Slater woke the next morning having slept better than she had in months. Her eyes fluttered open, seeing that the sun was high and streaming in through her windows. She smiled, only noticing that when she tried to get out of bed, she couldn't.

In her dazed state, she noticed that two arms, laden with bracelets, were encircled around her waist.

JJ.

Slater's eyes went wide and she turned to look at the sleeping pogue, who looked content and peaceful after a very rough night. She froze, unsure what to do. Cuddling with JJ was not a position she ever imagined herself getting into.

The sunlight settled on his blond locks, making him look like a golden angel as he slept.

Too bad he had to wake up, Slater thought to herself with a smirk.

As she tried escaping his arms, he stirred, and she watched his baby blues flutter open.

"JJ," she whispered, a teasing smirk on her face. "Care to let me go?"

He simply grumbled and shut his eyes again, clearly not aware of their current situation.

"JJ," Slater repeated. "Wake up, please."

His eyes opened again, this time settling on Slater's face.

"Slater?" He groaned.

"Morning, sunshine."

He glanced down at his arms, which still held onto her waist, and immediately recoiled, pushing himself away from her. "Umm, sorry," he said, his cheeks reddening.

"It's okay," she said with a laugh. "Who would have pegged JJ Maybank as a cuddler?"

"I'm a ruthless cuddler, ask anyone," he muttered, sitting up to stretch out his arms. "But let's not tell the others about this, okay?"

"Deal," Slater said. God only knew what the pogues would have to say about Slater taking JJ home in the first place, and she definitely didn't want them to know about their impromptu cuddle session — or that she might have secretly enjoyed it.

"How are you feeling?" Slater asked, wondering if the boy was hungover.

"Not shabby, actually," he admitted. "Thank you, though. For picking me up. I mean it," he said, his eyes locking on Slater's. "I was in a really bad place last night."

Slater nodded, a sympathetic smile filling her face. "It's no biggie, JJ. I know you and I don't really see eye-to-eye, but if you ever need something like that, please just give me a call. It's much worse than finding you drunk in a ditch or something."

He nodded before running a hand through his hair. "Are your parents home?" he asked, nervously glancing at Slater's locked bedroom door.

She glanced at her phone, and seeing how late in the morning it was already, she shook her head. Her dad would have been long gone to the station, and her mother to the shop.

"What about your sister?" he asked.

"Maeve rarely goes anywhere I don't drive her to, so I'm sure she's still home. But don't worry about her, she's very trustworthy. She's almost too suspiciously perfect of a little sister," Slater laughed.

"I don't suppose it would be too much to ask of you to drive me home?" JJ asked sheepishly.

"Are you sure it's safe for you to go home?" Slater asked.

JJ nodded. "The old man is gone by now, and I'll probably just shower and change before going to find John B."

Slater nodded. "Okay. Well, let me just change my clothes, and then I can take you home."

"Thanks, Slater."

She changed into a summery set, which was composed of a matching halter top and shorts combo, both patterned with vibrant flowers. She pulled her slightly greasy hair up into a bun, then rounded up JJ and brought him downstairs.

"Do you want any breakfast?" She asked, wondering if Luke Maybank even had enough food in the house for his son to eat three meals a day.

"No," JJ said, though Slater had seen him chow down enough times at the Wreck to know that the boy was always hungry.

"Well, I do, so let's at least have a bagel or something," she said, knowing JJ would turn down her hospitality unless she forced food down his throat.

"I don't want your food, Slater," he said, back to his usual demeanor.

"Shut up and sit down,"she said before pulling out a few avocados and a bag of bagels. She popped two in the toaster and got to work cutting and mashing the avocado. It was her favorite way to start the morning — an everything bagel, mashed avocado, black pepper, red pepper flakes, a pinch of hot sauce and some dried onion pieces. It was easy, filling, and to Slater, delicious.

Just as she suspected, JJ wolfed down the bagel almost as soon as she put the plate in front of him. Knowing he probably hadn't had a decent meal since his last trip to the Wreck with Kiara, she handed him a glass of orange juice and a banana, which he silently accepted.

"So," he began. "You have a tattoo."

Slater rolled her eyes. She had hoped he didn't remember.

"I do," she replied.

He smirked. "Can I see it again?"

She rolled her eyes and slapped him lightly on the arm. "No, you cannot, and I would appreciate it if you kept silent about that."

"No one else knows about it?" he asked, taking a sip of juice.

"Me and the woman at the tattoo parlor," Slater replied. "And you, now, I guess. I just got it about a month ago."

JJ grinned to himself, staring down at his juice. "I know about Slater Cambry's secret ass tattoo. Just me, you, and the tattoo lady. I feel important."

Slater rolled her eyes. "Okay, well now that you know one of my secrets, I feel like it's only fair that you tell me one of yours."

"I thought this whole 'me staying over at your house' thing was going to be a secret. Isn't that good enough?" JJ asked.

"Not when I'm part of the secret," Slater replied. "Come on, tell me something none of the other pogues know."

"Why should I tell you something?" JJ replied. "I don't even like you."

"Fair is fair, Maybank."

JJ rolled his eyes, feigning irritation, though he was smiling. "I'm pretty much an open book. It might be hard to think of something."

"Any tattoos? Secret lovers? Anonymous crimes?" Slater teased.

JJ shook his head. "I guess there is something I could tell you..."

"And what's that?" Slater asked.

"Well, I'd better whisper it," he said, leaning towards Slater. Instead of saying a secret, however, all JJ did was blow a large puff of air into her ear.

The Cambry girl shrieked, pushing back and falling out of the stool she was sitting on.

JJ erupted into laughter before leaning down to grab Slater, catching her by her waist before she hit the floor.

"Watch yourself," he chuckled as she got back on her feet.

Slater wiped at her ear, shooting the boy a glare. "I can't believe you just did that!"

"It was funny, you have to admit it," JJ said.

A smile snuck onto Slater's face, and soon enough she had joined JJ in laughter. "Okay, fine. It was funny," she chuckled.

Their phones buzzed at the same time, announcing a message from the rest of the group.

The weather was set to be gorgeous all day — it was time to take the drone out and find their treasure.

"I can take you straight to John B's," Slater offered, washing off the dishes as they got ready to leave.

"You can just drop me at home. I'll head over by myself," JJ replied.

Slater nodded, secretly glad. She figured she should offer, since she was driving JJ home anyways, but she really didn't want to have to explain to the pogues why she would be driving JJ in the first place. Not that anything happened, because it didn't -- minus the minor cuddling -- but she and JJ didn't get along. There would undoubtedly be teasing from the pogues (or at least Kiara and John B) if they found out that Slater and JJ could actually get along.

"Sounds good," Slater said before leading JJ out to her car. He was still wearing the Disney World t-shirt she'd lent him, though he'd pulled on his dirty shorts before getting in Slater's car in his boxers.

He directed her to his house, which was deep into the Cut, just like John B's.

Slater parked the car, watching as JJ looked at the house hesitantly. A beat-up truck was parked outside, and something told her it wasn't JJ's vehicle.

"Is he here?" she asked, nervously looking at the boy.

JJ nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he looked at his father's truck.

"Do you want me to go in with you?" she offered, to which he immediately shook his head.

"No, you don't want to be in there with him, trust me," he said. "I'll just be in and out. My bike is right over there," he said, pointing to a lean-to shed that was across the driveway.

"Okay," Slater said as JJ got out of the car. She pulled her phone out, her father's contact one touch away.

JJ must have expected Slater to leave, because he gave her a questioning look as he stepped onto the porch. He waved to her, as if telling her to move on, but she didn't budge. She wanted to make sure that JJ was okay.

A few minutes went by before JJ reappeared in a different set of clothes. Power was still off in the Cut, so he hadn't been able to shower like he'd hoped. Slater figured she could have offered him a shower when he was still at her house, but that would have only made the weird situation weirder.

"You could have left," JJ said, leaning into her open window. "I'm all good. He's dead asleep on the couch."

Slater's cheeks flushed and she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay."

"And if I had gotten in a scuffle with the ol' man, what would you have done, Slater Cambry? Fought him back, in my honor, and gotten your ass kicked? I'd love to see that," JJ chuckled.

Slater rolled her eyes and put her car into drive, causing JJ to take a couple steps back over fear of her running over his foot. "Whatever, excuse me for caring. I'll see you at John B's," she snapped before tearing out of the driveway, leaving the blond boy in the dust. 

Through her rearview mirror, Slater watched as JJ pulled out of the driveway behind her, on his motorcycle. She'd never seen him on the bike before, and she wondered who in their right mind had trusted him to drive such a dangerous piece of machinery.

He followed her to John B's, and as she turned onto John B's road, a familiar squad car passed them going the other way.

"Shit," Slater muttered, quickly turning down the road and hoping her father hadn't noticed his daughter's car driving around the Cut. She watched in her mirror as JJ turned down the road, quickly followed by the squad car. JJ pulled over to the side, assuming that the officer was there for him. Slater pulled over in front of his motorcycle, knowing that the officer was, in fact, there for her.

"Mornin', officer," she heard JJ call out as he leaned against his bike. The blond offered a wave as he recognized her father. "Deputy Shoupe! To what do I owe the honor?"

Slater groaned, hitting her head against the steering wheel. She should have left JJ's earlier -- she would have missed her father.

"I'm not here for you, Maybank," her dad said, making a beeline for Slater's car. "Not yet, anyway."

Slater got out of the car, plastering a smile on her face as her father walked towards her. "Hi, Dad."

"Slater, what are you doing out here?" Shoupe asked as he reached the Subaru. "Do you know where you are? Are you lost?"

A million excuses flashed in Slater's mind, but none of them seemed worthwhile enough. Panicked, she looked back at JJ, who was holding in a grin.

"Just ... hanging out with Kiara," she said sheepishly.

Vic raised an eyebrow. "In the Cut?"

"Yep," Slater said, internally cursing herself.

"Kie spends the night at John B's, sometimes," JJ called out.

Vic spun around, his glare fixed on JJ. "Why are you still here, Maybank? I don't need anything from you." He eyed the boy, and then his daughter. "You two coming from somewhere together?"

"No," Slater quickly said, twisting her hands behind her back.

"No sir," JJ replied. "I just had the pleasure of meeting your lovely daughter on the road on my way to John B's."

"Don't talk about my daughter, Maybank," Vic said. "You're hanging out with her pogue friends?"

Slater nodded, glancing over at JJ. Her father was talking as if he wasn't standing right there. "They're really nice, Dad. We go surfing and stuff."

"Yeah, it's the 'and stuff' I'm worried about, Slater," Vic said. "Go home. I thought I told you to stay away from the Cut."

"Dad, I'm not going home," Slater scoffed.

"I'm gonna go," JJ said, giving Slater a thumb's up before getting back on his bike and tearing off.

"Do you know who that boy's father is?" Vic asked. "And the Routledge boy -- do you know how many calls I've had about him in the last week?"

"Okay, I'm sixteen years old. Why do you feel the need to treat me like a child? I go to school with them -- what's so different about surfing with them?" Slater asked.

"I don't think I need to explain that to you," Vic said. "Get in your car, Slater, and go home. I don't want you hanging out with them anymore. That goes for the Carrera girl too."

Slater laughed angrily, rolling her eyes. "I finally made friends, and they're not good enough for you!"

"Not when they're friends like that!" Vic gestured to the dust trail JJ had spun up on his motorcycle. "How many times have you heard me talk about having that boy's father in the back of my squad?"

"He's not his father!" Slater exclaimed, hating the fact that she was having to defend JJ's honor to her own father, out of all of her friends. "Not that I really care what you think of JJ, but you can't judge someone on things they can't help, Dad."

Vic opened his mouth to say more, but his radio went off, ending their conversation. "I have to go," he said, moving back towards his car. "But don't think our conversation is done here. Go home, Slater, and I'll talk to you later."

Slater waited until the cruiser was gone, then got back in her car and headed to John B's, parking next to JJ's bike. Her eyes teared in frustration as she thought over the conversation with her father. She loved him, she really did, but the way he judged people -- especially people from the Cut -- was infuriating.

Kiara met her on the porch, her eyes full of concern. "Are you okay, Slater? JJ told us about what happened."

Slater rolled her eyes. Of course JJ would think that it was funny and tell the rest of the group.

"I'm fine," she said, running a hand through her dark hair. "It's just Deputy Dad being Deputy Dad."

"Deputy Dad, I like that," JJ called from inside, causing Slater to become even more irritated.

"Thanks for airing my dirty laundry," Slater said, shooting him a glare as she sat down next to Pope.

"What?" JJ said, his smirk falling. "I figured you would want them to know what happened."

"Yeah sure, that's it," Slater said, rolling her eyes. "You just couldn't ignore another chance to embarrass me. Thank you, JJ."

Slater could have told them all about drunken JJ, how he was wandering down the road, how he spent the night at her house. She could have embarrassed him to hell and back, yet she didn't. She shot him a knowing glare, hoping he knew that she was saving him from a load of embarrassment from his friends.

Whatever peaceful moment that had appeared last night between the two was long gone.

The truce was over.

JJ opened his mouth to say more, but John B cut him off.

"Let's go find the Royal Merchant, shall we?"

The pogues headed out on John B's boat, following the coordinates from John B's father. Slater hadn't been out on water that open in a while, and the thought of the deep water swallowing the boat whole crossed her mind.

She shuddered and moved away from the edge of the boat, opting to sit in the middle as John B drove them further and further from shore.

"Seasick, Cambry?" JJ asked, walking past her as he munched on a bag of chips.

She rolled her eyes, still angry with him. After all she'd done for him, the least he could have done was kept his mouth shut.

"No, I don't get seasick," she said, glad that was at least true. She didn't need to vomit and completely ruin her cool factor (if she had one -- she probably didn't) with the pogues.

"That's good," he said, plopping himself down next to her. "Chip?" he said, offering her the bag.

"No thanks," she said, popping her sunglasses on as she laid back. Looking at the sky was much better than looking at the deep water, or JJ.

JJ laid down beside her and she rolled her eyes, scooting away as much as she could in the small boat.

"Hey, I'm sorry about before," he said in a low voice, which couldn't be heard by anyone but Slater over the roar of the boat on the waves. "I didn't tell them to embarrass you or anything. I just ... I thought you would want them to know. Kiara, at least."

She glanced over at JJ, attempting to judge whether the serious expression on his face was genuine or not. "Whatever," she said, sighing. "It's fine, JJ."

JJ looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn't. He stood and grabbed his chips before heading off towards John B.

"Okay, we're close," Pope said, looking at a small screen in his hands.

Slater felt the wind shift and looked to the west. "Guys," she said, pointing at the gray clouds that were rolling in. "We've got company."

"Shit," John B muttered from behind the wheel of the boat. "We're almost there. We can make it."

"Listen, I want to find the ship as much as you do," Slater said, eyeing the storm. "But I'd rather not get taken out by a storm."

"No one said you had to come along," JJ quipped as he leaned over Pope's shoulder.

"Drone ready, JJ?" Kiara asked.

"Yep," JJ replied.

"Okay, drop it in," John B said as JJ did just that.

"It should be right ... here," Pope said as they all gathered around a screen that showed the drone's camera. It revealed nothing but the dark depths of the ocean.

"Are you sure those were the right coordinates, JB?" Pope asked, looking at his friend.

"One hundred percent," John B said, a defeated look filling his face as the screen continued to show nothing but empty water.

"Maybe Slater is right," Kiara said, looking at the darkening clouds. "We should get out of here."

"Wait," John B said, pointing to the screen. "Wait! What's that?"

The pogues gathered in, watching as old wood entered the screen, and with it, the remnants of a boat.

The remnants of a ship.

The remnants of the Royal Merchant.

The friends screamed and cheered, hugging each other as they danced around the boat.

"We found it!" JJ hollered. He pulled John B in for a hug. "You found it, boy!"

"You did it, John B," Kiara said, grinning as she watched the two friends.

"Wait, where's the gold?" Pope said, watching as the drone sped through the empty ship.

"It's not there," John B said, his face falling. "There's no gold."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ author's note ✫・゜・。.

i feel like jj being a cuddler has to be canonical.

anyways, i REALLY love this chapter :) what did you think?

question: big spoon or little spoon? for me, it honestly depends on my mood.

thanks for reading :) please vote and leave a comment or two!

xx,
madi