TO SAY THAT THE SIGHT OF THE crappy motel was a disappointment was an understatement. Slowly, they glided along the water and the closer they got, the worst the motel seemed to get. Each of their faces displayed a variety of disgust, awkwardly staring at it in hopes that it magically got better.

It didn't, and JJ broke the silence with a low whistle, speaking what the rest all thought. "I thought the Chateau looked bad."

  "This place is a shitshow." Pope glared, immediately regretting his actions of coming along.

  "Motel or meth lab?" Kiara added on, making Sierra snort with a chuckle.

  "Which room do ya' think Walter White is cooking up drugs in?" The Ray girl questioned, standing from her position on the back seats of the boat.

  "You be the judge."

  "Doesn't look like a place somebody with a Grady White stays in." John B stated the obvious, maneuvering the boat towards a small hill of grass, noting that the dock nearby was broken.

  "No, it looks like a place someone with a Grady White would get killed." Pope grumbled, crossing his arms with frustration. He turned back to glance at Sierra who looked just as disappointed. "Look at the positives, huh?"

  "Shut up."

  "All right here, we go." John B mumbled, signaling for JJ to ready the rope as they neared land.

  "This is your captain speaking, HMS pogue comin' in for landing." JJ spoke into his fist, mocking a radio. "Whoo!" He exclaimed, jumping onto the grass below and swiftly tying down the boat.

  "We good?"

  "Yeah, we good."

  "Alright, here goes nothing."

  "Hey." Pope called out, catching the attention of the John B, who already had one foot off the boat. "I'm sending in backup with you two."

  "What?" JJ furrowed his brows, planting his hands on his hips. "What the hell do you mean by backup?"

  Pope turned around, lightly tapping on Sierra's knee, "She is gonna make sure neither of you do anything stupid."

  "One smart one here, another smart one with them." Sierra stood, proudly stepping off the boat. "Great idea, Pope."

  "Hold on, but why does Pirate have to be considered backup?" John B questioned with a confused expression, glancing between Pope and the Ray girl.

  "Because you two shits don't have enough brain cells combined to act when something goes wrong." Pope explained like it was obvious, "Hence Pirate, backup."

  "Hey, I'm not complainin'." JJ called out, wrapping one arm around the girls exposed waist, her tan skin heating up under his touch.

  "And I'm not makin' any promises." Sierra smiled, "It's hard enough to deal with one idiot, let alone two."

  "Hey!" JJ pinched at her side, faking a offended expression. "I'll be good."

  Sierra threw him an unconvinced look, slapping away his fingers that nicked her skin. "Oh, really?"

  "Actually, no, I can't make any promises either."

  Pope couldn't help but roll his eyes, pushing himself off the metal bar above the steering wheel and shaking his head in disapproval.

  Kiara then stepped up, holding out the motel keys. "Be careful." Her pretty brown eyes were wide with worry, both of their hands brushing as John B took the keys. "I mean it "

  Sierra and JJ shared a look, both similar; raised brows, knowing smirks, and a shared thought. If anyone knew about sexual tension, it was the two of them. Especially with the position they're in, still in each others embrace, looking at each other with only inches between them. Had Sierra not looked away she's first, JJ would've made a bold move he wouldn't have regretted.

  "Yeah." John B mumbled, turning away and looking at the two teens, recognizing the secret message they held with their gaze. He sheepishly turned away and attempt to find a way to change the subject. "Why are all these mattresses out here."

  JJ pulled his arm off of Sierra's waist, following after John B who had a quick pace in his steps. "After a hurricane, they ditch 'em 'cause they're all moldy."

  "Gross." Sierra stuck her tongue out in disgust, walking next to JJ, only a few steps behind John B. It was a common thing that they'd subconsciously grown into as they got closer. John B lead the way whilst the others followed behind, awaiting the next move.

  Once they'd traveled far enough, now reaching the second floor of the motel, JJ took larger steps to walk next the brunette.

  "Just be so careful, John." JJ began, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and caressing his jaw.

  "God, you're so weird." John B grumbled, pushing the boy away and shooting him a glare.

  "Dude, what the hell was that about?" JJ asked with a teasing smile, turning back to look at a giggling Sierra. "Am I right?"

  "I don't know, maybe she wants us to be careful!"

  "But she said to be careful to you, now that cracks open a whole 'nother can of worms." Sierra added, poking at John B's side with the tip of her finger.

  "Exactly!" JJ motioned towards Sierra, "Since she heard you're being threatened with exile, she's just been, like: Oh, be so careful, John B."

  "Get off." John B groaned, shrugging off JJ's hands that massaged at his shoulders.

  "Oh, just give me that John D, already." JJ continued to tease, only being met by John B's back as a response. "Like, when are you gonna swoop on that, man."

  "Bro, you know the rule, no Pogue-on-Pogue macking." John B argued, taking a pause in his steps. "And you don't even have room to talk anyway, look at you and Sierra, always on each other and I don't ever say shit."

  "Hey, me and Si got a strong bond going, and we keep it real." JJ defended, resting his arm on her shoulder casually. "You and Kie try to be all sneaky and slick, let me tell ya somethin', you're not."

  "And at least I'm not like: Oh, be so careful, Jay." Sierra added on, faking a whiny voice and suddenly getting very handsy with JJ's biceps and arms.

  "Oh, so sitting on his lap is cool but Kie telling me to be careful is just a little too much?"

  "Hey, drop the attitude." Sierra scolded, raising a finger to prevent the boy from speaking anymore.

  "Whatever." John B rolled his eyes, continuing down, passing a variety of doors. "You two need help, like serious help before even thinking about giving me dating advice."

  "Okay, okay." Sierra threw her hands up in surrender, leaning up to whisper in JJ's ear. "It's just the side affects of not hooking up with anyone for three months."

  "Word." JJ chuckled, immediately stopping as John B turned back to glare at him. The brunette looked between the two suspiciously before turning back.

  "This is it." The Routledge boy pointed at the dark grey door, the very last one of second row. The paint chipped and flaked off of it, the black plaque with the number 229 clinging the center of the door by a single nail.

  JJ nodded, walking past the two and knocking a rhythm onto the door. "Housekeeping." No response came after a few seconds, leading the blonde to leave another set of knocks on the window.

  "Should we try it?" John B asked, turning towards his friends for confirmation.

  "Well if we're gonna find out who owns this boat and get loaded with money, you're gonna have to open the damn door." Sierra stated the obvious, resting a hand on her waist as John B shot her a glare.

  "Yeah, and there's no power, no security cameras, no one's gonna know." JJ listed, turning at Sierra, "Thinkin' of all the positives." He sent her a wink, making her smile proudly.

  John B finally managed to open the stubborn lock, pushing down the handle and opening the door. An unpleasant odor attacked them as the creaky door was pushed opened, JJ walking in first with no hesitation.

  "Get a load of that stench." JJ chuckled, "Smells like somebody had a fun night and left the condom to rot."

  "Ugh, gross, JJ." Sierra scrunched her nose, suddenly gasping with wide eyes as she turned to look at the two. "Wait, what if it's a dead body. I heard those things wreak 'cause they start decomposing."

  "You're starting to sound like Pope." John B commented, "And you also sound way to excited to discover a dead body."

  "But think about, JB." Sierra continued as they stepped further into the room. "Super sketchy motel, the key was found on a super sketchy situation, and now, somethin' super sketchy could be hiding in this room."

  "Uh, I don't really want to think about that right now." John B mumbled, "Start checkin' the whole place, and don't go looking for dead bodies. JJ, check the bag, see if there's a name on there somewhere."

  "Uh, okay, dad." Sierra scoffed, pulling out a flashlight that JJ conveniently had in his backpack. She only getting an eye roll from the brunette before he began digging throw a duffel bag on the bed.

  "Got a jacket." JJ loudly announced, grabbing it to investigate the tag.

  "Denim slides."

  "No name on the jacket." JJ added on, Sierra paid no mind as she walked straight on to the bathroom room. "Nice jacket though."

  "Definitely over 50, he's got New Balances." John B muttered, almost insultingly as he pulled out a pair of old, dirty sneakers.

  "Or a someone our age." Sierra chimed in, getting a flashlight in her face, "The Kooks are bringing it back in style."

  "Does it look like a Kook would go anywhere near here?" John B scoffed, lowering his flashlight from her eyesight and placing the sneakers back in its place. Meanwhile, JJ had wandered towards the dusty nightstand that sat between the two beds.

  He lightly tapped on a map, his eyes scanning it quickly, "Yo, dude, come here." JJ called out, signaling for John B to come over. "Maybe this is where they're fishing."

  "Let me see." The Routledge boy murmured, flashing his own light towards the paper, focusing on where JJ's finger pointed. "No, that's off the continental shelf. That's Big Swell, nobody fishes there."

  "So, map leads nowhere?" Sierra questioned from the other end of the room, raising a brow.

  "Nope." John B shook his head, shining towards an old coffee brewer, "There's coffee, though."

  "Standard." JJ joked, "And tissue's for when you get lonely."

  "Bet you're very familiar with those, aren't ya, Jay?" Sierra teased, smiling at him as he scoffed and poked his tongue at his cheek, attempting to hold back his own grin.

  "Not with you around, princess."

  "Guys." John B deadpanned, glaring at the two. "Actually stop, this is excruciating to listen to. Leave it for the bedroom, when the two of you are mackin' on each other."

  "Me and JJ don't mack, it's just friendly ol' banter." Sierra defended, lightly patting on the blonde's shoulder. "Isn't that right?"

  "Yup." JJ quipped back quickly, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on her head. "Family friendly."

  "See?"

  "My ass." John B muttered, scowling as he looking away to further investigate a desk.

  Sierra turned when she heard a low squeal from the bathroom, she found JJ looking through a bag joyfully.

  "Did you find anything?"

  "Just this really awesome Dopp kit you won't let me steal." JJ informed, looking at Sierra and raising a finger to lips, faintly making a shh noise.

  "Yeah, 'cause we're not stealing shit." John B replied, and simultaneously, JJ shoved a travel sized deodorant into his cargo shorts, only giving Sierra a mischievous wink. When they walked out they caught the brunette crouch in front of the desk he was investigating earlier, now typing in random numbers into a safe.

  "I don't think punching in random numbers is gonna get you anywhere." Sierra informed, walking back towards the map that the two boys were looking at just a few minutes before.

  "Well how 'bout you give me the code, Sierra." John B snapped back, looking over his shoulder to stare at her.

  Sierra picked up a ripped piece of paper that looked like it came from a notepad provided by the motel. She squinted at the faint scribbles. "Try six, one, six, six, six."

  "Yeah, right." The boy scoffed, typing in the code and pausing when the light flickered green, a click following after. "Shit."

  "Did it work?"

  "Yeah, uh.." John clicked his tongue, "I was getting there."

  "My ass." Sierra replied, walking towards the brunette as he twisted the handle and pulled open the tiny safe door.

  John B's eyes widened, a shaky chuckle escaping his lips. "Holy shit."

  "Christ on a cracker." Sierra swallowed, feeling her mouth suddenly go dry as she stared at the stacks and stacks of money. And in the center, a gun. A whole, and probably fully loaded, gun. "Uh, Jay."

"Yeah princess." JJ turned around to face her

"You're gonna wanna see this."

All it took was Sierra's call, but the extra push that had JJ peaking over her shoulder in a few second was the the wad of cash that John B waved over his shoulder. The blonde bent down, gawking at the sight before his hands immediately reached for the gun.

  A wave of panic blanketed over John B's demeanor, his eyes widening and hands going out to grip JJ's wrist. "You grabbed the gun!"

  The brunette pulled his hands away quickly, as if his own DNA would be marked on the firearm if he got closer to his friend. "Dude, this is a SIG Sauer!" JJ's eyes were also wide, but more so in excitement than panic and with a gleam of reckless adrenaline.

  "No! JJ!" Sierra moved forward, hands going to pull it away but each advance was dodged as JJ pull it farther away. "Put it back!"

  "This is a fuckin' spendy gatt, man!" The blonde nearly squealed as he suddenly got into formation, pointing it around with one eye shut. "Imagine, just, bam, bam, bam."

  Sierra gripped the chair behind her when the blonde bumped into her, indulging far too much in his personal role pay of shooting the gun to even notice.

  It wasn't until John B forcefully tugged at the back of his old t-shirt, glaring at him. "We're not stealing anything!"

  "You've got all your fingerprints on that shit and now could get arrested for it." Sierra ran a hand over her curly locks, shutting her eyes and letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Uh, that's only if I'm already in the system."

  "JJ, you're in the system."

  "Oh, yeah, you're right." JJ huffed, "Well, Okay, then, Ms. Sheriffs daughter." He chuckled as Sierra sent him an unamused stare. "C'mon, Pirate, just take a pic' of me right here."

  "I'm not taking a fuckin' photo of you!" Sierra groaned, "Especially not when you look like one of Charlie's Angels in that pose."

  JJ sighed, rolling his eyes, "Fine, John B, you do it."

  "You want me to take a picture of you?" John B questioned, looking at JJ like it was the most ludicrous thing he could possible say. Truth be told, it was. Yet, JJ still nodded with full confidence, going back to striking his pose. "Make our own incriminating evidence? Is that what you're talking about?"

  JJ deflated like a ballon at another rejection, lowering the gun. "Dude, really, I thought we had something going on—"

  "Hold up, wait." Sierra suddenly raised a hand to hush all noises, lifting her head towards the window between the two beds. She heard a very faint noise from outside. "Did you hear that?"

  "No, didn't hear anything." JJ shrugged, "Not over all this heartbreak your causing me, princess."

  "Shh." Sierra muttered, brushing past him to peek out the blinds. There, she saw Kiara and Pope frantically pointing to their left and mouthing a warning. Sierra wasn't totally sure what it was, but all she knew was that it was their cue to leave as quickly as possibly. "Check the window."

  John B hopped over the bed and took one look out the other window, his expression fell as he turned around. "Cops."

  Sierra had already began picking at the window, forcing the dusty thing open as she climbed out. The thin platform underneath nearly caused her to slip before she felt a grip on her arm, turning to see John B following just behind her. The door was already clicking as it unlocked by the time JJ climbed out and slid it back shut.

Sierra was basically on the very edge, inches away from falling. The only thing keeping her steady was the one foot she had fully planted and JJ's hand in hers. She wanted to lecture John B so badly as he continuously peering into the room through a small gape in the blinds. Though, she could let out silent breaths, looking down every few seconds to admire frightening view down below.

John B seemed to notice something, doing that thing where he looked at JJ and they silently communicated. Faintly, Sierra heard the blonde mutter, "What the fuck." As he tried to turn back to inform Sierra of what he saw  he knocked the gun that hung in his back pocket. The action lead it to fall out and clatter onto the top of the dumpster below.

Sierra's practically welded to the wall with how hard she attempted to press against it, squeezing her eyes shut nervously. The noise made her cringe, it made her wish that she just stayed on the boat.

For what felt like forever, they waited, clinging to the brick wall and balancing on the platform. The fading sound of tires against dirt was the sign that all was safe, the extra reassurance by John B was what pushed them to finally get down. The slope of the platform was a quick passage to leave the scene as fast as possible before some employee caught and snitched on them.

Sierra was the last to go, "Jay." The girl called out as she reached the bottom. JJ didn't need another word before his arms were extended and wrapping around Sierra's body. "Thank you."

—

  And awkward silence filled the boat as they slowly glided against the water. "Well that was fun." He chuckled, "You know you could've warned us sooner."

  "We would've," Kiara muttered back quickly, staring at the Heyward boy next to her. "except Pope was on the math team."

"You were on the math team?" JJ questioned incredulously, looking at Pope's guilty face.

"Don't look at me, Sierra was on it too."

"For like, a semester only!"

"You were on the math team?" JJ said even louder, his face full of confusion as he stared at Sierra.

"Guys!" Pope cut off anymore words that could spill out the blonde's mouth, "We're getting off topic."

"You pointed the finger first, Pope." Sierra pointed, going ignored as Pope rolled his eyes and continues.

"The cops took everything like it was a crime scene. Did you guys find anything?"

"Did we find anything?" JJ mumbled to himself, slowly reaching into his pockets. "No I don't think so—oh, yeah, we did."

His blue eyes were wide, looking almost crazy with the matching smirk he held. In his left hand he had the gun, on the right a stack of cash.

Pope never stood so quick from his seat, it would've been comical if it weren't for the circumstances. "What the hell!"

"Dude, chill, c'mon." A clear contrast in both of their expression were shown, albeit the widened eyes, JJ was full of excitement whereas Pope's held sheer panic in his.

"Why would you take that from a crime scene?"

"It's better then the cops having it!"

John B watched in amusement, Kiara only glared back at him. "Are you serious?" The sentence made the Routledge boys smile drop, quickly turning serious.

"I told you to not let him do anything stupid!" Pope turned to look at Sierra accusingly, "I'm gonna loose my merit scholarship."

"I made no promises!" Sierra argued, "And I told him to put it back—"

"Hey, hey, hey." JJ eased, extending out both his arms between Pope and Sierra to keep them apart. "Sh, sh, sh, sh. There's enough of me to go around."

"Shut up, JJ." Sierra groaned, sliding her hands down her face.

"I'm living the nightmare." Pope stated, turning away from JJ and sitting down. "I can't drive anymore, I'm gonna be sick."

"Chill, Pope." John B patted his shoulder, going to sit in the center seat. "No one will know if some stuff was missing if they didn't see it before." Kiara shot the boy a look, making him clear his throat. "Not that I approve of what JJ did or anything.."

"Whatever, man." The blonde muttered back, sitting down next to Sierra who still hands covering her face.

The HMS Pogue continued onward, going back to the Coast Guard in an attempt to file a report for the missing boat once more. If cops were now involved then the importance increased, meaning the finders fee could've as well.

But when they got there and docked the boat, they were met with a swarm of cops and a mumbling crowd. The Pogue's watched from afar, choosing to take a seat in the front row of the crime scene. Not much could be seen, just police officers, an old man who was sitting down and being interviewed. There was also the addition of some paramedics, their dark uniforms contrasting against the khaki shirt and pants that the officers wore. It was the squeaking wheels of a gurney as it rolled down the wooden floor that caught their attention. On top was a pale, lifeless body, skin drained of all color. The paramedics where stopped by a hysterical woman that sounded like she was on the verge of crying as she caressed the bodies cold face.

  "Who's that?" John B was the first to ask, looking over to a younger girl that was there before them. Her face was familiar, a freshman that attended Kildare County High school who also was in Sierra's Spanish class. Lilah, that was her name.

  "It's Scooter Grubbs." The blonde girl replied, "He was out during the storm, check out this pic I got." She reached for her phone quickly, clicking her photo gallery and chuckling as she showed it. "Dead body."

  "What kind of boat did he have?" JJ asked, lifting his arm to rest on the rooftop of the dock. It made it difficult for Sierra to concentrate.

  "Somehow, that dirtbag copped a brand-new Grady White." Lilah responded, clicking off her phone. "Everyone's out looking for it."

  Sierra looked between her friends knowingly, a small smirk playing on her lips. Before she could speak Officer Shoupe, a familiar face that was also at the motel, came up to them.

  "Nothin' good to see here, kids." He sighed, "We gonna need you to get up and leave, this a crime scene."

  "Aw, c'mon, Shoupe." Sierra groaned as the Pogue's began getting and moving from their position.  "This is the single most interesting thing that's happened on this island the whole year."

  "Somebody died, Sierra." Shoupe lectured like the old man he is, "As interesting as it is to you, we have the wife on the scene and who doesn't need anymore troubles."

  "Let's go, Pirate." JJ tugged at her wrist, making her stand and huff.

—

Sierra and Kiara sat on the couch, mindlessly conversing as the Carrera girl coiled her friends best friends hair onto her finger. The continuous click of JJ's lighter as he flicked it open and closed was beginning to annoy Sierra. The had just arrived back to the Château after discovering the death of Scooter Grubbs, quietly basking in the news.

Though, the silent moment was promptly ruined by Pope who shoved the screen door open and rushed in with stomping steps.

"Okay, so, um.." The Heyward boy puffed out a large sigh, "We didn't see anything, we don't know anything, we need to have total and complete amnesia."

"See no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil." Sierra muttered, "Sounds like a plan to me."

"Yeah, exactly." Pope nodded in agreement, flopping down next to her as JJ suddenly stood up.

"Actually, Pope's right for once." The blonde pointed at him with a final flick of his lighter, "See I agree with you sometimes; deny, deny, deny."

"Guys, we can't keep that money." Kiara spoke up, pulling her hands way from Sierra's hear. A faint look of distress clouded her pretty face, her brows scrunching and creating a crease.

"Okay, not all of us can afford unlimited data plans, Kiara." JJ grumbled back, leaning against wooden part of the porch screen wall.

"We have to pass that off to Lana Grubb's, otherwise, it's bad Karma." The curly-haired girl shrugged, "Just sayin'."

"Bad karma to be implicated in a felony, too." Pope shook his head, "We gotta go dark."

"If that means we get to keep the money," JJ began, walking over to John B's left side, staring at to the greenery outside, "then I agree."

John B patted the blonde's arm, finally speaking for the first time since the whole interaction. "I don't agree."

JJ watched with furrowed brows as John B walked away, his expression identical an offended one. "Why?"

"Just, think about it." John B stopped in his tracks, turning around to face the group, "This is Scooter Grubbs we're talking about, right?Same dude who's buying individual cigarettes at the porthole. Shit, one time I saw this dude begging for change in the Save-A-Lot parking lot because he needed gas."

"He's been rumored to hold up a sign outside the Walmart claiming that he was homeless and in need of money." Sierra spoke up, adding onto John B's list.

"Exactly! We're talking about a dirtbag marina rat who's never had more than 40 bucks in his pocket, and all of a sudden, he's got Grady White?" He exhaled heavily after, looking at the faces of his friends before shrugging and turning back to walk into the home. "Just sayin'."

"Maybe he won the lottery." Pope began, "Either way, it's none of our business on how he got that Grady-White or why. Let's just..let him rest in peace."

John B came out, two fishing rods in his hand as he handed one to JJ and the other to the ranting Heyward boy. "Join me, Pope."

The Pogue's made their way down the Routledge dock, silently prepping the rod with bait as Pope flung it out into the water.

"I really think this whole No hook ups for three months thing is starting to get to him." Sierra whispered towards JJ, leaning against the wood, watching as he copied Pope's actions.

"Let him speak his mind." JJ replied, resting his elbows on the railing. "Maybe he's onto something."

"All right, so think about it, Pope." John B started up again, "How does a marina rat get a Grady White?"

"Prostitution." Pope replied back quickly, not sparing him a glance.

John B sighed, "Square groupers, bro, okay? Flying under the radar, no aerial surveillance. They don't do that stuff during a hurricane." The brunette turned to look at JJ who was whispering something else to even recall what the topic was. "What does that mean, JJ?".

"They were straight smugglin." Sierra whispered subtly, turning away like she didn't notice that John B had asked anything.

"They were straight smugglin'!"

"Smugglin'."John repeated proudly, turning to look at Kiara who was utterly lost in where he was going with his tangent. "And I guarantee there's a shit-load of contraband in that wreck."

"Hell yeah." JJ whispered, his reflexes quick as something began tugging at his fishing rod. "Fish on!"

The Pogue's changed setting once more after getting bored, and far too hot in the heat of the humid Outerbanks air. They found comfort in JJ's room. It was technically a guest room but the residence of the Maybank boy surpassed the guest status long ago. Besides, the drawers were full of his clothes, cans of beer left by him, discarded socks. Even the sheets of which Pope sat on smelled just like him too.

"For the record." Pope began as he lifted a finger, "If that is a smuggling ship with illegal contraband on the inside of it, it probably belongs to someone else."

"Minor details."

"They could come looking for it." Pope argued, pointing at Kiara with the wad of cash in his hands. "Taking it would be catastrophically stupid."

"Right, well, stupid things have good outcomes all the time." JJ spoke his infamous words, taking the cash and flashing it in Pope's face. "All we need to do is figure out a way to get into the cargo hold of that wreck, 'til then, we just lay low. Just act normal."

"Right, and now exactly do we do that?"

"Yeah, just casually ignore the fact that we found a wrecked boat, took some motel keys from inside of it, found the motel, snuck into the room, stole a gun and cash, almost got caught by the police, and then the owner of the boat and motel room was found literally an hour later, completely deceased." Sierra said, resting her hands onto her thighs and looking between the four. "How do you recommend that we ignore that?"

"Kegger?"

NATTI SPEAKS:
updated on March 18th, 2024