Outfits Link:

https://urstyle.fashion/collections/166822

Day One

Day - Beach Side Construction

The Pogues were all over a beachside construction structure while looking over the view of the ocean.

John B: (voice over) "We're the Pogues, and our mission this summer is to have a good time, all the time."

Kaylee Carrera and JJ Maybank were perched on a ledge as high as the second floor of an unfinished house, with JJ casually draping his arms over a bar in front of them. Their usual squabble was underway, but it was laden with flirtatious undertones and a palpable tension, amplified by the drinks they were nursing.

"Total bullshit, JJ," Kaylee declared. "It's your b brand of bullshit, through and through."

JJ just gave a nonchalant shrug. "You're missing the grand scheme of things. Your head's too high in the clouds, free spirit."

"Grand scheme?" Kaylee echoed. "If that's what you call it, you're more retro than I pegged you for. FYI, humanity's leveled up. It's all about the group effort now."

JJ let out a chuckle. "Ah, morphed into a squad of preachy, navel-gazing, world-saving crusaders, have we?"

"Excuse us for not having a 'torch everything' policy," Kaylee shot back.

JJ snorted at her phrasing. "Talk about irony, coming from someone who's practically a fire-starting enthusiast."

"I'm all for green living, thank you very much," Kaylee retorted. "You just want the world tailor-made for you."

"It's bigger than my wishlist," JJ replied.

Isa Routledge was sitting on a landing that was the same level as halfway up the first story of the house, while Pope Heyward was standing on the deck.

Isa and Pope looked up to Kaylee and JJ, not even surprised.

"What are you two even bickering about?" Pope asked.

"I don't know what it started with," Kaylee admitted. "I forgot, but I'm not gonna let JJ have the last word, especially since it turned into activist and product consumer debate."

Kaylee playfully stuck her tongue out at JJ.

With a smirk, JJ teased. "Height of maturity, Kaylee."

"Oh, look who's talking," Kaylee retorted, sipping her drink with mock solemnity.

Isa's older brother John B Routledge stood on a rooftop, balancing on a foot with a beer can in his hand.

"That's what, a three-story fall to the deck?" Pope asked. "I give you a one-in-three chance of survival."

Pope was playing with the drill in his hands.

"Should I do it?" John B asked. "Should I jump?"

Pope took the drill, pointing it at John B, closing an eye. "Do it. I'll shoot you on the way down."

John B flashed a cheeky grin, aiming a finger gun at Pope. "You're gonna shoot me? Hey, Isa, think I should take the leap?"

Isa, propped casually against the railing, beer dangling from her fingertips, quipped back at her brother with a smirk. "Jump away, Johnny Boy. There's a Juul in it for you if you do."

Kaylee's sister Kiara "Kie" Carrera walked closer. "They are going to have Japanese toilets with toilet warmers."

"Of course they are," JJ replied. "Why wouldn't they?"

Kie grimaced. "This used to be a turtle habitat, but who cares about the turtles, I guess."

JJ nonchalantly replied. "Can't have cold towels."

"Ready to open Pandora's box again?" Kaylee chimed in. "Because, you know, turtle extinction is just a minor side effect."

JJ's grin was as sharp as cheddar. "Touché, Kay."

Kie nodded at her sister. "Thank you, Kay. Point you."

Isa observed the banter with a smirk. "Ah, the environment. The forgotten character in this comedy."

Kie pointed at Isa. "See? Isa's on board."

Isa winked. "Just stirring the pot, but yeah, I'm on your team." She looked up at John B. "Can you please not kill yourself?"

"Don't spill that beer," JJ warned. "I'm not giving you another one."

Kaylee snagged JJ's beer, taking a swig while giving John B an amused glance.

Then, a wild gust of wind played the role of party pooper, sending John B's beer flying from his grasp to the ground.

John B stared in disbelief. "Whoa! Oh, shit!"

Kaylee couldn't help but smirk and roll her eyes. "Smooth!"

Isa mimed a megaphone with her hands, mockingly bellowing at John B. "Comedy gold!"

Kie couldn't suppress a smirk.

"Of course you did," JJ chided. "Right when I told you not to." John B's groan was one of pure annoyance. JJ gave a mock cheer, clapping. "A plus!"

Kie's eye roll was epic. "Dumbass."

Kaylee snickered. "Genius move, Einstein."

(Song:) Left Hand Free - Alt-J

Pope peered over the railing, spotting a security car cruising to a halt below. "Hey, uh, security's here. Let's wrap it up."

Isa groaned teasingly. "Oh, no, the fun police have arrived. Time to bounce."

John B shrugged. "Boys are early today."

Isa gave a nonchalant wave to the security guards below, smiling. "Guess the early bird catches the... trespassers?"

JJ looked up at John B. "Humpty Dumpty, let's roll."

"Time to tumble," Isa teased.

JJ and Kaylee rose from their lofty perch on the third story, descending the ladder with the grace of seasoned cat burglars.

Isa, ever the acrobat, swung under the bar on her first-floor landing, flipping onto the deck with a flourish.

"Let's go, guys," Kie urged.

John B made his way from the rooftop to the landing with the ease of a parkour pro, before joining the others via the ladder.

Peeking over the deck, JJ called out. "Yo, Gary, is that you?"

Kaylee sent a cheeky wave down. "Hey there, Gary! Fancy seeing you here. Come to crash our party?"

With a roll of her eyes, Kie quipped. "You two are just asking for it."

"Practically rolled out the red carpet for him," Isa agreed, teasing.

The Pogues smiled, all running off into the house that was under construction, cheering and shouting excitedly, running down the stairs. JJ went toward one of the exits, but stopped running and fell when he saw Gary in front of them.

"Stop!" Gary told them. The Pogues turned around, running out of the other exit. "Get 'em! They're comin' your way!"

Another guard came up behind JJ, grabbing him. "I got him!"

JJ twisted free. "Not much of a hugger, man!" He chased after the other Pogues as they laughed. "Go, Pope! Go, go, go, go, go, go!"

They jumped over a fence in front of them, but Pope fell to the ground.

Isa helped him up. "Get up, Pope. Rent-a-cop coming."

They ran toward John B's van which they called Twinkie.

The other guard ran up to the fence but couldn't climb over. "Hey! Come here, you little pricks!"

John B sounded his horn. "Bus is leaving!"

"Come on, guys!" Kie urged, climbing into the back of the van.

Isa and Kaylee joined Kie in the back, while JJ and Pope hurried to catch up and hop in with the girls.

"Whoo!" Kaylee exclaimed, bursting into laughter.

John B put the vehicle in motion.

Gary chased after them, shouting, "Hey, hey! Hey, hey!"

Pope smirked. "Looks like Gary's gunning for a raise."

"Keep it up, Gary!" Isa jeered.

"Come on, man!" JJ called mockingly. "You almost got us."

"You're nearly there," Kaylee teased him.

"Guys, seriously, you're going to give him a heart attack," Kie reprimanded.

"Oh, you're so close!" JJ taunted.

Gary continued chasing them. "You little pricks!"

Isa laughed, singing in jest. "Why can't we be friends? / Why can't we be friends?"

"Want a beer, man?" JJ hollered, leaning out the door. "Here ya go!"

With a flick of his wrist, JJ sent the beer flying to Gary.

"You're underpaid, buddy," Kaylee declared.

"Definitely don't pay you enough, man," JJ agreed.

Kie yanked JJ back into the van. "JJ, stop. Stop."

"Ah, lighten up," Kaylee protested. "A little mischief should be rewarded, not scolded."

"And come on," JJ complained. "That sort of initiative is just begging to be punished."

"Rain check!" Isa shouted to Gary. "Stay awesome!"

With a mock salute, Isa shut the door.

The Pogues laughed as John B drove them past the sign reading:

"Welcome to the Outer Banks - Paradise on Earth"

John B: (voice over) "The Outer Banks, Paradise on Earth. It's the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island."

Isa went from the back of the van up to the front of the van, sitting in the open passenger's seat next to John B, the two siblings sharing a smile. Isa looked out the window as they drove through the rich side of Outer Banks, at all the fancy houses and neighborhoods.

Isa: (voice over) "All right, this is Figure 8, the rich side of the island. Home of the Kooks. So, guess where we don't live."

John B drove them home to the Cut.

Isa: (voice over) "And then, this is the south side, or the Cut. Home of the working class who make a living busing tables, washing yachts, running charters."

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Opening Montage

The Marsh Scene 1

(Song:) Buster - The Whitefield Brothers

The Pogues were all lounging around the HMS Pogue as they cruised down the watery marsh. Pope and JJ were laying on the edge of the boat, John B was laying on a seating area with his hands behind his bed and feet propped up on the edge of the boat, Isa was sitting on a seat connected to the engine while propping her feet up on the seating area next to John B, and Kie and Kaylee were laying down on the floor of the boat.

Isa: (voice over) "The natural habitat of... drumroll, please."

Pope, JJ, Isa, Kie and Kaylee all suddenly got up and did a doggie pile on John B, all laughing and having a good time.

Isa: (voice over) "The Pogues. That's us."

⚓️

The Marsh Scene 2 (Swimsuits)

Now JJ was shirtless in swim trunks, sunglasses on with a snapback hat on his head, smoking a joint.

Pope was shirtless in swim trunks with a hat on, reading a book.

John B: (voice over) "Pogues, pogies, the throwaway fish. Lowest member of the food chain. Okay, so, the downside of Pogue life is we're ignored and neglected."

Isa, Kaylee and Kie were lounging around in their bikinis and shorts. Isa drank a tiny sip from a flask. Kaylee was smoking a joint. Kie was on her phone.

John B: (voice over) "But the upside of Pogue life? We're ignored and neglected, which means we do whatever we want, whenever we want."

John B was in swim trunks, fishing, pulling the net over the boat and letting all the fish fall to the floor.

"Nice haul, dude," JJ complimented. "Look at that."

Kie groaned. "Ugh, John B."

"Been all bait for like three weeks," JJ told them.

John B knelt down, tossing a fish at JJ.

Kaylee smirked. "Gross."

⚓️

The Marsh Scene 3

JJ was inside the in closed part of the ship, wearing sunglasses and a red and gray hat, looking outside.

John B: (voice over) "That's JJ, my best friend since the third grade, though he's been helping me look after Isa since then since he's like our brother."

⚓️

Lawn

JJ was shirtless, mowing a lawn.

Isa (voice over) "JJ's about as local as they come. Latest in the long line of fishing, drinking..."

⚓️

Basement

JJ was pretending to be surfing.

John B: (voice over) "Smuggling, vendetta-holding, salt-lifers who made their living off the water."

⚓️

The Ocean

JJ was surfing a large wave.

John B: (voice over) "Best surfer I know. Just don't tell him I said that."

⚓️

Driveway

JJ was working on a car engine.

John B: (voice over) "Mild kleptomaniac and a future tax cheat."

⚓️

The Pogue Nest (Kaylee's Treehouse) - First Floor

Kaylee and Kie were eating on the first floor of the Pogue Nest.

Kaylee was laying down the blue couch, messing with the drapes as she did.

Kie was sitting in the net hammock chair hanging from the ceiling.

Isa: (voice over) "And that's Kaylee and Kiara, or Kay and Kie as we call them. The Carrera sisters. While Kie's the same age as John B, JJ and Pope, Kay's the same age as me, and Kaylee's been my best friend since the third grade, too."

⚓️

Second Floor

The Pogues were hanging out in the second floor of the Pogue Nest, as JJ was lounging on the black couch. Kaylee was sitting in one of the hammock drape chairs next to the black couch, and Kie, Isa, Leon, John B and Pope were sitting in the ottomans and chairs across the way nearby the TV.

Kaylee was messing around with some sunglasses, swinging in the hammock chair, smiling, spinning it around. JJ smiled. Kaylee took the sunglasses off, putting them onto JJ. JJ wiggled the sunglasses around on his eyes, causing Kaylee and JJ to laugh as the other Pogues looked over to them.

John B: (voice over) "Kaylee's definitely a free spirit. Always a blast but caring and a troublemaker too. So much so that Mr. and Mrs. Carrera were so strict about Kay following their rules, and saying if she lived under their roof, she had to obey their rules including not hanging out with us and getting into more trouble, she decided to move into her childhood treehouse in the woods behind their house instead."

⚓️

In a series of quick flashbacks, it showed Kaylee and the Pogues adding onto a tiny childhood sized treehouse into the major three-story treehouse it was in present time, with Kaylee, Kie, Isa, John B, JJ and Pope all adding to it, having a blast as they did.

John B: (voice over) "As the years passed, Isa, JJ, Kie, Pope, and I contributed to the treehouse, moving Kay's belongings from her Carrera house room to Kaylee's new third-floor space. We furnished it with items her parents no longer needed, purchases Kay made with earnings from babysitting, working at the family restaurant, helping Pope and his dad with deliveries, and other tasks, as well as repurposing abandoned finds that were still useful."

The Pogue Nest stood tall and proud among the ancient oaks, a testament to years of friendship and shared dreams. Its weathered wooden exterior blended seamlessly with the surrounding forest, as if it had grown organically from the very earth itself. The treehouse spiraled upwards, each level slightly offset from the one below, creating a whimsical, asymmetrical silhouette against the canopy of leaves.

A rustic spiral staircase wound its way around the massive trunk of the central tree, its rough-hewn steps worn smooth by countless footsteps. The railing, fashioned from twisted branches and sturdy rope, added both safety and a touch of adventure to the ascent. Lanterns and fairy lights hung at intervals along the staircase, swaying gently in the breeze and casting a warm, inviting glow as dusk settled over the woods, twinkling like fireflies in the evening shadows.

Small wooden platforms extended from each level, creating balconies that offered breathtaking views of the surrounding woods.

For those seeking a quicker route down, silver slides were attached to the second and third floors of the treehouse.

Kaylee and JJ used the slides to get out of the treehouse faster, laughing and having a blast, while Isa, John B, Kie and Pope used the stairs, which obviously took a lot longer.

Isa: (voice over) "Since Kaylee's been my best friend since we were kids, and we all helped with adding to the treehouse, Kay called it the Pogue Nest, a place for us to hang out and have fun when we need to be somewhere off the grid or just needing to be by ourselves. Perfect escape."

With a flick of her wrist, Kaylee lit the lighter and aimed its flame at the aerosol hairspray, creating a magnificent fireball that engulfed the fire pit outside the treehouse. The dancing flames illuminated her face with an orange glow as she let out a triumphant cheer. The bonfire roared to life, sending sparks and embers flying into the night sky like tiny fireworks. The crackling of the wood and the warm heat radiating from the flames created a cozy atmosphere for their outdoor gathering.

John B: (voice over) "Mild pyromaniac."

⚓️

Beach

Kie was helping clean up a beach.

John B: (voice over) "And when Kie's not saving turtles or listening to Marley or getting a dolphin tattoo, she hangs out with us."

⚓️

The Marsh Scene 2 (Bathing Suits Scene)

Kie, Kaylee and Isa were in their bathing suits, laughing and smiling, messing around.

John B: (voice over) "I'm not really sure why, though."

⚓️

Trail

The Pogues were messing around, while Kie and Kaylee were laughing.

John B: (voice over) "Kay and Kie are rich kids, actually. Foot in both worlds."

⚓️

The Wreck

Kie and Kaylee were working at their family's restaurant, The Wreck.

John B: (voice over) "Their family owns The Wreck, this Outer Banks institution. Total cash cow with the tourists."

⚓️

The Marsh Scene 2 (Swimsuits Scene)

Kaylee and JJ were dancing around, singing, laughing, clearly flirting. JJ lowered his head and Kaylee pushed him away teasingly, smiling.

Isa: (voice over) "Kaylee and JJ are always flirting, bickering and having fun. Despite the no Pogue-on-Pogue macking rule, Kie, John B and Pope and I've all taken bets on how long it will take for Kay and JJ to break that rule since they're always breaking things, rules included."

Isa and Kie were sitting and laughing.

John B: (voice over) "And I'm pretty sure Isa and Kie might have a thing for each other, but don't tell Isa I said that. She'll kill me."

Pope was relaxing, smiling.

John B: (voice over) "And that's Pope, the brains of the operation."

⚓️

Heyward Shop

JJ, Kaylee, Kie and Pope were behind the counter while JJ and the sisters were helping with the shop, and Pope was at the cash register.

Isa: (voice over) "Pope's the finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhorst Merit Scholarship. And the smartest person I know."

⚓️

Night - Party

Pope was talking with a girl. "I want to be a coroner."

"What?" the girl asked.

John B, overhearing from nearby, winced, shaking his head, walking away.

John B: (voice over) "Little bit of a weirdo."

⚓️

Day - Dock

Pope's father Heyward was walking along, hanging bags to Pope and JJ on a boat for deliveries.

John B: (voice over) "His father's this legendary character, Heyward."

Isa: (voice over) "Anything you wanted on the island, Heyward could get for you."

On a later day, Pope and Heyward were working, near nighttime.

John B: (voice over) "Now, I'm not sure Heyward knew what to make of his oddball son."

⚓️

The Marsh Scene 2 (Swimsuits Scene)

The Pogues were having a blast, singing and dancing around.

Isa: (voice over) "But it didn't matter. Pope's a Pogue, just like the rest of us."

The Pogues stood together on the edge of the boat, overlooking the water, as Kie, Kaylee and Isa had their arms around Pope, JJ and John B's shoulders.

John B: (voice over) "So, that's our crew."

Isa sat on the edge of the boat, overlooking the water, sunglasses on as wind tousled her hair.

John B: (voice over) "And that's my sister. Isa Nicole Routledge. She's a year younger than me. While I'm soon to turn 17, Isa's soon to turn 16."

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Day Two

Morning - The Chateau - Living Room

John B walked out of the bathroom, shirtless.

Isa: (voice over) "And that's my brother. John Booker Routledge. And this is where we live."

JJ walked out of another room.

Kaylee brushed past him toward the bathroom. "Scuse me."

JJ watched Kaylee go in amusement, shaking his head.

Isa walked into the living room, seeing Kie half-asleep on the pull out couch, waving. "Morning, Kie."

Kie waved. "Morning."

John B went to the kitchen.

Isa: (voice over) "An old fish shack on the marsh. The Chateau, as our dad used to call it."

Isa picked up a picture frame, putting it on the wall, looking at the picture of her parents somberly.

Isa: (voice over) "There's Dad. Big John Routledge. He disappeared at sea nine months ago, looking for a shipwreck. Who disappears at sea these days? We miss him."

John B looked over, noticing Isa was looking at the picture.

John B: (voice over) "And then there's Mom. She split when I was three. Isa was two. Last we heard, she was in Colorado. I think it was Colorado."

Isa looked at another picture on the wall.

Isa: (voice over) "That's Uncle T. Since Dad's vanished, he's supposedly my and John B's legal guardian. At the moment, he's in Mississippi, building houses."

⚓️

Outside

John B walked outside with a beer, seeing Pope on the porch couch, trying to get over a hangover, but managed to do a halfhearted handshake with John B as he walked past.

John B: (voice over) "Which means it's just me and Isa right now, on our own, hanging out with our friends."

Isa walked outside to go lay in a hammock hanging from the tree.

Isa: (voice over) "Three months after Dad was missing, he was officially presumed dead. John B and I refused to sign the papers. Until we see a body, we're not giving up."

⚓️

Social Worker's Office

Isa and John B were sitting across the table of their social worker, Cheryl.

Cheryl sat down with their file. "John, Isa, it's come to our attention that you are two unemancipated minors living on your own."

John B scoffed unconvincingly. "No... no."

Isa rolled her eyes at his very easily able to tell lie, looking at Cheryl, more convincing. "No."

"I need honesty to help you," Cheryl told them. "That's what we all want, right?"

John B smiled awkwardly. "We're being honest."

"Okay, then when is the last time you spoke to your uncle?" Cheryl asked.

Isa checked her wrist, which did not have a watch but she pretended it did, looking at her bracelets instead. "34 minutes ago."

"When's the last time you saw him?" Cheryl asked.

"Two hours and... 43 minutes ago?" John B asked.

Cheryl gave them a serious look. "We're gonna come out there tomorrow to talk to your uncle. If he's not there, we're gonna move forward with foster care. I want to assure you, we're gonna find both of you a safe and loving home."

"You mean after we get separated because most homes won't take two teenagers a year apart, right?" Isa asked sarcastically, bitterly. "You want to separate us."

"We don't want to, Isa," Cheryl told her. "It's just a choice that we don't have."

Isa nodded sarcastically, exchanging an annoyed look with John B, both worried about their options.

John B: (voice over) "They actually thought we were gonna be happy to hear that. Knowing that more than likely, if Isa and I went into foster care, we'd be separated, and neither of us could handle that."

⚓️

Day Three

Morning - The Pogue Nest - Second Floor

The Pogues were lounging around the second floor once again, with Isa sitting in one of the drape/chairs hanging from the ceiling next to the black couch, closest to the self-made window in the wall, looking outside. John B was in the other drape/chair on the other side of the black couch. John B and Isa exchanged a look, looking over to Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope across the room in the chairs all talking and laughing it up.

Isa: (voice over) "And that's where this story starts for me and John B. Our dad missing, our uncle MIA, and the Bride of Frankenstein threatening foster care and splitting us up. But then we caught a break."

Kaylee turned the TV up when she saw the news report. "Oh, hey."

Reporter: (on TV) "Hurricane Agatha continues its steady march towards Kildare Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina."

JJ raised his eyebrows. "Holy shit."

John B: (voice over) "Hurricane Agatha, coming in the same day DCS was supposed to do our assessment."

Kie looked at Kaylee. "Let's hope the generator that Mom and Dad got for the Pogue Nest doesn't crap out during the hurricane."

"Or that the Pogue Nest itself doesn't fall apart," Pope agreed.

Kaylee made a face. "Yeah."

⚓️

On the Town

John B and Isa were walking together, hearing the warning siren for the hurricane.

John B made a call.

"DCS, can I help you?"

John B glanced at Isa. "Yeah, uh, I think we're probably gonna have to reschedule."

Isa smirked.

⚓️

Beach

It was in the middle of the storm when Pope and JJ, in their swimming trunks, ran out toward John B and Isa, all having surfboards. John B was also in swim trunks.

"It's a double overhead out there, bro," JJ said.

"Double overhead?" Pope repeated. "Those aren't surfable waves, bro."

John B smirked, laughing. "Says who?"

John B ran into the ocean.

"You go, John B," JJ told him.

Kaylee ran out toward them with her surfboard. "I miss it?"

"Just in time, actually," JJ answered. "Why aren't you at home with Kie?"

"Because after trying and make sure that the Pogue Nest wouldn't collapse after all this, I didn't want to stay at home where Mom and Dad could tell me a thousand 'I told you so's," Kaylee answered. "I'd rather be out here surfing the surge."

"Right there with you," Isa told her.

Kaylee smirked. "I see John B's already out there. Isa's with me. JJ, Pope, you in?"

"Hell, yeah," JJ answered.

Pope shook his head. "I'm not going."

Isa looked at Pope in skeptical amusement, taking off her top and shorts to reveal her bathing suit, running toward the ocean with her surfboard. "Pussy!"

Kaylee smiled, taking off her top and shorts to reveal her bathing suit, giving a wink to JJ and Pope, running toward the ocean with her surfboard.

JJ smiled, running into the ocean to surf with John B, Kaylee and Isa. It was very hard for any of them to surf, but they were still having a blast.

John B stopped when he saw a boat further away on the ocean in the distance, stopping like he wasn't sure if he saw it or not. "What the hell?"

Isa, Kaylee and JJ were getting out of the ocean and heading back toward Pope.

"JB, you coming?" Isa called.

John B turned and headed back toward them.

Kaylee was shaking a bit from the cold, smiling.

"You okay?" JJ asked.

Kaylee nodded. "Yeah, I'm just really cold."

JJ walked closer, hugging Kaylee from behind, making her smile like this was something they always did as best friends, as JJ rubbed her shoulders, trying to keep her warmer.

John B walked toward them, taunting/teasing. "You didn't give me a towel nor did you give me hugs."

"Shut up," Kaylee and JJ replied.

Isa laughed. "Classic JJ and Kay."

Pope smirked, rolling his eyes.

As the hurricane continued, the entire island lost power.

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

Day Four

Morning - The Chateau - Living Room

Isa and John B walked into the living room.

"You have service when you checked your phone this morning?" Isa asked.

"Nope," John B answered. "You?"

"Nada," Isa answered, flipping the light switch. "And no power. Great."

John B strolled up to JJ, who was sleeping, sprawled on the couch, and gave his leg a nudge. "Hey, JJ. You been outside?"

JJ groaned. "I've got polio, bro. I can't walk."

Isa snickered. "Yeah, right, and I'm the tooth fairy."

⚓️

Outside

John B and Isa walked outside, to see that it was absolutely destroyed. A tree had fallen over and uprooted and everything.

John B yawned, stretching his arms overhead. "Oh, man. That is not good."

JJ walked outside. "Agatha did some work, huh?"

"Yeah, she did," Isa answered, looking around. "Fucking bitch. Man, if the Pogue Nest got damaged, Kaylee's gonna be crushed."

JJ shrugged. "Yeah, but knowing Kay, she'll get it fixed in no time." He noticed John B by the boat. "Whatcha you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that storm surge pushed all the crabs out on the marsh maze," John B answered. "All those drum are gonna chase the crab."

"What about the DCS?" JJ asked. "Wasn't that today?"

Isa shook her head. "Nah, they're not getting on a ferry."

"Come on, think about it," John B told them. "It's God telling us to fish."

Isa smiled, shrugging.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Foyer

Lia Cameron was trying to sneak out of the house early in the morning.

Her little sister Wheezie walked up behind Lia. "Lia? Where are you going?"

Lia jumped, turning to face Wheezie quickly. "Wheezie. What are you doing up so early?"

Wheezie pushed up her glasses. "I could ask you the same thing. Dad's gonna kill you if he finds out you're sneaking out right after a hurricane. We all have to help clean up."

Lia rolled her eyes. "Dad doesn't give a shit about what I do. I'll be fine. I'm gonna be home to help, I promise. I just need some air. Okay? Cover for me?" Wheezie sighed, nodding. Lia gave her a thankful look. "Thank you."

Lia walked out the front door, closing it behind her.

⚓️

Dock

John B, Isa and JJ were riding the HMS Pogue along the water alongside the dock.

"It's kind of a smuggler's boat," John B said, looking at the boats nearby.

"Sure hope Guffy's boat didn't sink," JJ stated. "He doesn't have insurance."

"Yeah," Isa agreed. She waved to a woman. "Hi, Miss Amy! You guys get through it?"

"Still here," Amy answered.

"She totally looked at me," JJ told them.

John B smirked. "I saw it."

Isa looked around. "Look at this place."

JJ whistled. "Agatha, what did you do?"

"She is a crazy lady," John B mused.

"Hardcore, guys," JJ told them. "Hurricane surge."

Isa nodded, popping the P in her response. "Yep."

"We're gonna be cleaning this all summer," JJ pointed out.

John B winced. "That is my nightmare." They pulled up next to the dock where Pope was standing outside Heyward's shop. "Well, look who we have here."

JJ whooped.

Isa read the spray painted plywood sign next to Pope on the dock. "'Bring it on, Aggie, you bitch'. Well, she sure as hell brought it, all right."

"No shit," JJ agreed.

John B held his hand to his mouth, feigning a serious tone into an imaginary radio. "We have a safety meeting. Attendance mandatory."

John B added some faux static for effect.

"I can't," Pope replied. "My pop's got me on lockdown."

"Seriously?" JJ chided, then mimicked John B, hand to mouth, fake static crackling. "Your dad's a pussy. Over."

Heyward edged nearer. "Oh, I heard that, you little bastard."

Isa grinned. "We need your son. Plus, it's island law. Post-hurricane day equals freedom day."

JJ pointed at Isa. "Yeah, I heard that, too. Island rules. Day after a hurricane's a free day."

"Who the hell made that up?" Heyward inquired.

"Uh, Pentagon, I think," JJ fibbed. "We have security clearance."

Isa nodded teasingly. "Top-secret. Got the ID to prove it."

"Y'all think I'm stupid?" Heyward challenged.

"No, sir," Isa assured.

"I'll do it tomorrow," Pope pledged. "I promise, tomorrow."

"No, no," Heyward told him. "Hell no. You doin' it right now."

John B stage-whispered to Pope. "Get in the boat."

Isa turned secret agent, speaking into her shoulder as if it were a walkie-talkie. "All aboard the escape vessel! Time to bolt. Over and out."

"Boy, if you get in that boat--" Heyward warned.

Pope tossed his broom aside, sprinting for the boat with Olympic speed. "Go, go, go!"

"How's the taste of freedom?" Isa inquired.

"Bring your ass back up here!" Heyward commanded.

"I promise I'll do it tomorrow, Dad," Pope vowed.

Isa gave a queen's farewell as they drifted off. "Toodle-oo, Mr. Heyward!"

JJ let out a victory cry. "Whoo!"

"When you get back, you gonna clean shrimp, clean fish," Heyward cataloged.

"Love you, Pops," Pope declared.

"You'll clean your dirty ass room!" Heyward continued.

John B gave Heyward a thumbs up. "We'll bring him back in one piece. I promise!"

"And I don't like your friends!" Heyward told his son.

The HMS Pogue made its way down the dock to where Kaylee and Kie awaited.

JJ, with an Irish lilt, greeted. "Oh, top of the mornin' to ya."

Isa waved. "Morning."

"Good morning, guys," Kie greeted, presenting a red case.

Using a British accent, Kaylee greeted. "And how are you this fine morning, ladies and gents?"

JJ couldn't help but grin.

"Whatcha got?" Pope inquired. "You got some juice boxes?"

"You know, just some yogurts and carrot sticks," Kie replied.

JJ extended a hand to Kaylee. "How about my kind of juice box?"

With a smirk, Kaylee accepted JJ's assistance into the boat. "Done."

Isa reached out to Kie, who accepted the help into the boat.

"What's the state of the Pogue Nest?" asked Pope.

Anticipating the extent of the damage, John B intoned gravely. "Brace for impact."

"Luckily, only a couple stairs got torn down, but the slides are still in use, so that's not a problem for me, at least," Kaylee answered. "But a nearby tree did fall down onto the generator."

"So Pogue Nest is now officially powerless, even after the island gets power back, unless Kaylee can get a new one, since our parents aren't gonna get her a new one because of their 'I told you so's," Kie explained.

"Man, that sucks," Isa said.

Kaylee shrugged. "Yeah, but it could've been worse, so I'll make do."

"Kay, you're not seriously thinking of staying in the Pogue Nest without power even after the island gets power back," John B stated.

"Yeah, I am," Kaylee answered. "I don't care about lights or power or TV or a generator, JB. Look, I love my parents, but they're being total hypocrites since Mom was a Kook who married a Pogue and they both look down on me and Kie for being best friends with all of you. I'll stay close to them to let them know that I'm okay, but I'm not gonna go back to 'their house, their rules' thing because I've only done what I think is right and to have fun, and if I move back into the house, then it's like it was all for nothing, and I'm not admitting that what I've done to stand by all of you my entire life was wrong."

Isa, John B, JJ and Pope smiled. Kie looked down with a flash of guilt, because for one year she hadn't been there for any of her friends, but Kaylee always had been, though she smiled at them.

JJ sat down next to Kaylee, throwing an arm around her teasingly. "That's my girl."

Kaylee pushed his arm off teasingly. "Get off."

They laughed lightly.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Foyer

Ward Cameron walked toward his wife Rose Cameron. "Have you seen Lia?"

"Not yet," Rose answered.

"Because she's not in her room," Ward explained. "I'm gonna go see if Sarah, Wheezie or Rafe have seen her."

"All right," Rose agreed. Ward walked out of the room.  Rose turned to walk upstairs. Lia peaked her head inside the house before stepping in fully, seeing no one around, letting out a sigh of relief. Rose saw her from the stairs. "Oh. Ward! Lia just walked in!"

Lia closed her eyes in frustration, whispering to herself. "Fuck my life." She opened her eyes, speaking to her stepmother sarcastically. "Thanks for that, Rose." Ward walked in, looking toward Lia. Lia gave a sheepish smile, nervous. "Hi, Dad."

Ward walked closer. "Where the hell have you been?"

Lia shrugged. "I was out helping clean up the beach. Getting the ocean creatures back where they belonged. Not like you care."

Ward sighed, obviously not wanting to bother with this right now. "Go to your room, Lia."

Lia just nodded, not wanting to fight right now, starting to walk toward the stairs, glaring at Rose as she walked past her upstairs to her room.

⚓️

The Marsh

(Song:) Up Up - Sandollar

The Pogues were still on the HMS Pogue.

Kie took out drinks from the red case, passing them out to the Pogues. "Salud."

JJ raised his drink. "Skoal."

Kaylee, Kie, Isa and JJ clinked drinks, drinking, cheering as they took their sips. John B threw his arms in the air as he drove them into the marsh, cheering.

Isa did a little dance with beer bottle in hand while she was sitting down. "Cheers."

Pope went to drive the boat while John B went to get a beer.

Kaylee took off her shirt and shorts to be in her black bikini. As she did, she sensed eyes on her and, turning, she collided with JJ.

JJ grinned. "Whoa. Didn't realize you'd had that much to drink already, Kaylee."

Kaylee returned the grin, shaking her head. "Oh, no. I haven't had that much. It's just that I've fallen for you."

JJ's eyes widened in surprise, a smile spreading across his face. "Oh! That was smooth."

"Very subtle," Isa commented with a hint of sarcasm.

Kie chuckled. "All right, lovebirds."

"Find a room," John B muttered.

"Or I'll toss you both overboard," Pope threatened.

Laughter erupted from them all.

"Let me show you a party trick," JJ announced.

Kie gave him the side-eye. "Terrifying."

JJ perched precariously on the boat's rim. "Hey, Pope, can you go a little faster?"

Isa grinned with mischief. "Oh, God, here we go." She ambled to the boat's far end. "Clearing the splash zone."

"This is a no-go," Kaylee complained.

John B stepped back. "I'm moving. It doesn't work. We've tried this like 6,000 times."

"I got this," JJ insisted. "It's gonna work."

"Since when do your plans not flop?" Kaylee teased.

JJ attempted a beer cascade, but the wind had other plans, showering Kie and Kaylee instead.

Kie recoiled. "You're getting beer in my hair!"

Kaylee surrendered. "We're not beer-flavored, dude. Oh, my God, okay, enough!"

"That's a wrap," Isa agreed.

"All right, you're done," John B called.

Kaylee stood, moving aside. "All right, stop."

The boat suddenly thrashed violently like it hit something, and JJ was thrown off the boat and into the water, as Isa, Kaylee, Kie and John B all fell slightly to the floor of the boat. Pope was able to remain standing because he fell forward into the steering wheel.

(Song Ends)

"Jesus, Pope!" Kaylee complained. "You didn't actually have to throw JJ out of the boat."

"I didn't mean to," Pope admitted.

They all groaned from the sudden impact.

Kaylee looked into the water, concerned. "JJ?"

JJ floated up to the surface of the water.

"You okay, JJ?" Isa asked.

JJ kept his eyes closed. "I think my heels touched the back of my head."

John B groaned. "Girls, you okay?"

"I'm all right," Kie answered.

"Super," Isa said sarcastically.

Kaylee held up a thumbs up. "Just great."

"Pope, what did you do?" JJ asked.

"Sandbar," Pope explained. "The channel changed."

JJ swam closer. "No shit."

The Pogues in the boat all stood up.

"Ugh, this is probably gonna mess this whole place up," Isa said.

Kaylee stepped onto the edge of the boat, looking into the water.

JJ raised his beer. "Hey, I saved the beer, though."

"Congrats, JJ," John B told him sarcastically.

Kaylee took a closer look into the murky water. "Guys, I think there's a boat down there."

"Shut up," John B said.

Kie looked up at Kaylee. "No way."

"What?" Pope asked.

JJ turned to look.

"No, no, guys, I'm serious," Kaylee told them. "There's a boat down there. For real."

Kaylee dove into the water.

Isa walked closer to look. "Holy shit. She's right. Let's go."

Isa and Kie took off their shirts and shorts to be in their bikinis, as John B and Pope took off their shirts.

"You think there's a dead body down there?" Pope asked.

Isa, Kie and John B dove into the water.

"Whoo!" Kie cheered.

"Guys, wait up!" Pope told them.

"Get your ass in here, Pope!" JJ told him

"Come on!" John B agreed.

Pope canonballed into the water.

They all swam down to the boat underwater, looking into the wreckage, but soon had to go back up to the surface, gasping for breath.

"You guys saw that, right?" Isa asked.

"Yeah, I did," Kie answered.

"Yeah," Kaylee agreed.

John B smiled. "What the--"

The boys all laughed.

JJ smiled. "That's a Grady White. A new one of those is like 500 Gs, easy."

They all swam back to the boat, climbing in.

Kaylee shook out her hair. "That's a primo rig."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," John B agreed. "That's the boat I saw when we surfed the surge. Maybe it hit the jetty or something."

"You surfed the surge?" Kie asked.

"Yeah, with Isa, Kay and JJ," John B answered.

JJ smiled. "Pogue style."

Kie looked at Kaylee. "That's where you went when you took off last night when we made sure the Pogue Nest didn't get completely taken down? To surf the surge?"

"Uh, yeah," Kaylee answered like it was obvious. "Not the point, Kie."

"Wait, wait," Pope said. "Do we know whose boat that is?"

Isa knelt down to open a compartment. "No, but we're about to find out."

JJ perched on the edge of the boat, looking into the water. "Girl, it's too deep."

Isa pulled out supplies. "Oh, for the weak and feeble, JJ."

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

Isa pulled out the anchor. "That's fine."

Isa stood with the anchor.

"Isa," Kie said.

Isa looked at Kie. "What?"

Kie gave Isa a look, shaking her head.

Pope saluted. "Diver down, fools."

Isa smiled. "Diver down."

John B made a move for the anchor. "Hold up, I got this. You're not going down there."

Isa hopped onto the ledge with a grin. "Watch me."

"Isa, no!" John B protested.

But Isa was already a splash in the water, riding the anchor down like a mermaid with a mission, diving into the depths.

Kaylee just laughed. "JB, the moment you imply 'can't' to Isa, you basically dared her to do it."

John B just nodded, a smirk creeping in. Kaylee had a point; Isa was predictably unpredictable.

Down in the Grady White, Isa swam around looking for anything, not finding much, but did find a motel room key, grabbing it, starting to swim back up.

The others were kneeling at the edge of the boat, looking into the water.

"Should we go get her?" Pope asked.

Isa burst through the surface, coughing as she gasped for breath, causing everyone to sigh in relief.

Kie gave Isa a look. "Oh, my God. That took forever!"

John B sighed. "Ah, jeez."

"Any dead bodies?" Kaylee inquired.

"Looting potential?" JJ chimed in.

"Negative on both," Isa replied, flaunting the key. "But behold, a motel key."

"A key?" Pope echoed.

With an eye roll, Isa gave him a sarcastic look. "What do you think, Pope, a spaceship? Yes, a key."

John B and Kie took each of Isa's hands to help her climb up onto the boat.

"Great," JJ said sarcastically. "We salvaged a motel key."

They started to ride off.

"Guys, we should report the wreck to the coast guard," Kie told them. "Maybe we'll get a finder's fee."

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

What they didn't see was that they did drive past a body in the water hidden by seaweed and debris from the hurricane.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Workers for the estate were cleaning up.

Ward and a woman named Lana Grubbs were walking together.

"You haven't seen him since?" Ward asked.

"I haven't seen him since before the storm," Lana answered.

"What did the police say?" Ward asked.

"Well, they said I have to wait 24 hours before I can report anything, but I know something's wrong," Lana answered.

"Nothing is wrong," Ward told her. "You know, it's Scooter. He knows how to handle himself in a storm."

"Well, when was the last time that you saw him?" Lana asked.

Ward looked up like he was thinking. "Uh, last time I saw him, he was prepping the Druthers with Lia and Sarah."

⚓️

Inside - Foyer

Ward and Lana walked in.

"Lia?" Ward called. "Sarah?" He saw Rose on the stairs. "Is Lia still up in her room like she's supposed to be?"

"No, she's out back with Sarah and Wheezie," Rose answered.

Ward sighed in annoyance. "Thank you." The lights flickered before turning on. Ward looked around. "Let there be generators."

"Thank God," Rose told them. "It's like living in Nicaragua."

Ward and Lana went to head out back.

⚓️

Backyard

Ward led Lana into the back. "It didn't fall near the house. It completely uprooted it. Oh, look at this. Storm blew it right into the pool." He spoke to a worker pulling something out of the pool. "Be careful with that. Rose is gonna kill me."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Cameron," the worker agreed.

"I don't wanna know how much it cost," Ward admitted.

Wheezie was standing by the pool. "Dad, the Wi-Fi's not working. I can't post anything."

"Wheezie, there was a hurricane, sweetheart," Ward told her. 

Lia and Sarah were running along the field nearby, using tennis rackets to fend off birds.

"No, no, no!" Sarah said.

"What are your sisters doing?" Ward asked.

"Saving mice," Wheezie answered.

Ward looked at Lana. "I'm sorry." He called out to his daughters. "Lia! Sarah!"

"We're busy!" Sarah told him.

"What are you doing?" Ward asked, walking closer with Lana. "Why are you out of your room, Lia?"

"I asked if she could come help me," Sarah answered. "Don't blame Lia, okay?"

"The burrows filled with water from the surge," Lia explained. "The birds are having a field day."

"The birds have to eat too, girls," Ward told them.

Sarah ran along to fend off more birds. "No, it's a mouse genocide out here." She was upset when she couldn't save one. "No!"

Ward sighed. "It's the cycle of life is what it is, sweethearts. Now, come on."

Lia seemed kind of out of it, distant, numb, almost zombie-like. "I can't be a part of it. First they came for the mice."

"Yeah, well, I have an actual human being..." Ward trailed off.

"I couldn't save one, so Sarah thought if we could save more animals, like I did this morning..." Lia trailed off.

Sarah placed a hand on Lia's shoulder. "It's all right." She shook Lana's hand. "Hi. I'm Sarah. This is Lia. I'm so sorry."

Lana shook Lia's hand. "Hi."

"This is Lana Grubbs, Scooter's wife," Ward explained. "Now, you two were storm prepping with him, right?"

"Yeah," Lia answered. "He helped us latch the cabin on the Druthers."

"Last night?" Ward asked.

"Yeah," Sarah answered.

"And did he go out after that?" Ward asked.

"From here?" Sarah asked. "No. Are you crazy? There was a hurricane."

"Well, did he say where he was going?" Lana asked. "Get a phone call or mention anything?"

Lia shook her head. "He didn't say anything to us. I'm so sorry. Is he okay?"

"He's absolutely okay," Ward told them. "He's just hunkered down somewhere. We're gonna find him."

Sarah looked at Lana. "I'm so sorry."

"Thank you," Lana thanked the two sisters.

"Lia, room, now," Ward told her.

Lia rolled her eyes, looking away.

Sarah looked at Lia sympathetically.

Ward led Lana away.

⚓️

Dock

A tent was set up on the dock for the Coast Guard for hurricane recovery, while a lot of people were talking over each other with different crises.

John B walked up to a man. "Excuse me. Hey, man, we--we found a boat. You're gonna wanna hear this."

"Hey!" the man snapped. "Calm down."

John B walked back toward the Pogues.

"Well, that went well," Kaylee said sarcastically.

"So what's the plan?" JJ asked.

"I'm thinking I know who we're gonna find the guy who owns that boat," Isa told them, holding up the motel room key.

Pope pointed to the key. "No, no, we don't know whose room that is. It could be anyone."

Kaylee took the key from Isa. "I'm in."

Kaylee tossed the key to Kie.

Kie caught the key. "Come on. I'll be lookout."

JJ laughed, pointing to the boat. "Let's roll."

Isa, Kaylee, Kie and JJ walked toward the boat.

John B patted Pope on the chest as he walked past on his way to follow the others to the boat. "Finder's fee. Just sayin'. And hey, at least you'll only be an accomplice."

Pope closed his eyes, shaking his head, before turning around and following the other Pogues. "Man."

"Come on, bubba," Isa told him.

They all got onto the boat.

⚓️

Motel - Outside

The HMS Pogue glided across the water towards the severely damaged motel.

JJ whistled. "I thought the Chateau looked bad."

"This place is a shitshow," John B commented.

"Motel or meth lab?" Kie inquired.

"You be the judge," Pope suggested.

Kaylee nodded in agreement. "Definitely a meth lab."

"It doesn't seem like a spot where someone with a Grady White would stay," Isa observed.

"No, looks like a place where someone with a Grady White would get killed," Pope added.

Kaylee clapped her hands softly. "Okay, let's do this. Here we go."

Imitating static, JJ joked as if he were an airplane pilot. "This is your captain speaking. HMS Pogue comin' in for a landing."

Isa jumped off the boat onto the grass, tying the boat down so it wouldn't float away.

"We good?" Kie asked.

"Yeah, we good," Isa answered.

"All right," John B said. "Here goes nothing."

"Hey," Pope warned, jabbing a finger at JJ. "Don't let him do anything stupid."

"Oh, we will," JJ replied with a grin.

"I'm not making promises," John B quipped.

Kie let out a weary breath. "And Kaylee, please don't set anything on fire or smash stuff. You're a hair's breadth from a juvie vacation, especially since mom and dad played the 'no bail out' card last time. You're skating on thin ice with the family name."

Kaylee shot Kie a mock-hurt expression. "Offensive." Isa, Kie, John B, JJ, and Pope all shot her the 'we've got our eyes on you' look. Kaylee cocked her head to the side. "But true." JJ couldn't help but smirk. "Good thing I'm bunking with Kie and Pope. Isa, you tagging along with JJ and John B or sticking with the home team?"

"If you do go with them, be careful," Kie told her, handing the key to Isa. "I mean it."

Isa chuckled. "Yeah." She walked over to John B and JJ. "Let's go."

John B looked around at the beds outside. "Why are all these mattresses out here?"

"After a hurricane, they ditch 'em 'cause they're moldy," JJ answered, before grabbing Isa's shoulders in a hug to tease her about what Kie said. "Just be so careful, Isa."

Isa pushed JJ off. "Get off me, you ass. God, you're so weird."

John B smirked. "What was that about?"

Isa shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe she wants us to be careful."

"Since she heard you two are being threatened with exile, she's just been, like..." JJ trailed off, ruffling Isa's hair in a brotherly way. "'Oh! Be so careful, Isa. Oh, let me lick that Isa-icle'."

"Dude, I don't wanna hear all that," John B told him.

Isa gave JJ's shoulder a playful smack. "Zip it, will you?"

JJ flashed a cheeky grin. "Hey, Kie's pan, you're bi. When's the swoop happening, Isa?"

"Guys, remember the golden rule," John B chimed in. "No Pogue-on-Pogue action."

Isa scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Dumb rule." She nudged JJ. "Need I remind you of your non-stop flirt-fest with Kaylee? So back off about Kie's 'be careful'."

JJ's smile widened. "Flirting with Kaylee? Guilty as charged. She's this hot, wealthy, free-spirited rebel who's been kicking it with us since you and Kay became inseparable in the third grade. Kie joined the crew later, but hey, who's counting? And slick move, deflecting the Kie situation onto me and Kaylee. What's holding you back, Isa?"

"You're a case study, man," Isa retorted. "You don't need a little help; you need an intervention." She tossed the key to John B. "Enjoy, boys. I'm out."

"Ooh, touched a sore spot, did I?" JJ teased.

With a mock punch to JJ's gut and a sarcastic smile, Isa quipped. "Asshole."

As Isa walked off, JJ's laughter echoed behind her.

John B looked at JJ, nodding sarcastically. "Way to go to piss her off."

JJ shrugged. "Eh, she'll get over it."

John B saw the room number up ahead of them. "Is that us? 29. This is it."

JJ walked closer. "Okay." He knocked on the door, speaking in a high-pitched voice. "Housekeeping."

"Should we try it?" John B asked.

"Yeah," JJ answered. "No power. No security camera. No one's gonna know."

⚓️

Motel Room

John B unlocked the door, walking in. "Huh." JJ walked in. John B noticed a bag on the bed. "Check the bag. See if there's a name on there somewhere."

JJ was looking through other things with a flashlight. "A jacket."

John B looked elsewhere with a flashlight. "Denim slides."

"No name on the jacket," JJ told him. "It's a nice jacket, though."

John B went through the bag on the bed. "Definitely over 50. He's got New Balances."

JJ walked toward the bedside table, seeing a map there. "Yo, dude, come here. Maybe this is where they were fishing."

John B walked closer. "Let me see."

JJ pointed on the map. "Right there."

John B shook his head. "No, that's off the continental shelf. That's Big Swell. Nobody fishes there."

"Okay," JJ said.

They continued to look.

John B spotted a coffee maker. "Coffee?"

"Yeah," JJ said. "Standard. Tissues for when you get lonely." He walked into the bathroom. "Ooh!"

"Find anything?" John B asked.

"A really awesome Dopp kit you won't let me steal," JJ answered.

"Yeah, 'cause we're not stealing shit," John B told him. JJ still slipped something into his pocket. John B opened a cupboard door, finding a safe, starting to type in numbers to try and crack the code. "One, one, one."

⚓️

Outside

Kie, Kaylee, and Pope were lounging on the boat when Isa approached.

"Hey, what's the drama?" Kaylee inquired.

"JJ got on my nerves, so I bailed on them," Isa retorted.

Kie chuckled. "Typical JJ. He's practically your family."

Isa glanced nervously at Kie after what JJ said, looking away. "What's the hot gossip?"

"We're ranking our top annoyances," Pope declared.

"Mine's easy," Kie told them. "Giving one percent to the environment."

"What's wrong with that?" Pope asked.

"We only have one earth, Pope," Kie told him. "We should be giving it 100 percent, bare minimum."

"Right," Pope said. "That's not fiscally sound."

"Neither is destroying the planet we have to live on," Kie replied.

Pope wagged his head. "Kay, spill it. What grinds your gears?"

"Being tamed!" Kaylee declared. "This wild child won't be shackled."

Kie snorted. "Figures."

"Spot on," Isa chimed in.

Pope grinned. "Typical Kay. Your turn, Isa?"

"Kooks," Isa answered. "They all might be hot as fuck, but they're also annoying as hell. And I mean all of them, even their hot sides. Girls, boys, I don't give a fuck."

Kaylee smiled teasingly. "Showing a little bit too much of your bi side there, Isa."

"There's never too much of my bi side, Kay," Isa replied.

Kie smiled. "Amen."

Isa and Kie shared a smile before looking away when they heard a car driving up, and Kaylee and Pope followed their gaze, seeing it was a police car.

"Cops," Kaylee said.

"Shit," Kie said.

"Call them," Pope told them.

Kie, Kaylee and Pope stood.

"We can't," Isa told them. "Towers are down."

Isa, Kie, Kaylee and Pope stayed low, sneaking closer to the motel.

"If I lose my merit scholarship, I'm gonna kill someone," Pope told them "Maybe they're not going up there. Maybe they're just looking for a room."

They saw two cops talking to the hotel manager, and the manager pointed up toward Room 29.

"He's pointing," Kaylee told them. "They're going up there."

⚓️

Motel Room

John B tried another code. "One, one, one, two."

JJ walked closer. "Punching shit at random. That will... definitely work."

John B stood, walking toward the bedside table, picking up a piece of paper. "Wait a second, wait a second, here."

"I don't know," JJ admitted. "I don't know about the second one. These coordinates, they... wait. My cousin said you could catch swordfish here."

John B walked back to the safe, typing in the four numbers from the paper. "6, 1, 6, 6, 6." The lock clicked as the safe opened. John B chuckled in shock as he opened the safe, finding a lot of money and a gun inside. "Holy shit." JJ was still talking in the background. John B pulled out a bundle of 100 dollar bills. "Uh, JJ?" JJ turned toward him with a hum. "You're gonna want to see this."

⚓️

Outside

As the officers ascended the stairs, Isa, Kie, Kaylee, and Pope seized the moment to dash to the motel's flank, eyes fixed on Room 29's window.

"Come on, do something," Kie urged. "Anything."

Pope hoisted a stone. "Go, go. Stand back."

The girls retreated.

"All right," Isa concurred. "It's all you."

With a hurl, Pope sent the rock flying--only to miss the mark completely, earning dubious glances from the girls.

"Din't you ever play baseball?" Kaylee prodded. "Dude! Seriously?"

"No," Pope retorted. "I was on the math team."

Isa, undeterred, reached for another stone.

⚓️

Motel Room

John B was trying to get ready to go.

JJ grabbed the gun from the safe. "Dude, dude, dude!"

"You grabbed the gun?" John B asked.

"This is a SIG Sauer," JJ explained.

"Put the gun back, JJ!" John B urged. 

JJ smiled. "This is a fucking spendy gatt, man. Just..." He aimed the gun around the room, pretending to fire the gun. "Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!"

"Hey, think about it," John B told him. "We are not stealing anything."

JJ still had the gun. "Just take a pic of me. Right here."

"You want me to take a picture of you?" John B asked skeptically.

"Yeah, dude," JJ answered. "Like..."

JJ raised the gun to pose for a picture.

"You wanna make our own incriminating evidence?" John B asked skeptically. "Is that what you're talking about?"

⚓️

Outside

Isa retreated from the motel with a rock in hand, eyeing Pope with a teasing, skeptical look. "A mathlete?"

Pope gave a frustrated look in return. "You know what?"

Isa's eyes narrowed with determination as she gripped the stone. "Let me show you how it's done."

With a fluid motion, Isa hurled the rock towards the window. It arced through the air, spinning end over end, before crashing through the glass with a satisfying shatter.

"Yes!" Kaylee cheered, pumping her fist.

"Nice arm," Pope said, impressed.

The sound of breaking glass echoed across the motel grounds. Almost immediately, they heard shouts from inside Room 29.

"What was that?" came JJ's muffled voice.

"Someone's outside!" John B called.

"It worked!" Kie whispered excitedly.

They smiled.

⚓️

Outside Balcony

On the breezeway on the way to the room, Officers Plumb and Shoupe were on their way to Room 29.

"Get your free lamp," Shoupe told her.

Plumb shook her head.

⚓️

Motel Room

John B heard the rocks on the window, walking toward the window. "Wait, what was that?"

"What?" JJ asked.

John B raised the blinds, looking outside to Pope, Kie, Kaylee and Isa.

⚓️

Outside

Pope, Kie, Kaylee and Isa were speaking quietly but gesturing vividly, pointing in the direction of the cops. "Cops. Cops! Cops!"

On the breezeway, Shoupe led the way to Room 29. "28, 29."

⚓️

Motel Room

John B ran toward the other room to look out toward the cops. "What?"

"What is it?" JJ asked.

"Cops," John B answered.

The cops knocked on the door.

John B and JJ both ran for the other window.

⚓️

Outside

Plumb and Shoupe both stood with their backs to the wall on either side of the door.

"Kildare County Sheriff's Department!" Shoupe called.

Isa, Kaylee, Kie and Pope took off back to the boat to be ready to be the getaway boat drivers.

Kie sat at the wheel. "Should we peel?"

Isa shook her head. "You never leave a Pogue behind."

⚓️

Motel Room

Shoupe used the master key given by the manager to unlock the door, walking in with Plumb.

John B and JJ were nowhere in sight.

⚓️

Outside

Kie looked at Isa, Kaylee and Pope. "No, seriously, should we peel?"

Pope hesitated. "Maybe."

Kaylee gave Kie and Pope a look. "No."

⚓️

Motel Room

Shoupe looked at Plumb. "Go ahead and check the bathroom."

"Yes, sir," Plumb agreed. Shoupe closed the door. Plumb went to check the bathroom. "It's clear."

⚓️

Outside

John B and JJ were perched on the building's exterior, flanking the window they'd just shimmied out of, stealing glances back at Isa, Kie, Kaylee, and Pope in the boat.

"What are you guys doing?" Pope whispered, enunciating dramatically to bridge the gap between them.

Kie facepalmed. "Oh, my God."

JJ flashed a guilty grin, flailing his arms in some sort of pantomime. John B pressed a finger to his lips, the universal 'shush' signal.

Isa rolled her eyes. "Dumbasses."

Kaylee tilted her head. "They're plotting our early retirement, I swear."

⚓️

Motel Room

Shoupe opened the safe. "I said it. Didn't I say it?" He pulled out an envelope. "Go ahead. Throw these in a bag, would you?"

"Yes, sir," Plumb answered. Shoupe took out a bundle of money, holding it toward Plumb. "Sir?"

"Everybody's gotta dip their beak," Shoupe told her.

John B and JJ were watching them through the slits of the blinds.

"What the f..." JJ whispered.

Plumb took the money. "Right, right. Their beak."

Shoupe chuckled. "Yeah."

⚓️

Outside

JJ glanced at John B, his whisper barely audible. "Do you believe...?"

The gun slipped from JJ's grasp, clattering onto the roof and tumbling to the ground, prompting a symphony of grimaces and silent groans from the Pogues, JJ included. He and John B scooted further from the window, eager to remain unseen.

Shoupe approached the window, yanking the blinds up.

Isa, Kie, Kaylee, and Pope averted their gazes, feigning indifference. They were in Shoupe's line of sight, but thankfully, he couldn't spot John B or JJ.

Kie pressed a hand to her forehead, muttering, "Yeah... um..."

JJ shot John B a look, who responded with a silent 'shh,' finger pressed against his lips. They watched as Shoupe retreated from the window, heading back towards Plumb.

"All right, let's go," Shoupe said. "No one's here."

Shoupe and Plumb left the motel room without ever knowing John B and JJ were right outside the window.

⚓️

The Marsh

The Pogues were on the HMS Pogue.

"Well, that was fun," JJ remarked. "Could have warned us sooner."

"We would have, except Pope was on the math team," Isa told them, teasing Pope about that again.

"You were on the math team?" John B asked.

Pope ignored them. "The cops took everything like it was a crime scene."

"Did you guys find anything?" Kaylee asked.

JJ looked around. "Did we find anything? No, I don't think so." He took out the bundle of money and gun he took from the motel room. "Oh, yeah, we did."

"What the hell?" Pope asked.

"Dude, what?" Kie asked in shock.

Kaylee raised her eyebrows in stunned surprise. "No way."

"Holy shit," Isa remarked.

"Why take that from a crime scene?" Pope asked.

"Better than the cops having it," JJ told them.

"Are you serious?" Kie asked.

"I'm gonna lose my merit scholarship," Pope worried.

"Hey, hey, hey," JJ said. He put an arm around Pope's shoulders and put the gun between them against their lips. "Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh."

Kaylee took a sip of water. "At least you have us, right?"

Pope turned away. "I'm living the nightmare."

⚓️

Dock

Paramedics were dealing with the body, while Sheriff Peterkin was talking to the man who called it in.

"So what happened?" Peterkin asked.

"Well, I was up at the Mason Outlet, and, uh, I seen this lump, and the crabs was just going to town on it, you know?" the man asked. "So I figured the best thing to do was, uh... throw him over in the ice chest and then call y'all. I never saw anything like that before."

Lana ran closer upon seeing her husband's dead body, crying, sobbing. "Scooter? Scooter? Oh, God!"

The Pogues were nearby, seeing this.

"Who's that?" John B asked.

"It's Scooter Grubbs," a girl answered. "He was out during the storm." She showed them her phone. "Check out this pic I got. Dead body."

"See it?" Kie asked.

"Holy shit," Isa said.

"What kind of boat did he have?" Kaylee asked.

"Somehow, the dirtbag copped a brand new Grady White," the girl answered. "Everyone's out looking for it."

The Pogues all exchanged a look.

⚓️

The Chateau - Porch

The Pogues were sitting or standing around the porch.

Pope was breathing heavily after running inside. "Okay. So, um... we didn't see anything. We don't know anything." He sat down. "We need to have total and complete amnesia."

"Actually, Pope's right for once," JJ agreed, standing up. "See, I agree with you sometimes. Deny, deny, deny."

"Guys, we can't keep that money," Kie insisted.

"Easy for you to say, Kiara," JJ retorted. "Not everyone's living the high life with the 'rents like you, getting every whim catered to. Unlike Kaylee, who gets left in a treehouse without any help."

Kaylee shot him a glare. "That was below the belt, JJ."

"We have to pass that off to Lana Grubbs," Kie told them. "Otherwise, it's bad karma."

"Bad karma to be implicated in a felony, too," Isa added.

"Can't have that for Pope," Kaylee pointed out. "Don't want him losing the scholarship. He worked his whole life for that."

"Thank you, Kay," Pope told her.

Kie poked Kaylee in the side. "And don't want you going to juvie and having our parents disown you for real, Kaylee."

"We gotta go dark," Isa told them.

JJ smiled, patting Isa on the shoulder. "If that means we get to keep the money, then I agree."

John B patted JJ on the shoulder. "I don't agree."

"What?" JJ asked. "Why?"

"Just think about it," John B told him. "This is Scooter Grubbs we're talking about. Right? Same dude that's buying individual cigarettes at the Porthole. Shit, one time I saw this dude begging for change in the Save-A-Lot parking lot because he needed gas. We're talking about a dirtbag marina rat who's never had more than 40 bucks in his pocket, and all of a sudden, he's got a Grady White? Just sayin'."

⚓️

Outside

On the bridge outside the Chateau, Pope was fishing while the others were leaning against or sitting on the railing.

"All right, so think about it, Isa," John B told her. "How does a marina rat get a Grady White?"

Isa shrugged, not answering with a serious answer. "Prostitution."

"Square groupers, sis," John B told her. "Okay, flying under the radar, no aerial surveillance. They don't do that stuff during a hurricane. What does that mean?" Kaylee looked up. "Kaylee?"

"They were smuggling," Kaylee answered.

"Smuggling," Isa repeated.

John B nodded. "And I guarantee there's a serious amount of contraband in that wreck."

"Hell yeah," Isa agreed.

JJ, also fishing, caught a fish, whirling it in. "Fish on!"

⚓️

Inside - Living Room

The Pogues were sitting around the room.

"For the record, if that is a smuggling ship, with illegal contraband on the inside of it..." Pope trailed off. "It probably belongs to someone else."

Kie glanced down for a second. "Minor details."

"They could come looking for it," Pope pointed out. "Taking it would be catastrophically stupid."

JJ took the cash from Pope. "Right. Well, stupid things have good outcomes all the time."

"Oh, the voice of experience," Kaylee shot back.

JJ shot her a mock-glare, flipping her off with a grin. Kaylee responded with a theatrical air kiss, her smirk accompanied by a cheeky wink.

"We need a game plan to sneak into that ship's cargo hold," Isa chimed in. "Till then, we just lay low. Just act normal."

"Right," Pope nodded. "And how exactly do we do that?"

Kaylee's smirk deepened. "Isn't it crystal clear?"

Kie's grin spread. "Kegger."

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Lia's room was extremely colored white, and some of the furniture by the windows were set up like a therapy area, alluring to some of the things that Lia has had to deal with and get through, as Ward had had used his connects and got therapists make house calls where Lia was concerned since clearly he didn't like her being out of the house too much.

Lia was laying in her room, reading and doing some research, not looking as out of it or zombie-like as she had earlier that day, looking mostly normal right now, but upset and distant to herself.

Sarah walked in. "Lia! Here you are."

Lia barely looked up. "Yep. Here I am. Where else would I be after Ward yelling at me earlier?"

Sarah walked over to Lia, getting an outfit for her ready for that night. "Come on. We're cleaning up, and going to a Pogue kegger tonight."

Lia looked up. "Really?"

"Yeah, really," Sarah answered, looking at Lia in concern. "Look, I know the meds make you feel sluggish and zombie-like." Lia looked down knowingly. "But I wanna help you get back to normal so that maybe one day soon, Dad and the doctors will take you off the meds. And then things will be..."

"Things will be what, Sarah?" Lia asked. "Nothing can go back to normal after what I saw. After what..."

Sarah looked down sadly. "I know. And I'm sorry, Lia." She sat down next to Lia, taking her hand in hers. "But you and I are going to a party, and we're going to have some fun. Okay?"

Lia looked up at Sarah, considering, nodding. "Yeah. Okay."

Sarah smiled, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Now come on. Get dressed. I'm gonna call Topper." Lia groaned, putting her head back on her pillow. "What?"

"Can't it just be the two of us?" Lia asked. "It's been a while since we've had sister time. You know, the kind that doesn't involve chasing birds away from mice."

"Well, Topper's gonna probably be there anyways," Sarah pointed out. "It's just easier if we all go together."

Lia rolled her eyes, giving in. "Whatever."

⚓️

Beach / The Bone Yard

(Song:) High School Lover - Cayucas

The Pogues were starting to set up for the party.

Kie jumped onto Isa's back, and Isa walked them into the middle of the beach where they would set up the keg. Kie was spinning the spout to the keg in her hand.

John B, JJ and Pope carried the keg down to the beach, while Kaylee carried a large bag of red solo cups across her shoulders.

Once the boys set the keg down on the sand, Kie tossed the spout to JJ.

Kaylee opened the bag of cups, tossing them out to each one.

Pope gave a few good pumps to get the beer flowing through the hose, spraying some beer into John B's face

 Isa laughed.

JJ held out a cup of beer for Kaylee. "Milady."

Kaylee joined in the jest, gracing a playful curtsy. "Oh, I'm ever so grateful, kind sir."

Kaylee pressed a kiss on JJ's cheek.

JJ flashed a cheeky grin. "Aim a smidge to the left next go-round."

With a soft chuckle, Kaylee grabbed her cup and took a sip.

Soon enough, a group of people had arrived, and then more and more and more.

Isa: (voice over) "You can't understand the Outer Banks without understanding The Boneyard."

John B was filling up his cup with beer.

John B: (voice over) "It's kinda like a three-layer burrito."

John B looked at a guy. "What's up, homey?"

"What's up, man?" the guy asked.

John B: (voice over) "There's us and our friends, the working class derelicts from the Cut."

Kooks were arriving to the party in rich clothes and getting drinks.

Isa: (voice over) "And then there are the Kooks, the rich second-homers."

John B offered a Kook a drink, and when the Kook tried to grab it, John B kept pulling it out of his reach before handing it over.

John B: (voice over) "Kooks are mostly from poncy-ass boarding schools, just rich trustafarian posers. Our natural enemies."

Another group were getting drinks.

Isa: (voice over) "And then there are the Tourons."

Isa offered a girl a drink. "Want a beer?"

Isa: (voice over) "Totally clueless. Here for a week on vacation with their families. Chum for the sharks."

JJ had his arm linked with a girl as they were chugging their beers.

A crowd was cheering on as they watched JJ and the Touron girl chug their beer to see who would win, including Kaylee. "Chug, chug, chug!"

Unsurprisingly, JJ claimed victory. Kaylee's cheer erupted, her hand connecting with JJ's in a victorious high five.

JJ drew Kaylee close, his arm wrapping around her waist. "How about it, Kay? Up for a duel with the champ?"

The surrounding crowd roared in approval.

With a sly grin, Kaylee glanced upward. "Get me a beer."

The cheers swelled, spurring on both Kaylee and JJ.

Isa, grinning, handed Kaylee a beer. "This is gonna be epic."

After topping off JJ's beer, Isa watched the pair link arms, mischief in JJ's eyes. "Set?"

Kaylee's smirk deepened. "I came out swinging."

"Go," Isa commanded.

At the signal, Kaylee and JJ launched into a frenzied chug, the crowd's chant fueling their speed. "Chug, chug, chug!"

Kaylee drained the final drops of her beer, flung her cup onto the beach, and threw her hands up in triumph.

The onlookers erupted in applause, celebrating Kaylee's win.

A beat behind, JJ emptied his cup and with a playful bow conceded, "Okay, okay, you win this round."

With a gracious nod, Kaylee bowed. "Thank you."

John B was sitting with a Touron girl, flirting, smiling.

Kie was sitting with a guy and girl Touron to talk. "Virgos are like, so organized. Like all my friends that are Virgos are like..."

Pope was talking to a girl Touron. "It's kinda weird when on TV, we see people die, and they just kinda sit there, but in actuality, they would be shitting and farting up a storm."

Lia and Sarah were here.

Lia was standing on a structure, overlooking the ocean, drinking.

Sarah looked up at Lia. "Lia. Lia, please be careful."

Kie walked up to Isa and John B, seeing Lia and Sarah. "What are they doing here?"

Isa and John B followed her gaze.

Lia was just looking in the distance, numbly taking a drink as wind blew through her hair.

Isa: (voice over) "That's Lia Cameron. The outcast of the Kooks. Lia was Kie's best friend in the ninth grade, worst enemy in the tenth grade. Though in actuality, Lia is the only Kook that doesn't try to pick a fight with the Pogues every chance she gets."

Sarah looked around, taking a drink.

John B: (voice over) "And that's Sarah Cameron. While Lia doesn't get involved with the other Kooks, Sarah is the Kook princess. I work on their dad's boats, so, you know, I've seen them around."

Topper walked up to Sarah, picking her up, spinning her around.

John B: (voice over) "Then that's Topper, Sarah's not so pleasant boyfriend. Topper actually thinks Pogues were bred to mow lawns."

Lia rolled her eyes at Sarah and Topper, climbing down from the structure she was standing on, jumping to the ground, walking through the party, drinking, bumping into Kie, knocking a full cup of beer out of her hands and straight to the ground. "Oh, my God. I'm so sorry."

Lia and Kie both froze when they saw that they had bumped into each other.

Kie scoffed. "Yeah, sure you are."

Kie turned to leave.

"Wait!" Lia said immediately. "Kiara."

Kie stopped, bitter. "What do you want, Lia?"

The way Kie spat out Lia's name hurt Lia, but she tried not to let it show how much it hurt her.

"Um, I..." Lia trailed off. "Can I get you a beer to make up for bumping into you and dropping yours?"

"No," Kie answered, turning around, walking away.

Kaylee walked up to Kie. "Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing," Kie said. "Just Lia."

Kaylee raised her eyebrow, protective. "Lia? What did she do?"

"Nothing, Kay," Kie told her. "She offered me a beer because she accidentally knocked mine out of my hand."

Kaylee nodded, frowning. "Okay."

Kaylee's gaze swept across the distance.

Rafe Cameron made his way through the throng, his gaze sweeping over the revelers until it instinctively settled on Kaylee.

As Kaylee's eyes met Rafe's, she stiffened, her glare masking any initial nervousness, presenting instead a resolute, unyielding stare filled with animosity and fury.

In turn, Rafe's lips curled into a smirk, lifting his drink in a silent toast to Kaylee, sipping from it, his eyes never leaving hers.

John B: (voice over) "And Rafe Cameron. Lia and Sarah's older brother. Kook King. And coincidentally, Kaylee and JJ's worst enemy ever."

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Flashback - Kook Year

Day - Kook Academy - Hallway

On their first day at Kook Academy, Kaylee and Kie were not on good terms.

Kie was trying to fit in, honoring a promise to their parents after an incident with the Pogues, which she now sought to rectify.

Kaylee, on the other hand, despised every moment, viewing their enrollment as a harsh punishment, having been tormented by these peers since middle school, and earlier for Kaylee, who had grown up with the Pogues before Kie joined.

Consequently, they kept their distance at school, aware that their quarreling was not helping.

The argument centered on how it was Kaylee's fault; as it always seemed to be. In a bid to defend her friends, she had inadvertently caused expensive damage with her lighter and aerosol spray, leading to police involvement and nearly getting arrested. To prevent juvenile detention, Anna and Mike intervened but decided to punish both Kaylee and Kie by severing ties with the Pogues and sending them to Kook Academy, to embrace the Kook heritage they were born into.

Kie was overwhelmed with guilt for the chaos and agreed to follow their rules to make amends and gain approval. She even blamed Kaylee, who had been defending her friends and Kie, reinforcing her parents' negative opinions. Kaylee, labeled as the problem and the source of all issues, felt like poison.

Kaylee, hurt by Kie's reaction, chose not to speak to her at school, continuing her pattern of self-sacrifice for those she cared about, regardless of the personal cost.

While Kie consented to cut ties with the Pogues, Kaylee could not bring herself to do the same. They were as essential to her as she was to them, and she refused to let Kie or her parents' disapproval force her to abandon those she cherished, unlike Kie's choice to do so.

Despite their wealth, Kaylee and Kie felt out of place among the Kooks, who had previously bullied them and their friends over social status and wealth--or the lack thereof, as with the Carrera sisters. These Kooks inherited their wealth, likely at the expense of the less fortunate.

Anna, originally a Kook, spiraled out of control, fell for Mike, a Pogue, and had Kie, leading to her family's rejection. Soon after, Kaylee was born, dashing any hopes of reconciliation with Anna's family.

Blamed for ruining their chances of regaining Kook status, Kaylee was always the black sheep, unlike Kie, who was revered. Kaylee's unwavering bond with the Pogues only solidified her outcast status.

Anna and Mike, estranged from her family's wealth, achieved their dream of opening 'the Wreck' restaurant. Kie was proud, but Kaylee resented being the scapegoat for her parents' choices. Now, mirroring the Kooks they once despised, Anna and Mike adopted an air of privilege and arrogance.

Kaylee and Kie, despite their privilege, were not self-absorbed like the fake Kooks; they appreciated their lives, even though Kaylee had deeper issues than Kie.

Kie was willing to try being a Kook to regain her parents' favor, despite detesting it. She was aware of the other kids' abhorrent privilege and their manipulative ways. Planning to use them to mend her family relations felt hypocritical, but she saw it as a necessary act. Kaylee, however, could never assimilate with them.

In contrast to Kie, who criticized her peers for their predestined Kook status and the school's intent to mold them into replicas of their parents, Kaylee reserved her judgment for their malicious behavior. They often instigated fights with her and her friends, leading to harm, oblivious to the potential severity of their actions in the future.

Thus, amidst the dynamics of Kook Academy, Kaylee chose solitude, a decision shaped by the events that brought her there.

Unwilling to be spotted standing alone at her locker for too long, Kaylee headed off in search of the bathroom, distancing herself from her locker.

A noisy group of upperclassmen swept past, crowding the hallway so much that Kaylee found herself pressed against the wall. The other students seemed unfazed, sidestepping the group almost instinctively.

Kaylee sighed at the sight, accustomed to their antics. She glanced their way.

Predictably, it was Rafe's entourage. Topper, Kelce, and several others, including Tod Laurent.

Kaylee's expression hardened as she recognized the boys. Some of the most notorious Kooks who had clashed with her and her friends before, a mere prelude to the challenges the Pogues would face later on. Her eyes lingered on Rafe, the ringleader, with a slight glare.

Across the hall, a group of girls waved excitedly at Rafe. He responded with a nonchalant smirk, his gaze sweeping over the student body, who revered him as the King Kook of the academy, reveling in the adulation of his peers.

Dismissing the scene, Kaylee turned her attention away.

Rafe caught the movement and his attention shifted to Kaylee, his eyes narrowing upon recognizing her as one of the Kook-born who became a Pogue, often clashing with him and his friends. His smirk disappeared, replaced by a serious, almost menacing expression. He cocked his head, as if trying to decipher her, his gaze piercing.

Kaylee noticed but stood her ground, determined to show that her presence in his school didn't make her vulnerable. She was not someone to mess with.

Rafe's eyebrow arched at Kaylee's defiant stance as their eyes locked in a silent challenge. He was taken aback by her unwavering demeanor, a slight smirk of amusement breaking through.

Behind Rafe, a petite blonde named Amber Anderson approached, latching onto his arm. Despite her attempts to garner his attention, Rafe's focus remained on Kaylee. Only Amber's persistent hand-waving finally pulled his gaze away. Annoyance flickered across Rafe's face, but Amber seemed oblivious, continuing to prattle on.

With an eye roll, Kaylee turned and walked away.

Rafe watched her leave with a sharp gaze. Accustomed to entitlement, he saw Kaylee as no exception, despite her obvious disagreement. Now that she was on his turf, he was ready to challenge her stance, by any means necessary.

⚓️

History Class

Kie shouldn't be surprised, nor should she be shocked, that the one true friend she liked at Kook Academy was, of course, the Outcast.

The girl with the radiant blonde hair, who distanced herself from the others, preferring to immerse herself in learning and researching her passions. She spent her time at the beach with her sister, saving mice and turtles, and assisting those around her. She was aware of her privilege and felt guilty that others didn't have the same opportunities, which she yearned to share.

Lia was genuine, not seeking popularity, an outlier whom Anna and Mike would disapprove of for Kie to befriend. Yet, Kie didn't care; after meeting Lia, she wanted her friendship, not as a means to regain her parents' favor. Lia was kind, passionate, and unafraid to voice her opinions, ready to confront anyone she deemed too harsh, particularly bullies targeting the defenseless at school. This defiance made Lia more of an outcast, but it was what Kie admired most about her; she wouldn't tolerate injustice. To be candid, Lia was the only teenager on this side of the island who didn't hassle the Pogues, and she was certainly the only one who actively defended them.

It was undeniable that conversing with Lia brought Kie the most joy she had felt since parting from the Pogues, since leaving Isa... In Lia's company, Kie felt like a Pogue once more. Lia didn't conform to the Kook stereotype, which became even clearer when Kie observed how the other Kooks treated her differently for daring to be herself.

Kie found it peculiar that Lia, the outcast, was related to the two most popular kids in school, Sarah and Rafe, the academy's princess and king. Everyone recognized Lia but regarded her with odd stares and kept their distance, a behavior that started even before Lia's life turned upside down the next year. Sarah, despite occasionally being unpleasant, appeared mostly kind and welcoming, until she abruptly excluded those who became too familiar, whether by ostracizing former friends or being unfaithful to her boyfriends. Sarah didn't share Lia's passion for learning or her discomfort with their privilege, yet she eagerly participated in environmental and animal welfare activities, preferring these to cozying up to her latest interest, Topper.

Kie was baffled by the stark differences between Lia and Sarah, and how both sisters were complete contrasts to their brother, Rafe.

It was during history class that Lia and Kie struck up a conversation after Lia complimented Kie's turtle necklace. "I like your necklace. A turtle? That's cute."

Kie glanced at her necklace. "Yeah. It was a Christmas gift from my sister."

"That's really sweet," Lia reflected. "My sister gives me things like that sometimes."

As the teacher fired off questions, the classroom was a sea of blank stares, except for Lia. She was on a roll, answering each question with the ease of a game show champion.

Kie watched in awe, noting Lia's eyes sparkled with each correct answer, clearly a history buff. It was obvious who Kie would be buddying up with for study sessions.

The rest of the class seemed to have checked out, happy to let Lia be the star of the show, although a few shot her looks.

"Does anyone have an answer?" the teacher probed. Up shot Lia's hand. "How about someone other than our resident historian, Miss Cameron?"

Lia's hand dropped, her head bowed to conceal a victorious grin.

Kie couldn't help but mirror Lia's amusement, her head tilting in intrigue.

Catching Kie's eye, Lia's grin was contagious, and they shared a silent chuckle.

⚓️

Hallway

Lia and Kie exited the classroom together at the sound of the bell.

"I take it you're fond of turtles," Lia remarked. "I'm planning to go to the beach after school to help some turtles in returning to the sea. Do what I can to save them. Would you like to join?"

Kie was taken aback by the invitation but was immediately captivated and thrilled. "Yes, definitely. I'm in."

Both Lia and Kie shared a smile.

⚓️

Another Hallway

The final bell had rung, and the school was emptying.

Kaylee, with her books and bag slung over her shoulder, made her way down the corridor.

As Rafe's friends charged through, Kelce jostled Kaylee, sending her textbook tumbling from her grasp.

Irritated, Kaylee snapped, "Watch it!"

Unperturbed, Kelce kept moving without a glance back.

With an eye roll, Kaylee stooped to retrieve her book.

Behind her, Amber, who had noticed Kaylee catching Rafe's attention earlier, sneered with jealousy and deliberately pushed Kaylee forward.

Lurching forward, Kaylee flung out her arms to steady herself, nearly crashing into Rafe. He caught her by surprise, his quick reflexes preventing a collision, his hands firmly on her shoulders to stabilize her.

Kaylee clenched her eyes shut, overwhelmed by frustration, and only opened them to avert her gaze upon meeting his. Despite her urge to confront the one who pushed her, she knew the risk of suspension or expulsion on the very first day was too high, and with her parents' threats of disownment looming for years, she couldn't take that chance. So, she stood there, fists clenched, body tense, fighting the instinct to defend herself in anger that would only complicate her situation further.

Amber's pout revealed her surprise; pushing Kaylee into Rafe hadn't been part of her plan.

Rafe, eyebrow arched, seemed entertained by Kaylee's palpable anger and precarious self-control, which appeared ready to snap at the slightest provocation. His curiosity piqued, he feigned concern, scrutinizing Kaylee. "Sorry. You good?" A slight nod from Kaylee was all he needed to release her, stooping to retrieve her textbook. "Here you go."

Accepting her book, Kaylee avoided his gaze, feeling the weight of his friends' stares, her discomfort mounting. "Thanks. I guess."

With a subtle nod, Rafe turned back to his friends, aware of Kaylee's presence behind him. "Calm down, guys. Gotta be more careful. Can't be running into people in the hall."

Kaylee glanced over when she heard the words, but her gaze narrowed, distrusting them. She remembered Rafe's unkind past and doubted he would be nice to her without a motive, much less defend her. She suspected it was his way of manipulating others into seeing him as a good person.

And she was not mistaken.

Amber stood frozen, her mouth agape, eyes darting between Kaylee and Rafe.

Rolling her eyes, Kaylee turned and walked away. She noticed several girls giving her scornful looks. Kaylee understood it was because the school's most sought-after guy had just interacted with her publicly, but she dismissed it with a shake of her head and continued outside.

⚓️

Now

Day - Museum

Shoupe walked in.

A worker intercepted him. "Sorry, museum's closed."

"Yeah, sure, chief," Shoupe told him. "I'll be just a minute." Shoupe walked up to the display of the Royal Merchant which was lost at sea. The envelope that he and Plumb had taken from the motel room was in his hands, and he pulled out the contents inside which had been about the shipwrecked Royal Merchant. The worker walked closer. "The Royal Merchant sunk in the great storm of 1829 with $400 million of British government gold onboard. The dream of generations of islanders. Lovely work, don't you think?"

Shoupe nodded, chuckling. "Mm-hmm. Yeah. Lovely."

⚓️

Night - The Boneyard - Party

(Song:) Fimmi Gyal (Radio Edit) - Stylo G

Lia was drinking, looking at the ground, on her own.

A Kook boy walked over to Lia. "Hey, beautiful. What's a pretty girl like you doing alone?"

Lia shook her head. "Nothing. Just..."

The boy was looking at Lia like she was a piece of meat, which made her extremely uncomfortable. "Your boyfriend doesn't deserve you if he leaves you alone."

Lia forced a sarcastic smile. "I don't have a boyfriend, but I'm not looking for one, so please leave me the hell alone."

The boy touched Lia's cheek, grabbing her waist, pulling her close to him, startling Lia since she had had a lot to drink and her thinking and reactions were slower than usual. "Shh. Why don't I take you to my house?"

The hand he was grabbing her cheek slowly went down to her chest.

Lia snapped out of her shock, pushing the boy's hands off of her hip and chest, slapping him in the face hard with her other hand, standing, backing away from him. "Don't touch me! Learn how to take no for a fucking answer. Disgusting piece of shit."

Isa saw this, frowning in concern.

The boy glared at Lia, standing, walking closer, grabbing her arm to stop her. "You little bitch!"

The boy's voice growing loud called attention to him and Lia from a lot of the party crowd.

Lia turned to punch the boy hard in the face to make him let go of her. "Get your hand the hell off of me. I don't want anything to do with you."

"Your clothes say otherwise," the boy spat.

"My clothes can't say shit, dumbass," Lia retorted. "We're on the fucking beach at a party. What the hell else am I gonna wear? Every girl here is wearing something similar yet you come after me. Consent is a real thing, bitch. You just don't respect women because we would never go for a pig like you."

"Bullshit," the boy snapped.

Isa stepped up. "Hey! She said no. And to leave her the hell alone."

Lia looked at Isa in surprise, but appreciation.

The boy scoffed. "Oh, come on. She was asking for it."

Lia threw the contents of her beer onto the boy's face. "The hell I was, you asshole. Unless I say 'please fuck me', I'm not asking for it. But you are asking to get the shit beat out of you."

Isa glared at the boy. "She was asking for it? Maybe in your delusional brain. I'm fucking sorry that she's so fine looking that you can't keep your hands to yourself and your small ass dick in your own pants."

Lia looked at Isa, before looking at the boy. "Get the fuck away from me before I turn the dream into beating your ass and castrating you into a reality."

The crowd, impressed and empowered after seeing the way Lia stood up to someone who tried to take advantage of her, most of them cheered, including Sarah, though not including Topper, Rafe or their friend Kelce, or the Pogues, though Kaylee, Pope and John B did look sympathetic for what just happened, and JJ looked impressed, doing a 'whoop!'. Kie frowned in confusion. The Tourons were the ones mainly cheering and clapping.

Lia looked around, overwhelmed, not wanting all this attention.

Isa looked at Lia. "You okay?"

Lia shook her head. "I'm just... gonna take a walk. Um... thank you, Isa."

Isa nodded. "Yeah."

Lia walked away quickly through the crowd.

Kie watched Lia walk away before she walked up to Isa. "Isa! What the hell was that? You're defending Lia Cameron now?"

"If you heard the things that guy said, any person with a shred of decency would," Isa replied. 

"It's Lia Cameron," Kie told her.

Isa rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know it's Lia Cameron. I don't care. No one deserves that. I don't know what happened between you and Lia, Kie. I don't need to know. But don't be pissed off at me doing a decent thing for a girl who needed help against something like that."

Isa walked away, leaving Kie stunned.

Nearby in the crowd, Sarah left Topper's side to go find her sister.

Topper walked after her. "Sarah, where are you going?"

"I need to find Lia, make sure she's okay," Sarah answered.

"Lia's fine," Topper told her. "She handled that okay. I don't know what the hell a Pogue was doing getting involved, but..."

"Well, if I had known what was going on, I would've," Sarah told him. "Just let me find her, okay?"

Sarah walked away through the crowd. Topper sighed, frustrated.

⚓️

Elsewhere

Rafe sauntered over to Kaylee. "What's up, Kaylee?"

Kaylee gave him an eye roll. "Sadly for you, my standards are still sky-high."

Rafe chuckled, settling beside Kaylee. "You've got a good sense of humor. That's what I appreciate in a girl."

Rafe's hand inched perilously close to Kaylee's thigh.

With a scowl, Kaylee nudged Rafe's hand aside. "Woman. Want to know what I appreciate in men?"

Rafe perked up. "I would love to."

Kaylee faked a smile, pressing her hand on Rafe's chest. "When their dick is bigger than their wallet."

Kaylee patted his chest sarcastically as if awarding a prize, standing, walking away, over to JJ next to the keg.

JJ noticed the tension in Kaylee's recent encounter with Rafe. "You okay?"

Kaylee nodded, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. "Yeah. It was rough after what happened..." As JJ glared at Rafe, ready to confront him, Kaylee placed a hand on JJ's chest. "Don't." Rafe observed the two with a knowing smirk, winking at them as they both returned his gaze with glares. "I've got it under control."

"I have no doubt," JJ reassured her. "You're good at handling him, but after the last time..." He cocked his head to the side. "Want me to kick his ass again?"

JJ aimed to lighten the mood, and a smile spread across his face when Kaylee chuckled.

"Thanks, but I'm the one who usually has to save your ass during fights," Kaylee reminded him. "I've got a better handle on Rafe than you do."

JJ clutched his chest in mock offense. "That hurts."

Their smiles grew more sincere.

"I could use a drink," Kaylee declared, moving to pour herself some beer from the keg.

JJ took Kaylee's cup. "I got it." He poured Kaylee another beer and then poured two more cups. JJ looked away, seeing Isa and John B, whistling for them to come over as he was pouring more beers. "Yo, John B! Isa!"

Isa and John B walked closer.

"What's going on?" John B asked.

Kaylee looked at Isa in amusement. "Sticking up for Barbie Lia Cameron, huh?"

"I just had this conversation with Kie, and anyone with decency would've done the same things if you heard everything he said to Lia before everyone started taking notice," Isa told them. "Don't judge me."

"No judging," JJ told her. 

John B looked toward Rafe with a glare. "Kay, you okay? Saw you with Rafe. Again."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Kaylee answered. "I handled it. Again."

"Of course you did," Isa told her.

JJ glanced back to spot Lia by the water's edge. "Well, if it isn't the beach's own Barbie." Isa, Kaylee and John B's eyes turned to Lia as JJ presented Isa and Kaylee with a couple of cold ones. "Brought these for you. Drink up?"

"Totally," Isa replied, grabbing her beer.

Kaylee followed suit. "Hit me up!"

Their cups met in a toast, sips taken in unison.

Spotting another beer, JJ hollered to Lia. "Hold up! Yo, Lia!"

Lia pivoted their way.

Isa, Kaylee, and John B exchanged puzzled looks.

"What're you doing?" Isa inquired.

With a sly grin, JJ called. "Hey, Lia, can I interest you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?" Lia slowly walked nearer, cautious; the Pogues calling out to her wasn't the norm. "After all, you did baptize that asshole with your last one."

"Okay, why not," Lia conceded. "Cheers, JJ."

JJ passed the beer to Lia with a nod. "You know, that was pretty badass. Isa's the Pogue's usual hero."

Isa gave a cocky grin, a casual tilt of her head, and a shrug that said 'of course', which made Kaylee, JJ, and John B join in with smirks of their own, while Lia's smile was a quiet echo of their amusement.

JJ looked at Lia as he finished. "But you? You rocked it, too."

Lia's chuckle was a whisper. "Well, cheers to that, I guess."

Sarah, once seeing Lia, jogged up to her, barely glancing at the four Pogues with her. "Lia. Are you okay?"

Isa and Kaylee rolled their eyes at Sarah.

Lia gave Sarah a look. "I'm fine, Sarah. Don't be rude, not now, okay?" Sarah sighed, nodding. Topper walked closer, standing next to Sarah. Lia was annoyed to see him here since she knew that he could start something with the Pogues. "Topper, what are you doing over here?"

Topper shrugged. "Sarah wanted to see if you were okay after that. Maybe I did too."

Lia scoffed, the alcohol in her system not leaving her much of a filter. "Oh, I'm sure that is totally not true. You just wanted Sarah to think that so you could try and get into her pants tonight. Or under her dress more like it."

Isa, Kaylee, JJ, and John B couldn't help but smirk in surprise, sharing an amused glance that spoke volumes.

"Lia!" Sarah exclaimed in a scolding tone.

"What?" Lia retorted with a shrug. "Top doesn't even like me, Sarah." She shot Topper a pointed look. "Trust me, the feeling's totally mutual." She turned back to Sarah. "Otherwise, why would he bother pretending to want to tag along with you to 'check on me'?"

Topper, clearly ruffled, started. "You know what, Lia--"

"Nope, but I bet you're itching to enlighten me," Lia cut in. "Save it, I'm not in the mood for a lecture."

Topper scoffed. "I am so sick of--"

Before Topper could continue to insult Lia, JJ interrupted him by pouring another beer and extending it towards Sarah. "Sarah, would you like a beer?"

Lia sent JJ a small, grateful smile for interrupting Topper, relieved that whatever Topper was about to say remained unsaid.

"No, thanks," Sarah answered.

"Oh, come on," JJ said. "Is it not fancy enough for you?"

Sarah snatched the beer from Lia's grip and set it aside, seizing her hand firmly. "No, we were just leaving."

Lia wriggled her hand away. "Hold up! You dragged me here for a 'fun', 'good time', remember? To try and get me back to normal. Wasn't that the plan?"

Isa, Kaylee, JJ and John B frowned, confused.

Sarah sighed. "Okay."

Topper gave JJ a glare for cutting him off before. "Hey, you know what? I'll take it. I'll... thank you, man. I appreciate it."

"That's nice, Topper, but I didn't ask you," JJ told him. "If you said pretty please, maybe, but you didn't."

Topper nodded sarcastically, very slowly. "Oh. Pretty please."

"Yeah," JJ said.

"Pretty please?" Topper asked skeptically.

JJ swooped in like a beer superhero, returning Lia's cup that Sarah had taken. "Go on, Lia. All yours."

Lia clutched her cup like a lifeline. "Cheers."

Lia took a sip, savoring the moment.

Sarah, playing the part of the party pooper, intervened. "I think you've had enough."

Lia, now a defiant beer connoisseur, kept the cup just out of Sarah's reach. "I'll tell you when I've had my fill, thank you very much."

JJ offered Sarah the other cup. "And Sarah, you can have this."

Topper pushed the cup away from Sarah and into JJ, making the beer splash all over JJ. "She doesn't want it, you--"

JJ grabbed Topper's shirt, pushing him away.

"Okay," Lia said, even in her drunken state knowing that a fight was about to go down, backing away.

John B pulled JJ back. "No, no, no, no."

"Dirty Pogues," Topper insulted, trying to go after JJ.

With a fierce growl, Kaylee forcefully shoved Topper away from JJ protectively, her eyes blazing with an unquenchable fire of fury and determination.

Kaylee taunted Topper relentlessly, her words laced with mocking venom as she defended her friends. "Big mistake, Top. Hey, what do you think, guys? Is Topper a Top? Because I'm pretty sure he bottoms."

Isa's gaze burned into Topper, her fists clenched at her sides. "Oh, he's definitely a bottom."

Topper sneered at them, his face contorted with seething anger. "Watch your backs, bitches."

JJ was ready to step forward and defend his the girls, but Kaylee and Isa both held him back. However, they weren't prepared for John B's sudden attack on Topper.

John B charged at Topper, his intentions clear as he shoved the bully away from his sister and friend. "Don't ever talk to them like that."

Pope ran over. "We're supposed to be incognito, remember?"

Sarah tried to stop Topper. "Babe, babe, babe, babe."

When Topper lunged toward the Pogues, John B shoved Topper, sending him back a few steps. Topper punched John B in the face, making him fall to the ground. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers.

Isa glared daggers at Topper, her body trembling with rage as she prepared to jump in to defend her brother.

Pope stepped in front of Isa, trying to restrain her from joining the fray. "Isa, calm down!"

Isa struggled against Pope's hold, desperate to defend her loved ones. "Pope, let me go!"

"Guys?" Lia called out desperately, trying to diffuse the situation. "Guys! Chill!"

But the rest of the crowd only cheered on the violence. "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Topper kicked John B into the ocean.

In the midst of the chaos, Topper cruelly taunted John B, pushing him closer to the edge with each word. "Hey, John B. Don't make me drown you like your old man, all right? And Isa will have to watch it all this time."

Lia glared at Topper in utter disbelief, her heart breaking at the thought of Isa being forced to relieve that trauma.

The words made Isa snap.

Driven by pure fury, Isa broke free from Pope's grip and charged at Topper. She delivered a powerful punch to his face, causing him to stagger back in pain. She followed it up with a swift kick to his stomach, sending him crashing to the sand.

Isa stood over Topper, glaring down on him in rage. "Motherfucker. Who's the bitch now?"

While Lia, Sarah, Pope, and Kie desperately tried to stop the fighting, Kaylee, JJ, Rafe and Kelce stood on the sidelines with smirks on their faces.

Rafe even cheered for Topper. "Kick their asses!"

Lia and Sarah both shot daggers at their brother for only making things worse. "Shut up, Rafe."

"Stop, you guys!" Kie told them.

"John B, Isa, kick his ass!" Kaylee cheered.

"Not helping, Kaylee!" Kie snapped.

Topper glared at Isa as he got back up and stalked closer. Isa stood on defense, fists raged.

John B looked up from the ground, seeing Topper closing in on his sister, glaring, pushing himself to his feet and charging at Topper to tackle him to the ground in a bid to protect his little sister.

The two boys wrestled and fought on the ground, exchanging blows and struggling for dominance.

Pope walked closer. "John B! Isa! Let it go!"

"Topper!" Sarah told him. "Stop!"

"Come on, JB!" Isa told him.

John B and Topper stood, pushing each other away from each other.

Lia put her hands to her head, sobering up pretty quickly because of the fight. "Guys!"

Pope, Kie and Kaylee tried to keep JJ back.

"Kick his ass, John B!" Isa encouraged.

John B punched Topper in the face, knocking him back a few steps.

Isa nodded, proud. "That's my brother."

"That's what I'm talking about!" JJ cheered encouragingly.

Kaylee raised her arms to cheer. "Yeah!"

John B glared at Topper as they circled each other. "Come on!"

"Yeah, you wanna go?" Topper asked.

Topper punched John B in the face, making him struggle for balance.

Kie stepped closer. "Stop! John B!"

Sarah was wincing at every hit and blow between John B and Topper.

When Topper tried to punch him again, John B ducked, punching Topper in the ribs, throwing him into the ocean.

Sarah gasped. "Oh! Topper!"

"Come on, Topper!" John B egged him on. "Let's go! Come on!"

Topper pushed himself up, ready to fight John B again. They wrestled while standing in the water with hits and blows.

Lia winced. "Oh, my God."

(Song Ends)

In a desperate attempt to win the fight, Topper pushed John B's head underwater and held him there.

"Topper?" Sarah cried. "Topper, stop! No!"

Kaylee was about to run forward. "No! John B!"

Kie stopped Kaylee, pulling her back. "Kaylee, don't!"

"He's drowning him, Kie," Kaylee pleaded.

"I know," Kie said, fretting, but trying to keep Kaylee out of trouble because of her fragile relationship with their parents already.

Isa's heart raced with fear as she watched her brother being drowned by Topper. Memories of her recurring nightmare flooded her mind; one that always ended with her family drowning in the water and having to watch her boyfriend Leon be hung and then killed in the car crash all over again.

Finally snapping out of her paralyzed state, Isa rushed into the water to save her brother, but despite her best efforts, she couldn't pull Topper off of John B.

In a fit of rage, Topper pushed Isa to the ground, stalking closer, his face contorted with pure hatred.

Kaylee broke free from Kie's grip, running toward her best friend. "Isa!"

But JJ beat Kaylee to it.

JJ stalked up behind Topper, the gun held tightly in his hand as he pressed it against the back of Topper's head. "Yeah, you know what that is. Your move, broski."

Lia watched in shock.

A girl yelled out. "JJ's got a gun!"

A panic erupted among the partygoers, screams and shouts filling the air as they scattered in all directions, desperate to escape the now seemingly dangerous situation. But the Pogues, Lia, Sarah, Rafe and Kelce remained frozen in shock, unable to believe what was happening.

Pope's voice broke through the chaos, pleading with JJ to put the gun down. "Come on. Chill, dude!"

"JJ!" Lia pleaded, trying to reason.

Sarah ran over, screaming. "Stop! JJ! Put the gun down."

"Did you say something, princess?" JJ taunted.

Kaylee walked over to help Isa up from the water as the two friends hung onto each other's hands.

Topper immediately backed down, afraid. "We're good, we're good. All right? Come on, man."

Kaylee nodded sarcastically at Topper, her anger boiling over at the situation he started. "Oh, sure, now you want to play nice? How convenient for you, hypocritical psychopath. Not so tough now, are you, Kook?"

"Put the gun down!" Sarah repeated desperately. "Kiara! Kaylee! Can you check your psycho friend? Please."

Lia gives Sarah a disbelieving look. "Are you serious right now? Topper was the one trying to drown John B and willing to go after Isa. And yet you're telling Kie and Kaylee to control their friend? You've got to be fucking kidding me, Sarah."

Sarah shot her sister a warning glare. "Shut up, Lia. Kaylee, keep your boyfriend in line."

Kaylee glared back at Sarah. "Maybe if you kept your boyfriend in line, we wouldn't be in this fucking mess. Your precious little Topper is nothing but a pathetic piece of shit who resorts to violence and trauma to get back at people for a few jokes and punches. Maybe you should learn to control your own people instead of trying to control ours."

Isa rushed over to John B, helping her brother out of the water, both soaking wet. "John B, are you okay? Can you hear me? JB!"

JJ removed the gun from Topper's head, turning to address the rest of the crowd. "Okay, everyone, listen up! Get the hell off our side of the island!"

JJ fired two shots into the air, causing even more chaos to ensue.

Topper ran off toward Lia, Sarah, Rafe and Kelce.

Topper, Rafe and Kelce immediately took off.

Lia was frozen, a mixture of shock and horror overwhelming her as she watched the Pogues in concern and worry. She was horrified by Topper's actions that led to all of this, the Pogues defending themselves in such a way.

Sarah grabbed Lia's arm and pulled her along to run after Topper, Rafe and Kelce. "Lia, come on!"

Lia started running to avoid falling, catching up with her sister as they took off.

Kie and Pope both pushed JJ away.

"Are you crazy?" Pope shouted. "You idiot!"

Kie hit JJ on the shoulder. "Stupid! It's not worth it!"

"Why would you do that?" Pope demanded.

JJ shoved Pope back. "I was saving his life and protecting her, okay?"

"Stupid!" Pope yelled. "You're gonna jeopardize everything."

Kaylee had had enough. "Enough!"

Still in the water with John B, Isa looked between all of them with tears in her eyes from the stress and intensity of the moment. "Can all of you shut the fuck up and help me get my brother home?"

Kie, Kaylee, JJ and Pope all looked at Isa and John B with worry in their eyes as they walked closer.

Kie and Kaylee each wrapped an arm around Isa to offer comfort as they helped her up, while JJ and Pope lifted John B to his feet, supporting him with their shoulders. The Pogues made their way out of the water together, united in this intense and emotional moment.

⚓️

The Chateau - Living Room

When the Pogues brought John B and Isa home, Isa turned to them. "Thanks, guys."

Pope reassured Isa with a pat on the shoulder. "Of course."

Kaylee embraced Isa. "It's going to be okay, Isa."

JJ wrapped an arm around Isa. "You and John B are tough survivors, Isa. He'll pull through."

Isa offered a small smile. "I know, JJ. Thanks, everyone."

Pope and JJ exited.

As Kaylee was leaving, she realized Kie wasn't following. "Are you coming?"

"I'll be right behind you guys," Kie assured her.

Understanding, Kaylee left.

⚓️

John B's Room

Isa retrieved the first aid kit for John B and sat beside her unconscious brother on the bed, beginning to clean his face of the cuts and scrapes from the fight.

Kie stood in the doorway, observing with concern.

Isa glanced up. "It's rude to stare."

Kie averted her gaze. "Sorry."

After discarding all the wrappers and bloodied cotton swabs, Isa sighed, kissed John B on the forehead, and left the room.

⚓️

Kitchen

Isa walked into the kitchen.

Kie approached Isa, her expression laced with concern. "He's going to be okay."

"I know," Isa responded, busying herself with some cleaning.

"Are you alright?" Kie inquired.

"I'm fine," Isa replied.

Kie let out a soft scoff. "You're stressed."

Isa faced her. "I'm not stressed."

Kie studied Isa, circling the counter to confront her. "You're cleaning. You always clean when you're stressed."

Isa tossed the rag into the sink with a sigh, leaning on the counter. "I guess... seeing Topper trying to drown John B, what he said about our dad, and shoving me into the water when I intervened... It's just too much."

Kie nodded sympathetically. "You don't need to explain, Isa. I'm just so sorry that all of this happened tonight."

Isa sighed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, so am I."

Kie offered a small, sad smile and wrapped her arms around Isa. Isa reciprocated the much-needed hug, resting her head on Kie's shoulder and letting out a deep sigh with closed eyes. As they separated, Kie gently brushed away a tear from Isa's cheek that had escaped unnoticed. Isa responded with a timid, sheepish grin.

Kie let out a soft chuckle. "There's that smile. Good night, Isa."

As Kie began to walk away, Isa hesitated before speaking up.

"Kie?" Isa called out, and Kie paused, turning around. "Could you stay? Just for a little while?"

Kie gave a nod of assent. "Of course. I'll stay. Just for a little while."

⚓️

Isa's Dream

Ocean

Isa was swimming through the ocean. She saw John B and their father in the ocean ahead of her, both drowning, which was what caused her near panic attack and paralysis earlier during the fight when Topper started to drown John B, bringing up this recurring nightmare.

Isa: (voice over) "There's something about our father we haven't mentioned. The week before he went mission, he told me and John B, 'Dove, Bird, I think I found something. Your Uncle T's gonna come stay for a while. I might have to vanish for a bit'. So he talks about vanishing and he vanishes."

Big John was ripped away from Isa and John B, vanishing into the distance of the sea, as Isa tried to keep hold of his hand but it was ripped from her grasp as the ocean took him away.

John B: (voice over) "Everyone says he was lost at sea, but... he's still out there. We know it."

John B started to drown and be ripped away from Isa as well. Isa tried to keep hold of John B's hand, but he was torn away from her just as Big John was.

Isa started to drown, unable to breathe, screaming for help, and in devastation at losing John B and Big John to the sea just as it was killing her.

⚓️

Reality

Day Five

Morning - The Chateau - Isa's Room

Isa gasped awake from the nightmare. Remembering the night before, she pushed herself out of bed, trying to force the nightmare and emotions out of her head.

⚓️

John B's Room

Isa knocked on John B's door, peaking in. "John B. Decent?"

John B groaned, sitting up. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm decent."

Isa walked closer in concern. "You okay?"

"Um, better than I thought I would be," John B answered. "I take it that's because you patched me up after the fight last night."

"Like I always do," Isa answered.

John B nodded in understanding. "Yeah. Thanks, Isa."

Isa sighed, looking down. "Last night, I froze when Topper started to... and I'm sorry."

John B shook his head. "Don't. I know about the dream, Isa. You had to tell me after one too many nights screaming yourself awake because of that damn nightmare. I know why you froze, because I froze too, when I was in the water, and last night, it wasn't your fault. Any of it."

Isa cracked a tiny grin and shuffled over to plop down beside John B. They wrapped an arm around each other for a hug.

Isa looked up. "So, riddle me this: we're champs at surfing through a hurricane's mood swings and I can dive into a swamp with an anchor for a dance partner, no sweat. But a fight last night and we turn into ice sculptures?"

John B just snickered, giving his head a bewildered wag. "Beats me. I'm clueless. Your guess is as good as mine."

Sheriff Peterkin knocked on the door. "Isa. John B." They both looked up. "Get dressed, sweeties. We need to talk."

Isa and John B sighed, exchanging a look, before looking at their clothes from the previous day, knowing they did need to change.

⚓️

Living Room

Peterkin was waiting in the living room when Isa and John B walked out of their rooms, now changed into fresh clothes for the day. "Sorry to break in like this, but DCS called. They wanted me to check on you. See how you're doin'. So how are you, besides the--"

Peterkin gestured to John B's black eye.

"Oh, no, we--we're great," John B told her.

Isa nodded. "Yeah, fantastic. Uh... thanks for coming by."

"I'm so glad to hear that, but I heard a few things that worried me," Peterkin told them. John B brought a few empty beer bottles to the trash. "Let me see if I can remember. Oh, yeah. One of the things I heard was that your Uncle Teddy, your guardian, hasn't been in the state for three months."

John B winced, shaking his head, waving her off. "Yeah, that's false."

"You don't have to say anything," Peterkin told them. "I know it's true. I called the school. They said you used to be good students, but now you're failing all your classes."

"I'm not failing any actually," Isa told her. "I'm all Bs and Cs."

"And I'm only failing one, and it's history," John B added. "The dude's a dick. He's out for me--"

"I heard there was a fight yesterday on the beach," Peterkin told them. "And a gun was involved."

Isa and John B were in full head-shake mode, protecting JJ.

"Okay, gun?" John B scoffed. "No."

"Come on, Sheriff, you can't take every whisper seriously," Isa chided.

"Did I get in a dust up?" John B inquired. "Yes."

"Did he get his ass kicked and I jumped in as backup?" Isa chimed in. "Absolutely."

John B shot Isa a glance, then turned to Peterkin. "But was there a gun?"

"That's a hard no," Isa said.

"No way," John B agreed.

"That's okay," Peterkin told them. "I know who it was. I'll get to him. All I'm worried about right now is making sure you're both in a safe home."

John B scoffed, looking around. "Yeah, super safe. Super sound, sturdy, you know what I mean?"

John B tapped the table next to him.

"And Uncle T's coming, so..." Isa trailed off.

"That what he told you?" Peterkin asked.

Isa leaned against the wall with her arm, nodding. "Yeah."

"Well, if he really is coming, I think you should be allowed to stay," Peterkin told them.

Isa gestured her other arm to Peterkin. "Thank you."

"But if I stick my neck out for you, you have to help me," Peterkin told them. "Tit for tat."

"What--what does tat mean?" John B asked.

Arm still leaning her against the wall, Isa just tilted her head at John B, rolling her eyes, looking at Peterkin, sighing. "What's your price?"

Peterkin walked closer. "Let me see, how can you help me? Oh, I know. So a body was found in the marsh yesterday. Were you in the marsh yesterday?"

John B nodded. "Yeah, we were fishing for some drum."

"You catch anything?" Peterkin asked.

"No bodies if that's what you're asking," Isa answered.

John B pointed to Isa in agreement. "We didn't catch much of anything. We were skunked."

Peterkin looked at them skeptically. "Strange. Fishing is usually good after a storm. All sorts of things get stirred up. You come across a wreck yesterday?"

"No," Isa lied easily.

John B shook his head, but left the vocally lying to Isa since she was much better at it.

Peterkin sighed, holding her hand below her neck as she gave him a look. "You're skimming just above the surface, John B." She lowered her hand between them, circling her finger to go from pointing to herself to John B repeatedly. "Now down here is foster care, juvie. Pretty big drop for a smart kid like you." She raised her hand to head level. "And up here is you and your little friends doing whatever you want. Outer Banks or foster care on the mainland." John B sat down. "If you don't do it for you, do it for your sister. You're all Isa's got. What you're doing is leading her down a road where DCS is going to split you two up and you'll never see each other again. Is that what you want? Now are you sure you didn't come across a wreck yesterday?"

John B and Isa exchanged a look, their answer obvious between the two of them just with a look.

Isa looked at Peterkin. "Yeah. Yeah, we're sure."

"It's better if you didn't, you understand?" Peterkin asked. "For both your sakes. I'm gonna look the other way as long as you both stay out of the marsh."

Peterkin walked out.

Isa looked at John B. "We're gonna be fine. No one is gonna split us up. I'm not losing anyone else."

John B nodded in agreement, solemnly. "Me neither."

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Outside

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope were fixing up what damage there had been to the Pogue Nest, but luckily it hasn't been nearly as bad as it could have been, and the only real thing that took damage as stated before was the generator that provided power to the treehouse.

Kaylee gestured towards a step. "JJ, can you hold this step horizontally while I hammer it in?" JJ gave a cheeky grin, about to retort. Kaylee shot him a warning glance, her hammer poised threateningly. "Go on, say it. I dare you."

"Point taken," JJ conceded. "Remind me which way is horizontal?"

With a teasing smirk, Kaylee glanced down at JJ. "It's the opposite of where your little friend goes when I'm around."

JJ burst out laughing, briefly steadying himself on Kaylee's waist. "Ha! Feisty. Sharp as ever. I like it."

Kaylee rolled her eyes in mock exasperation.

Kie and Pope smirked, rolling their eyes.

Isa and John B walked up to them. 

"Well, at least like Kay and Kie said, Pogue Nest survives," Isa pointed out.

"Pogue Nest is a survivor just like its name sakes," Kaylee pointed out.

"Damn right, Kaylee, Pogue Nest for life," JJ agreed.

The Pogues all nodded in agreement.

"What are you two so late for?" Kie asked.

"We just got done talking to Peterkin," Isa answered. "She showed up at the Chateau."

"Oh," Pope said.

"Look, I'm calling it off, all right?" John B asked. "Peterkin said if Isa and I stay out of the marsh, she'll help us with DCS."

"And you believed her?" JJ asked.

"Yes, I believe her, JJ," John B answered.

"An actual cop, John B," JJ told him. "You believe a cop. Isa, come on, tell me you didn't."

"We have no other choice, JJ," Isa told him.

"Besides, Peterkin's a cop who's given me the benefit of the doubt and helped keep me out of juvie no matter how many times my parents threaten that or boarding school," Kaylee told them. "Peterkin's the exception to me hating cops."

JJ gestured to Kaylee. "Fine, that I'll give you, but--"

John B shook his head. "But nothing. I have to do what's best for Isa, and believing Peterkin is that. All we gotta do is stay outta the marsh for a couple days, and she'll help us out. It doesn't help that your ass was the one that was shooting a gun."

JJ nodded sarcastically. "Right, my bad for saving your damn life and helping Isa out. You know what I should have done? I should've just let Topper drown your ass."

"Hey, that's a bit much," Kaylee chided.

"Yeah, because Topper was really gonna drown me?" John B retorted.

Isa crossed her arms. "From where I stood, it sure as hell looked like it."

"That's really funny," John B said.

Kaylee shot John B a glance. "Take a look in the mirror today? You look like shit after what that prick did to you."

John B glanced between JJ, Isa, and Kaylee. "Come on, tell me some more. Come on."

JJ walked closer, popping his arm up against the slide exit of Pogue Nest. "They always win, don't they, man? Kooks versus Pogues. They always, always win!" He hit the slide, turning around, stepping away. "Goddamn!"

"Look, it's okay!" Kie intervened.

JJ turned back. "No, it's not okay! It is not. They don't want us to go down into the marsh. That means there's something valuable down there." He pointed to John B and Isa. "And you know it. I know you do." He looked at Pope. "And I understand why you don't wanna go. You're the golden boy. You got way too much to risk." He looked at Kie. "And you, I mean, unlike Kaylee, you're on good terms with your guys's parents and have all the access to your rich as fuck Mom and Dad anyways. Why would you bother?" He looked at Kaylee. "You're on the brink of ending up in juvie or boarding school because, as you've said, you always bail us out of every fight, every scrape, feeling it's the right thing to do, regardless of whether it makes your parents despise you, cut you off, or forces you to take any job you can find just to fend for yourself in this treehouse. The damn Pogue Nest." Kaylee tilted her head in acknowledgement. JJ looked at Isa and John B. "And us three, man... we've always had nothing to lose! We really don't have anything to lose, all right?"

Isa looked away. "JJ."

"And I know it didn't use to be that way for you," JJ told them. "But think about it. Do rich kids go to foster care or get split up?"

John B sighed. "I don't wanna talk about this. I don't wanna talk about it."

"John B," Isa said.

JJ stood in John B's way of leaving. "So that's it?"

John B pushed past him. "Just get out of my way, bro."

Isa gave them both an exasperated look. "Can both of you just knock it the hell off?"

John B and JJ looked at Isa.

JJ pointed between the Routledge siblings. "Isa, John B, just listen to me. I have a plan."

Kaylee laughed barely. "Oh, here we go."

JJ looked at John B. "You got the key to Cameron's big boat, right?"

"No," John B lied.

"Yes," Isa answered.

John B gave her a look. "Isa!"

Isa walked closer. "What? JJ's right. If we have money, they can't take us, and we won't be split up. Besides, someone's gotta do what's best for you to."

John B considered, giving a small nod, looking at JJ. "Go on."

JJ put an arm around both John B and Isa's shoulders on either side of him. "There's scubba gear inside, man. We borrow that, and then we go down to the wreck this afternoon. And that is what is going to save you two."

"This is how we stay together, John B," Isa declared.

John B's grin was inevitable. "Knew it wouldn't be that easy to get rid of you, Isa."

JJ's grin widened as he stepped back from Isa and John B.

John B slung an arm around Isa, pulling her into a half-hug.

Isa nudged him back, chuckling. "Asshole."

Kaylee, Kie, and Pope couldn't help but smile, while JJ turned to them with a grin and a nonchalant shrug. Kaylee responded with an encouraging thumbs up.

⚓️

Figure 8 Dock 

(Song:) Lingua - Sub Focus feat. Stylo G

John B and Isa rode the HMS Pogue up to the dock.

John B sighed. "You know, we should have learned a long time ago to never listen to JJ. He's full of bad ideas, like stealing from my rich boss."

Isa shrugged. "Yeah, but this time, JJ's right. We have nothing to lose. Like dad used to say, the island's like America on steroids. The haves and have-nots like anyplace, but magnified and multiplied. The way I see it, the game's rigged. Always has been. With no parents, no money, and no one looking out for us, we got no chance, unless we make it on our own. Now go in there. I'll be lookout."

John B nodded in agreement. "Be back in a second."

John B used the key to get into the boat, and taking the oxygen tanks and scubba stuff that they needed.

Isa, while on lookout, saw Lia and Sarah walking onto the dock, quickly tapping on the boat deck so that John B could hear and he would know someone was coming.

John B quickly hurried up and got what they needed, and then hurried out onto the dock nearby Isa.

(Song Ends)

Lia saw Isa and John B. "Oh, hey, John B. Isa, what are you doing here?"

Isa shrugged. "Just visiting my brother at work."

"Oh, cool," Lia said. "Listen, I, um... I don't normally get that drunk like I did last night."

"Yeah, you were totally sloshed," Isa remarked.

Lia bobbed her head. "Still, I gotta hand it to you. Thanks for stepping in with that guy last night."

"Come on, Lia, no thanks needed," Isa replied. "Just doing the decent human thing anyone would've done."

"Well, not 'just anyone' jumped into action," Lia observed.

Isa gave a nod and a quirky tilt of her head. "Alright, any decent person who wasn't deaf to the whole commotion, then."

Lia nodded, looking down. "Still. Thanks." She looked between Lia and John B. "And I'm sorry about last night. With Topper and everything."

"We don't need apologies or pity," John B told her.

"It's not pity, believe me," Lia told them.

Sarah walked closer, looking at Isa and John B. "Are you stalking us? Plotting your revenge?"

Isa and John B rolled their eyes.

"Well, you're one of the only people that tried to actually do something to stop the fight last night, Lia," Isa told her. "And you're one of the only Kooks that don't think they're better than us Pogues. But everybody else can go down with Topper."

Sarah gave Isa a look. "Funny."

"Wasn't trying to be," Isa replied. "Like Lia said last night, Sarah. You called JJ psycho and told Kie and Kaylee to manage him, while Topper was drowning John B and fighting  me, and you didn't do a damn thing to manage him."

"Yeah, why don't you tell your daddy I blew the bilge on the Druthers?" John B asked, handing the air tanks to Isa. "Everything's good to go. Just dropping off these air tanks."

Lia looked at John B in concern. "Hey, are you okay? That eye of yours looks really bad. And I'm sorry about last night."

Isa gestured to Isa, giving Sarah a look. "See. At least Lia can be the only one on your side of the island that apologizes for what your people do to ours. And that's actually the second time she's apologized, whereas you and the Kook royalty have never done so."

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"You know what?" John B declared. "You can tell Topper he won the first round. I'll get him next time."

"Calling nearly making someone fish food and playing mind games a victory?" Isa muttered. "Sure, let's roll with that."

Sarah shot Isa a frosty stare, to which Isa responded with a grin dripping in honey.

Lia couldn't help but chuckle at the takedown of Sarah and Topper. "Adore you, Sarah, but Isa's on the money. And then some."

Isa's smirk grew wider. John B couldn't help but join in.

Sarah shot Lia a look. "Exactly whose side are you on?"

"I'm not on any side," Lia answered. "So there's just gonna be a reign of terror on the island now?"

Isa shrugged. "Wars have been started for less, Lia Cameron."

"Okay, can we drop this whole Kooks versus Pogues thing?" Lia asked. "It's really stupid."

"You know, it's easy for you to say when you're Kooks," John B replied. "Even for an outcast like you, Lia."

Lia nodded sarcastically, waving a bit, turning around, walking away. Isa watched her go curiously, tilting her head.

Sarah rolled her eyes, giving John B and Isa a salute with two fingers, before flipping them off, walking away.

Isa and John B rode their boat away.

⚓️

The Cut Docks

Some townsfolk were gathered in boats near the opening of the marsh.

Shoupe spoke through a megaphone. "Are y'all ready for a water party today? All right, now, all kidding aside, your job today is to help keep privates off the marsh so we can do our job and find this wreck. That's straight from Sheriff Peterkin. Do not forget your sunscreen, ladies. Bring a lot of liquids."

"Does that include Natty Light?" a woman called.

"I don't care what swill you bring," Shoupe answered. "That's on your own recognizance. All right? What else do you got to worry about? Let's go!" He put down his megaphone. "Thank you, ma'am." He stepped off his boat. "Bill, I'mma get at ya about that tomorrow, all right?"

Two men wearing black walked up to Shoupe.

"Good evening, officer," Man 1 told him. "We're here about the missing boat."

"Yeah?" Shoupe asked. "What can I do for you, fellas?"

"Associates of the owner," Man 1 told him. "We're here to help however we can."

Man 1 shook Shoupe's hand, walking away.

Man 2 shook Shoupe's hand. "We're devastated about Scooter. We just feel sick about it. You mind if we join your armada? Take a look for ourselves?"

"Yeah, why not?" Shoupe asked. "Extra set of eyes."

They went over to a boat.

"We'll let you know if we find anything, Officer," Man 2 told him.

Shoupe nodded. "You do that."

⚓️

The Marsh

On the HMS Pogue, Kaylee was sitting and relaxing, arms propped up on the edge of the boat behind her, wearing sunglasses, basking in the warmth of the sun, enjoying the tranquility it brought to her mood, enjoying it while she could.

Kie scanned the levels of the tanks provided by John B. "This is empty. You took empty tanks?"

Kaylee looked up in concern, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head. "With empty tanks, you're only looking at about four minutes under there."

Kie read the second tank. "This one's a quarter full. It's enough for one of us."

"Love it when a plan comes together," Pope said sarcastically.

Kaylee chuckled. "Does anybody know how to dive? Anybody?"

JJ shrugged. "It's kind of a Kook sport."

"I... read about it," Pope admitted.

Kie pursed her lips sarcastically. "Great. Pope read about it, so someone's gonna die."

JJ shrugged. "You put the thing in your mouth and breathe. How hard could it be?"

"If you come up too fast, nitrogen gets into your blood, and you get the bends," Pope explained.

"Bends like..." JJ trailed off, arching his back in a provocative position. "Bend over and--"

Kaylee gave JJ a look. "The bends kill you."

JJ stood up quickly, shrugging. "Well, you about kill me whenever you bend over, so..."

Kaylee snorted, while the others groaned.

"Dude," Pope complained.

"Really, JJ?" Isa asked in amusement.

John B shook his head. "Keep it in your pants."

"Could you not eye fuck my sister in front of me?" Kie asked.

Kaylee scoffed a laugh, tilting her head, giving JJ an amused look, smirking, biting her lip. JJ smirked, winking in return.

"I can dive," John B announced.

"You can dive?" JJ repeated, shrugging. "I'll cool with that."

Isa tilted her head at John B. "Since when can you dive?"

John B shrugged. "I'll do it. It's fine."

"John B..." Isa trailed off.

John B patted Isa on the shoulder. "Isa, I'll be all right. I can do this."

Isa frowned, wanting to say more but she knew it would be useless. Once John B decided on something, his mind was set. There was nothing she could say to convince him. Isa sighed deeply, giving a gentle nod. John B gave a reassuring smile, holding out a finger to Isa. Isa put her finger to John B's in a childhood salute they used to do as kids.

Pope was doing some math on a piece of paper. "Let me do some calculations real quick. That boat's about 30 feet down. So it'll take 25 minutes at that depth. Which means you need to make sure your safety stop at about... ten feet. All right? For two minutes."

John B nodded in agreement. "Yeah, yeah. Ten feet, two minutes. Got it."

Kaylee took off her shirt and shorts to reveal her bikini, jumping into the water, swimming down.

"What's she doing?" Kie asked.

"I don't know," JJ admitted. "But I liked that. A lot."

Isa rolled her eyes, getting his attention back. "JJ."

"Right, yeah," JJ agreed, snapping out of it. "When you're down there, you look for the cargo hold." He handed something to John B. "You stick this thing inside and twist and pull, okay?"

John B nodded. "Stick it in, twist, pull."

"Yeah," JJ agreed. "My dad moved weight back in the day."

"Who didn't?" Isa asked.

Kaylee swam up through the water and back up to the boat. "Hey. John B. I tied my shirt to the anchor chain about ten feet down. It's where you need to do your safety stop."

John B nodded in agreement. "Cool, thanks."

Pope and Isa helped John B into the scuba gear, following a tutorial that Kie had pulled up on her phone to help them out.

Pope held up the meter attached to the suit. "Keep an eye on this. You need to make sure you have enough air to decompress."

"That's the most important thing," Kie insisted, tapping her finger on the glass. "Don't let yourself stay down there too long. No loot is worth your life."

"How much do I need?" John B asked.

"Unclear," Pope admitted. "Breathe as little as possible."

John B gave a tight-lipped smile to the two, nodding in gratitude.

"Zen," JJ told him. "Think Zen, you know?"

JJ imitated breathing through the mask.

John B nodded. "Yeah, got it."

Kaylee climbed back into the boat. "Hey, if we get caught out here in the marsh, we're basically screwed, so... better get a move on."

"Copy that," Isa agreed.

Kie stepped up to give John B a kiss on his cheek. Isa raised her eyebrows in surprise, looking between the two. JJ, Pope and Kaylee frowned, also surprised.

"Diver down?" John B asked.

"Diver down," Kie answered.

Isa looked at John B worriedly. "Diver down."

As John B slipped the breathing apparatus over his face and took a breath, before plunging into the water, the others held their breaths until he was under.

"All right," Pope said.

"See you, dude," JJ said.

John B slowly made his way down the anchor chain and down to the Grady White.

Up on the HMS Pogue, Isa ran a hand through her hair in order to try and calm herself down, but her nerves were quickly shot to hell as she caught sight of a police boat entering the marsh. "Shit! Guys, that's the police."

They all followed her gaze.

"You gotta be kidding me," Kaylee complained.

"Yep, that's the police," JJ agreed.

"Isa, you gotta hide," Pope told her.

Isa edged over the side of the boat, slipping into the water. "Shit. If they see me here, it's a straight shot to DCS."

"Just stay quiet and you'll be fine," JJ assured. "We'll cover for you."

Kie looked at Kaylee, JJ and Pope. "Just act freaking normal."

Isa pushed herself under so the water came under her chin now to hide from the officers in the boat, including Shoupe.

Kaylee and JJ sat on the edge of the boat in front of Isa to help her hide from sight.

Kaylee smiled charmingly, able to lie and act like everything was fine with perfect ease. "Evening, officers."

"Evening," Shoupe replied.

Plumb handed a rope to Pope to tie their boats together. "Here you go."

Pope handed the rope to JJ. "JJ, tie this off."

JJ tied the rope so the boat wouldn't drift away while the police were talking to them.

Down at the Grady White, John B was looking through the wreckage, opening a compartment.

Up above water, Shoupe removed his sunglasses, scanning Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope. "How are you kids doing? You know the marsh is closed?"

JJ and Pope exchanged a look as if in confusion. "No."

"Wow," Pope said. "We didn't know that."

"Why is it closed?" Kaylee asked calmly.

"We're conducting a search out here," Shoupe answered. "Boat went down."

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope all nodded. "Oh."

"Seen anything?" Shoupe asked.

JJ shook his head. "No."

"No, no boats," Pope lied.

Down at the Grady White, John B pulled a duffle bag out of the compartment he had just opened, going through it.

Up above, the Pogues started to get nervous, dreading what could happen if the police stayed too long, whether Isa could stay in hiding, or if John B could drown while diving, or they would all be caught lying to the police.

Shoupe looked around the boat, noticing Isa and John B weren't there. "Where're your friends you always hang out with, the Routledges? They here?"

Isa sank herself lower, the water coming up just under her nose.

"They're working," Kaylee told him the same time Kie said, "Uh, they've got work."

JJ nodded. "Couldn't make it."

Shoupe hummed, seemingly satisfied with their answer.

In hiding, Isa was getting more and more worried about John B and about staying hidden without getting anyone in trouble.

Down at the Grady White, John B started to swim out of the boat with the bag he found.

Up above, Shoupe looked over Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope, stepping onto the HMS Pogue. "I'm gonna check your little boat out."

The Pogues were surprised by this but tried to remain calm and relaxed.

"Yeah, yeah, hop on board," Pope told him. "Go ahead and check her, uh, check her out."

"Thank you," Shoupe replied.

"No problem," Kie told him.

Pope got up from his seat, walking over to Kie.

Isa was even more nervous with Shoupe up on the boat.

Kaylee and JJ stayed planted in front of where Isa was hiding in the water to keep Shoupe from seeing over the edge of the boat to see her.

Down below in the water, John B swam up slowly, stopping at the safety stop marked by Kaylee's shirt tied to the anchor chain, staying there for two minutes. He looked down at the timer for his oxygen, seeing that the time read 1:15 as it was counting down.

Up above, Shoupe held up a life jacket. "You got another one of these?"

"Of course," JJ answered. "It's, uh, in the hold."

"Yeah," Pope agreed.

"Show him, JJ," Kaylee told him.

JJ went over to pull out the life jacket, while Kie sat next to Kaylee in JJ's spot to help her hide Isa.

JJ pulled out the life jacket. "Yeah, here we go. See?"

Shoupe nodded. "All right."

Isa rolled her eyes, getting impatient for Shoupe to leave, and even more worried about John B.

Down below, knowing that time was running out, John B untied Kaylee's shirt from the anchor line, and watched as the count down on the timer continued down from 0:42.

Up above, Shoupe made his way toward the nose of the boat, determined to look around Kie and Kaylee to see what was behind them, causing the Pogues to worry that he could see Isa.

Pope spoke up to give a signal to Isa. "Uh, be careful right there. You don't wanna slip."

Isa slowly pushed herself under the boat, out of sight, holding her breath. Shoupe looked over the edge of the boat, around behind Kie and Kaylee, but didn't see Isa since she hid under the boat.

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope exchanged a look, worried but glad that Isa had hidden under the boat before Shoupe could see her, though they were worried about both her being under the boat, and John B being down below with his oxygen running out.

Down below, Isa looked down to see John B ten feet down, giving him a hand signal to let him know that someone was up there.

John B understood, but was worried about the current position they were both in, looking up to see the silhouette of Shoupe through the rippling waves of the water, and luckily with Isa hidden under the boat and John B ten feet down, Shoupe couldn't see either of them.

John B looked at the timer counting down from 0:12 to 0. He let it go for a split second before he started to panic, but tried not to panic so that he wouldn't start to drown, and so that Isa wouldn't worry.

Isa however knew that John B was now out of oxygen and was very worried, and being without her own oxygen, and having to hide under the boat for almost a minute now, was starting to have issues with being able to hold her breath.

Up above, Shoupe turned to face Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope. "All right."

JJ and Pope both said, "All right" in turn.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" Shoupe asked, walking over to his own boat.

Kaylee nodded tensely. "Sure is."

"Very," Pope agreed.

"Let us know if you see anything on your way out," Shoupe told them.

Kaylee nodded. "Will do."

"Will do," Pope repeated.

"We'll be gone soon, sir," JJ told him.

Shoupe gave the four teens a look. "Yes, you will."

Shoupe drove him and Plumb away.

Isa and John B saw them driving away on their boat from underwater. Isa was finally able to let herself swim out from underneath the boat, as John B started to swim his way up to the top.

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope all knelt at the edge of the boat, looking over the edge into the water worriedly.

"John B's definitely out of air, and Isa didn't have her own freaking oxygen tank," Pope told them.

Isa let herself break through the surface of the water, taking a deep breath to regain oxygen in her lungs. 

John B broke through the surface of the water, taking a deep breath once he emerged.

The Pogues all sighed heavily in relief.

"There they are!" JJ cheered.

Pope hung his head. "Oh, God. Jesus Christ!"

"Don't scare us like that," Kaylee told them.

Kie and Kaylee reached down to take both of Isa's hands, pulling her up onto the boat.

Isa continued to pant for breath. "I thought he was never gonna leave."

"How'd it go down there?" Kie asked.

John B held up a thumbs up.

Pope and JJ grabbed onto John B's arms to help him into the boat. John B had the bag strapped across his chest.

"Did you find anything?" JJ asked.

John B smiled, laughing. "Did I find anything?"

JJ smiled. "Yeah, there we go! That's my boy."

John B handed JJ a black bag he found in the wreck.

"Jeez, dude," Pope told him.

"You okay?" Kie asked.

John B nodded. "Yeah, ran out of air."

"Yeah, you and me both," Isa told him.

"Yeah, the cops were up here, but we took care of them," Kaylee explained.

"Isa had to hide under the boat," Kie elaborated.

John B chuckled. "Saw that."

"You missed quite the show of Pogues protecting Pogues while you were down under, brother," Isa told him.

Kie looked behind them. "You guys, there's a bogey, 2 o'clock."

"What?" JJ asked.

"Do you recognize that boat?" Pope asked.

"I've never seen it," Kaylee admitted.

"I don't see the police logo," Isa told them.

"What are they doing here?" Kie asked. "The marsh is closed."

"I don't know, but let's not stick around long enough to find out," JJ told them.

"JJ, get the bowline?" John B asked, handing Kaylee her shirt that she had used to tie to the anchor line as the safety marker.

Kaylee took her shirt, wringing it out.

JJ nodded, starting to pull the rope up.

"Should we wait on 'em?" Pope asked.

Isa gave Pope a look. "No, we're not gonna wait on them."

"Go get the stern," John B told him.

"Are you joking?" Kie asked. "JJ, hurry up."

"Guys, don't wait for me," JJ told them. "Go!"

"Let's go!" Kaylee told them.

The boat started riding faster toward them.

Kaylee went to help JJ pull in the rope. John B started the boat.

"Pull out the stern," Pope stated.

Kaylee and JJ finally got the anchor out of the water.

John B eyed the boat. "I don't like this."

"Are they coming for us?" Isa asked.

Pope frowned. "Maybe they're fishing for drums."

Kaylee shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Go, go, go, go!" JJ told them.

"Go into the marsh," Pope urged.

"Let's go," Kie said.

"I'm going," John B declared. "Act natural, act natural."

"If you don't hit the gas, we'll be a acting dead for real," Isa shot back.

Pope cocked his head. "Actually, we wouldn't be acting, 'cause, you know, we'd be actual corpses."

Isa gave him the eye-roll of the century. "Pope, zip it."

Pope bobbed his head. "Gotcha, zipping."

The two men in the boat were the same men that had been talking earlier to Shoupe.

Kie noticed the boat was trailing them. "Hey, guys, they're following us."

Kaylee glared the boat down. "Oh, this can't be good."

John B tried to drive the boat faster. "Shit."

"Dude, you gotta go faster," JJ told him.

"I'm going!" John B replied.

"Gun it!" Isa told him, turning to look at the boat, seeing that the two men on the boat had a gun, and Man 1 was aiming it right at them. "They have a gun. That's not what the fuck I meant when I said 'gun it'!"

JJ frowned. "What the--"

"Holy shit!" Kie said.

"Get down!" Kaylee instructed.

They all ducked.

Pope was freaking out. "Oh, my God, we're gonna die."

JJ shielded Kaylee with his body, holding her head down as the gunfire went over their heads. Kaylee got an idea, crawling away from JJ.

"Kaylee, what are you doing?" JJ asked.

A bullet hit the metal of the lip above Kaylee's head. Kaylee ducked.

"Get down, Kaylee!" John B told her.

Kie was incredibly worried for her sister. "Kay! You're gonna get yourself killed!"

Kaylee got a hold of the net, but another bullet was shot and it grazed her arm, making her cry out in pain. "Shit!"

"Kaylee!" Isa told her worriedly.

"Kie, help with this net," Kaylee told her.

Kie crawled over to Kaylee, and they both pulled the net out, standing, throwing the net, making it hit the bottom of the men's boat, slowing them down. One of the men tried to shoot again, just as Isa grabbed Kie and pulled her down, and JJ grabbed Kaylee and pulled her down. Looking up, they saw that the net had wrapped around the men's propellers and stopped the engine, allowing the Pogues to get away, as they laughed lightly in relief.

"Oh, my God!" Isa said.

JJ cheered, yelling. "Whoo! See ya, guys!"

Kie laughed. "Whew! That was insane."

Kaylee stood, noticing her arm was bleeding.

Pope slid closer worriedly. "Kaylee, your shoulder."

Kaylee shook her head. "I'll be fine, it just grazed me."

They all nodded, sighing in relief, but were still concerned.

"You're lucky it didn't hit you full on and it just grazed your arm," John B told her, tying his bandana on Kaylee's arm.

"If it wasn't for me and Kie, we'd all be dead, so you're welcome," Kaylee retorted.

JJ gave Kaylee a hug. "That was so stupid, but also badass as hell."

Kaylee laughed. "Pogue style."

JJ nodded. "Pogue style."

JJ picked Kaylee up, setting her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist. Kaylee laid her head in the crook of his neck as they rode off.

⚓️

Dock

The Pogues got off the HMS and onto the dock, each able to finally for real catch their breaths.

"Kay, we need to take a look at that arm," John B insisted.

Kaylee waved him off. "It's just a graze. It's practically a love tap. I'm all good."

"Kay," Isa pressed.

"Enough chit-chat, let's see what's in the damn bag," Kaylee demanded. "I want to know what was worth the near-miss of a bullet."

Pope just shook his head, amused by Kaylee's defiance. "Classic Kay."

JJ laughed. "That's why she's my girl."

Kaylee beamed at them, unfazed.

"I can help stitch it up," Pope offered. "Since it's just a graze, it won't take much."

"Thanks, Pope," Kaylee told him.

John B and Isa knelt to the dock on either side of the bag that John B brought back from the wreckage, going through it.

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope walked closer.

"What do you guys think it is?" Kie asked.

"Gotta be money, right?" John B asked.

"That or a couple of keys with street value to the low to mid mils," JJ remarked.

"Can we please just open the bag?" Pope blurted out, unable to contain himself any longer, causing everyone to look at him in surprise.

"Wow, Pope," Isa remarked. "I didn't know you had it in you to show feelings."

"That's a rare outburst of emotion from you," John B chimed in, amused. "Kaylee's outbursts? Predictable. But you, Pope? Now that's a plot twist."

In response, Kaylee gave John B the bird, her smirk dripping with sarcasm, which made the rest of the Pogues chuckle. "Seriously, the suspense is killing me. Let's see what's inside!"

Meanwhile, Kie, half-smiling, pressed a cloth against Kaylee's wound. "Drama much?"

"We almost died over this," Kaylee pointed out.

Isa pulled out a canister from the bag, trying to open it but unable to. John B took the canister to open it himself, pouring the contents into his hand, which was a compass. Isa and John B both froze in recognition of the compass, looking up at each other.

Pope was not impressed in the least. "Oh, wow. Yup. That's about right. Good job, everybody. We found a compass. Kaylee got shot over a compass."

"Graze," Kaylee corrected again. "But I'll admit, that sucks like hell."

JJ took off his hat in frustration, looking at Isa and John B's reactions. "Guys, what? It's not worth anything."

Isa looked up at the others. "This was our father's."

Isa and John barely chuckled as they looked at each other, finally finding some sign of their father after so long.