(anessa's outfit for this chapter with matching green flip flops)

Anessa was relieved when she got a text from Kiara, letting her know everyone was okay and that the boys hadn't responded since they had no service. Kiara added they were going fishing and asked if she wanted to go. Anessa, of course, agreed after checking in with her parents it was okay. Now she was walking to the end of the dock near her place where she would meet up with her friends. She grimaced at the damage Hurricane Agatha had left behind. The dock, usually bustling with activity, looked forlorn, with pieces of wood and debris scattered across the planks. The water, once a bright turquoise, now reflected a dull gray, mirroring the overcast sky.

As she approached the end of the dock, Anessa spotted Kiara, John B, and Pope on the familiar HMS Pogue boat. "There is she!" JJ calls out, the only one standing as the others were sitting with John B driving the boat. "Come on, Annie, hop in."

Anessa climbed onto the boat and gave each of her friends a hug, relieved to see them all in one piece. She had been worried about them, especially John B and Pope, since she hadn't heard from them for a while. Now, seeing their cheerful faces, Anessa felt the last remnants of anxiety melt away. She got to the end of the dock where John B pulled up the boat as close as he could. JJ stood near the edge, reaching out a hand to help her on the boat. She smiled at the blonde, grabbing his hand as he helped her climb on the boat.

"Glad to see you guys are okay." Anessa comments, smiling at the group. "I was worried about you." She glances between Pope and John B. "Please tell me you idiots didn't actually surf those big a** waves last night." She pleaded, moving to her ususal spot besides John B at the wheel and sat her green colored bag by her. Her bag had different unique and quirky chains hooked to it and colorful and unique stickers on it as well.

John B shrugs, smiling sheepishly. "Hey, it's not like we were gonna let them go to waste," He points out, keeping his focus on driving the boat. "Besides, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." He glances over at her though, realizing something that made his heart skip a beat. "Is that my shirt?" He asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

Anessa blushes slightly, looking down at the green button up shirt she wore over her bikini and the white shorts. It was too big for her, but it was cozy and comfy, plus it smelt like John B's cologne. She tended to 'borrow' his clothes from time to time and he never minded it, honestly. It wasn't until recently he realized just how adorable she looked in his clothes, it made him feel some type of way he couldn't quite describe. Anessa stammered slightly, feeling her cheeks warm under John B's surprised gaze. "Oh, um, yeah. Sorry, I just...It was comfy, and it was the first thing I grabbed." She admitted, trying to play it cool despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. The shirt was oversized and smelled like him, which made her feel safe and cozy.

John B's expression softens as he looked at her. "It's okay, you can keep it if you want." He spoke with a shrug, trying to keep his eyes focused on the water in front of them. But every so often he would glance over at her, his heart doing a little flip every time he caught a glimpse of her in his shirt.

Anessa bit her lip, smiling shyly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Really? Thanks, John B." She said, feeling the blush creep up her neck. "I promise I'll give it back once I've washed it."

"Nah, really, it's fine. Keep it, looks better on you than it did on me anyways." John B smirks, glancing over at her with a playful grin. "I think it has found a new home."

"Okay, okay, but only because you said so." Anessa replied, feeling her heart race. The way he looked at her made her feel special, and she couldn't help but enjoy the moment.

"Just don't go stealing my entire wardrobe," He teases, laughter in his voice. "I still need some shirts for myself."

"No promises." She giggles and turns to Kiara with a bright smile when the dark-skinned girl offered a her a drink from the small cooler she brought with her. Anessa had to be honest, she never drunk alcohol before. She didn't care that her friends did, but she hadn't tried it yet. She was just too nervous about it. So she appreicated it when Kiara offered her a non alcoholic drink. And one of her favorites- coca cola. She leaned back against the seat and opened the can, beaming at Kiara. "Thanks, Kie. You're the best."

Kiara smiles back at her, raising her own drink in a mock toast. "You're welcome, Annie."

Anessa sipped the soda, feeling the familiar fizz tickle her throat as she looked out across the water. The sun peeked through the clouds, casting a warm glow on the water, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

****

Anessa now sat at the back of the boat, curled up and reading a book she had brought with her while she heard her friends messing around. She didn't mind staying by herself with a good book. She loved reading, she loved getting lost in the pages of a book. It was a welcome escape from the chaos of life, a chance to immerse herself in another world. The book she had was one of her favorites, the pages worn and dog-eared from repeated readings. She couldn't help but get excited when she read it. She always found herself sucked into the story, the characters coming to life on the pages. The plot twists kept her on the edge of her seat, the words transporting her to a world far beyond her own. Even though she had read it many times and knew the story by heart, it never failed to capture her attention and take her away.

She hadn't even realized Pope and John B had switched places with Pope at the wheel now. John B had decided to move to the back since JJ claimed he was about to try a party trick and John B didn't want to be in the middle of it. He sat down next to Anessa, who didn't even acknowledge that he sat by her. He knew how absorbed she could get in her books. He was tempted to make a funny face or something to get her attention, but he decided against it. 

He didn't want to bother her, she was obviously enjoying her book and he didn't want to interrupt. He watched her silently, taking in the details of her face, the way her brows furrowed in concentration and her lips pursed as she turned the page. When she would get excited or happy about a part in the book she was reading, that adorable sparkle would appear in her eyes and her smile would light up her entire face. John B found himself smiling too, just watching her. It was moments like this, quiet and peaceful, where he felt a deep sense of calm being around her. Even in the chaos of their adventurous lives, Anessa brought a sense of grounding he hadn't realized he needed.

John B turned his gaze back to his friends, stretching out and resting his arm on the back of the seat and behind Anessa. She must've realized he was there because she scooted closer to him, still reading, and leaned against his chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. John B's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't mind. In fact, his hand moved to lay on her shoulder where his thumb absentmindly rubbed circles. This wasn't the first time they had done this, either. It was almost second nature, this easy comfort between them. Cuddling had always been a common occurrence, and neither of them ever seemed to mind. Anessa was always the cuddly and touchy feely type, and John B was never one to complain about it. 

He enjoyed it, actually, the feeling of having her close, the warmth of her body pressed against his. They'd always been physically affectionate with each other, and John B found himself craving more as they got older. Anessa didn't say a word, still engrossed in her book, but she gave a small smile that told him she was comfortable being close to him. Anessa still hadn't looked up from her book, but she shifted slightly to get more comfortable against John B, fully settling into his warmth. Her focus remained on the pages in front of her, but she subconsciously welcomed his presence, the steady rhythm of his breathing against her back making her feel secure.

John B thought this was perfect. Her leaning against him, reading her book while he and his friends had fun and messed around. The perfect moment was ruined when suddenly the boat hit something and stopped, causing everyone to be thrust forward. JJ had been balancing on the edge so he was tossed off the boat. Anessa was snapped out of her reading finally, flying forward along with her friends. On instinct, John B's arm had moved to around her waist to hold her close and be sure that he took the brunt of the impact. Everyone groaned at the rough impact, trying to gather themselves. Anessa felt her heart racing, still processing what had just happened. She quickly pulled herself off John B, her book now forgotten, as she looked around to check if everyone was okay.

"Is everyone alright?" She asked, her voice laced with concern and she tried to ignore the sudden headache that formed from the impact.

"Yeah, I think so." John B grunts, sitting up and rubbing his head that was pounding. His arm still lingered protectively around her waist. "You okay, bubs?" He asked, looking her over with worry.

"Yeah, 'm fine." Anessa mumbles, feeling her cheeks heat up slightly under his concerned gaze. "Just a little shook up is all. And a headache." She adds, reaching up to rub her forehead. "Though I'm sure we all have that now..." She then gasps at seeing JJ in the water. "JJ!" She worriedly calls out. "What the h***, are you okay?"

JJ groans. "I think my heels touched the back of my head."

"Kie, you okay?" John B asked, glancing over at her with concern.

"I'm alright." Kiara replied as she got up.

"That doesn't make me feel any better." Anessa grumbles to JJ. She sighs, glancing over at Pope. "What happened, Pope?"

"Sandbar. The channel changed." Pope sighed.

"No s***." JJ muttered while swimming back to them.

"Ugh, this is probably gonna mess this whole place up." John B complained, standing up along with Anessa. He sat on the edge while Anessa grabbed her book she dropped, relieved to see it didn't fall into the water. She put her book back in her bag and moved over to the edge in case she needed to help with bringing JJ on board.

"Hey, I saved the beer though." JJ grinned.

"Congrats, JJ." John B sarcastically spoke.

Anessa stares at him with a deadpanned look. "Are you f***ing serious? That's what you're worried about? Saving beer? Dude, we're lucky nobody got hurt or drowned." She shook her head, sighing.

"I'm with Annie on this one." Kiara commented, shaking her head at JJ.

"You guys always gang up on me." JJ whined, pouting slightly.

Anessa shrugs. "Well, maybe if you don't be such a dumba** we wouldn't gang up on you." She pointed out, folding her arms across her chest.

Pope gets up onto the edge to help bring JJ on board, but his attention is drawn to something else in the water. "Guys...I think there's a boat down there." His friends stare at him with disbelief, but Pope was adamant. "No, no, guys. I'm serious. There's a boat down there. For real."

At that comment, Anessa, Kiara, and John B moved to look over the edge while JJ looked over to where Pope was pointing at as well. Anessa's eyes widened as she squinted into the water. Sure enough, beneath the surface, a dark shape was partially submerged, the outline of a boat unmistakable against the sandy bottom. "Holy s***." She gasped.

"You're right, there is a boat down there! No freaking way." She exclaimed, a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "We should check it out!" She pulled her, well, John B's shirt off and then her shorts to reveal her blue bikini underneath. She put her clothes in her bag and didn't wait for the others before she jumped in the water. Her curiosity took over, and she couldn't resist the thrill of exploring the submerged mystery. The cool water enveloped her as she dove in, kicking her legs to propel herself deeper. The sunlight danced on the surface above, casting shimmering patterns that only heightened her excitement.

As she approached the sunken boat, her heart raced with anticipation. What would they find? Treasure? Lost belongings? The possibilities were endless. She swam down beside the boat, surprised to find it looking like a fancy boat. Someone with a lot of money had it. Questions began filling her mind. Who had owned this boat? How had it ended up here, in this remote stretch of the marsh? What had happened to its owner? Had they survived the wreck, or were they now resting at the bottom of the marsh, a forgotten tragedy?

Anessa swam back up to the surface with her friends, gasping for air with excitement and wonder. JJ grins at his friends. "You guys saw that, right?"

"Yeah, I did!" Kiara laughed, in disbelief and shocked.

"Dude, this is crazy! There's a fancy boat down there, I still can't believe it!" Anessa exclaimed with a bright smile on her face. The friend group were all equally surprised and confused at how a fancy boat like the one they saw, a Grady White, could end up at the bottom of the marsh.

"Yeah, that's the boat I saw when I surfed the surge." John B realizes, wincing when Anessa punched his shoulder. "Ow! What was that for?"

"I knew you and Pope were stupid enough to surf those waves!" Anessa scolded, reaching over to punch Pope in the shoulder as well and gaining a grunt from him. "You guys are such idiots, do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

"Oh, come on, Annie. Lighten up. It's not like anything bad happened. We're fine. I did try to stop him though." Pope added the last part.

"You surfed the surge?" Kiara asked in surprise.

"That's my boy. Pogue style." JJ beamed as he high fived John B.

"What the heck?" Kiara chided, glaring at John B.

"See?" Anessa points at her. "She understands how ridiculous and dangerous that was."

"Wait, wait, do we know whose boat that is?" Pope inquired.

Anessa rolls her eyes. "Clearly not, Pope. Why would any of us know that?"

John B chuckles at her response and turns to open up a hatch. "She has a good point, but we're about to find out."

"Dude, it's too deep." JJ told him from his spot where he was checking how far the water went down in the marsh.

"Oh, for the week and feeble, JJ." John B commented, pulling out the anchor for the boat.

"Well, I'm not resuscitation you. I'm just making that clear up front." JJ shrugged.

"Aren't you such a nice friend?" Anessa sarcastically huffs. She nudges JJ with her elbow before focusing back on John B. "Seriously though, be careful. We don't know what's down there."

John B smiles reassuringly at her. "I'll be fine, bubs."

"Diver down, fool." Pope said teasingly.

John B sighs, doing a mocking salute. "Diver down."

"Yeah, he is." And with that, JJ pushed John B off the boat.

"JJ!" John B heard Anessa gasp and then a grunt from JJ which made him guess Anessa had hit him as he fell in the water. And she did. She hit the back of JJ's head, making him yelp and grab the back of his head.

"Ow, what the h***, Annie!?" He exclaimed, giving her a hurt and betrayed look.

"You deserved it. That was such a jerk move, JJ." She sighed, rolling her eyes. She ignored the glare JJ was sending her way and turned her attention back to the water. She was worried about John B, and her eyes scanned the murky water for any sign of him. After a few tense moments, John B finally resurfaced, gasping for air.

"That took forever!" Kiara called out, relieved he was okay.

"Any dead bodies?" Pope curiously asked.

"Looting potential?" JJ added in a hopeful tone.

"No. No. I found this motel key." John B revealed, holding up a key with a yellow tag.

Pope wasn't impressed. "A key."

"Yes, a key, Pope." John B commented and swam over to the side of the boat to climb on as JJ pulled the anchor back up.

"Great! We salvaged a motel key." JJ sarcastically stated.

"John B, are you hurt?" Anessa questioned, kneeling by him with concern in her eyes when he got back on the boat. She quickly examined him for any injuries, relief flooding over her when she saw he was unharmed.

"I'm fine, Annie, thanks." John B assured her, sending her a small smile and she nodded, returning the smile.

"Guys, we should report the wreck to the coast guard. Maybe we'll get a finders fee." Kiara suggested as Pope got back to the wheel and started driving them back.

"Yeah, and not work all summer." JJ speaks up. "Thanks, Agatha, ya batch."

Unknowingly to the group of friends who had discovered something unexpected, there was something more deadly and unexpected nearby in the water they missed.