¥showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks¥
In which Jackie Routledge and her group of friends from the south side of Outer Banks try to have the summer of their lives, but end up it being filled with mystery, tragedy, risks, adventure...
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{Let's Go Get The Gold}
I was the first one awake the next morning. The sun was just starting to rise as I folded up the blankets and gently woke the girls. We sat on the deck, chatting while we waited for the boys to come pick us up and take us home.
"You forget your keys or something?" Pope called out as their boat approached ours. "Need a tow?" John B added, his signature smirk forming as I shot him an exasperated look and flipped him off.
"Don't give them the satisfaction of thinking this worked," Kie whispered to Sarah and me. We both nodded in agreement.
"They'll never stop bragging about it if we do," I muttered. Kie rolled her eyes.
"You gotta admit, it was funny," John B chimed in as he pulled the boat up to ours. "John B?" Kie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, what?" my brother asked, clearly caught off guard.
"Mastermind, huh?" Kie teased, and John B grinned proudly.
"I'm always planning," he replied with a wink.
"Some patriarchal bullshit," Kie scoffed, climbing aboard the HMS Pogue.
"Yeah, that sucked," Sarah added, nodding in agreement as we all clambered onto the boat.
"You still love us, though, right?" JJ asked sarcastically, and Kie rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, whatever," Sarah replied before wrapping her arms around my brother for a hug.
"You still love me, baby?" JJ asked, his devilish grin making my stomach do flips. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, pretending to be annoyed.
"You left me out here," I whined dramatically. He chuckled and stepped closer to me, his arm sliding around my waist as he leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"I'll make it up to you later," he said in a low, flirtatious tone. I bit my lip and turned to face him.
"I guess I love you still," I teased, and he chuckled before pulling me into a deep, passionate kiss.
"Hey, still hate me?" John B asked Kie and Sarah as they both looked at him, arms crossed.
"A little," Kie replied, "but we're gonna get you back when you least expect it."
"I'd watch your backs, boys," Kie warned with a sly smile, and I nodded in agreement.
"I welcome that challenge," Pope said with a confident grin.
"Me too," JJ added, winking at me.
"So, did you guys, you know..." Pope began.
"Reconcile our differences?" Kie interrupted, arching an eyebrow.
"Mm-mm," Sarah shook her head. "Not even close," she added.
"But we're willing to work together," I said, feeling excited.
"Hey, you know what? That's a victory," John B declared, raising his hands in triumph.
"Yep," JJ agreed, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Wiggedy-wiggedy-wiggedy!" Pope shouted, performing a handshake with JJ.
"Know why? Hydroponic," JJ added with a mischievous grin.
"Don't say that," Pope warned, pointing at him.
"All right, shut up," my brother grumbled, looking at JJ and Pope.
"You guys ready to jack someone up?" John B asked, and we all exchanged excited looks.
"Let's get it," JJ said as my brother started the boat, and we all headed back to shore.
"All right, you got rope?" John B asked as he drove us toward the Crain house.
"Got it," Pope answered.
"Grappling hook?" John B asked, and I couldn't help but joke.
"No grappling hook. We're not Batman," I teased, and Pope laughed beside me.
"Pulley?" John B asked, pulling to a stop in front of the Crain house. The sun had already set, and the place looked even more eerie in the darkness.
"Check," Kie confirmed.
"All right, good. We're ready," John B said, nodding.
"Let's go," Kie cheered.
"Let's go get rich, guys," JJ said, sliding open the van door. Just as we were about to hop out, my brother held up a hand to stop us.
"Wait, wait," John B said with a sigh, making us all pause and look at him.
"I want to say thank you, guys. Seriously. It means a lot to Jackie and I that you're here tonight," he said with sincerity. I smiled softly at him.
"Always," I replied, giving him a warm smile. JJ placed a kiss on my cheek, making me blush.
"We're family, bro. And family sticks together, no matter what!" Pope added, joining my brother for our group handshake.
"All right, we done with the circle jerk? Can we go do this?" Sarah asked impatiently, and we all laughed, hopping out of the van.
"Let's get that wheat in the water," Pope said as he helped me over a wall. The others followed behind.
"Weed? I'm up for weed," JJ said, jumping down beside Pope and me.
"Wheat. I said wheat," Pope corrected him, and JJ sighed dramatically.
"Ladies first," Pope said, gesturing for me to take the lead as we walked through tall grass and past creepy statues. I came to a stop in front of the basement entrance.
"Does anyone else feel like we're in a horror movie?" I asked nervously, glancing at the dark, foreboding door.
"Stop being such a baby, sis. We're afraid of nothing," John B teased, throwing an arm around my shoulders.
"I'm afraid to die," I sighed dramatically before pushing the door open and stepping inside.
