his arm, "We're in no rush."

"You're a very bad influence, Rafe Cameron," I exhale, moving to lie on my back.

"It's been said," He smirks, hovering over me and kissing me again, slowly but hungry, just like our first kiss at Midsummer's. He trails his mouth from my lips down towards my jaw, peppering gentle kisses before he reaches my neck. I feel him press longer kisses against the skin, tugging at the collar of my t-shirt to give him access to my collarbone.

"Rafe," I mutter, "We've got to get up."

"I love hearing you say my name," He mumbles, retracing his moves back up to my lips, kissing me fondly, "Clearly I was wrong thinking you had a lethal tongue, your words are some sweet fucking sounds."

"I can be lethal if you want me to, Rafe," I reply, making a point to emphasise his name, "But we really do need to get up."

He rolls back to where he had been lying on the bed previously, letting me out of the bed. I pull the curtain open slightly, seeing that my parents' truck is gone, reiterating that they've gone to work.

As I close the curtain I feel Rafe's arms around my shoulders, his head resting on top of mine as he places a kiss to the side of my head.

"I had no idea Rafe Cameron would be so clingy," I tease, holding onto his arms as I move to the drawers, Rafe moving with me. I let go of his arms and rummage for clothes, pulling out a pair of white shorts.

"I like this one," He whispers, ignoring my previous comment and pulling out a blue striped crop vest.

"Okay Tan France," I grin, "Do you think you can let me out of your sight for five minutes while I get ready?"

"I suppose so," He sighs, letting go of me before I grab all the clothes I need.

I managed a speedy shower before moisturising and getting dressed in fresh clothes. I brush through my tangled hair, deciding to leave it loose. I choose to ignore the light marks around my collarbone that are no doubt Rafe's doing. They're not too obvious, so I imagine they'll fade pretty quickly.

"Are you hungry?" I ask, returning to my bedroom to see him lying on my bed, wearing his clothes from last night, reading a book from my shelf. As I get closer I realise he's reading The Hunger Games, which is ironic, given the difference in how classes are treated on this island.

"I could eat," He sighs, standing up and returning the book to its place on the shelf, "That book is fucking depressing."

"Good to know," I grin, as if I didn't reread it thirty times as a twelve year old.

We make our way downstairs, the house filled with the scent of fresh linen, probably from one of mum's fancy air fresheners.

I lead Rafe into the kitchen, opening the fridge and scanning it for food that we can use to put something together. I grab some raspberries, mango pieces, blueberries and grapes along with some greek yoghurt and hope that'll be sufficient enough.

"Fruit and yoghurt alright?" I smile, using my hip to close the fridge.

"You're the boss." Rafe grins, sitting on one of the bar stools at the kitchen island.

"You're learning quickly." I smirk, pulling out my phone and texting Sarah to ask how things are going.

ME: Did my plan work?

She replies less than a minute later.

Sarah: Yes but I still love you

I can't help but grin at her response as I slip my phone into my pocket, chucking the fruit into two bowls, grabbing two spoons and adding some yoghurt.

"What are you so happy about?" Rafe asks as I place his fruit and yoghurt in front of him, sitting in the seat beside him.

"Do you know any nice restaurants in the area?" I smirk referring to the bet we made yesterday.

"Can't say I do," He replies, tucking into his breakfast.

"Well you better get looking," I sigh, "Because I won the bet."

"Of course you did." He nods, trying to stifle his grin.

"Don't pretend you're not impressed." I smile, eating a mouthful of food.

"I'm incredibly impressed, little miss mediator," He teases.

We stay like that for another half an hour, talking and eating, which I try not to overthink. I don't think I could've ever imagined Rafe being domestic, but seeing him in my kitchen, talking about normal things, and just being far more relaxed than I'd ever seen him before any of this started.

"So what do you want to do with the rest of the day?" Rafe asks as I finish cleaning our breakfast bowls, before I sit up onto the counter in front of him, dangling my legs.

"I should probably show my friends that I'm actually alive." I tell him.

"Or we could just stay here together," He smiles, standing up and nudging my legs apart so he can stand in between them.

"And let you get sick of me?" I sigh.

"I don't think there's any danger of that," He mutters, leaning closer and kissing me slowly.

I hold onto his shoulders, pulling him closer as his hands rest on my thighs, his fingers firm against my skin as our kisses become messier.

"Did you hear that?" I pull away, convinced someone just knocked on the door.

"Hear what?" He mumbles, trailing his lips over my collarbone again.

"Sid, are you home?" I hear John B's familiar voice from the porch.

"Shit!" I hiss, and I've never been so thankful to have a kitchen at the back of the house.

"Just don't answer." Rafe whispers.

"Sid, we know you're in there, your bike is out here." Pope calls out.

"Right, you need to go." I whisper frantically, hopping off of the counter and speeding to the back door, opening it quickly.

"I'll see you soon." He smirks, giving me a kiss goodbye and heading out the door, I shut it behind him and watch him make his way down to the back gate, and once I see him close it I rush to my front door.

I open the door to see JJ, Pope, John B, Kiara and Sarah, the entire Pogue brigade on my doorstep.

"Hi?" I smile awkwardly.

"We've got updates," John B tells me.

"And we wanted to see the new house." Pope adds.

"And you of course." Sarah smiles.

"Come in." I smile, stepping aside to let the five of them into the house.

"Now I see why you left the cut." JJ exclaims, looking around at the inside of the house as I close the front door.

We make our way into the living room, out of the fear that Rafe could've left something behind that gives away the fact that he was here. We all sit on the couches, ready for John B to tell us the plan.

"So, we're going back to the Crain house tonight and we're going to get the gold," John B grins with excitement.

"How are we going to get into the well?" I ask.

"Pope's going to borrow some stuff from his dad." John B explains.

"So when are we going?" I continue.

"Once the sun's gone down," John B tells us, "We'll all need to wear dark clothing, we don't want to draw attention to ourselves."

"So we're really going in for the gold tonight?" I grin.

"We're going gold, baby." JJ announces.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out on the beach, surfing and talking about what we'd do once we got the gold. It feels like an eternity since the last time I surfed, so it was great to be back out on the waves with my friends.

Just before the sun went down we all went home to get ready. I picked out some dark clothing and braided my hair, putting on my sturdiest pair of trainers. I don't think any of us quite understand the importance of tonight, and that in all honesty it could change our lives forever.

ੈ✩‧₊˚

So here we are, in the back of the twinkie, pulling up alongside the wall we jumped over to find the gold in the first place.

"Let's go get rich!" JJ exclaims in a whisper as John B hops out of the van, opening the side door of the twinkie for us.

"Just wait a sec guys," John B instructs us, "I just want to say thank you for being here with me, it means a lot that you're here."

"Always." Kiara smiles.

"P for L, right?" I grin.

"P for L." John B nods in agreement.

"Right, let's go do this." JJ says, eager to find the gold. We all climb out of the van, the boys holding various parts of the kit that we'll need to get down to the gold.

One by one we all climb over the wall, using our flashlights to guide the way through the overgrown garden. As we reach the centre of the garden a light comes on from the house and we all drop to the floor, hiding behind some overgrown plants.

"Lights off," John B panics as we all switch our flashlights off.

"So she has motion sensor lights, that's cool." Pope winces.

"Can we just move slowly?" JJ asks.

"Or we could throw a rock at it?" John B suggests.

"Great idea, let the axe murderer know that we're here." Kiara sighs.

"What about the breaker in the circuit box on the porch?" Sarah suggests, "We used to play hide and seek here as kids, and if you were brave enough you'd go all the way up to the porch."

"No, you're not going up there alone." John B tells her.

"Watch me." Sarah replies.

"You've heard the stories about her right?" JJ adds.

"Yeah they're stories, and she's like eighty five, what's she gonna do, run me over with her mobility scooter?" Sarah scoffs.

"I'll go with you." Kiara offers.

"We'll wait for your signal." Pope tells them.

"Be safe." John B whispers as the girls tiptoe towards the porch.

"Be safe," I say to JJ to tease John B.

"I'll be so safe," JJ replies, "I'll be safe just for you."

"Can you guys stop?" John B interrupts us.

"I'm going to kill you." John B whispers.

"That doesn't feel very safe." Pope adds, joining in on the game.

We wait for the girls to give us the signal as we stay hidden, JJ tries to start talking about Hollis again but Pope shuts him up.

After about five minutes the light behind us flicks off, giving us the signal that they've switched off the power supply.

"Here we go." John B whispers as we all pull up our bandanas to cover the bottom half of our faces.

We creep around the side of the house, quickly coming to the door we used for access the other day. Pope carefully pulls it open, letting us all into the cellar.

We slip in, heading straight for the hole on the ground that we hadn't even bothered to cover up when we left last time.

"How deep do you think this is, Pope?" John B asks as we prepare the rope.

We hook it over the pipes just below the ceiling, JJ and apple hold the end of the rope, ready to guide John B down while I help secure him properly.

"You ready?" I whisper.

"Never been more ready." He replies.

"Go make Big John proud." I grin, giving him a quick hug before letting him step back to the edge of the well as I join JJ and Pope in securing the rope.

John B begins to abseil down the well as we continue to thread the rope through in order to keep him steady, because the last thing we need is to drop him down a well, especially as we don't know how deep it goes.

"Hang on, let me adjust real quick." JJ whispers, moving the rope around him slightly.

As he does this we slip forward, losing control of the rope, John B dropping several feet as we try to regain control of the rope. Our groans echo around the room, and I just hope Mrs Crain takes a heavy dose of sleep medication before bed.

"I told you not to drop me!" John B shouts, echoing throughout the cellar.

"You okay?" I call out.

"What was that?" John B asks.

"Just some technical difficulties." Pope assured him.

"Come on, let's carry on," I whisper, "keep it going slowly."

We carry on threading the rope slowly, letting John B move down the well carefully. I wonder if the boys' hearts are beating as fast as mine? We've been in places we shouldn't be before, but it's never been as high stakes as this.

"Keep going." John B calls up as we continue to push the rope through.

"We've got about fifteen feet left, are you close to the bottom?" Pope calls down.

"I can't tell," John B replies, "Just keep going."

We continue to hold tension in the rope, moving John B down slowly and carefully.

"Woah, stop," He shouts, "I've reached some strange looking water."

"You wanna stop?" Pope asks.

"Keep going I guess." John B replies.

We continue to thread the rope through, until John B calls back up to us, "I'm at the bottom!"

"How is it?" JJ asks.

"It's worse than I thought," John B replies, "Much worse."

"Any gold?" JJ calls down as we all peer over the edge of the well.

"Nothing yet," John B answers, "Hang on, I think I felt something with my foot."

We listen as John B goes down under the water, could this be it? Could this be the moment that our lives change forever?

"JJ, pull me up, now!" John B shouts frantically, suggesting that whatever he found is far worse than the gold.

"Okay!" We shout, getting back into position.

"Pull me up! Quick!" John B shouts.

"Wait! Wait!" He exclaims as we pull on the rope, the sound of bricks falling echoing throughout the well.

"I think I've found something." John B calls out.

"What?" I mutter as we hold the rope steady.

"What is going on down there?" I whisper.

"John B, are you okay?" JJ asks and all we're met with is silence.

"Do you think he's okay?" I whisper.

"Guys!" I hear muffled shouts and footsteps coming down the stairs.

"That's not good." I mutter to the boys.

Kiara and Sarah appear, looking terrified. Panting like their hearts are about to burst through their chests.

"Mrs Crain is up there, she tried to kill us with a fire poker!" Sarah exclaims.

"Shit, we've got to go!" Pope exclaims.

"Code red!" JJ shouts down the well, "We've gotta go man!"

"Hold on, I'm coming," We hear John B call out.

"Right, everyone grab some rope." Pope instructs us as we all get in line.

"Three two one, pull!" Poor exclaims as we all tug on the rope.

We all slip, meaning John B can't be on the rope, "Shit where is he?" Kiara exclaims.

"Guys!" John B shouts as we crowd around the well, but it's too muffled to hear the rest.

"John B, we're going to pull you up!" Pope calls out.

"Come on, John B!" Kiara shouts.

"Okay, I'm on!" John B shouts.

"Come on," We all pull frantically, grunting as we attempt to pull John B up to the top of the well.

As we continue to pull on the rope the sound of a gunshot causes us to scream. We drop to the floor, JJ quickly tying the rope onto something to ensure John B doesn't fall to the bottom of the well.

"It's okay, she can't aim for shit." Kiara assures us as we try to hide.

"She can't see." Sarah tells us.

Mrs Crain fires another shot in our direction, us three girls ducking as the boys remain hidden out elsewhere in the cellar.

"Run," Kiara exclaims, grabbing my hand as I grab Sarah's, the three of us running for the exit. We make it out of the house, leaning against the wall as we attempt to catch our breath as JJ and Pope join us.

"Where's John B." Sarah panics.

"Right, let's get back to the twinkie, he can't be close behind!" I exclaim, all of us running back through the overgrown garden to the wall we jumped over to get in.

We pile into the twinkie, JJ starting the engine as we hear the sound of gunshots, looking out the window to see John B jumping the wall.

"Hurry!" Kiara shouts as the gunshots continue.

"Why are we always getting shot at?" Pope exclaims as John B reaches the van, covered in mud or swamp water or something that smells and looks vile.

"JJ drive!" I shout.

"Are you okay?" JJ asks John B, "did she shoot you?"

John B shakes his head as he tries to catch his breath.

"You smell like shit." Pope exclaims.

"That bitch is possessed!" Kiara adds.

"That bitch can't aim." Sarah sighs.

"How did she move that fast?" Pope asks.

"I said she's possessed." Kiara replies.

"What is that?" I look at John B holding a small rectangular object in his hand, wiping mud off of it.

"No way." Pope exhales.

"We did it baby!" John B shouts.

"No way!" I shout.

"You fucking did it!" JJ exclaims.

"I did it!" John B laughs.

"We found the gold!" JJ shouts.

"We're gonna be rich!" Kiara screams.

"Full kook baby!" I exclaim.

"Full kook, Full kook, Full kook!" We chant together.

This is it, this is how our lives change forever. These people I've known my entire life, who I cherish like they are my family. And on top of all of that, I'm one step closer to finding Maggie.