Outfits Link:

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Same Night - Same Scene

Day One

Night - Cemetery

In the crypt, Isa spotted something, her mouth dropping as she slowly walked closer. "Oh, my God."

Isa looked at the white FedEx envelope there, almost not believing that this was actually real as she started to smile, reading the words written on the envelope in black marker "FOR DOVE + BIRD".

"What is it?" Kie asked in concern.

Isa walked over to the hotel, sliding out the envelope. "John B!"

"That's not gold," Pope stated.

John B grabbed the envelope, having the same reaction as Isa did when he read the words. "Holy shit. This is from our dad."

John B looked at Isa. Isa smiled slightly, beginning to hoist herself up. Kie and Kaylee helped grab Isa so they could help her climb out, setting her down carefully.

JJ looked past Kaylee and Kie. "Code red, code red. Square groupers! Square groupers!"

"Go!" Kie told them.

They all ran to the other side of the tomb.

"It's the shady guys," Kaylee stated.

"Light!" Isa whispered.

They all frantically tried to turn off their flashlights.

"Light," Pope repeated.

Kaylee looked at JJ. "Turn your light off."

Kaylee reached over to press the button for him.

"John B?" Isa asked. "Your light."

John B was trying to hide it under his shirt.

A sort of golf cart was pulling up on the gravel path of the cemetery.

"Do you think it's them?" Kie asked.

Isa and Kie's eyes held for a second before Kie broke their eye contact to peer around the corner.

JJ peered around the corner. "Homie's got a gun."

Kaylee shook her head. "Screw this. We gotta get out of here."

The Pogues made a run for it, as the shady men were shouting after them. Isa, Kaylee and Kie reached the cemetery gate first, climbing it and hopping down, and JJ and John B followed suit. However, when Pope tried to hop down from the top of the fence, he got stuck.

"Hurry up!" Isa called.

"Go!" Kie ordered.

"Guys!" Pope whispered. "Guys!"

"Shit," Kaylee said, turning back, noticing that Pope was caught on the fence.

"Guys, I'm stuck," Pope told them, freaking out.

"Pope, come on!" JJ told him.

"All right, guys..." Kie trailed off.

Kaylee looked up at Pope. "I got you."

Pope looked down at them worriedly.

JJ held up his gun. "No. Pope, don't move, okay?"

Isa immediately slapped JJ's arm down. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

John B lowered JJ's arm and the gun down completely. "Don't."

Kaylee tried to pull Pope down.

"You're gonna rip me," Pope panicked. "Wait, you're gonna rip me!"

"You're fine," Kaylee told him. "Come on!"

Kaylee pulled Pope down, and his pants tore off as he was left in his underwear, but they left his pants hanging from the fence as they ran toward Isa, Kie, John B and JJ.

"Kaylee, Pope, come on!" John B told them, getting into the driver's seat.

JJ laughed. "Nice! Come on, dude. It's a little Tootsie Roll."

Kaylee ran to the van, giggling lightly. "Come on!"

Isa and Kie laughed, running to the van, as the girls got into the back.

Kie laughed. "Stupid."

JJ hopped in next to John B up front. "Get in!" Pope got into the back with the girls. Isa closed the door. "Come on."

John B started the car and hit the gas, tires screeching as they made their escape.

After the van was gone, the two men were revealed to be security guards for the cemetery.

Guard 1 shook his head. "Kids are getting weirder every year."

⚓️

The Pogue Nest - Second Floor

JJ headed for the food on the table, spreading peanut butter on moldy bread.

Kaylee looked at JJ. "That bread had mold on it three days ago."

JJ shrugged. "I'll just pull off the bad parts. Plus, mold is good for you. It's just a natural organism."

"JJ," Kie told him, signaling they were about to open the envelope.

JJ ran over. "Yup, yup, yup. Hot damn. Let's do it."

Kaylee looked at JJ's sandwich next to her. "You're disgusting."

JJ smirked, holding the moldy sandwich closer. "You want a bite?"

Kaylee leaned away, laughing, swatting his hand and the sandwich away from her face. "Get that thing away from me! I bet you'll give up after one bite."

JJ held out his hand. "Wanna bet?"

Kaylee locked her hand with JJ's. "Ten dollars says you spit it out."

JJ shook their hands. "Oh, you're on."

Kie tilted her head. "Kaylee. JJ."

Kaylee and JJ turned their heads to look at the other Pogues, who were unsurprised by what they just did, but trying to get them to focus.

They surrounded the table that was dimly lit by candles. Isa and John B exchanged a look. Isa held the envelope in her hands, ripping open the seal. JJ took a bite out of his sandwich, making a face, gagging, spitting it into his hands, quickly going to the trash to throw it away.

Kaylee laughed at him seeing retreat from the trashcan. "You were saying?"

JJ walked up behind Kaylee, arms around her shoulders, nuzzling his head in her neck. "What are you laughing at?"

Kaylee smiled.

Isa rolled her eyes. "Dumbass."

Kaylee held out her hand toward JJ. "Pay up." JJ groaned, reaching into his pocket to pull out ten dollars, putting it in Kaylee's hand. Kaylee smirked, putting the ten bucks in her pocket. "Thank you."

Isa pulled a piece of paper out of the envelope, unfolding it to reveal that it was a map.

John B took the map to look at it, running his fingers across the map, spreading it out onto the table so they could all see it better. "Holy shit."

Pope pointed to where a black X was written in marker. "Oh. X marks the spot."

John B observed the map. "Longitude, latitude."

"Wait, there's something else in here," Isa noticed, reaching into the envelope, pulling out a tape recorder.

"What's that?" JJ asked.

"It's a tape recorder, dumbass," Kie remarked from beside Isa.

Isa exchanged a look with Kie, staring at the tape recorder for a second before pressing the play button.

Big John: (on recording) "Dear Dove and Bird."

Isa and John B were stunned to hear their father's voice, emotional.

"Who're Dove and Bird?" JJ asked, confused.

"That's what our dad called Isa and me," John B answered, in shock.

"When I heard Dad call JB Bird the first time, I was like five, and I begged to be called Dove since I used to love watching the doves," Isa explained.

Big John: (on recording) "I hate to say, I told you so, but I told you so. And you two doubted your old man. I suspect, at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourselves just yet. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either. You were probably right to call me out, Bird. I wasn't exactly Father of the Decade. What can I say kids? I could smell the barn. And hopefully, the three of us are listenin' to this in our brand new sugar-shack down in Costa Rica, livin' off passive investments and pulling on permits. If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant." Isa started to cry. "If something happens to me, I need you two to finish what I started. Go for the gold, kids. Dove, Bird, I love you both, even if I didn't always act like it. I'll see you on the other side."

Isa sobbed when the recording ended, standing from the table, walking quickly toward the door, her chest tightening as if from an anxiety attack, unable to stop from crying, leaning against the doorway, holding onto it. John B stood, walking over to Isa, both of them crying, pulling his sister into his arms. Isa wrapped her arms around John B tightly, both of them crying into each other's shoulders, tears of grief, excitement and longing for their father, for their family to be whole again.

John B rubbed a hand over Isa's shoulders to calm her down. "It's okay."

Kaylee, Kie, JJ and Pope watched in sympathy and concern.

JJ was thinking about the map and the recording. "Holy shit, he did it. Big John, he found the Merchant--"

Kaylee gave JJ a look, standing. "Can you--can you please? Not the time, JJ."

JJ nodded in agreement. "Sorry."

Kaylee walked closer to wrap her arms around Isa and John B, tears in her eyes to see them so hurting. "It's gonna be okay."

Isa and John B both returned the embrace from Kaylee, still holding an arm around each other. JJ, Kie and Pope walked closer, wrapping their arms around Isa, John B and Kaylee as the Pogues all held each other to be there for each other, in the much needed group hug.

⚓️

Dock

The Pogues were sitting on the wooden railings of the docks.

Kie pulled out her ukulele, strumming lightly on the strings. Isa laid down on the dock railing with her head resting in Kie's lap, just listening to the tune Kie played so well. Kie let Isa lay her head on her lap even though things were awkward between them right now since she wanted to be there and comfort Isa anyway she could after what happened earlier.

The thunder rumbled in the distance.

"How much was it again?" JJ asked.

Isa and John B had pulled themselves together, speaking in sync as they answered. "Four hundred mil."

Kaylee leaned back in her seat, where JJ wrapped his arms around her waist, tucking his head into the crook of her neck.

"All right, let's start talking split," JJ stated. "Now before we say evenly, may I remind you I'm the only one who can properly defend us from those groupers who were after us."

JJ pulled out his gun.

Kaylee snorted, pushing JJ's hand down to make him put the gun down. "JJ, put that thing away."

"Protection, not cheap, okay?" JJ asked.

"You've done zero training," Kaylee told him.

JJ looked down at her. "Youtube, Kay. That's at least a five percent bump right there."

"You haven't--" Pope started to argue.

"Any objections?" JJ asked. "Didn't think so."

Kaylee, Kie and Isa all gave JJ a look, raising their hands.

Isa shook her head as she lowered her hand. "God, give me strength with this boy."

Kie smirked. "That's all I'm saying."

"Yeah, we object," Kaylee answered. "Who the hell do you think you are, James Bond?"

Kie snickered, and Isa, John B and Pope smirked.

"What are you going to do with your 66,666,666, Pope?" Kie asked.

"Pay for college in advance," Pope answered. "And also, textbooks. Those are expensive."

"What about you, Kie?" Kaylee asked.

Pope looked between Kaylee and Kie curiously. "Yeah, what do two socialists do when they're rich?"

JJ looked Kaylee, tickling her sides lightly, making her squirm and smack his hands. "You know, when one's not a troublemaker and on verge of disownment."

Kaylee pushed JJ in the head lightly, making them both chuckle. "Knock it off."

Kie shrugged. "Just wanna make a double album. About OBX, the Pogues. You know, the way Catch a Fire is about Kingston. Record it at Marley Studio, Peter Tosh producing."

Pope frowned. "Peter Tosh is dead."

"Peter Tosh is dead," Kie agreed. "I know that." She raised her beer. "Spirit of Peter Tosh will never die."

Isa looked up at Kie sheepishly, teasingly. "Got any songs about me, Kie?"

Kie managed a small smile in return. "We'll see."

JJ rested his chin on top of Kaylee's head. "What about you, Kaylee?"

"First off, getting my own damn house in case another hurricane decides to come and completely destroys Pogue Nest, because I'm sure that it cannot survive another hurricane," Kaylee answered. "I just can't go with my parents' hypocorism. But I still love them, but they play 'their house, their rules' so much."

"Yeah, well, until then, you still have the Pogue Nest," JJ pointed out.

"Yeah, but it's basically in their backyard, so they can still kinda use that against me," Kaylee countered.

JJ nodded. "True."

Kaylee nodded, determined. "So I will get my own damn house and make my own damn rules."

Kie raised her beer. "Cheers to that."

Kaylee and Kie clinked their beers together, both taking a sip.

"What about you, JJ?" Kaylee asked.

"I know what I'll do," JJ stated. "I'm gonna get a big ass house on Figure 8 and go full Kook."

"You're gonna go full Kook?" Pope asked.

JJ nodded. "Yep. Get a marble statue of myself, and then I'm gonna get a Koi pond, put a bunch of those fish--"

Kie laughed lightly. "I'm never visiting. I mean, unless by that time you and Kaylee actually got together."

"Kie!" Kaylee complained, as JJ smiled sheepishly.

Kie smirked smugly. "Then I'd visit."

Kaylee smiled in amusement.

Pope shook his head in amusement. "Isa? JB? What'll you do?"

Isa tilted her head back against the wall. "I'd hire a private investigator to find our dad and find out what really happened. Closure and all. And give back to the Cut. Try and make a difference. Help people out there like us."

Kie smiled. "Love that plan."

Kaylee nodded in agreement, smiling. "Me too."

Isa looked over at her brother. "What about you, JB?"

John B looked toward the others, raising his beer, smirking. "To going full Kook."

All the Pogues raised their beers. "To going full Kook!"

⚓️ Worlds Colliding (Outer Banks) ⚓️

Lia's Dream

Night - Street

The dream was just like how Lia had described her dream to her therapist in 1.02.

Lia was walking through the Cut on the way to her friend Robbie's house,  and when she saw the house a block away, she felt panic and anxiety surge through her like she knew something was terribly wrong. She started walking faster to get there, but every time she rounded the corner, it was still a block away. So she started to run, finally able to get inside.

When Lia walked in, she found her friend Robbie hanging from the ceiling with his neck broken and his eyes closed.

Lia started to cry in horror and denial like it was the first time she found him like this all over again, running closer. "Robbie! No, no, no."

Lia sobbed, tears falling.

Robbie suddenly opened his eyes, his flesh appearing rotted and eaten away at, as he reached out to grip Lia by her throat, making her scream.

⚓️

Reality

Day Two

Morning - Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Lia sat up from  her bed, gasping as she woke up from the recurring nightmare. She took several deep breaths to calm down from the nightmare, knowing that was all it was, but it reminded her every day of how she had really found Robbie's body and there was a chance that he was murdered but no one cared enough to make sure and get justice, which just made Lia all the more mad and sad. She knew she had to get out of the house for a little bit, getting up to get dressed, including with her bathing suit under her clothes, and grabbing her sunglasses. She walked to the door, testing the door handle to make sure it wasn't locked, and when she opened the door, she instantly walked out of her room and out of the house to get out for some very well-needed fresh air.

⚓️

Rafe's Room

Rafe was getting ready to leave his room, taking a look in the mirror, gazing off as he remembered something.

⚓️

Flashback 1 - Kook Year

Day - Kook Academy - Cafeteria

Throughout the rest of the week, Kie would start hanging out with Lia.

Kaylee sat alone, deliberately avoiding the Kooks and not wanting to be there at all. No one seemed interested in joining her and Kie, except for Lia. With Kaylee and Kie still at odds, Kie found companionship with a new friend, leaving Kaylee by herself.

As she ate lunch solo at a table, her solitude didn't seem to bother her.

Meanwhile, five tables away, Rafe was surrounded by his friends, their laughter and chatter loud enough to capture the attention of anyone nearby, including Kaylee.

What others didn't seem to notice, but Kaylee did, was Rafe's facade. The moment he was no longer the center of attention, his smile vanished, his face becoming a mask of emptiness and numbness. He was merely performing for his audience. Yet, as soon as he was observed again, he resumed his confident, popular persona.

This observation unsettled Kaylee, prompting her to look away. She understood all too well, having masked her own emotions among friends. When not overwhelmed by anger or passion, she often felt nothing, yet pretended all was well. Her friends, even her sister, sometimes failed to notice, but when they did, they understood it stemmed from the lifelong emptiness and criticism instilled by her parents.

If only she knew this was just the beginning, that one of the few who understood her would also chip away at her, piece by piece, over the next year, making things even worse. This was merely the start of how numb and low she could feel.

Rafe glanced over and saw Kaylee sitting alone. She had seen through his facade, but he had seen through hers as well, even now. Perhaps that mutual recognition was what initially drew him to her, not yet realizing he would only worsen her situation.

⚓️

Library

After school, Kaylee and Kie had to meet in the library.

"Why are we meeting here?" Kaylee asked.

"Dad's busy at the Wreck so he won't be able to pick us up, and Mom's at the country club to try and get us in again," Kie answered.

Kaylee nodded sarcastically. "Of course. When's Dad supposed to be here?"

Kie shrugged. "When he gets here, I guess. Chill out. Might as well get some homework done while we're waiting."

Kaylee didn't respond, walking away to go sit down, taking out her homework to start working when the sensation of someone watching her hit her. She looked around and froze when she saw someone ten feet away.

Rafe was sitting at a table, working on something of his own as he wrote in a notebook. Kaylee hadn't seen him before because of the angle she spotted the chair she now sat in. He had been behind a bookshelf.

Realizing that Rafe had been the one looking at her since he was the only one in the library, she also realized that he overheard Kaylee and Kie's brief conversation about their parents and why they had to be here until their parents could pick them up.

Kaylee rolled her eyes, looking away.

Kie walked closer to Kaylee. "What?"

Kaylee shook her head. "Why is he everywhere?"

Despite Kaylee trying to keep her voice down, Rafe heard her and smirked.

Kie followed her gaze and shook her head in confusion, not knowing what the big deal was.

Lia and Sarah walked into the library.

Lia noticed Kie. "Kiara?"

Kie turned toward her, surprised. "Oh, hi."

"This is my sister Sarah," Lia introduced. "This is Kiara."

Kie gestured to Kaylee behind her. "My sister Kaylee."

Kaylee raised a peace sign. "Sup?"

Rafe raised an eyebrow as he glanced over before looking away, feigning disinterest.

Lia and Sarah looked amused.

"Hey," Sarah replied. "Are you two hiding back here?"

Kie laughed lightly, politely. "Kind of." Feeling his gaze on her again, Kaylee glanced over to see Rafe looking right at her before looking away. "We're waiting for our dad to pick us up."

"Ironic since we usually meet here with our brother to drive home after school and such," Lia remarked.

Sarah gestured to Rafe at his table. "Our brother, Rafe." Rafe looked up barely in acknowledgement but otherwise didn't say or do anything, which Kie frowned at. Kaylee shook her head. "This time we stayed after school to hang up some banners. I am the president of the environmental club, and Lia's the vice president."

Kie's interest was peaked. "Wait, there is an environmental club?"

Even Kaylee looked up in intrigue at this; though she wasn't as passionate about it as Kie was, or even Lia and Sarah, she definitely still cared.

Lia smiled. "Yes, we just started it this year. There are only couple of us. You should join. We are planning on meeting every Thursday after school."

Kie smiled genuinely at this, knowing she finally had somewhere she could fit in, and that her parents would like that she was making an effort. "Oh, my gosh, yes." Lia and Sarah's bubbly energy was definitely influencing her. "I would love to."

Kaylee raised an eyebrow at Kie's attitude change, but she herself had to admit Lia and Sarah's moods were kind of infectious.

Sarah smiled. "Perfect. Tomorrow, we are doing a beach clean up, if you'd like to join?"

"Really?" Kie asked. Lia and Sarah nodded. "Do we have to do anything to sign up?"

"We can do all the official stuff on Monday," Lia suggested, waving her hand. "I'll text you the details. And then we can go to our place after."

Kie nodded, still smiling. "Perfect, what's your number?"

Kie handed her a newly opened contact, and Lia filled it in before handing her phone back.

Sarah gave them a smile. "Text when you have arrived and we will come get you at the parking lot."

"This can just be a her thing," Kaylee pointed out.

"You love stuff like this," Kie replied.

"Not as much as you do," Kaylee retorted.

"Do you know when you're being picked up?" Sarah asked. "Maybe Rafe can drop you guys off while we head home."

Rafe looked up at this, and surprisingly, he wasn't against the idea, as he glanced between Kaylee and Kie, but his gaze lingered on Kaylee. Clearly intrigued and wanting to know more, but feigning disinterest so she wasn't aware.

Kie's phone went off, and she checked the message. "Actually, our dad just got here. We'll be fine."

"Oh, okay," Lia agreed. "Well, maybe we'll see you on the beach for the club."

"Yeah, totally," Kie agreed.

"See you," Kaylee replied, walking out of the library without another look especially toward Rafe, whose gaze she could still feel behind her.

Rafe watched her go curiously.

Kie looked at Lia and Sarah with a smile. "Thanks, I'll see you two then. Bye."

Kie walked out of the library to head out with Kaylee.

Lia, Sarah and Rafe exchanged a look, shrugging, standing to leave.

⚓️

Now

Day - The Docks

The Pogues were on HMS Pogue.

Isa, Kaylee and Kie immediately stripped down to their swimsuits as the sun was scorching today, moving to the front of the boat, laying down as they tried to tan, all wearing sunglasses.

The boys were also in their swim trunks.

JJ sat on the edge of the boat next to Kaylee, whistling. "You guys see that?" Kaylee leaned up on her elbows, peering over her sunglasses to see what he was talking about. "That's the Malibu 24-MXZ, the world's finest wake setter. Number one in luxury, quality and performance. 200K easy."

Lia was on the boat that JJ was marveling over, wearing sunglasses and her bathing suit.

"We picked the wrong parents," Pope complained.

Kie saw Lia on the boat. "Hate to break it to you guys, but that's Lia Cameron."

Lia pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head, looking them up and down, specifically Kie and Isa.

Isa slid her sunglasses down her nose and peered up at Lia, raising an eyebrow curiously. "Hmm."

Kie called out mockingly. "You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch."

Lia called back calmly since she hadn't been acting like that at all, it was just Kie looking to pick a fight with her as usual. "I'm not. I definitely see you."

Lia gave a wink, putting her glasses back down over her eyes, driving her boat away.

Kaylee raised her sunglasses, arching an eyebrow curiously.

John B, JJ and Pope exchanged a look, confused and curious by that interaction, shrugging.

Kie and Isa exchanged a look.

"Did you see her give us the up and down and that wink?" Isa asked.

Kie nodded, confused.

JJ snaked his arms underneath Kaylee's back and knees, picking her up bridal style.

Kaylee knew what he was about to do. "JJ, don't you dare." She grabbed onto his shoulders to stop him from what he was about to do. "JJ, I swear."

JJ smirked. "Hm. Boys, do you hear something?"

John B and Pope smirked, shaking their heads.

"Nope," John B said.

"Don't hear a thing," Pope agreed.

JJ threw Kaylee into the water, making her squeal as she fell and landed with a splash.

Kie and Isa smirked, laughing lightly.

Kaylee surfaced through the water, taking a deep breath, pushing the wet hair from her face. "I hate all of you." The other Pogues laughed. Kie and Isa both took Kaylee's hands to help her onto the boat. Kaylee gave JJ a push. "Asshole."

JJ smiled. "Aw, come on, Kay, we were just kidding."

Kaylee nodded sarcastically, tilting her head. "Yeah, and so am I."

Kaylee gave JJ a push into the water. John B, Pope, Kie and Isa smiled at the expected response from Kaylee, laughing lightly.

JJ popped up through the water. "Okay, I deserved that."

Kaylee placed her hands on her hips as she looked down at JJ with a head tilt. "No shit."

JJ swam closer, pulling himself onto the boat. "Truce?"

"For now," Kaylee answered.

"When the truce ends, let us know," Isa told them. "We'd like to take cover."

John B, Pope and Kie smiled in agreement. Isa smirked. Kaylee and JJ both flipped off the other four Pogues without looking at them.

⚓️

Flashback 2 - Kook Year

Morning - Beach

Kie and Kaylee arrived at the parking lot near the beach, and as they secured their bikes, they noticed Lia and Sarah approaching.

"Hey!" Lia shouted, breaking into a jog for the final stretch.

Sarah came along behind her.

Kaylee glanced around and nodded. "Hey. Is it just us?"

Lia, visibly annoyed, threw up her hands. "Yep. It's just us; everyone else flaked." She gestured to Kaylee and Kie. "You two are the best for showing up. I'm appointing you both as treasurers for this."

Kie laughed, charmed by Lia's unique spirit.

Kaylee, understanding why some might label Lia as an outcast, found herself admiring her more for it.

Leading the way, Sarah guided them through the parking lot and down wooden steps to the beach. "We've got everything here."

They gathered around a collection of supplies.

Lia extended two trash pickers and large reusable bags, which Kaylee and Kie eagerly took.

"We avoid plastic bags," Lia explained as she and Sarah took theirs. "It seems contradictory to use them when we're trying to reduce the planet's plastic waste. We can put all the trash in one bag and sort it out later for recycling."

Kie was impressed, having never encountered anyone as environmentally conscious as herself, Isa being the possible exception.

Kaylee and Sarah shared their concern for the environment, though not with the same fervor as Kie, Lia, and Isa.

Kie beamed. "You two are incredible."

Lia returned the smile. "The feeling is mutual."

Kaylee quirked an eyebrow.

Sarah expressed her gratitude. "Thanks again for joining us."

"Of course," Kaylee replied, testing the trash picker. "I didn't expect this to be interesting, but I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm glad she convinced me."

Kie playfully stuck out her tongue at Kaylee. "See, I told you so."

Kaylee stuck her tongue out at Kie in return.

Lia and Sarah smiled in amusement.

"Ready?" Lia asked, pretending to attack Kie with her trash picker teasingly.

Kie smirked, pointing her trash picker toward Lia. "Ready."

Lia laughed, running away.

Kie, Kaylee and Sarah smiled, following.

By the time they had canvassed the entire beach, it was nearly midday. They were weary, lugging heavy bags filled with trash and items left by inconsiderate beachgoers. They trudged back to their starting point, set down their burdens, and paused to catch their breath.

"How will we get these to your house?" Kie inquired.

"It's just a minute's walk," Lia responded, slinging her bag over her shoulder and starting up the steps to the parking lot. Kaylee, Kie, and Sarah did likewise and trailed behind. "We didn't cycle here. Walking the bikes might be simpler."

Kaylee and Kie unlocked their bicycles, and they proceeded down the road in a comfortable quiet.

"I'll post some photos from today and tag you both," Sarah proposed. "Hopefully, more people will join our club when they see our efforts. With more help, we could have done this in half the time."

Kie and Lia nodded with vigor.

Kaylee gave a distracted nod as she surveyed the surroundings. "Is it really fine if we eat at your place? I don't want to intrude."

Lia and Sarah looked at her as if she were being absurd.

"Don't fret," Lia reassured. "We'll prepare lunch. What's your preference?"

"Anything," Kie answered.

Lia smiled. "Perfect. What about sloppy joes?"

Kaylee was both surprised and impressed by the offer. "That sounds perfect."

The girls smiled.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Outside

Lia, Sarah, Kaylee, and Kie arrived at Tannyhill Estate.

"Our humble abode," Sarah quipped as they made their way down the driveway. "Come along. We'll show you our sorting setup before it goes to the recycling center."

Entering a shed that seemed freshly constructed, Kie's eyes widened at the sight of her recycling vision realized. Various bins for segregating waste and several for compost were in place.

"This is amazing," Kie enthused. "Would you mind if we start bringing our parents' garbage here too?"

"Absolutely," Lia replied, her excitement matching Kie's. "Our dad put this together for us and got it all organized."

Sarah beamed. "Bit by bit, we're converting him into an eco-warrior like us. Next year, we plan to restore a large portion of the backyard to the native grasses that existed here before the common lawns took over. We're even considering applying for a burn permit."

Both Kaylee and Kie admired the sisters, pleasantly surprised to find two genuinely good people at Kook Academy.

"Maybe the environmental club could undertake a project to promote the restoration of yards to their original ecosystems?" Kie suggested as they set down their bags of refuse to sort later after lunch. "Or maybe consider a service where people can drop off unsorted items, and we could handle the sorting?"

Lia clapped her hands together in excitement. "You are a genius." Lia and Sarah led Kaylee and Kie toward large French doors at the side of the house. "After we eat, let's start brainstorming more ideas for the club."

⚓️

Inside - Kitchen

The girls entered the kitchen.

Ward entered the room and saw his daughters. "Hey, sweeties. How did cleaning up the beach go?"

"Great," Sarah replied, smiling. "And these are Kaylee and Kiara. They've joined the environmental club."

Ward turned to Kaylee and Kie.

Kaylee gave a polite, though slightly awkward nod. "Hello, Mr. Cameron."

Ward dismissed that with a shake of his head. "Please, call me Ward." Kaylee and Kie gave small nods. "Are Anna and Mike your parents?" The girls looked surprised that he knew. "They own The Wreck, right?"

"Yes," Kaylee said, her tone normal as usual.

Kie, aiming to impress, added sweetly, "They're not here today, but they'll come by later to pick us up, and they're looking forward to meeting you properly."

Kaylee almost winced at Kie's words, struggling to maintain composure.

Meanwhile, Lia and Sarah struggled to suppress their laughter.

Ward, accustomed to such reactions, took it in stride. "They seem like nice people. I'm fortunate to have a free day from renting out my properties so I can meet them."

Kaylee offered a nod and a slight smile, sparing the effort of pretense to maintain courtesy.

Kie's smile was broader, her disdain for the pretense evident.

Lia intervened, putting an end to the charade and providing relief to her sisters. "We're going to start on lunch now."

"Sounds good," Ward responded, making his way outside. "Enjoy yourselves and stay safe."

"We will," Sarah assured with a smile.

With Ward outside, the girls were left to themselves in the kitchen.

"He seems nice," Kie commented, raising an eyebrow.

"It's all an act," Lia whispered under her breath.

Kaylee and Kie, overhearing Lia, frowned slightly.

Sarah shot Lia a look, but Lia just shook her head, not regretting her inadvertent comment.

Sarah glanced at Kaylee and Kie. "He's quite impressive. Let's have something to eat, and then, if there's time, we'll show you around."

Lia was already getting things out to make sloppy joes.

Rafe entered the kitchen and stopped short, his gaze sweeping over Kaylee and Kie before settling on Kaylee.

Kaylee arched an eyebrow in challenge, tilting her head as if to say, 'What are you looking at?'

Rafe's lips twitched with a faint smirk as he turned away, noticing Lia preparing to cook. "What's cooking?"

"Sloppy joes," Lia replied. "Want some?"

"I wouldn't say no," Rafe said.

Lia responded with a thumbs up to Rafe.

At the same time, Sarah rolled her eyes at their brother's entrance. "Shouldn't you be at practice or something?"

Rafe gave Sarah the finger, dismissing her comment, and turned to Lia. "Give me a shout when it's ready, okay?"

"Yeah," Lia answered.

Rafe walked toward the doors leading outside, glancing back at the girls, gaze on Kaylee once again. Kaylee didn't react to the gaze as Rafe disappeared from sight.

Kaylee and Kie looked between the siblings, noticing the difference in the relationships already.

Lia and Rafe weren't estranged; they were quite cordial, almost close. However, Rafe maintained a significant distance from everyone in his life, although he and Lia seemed to get along quite well at this point.

In contrast, Sarah and Rafe were not close, constantly bickering and irritating each other. Rafe's irritation with Sarah was profound because she was seen as the perfect daughter in their father Ward's eyes, the favorite, always the first choice, making the other siblings feel neglected and unloved, which was indeed the case with their father. Rafe held Sarah responsible for this favoritism, but Lia did not.

Sarah was aware of the disparity in how her siblings treated her. She believed Rafe was unfairly punishing her, so she mirrored his attitude. Yet, she grew close to Lia, becoming best friends with her younger sister. With both Sarah and Rafe being school celebrities and Lia the outcast, Sarah felt it was her duty to protect her, assuming the role of caretaker even when Lia preferred to handle things on her own.

Despite Sarah's ignorance of the favoritism at play, the fact that Ward adored Sarah, constantly reminding Lia she would never match up and viewing Rafe as a disappointment, deeply frustrated Lia. Lia and Rafe once bonded over their inability to live up to Sarah, but unlike Rafe, Lia harbored no resentment towards her.

Lia judged Ward as he deserved, but Rafe refrained from judging their father, striving for his approval to match Sarah's level. Lia understood the futility for both of them, yet she gave her best effort.

Lia excelled in intelligence, acing her classes with a passion for learning and achievement, surpassing her siblings academically, a trait Wheezie inherited. However, Ward remained indifferent. Lia's and Wheezie's academic successes never seemed to challenge Sarah's favored status.

Lia refused to spend her life chasing someone's unattainable expectations, even if that person was their father. Ward would criticize Rafe for ten faults for every good deed, and any mistake was catastrophic. Meanwhile, Sarah appeared flawless, always getting her way. Lia and Rafe seemed doomed to fall short.

Sarah's life seemed effortless, with everything handed to her, while Lia and Rafe labored for every achievement. Their frustration grew as Sarah carelessly discarded things, or people, who got too close, whether by ostracizing friends or betraying every boyfriend she had.

Lia was unfazed by her lack of friends, content in her solitude and self-reliance; her isolation was not by choice but a consequence of others' indifference towards her.

Rafe, surrounded by friends, maintained a facade of connection, yet felt only emptiness and numbness. Despite the numerous superficial encounters and admirers, no one truly penetrated his emotional barriers.

These experiences would inevitably influence their reactions to the forthcoming events involving the three siblings, for better or worse, though the future remained unpredictable to all, especially to them.

⚓️

Now

Day - Beach

There were a group of people here to clean up the beach.

Lia was here with gloves and sunglasses, wearing her outfit over her bathing suit again, carrying a bag, cleaning up.

Wheezie ran over to Lia. "Lia! I knew you would be here."

"Hey, Wheezie," Lia told her, giving Wheezie a one armed hug. "Helping with clean up?"

"Yup," Wheezie answered.

"That's great," Lia told her. She looked around, seeing Sarah was also here with Topper, and Kelce was also on the beach. "I see Sarah's here too. That's the only other good thing besides you being here."

Wheezie smiled.

Topper and Sarah were walking together.

"You should've heard the way how John B talked to me," Sarah complained. "That kid's got a mouth on him!"

"Well, he showed his true colors, Sarah," Topper told her.

"He was so rude," Sarah whined.

"I know," Topper told her. "It's what I've been trying to tell you. I mean, he's lucky your dad didn't press charges."

"I know," Sarah agreed. "After stealing scuba from us? It's just... kind of ridiculous to me. After everything my dad has done for him, and for Isa by getting her that job at the restaurant."

"Yeah," Topper sighed.

Sarah shook her head. "So generous. You'd think they'd be more grateful. Then he yells at me like it's my fault."

Topper chuckled, shaking his head. "That's--it's--he's a Pogue, at the end of the day. I mean, you can say we're all just people, or--or whatever, but it's a totally different mind set on the Cut."

Sarah walked up to Lia and Wheezie. "There you two are. Lia, I knew you would be here."

"Same thing Wheezie said," Lia replied.

"Hey, Wheezie," Sarah told her.

Topper hesitantly walked closer.

Lia rolled her eyes. "Didn't know that you and Topper made up."

"No thanks to you," Topper replied.

Sarah held out both her hands to stop Lia or Topper from saying anything else. "Ah ah. None of that today, okay?"

Wheezie was smiling a bit in amusement.

Kelce walked closer with a container of something to drink. "Yo. You look thirsty. Have some of that, baby."

Topper opened the container. "Okay, what do we--what do we got here?" He sniffed. "Oh, my God."

Topper took a drink.

Kelce laughed. "That's how we do it, baby!"

Topper handed the drink off to Sarah. "Oh, man. Come on, Sarah. Let's go."

"Come on, Sarah," Kelce repeated.

Sarah took the container, laughing lightly. "What did you do to this?"

"He's not playing around," Topper remarked.

Sarah took a big drink, coughing at the taste, handing it to Lia. "Lia, you want some?"

Lia noticed the 'crazy' looks she was getting from Topper and Kelce, just glaring at them and showing them she didn't give a damn what they thought, taking the container. "Sure."

Lia took a sip, and once she was done, Wheezie took the drink from Lia, taking a drink.

Kelce and Topper both said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

Lia and Sarah tried to stop Wheezie but failed. "Mm-mm, mm-mm!"

Lia took the drink from Wheezie. "Since when did you start drinking?"

"Since today," Wheezie answered, wiping her lips.

"Wow," Kelce said.

Sarah nodded sarcastically. "Great going, Kelce."

A guy walked past. "You guys got it under control?"

Lia pushed the drink into Kelce's chest, walking away. "Yes, sir."

Topper waved to the guy. "It's looking good, sir."

Lia went to work on the beach clean up, away from the Kooks.

"Just clearing the stretch out!" Kelce called, putting his drink into a cooler.

"Just hydrating," Sarah said. "Almost finished."

"Great job," the guy told them. "Keep it up."

"Yeah," Lia agreed. "Thank you, thank you."

⚓️

Later

(Song:) You've Got the Heat - Luster

There was a big circle after the beach was cleaned up.

The guy from earlier was in the middle of the circle. "Just a moment, friends, to acknowledge our blessings." The circle joined hands, while Lia was holding Wheezie and Sarah's hands on either side of her. Sarah used her other hand to hold Topper's. "To the big Kahuna..."

Sarah snorted.

Lia shushed Sarah. "Shh."

The guy looked around the circle of kids, tweens and teens that helped with the beach clean up. "Thank you for the opportunity for us to come out here and restore Masonborough to its virgin glory." Sarah and Topper both laughed. Lia rolled her eyes. The guy gave them a look. "Amen."

Everyone let go of each other's hands and started clapping, walking away.

Topper put his arm around Sarah. "He doesn't like us, that guy."

Lia walked away through the crowd, placing her sunglasses on as she did.

⚓️

Hotel - Outside

The Twinkie was parked outside a hotel.

"All right, keep a look out," JJ told them. "We're behind enemy lines, fool."

JJ pulled out the gun from his backpack.

John B shook his head. "Yo, come on, JJ. Just put it back."

"What?" JJ asked. "You can never be too careful."

"JJ," Isa complained.

"Hey, I predict that bringing a weapon to a four star hotel will likely cause more problems than they solve," Pope told him, hopping out of the back of the van.

"Thank you, Pope," John B told him.

Kie leaned up in between the front seats to give JJ a look. "I swear to God, I'm gonna throw that thing in the ocean. JJ, put it back."

Kie, Kaylee and Isa got out of the van.

John B went to take the gun from JJ.

JJ pulled the gun from his reach. "You can't grab a gun like that."

Kaylee approached JJ's car, eyeing him with a playful tilt of her head. "JJ, mind leaving the firepower at home today?"

With a dramatic sigh, JJ stashed the gun in the glove compartment. "Happy now?"

Kaylee gave a grateful nod. "Extremely. Thanks."

Flashing his badge with a flourish, JJ boasted. "Can't forget my badge. Professional busboy."

Pope couldn't resist a jab. "Does that badge come with a 'Whipped for Kaylee' sticker?"

Laughter erupted from the Pogues, a mix of snickers and guffaws.

JJ shot Pope a mock scowl. "You're hilarious."

Kaylee's smile turned bashful, and she averted her gaze, biting back her amusement.

(Song Ends)

"So where are we going now?" Kie asked.

"We're getting on the internet because only rich people have electricity right now," Isa answered.

"This way," JJ instructed, leading the way.

The others followed.

⚓️

Inside - Kitchen

They walked through the kitchen area.

JJ greeted everyone that he worked with. "Andrew! What's up, bro? Mama L, good to see you."

JJ attempted to grab some food off of her plates.

Mama L slapped his hand away. "Hey, no! JJ!"

John B's face was hilarious as his mouth was opened in surprise.

⚓️

Lobby

The Pogues walked into the lobby.

JJ led them along. "See, they got the backup generators going? Kooks don't miss a beat."

⚓️

Computer Lab

JJ led them into a room that had several computers.

Pope immediately ran for a computer. "Sweet Lord, the internet!"

Kie grabbed Isa's hand, pulling her with her. "Isa."

Pope started to talk to the computer. "I've missed you."

JJ edged closer. "Let me get in there. Gotta check out my Insta models." Kaylee snapped a flick on his head. "Yikes!"

"No time for your virtual flings," Kaylee scolded. "Insta models? Please, as if."

JJ grinned cheekily. "Fear not, Kay. My heart's all yours."

Kaylee gave him the side-eye. "Prove there's some grey matter working in that pretty skull."

JJ's grin widened, eyebrows doing a little dance. "Or maybe I could show off my other talents?"

Kie facepalmed. "Not now, JJ!"

"Huh?" JJ looked innocent. "Can't help it if your sis is fire."

Kaylee's smirk was a silent victory. "Tell me something I don't know, but thanks, babe. Right back at you."

JJ's smirk matched hers, eyes twinkling at Kaylee.

Isa and Kie just shook their heads, and John B and Pope rolled their eyes.

John B set his backpack in the seat next to Pope, pulling out the map that had the coordinates. "Hey, hey, hey. I got the map."

John B set the paper next to Pope.

"Coordinates, please?" Pope asked.

Isa read from the map. "34 57 30 north. 75 55 42 west." Pope typed in the coordinates, the image of the Earth zooming in on the computer. Isa pointed. "Boom, continental shelf right there."

"Okay, well, if it's off the deep end, it's not gonna be much of a treasure hunt, is it?" Pope observed. "Come on, baby, come on."

JJ and Kaylee turned to the door when they heard voices getting closer, looking back toward the others nervously.

John B pointed to the screen. "Shit, it's on the high side. It's only 900 feet."

"That's not too deep," JJ stated.

"Is that doable or something?" Kie asked.

"Yeah, totally doable," JJ answered.

"Okay, will we be taking your personal submarine?" Kaylee asked sarcastically.

Isa looked at JJ. "How do you know this, Mr. Dive Master?"

"The salvage yard," JJ answered. "They got a drone that can drop 1,000. It has a 360 camera and everything. It's for, like deep dives and stuff. It's exactly what we need."

John B looked at JJ. "Can your dad get his grimy little hands on that?"

"Well, my dad's grimy little hands got his ass fired," JJ explained. "I guess the salvage captain frowns upon showing up to work shitfaced, turns out." He looked down at his hands, ashamed of his father and as much as he tried to play it off, they could all see it, looking at JJ in concern and sympathy. Kaylee placed her hand on JJ's shoulder comfortingly. JJ looked up with an appreciative half smile. "But the drone's there. It's in the impound yard out back."

Kaylee smiled, doing a singsong voice. "I don't know about you guys, but I feel some mischief coming on."

"How much did you say was on the Royal Merchant?" Kie asked.

Isa, John B, Kaylee and JJ answered at the same time. "Four hundred mil."

Pope, knowing what was about to happen, stood and bolted to the door.

Kie nodded. "Four hundred million dollars."

"Yep," John B agreed.

"Let's do this," Isa told them.

Pope blocked the exit, arms spread wide on the door. "No. Absolutely not. No!"

The crew edged nearer.

"Pope, move," Kie commanded.

Kaylee's eyebrows climbed. "Or we move you."

"Guys, that's too--" Pope attempted.

Kie nudged Pope's arm away, flung the door open, and strode out. "Let's roll."

JJ sauntered out. "Adventure awaits."

Pope exhaled deeply. "Can't we do anything legal for money?"

Isa shook her head. "Not in this lifetime."

Kaylee flashed a mischievous grin, giving a playful wink. "Think about it, Pope. Legal's a snooze fest. Illegal's where the party's at."

Kaylee and Isa exited.

John B tagged along, tugging Pope into the fray. "Onward!"

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Bathroom

Wheezie was getting sick after her little drink earlier. Lia and Sarah were there with her.

Lia groaned, holding back Wheezie's hair for her. "Ugh. Oh, God. Okay."

Sarah flushed the toilet, using a towel to wipe Wheezie's face. "So, what have we learned?"

Wheezie sighed. "Never mix vodka with Crystal Light."

Lia nodded, a little sarcastic. "Very good."

Wheezie threw up again, coughing, looking up at Lia and Sarah. "Please don't tell Dad."

"You know I won't, Wheezie," Lia told her. "You don't rat on me with Dad, so I won't rat on you."

Wheezie sat back on her knees, nodding. "Thanks."

"And I won't tell, on one condition," Sarah stated.

Wheezie sighed. "What's that?"

"You cover for me sneaking out with Topper tonight," Sarah answered. Lia rolled her eyes. "Please."

"Fine," Wheezie agreed.

"Whatever," Lia agreed. "I still think you deserve a lot better than Topper, but fine."

"You promise?" Sarah asked.

Lia held out her pinkie. "Promise."

Wheezie held out her pinkie. "I promise."

Sarah smiled, linking her pinkie with Lia and Wheezie's as all their pinkies were interlocked, each kissing their hands like this was something they did a lot when they were younger.

Wheezie quickly had to let go and lunge forward as she got sick again, and Lia held back Wheezie's hair for her again.

⚓️

Porch

Ward and Rafe were sitting on the porch of the estate.

"I don't feel like you care," Ward told him.

"I said I do," Rafe told him.

"Yeah, you said," Ward agreed.

"What do you want me to say?" Rafe asked.

Inside, Lia was walking downstairs, hearing the argument, walking closer to the door, listening in secret.

"I don't want you to say anything!" Ward answered. "I want you to do it. I want you to take care of business."

"Okay," Rafe complained.

"Where are the backup generators?" Ward asked. "I gave you money for the backup generators. You said you would take care of it. Did you take care of it? Where are they?"

Rafe looked down. "They're on back order."

Ward sat down. "Yeah, of course they are."

"There was a hurricane," Rafe reminded him.

"I tell you what," Ward told him. "You know that Pogue I just fired? Way more reliable than you."

Lia raised her eyebrows, like this was the only thing that she could agree with Ward on.

"Really?" Rafe asked.

"Yeah, really," Ward answered. "You need to get it together, Rafe, or you can go live on the Cut." Rafe laughed, looking away. "That funny to you?"

Rafe rubbed his lip. "Wow."

"You can go live on the damn Cut, Rafe," Ward threatened. "As far as I'm concerned. Now get up and get out of here. I'm sick of looking at you." Rafe stood. "Make yourself useful somewhere, somehow."

Rafe was pacing. "Lia and Sarah aren't working. Then again, you keep Lia locked up too much for you to even let her get a job. You wanna threaten me with going to live on the Cut, but you hated the idea that Lia even had a friend there and was going there frequently before he offed himself. With Robbie again, at least she's not going to the Cut anymore, right? Yet you want to send me there?"

Lia was still listening, frowning, and hated how Rafe was talking about Robbie, trying very hard not to speak because she knew that it would just make things worse, not for them, but for herself.

"This isn't about Lia and Sarah, Rafe," Ward told him. "You're almost 20. You don't just get to sit back and have everything handed to you."

Rafe nodded, looking away. "Yes, sir."

"It doesn't seem you understand me," Ward told him.

"I'll take care of those generators, okay?" Rafe asked.

"I'll believe that when I see it," Ward replied.

Rafe rolled his eyes, walking inside where Lia was standing behind the door.

"Told you," Lia told him. "Shouldn't have brought that motorcycle with the generator money. And don't ever talk about Robbie like that again."

"What are you gonna do about it, Lia?" Rafe replied.

"Well, this time, I actually have some blackmail material on you for a change, Rafe," Lia pointed out. "Don't want Dad finding out about the motorcycle, right?"

Rafe nodded bitterly, though like he wasn't surprised by the blackmail, like he expected Lia to find something to use against him eventually for all the times he blackmailed her with her secrets or ratted her out. "Hmm."

Lia smirked, raising her eyebrows, crossing her arms over her chest. "Hmm. Karma's a bitch, isn't it?"

Rafe smiled sarcastically, turning around, walking away.

Lia shrugged, turning around, walking toward the stairs, walking up.

⚓️

Barry's Trailer

Rafe raced his motorcycle down the dirt road down to his drug dealer's trailer, stopping the bike, getting off, walking up to the trailer.

Luke Maybank walked out of the trailer, seeing Rafe. "You should pop that collar, bro."

Rafe walked in to see his drug dealer with some other people. "Hey, Barry!"

Barry stood, walking closer. "Hey, Country Club."

"What's up, bro?" Rafe asked.

"What's good with you, man?" Barry asked.

They did a guy handshake.

"Nothing much, man," Rafe answered. "Should've worn a wifebeater."

Barry chuckled. "You couldn't beat nobody, Rafe. Come on."

They walked into another room.

Rafe saw a couple more people. "What's up?"

Barry led Rafe into the back room. "A'ight, a'ight, a'ight. Let's see what we got here." He pulled out his bag. "Excuse the mess." Rafe laughed barely. Barry took out some drugs. "And voila. This what we're looking for?"

"Yeah, yeah," Rafe answered. "Um..."

"You got that cabbage?" Barry asked.

"So I was hoping for a little credit," Rafe admitted.

Barry shook his head, looking away. "Oh, f..."

"Listen, man," Rafe said. 

Barry put the drug back, closing up his bag. "You're hoping in the wrong place."

"You do know how fast I'll move that, right?" Rafe asked. Barry put his bag back in his closet. "Who has my access? Bro, I'll be back here in... shoot, two days, tops."

Barry nodded skeptically. "Mm-hmm."

Rafe shrugged. "You want my bike as collateral? I'll give you the bike as collateral."

Barry laughed. "You stupid." He took the bag back down, opening it. "Let me tell you somethin', man. You screw me, it's not just me that you're screwin'."

Rafe held up his hands. "Heard, man. Loud and clear."

Rafe smiled, lowering his hands.

"You got balls, kid," Barry told him. "I'll give you that. Two days."

Barry handed the little baggie of drugs to Rafe.

Rafe nodded. "I got you. Have a little faith in me, Barry."

"Mm-hmm," Barry replied.

Rafe backed away to the door. "I appreciate it. Thanks for coming through, bro."

Rafe walked out.

⚓️

Salvage Yard

Twinkie drove up to the salvage yard.

"Pope, we're not stealing the drone," Isa told him. "We're borrowing it."

JJ was rolling a blunt.

"Humans are the only animal that can't tell fantasy from reality," Pope quoted.

"Wait, did you come up with that?" John B asked, sounding impressed.

"No, Albert Bernstein came up with that," Pope answered. "But it applies to this whole treasure-hunting thing."

"Oh," John B replied quietly.

"So which is it?" Pope asked. "Fantasy or reality?"

JJ didn't even bother looking up from his blunt. "Why are you so weird, Pope?"

Kie shrugged. "It's fantasy, but possible reality."

Isa and John B spoke together. "Reality."

"Virtual reality," JJ commented, putting the blunt in his mouth, flipping open his lighter.

Kaylee tilted her head, shrugging. "A fantasy that we're turning into a reality."

Pope grabbed the blunt, flicking it to the back of the van. "Keep the signal clear."

JJ sat there with his lighter, glaring at Pope. "You know what your problem is?"

Kaylee sighed, tilting her head back. "Oh, here we go again."

"You?" Pope asked.

John B pulled the van to the side of the road, parking.

"No," JJ answered. "It's that you need to relax, man. You're always so tense."

Kie and Isa rolled their eyes, getting out of the van. Kaylee stepped over JJ to follow them.

"I'm not too tense," Pope denied.

John B leaned out the window toward the girls. "Hey, don't worry. You got this."

Kie looked a little tense.

Isa put a comforting hand on Kie's back. "I'm right there with you."

Kie looked at Isa, managing a small smile, before looking at Kaylee on the other side of her.

Kaylee nodded. "We got this."

JJ poked his head out the back door, eyeing the girls. "Just keep the guard busy, and we boys will snag the camera to hunt down the Merchant."

Kaylee cocked her head. "Color me shocked, JJ. This scheme might just be the least terrible of your ideas. You might actually be onto something."

"Name one time I've been wrong," JJ challenged.

Kaylee raised an eyebrow. "You sure you want that list?"

JJ waved her off. "Never mind, I'll pass."

The rest of the Pogues snickered.

Kaylee exhaled sharply. "You knuckleheads better not get a scratch on you--"

"Chill, Kay," JJ reassured her. "We're like ninjas."

Kaylee's eye roll could've set a world record. "Thrilling."

Isa looked at Kaylee and Kie. "We've got this. Don't worry."

Kie shook her head. "It's not us that I'm worried about."

Kie pointed to the van where JJ and Pope had resumed bickering. Isa smirked. Kaylee laughed, moving between Isa and Kie, linking her arms with either of them, as they walked toward a car with a boat hitched onto the back, getting into the car.

"Let's hope this works," Kaylee remarked.

They pulled up to the salvage yard.

"Are you ready?" Kie asked, putting the car in park.

Isa nodded, smiling a bit. "Yeah."

Isa, Kaylee and Kie got out of the car, walking around it toward the front of the car.

Kaylee waved to the security guard. "Hello? Excuse me?"

The guard turned around, seeing them. "Can I help you?"

"Hi," Kaylee greeted. "Um, my friends and I actually have a flat tire. We were wondering if maybe you could help us out?"

The guard nodded. "Yeah."

"Yeah?" Kie repeated.

"Yeah," the guard answered, walking away to go grab his tools.

Isa looked at Kaylee and Kie, smirking, whispering. "Too easy."

Kie nodded, smirking. "Definitely too easy."

Kaylee smirked in agreement.

The guard walked back out with his tool box.

Kaylee pointed toward the car. "It's just this back one right here."

"It must have been a slow leak or something," Isa told him.

"Probably just been sitting in the yard too long?" the guard suggested.

Kaylee sighed, leaning against the boat, waving a hand behind her back to give a signal to the boys. "Yeah."

JJ, John B and Pope were in hiding across the way.

"Go!" John B urged. "Go, go, go, go."

The boys ran off, through the closing gate and toward the back of the salvage yard.

The guard leaned down to fix the tire. "Yeah, I--I got this."

Kaylee gave him a charmingly sweet smile. "Thank you."

The guard started to fix the tire, looking up at the girls.

⚓️

Back of Yard

The boys ran up to a locked door.

JJ had a piece of paper with a combination on it, working the combination into the lock on the door as quick as possible, while John B and Pope stood watch.

⚓️

Front of Yard

The guard was getting to work on the tire.

"Got it?" Isa asked.

"Yeah," the guard answered.

Kaylee and Kie nodded.

⚓️

Back of Yard

JJ couldn't open the lock.

"Do you have the right numbers?" Pope asked.

JJ let go of the lock. "All right, so I might have the wrong numbers."

"Ah, damn it!" Pope complained.

A dog ran closer, barking.

"Oh, hey," JJ greeted nervously.

John B ran off. "That's a cougar. Never mind."

JJ tried to calm the dog down. "Hi! No, stay there. Good boy. You're okay." He ran off. "Pope, run!"

Pope had a pipe, waving it around to try and get the dog back. "Back off, back off, back off!"

JJ had a red cloth, waving it. "I got a toy, boy!" The dog ran closer to JJ. "Wait, no. I was just kidding." JJ ran away. "Shit! Okay, sit!"

⚓️

Front of Yard

Isa, Kaylee, Kie and the guard heard the dog Tebow barking.

"You hear that?" the guard asked.

The girls played dumb.

"Hear what?" Kie asked.

"I don't hear anything," Isa commented.

The guard stood. "Oh. Oh, Tebow's got something."

The guard looked toward the fence.

"It's probably just a raccoon, maybe," Kaylee suggested. "You know? Nothing to worry about."

"Yeah," the guard agreed, kneeling back down to fix the tire.

"Yeah," Kie repeated, walking over to the other side of the boat, taking a hair pin out of her hair, using it to release the air of the tire in that one to buy them some more time.

The guard stood to follow Kie. Isa stood in his way, giving him a smile. The guard smiled back, trying to move around her again.

Kaylee thought of something to stop him, pulling her top off which left her in a bikini top. "Boy, it's hot out here, huh?"

Isa smirked, crossing her arms, looking away.

The guard looked confused. "Yeah."

The guard stepped around Kaylee, moving toward where Kie was at the other side of the boat.

Isa leaned against the car in front of him to buy Kie more time. "Uh, yeah, we actually need to hurry, so..."

"I'll get back to it in a minute," the guard replied, walking around the boat.

Kie stood straight, having been given enough time stalled by Isa and Kaylee to finish releasing the air, and not look suspicious. "This one looks a little low too."

The guard looked toward the fence as Tebow was still barking. "That's not a raccoon."

The guard ran off to the fence.

"Wait!" Kaylee told him. "Wait!" The guard didn't stop. "Shit."

The girls got into the car.

"Well, that was a plot twist," Isa said with a hint of irony.

Kie raised an eyebrow at Kaylee's choice of attire. "Is the bikini top part of the show now?"

"Distraction tactics," Kaylee shrugged. "Seems he's immune to charm."

With a flourish, Kaylee indicated her figure.

Isa chuckled, "You never cease to amaze, Kay."

Ignition on, Kaylee whisked them off into the sunset.

⚓️

Back of Yard

Tebow was still going nuts.

John B peaked out of hiding nearby the locked door, walking closer, grabbing a pipe, hitting the lock twice to break it off. "That's it."

John B walked inside, opening a gate, walking up to two cases to get what they needed, running off.

Outside, Tebow was looking up at a ship, barking.

The guard ran closer. "What is it? What is it, Tebow? What you got, huh? What you got? Whoever's up there better come on out! I mean it." JJ was the one on the boat. "Don't make me go up there and get your ass!"

JJ raised his hands. "Wait, Bobby." He slowly stood. "Don't shoot. It's me, JJ. Luke's kid."

"What are you doing?" Bobby asked.

"I swear, okay?" JJ asked. "I didn't want to, okay?"

"Tebow, quiet!" Bobby told his dog.

"My dad made me," JJ told him.

Bobby pointed up at JJ. "Don't you lie."

"He told me Captain Leo kept his cutting torch," JJ told him. "You know, after he got fired." He was breathing shakily, nervously. "He said if I didn't get it for him, he was gonna... he was gonna hit me again."

Bobby looked down, shaking his head. "Son of a bitch."

JJ cried convincingly. "I'm sorry."

"Come on down," Bobby told him. "I almost killed you."

JJ climbed down, sniffling. "I know."

"Here, come on, come on," Bobby said.

"I'll just come up with something," JJ told him. "Tell him I couldn't find it."

Bobby nodded. "Mm-hmm. All right."

JJ turned to look at him. "Sorry."

JJ walked away, his expression of sadness turning smug and satisfied as he smirked, wiping away his single tear.

⚓️

Street

The girls drove up to the boys, getting out of the car, walking closer.

John B laughed, holding out the case of the drone for the girls to see. "We did it!"

The girls cheered.

JJ looked at Kaylee. "Why are you shirtless? Don't get me wrong, I like it. A lot."

Kaylee placed a finger over JJ's lips. "Don't ask."

The girls laughed. The boys just looked at them in confusion. The Pogues all got into the van, driving toward The Wreck for some food. Kaylee pulled on her shirt.

⚓️

Boat

Out on the ocean, a man's boat was floating at sea, not too far from shore. He and a couple others were drinking and fishing.

The man noticed that in the fishing net, there was a human hand. "What in the name of God have we caught?"

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Lia was laying in on her lounge chair, going over some research.

Ward walked through the open door. "How you doing, Lia?"

Lia put the research aside, looking up. "Now you're wondering?"

"I'm always wondering," Ward told her. Lia looked away, trying her best not to make a snide comment that would make things worse. "I talked to your doctors. They're all saying that you're doing much better. Working your away to accepting and letting go."

Lia looked to Ward, nodding. "Yeah. That's what you wanted, right?"

"I wanted for you to get better," Ward told her.

"I was never crazy," Lia told him.

Ward shook his head. "Never said you were. Just... your depression, the anxiety and panic."

"It wasn't bad enough to require all this," Lia told him.

"Well, I'd beg to differ," Ward replied. Lia looked down. "I'm sorry. I know that your friend's death, you finding him like that, and thinking that something else could have been going on, I know it was a lot to take in for you. It would give anyone a hard time."

"Hard time is putting it lightly," Lia told him. "Especially after I saw Robbie get threatened beforehand."

"Lia..." Ward trailed off.

Lia sighed. "But I am accepting the fact that no matter what I do, or what I've tried to do, or what I could do now, it won't change the facts. I know that nothing can bring him back or change reality. So... I'm willing to move on."

Ward nodded. "That's all I wanted to hear. You've come so far."

"So you'll stop with the medications, the doctors, locking me in my room and basically telling me to sit in the corner?" Lia asked.

Ward considered the course of action. "I'll tell you what. We'll start small, all right? Ween back little by little. Let you out more, let you have a little more freedom. Narrow it down to your main doctor, lower the dosage of your medicine. And if you're still doing good, then we can see about future steps. Okay?"

Lia was not happy about this still going on, but knowing that her plan to convince Ward that she was doing exactly as he wanted to make him stop hindering her so much was working, and knowing she had to keep up the charade so that things wouldn't go back to the way they were before, but worse. "Okay."

⚓️

Night - Kook Party

The Kook party was raging on, with Kook kids drinking and smoking and doing drugs.

"Yo, Topper's on the roof!" a boy called.

Topper raised his hands, cheering, holding a beer in one hand. "Yeah!"

"Topper!" Sarah called. "Topper!" She walked closer to him over the roof. "Topper! What are you doing, you maniac?"

Topper turned to look at her. "Hey! Hey, come on, come on. You're safe with me, all right?"

"Okay," Sarah said.

Topper put his beer down. "Let's set this down."

Some other Kook kids were cheering. "Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!"

"Hi, guys," Sarah greeted.

The entire party started to chant. "Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"

Topper looked at Sarah. "All right, do you trust me?"

"Do I have to?" Sarah asked.

Topper edged closer. "Do you trust me?"

"What are you talking about?" Sarah asked. "I don't--" Topper suddenly grabbed Sarah, lifting her up in his arms. Sarah gasped, scared, holding onto him tightly to anchor herself. "No! No! Oh! Oh, my God! Topper!"

"You're fine," Topper told her. "Babe, you're fine! You're fine."

Kelce and the rest of the Kook kids cheered. "Whoo!"

Sarah looked at Topper. "If you don't put me down right now..."

"It's not that far," Topper told her, looking down to the swimming pool down below.

"Are you kidding me?" Sarah asked.

"It's gonna be fine!" Topper insisted, shaking Sarah slightly like he would jump.

Sarah screamed once from being scared like that, hanging onto him even more tightly. "No, no, no! Oh, my God!"

The crowd was still cheering. "Jump! Jump! Jump! Jump!"

"Topper," Sarah complained. "Topper, I don't like this. Don't--"

"You're fine," Topper repeated. "Look, look."

"Do not go any closer to the edge," Sarah told him seriously.

"It's not that far," Topper tried to assure, stepping off the edge.

Sarah screamed. "Oh, my God!"

Once submerged into the pool after landing with a huge splash, Sarah swam up to the surface immediately.

Topper swam up, cheering with the rest of the crowd. "Whoo! Can you believe this girl right here?" He put an arm around Sarah. "The coolest chick in the OBX!" The Kooks cheered. Topper pointed both hands at Sarah. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Sarah, after the scare was over, was laughing lightly. "You're cra--you're crazy. Do you know that?"

Rafe drove his bike up to the party.

⚓️

Inside - Living Room

Rafe walked through the party, as at least three different people called his name in greeting, causing Rafe to smile and wave back. He walked over to a girl, putting an arm around her, whispering in her ear. "Hey, if you guys got any cash, downstairs, all right?"

The girl nodded, walking away.

Kelce walked up to him. "Yo, Rafe. Where you been at?"

They clasped hands and pulled each other in for a hug, patting each other on the back.

Rafe whispered in his ear. "Hey, yo, I got some yayo. Spread the word."

Kelce patted Rafe on the shoulder, walking away.

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, looking around nervously, anxious.

⚓️

Outside Balcony

Sarah and Topper were laying down together, looking up at the sky and stars.

"You see?" Sarah asked, pointing. "Right there is the Big Dipper Right..." Topper pointed at the wrong stars. "No." Sarah adjusted his pointing to the correct constellation. "Right... yes."

"Okay, yup," Topper agreed.

Sarah nodded. "Mm-hmm. And then those two stars in the scoop point..."

"To the north star, right?" Topper asked.

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "It's the only star that doesn't move. Everything else spins around that."

Topper chuckled. "I love that you think about things like that."

Sarah turned on her side to look at Topper. "You know you have nothing to be jealous of, right?"

"Jealous?" Topper repeated. "Topper, what?" Sarah laughed. "Me, Topper, getting jealous? What are you talking about?"

Sarah smiled before returning serious. "I promise not to put you in that position."

They started to kiss and make out, breathing heavily.

Topper went to kiss her neck, noticing a change in Sarah. "What?"

Sarah nodded. "Yes."

"What?" Topper asked. Sarah reached down to untie her over shirt that was over her bikini. "You sure?"

Sarah nodded. "Mm-hmm. Positive."

They continued making out.

Topper untied Sarah's bikini, whispering in her ear. "I love you."

The words seemed to change Sarah's mind, as she was suddenly tense and nervous. "Topper, no, no, no, no."

"What?" Topper asked.

Sarah sat up. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, what?" Topper asked.

"I'm sorry," Sarah repeated.

"What?" Topper asked. "Did I..." Sarah fixed her bikini to. "Hey, did I--did I do something?"

Sarah shook her head. "No."

"What's wrong?" Topper asked, reaching out to stroke her hair.

Sarah turned her head away. "Just, um... I just feel a little buzzed."

Sarah reached behind her to tie her bikini top.

Topper was not happy at all. "So what? So that was just... that was just some--a mistake, or..."

Sarah looked up, trying not to get upset. "Topper, please don't get mad right now."

"What?" Topper asked, even though he would say he wasn't mad, he clearly was. "No, no. I'm not mad. I'm just--I'm just trying to figure you out, 'cause one minute you're all over me, and then the next minute, I'm in lockdown. So I'm just trying to figure out, are you into this or not?"

Sarah held her head in her hands. "Here's the thing. I guess it just happened so fast, and I don't... it was just a--a lot."

Topper shook his head. "All right, whatever."

Topper stood, walking away.

Sarah whispered to herself. "Shit."

⚓️

Basement

Rafe was selling the drugs that he got from Barry, taking the money of the paying customers. "40. Here's 60. You got 60? 40. You know, 40 isn't enough for the amount of coke you've been doing tonight, but I'll let it slide this time."

Kelce did a line of coke. "Whoo!"

Topper stormed in, still pissed.

Rafe saw him. "Top! Hey! Top, Top!" He stood, putting a hand around  Topper's shoulders. "Hey, everybody. Hey, this is Top, all right? I call him the Shred God. He goes Conan on overheads, right? What were you last year? You were, like, top ten."

"Last year, uh, seventh in Nationals," Topper answered.

"He was seventh in Nationals," Rafe repeated. "Girls, look." He gestured to Topper. "Take a seat. Sit down. Sit down, man."

Topper sat down next to a blonde girl. "All right, all right."

The blonde girl smiled flirtatiously. "Hey, hey. You want a bump?"

"A bump?" Topper repeated.

Kelce patted Topper on the shoulder. "It tastes like bananas."

"Yeah?" Topper asked. "Yeah, I don't know."

"If you don't hit it, then I will," the girl told him.

Rafe nodded. "It's true, man. She's been pulling, like, I don't know, half a gram tonight?"

Topper gave in. "No, let's... yeah, let's do it. Yeah."

"Do you want to do one?" Rafe asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Topper answered. "Let's do a line."

Rafe handed Topper a rolled up 20 dollar bill. Topper used the bill to do a line of coke, standing up, coughing.

Rafe stood. "Whoa, whoa. Hey, take it easy, man. This is your first rodeo, is it?"

"Hell, no, it's not," Topper denied. "No, bro."

Rafe laughed. "All right! Let's do another one."

"What?" Topper asked. "What? Let's--let's do it!"

"Let's go, Top," Kelce urged.

Topper and Rafe sat back down to do another line.

Lost in the drug haze, Rafe was thinking, remembering.

⚓️

Flashback 3 - Kook Year (Same Night as Flashback 2)

Night - Tannyhill Estate - Dining Room

Kaylee had been eager to leave Tannyhill for the Cut to spend time with the Pogues, but they were all preoccupied. Isa and John B were with their father, JJ was at work, and Pope was having dinner with his family.

Ironically, Kaylee ended up staying at Tannyhill for dinner, a decision made easier by her parents' recent behavior towards her. It was of little consequence, though, as her parents were working and had promised to pick up both Kaylee and Kie after dinner.

Kie, on the other hand, had no desire to leave for the Cut like her sister. She was enjoying the company of Lia and even Sarah, aiming to leave a positive impression on the family in hopes of pleasing their parents. Unlike Kie, Kaylee was indifferent to earning their pride, resolved not to conform to the full Kook lifestyle they envisioned for them.

The sight of the Camerons dining together at their large table didn't faze Kaylee and Kie; it was unfamiliar yet expected.

Rose commenced the meal by serving salads, taking her place at the table's far end from Ward. Kaylee, Kie, and Lia sat on the left, facing Sarah and Wheezie on the right. An empty chair awaited next to Wheezie, opposite Kaylee.

As dinner began and attendees started eating, Rafe entered, occupying the vacant seat beside Wheezie, casting a glance at Kaylee across the table.

Kaylee gazed down at her meal.

Ward avoided looking at Rafe as he entered.

Rose stood up, trailing behind Kaylee, Kie, and Lia, heading back to the kitchen. "You know dinner starts precisely at seven. You've missed the salads now."

Just as Rafe reached for the salad tongs, Rose whisked them away. Rafe's reaction was minimal, merely halting his hand midair to indicate his intent, then letting it fall. His face remained impassive, but his eyes betrayed a flash of anger.

Kaylee's eyebrow arched in response, a familiar scene to her, lips caught between her teeth.

Kie threw a knowing glance at Kaylee.

Both Kaylee and Kie turned to Sarah, who was oblivious to the exchange, engrossed in her phone hidden beneath the table as she texted.

Ward simply cleared his throat, shifting the conversation to Wheezie's school day, blatantly disregarding his wife's harsh treatment of his son.

Lia, on the other hand, took notice and voiced her displeasure, her tone reflecting her lack of surprise at her family's behavior. "Rose, really?"

"No, you know the rules," Rose denied.

Rafe understood that Lia would defend him, but he also knew it would be futile, shaking his head. "Just forget it, Lia."

Lia's expression turned into a frown.

Kaylee, raising an eyebrow, decided to speak up. Known for her defiance and habit of confronting the unexpected, she intervened, having experienced similar situations too often to remain silent.

"Actually, Rose," Kaylee called out, stopping Rose as she was about to leave. "I was thinking about finishing the bowl. There's quite a bit left, and it would be a shame to waste it, right?"

Kie gave Kaylee a knowing look, one that silently pleaded, 'please, not here.'

Kaylee shook her head with feigned innocence, downplaying the situation as if it were a simple, harmless inquiry, despite her underlying motives.

Rafe, who had been looking down, now lifted his head in surprise, eyeing Kaylee with a raised eyebrow.

Lia glanced at Kaylee, a knowing smile on her face, aware that Rose couldn't refuse a guest without appearing extremely impolite, which was the last thing she wanted as she strived to embody the ideal Kook wife.

Caught off guard, Rose momentarily showed her confusion before adopting the smile of a dutiful wife and returning the salad to the table.

Ward gave Kaylee an inscrutable look.

Unperturbed, Kaylee continued to refill her salad bowl.

Lia and Wheezie, smirking subtly, took more salad for themselves. Their previous attempts to defend Rafe at dinner had always been ignored, as Rose would remind them of the rules.

Noticing the shift, Sarah looked up with a smile and helped herself to more salad.

Rafe reached out to take more salad, his gaze lingering on Kaylee.

Kaylee met his eyes briefly before focusing on her meal.

Kie shook her head at Kaylee's behavior, a mix of defiance and defense, as she too added salad to her bowl.

Displeased, Rose huffed at the children's actions and left to fetch additional dishes from the kitchen.

Ward observed the children eating, his frown deepening.

Returning with an armful of dishes, Rose struggled to balance them.

Kie quickly stood to assist, taking a dish from Rose and placing it on the table.

As Rose was about to drop another item, Kaylee caught it without spilling any food and set it on the table.

The Camerons appeared slightly surprised and impressed.

Ward's gaze lingered on Kaylee and Kie, his half-smile seeming challenging and superficial. "It seems your parents raised you well."

Kie smiled. "I just like to help when I can."

Kaylee shrugged. "That, and waitress instincts kicked in."

At this, Ward raised his eyebrows. "Do you work at your parents' restaurant?"

"Off and on," Kaylee replied. "Increasingly so, recently."

Kaylee chose not to mention that her parents were making her work to compensate for past actions, and Kie gave Kaylee a look, signaling not to discuss it in front of them, although Kaylee already understood this.

Ward's expression turned to a frown. "It's interesting that they would have you work so young."

Kie, feeling the urge to defend their parents, responded, "We're legally old enough to work. Why wouldn't we want to help our parents?"

Ward chuckled. "Apologies, I didn't realize you were." Kaylee raised an eyebrow. Ward gestured towards Rafe. "I've had the toughest time getting this one to find a job. He still doesn't have one."

Rafe's jaw clenched as he gripped the fork tightly.

Ward gave a hollow laugh.

Lia shot a disbelieving look at Ward, resenting that he would make such a remark about his son at the dinner table, especially in front of guests.

Sarah, attempting to defuse the tension, smiled. "Kaylee, Kiara, instead of having your parents drive you every morning, how would you like Rafe to pick you up? It's on our way to school."

Lia frowned at Sarah's presumption in offering a ride with Rafe without his consent; while Lia liked the idea, she thought Sarah should have consulted Rafe first rather than assume his agreement.

Kaylee and Kie exchanged glances.

Kaylee shrugged. "Uh, only if it's alright."

Lia turned to Rafe. "Is it?" Rafe looked up, meeting her inquiring eyes. "Is that okay, I mean?"

Rafe took less than thirty seconds to decide as he glanced between the girls. "Yeah, it's fine." Kaylee and Kie both looked at him. "I'll pick you up at 7:15. How does that sound?"

Kaylee appeared surprised by his easy agreement.

Sarah cheered softly. "Riding together will be so much fun."

Lia smiled. "We'll have extra time to discuss our plans for the environmental club."

Kie agreed immediately. "Yeah, sure."

Kaylee felt hesitant. It made sense and would save her from Anna and Mike's daily criticisms, but she was reluctant since she wasn't really friends with these people and didn't want to get more involved with the Kooks than necessary. Yet, it seemed the arrangement was already in place.

Sarah, without asking, volunteered Rafe to chauffeur her friends, and with Ward present, Rafe felt compelled to agree, which Sarah knew he would be. However, this time, Rafe was actually pleased; it gave him a reason to see Kaylee more often.

Rafe found himself surprisingly content with the task of driving the Carrera sisters. He recognized Kie's efforts to fit in and gain her parents' approval, but Kaylee was a different story.

Now, Rafe had the opportunity to watch Kaylee more closely, particularly after she had subtly yet assertively stood up to Rose, displaying her natural tendency to be defiant and seemingly protective.

Rafe was aware that Kaylee's defense was not for him, as they hardly knew each other and her opinion of him was not exactly favorable. Nevertheless, he was curious about her actions, especially since she seemed to dislike him.

What Kaylee did clearly bothered Rose and Ward, which was her intention, and Rafe found this deeply satisfying. To him, Kaylee was an enigma he was eager to decipher.

When Rafe began driving Kaylee and Kie to school, along with his sisters, there was a subtle shift. As Lia, Sarah, and Rafe emerged from the truck, followed by Kaylee and Kie, onlookers gaped in surprise, not expecting the Pogue-Kook hybrids to mingle so closely with the Camerons.

Kie, becoming best friends with Lia, found that few others wanted to associate with them, given their outcast status, but this didn't trouble them. Sarah attempted to draw Lia into her circle of friends, despite Lia's reluctance and the friends' disapproval. However, Kie's presence began to ease the situation for Lia, sparing her from facing rejection alone.

Kaylee generally kept to herself, except when with Lia and Sarah, mainly due to their shared interest in the environmental club and the rides to school with the Camerons.

Kaylee avoided Rafe as much as possible, a sentiment shared by Kie. Rafe, however, was intrigued by Kaylee, often provoking interactions with her, despite knowing she wouldn't do anything against her will, except for attending the academy at her parents' insistence, which ironically, was something he admired about her.

Kaylee was aware that Rafe occasionally flirted with her, yet she remained undisturbed and unimpressed by his advances. This only served to puzzle and captivate him further, as he had never encountered such disinterest before. It spurred him to try even harder to capture her attention and hold it, whether by provoking her anger or annoyance, which he found entertaining, or in a positive manner, though he was less sure of how to achieve the latter.

⚓️

Now

Day - The Wreck - Outside

The Twinkie pulled up to the Wreck, parking, and the Pogues got out.

"Stealing drones makes you hungry," Kie joked.

"What I would do to a beer and shrimp and grits right now," JJ remarked.

"It would not be pretty," Pope commented.

They walked inside.

⚓️

Inside

Kaylee waved to Mike. "Hey, Dad."

Mike did not like that Kaylee and Kie had brought the Pogues here. "Hey."

"How'd we do?" Kie asked.

"Didn't turn it over once," Mike answered.

"It's probably just bad luck because of the storm," Kaylee suggested.

Kaylee and Kie gave Mike a hug.

"Yeah, I'll be sure to tell the banks that," Mike said sarcastically.

"Guess now is not the best time to ask for free food for us and our friends?" Kie asked, giving Mike a sweet smile.

Mike looked over to Isa, John B, JJ and Pope with distaste. "Look at them. They're greedy pelicans."

Kaylee gave Mike a look. "You used to be them, so I figured that there would be less judgment coming from at least you."

Mike ignored that comment. "I thought your mother and I told you to stop hanging around these guys. Repeatedly."

"Well, everybody at the Kook Academy hates us, Dad," Kie explained.

"'Cause you two never gave them a chance," Mike argued.

"We did give them a chance," Kaylee replied. "They got all stuck up on us. I mean, they care more about shoes than surfing. What are we supposed to do with that? These are our friends. I've been friends with these people since the fourth grade. I'm not going to stop now."

Kie and Kaylee looked toward Isa, John B, JJ and Pope. Isa, John B and Pope waved, and JJ threw up a peace sign.

Mike gave in. "Well, I--I got--I gotta throw it out. Might as well take it."

Kie smiled. "Thank you."

Kie gave Mike another hug.

"You're welcome," Mike replied. "I'll bring it out."

Kie and Kaylee walked toward the others.

"Sit down," Kaylee told them.

"Oh, yes!" JJ cheered.

(Song:) It's Never Enough - Audiodub

JJ, John B, Isa and Kaylee sat at a table in the middle of The Wreck. Pope sat at the counter behind them, and Kie moved throughout the restaurant, bringing out food and drinks. Kaylee moved to help Kie out every once in a while.

JJ and John B started throwing fries at each other.

JJ put his feet up on the table. Kaylee swatted his legs down as he put a pitcher of ice water on the table.

Kaylee began to dance, twirling and swaying to the music that filled the air.

JJ observed her for a moment, a smile on his face, then stood and extended a hand to her. "Would you care to dance, milady?"

Entering into their playful game of accents, Kaylee accepted his hand with a smile. "I was hoping you would ask."

JJ escorted Kaylee away from the table to a more open space for dancing. As they moved together, JJ's hands found Kaylee's waist, drawing her close. Kaylee's arms draped over his shoulders, and they swayed in sync, exchanging smiles. Foreheads touching, they gazed into each other's eyes. Kaylee then rested her head against JJ's chest, her eyes closed, attuned to the rhythm of the music and the beat of his heart. JJ rested his chin atop her head as they danced slowly, then spun her out and dipped her, both laughing joyfully.

Meanwhile, Kie was dancing solo, gesturing to Isa to join her.

Isa, puzzled by Kie's mixed signals, gestured back, indicating herself and Kie with a questioning look. "I'm enjoying my fries."

Kie moved closer to Isa, still dancing. "Come on, you know you're tempted."

John B nudged the back of Isa's chair playfully, prompting her to turn and shoot him a look. John B simply returned the look with a grin and a nod towards Kie.

JJ and Kaylee snapped their fingers to get Isa's attention.

JJ gave Isa a look that literally said "What the fuck are you doing?" and gestured to Kie.

Kaylee nodded encouragingly, smiling.

Isa couldn't help but smile at the fact that John B, Kaylee and JJ were all trying to be her official wing people when it came to Kie.

Kie extended her hands for Isa. "Put the fries down and dance with me, Isa."

Kie placed the fries on the table as Isa took her hands, and Kie pulled her up from the seat.

Isa smiled, shaking her head. "I hate you so much."

Kie twirled Isa around, stopping when they faced each other again, both smiling. "No, you don't."

Isa returned the gesture, spinning Kie around, continuing their dance.

Pope joined John B at the table, now that he was alone, and they ate while watching JJ and Kaylee, along with Isa and Kie, dance. They smiled softly, happy to see their friends, their family, enjoying a carefree moment.

Noticing them sitting, Isa called out. "JB! Pope! Get your asses up and dance with us!"

John B and Pope shared an amused glance, smirking as they stood and approached, joining JJ, Kaylee, Isa, and Kie. Together, they danced, filling the empty restaurant with music, fun, and laughter for the rest of the night.

(Song Ends)

⚓️

Dock

The man from the boat earlier led Peterkin toward his ship. "Appreciate you coming so quick, Sheriff."

"Not a problem," Peterkin assured.

"This is kind of weird," the man admitted.

Peterkin frowned. "All right."

They climbed aboard the man's boat.

The man led the way over to the nets. "I never caught nothing like this in my nets. I can tell you that. It's gonna haunt me." He pulled back a tarp to show the bodies of the two shady men that had been terrorizing the Pogues since 1.01. "They don't look like any locals I know. You recognize 'em? Sheriff?"

Peterkin did recognize them since she had stopped them from attacking Isa and John B further in 1.02 after Isa had been electrocuted.

⚓️

Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

The light was off, and Lia was laying down to go to sleep.

Sarah slowly walked in, wearing a dress. "Hi. Are you asleep?"

"Not yet," Lia answered. Sarah laid down in bed next to Lia. "Ward agreed to ease things back slowly. Fewer doctors, less dosage of meds, more freedom."

Sarah managed a small smile. "That's great."

"It's a start, but it doesn't fix everything he's done," Lia corrected. "It's the least he could do."

Sarah nodded, leaning her head on Lia's shoulder. "Yeah."

Lia trailed a hand through Sarah's hair. "What's wrong with you?"

Sarah sighed, her voice soft and nearly a whisper. "Lia, why am I such an idiot?"

Lia chuckled teasingly. "Where do I start? Did something happen at the party?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Um... but it's also what didn't happen."

"I'm listening," Lia told her.

"I told Topper I was ready," Sarah explained.

Lia raised her eyebrows skeptically. "You did?"

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "Then... when it came down to it, I don't... I don't know, I--I couldn't do it."

"I'm guessing he got mad and stomped off like a little bitch," Lia remarked.

"Yeah," Sarah answered. "He's a stomper."

"Sarah, you are allowed to change your mind," Lia pointed out. "Consent can be taken away just as easily as it's given, and he has no right to get pissed about it. It has to feel right. That's what you always say."

Sarah sighed. "I know, but it did feel right. He was so sweet the entire day."

"There's a reason why you didn't go through with it, Sarah," Lia told her. "But that's up to you either way. He doesn't get to make you feel bad about not being ready or not feeling right about it. Okay?"

Sarah nodded barely. "Okay."

⚓️

Day Three

Morning - Docks

The Pogues were on the dock, playing around with the drone as they figured out how to use it.

Pope was controlling the drone while John B, JJ and Kaylee stood behind him. Isa and Kie were in the water, fooling around in front of the underwater camera.

John B reached out to touch the controls. "What does this thing do?"

Pope swatted John B's hand away. "Don't touch that. I'm trying to work out this thing."

"God bless geeks, Pope," JJ cheered. "Truly, man."

Kaylee perched on the wooden railing, eyes on the water where Isa and Kie were making splashes. "Seriously, Pope, you and your drone wizardry are lifesavers."

Isa and Kie popped up from the water like a pair of seals.

JJ sidled up to the railing, joining Kaylee.

"Technically, it's not a drone," Pope interjected. "It's an ROV."

JJ shook his head. "Shut up. Shut up."

Isa, exhausted, waved a hand dismissively. "Zip it, zip it. My brain can't tech talk before sunrise."

"It's too early for that right now," JJ agreed.

"Hey, look, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll bring it to a lawyer in town and file a formal claim," John B explained.

JJ frowned. "It's such bullshit. Why do we have to do that?"

"Well, there is maritime salvage law," Pope answered. "You can't just go to the ocean floor and scoop a bunch of stuff up."

JJ sighed. "I know, I know. It's just, lawyers aren't cheap, bro."

"Well, as soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a comp," Isa told them.

"How do you know all of that?" Kie asked.

"'Cause Dad said it, like, a million times," Isa answered.

Kie tilted her head. "Yeah, that's fair."

Kie swam over to the ladder, climbing up onto the dock. Isa climbed up the ladder to the dock.

"The tether is like really long," Pope observed. "In the wrong weather, it could be pushed around."

"Then we'll go at dead calm," John B concluded.

Just as a crack of thunder rumbled from the sky.

"At slack tide?" Kie suggested.

"So now we just gotta wait around for the right weather," Kaylee stated. "And today is not that day."

They all looked up toward the sky where dark storm clouds were rolling in. Kie and Isa grabbed their towels to dry off. The wind began to blow wildly.

⚓️

The Chateau - Outside

John B was sitting down, holding a tablet that would sync up to the drone.

Sarah walked up to him. "It's your turn."

John B looked up in surprise. "Uh, for what?"

"To ask me what I'm doing here," Sarah answered.

"What are you doing here?" John B asked.

"I realized I didn't get a chance to respond the other day after you spat in my face and yelled at me, and you stormed off like a child," Sarah told him. "So, first of all, I'm not a liar. I don't know how Ward found out about the scuba gear, but I swear it was not me. I'm not the reason you got fired."

John B nodded, still skeptic, tilting his head. "Okay."

Sarah shrugged. "That's all. Good talk." She started to walk away, but stopped and pulled out a bag of chips from her bag, tossing them to John B. "Oh. Your favorite. Good catch."

Sarah walked away.

John B shook his head in confusion. "What the hell?"

⚓️

Street

Lia was walking down the street of the Cut, the same street that was around the corner from Robbie's house as seen in her dream. She was hesitating because she knew she might not have been ready to go back there, but she felt like she needed to for some form of closure.

⚓️

Flashback 4

Day - Robbie's House - Outside

Lia knocked on the door. "Robbie, it's me. Are you okay?"

Robbie walked outside onto the porch. "If you mean I'm not on drugs at the moment, I already flushed everything down the toilet."

"Well, I just came to check on you," Lia admitted.

Robbie shook his head. "I don't want you to check on me. Whether I'm fine or I'm not fine. Your dad already hates that you're hanging out with a guy from the Cut who he knows is doing drugs. You can't tell me that you don't get into some serious trouble just by coming out here and hanging out with me."

"I don't care about what trouble I get into, Robbie," Lia told him. "I just wanted to make sure that you were okay."

Robbie sighed heavily. "You don't have to save me, Lia. And you don't have to put yourself on the line by coming out here and being my friend. My only friend, actually. What difference are you going to make? Are you going to give me life advice? You gonna fucking help me?"

Lia knew that he was just trying to push her away because he thought she deserved a better friend, but refused to give up on him. "Well, you're my best friend. My only real friend now, too. Please. I just... I hate seeing you in so much pain. I just wanna help."

Robbie calmed down, sighing heavily. "I'm sorry. I know you mean well." He sat down on the porch swing. Lia sat next to him, laying a hand on his. Robbie turned his hand over to hold hers, not in a romantic way, but completely platonic. "The first time I tried drugs, I was 13. And I felt the absolute worst. I used to take care of my dad after school after he got sick with cancer. Had to take a second job to cover the medical bills. A state issued nurse would come by every day for two hours, and she'd just play Candy Crush on her phone. The point is, he had like a bunch of pills. He was too out of it to know I was high. Before he died. Just like my mom died. And I just couldn't take the pain anymore. I just wanted it all to go away."

They both had tears in their eyes.

Lia nodded sadly, giving Robbie's hand a squeeze. "I know. I'm so sorry."

Robbie cleared his throat. "But I'll tell you this. When I'm not high, I always have the best time with you."

Lia managed a small smile. "Me, too."

Lia wrapped her arms around Robbie. Robbie returned the embrace, grateful for her friendship even though he thought she deserved better.

⚓️

Now

Day - Street

Lia could see Robbie's house around the corner down the block, but flashing back to her dream, and the day she found his body, she couldn't go there, turning around to leave.

Isa was walking down the street behind her, seeing Lia, crossing her arms over her chest, amused. "What's a girl like Lia Cameron doing in the Cut?"

Lia was surprised to see Isa, looking away. "Oh. Uh... hi, Isa. I'm... visiting a friend."

"You have a friend in the Cut?" Isa asked skeptically.

"Did," Lia answered. "I had... a friend here. I was just... going by his house. So... It's a long story. One I don't want to talk about right now."

Isa shrugged, holding up her hands harmlessly. "Then don't. You do you, girl. That's all any of us can do, really."

"Right," Lia agreed. "Um... I gotta go. Later, Routledge." She walked past Isa. Isa turned her head to watch her go curiously in amusement. Lia hesitated, turning back, tilting her head. "Hey, Isa?" Isa turned to face her. "Can you not tell anyone you saw me here? I don't want this getting back to Ward."

"Let me guess, Ward doesn't like his little girl venturing out and about to the Cut," Isa stated.

"He doesn't like it when I venture out and about anywhere, but I'm trying to change that," Lia answered. "Him hearing that I came back here won't help matters, so..."

"Got it," Isa replied. "I mean, you're being cryptic and confusing as fuck, but..." Lia managed a small smile. "But yeah. I got it." Isa pretended to zip her lips closed and tossing the invisible key away. "Consider my lips sealed and the key in the ocean."

Lia smiled a bit. "Thanks, Isa. I guess that's two favors I owe you now." Isa frowned. "Helping me out at the party with that dumbass, and now this."

Isa nodded, remembering. "Right, right, yeah. Don't worry about it. Not like you could find something to pay me back anyway. You know I'd never take money from a Cameron."

"I know," Lia agreed. "I'll find another way to pay you back. I guess I'll see you around, Routledge."

"Later, Lia," Isa replied.

Lia waved, giving a slight salute, turning around, walking away. Isa watched her go, curiouser and curiouser, shrugging, turning around, walking away in the other direction.

⚓️

Street

Kaylee was walking on her way to work to babysit for Kook parents.

Rafe and Topper walked by.

Rafe caught sight of Kaylee and flashed a grin. "Hey, Kaylee. Is that you?"

"What are you doing?" Topper inquired.

Kaylee paid them no mind and continued on her way.

"Kaylee!" Rafe shouted. "You got wax in your ears?"

Kaylee realized he was persistent, so she spun around to confront Rafe and Topper. "Nope, Rafe, I didn't catch that. I was busy trying to unsee the tragic spectacle before me. Ah, behold, the twin human Ken dolls."

Topper let out a low chuckle. "Gee, flattered, Kaylee."

Kaylee's smirk widened.

Rafe sauntered to his motorcycle and hopped on.

Kaylee's brows arched. "Where's your helmet, Rafe? Wouldn't want you to drop those last few brain cells. But then again, saying you have three might be giving you too much credit." She gave a dramatic gasp, tilting her head, flashing a solitary finger. "I think it's just the one."

Rafe grinned, amused by Kaylee's sharp tongue. "I'm very careful. It's touching that you're concerned."

Kaylee scoffed. "Concerned? Hardly."

"Deny it all you want," Rafe said with a chuckle, cruising at a snail's pace next to her while the sky grumbled its warning. "Need a lift?"

With a roll of her eyes, Kaylee quipped. "I'll pass. I prefer my chances with the storm and a lightning tattoo. Adios, dick faces."

Topper rolled his eyes. "Bitch."

Kaylee held out her hand to flip Topper off, walking away.

⚓️

Flashback 5 - Kook Year

Night - Tannyhill Estate - Living Room

At a Cameron party while Kaylee came to tell Kie that their family was on the way here to pick them up.

Rafe leaned against the ping pong table, arms crossed, a faint smirk on his lips as he watched Kaylee.

Topper and Kelce stood opposite him.

"Is that her?" Kelce inquired, squinting slightly. "She looks familiar."

Topper let out a soft scoff. "You sure you want to involve her in a game?"

"Definitely," Rafe replied. "She's the one I want to play now." Topper and Kelce exchanged smirks. Rafe, fully aware of her name yet feigning ignorance as part of his Kook King persona, called out to Kaylee. "Remind me of your name?"

Kaylee's eyebrows shot up, Rafe's gaze fixed on her. The intensity of his stare unnerved her, particularly because she was aware that he knew her name and was plotting something.

Surveying the party, Kaylee responded only because the other Kooks were watching her with curiosity. "It's Kaylee."

"Kaylee," Rafe echoed, the smirk lingering. "What brings you to a Kook party, Kaylee? Are you a Pogue princess, or a Kook princess masquerading as one?"

Kaylee regarded him with evident distaste. "I'm not masquerading." Rafe snorted, his disbelief apparent. "Still, it's preferable to being caught up with you posers."

The Kooks laughed mockingly, making "Oh!" sounds.

Rafe raised his eyebrows, amused. "Then what brings you here?"

Kaylee sighed. "I'm here to pick up my sister. Kie's out with Lia."

Rafe nodded. "Ah, Kiara and Lia are around here somewhere. Anyone up for being my pong partner?"

"If you can't find someone to play a dumb beer game in this crowd, then you're as dumb as they come," Kaylee retorted, turning to leave and find Kie and Lia.

Rafe grabbed Kaylee's arm. "Is that a challenge? How about you, Kaylee?" Kaylee glared at him, knowing his intentions, and shook her head. Rafe smirked, disregarding her silent refusal, and called her out, drawing their friends' attention. "Play some pong with me." Now, multiple eyes were on Kaylee. "We're just up against Topper and Kelce."

Topper and Kelce echoed Rafe's confident smirk, exchanging glances that held a challenge, as if doubting Kaylee would agree to play.

"Yeah, you're only playing against us," Topper chimed in.

"Unless you're too scared, freshman," Kelce taunted.

Kaylee's smirk was tinged with sarcasm, her annoyance fueling her determination to show them up. "Consider it your guys' funeral."

Rafe's smirk blossomed into a smile as he placed his hand on Kaylee's bare shoulder, guiding her to the table beside him. "All right."

Kaylee shrugged off Rafe's hand. "Just make it quick."

Rafe nodded at Kaylee. "Right, your parents are coming to pick up you and your sister."

"Don't worry, it'll be brief," Topper interjected.

Kaylee arched an eyebrow. "Damn right it won't, because slaughtering you two won't take any time at all."

Topper and Kelce, eyebrows raised, were taken aback yet somewhat impressed by her retort, while Rafe and the other Kooks erupted in laughter, making "Ooh!" sounds once more.

"Okay, girl," Kelce responded.

"You should feel fortunate," Topper added. "Rafe doesn't usually welcome newcomers."

"Yeah, whatever," Kaylee dismissed. "Can we just get this killing over with?"

Rafe smirked, his gaze on Kaylee filled with amusement.

As the game commenced, it was evident that Kaylee and Kelce excelled in beer pong among the quartet. Whenever Kaylee scored by landing the ping pong ball into Topper or Kelce's cups, forcing them to drink, Rafe couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction. Both Topper and Kelce managed to score a few times against Rafe, and Rafe reciprocated, but Kaylee consistently impressed the onlookers with her precision, scoring the most on Topper and Kelce's side of the table.

Eventually, Kelce triumphantly landed a ball in one of Kaylee's cups, celebrating with raised arms. "Yes!"

Topper, sporting a tipsy grin, echoed the sentiment. "Finally!"

Their success elicited cheers from the spectators.

Kaylee, pausing and scanning her surroundings, whispered just loud enough for Rafe. "I'd drink now, but my parents are about to get here to pick up Kie and me."

Rafe leaned in, folding over to catch her words, which took Kaylee by surprise due to his closeness, and he asked loudly. "What's that? You're not drinking?"

Kaylee muttered a curse at Rafe's volume, which, as expected, incited protests and jeers from the other Kooks.

"You have to play by the rules, Kaylee," Kelce chided. "You have to drink."

Topper nodded. "Those are the rules."

Kaylee glared at them, irritated. "You guys are aware my parents will be here any second."

"Forget your parents," Kelce retorted. "They won't find out."

"Unless you're a noticeable drinker, or a lightweight," Topper chimed in, teasing her further.

Kaylee, visibly annoyed, was on the verge of responding.

Rafe gestured for them to stop with his arms. "Cut it out, guys. Her parents are about to pick her and her sister up. I won't force her to drink."

Some protests followed, but Kaylee observed they were more playful and not serious, so she disregarded them.

Kelce shrugged. "King Kook has made his decree. What he says goes."

Rafe leaned in to whisper to Kaylee, his hand resting on the small of her back, close enough that his T-shirt brushed against her bare arm. "Ignore them. I'll drink for you."

Rafe retreated with a smirk, feigning kindness for appearances to deceive her into a false sense of security and win her trust. However, Kaylee was not as naive or gullible as he had anticipated. Rafe seized the cup before Kaylee, taking a drink, his gaze meeting Topper's and Kelce's as they exchanged a knowing glance. Topper and Kelce shared a smirk, aware of Rafe's intentions to orchestrate another one of his games.

⚓️

Now

Day - Heyward's Shop

Pope and JJ were helping Heyward out with grocery delivery, loading groceries onto the boat they were standing in.

"You boys get these groceries over to Figure 8," Heyward told them. "Get straight back here when you're done. No fishin'. I promised delivery by this afternoon. Rich folks don't wanna wait for you lazy sons of..." JJ held out his hands for the bags. "Aw, JJ, thank you. Sons of bitches."

"Right," Pope said. Soon enough, Pope and JJ were driving the boat over to Figure 8. "Doesn't even look like the storm hit there."

"That's because they got generators, bro," JJ told him. "Get used to it. And then they say the juice will be out all summer at the Cut."

"It's nice to be a Kook," Pope remarked.

JJ nodded. "Lucky bastards."

⚓️

Kook's House - Foyer

Upon her arrival, Kaylee was warmly greeted by a woman named Samantha. "Kaylee! It's great to see you. Lily's in the living room. She's eager to go outside, so please make sure she wears bug spray if you do go out. Also, a delivery person will stop by with groceries before we return. Could you let him in to drop them off? That would be wonderful." Kaylee nodded her understanding. "Mitch and I will be back by 7pm. Thanks again."

Kaylee beamed. "No worries at all. I enjoy spending time with Lily. Have a good time."

Mitch responded with a chuckle, "Appreciate it, Kaylee."

After Samantha and Mitch departed, Kaylee ventured further inside. "Lily!"

Lily rushed to embrace her. "Kaylee! Can we play outside?"

With a smile, Kaylee replied, "Absolutely. Let's get that bug spray on first."

⚓️

Beach

Out on the beach, Kaylee settled on a towel in the sand while the little girl Lily busied herself building sandcastles. Kaylee smiled as she watched her babysitting charge.

During his deliveries, JJ spotted them and approached. "Kaylee?"

Both Kaylee and Lily looked up.

"JJ?" Kaylee inquired.

JJ moved closer. "Hey, guys."

Kaylee stood. "What brings you here?"

Lily sidled up to Kaylee, peeking out from behind her legs at JJ with shy curiosity.

"I'm wrapping up helping Pope and his dad with deliveries," JJ explained. "I had to deliver to this address because the couple ordered groceries." Kaylee nodded in understanding. "And you?"

With a playful roll of her eyes, Kaylee tilted her head. "What does it look like? I'm babysitting. Anyway, do you want to hang out? I'll be free in about an hour."

Surprised yet pleased, JJ nodded. "Yeah, thanks." He then crouched to Lily's level. "And who might this be?"

Lily hid further behind Kaylee.

Kaylee beamed. "JJ, meet Lily. Lily, this is JJ, one of my closest friends."

Kaylee then knelt beside them.

JJ grinned. "Hey, Lily. Need a hand with that sandcastle?"

Lily's eyes sparkled, and with a broad smile, she seized JJ's hand, leading him to the sandcastle she was endeavoring to construct. Kaylee watched JJ, her smile unwavering at the kindness he showed by assisting Lily.

Lily glanced up. "Kaylee! Come help!" Sliding nearer, Kaylee joined in. "We're going to build a bridge here."

"Is Kaylee your favorite?" JJ inquired.

With a grin stretching ear to ear, Lily cheered. "Yep! She lets me have cookies after dinner."

"That does sound awesome," JJ agreed, smiling.

And Kaylee, she just kept smiling.

⚓️

Country Club - Golf Course

Rafe and Topper were now here, walking along.

"Man, that party was insane," Topper told him. Rafe was spinning around a golf club in his hand. "I mean, my first thought when I did the line was... 'Bro, do we have enough?' It was crazy."

Rafe tossed a golf ball on the ground. "I know, right? That was good shit."

"Yeah," Topper agreed. Rafe lined up his shot. "Hey, you, uh... you didn't tell Sarah, did you?"

"Are you kidding me, man?" Rafe asked. "The way she runs her mouth? Hell, no."

Rafe swung and hit the ball, making it launch over into another guy's area near the hole in the ground.

"Hey, come on, now!" the man complained.

"Shut up!" Rafe replied in a shout. "Jesus." He turned to Topper. "Shouldn't be taking so long, anyway." He looked behind Topper. "Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa."

Topper turned to follow his gaze. "What?"

Rafe and Topper saw Pope walking along with grocery deliveries, including a case of beer.

"I don't think he's a member," Rafe told him. "Do you?"

"It's fine," Topper told him. "Just--just let him go. All right, let's, uh, let's go get your ball. Come on."

Rafe tapped his golf club on his chin. "They put a gun to your head, bro."

"That's fine," Topper told him. "It's fine. Let's go." Rafe ignored him, walking toward Pope. "Hey, Rafe. Rafe! Let's get your ball, man."

Rafe walked down to Pope. "Hey, what's up, man? Hey, how much for one of those beers?"

Rafe put his golf club in front of Pope to stop him from walking away.

"They're not for sale," Pope told them, trying to walk away.

Rafe stopped him with his golf club again. "Oh, wait, wait, wait. You can just give us one, then, right?"

Topper joined Rafe's side.

Pope looked between the two. "Or you can order one, like everybody else."

Rafe chuckled, stopping Pope from walking away again. "Listen. Wait, wait, wait. You're not listening to me. Um... you've got so many, bro, and we've got nothing."

Topper shook his head. "Got nothing."

"They're not even mine," Pope explained. "They're already paid for."

"Already paid for?" Rafe repeated, looking at the grocery bag in Pope's other hand. "What the hell? You probably stole 'em, right?"

Rafe used the golf club to rip the bag, causing the contents to fall to the ground.

"What the hell?" Pope demanded. "You owe me for that!"

Rafe used the golf club to knock the other bag out of his hand to the ground. "Dude, I don't owe you shit, Pogue."

Pope pushed Rafe back. "Buy your own shit!"

Topper grabbed the box of beers from Pope. "Hey, come on, man. We just want one of these beers! Just give us one of these--"

Pope struggled to keep hold of the beers. "You guys are freaking crazy!"

Topper ripped the box out of Pope's hand, flipping him onto the ground in the process. "Give us a beer, man!" Pope hit the ground and rolled, groaning in pain. "Shit! Shit, my bad, man." Pope stood, his hat on the ground. He was fuming, going to defend himself against the two Kooks. "Hey." Rafe used the golf club to hit Pope in the stomach, making him scream and lean forward from the blow, before slamming the golf club into Pope's back, punching him in the face, making him fall to the ground. "Hey! Rafe, Rafe! Come on, man!"

Rafe glared down at Pope. "Stay down, bitch!"

Topper tried to pull Rafe away. "Hey, let's go! Let's go, man!"

Rafe pushed Topper off of him. "What, man?"

"Knock it off, Rafe!" Topper told him. "Come on! Seriously, Rafe!" Rafe yelled, slamming the golf club down into the ground next to Pope, making him jump and turn away. "Knock it off!" Pope's forehead was bleeding, as was his lip which caused blood to stain his teeth. "Rafe, listen. Come on, man. Just let him go."

Rafe laughed like a maniac, leaning over Pope to glare down at him, tapping his face. "We don't want you here. Got that?"

"Let him go, man," Topper tried again.

Rafe slapped Pope's chest. "Stay off Figure 8, Pogue. See ya. Top, let's go!" Rafe walked away without a care in the world. Topper hesitated, looking down at Pope in shock. "Hey, let's go!"

Topper ran off after Rafe. "Shit."

Rafe picked up the box of beers. "Hey, you want a beer?"

Once alone, Pope cried.

⚓️

Samantha and Mitch's House - Kitchen

Kaylee and JJ placed the groceries in the kitchen, fulfilling the order Samantha and Mitch had made before returning home.

"Oh, you must be the boy from Heyward's shop," Samantha remarked.

"Yes, ma'am," JJ replied.

"JJ is actually a friend," Kaylee interjected. "He spent time with me and Lily, even helped us build a sandcastle."

Mitch beamed. "That's wonderful. Our thanks to both of you."

"It was no trouble at all," JJ responded.

Samantha handed Kaylee some money. "The usual, 100 dollars." Kaylee's smile broadened. JJ's eyebrows shot up in astonishment. Samantha then extended another hundred to JJ, eliciting an even greater look of surprise. "This is for the groceries and your help with Lily."

"Thank you," JJ said, glancing at Kaylee with a surprised expression.

With a subtle smile and a playful tilt of her head, Kaylee chuckled. "I'll be back. I promised to tuck Lily in and read her favorite story tonight."

"You don't need to do that, Kaylee," Mitch insisted.

"I know, but I want to," Kaylee concurred. "It's calming."

Samantha and Mitch exchanged smiles.

"Thank you," Samantha expressed.

Kaylee gave a nod of acknowledgment. "Anytime." She glanced at JJ. "Walk you out?"

"Sure," JJ replied.

Together, they exited the kitchen.

Mitch's brow furrowed. "Do you sense something about those two?"

Samantha's lips curved into a smile.

⚓️

Foyer

Kaylee and JJ made their way to the door.

"Do they always give you 100s like that?" JJ inquired.

"Mostly," Kaylee responded. "Other times, it's just two 50s."

JJ chuckled. "Oh, ha ha. Nice bosses."

"The best," Kaylee agreed. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

"Sure," JJ replied. "You know, you'd make a great mom. Seeing you with Lily, it's clear."

Kaylee offered a smile. "Maybe, someday. But not just yet."

JJ gave a knowing smirk. "No, you're far too adventurous for that now."

Kaylee cocked her head to the side. "And you, with the way you stepped in, you'd be a good dad. But you're too much of a wild card for that, by a long shot."

Both Kaylee and JJ shared a laugh, and as it subsided, their smiles lingered, and their gazes remained intertwined until they parted.

JJ gestured towards the door. "I should..."

"Head out," Kaylee interjected. "Yeah. I need to go see Lily."

"Yep," JJ agreed. "Later, Kaylee."

Kaylee waved. "See you soon, JJ."

JJ walked out of the house, giving Kaylee a grin as he closed the door. Kaylee smiled, shaking her head, turning around, walking upstairs.

⚓️

The Cut Dock

JJ ran down the dock toward Pope's boat. "Pope! Dude, you are not going to believe what just happened to me, man. Whoo! That was the best 100 bucks I've ever made. When I say count me in on all these grocery deliveries, Pope, I mean it." He walked onto the boat. Pope stayed silent, staring ahead. "What's up with you? Bro, you good?" JJ noticed the cut on Pope's forehead, turning serious instantly. "Yo, what happened to your face, dude?" He lifted Pope's hat to get a better look, but Pope pulled his hat back down. "Jesus! What happened?"

"Rafe and Topper jumped me," Pope answered. "They said no Pogues on their side of the island."

JJ shook his head angrily, looking at Pope. "What are you gonna do?"

Pope looked at JJ.

⚓️

Figure 8 Dock

JJ and Pope stood together, looking at Topper's boat that they saw Topper park and leave as he walked up to a restaurant.

"This is war, Pope," JJ told him. "They hit us, we hit them." He pulled on a bandana scarf around his face, covering up above his nose, and down to his neck. Pope took off his shirt and hat as he glared at the boat. "Do it." JJ placed sunglasses over his eyes. Pope dove into the water, swimming over to Topper's boat, pulling himself up onto it, pulling out the plug on the floor of the boat to allow water to rush into the boat so that it would sink. He swam back over to JJ on their boat, holding up the plug. JJ took down his bandana, smiling, taking off his sunglasses. "You did it. I am so proud of you right now. Holy crap?"

Pope pulled himself onto the boat. "JJ?"

"Yeah?" JJ asked.

"You can't tell anybody," Pope told him.

JJ nodded in agreement. "Oh, no, yeah. Totally, dude."

"No, I'm serious, dude," Pope told him. "Not Kaylee, not Kie, not Isa, not John B, nobody."

JJ held up his hands. "Yup, my lips are sealed." He took the plug from Pope. "Give me that, give me that." He threw the plug into the ocean. "Okay! Let's get outta here."

⚓️

Beach

Isa and Kie sat on their surfboards in the water, clad in their swimsuits.

"Hey, do you remember when you kissed me?" Kie inquired.

"It's pretty hard to forget," Isa remarked.

"Right," Kie concurred. "I know things have been a bit awkward and tense since then, and I'm sorry if my reaction caused you any hurt."

Isa shook her head, gazing downward. "It's okay."

"Did you tell the others?" Kie questioned.

"I had to," Isa replied. "Pogues don't lie to Pogues, remember? Kaylee and John B took it well, but JJ and Pope kind of laughed that you turned me down."

Kie let out a soft scoff. "I didn't turn you down. It was just really bad timing. You were freaking out, weren't you?"

Isa nodded. "Yeah. I was definitely panicking. But it doesn't matter right now."

Both Isa and Kie were somewhat awkward, exchanging faint smiles.

Kaylee arrived in her swimsuit, laying on her surfboard, swimming closer. "Hey, save some waves for us!"

John B, JJ and Pope followed with their surfboards.

"Hey, you guys been?" Kie called.

The Pogues were having absolute fun with surfing the big waves, incredible surfers.

⚓️

Night - The Chateau - Outside

Kaylee laid next to JJ, her head resting on his lap, as JJ was idly playing with her hair. Kie laid in the hammock directly next to them. Isa, Pope and John B laid in lawn chairs on the other side of Kie.

"Name two Kooks that don't absolutely suck," Isa stated.

"I used to know one, but not anymore," Kie remarked.

Isa looked at Kie, knowing she meant Lia, but not that Kie would admit to that.

"That's still just one," John B pointed out.

"Samantha and Mitch," Kaylee answered.

"Two of the parents you babysit for?" Kie asked.

"Hell, yeah," Kaylee answered. "They're nice and they pay hella good money for watching their little Lily."

JJ raised his hand. "I can attest to that. They gave us both 100 bucks since Kaylee was watching Lily, and I brought their groceries and helped out."

The others laughed.

"You really think the gold's out there?" Pope asked. "Like, no bullshit?"

"Our father thought it was," John B answered.

"But do you?" Pope asked.

"After hearing his voice on that tape..." Isa trailed off. "I think I do."

John B nodded in agreement. "Me too."

Kaylee's eyelids fluttered shut as JJ was running his fingers through her hair. "Only one way to find out."

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know?" Kie asked.

Kaylee's smile was a faint glimmer. "Even JJ believes."

John B shot Kaylee a look filled with mock surprise, gasping teasingly as he turned his gaze to JJ. "Oh, my God, JJ, do you really believe?"

In response, Kaylee nonchalantly gave John B the bird, prompting chuckles from JJ, Isa, and John B.

"Totally," JJ declared. "Wait, are we talking about four mil?"

In perfect harmony, Kie and Isa interjected, "Four hundred mil."

Kie beamed at Isa. "Jinx."

Isa offered a tired smile in return.

Reclining in his seat, JJ made himself comfortable, with Kaylee's head resting in his lap. "I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks." He murmured to Kaylee with a flirtatious undertone. "And Kaylee." Kaylee's smile beamed like a lighthouse. Raising his voice, JJ bid goodnight Isa and John B. "Night, Bird. Sweet dreams, Dove."

"Good night, bird shit," John B replied.

JJ flipped John B off as Kaylee and Isa smiled and chuckled at the two.

⚓️

Day Four

Morning - Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Lia was going over some more research, not sure what to do about what she should do yet, gazing off, remembering the night when she saw Robbie get threatened, but there was more to the story than she told anyone else.

⚓️

Flashback 6

Night - Robbie's House - Outside

Lia walked down the street of the Cut, looking around, finding Robbie outside his house. "Robbie? What's going on?"

Robbie turned to face her, looking worried. "Lia, what the hell are you doing here?"

"You told me to come over last night, remember?" Lia asked.

Robbie did remember this, looking away in frustration. "Fuck. Okay, uh, you turn around and go back home, okay?"

"Why?" Lia asked. "What's wrong?"

"You gotta leave right now before this motherfucker gets here," Robbie told her. "My guy's about to come through here. I don't want you here when he gets here, you understand?"

Lia frowned. "Why is your drug dealer coming? I thought you quit. You told me that you quit."

"I did," Robbie answered. "But I owe him a lot of money, and he wants it now. I didn't know that today was another deadline until this prick slashed my tires on my car earlier today as a warning. And I know that means he's coming here tonight. So please go." Lia turned around, but it was too late, as they saw a motorcycle pull up and park. "Shit. Fuck. Damn it! Look, I'm serious, Lia. Just stay right there, and be cool. This dude doesn't fuck around."

"Robbie..." Lia trailed off.

Robbie gave Lia a concerned look, not taking no for an answer, and Lia nodded, looking down nervously.

The drug dealer got off his bike, taking off his helmet, revealing it was Barry, walking closer. "Yo, Robbie."

"Barry," Robbie replied.

Barry noticed Lia not looking at him. "So this your little bitch?"

Lia turned to face Barry, glaring. "I'm not anyone's bitch."

Barry smirked, chuckling. "Got a mouth on her. I like it."

Robbie still looked worried sick, but tried to play it cool. "This is Lia. She's like my little sister."

Barry looked Lia over. "Well, hello there, little sis." He took Lia's hand, kissing it. "My name's Barry. Pleasure to meet you. So what's a rich girl Kook doing hanging out with a druggie orphan from the Cut?"

Lia rolled her eyes. "Might be a rich girl, but don't compare me to the stuck up assholes that call themselves Kooks."

Barry shrugged. "All right. Time's up, Robbie. You owe me a lot of money. You know what the math is on that, Ramirez?"

"I've been working on it, you know that," Robbie told him. "I got you 600 back. I got 300 more. Half my rent money, but..."

"That ain't my problem," Barry replied, taking the cash from Robbie. "You still owe me 300 more." He glanced at Lia. "Unless your rich little sis wants to help cop up the cash."

"No," Robbie denied. "Lia's not getting me out of this. I am."

"What about you, Lia?" Barry asked. "Like anything in my trade?"

"No," Lia answered.

"You sure?" Barry asked. "Got a lot of Fentanyl right now."

Robbie glared at Barry for even offering that. "She said no. There's too many ODs off that. She's good."

Barry reached out to touch Lia's hair. "Gonna let big brother talk for you?"

Lia pushed Barry's hand away lightly, not wanting to do anything to set him off, while looking at Robbie worriedly. "I said no."

Barry put his fingers on Lia's chin and cheek to turn her head toward him. "Don't look at him. Look at me. You ever try it?"

Lia glared at him. "No."

"Ever try any drug?" Barry asked.

Lia shook her head. "No. And I don't want that to change tonight. I'm good."

"Yo, for real," Robbie told him. "I don't want her fucking with this shit."

Barry ignored him, looking at Lia. "What, you don't trust me?"

"You really want me to answer that?" Lia asked.

Barry smirked at the answer, nodding. "Fair enough."

"For real, man," Robbie told him. "She's good."

"Shut the fuck up, bitch," Barry told him. "Ain't nobody talkin' to you." He looked at Lia. "Tell Robbie I'm not talking to him right now. Tell him, 'shut the fuck up'. Come on. Don't be scared."

Lia just had a hard look in her eyes as she was forced to meet his gaze. "I'm not."

Barry chuckled, looking over to Robbie. "You know what, Ramirez? I think I'm gonna need another 300 now." His fingers trailed along Lia's skin to get to Robbie. "Unless you got another way of paying me."

"You gonna do me like that?" Robbie asked.

"Yeah, I'm gonna do you like that," Barry answered. 

Robbie stepped closer. "Get your hands off her."

Barry tapped his belt loop which had a gun holster underneath his jacket. "Best take a step back unless you want more trouble than you're worth." Robbie stopped, knowing that Barry's threat to use the gun was serious. Lia looked worried sick. "You said the 300 was half your rent. Gimme the other half."

"Robbie..." Lia trailed off.

Robbie didn't hesitate since Barry was clearly using Lia to get under his skin and she was not safe right then, taking out the 300, handing it over to Barry. "We good?"

Barry counted the money, flashing an evil grin. "Always a pleasure doing business with you." He looked at Lia. "Robbie must really love you." He patted his gun holster again as he backed away from the two, smirking. "See you two around."

Barry walked toward his bike to get on, winking at Lia, driving away.

Lia let out a heavy breath, turning to face Robbie. "You okay?"

Robbie nodded, sighing in relief. "You?" Lia nodded shakily. Robbie wrapped his arms around Lia, and Lia returned the embrace. "I'm done with all that, Lia. I promise."

⚓️

Now

Day - Tannyhill Estate - Lia's Room

Lia was gazing off as she pulled out of the memory, turning her head to her research, shaking her head, putting it away for now, knowing that right now, there wasn't much she could do without doing something stupid and getting herself hurt, and she wasn't going to take a stupid risk like that because she knew that Robbie wouldn't want her to, and she knew that she did have some people who cared about her, like Sarah and Wheezie, even though she was convinced Rafe, Ward and Rose didn't.

⚓️

Ocean

The Pogues drove out in a boat over the sea, headed out for the Merchant with the map and the drone.

JJ steered the boat as the rest of them sat outside.

John B held the map, directing JJ on where to go. "All right, JJ, pin it here."

"Roger that," JJ replied. "X marks the spot."

"All right, ladies and gentlemen," Isa said, pulling out the drone.

"To going full Kook," Kie remarked.

Isa dropped the drone into the water, the device beginning to sink.

Kaylee, Kie and Isa stood at the edge of the boat, threading the yellow wire connected to the drone and tracking how far down it had gone.

"All right, JJ, we're right over it," John B directed. "Ten seconds northwest."

"Got it," JJ said. "Ten seconds northwest."

"One hundred feet," Kaylee called out to the boys.

Kie marked a tally on the side of the boat with chalk.

Pope was looking at the screen of what the drone was recording, gasping.

John B walked toward him. "What? What, what, what, what?"

"It's nothing," Pope said, causing John B to groan. "Sorry, I thought--"

"Don't do that to us, man," Isa complained.

Pope shook his head. "My bad. I just thought I saw... and to quote The Hobbit, 'down, down, to Goblin Town. Down, down, you go, my lad'."

"Not the time to quote literature, Pope," Kaylee pointed out.

"Four hundred feet," Isa called.

Kie marked the fourth tally on the side of the boat. "The tide's turning."

Thunder started to rumble in the sky up above.

"Shit," Isa cursed.

John B looked at the monitor in his hands as it beeped. "Hey, JJ?"

"Yup?" JJ asked.

"Ten seconds easy," John B directed. "All right? South-southeast."

"Copy that," JJ agreed, beginning to turn the wheel.

"JJ, 20 seconds mid-speed, all right?" John B directed. "South."

"Copy that," JJ replied. "Aye, aye. Come on. Keep the tether out of the prop!"

"We're trying!" Kie retorted.

"JJ, keep going," Isa told him.

"John B, is that good?" JJ called for confirmation.

"We're good!" John B answered. "We're good!"

"Okay, 700 feet," Kaylee called.

Kie made the seventh tally.

Kaylee, Kie and Isa's hair began to blow wildly as the wind picked up, and they exchanged a nervous look.

The wind vane on the boat suddenly sped up, tracking the wind as the thunder crashed louder. The boat began to rock as the waves picked up.

Kaylee, Kie and Isa had to grip onto the edge of the boat to keep their footing.

JJ stumbled a bit as well. "Okay..."

The cloud above them looked dark and dangerous as it flashed with lightning.

"JJ, hold it steady!" John B told him.

"Okay, 900," Kaylee updated.

Kie marked the ninth tally.

"JJ, we're gonna turtle in this storm, man," Pope called anxiously.

Kaylee ran her hand through her hair nervously. "920!"

"Crack it north by northwest," John B directed. "Ten seconds." JJ began to spin the wheel faster. "Pope, how are we doing?"

"Almost there," Pope answered.

"John B!" Isa called. "There's too much current."

The girls pulled at the yellow cord.

"We're gonna lose it," Kaylee stated worriedly.

"South, southwest, JJ," John B instructed. "Half speed. Steady at this bearing, JJ! What do you got, Pope? Come on, man. What do you see?"

"Nothing," Pope answered in frustration. "A whole lot of nothing."

"Come on, you should be right above it, brother," John B encouraged.

"Isa?" Pope called. "Kaylee? Kie?"

"960!" Kie replied with the number.

"970!" Kaylee called out.

Isa's tone became more panicked as the yellow cord started to spin faster. "980!"

Pope started to freak out. "I'm at the bottom! I'm at the bottom!"

"Okay, steady here, JJ," Isa told him. "Steady here."

"Quarter speed, all right?" John B asked. "You should be seeing something, man."

John B and Pope stared at the screen.

"I know, I know," Pope agreed, attempting to calm down. "Wait, wait." The girls ran over to look at the screen with the two. "Oh, good God."

The Royal Merchant appeared on the screen through the recording of the drone. The camera passed the recognizable statue of the angel at the front of the ship.

JJ turned back to look at them. "See anything?"

"It's the Royal Merchant," John B whispered.

Kaylee smiled, calling out to JJ. "It's the Royal Merchant!"