𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝐹𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠. | 𝘑𝘑 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘬

fourteen

╔══════ ✦ ══════╗
14
FULL-KOOK

╚══════ ✦ ══════╝

The salt air swirled around the two boats bobbing in sync, a momentary peace in the otherwise stormy saga of teenage recklessness and misadventure.

As the HMS Pogue pulled alongside, its battered frame groaning with the weight of five restless hearts, Kiara tilted her chin toward Sarah.

"Don't give them the satisfaction of thinking this actually worked," she said coolly, brushing windswept hair from her face.

Sarah grinned, lips curling like she already knew what was coming. "Of course not."

They turned in unison as the Pogue boys shouted over the water.

"Did it work?" John B called from the wheel, voice hopeful, unsure.

"You mean did we reconcile our past and get past our differences? No," Kiara replied, arms crossed.

"Not even close," Sarah added.

"But you still love us, right?" JJ's grin was dangerous and effortless, golden hair tousled like always.

"Mm, if you guys make up, we could be a power trio," Blake called, smirking beside Kiara.

"We're gonna get you back when you least expect it, John B," Kie warned, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"But... we're willing to work together," Sarah added, and their voices were lost in the cheer that rose from the boat.

Pope turned to JJ, nudging him with a grin. "I call that a win."

"Woogity woogity," they chimed, bumping fists in a handshake that had absolutely no business being that stupid or that sacred.

Blake reached out, her fingers wrapping around Kiara's wrist as she helped her from one boat to the next.

Pope climbed into the Heyward boat to take the wheel, and John B helped Sarah down, his palm lingering against her waist.

Blake leaned closer to the girls, smirking. "So... no power trio?"

Sarah's eyes glittered. "We didn't say that much."

—

They soon arrived at Crain house in the Twinkie. It rose from the trees like something ancient and cursed, its windows dark, its silence loud. Midnight was seconds away. The air itself felt haunted.

As they approached the porch, a sensor clicked, flooding the yard with light. Panic cracked through the group like lightning.

"Shit!" Sarah hissed.

"Flashlights!" Kie warned.

"Shh..." John B raised a finger to his lips.

"She's got motion sensors," Pope muttered, pushing off his hood.

"We could move really slowly?" JJ suggested.

"What?" Blake turned to him, incredulous.

"That's not how it works," Pope replied with all the weight of common sense.

"We should throw a rock at it," John B offered with zero shame.

"Oh great, let the axe murderer know we're here," Kie bit back.

Blake's voice dripped sarcasm. "Shooting our way in would be a better idea."

Sarah's voice cut through them, confident and sharp. "The breaker's probably in the circuit box. On the porch. We used to play hide-and-seek here."