The Pogues Princess // Rafe Cameron

"There's a boat down there "

John B pov :

The Outer Banks, paradise on hearth. its the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island.

All right. This is Figure Eight, the rich side of the island. Home of the Kooks. So, guess where we don't live.

And then, this is the south side or the cut, home of the working class who make a living busting tables, washing yachts, running charters, natural habitat of drumroll please the Pogues, that's us.

Pogues, pogies, the trowaway fish. Lowest member of the food chain.

Okay. So the downside of Pogue life is we're ignored and neglected.

But the upside of Pogue life ? We're ignored and neglected, wich mean we do whatever we want, whenever we want.

That's JJ my best friend since the third grade, he's about local as they come latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuglling, vendetta-holding salt lifers who made their living off the water. Best surfer I know just don't tell him I said that. Mild kleptomaniac and futur tax cheat.

And that's Kiara, or Kie as we call her. When not saving turtles or listening to Marley, or getting a dolphin tatto, she hangs out with us. I am not really sure why, thought. So she's a rich kid, actually. Foot in both worlds. Her family owns The Wreck, this Outer Banks institution. Total cash cow with the tourists. You know, I'm not really sure about how her parents feel about us. I guess we all have a thing for her.

That's Pope, the brains of the operation finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhorst Merit Scholarship. And the smartest person I know. Little bit weirdo. His father the legendary character, Heyward. Anything you wanted on this island, Heyward could get for you. Now, I'm not sure Heyward knew what to make to his oddball son, but it didn't matter. He was a Pogue just like the rest of us.

And that's Olivia, Oli, the most fucked up of all us. Yeah more fucked up than Jj surprising I know. She's the drug addict of the band. Just like Kie I think we all have thing for her. We've met when she was hight that was quite fun. And since then she join the Pogues. She do not hate the Kooks like we do, but she's not friends with them. What no sens a Pogue and a Kook never. This is kind like a law. She live in a caravan, since she is 12. Parents dead, brother dead, she had no family, until us. She is the oldest she is 17 turning into 18. Don't start to think that she is the mom of the group at all that's more Kiara's or Pope's thing. She is more the stubborn one.

So, that's my crew.

And that's me, Jonh Booker Routledge. And this is where I live. An old fish schack on the marsh. The Château, as my dad used to call it.

There's dad. He disappeared at sea nine months ago, looking for a shipwreck. Who disappears at sea these days ? I miss him.

And then there's mom. She split when I was three. Last I heard, she was in Colorado. I think it was Colorado.

That's Uncle T. Since dad's vanished, he's supposedly my legal guardian. At the moment, he's in Mississippi, building houses, which means it's just me right now, on my own, hanging out with my friends.

Three months after my dad was missing, he was officially presumed dead. I refused to sign the papers. Utile I see a body, I'm not giving up.

And that's when the story starts.

My dad missing, my uncle MIA, and the Bride of Frankenstein threatening foster care.

But I caught a break.

Hurricane Agatha, coming in the same day DCS was supposed to do my assessment.

Exterior pov :

She slowly opened her eyes, the sun immediately came into contact with her eyes. She sighed slightly, before getting up.

She made her way through the caravan. She took a quick shower, put her bikini, then she recovered a t-shirt that she put right after that. She put her shoes on, took her bag, put the weed in with her keys, and then get out of the caravan, knowing that her friend will be there in a moment.

She went near to the water, waiting for her friends. She took her shit and the wrapped it into papers, and then turn it on with fire. She stared smoking it. She closed her eyes, all she could heard was the water.

"Don't be selfish, share it with me." She heard a voice say coming right in front of her. She knew that voice too well.

"Good morning to you too JJ." She chuckled. She get up and walk through the edge of the water. John B put the boat closer. And she climb into it.

"Good morning sunshine" He took her hand to help get on the boat.
" What a gentleman." She smiled. " Morning people." She said, giving the weed at the blond guy. Kie smiled at the other girl. Pope waved, so did John B. She sat next to Pope.

" You're dad isn't going to kill you ? Cause you should helped him or something, because the we're the next day of a hurricane." She asks to her friend. "Nop, he will not 'cause the day after a hurricane's a free day." JJ reply. "Since when ?" "Since I decide to save Pope's ass." JJ explain.

The girl look back at her friend. "He's definitely going to kill you. I am planning your funeral to next month what music do you want ?" She joked. "Haha, you are so funny Oli."
Fake laugh the black teenage boy." I know right. Anyway, I will bury next to my family. You will share the flowers, I don't have enough money for one by person. Sorry man." She laughed alone all her friend watching her with compassion. "Oh come on, let me joke about it, I rather joke about it, than cry about it." Her friends still silent. "Well that's a flop." she said.

Before taking back her weed from JJ mouth. "Hey ! Not cool." He exclaimed. "That's mine, now shut it." she smirked.

"Anyone want a beer ?" Kiara asks. Olivia raised her hand. Kiara handed a beer, the girl was going to take it but the blond boy took it first. "Seriously ?" She looked back at JJ. "That's mine, now shut it." He smiled, while drinking the beer, their friends were laughing. Olivia turned to find herself facing to Kiara. She smiled while she was handing another beer. "Thanks Kie." "You're welcome"

JJ stood up, "I want to try something."He looked at Pope who was now in the command of the boat. "Hey Pope can you go a little faster please ?" He said walking to the edge of the boat. "Here we go. I'm moving." John B laughed stepping back. Olivia smiling at JJ.

"It doesn't work." Explain Pope. " JJ, we've tried this like a thousand time." The oldest laughed at her friends. "I got this. It's gonna work !" Kiara sitting next to Olivia.

JJ lift the bottle trough is mouth but without touching it. "You're getting beer in my hair." Sighed the rich girl. "All right. All right stop"
"Jj you are a kid really." Smiled Olivia. "Yes ma'am-" the boat suddenly stopped. JJ fall of the edge of the boat. The others clung at anything they could found.

"Jesus Pope." Groans Kie."You okay, JJ ?" John B asked. "I think my heels touched the back of my head. " Breath out. "That's great. I will sign you up for the gymnastics." The brunette joked. "Kie, you're okay ?" John B asked worried. "I am alright. Respond Kie. "Oli-." "Do not ask me, I think it was fun." She said cutting him off.

"Pope what did you do ?" Groans JJ. "Sandbar. The channel changed." He explains. "No shit Sherlock." Adds Olivia. "Ugh, this is probably mess this whole place up."

"Hey, I saved the beer, though." JJ laughed. "Do you want a medal for that ?" Olivia asks.
"Obviously yes, who doesn't want a medals."
He smiled at the girl, she smiled back.

"Guys, I think there's a boat down there." Said Pope with a serious tone. "Shut up" "No way" John B and Kiara said. Olivia take a step to rejoin the teenage boy standing on the edge of the boat. "No, no guys I'm serious. There's a boat down there. For real." Pope respond.

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