Depths

Midsummers Nights

The sound of light music and laughter can be heard in the distance as the HMS Pogue pulls up on the shore just below the Country Club. Climbing out of the boat Harli follows John B and JJ as they trudge through the sand a little ways. JJ sets his backpack down and starts changing into a waiter uniform to blend in with the staff at Midsummers. Harli watches as John B hands him a folded up piece of paper.

"I need you to get this to Sarah." John B instructs JJ, handing off the note while Harli raises her brows at the boy next to her.

"Ooh! Can I read it?" The blonde questions as he starts to open the note.

"No, you can't ready it."

"Who's Vlad?" JJ ignores John B's instructions to not read the note.

"God, do you ever listen?"

"Hold up." JJ stops walking, causing Harli to bump into him. "Are you mackin' Sarah Cameron?"

"Would you shut up?"

"You're macking Sarah Cameron!"

"Alright, man. I'm doin' it for everybody, all right?" John B sighs heavily and JJ and Harli exchange looks. "What?"

"Nothing." Harli answers, looking back to JJ's crooked bowtie.

"Thanks for being a team player, bro." JJ retorts.

"Yeah, well..."

"JJ, could you just hold still?" Harli scolds, interrupting their conversation, as she attempts to fix his bowtie, catching a glimpse of his battered face as a result from his berating father. Her heart falls at the cuts and bruises spread across his face. JJ stops squirming and stares at her as she carefully straightens out the tie.

"You're staring." Harli whispers in his ear with a smirk, repeating his own words to her from days previous. She pats him on the chest and steps away. JJ clears his throat and turns to John B.

 "So, I just give that to Sarah, huh?"

"Yes, just give it to Sarah."

"Vlad. Really?" JJ questions again, but John B doesn't answer. JJ shakes his head and pulls the gun out of his backpack to stick into the back of his slacks.

"Are you kidding me?" John B exclaims with wide eyes when he sees JJ pull out the gun.

"No, I'm not kidding you."

"JJ, if you get caught, you're going to jail!" Harli scolds him.

"Fine, but if I get ambushed, it's on you." JJ points his finger at John B, who just rolls his eyes in response. JJ walks off and sneaks onto the property as John B and Harli watch from the tall grass surrounding the shore. An anxious feeling erupts in the pit of Harli's stomach as she watches JJ maneuver his way into the party.

"Sarah Cameron, JB? Really?"

"Can we not right now, Har?"

"Fine, but I don't wanna hear it from you when Kie finds out and blows a gasket."

"Stay here." John B instructs her as he starts to move forward, closer to the party.

"Like hell I am."

"Harli, if we get caught we're going to foster care. Is that what you want?"

"Exactly, JB! Foster care! You're really willing to risk all of that for Sarah Cameron?"

"Just stay here!" John B's voice rises as he releases a heavy sigh and sneaks off.

"UGH!" Harli grunts out in frustration as John B walks away from her.