When a shy girl from Figure Eight suddenly gets whisked into a dangerous treasure hunt involving four pogues known for their knack for trouble, she finds herself navigating not only the troubled waters of adventure but also the complexities of frien...
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The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a golden glow over the calm, shimmering waters as the HMS Pogue drifted peacefully. The soft rhythm of the waves slapping against the boat was almost hypnotic as the Pogues lounged around in their bathing suits, soaking up the sun before the start of their plan to go for the royal merchant gold.
John B sat casually at the helm, his hand lazily resting on the steering wheel, even though the boat barely needed guiding. He tilted his head back, letting the sea breeze ruffle his brown hair.
Beside him, Pope stood with a sense of calm, arms folded, gazing out at the horizon as if calculating something in his mind but unwilling to spoil the moment with any actual thoughts.
On the edge of the boat, Kie sat quietly, a content smile playing on her lips, eyes closed, as though she could absorb the peace into her skin. Every now and then, she'd open her eyes and began spewing facts out to the others about the areas that they sailed past and how they used to be turtle habitats.
Up on the bow, JJ leaned back with his arms behind his head, his toned abs fully on display, the sun casting shadows that highlighted every muscle. He wore a pair of old, slightly crooked sunglasses perched on the bridge of his nose that he adjusted as he looked out towards the water.
Sydney sat cross-legged beside JJ, the sun warming her skin as the breeze tousled her hair. Her usual guarded expression had softened, and for once, she allowed herself to relax. The weight she often carried seemed lighter out here on the water, and a quiet smile tugged at her lips as she watched the sunlight dance across the ocean's surface. She glanced at JJ, who was sprawled out beside her, his carefree energy infectious.
"You know," JJ said, his sunglasses sliding down his nose just enough to reveal a playful glint in his eyes, "this is probably the most chill I've ever seen you."
Sydney chuckled, shaking her head as she glanced out at the water. "Yeah, well, it's pretty hard to relax when square groupers have been after us."
JJ laughed, a full, carefree sound that echoed across the water. "True, true," he said, nudging her shoulder playfully.
The girl pretended to be annoyed, rolling her eyes and swatting his hand away. "Cut it out," she muttered, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. She wasn't an idiot; she knew exactly how attractive JJ Maybank was. It wasn't like it was hard to notice when it was right in front of her. The way the sun kissed his skin, giving him that effortless, sun-soaked glow, the way his abs were on display every time he shrugged off his shirt, or the way his messy blonde hair somehow never looked out of place. JJ had that magnetic energy, the kind that drew people in, and the girls on the island weren't immune to it either. It didn't matter how little he tried—he always had a group of girls who followed him, completely obsessed with the JJ Maybank charm.
And Sydney got it. How could she not? She felt the butterflies, the little flips in her stomach every time he teased her, nudged her, or flashed that cocky grin. But she tried to brush it off, telling herself it was just because he was a hot guy who actually seemed to care enough to interact with her. It didn't mean anything deeper.
