𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒, 𝗉𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽

13: 𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚜

To celebrate their success for retrieving the drone from the salvage yard, the Carrera sisters came up with the idea of all of them going to the wreck, hoping their father would give them some food. All their stomachs were growling with hunger as they had been driving.

"Stealing drones makes you hungry." Kie comments, hopping out of the campervan, the others following.

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

"It would not be pretty." Pope states.

Kiara and Y/n lead their three friends into their family restaurant, seeing their father standing at the counter. As they go to greet him, the three boys walk past them and past the tables, standing there awkwardly as their eyes are locked on plates of food other people had ordered and were currently eating.

"How'd we do?" Kie asks.

"Didn't turn it over once." Their father replies.

"It's probably just bad luck because of the storm." Kie states as her and Y/n hug their father.

Their father nods. "Yeah, I'll be sure to tell the banks that."

"Guess now is not the best time to ask for free food for us and our friends?" Y/n questions hopefully.

Their father sighs. "Look at them. They're greedy pelicans. I thought I told you two to stop hanging around these guys."

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

"Cause you two never gave them a chance." Their father states.

"We did give them a chance." Y/n argues. "They got all stuck up on us. They care more about shoes than surfing. What are we supposed to do with that?"

"These are our friends." Kie adds.

The three all glance at the three boys, the three of them looking back and waving awkwardly at the sisters and their father.

"Well, I gotta throw it out. Might as well take it." Their father says, giving in.

With big smiles, the sisters tackle their father in a tight hug, making him chuckle and hug back. In unison, they let out a small 'thank you', hearing their father reply before they all pull away, the girls turning to their friends.

"Sit down." Kie instructs.

Sighing in relief, the boys do as told, Kiara and Y/n following as they sit down beside each other. Eventually, the food was brought out to them, all of them starting to dig in. As the boys ate, Kiara and Y/n both helped fill up their glasses of water occasionally.

As Y/n filled up JJ's cup of water, the sound of another song came up on the speakers. Glancing over at Pope, she walked over to him, grabbing the boy by the hand. Pope stared at Y/n curiously before she started dancing.

With a smile, he joined in, their bodies moving to the rhythm of the song that was currently playing. Pope found himself grabbing Y/n's hand, twirling her around as he lifted up his arm, listening to the small giggle that went past her lips.

Once they turned to face each other again, Y/n found herself glancing down at Pope's lips, him doing the same. It didn't last long as they looked back into each other's eyes.

***

The next day, the sun was shining down on the five friends as they were all on the docks together. Kiara and John B found themselves under the water with the drone while the other three stood on the docks on the other side of the camera.

John B had his face slightly pressed up against the camera under the water, pulling a few faces before backing up slightly, giving his friends a thumbs up.

"What's this right here?" JJ questions as he goes to reach out and touch something.

Pope slaps his hand away. "Don't touch that. I'm trying to work out this thing."

"God bless geeks, Pope. Truly man." JJ comments. "What would we do without you to control the drones?"

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

"Shut up. It's too early for that right now." JJ tells him as the two resurface from the water.

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

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

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

"I know. I know. It's just lawyers aren't cheap, Y/n/n." JJ reminds.

"As soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a comp." John B replies.

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

"Cause my dad said it, like, a million times." John B responds.

"Yeah, that's fair." Kie says.

"This tether is, like, really long. In the wrong weather, this thing could get pushed around." Pope informs.

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

However, just as the boy says this, the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance catches their attention, the five teenagers looking over, revealing dark clouds slowly heading in their direction, which meant a storm was on it's way. Kiara started climbing up the ladder as Y/n grabs a towel for her older sister.

"So now, we just gotta wait around for the right weather." Y/n states.

"And today is not that day." Pope adds with a sigh.

***

The sun now down and the night sky out, the Pogues found themselves sitting in the backyard of the Chateau, silence filling the air around them. Y/n sat beside Pope, head resting on his shoulder as he rested his head on hers. John B sat across from the two with his arms crossed. And JJ and Kiara sat on the hammock together, facing one another.

"You really think it's out there? Like, no bullshit?" Pope asks suddenly, slightly lifting his head off Y/n's.

John B shrugs. "My father thought it was."

"But do you?" Pope questions.

"After hearing his voice on that tape..." John B starts, nodding his head. "...I think I do."

"Only one way to find out." Y/n states, her and the two boys doing a handshake.

"Look, we're gonna find it, you know?" Kie assures. "Even JJ believes."

John B fake gasps. "Oh, my God, JJ, do you really believe?"

"Totally." JJ replies, nodding as he pauses briefly. "Wait. Are we talking about five mil?"

"Five hundred mil." They correct.

"Jinx." The sisters say in unison. "Jinx again!"

"I'm gonna dream about shipwrecks." JJ tells them. "Good night, Bird!"

"Good night, bird shit!" John B responds.

Fluttering her e/c eyes closed, Y/n snuggles into Pope's side more. Pope tenses, not expecting that before relaxing slightly, his hand brushing against hers. With a boost of confidence, he grabs her hand, holding it in his.