𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 // 𝑱𝑱 𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒌 \\

Chapter Eighteen

There are only three kinds of relationships in the animal kingdom. The first is commensalism. One example... fish finding hiding spots in coral reefs. Fish profit, but life for the coral doesn't change. Then, theres mutualism... a relationship where both animals benefit from each other. The tricky thing about animals is you don't always know what kind of relationship you're in. Which brings me to relationship number three. The parasitic.

The pogues met up at the wreck the next day. "I'm sorry, you're staying where?" Kiara asked John B who had just finished explaining everything. "Tannyhill." John B responded. "So you're living with Sarah Cameron." Kiara said grabbing her tray. "Okay, look, the only reason I'm living there is cause her dad bailed me out, right? And it's way better than foster care which, by the way, is where I was about to go. If Ward didn't-" John B explained. Kiara brought waters over to JJ, Valerie, and Pope. Pope and Valerie sat next to each other while JJ stood across from Valerie.

"Hey, so do you have a membership to the clubs now?" Pope asked, interrupting John B. "I don't know, Pope." John B leaned on the back of Valerie's chair. "What about those little golf carts they drive around? You get one of them?"JJ asked earning a chuckle from Pope and Valerie. John B rolled his eyes, sitting in the chair beside Valerie. JJ picked up the cup of water Kiara gave him and walked around Pope, standing between him and Valerie. "Does it come with a sweater-vest, or do you have to buy one on your own?" Pope joked. "Look, you promised." Kiara looked at the boy. "Yeah, you said you weren't with her." Valerie agreed with Kiara. "Bro, just own it. She got you." JJ said.

"And Valerie got you, JJ!" John B recoiled. JJ and Valerie shared a secretive smile. JJ drank more of his water as he looked out of the window. "Look, if you want to hang out with her, that's fine. But I'm letting you know now that I'm not doing anything with Sarah." Kiara said. "Do you guys see her here?" John B asked his friends. "No, right. Okay. A little focus would be fantastic. We've got the map, right?" John B looked up at JJ. "It's out of whack 'cause the guy was ganja'd when he drew it." JJ said. "It's 'cause the coast has changed." Valerie said, looking up at him. JJ raised his eyebrows, nodding. "So, we just have to look for landmarks that haven't changed." Pope said.

"What about the old forts?" John B asked. "Battery Jasper." Kiara said, pointing it out on the map. "Maybe we should head there first then." Valerie said. John B and Pope nodded. "Let's go." JJ said, throwing his arm over Valerie's shoulder as they walked to the twinkie. Valerie was still unsure about her and JJ's relationship. Were they dating? Not yet. JJ didn't seem to regret the kiss though, and Valerie didn't either. When the pogues got to Battery Jasper, they all got out and looked at the view.

"We're in Battery, right here." Pope pointed at the map. "So, if this is parcel nine, then it's somewhere northeast of here." Pope said. "Somewhere over there." Kiara pointed in the distance. "Right." Pope nodded at her. "Over there? Guy's, that's not Tannyhill, that's a subdivision." JJ said pointing where Kiara had pointed. "Tannyhill Plantation was the entire island. It got sold into smaller pieces over time." John B informed the group. Pope looked back down at the map. "So we're just looking for an old stone wall." He said. Everyone got back in the twinkie searching for the stone wall. Pope and John B were up front while Kiara, JJ, and Valerie were in the back.

"Okay, so the road should split up here." Pope said. "Okay." John B nodded. "Alright, you're gonna take a left." Pope gave John B the directions. When John B turned left, the pogues saw none other than a stone wall. "That looks like a stone wall to me." JJ said. "This is it." Pope said while John B stopped the twinkie. "Not the Crain House." John B whispered. Valerie opened the door, getting out. JJ and Kiara followed after her. "Are you kidding me?" Kiara asked looking at the house. "Worst-case scenario." JJ hummed. "Why'd it have to be here... of all places?" Pope and John B joined the other pogues in front of the wall.