Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

30

In the morning we spot Pope and Kie coming back on the pogue. We meet them at the dock.

"Finally. Hey!" I shout.

"Guys, don't tie up. Stop it!" JJ tells them.

"What?" Kie asks.

"We're dipping," JJ tells them.

"Wait, why?" Pope asks.

"What? What are you talking about?" Kie asks.

"Where'd you guys go? What happened last night?" John B asks.

"We slept on the break," Pope tells him. "What's up?"

"Slept, right. Yeah," JJ teases.

"We were up all night," I tell them.

"We gotta get the hell out of here," John B states.

"Rafe knows we're here, so we have to leave, like, now," Sarah explains.

"Okay," Kie says.

"Come on," Pope says.

We take the boat to a little clearing on the marsh. You wouldn't know we were here unless you knew where to find us.

"Look, if Rafe and Barry know, it's only a matter of time," Kie says.

"Before everyone knows," Pope adds.

JJ scoffs. "I told you. We should've gone south, man."

"Just stop it," John B tells him.

"Why does no one ever listen?" JJ remarks.

"I get it. I get it. I understand," John B tells him.

"I have an idea," Sarah tells us. "With me back, my dad's going to have to choose between me and Rafe."

"Sarah, Sarah..." John B starts.

"He's gonna choose me," Sarah insists.

"Just please listen. Ward keeps lying to you, Sarah," John B tells her.

"Sarah, he's not gonna agree after all that's happened," Kie says.

"No. I... I know it sounds crazy," Sarah says.

I nod my head. "Yeah, it does."

"I know!" Sarah says. "But he's my dad. And I know him, and I know he loves me. I'm just asking for two hours."

She starts to walk away and John B calls after her, "Sarah."

Kie and I head off to find some firewood.

"So you and Pope?" I ask as I wiggle my eyebrows. "Did you two?"

Kie nods her head. "Yeah."

"Don't sound so excited," I tease.

"It was good... It's just... I don't know. It's weird now," Kie tells me. "This is why we have the rule. No pogue on pogue macking."

"What's the real issue here, Kie? Do you not like Pope in that way?" I ask.

"I don't know," Kie confesses. "I like Pope but I don't want things to be weird."

"They're only gonna be weird if you make them weird," I tell her.

As Kie and I are coming back with the firewood I can see Sarah coming back on the boat.

"Hey, there she is," John B says.

"Sarah!" Kie shouts.

"You made it," Pope says.

"What happened?" John B asks.