Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

9

"Thank you girls, still have some heavy lifting but this was pretty much all the small stuff." My mom informed as Kiara and I set the last frame up. An antique map inside the glass frame.

"Of course, we can bring the guys with us next time so they can help with lifting." Kiara suggested.

"Oh that would be wonderful. Alright, I've got some admin things to do, you two enjoy the rest of the day." She waved us off as she sat down at her desk.

"Bye Mom."

"Bye Ms. Bayford."

"Kiara, honey."

"Sorry, bye Marie!" I laughed as Kiara disappeared through the frame.

"Don't forget to go by the gym today." My mom spoke as I left the room.

"Will do." I shouted before jogging to catch up with Kiara. "Alright, next stop, find the boys." I spoke as we walked back through the glass.

"You know, I pity you." I looked at Kiara as she continued. "You're going to be stuck here for your entire junior year and maybe even senior year if you can't convince your mom to transfer you." I groaned as we exited the school.

"You're telling me. I'm going to have to wear nose plugs to concentrate."

"Those aren't apart of the school uniform." I froze on the front steps.

"What do you mean, uniform?" Kiara slowly turned towards me and gave me a half-assed smile.

"She didn't tell you?" I shook my head as I continued after her towards the bike. "Oh. Well, the Academy has its own uniform. You'll get to fit in like every other Kook." I stared at her with a blank face.

"Please tell me your fucking with me." Kiara shook her head. "Oh for fucks sake." I huffed as I unlocked the bike and tossed Kiara the helmet and jacket. "Let's just get out of here before I burn this Academy down." I grumbled as I shoved the lock cable into the seat compartment and hopped onto the motorcycle.

Kiara didn't need as much convincing this time as she hopped on right behind me. Her arms locked as I turned out of the parking lot and back towards the large prison gates.

"It's a rich-ass prison under the disguise of a school." I grumbled under my breath as I shot off back down the road.

Kiara let out a small scream at the speed reminding me to take it easy. After I shouted my apologies she began pointing the way until we wound up at an old wooden cabin just off the marsh.

"Welcome, to the Château. John B's and Big John's place." Kiara gestured to the messy yard.

"Oh shit! Yo! Kie brought the hot chick!" I scoffed at the yell we heard.

"Um, JJ, we can hear you!" Kiara shouted back.

"Oh shit!"

I rolled my eyes and took care of my bike. Once I locked up the cable to the fence post I followed Kiara up to the front porch. My eyes taking in the simple cabin that seemed too small to fit everything owned.

"Heyyy." I rose an eyebrow at the blond who was laid out across one of the couches inside the cabin. The other two boys scattered around staring as well.

"Heyyyy." I mock back. It grew silent, I pursed my lips as I leaned against the wall. "Soooo. Let's get this over with. I'm Xena Tallen. Kiara has taken me under her wing so have fun getting rid of me. So we can quit being awkward."

I watched them visibly relax. A smile on my face as I uncrossed my arms and tried to make myself less intimidating.

"Now that y'all aren't tense, who wants to help me take over the island?"

"Me!" JJ stood up abruptly, his hand straight up in the air.

"Pope, John B?" Kiara asked the two boys.

"Why not?" John B shrugged.

"What kind of takeover are we talking about?" I smirked at Pope's question.

"Let's just say, I've got an entryway into the heartland of the Kooks."

"Her mom works as a History teacher at the Kook Academy. We've got a Pogue on the inside." Kiara explained. I could see the apprehension on the boys' face.

"If y'all will have me at least. I already plan to mess with the Kooks, having some extra Pogues to come up with things would be helpful." I smiled trying to convince them.

The three looked at each other. A silent conversation passing between their eyes and gestures. Finally, they all turned to me, John B piping up.

"Welcome to the crew." I grinned at Kiara as she gave me a thumbs up. I was one of the Pogues now.

The rest of the day I spent getting to know the three guys. Their personalities, their families, their hobbies, and their goals for the future.

Even got to meet Big John. He was a bit of an oddball. Friendly but, there was something about the way he seemed to carry himself that made me suspicious.

John B told me his dad was a bit of a treasure hunter, so I'm assuming it had something to do with that. Treasure hunting does make for shifty guys. I'm around enough of them at the underground rings to know.

"Well, as much as I would love to stay, I've got to drop Kie off at her house and swing by the gym before it closes." I spoke standing up from the beach chair I was stretched out on.

"Why are you going to the gym?" I rose an eyebrow at JJ.

"Well first off, I'm checking it out to see if I want to get a membership because I workout. And secondly, I'm a boxer and there's only one gym with the equipment in town and it's not the makeshift one in my garage." I informed as I started to walk back to my car.

"YOU BOX?!" I laughed at the surprised yells.

"I'm not just brains, boys, I've got the muscle to go with the hustle."

"That's cool." Pope said awestruck.

"We just made friends with our own personal bodyguard." JJ excitedly voiced out. I just rolled my eyes as I walked over to my motorcycle. I felt Kie jog up next to me.

"They're going to want to see you box, you know. Hell, we all are." I chuckled as I tossed her the helmet.

"I've got a semipro fight in a few months. Y'all can see then."