——

"No effing way!" Kiara stepped over to the front of the porch that was located at the Chateau and faced everyone. "You brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?"

Emelina leaned against the window right next to JJ, who claimed the red sofa, and Pope sitting on the sofa's arm. She crossed her arms, watching the scene unfold.

John B looked over to them for help, but Pope shrugged. "I dunno."

"Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share." JJ pointed to them and air comes out of Emelina's nose, making a silent laugh.

"You know, I don't remember taking a vote. This is our thing. A Pogue thing." Kiara used her fingers to circle the group.

"I gotta say, I'm just a tad uncomfortable with all of this," Pope commented. "Thank you!" Kie said out loud.

"When are you not uncomfortable?" John B asked, clearly offended. "I dunno. I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably."

"It's true," JJ nodded, "Most relaxed I've ever seen him."

"Okay, but did JJ get a vote when you dragged Emelina here? They hate each other's guts!" John B said and JJ scoffed with a smirk, "Yeah, but she wishes I was in her—"

"JJ, stop it." Emelina punched his arm, rolling her eyes at his immature and inappropriate comments. She looked back at the arguing pair. She hated being dragged in their endless quarrels but she could understand why John B kept bringing her up.

"Are you seriously back to that?" Kiara groaned. "Why can't you get it through your head that Emelina is my actual friend. She doesn't go behind our backs and sabotage people!"

John B didn't respond. "What do you think, Lina?" Kiara turned to her, "Don't you think it's weird how she started dating Topper right after you? I swear, she'll do anything to interfere with my life, right?"

"Kie..." Emelina sighed, not liking the idea of Topper being brought up. It'll just make the whole thing more awkward than it already is. However, she had to be there for her friend even if it means agreeing to a stretch of a statement. "I agree. I do think it's weird."

"Exactly! You know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her." Kiara said and Sarah finally made her debut. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here!"

"Then leave."

Sarah scoffed and turned to John B, "I told you."

"Told him what, exactly? That you're a liar?" Kiara asked and Sarah turned her attention back toward her. "No, that you're a shit-talking bitch."

Pope and JJ gasp at her response. Emelina opened her mouth in shock.

"When have I lied to you?" Emelina heard Sarah say while also listening to the boys beside her. JJ pulled out a few crumpled dollars and whispered to Pope, "My money's on Kie."

"You get somebody close to you—for like a month and then—" Kie's voice blends in the loud porch. "I didn't lie about shit—"

"Everybody shut up!" John B shouted and the room goes silent. "Kie," He pointed to her, "you are my best friend, right?" Kiara shrugged and he looked at Sarah, "And Sarah, you're... you're my..."

"Say it," Sarah said softly. "You're my girlfriend." John B finished.

Emelina widened her eyes, wondering what the hell happened between her and Topper. Was he just forgotten? The more she thought about it, the more she realized she could care less now that she's learned what he had done to John B. He's old news to her.

"Oh... that's new," Pope said.

Sarah gave Kiara a proud and taunting smile. "She's your girlfriend now? What was all that talk about how you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose." Kie reminded him.

"Oh, God..." Emelina whispered and took a seat on the opposite arm of the red sofa. JJ started to tap on her thigh, but she didn't care because her mind was set on the scene in front of her.

"You said you were using me?" Sarah asked him, pain coated in her voice. He was silent for a moment, then hesitantly he replied, "No."

"Yeah, you did." Kiara and Pope said in unison. "You said those things."

"Look, love just walked in, okay?" John B raised his voice. Emelina made a look of distaste and Kiara chuckled, "Oh, vomit."

"I didn't expect it. It just—it kind of happened. And I'm not gonna deny it. Right?" John B finished. Sarah's arms were crossed by now and she continued to have a staring contest with her new boyfriend.

"Oh! That's corny." Pope whispered and makes a retched noise.

"Look, cut the bullshit, John B. If she's in, I'm out," Kiara said. "Kie, I'm not doing this. I can't!" he said, avoiding her eyes. "You are gonna decide. I'm very interested, actually. Me or her?"

"Both."

"Ooh," Pope nudged JJ and the blonde whistled, "Went for the Hail Mary."

Kiara scoffed, leaving the porch without so much of a word and slamming the door shut. Emelina got up from her uncomfortable position and ran after her.

"Kie!" she shouted, running on top of the dock. Emelina could only see the back of her friend, but the sulking shoulders made her frown.

Kiara stood there, overlooking the water. "Hey, babe, come here." Emelina pulled her best friend into an embrace and Kiara accepted it, sobbing into her shoulder.

"I hate him." Kiara cried and Emelina nodded, rubbing her back and letting her friend exploit any emotions she has.

§

"I don't think this is going to work," Emelina whispered to JJ as she sits on one of the chairs the very next day at The Wreck. It was very early in the morning, and she could catch that by watching JJ yawn every five minutes.

"Would you relax? She won't suspect a thing," he told her and took a sip of his drink she made him. She pondered on the chair for a moment, waiting for her friend to come from the outback.

"Fine," she said and closed her eyes, leaning back on the chair. Then, the light from the sun suddenly goes dark and she opened an eye to find JJ towering over her.

"What are you doing, JJ?" she asked, looking down at his hands that were securing each arm of the chair. "Nothin'. I just can't stop thinking about it," he replied.

She raised an eyebrow, "Thinking about what?"

"The night you kissed me," JJ answered and his famous grin pulled up again.

"I told you. It was one kiss. It won't happen again." she reminded him.

"Says who?" He inched closer to her. Emelina's breathing hitched, her eyes trained on his lips as they aim toward hers. She felt helpless, wanting to cave in to his spell but she knew she couldn't.

Emelina turned her head to the side, "Says your Pogue rule." she answered. JJ sighed and let go of the chair, stepping away from her and she finally felt like she could breathe.

"Okay, I'm ready. What's this code red?" Kiara walked through the door, shoving something into her backpack and slapping it across her shoulder.

"Uh, Pope and John B conked out in the marsh. They need a tow." JJ answered and the trio exit The Wreck and walk over to the HMS Pogue boat that was running near the dock.

"I don't understand what that has to do with me. Couldn't you just go without me?" she asked as they climb on the boat.

"Em doesn't want to be alone with me." JJ blurted out a lie on the spot and she wanted to kick him for coming up with that out of any other excuses.

"Are you serious, E?" Kiara asked, putting her hand on her hip. JJ spun the wheel, driving it to the marsh. "I'm sorry but another body would've turned up if I had to hear his voice." Emelina played along.

"You know, that's actually really mean." JJ brought his hand to his heart, pretending to be hurt by her statement. "Shut up, JJ." she said and sat down.

A little while later, they reached the marsh and Kiara jumped out of their boat onto the next to help Pope and John B. "Can you guys do anything without me?"

"I told you it was gonna work." JJ nudged Emelina and he drove the boat further away incase Kiara wanted to make a run for it and there's no way for her to reach it.

Soon after, John B and Pope run out and jump into the water to dive back to the HMS Pogue. Kiara soon catches on and chases after them, but found Sarah trapped inside the boat. They both run to the edge. "Guys?! Are you serious?!"

Laughter erupts from the boys and they wave at the two girls. "Get your asses back here!" Kiara yelled. "We can't! Not till you two figure it out." John B replied, loud enough for them to hear.

"I will kill every single one of you! Lina, how could you agree to this?!" Kiara shouted and Emelina raised her hands, "I'm sorry, Kie!"

"Y-You can't just leave!" Sarah shouted. "There's food in the cabin, and JJ rolled a blunt," Pope yelled and gave them two thumbs up. JJ made an ok-sign, "Hydroponic!"

"Shit, you guys, she's going to jump in." Emelina stood up and watched Sarah take her clothes off from afar. John B took control of the boat this time, starting it up again, and slowly drove away.

"Godspeed!" Pope called out and Sarah jumped right into the water. It was harder to hear the girl's protests when the engine was blaring through Emelina's ears but she could predict every word they said.

"Love you, guys! Bye!" John B yelled.