Depths

Fantasy or Reality

A morning on the water was exactly what Harli needed after the events of the day before. Being out on the HMS Pogue with her best friends was calming to her. It was normal. It was moments like this, just gliding along the water relaxing that she'd began to crave more and more as this summer continued. There were no square groupers chasing them down, no DCS pounding on their door, no guns being waved in peoples' faces. Just five friends together on the boat like normal teenagers. She lifted her sunglasses to see a boat approaching theirs as JJ gawks at it.

"You guys see that?" JJ asks after whistling at how nice the boat is. "That's the Malibu 24-MXZ, the world's finest wake-setter. Number one in luxury, quality and performance. 200K, easy."

"We picked the wrong parents." Pope breathes out as the boat gets closer.

"I hate to break it to you guys, but that's Topper and his girlfriend." Kie speaks up as they slowly pass them on the water.

Harli watches as John B and Sarah exchange looks at one another before Sarah turns her head and puts her sunglasses back on. Harli raises her eyebrows at him, but he doesn't see her silent question.

"You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch." Kie yells towards the boat as it rides away.

Harli watches as her brother turns back to face forward, driving the boat away from the Kooks they just passed. She can't help but wonder what happened there. She had a feeling that it had something to do with John B getting fired from the Cameron's, but it seemed like something else too.

*****

 Pulling into the hotel's parking lot hours after their encounter with the Kooks on the water, Harli's attention is pulled back to reality. She had gotten lost in her head on the drive over, thinking about how they're going to pay the bills now that John B had lost his job. While she was thinking about taking on a third job to cover rent and bills he was off chasing false leads to find their dad, who she was convinced died at sea.

 "Alright, keep a look out." JJ instructs the other Pogues as the side door of the van slides open. He pulls the gun out of the glove compartment in front of him. "We're behind enemy lines."

"Yo, come on, man. Just put it back." John B warns the blonde beside him.

"What?"

"JJ..." Kie begins to scold him.

"You can never be too careful."

"Hey, I predict that bringing a weapon to a four-star hotel will likely cause more problems than they solve." Pope interrupts.

"I swear to God, I'm gonna throw that thing in the ocean, JJ." Kie huffs out as she leans between the two front seats to look at him. "Put it back."

JJ scoffs at her comment and makes a move to open his door. Harli moves in front of it and looks through the open window at him with a stern face. "JJ."

"Fine." JJ rolls his eyes as John B grabs the gun from him, shoving it back into the glove compartment. "You can't grab a gun like that!" JJ scolds him before jumping out of the van. "Can't forget my badge. Professional busboy."

The five Pogues follow JJ to the hotel and though the staff entrance, cutting through the kitchen, and then out into the halls. He leads them to a room full of computers for business men and women to use when they're on work trips. After quietly closing the door and ensuring they weren't followed the five teenagers rush towards the computers.

"Sweet Lord, the internet!" Pope voices excitedly as he pulls a chair out and quickly sits down. "I've missed you."

"Let me get in there. Gotta check out my Insta models." JJ jokes as Harli shoots him a pointed look followed by a scoff and a roll of the eyes. "I'm kidding, Cupcake. You know I only check out your profile." He laughs as Harli playfully rolls her eyes at him again.