Celestial ~ JJ Maybank

03.

When John B and JJ came back from attempting to talk to the coastguard but being unable to get through the crowds, they worked on their next plan.

"So, what's the plan?" JJ asked.

"I know how we're gonna find the guy who owns that boat" John B holds up the motel key to the others.

"No, we don't know whose room that is. It could be anyone" Pope attempts to reason with them but it falls onto deaf ears, apart from Celeste.

"You're right Pope, it could be anyone's. But you know we'll kick ourselves if we don't go find out. Or worse, if someone else gets there instead" she rubbed his arm in comfort, knowing he was a little nervous doing something a little further than trespassing when his future was at stake. But you only live once, right? Especially when you're a Pogue.

"I'm in" JJ spoke up taking the key from John B, throwing it to Kiara.

"Come on, we'll be lookout" she convinced him before grabbing Celeste's hand and pulling her along after JJ.

"Finder's fee, just sayin'. And hey, at least you'll only be an accomplice" John B attempts at reassurance but somehow makes it worse. As usual. "Come on bubba"

---

When they arrived at the shady looking motel, JJ whistled, "I thought the Chateau looked bad"

"This place is a shitshow" John B commented.

"Motel or meth lab?" Kie questioned sarcastically.

"How about both?" Celeste answers her.

Pope also answers, "you be the judge,"

"Doesn't look like the type of place somebody with a Grady-White would stay" John B commented as they all nodded their heads in agreement.

"Looks like a place someone with a Grady-White would get killed"

"Touché Pope. Touché" Celeste smiled at him, standing up and moving in between JJ and John B, who was driving.

As John B begins to pull up to the dock, JJ pretends once again that he was speaking into a radio, "this is your captain speaking, HMS Pogue comin' in for landing"

He then jumps off the boat onto the bank with a loud "Whoo!" whilst tying the boat to the makeshift dock.

"We good?" John B asks him, receiving a "we're good" back.

"Alright, here goes nothin'"

"Princess, you're coming with" JJ smirked, holding a hand out to help her off the boat.

She raises an eyebrow at him but doesn't question it, "oh you're such a gentleman" she teases him by stroking his cheek as she gets off the boat, with his help. His heart jumps a little at the contact but no one notices, luckily for him.

"Hey" Pope calls out as John B turns around.

"Yeah?"

"Don't let him- no wait, Cel, don't either of them do anything stupid. Please" he knew the girl was the most sensible out of the three of them so turned to her instead.

She smiled at the Heyward boy while John B and JJ look offended, "I'll try my best for you Popey"

"Oh she will, won't ya Cece? Not like you have a reckless streak that appears in situations just like these" JJ wrapped an arm around her waist as she laughed, shrugging her shoulders.

Pope sighed, "Oh god"

Kiara passed over the key to John B as she looked at him with a look Celeste couldn't quite pinpoint.