Bad Karma

seventeen

Leilani Elrod

Episode 3. The Forbidden Zone

Two hours and a nap later, the storm that never even hit us had passed and I was able to successfully venture into society with Pope and JJ. By society, I mean Heyward's dock as we loaded up his boat to make some deliveries to Figure Eight. Another easy way to make money for John B and I.

"Get straight back here when your done. No fishin'. I promised delivery by this afternoon. Rich folks don't wanna wait for you lazy sons of.."

I saluted Heyward, "Aye aye, captain!" JJ held out his arms to take the bags.

"Aw, JJ, thank you. Lei, you'll keep an eye on them, will you?"

"Course, Heyward! Like a hawk!"

And I did keep an eye on them. That is, until we officially entered Figure Eight territory. After that, my eyes were glued to the window. I sometimes found myself wondering what it would be like to live like this. In one of these big houses, having your life totally planned out for you, to have whatever you wanted at the snap of your fingers. It all just seemed so.. perfect. A little too perfect, if you asked me.

"It doesn't even look like the storm hit here." Pope commented.

"That's because they got generators, bro. Get used to it."

I sighed, "Yet they say that we'll be out all summer in the cut. You know, it's crazy how we all live so close to one another but live totally different lives."

"Lucky bastards." JJ said, looking out at the houses.

I mean, sure, my family was more fortunate than others on the cut, something I was always extremely grateful for, but we never lived out of our means. We didn't have a huge house, or a gated yard, or a pool or anything like that. We didn't care about the materialistic things. We wanted things that would last, like my education or my optimism.

Once Pope parked the boat, we began divvying up the groceries.

"Yo, I call Lee with me!" JJ said, but Pope groaned.

"I need someone to help me carry these. One of you has to help me."

"Why can't Lee and I just take those then?" JJ opposed. I could tell that Pope had other reasons for wanting me to go with him by the 'help me' look he was giving me.

So, I grabbed the beer from Pope's full hands, "Oh, don't be a baby, JJ. You'll be fine without me for a half hour."

He groaned, but didn't protest anymore as he walked the opposite direction of Pope and I.

"Thank you."

I shook my head, "Don't thank me, now, do you want advice on Kie? Because I hate to break it to ya, but I'm the worst person to ask. Honestly, I think JJ might be better than I am, and that's saying something."

Pope became all flustered, "Oh, come on. You're so much better than he is on advice."

"Fine. I don't know, man, just be you."

"That's so corny."

"But it's true!"

"What if I make a move and she does to me what she did to JB?"

"You and John B are a lot different. I haven't gotten a read on her with you yet."

"Okay, but-"

"Hey, what's up, guys?" Rafe Cameron came walking in front of us, golf club in hand, "Hey, how much for one of those beers?"