Between Tides - JJ Maybank

Chapter 4

The sun was shining through the half-open blinds of Ruby's room, casting soft beams of light across the floor, but the mood inside was anything but bright. Harper, Ruby, and Neena sat in awkward silence, each of them trying to process the chaos of the night before. The events replayed in Harper's head like a bad movie—JJ's gun, John B unconscious, and her own panic. The stillness felt suffocating.
Ruby, however, wasn't one to let the tension linger for long. Ever the optimist, she clapped her hands together and broke the silence, her voice unnaturally chipper. "Alright, ladies, we are not going to let last night ruin today. We're going to have a good day, okay?"
Harper groaned from beneath a pillow, her face buried as if she could hide from the world—or at least from Ruby's relentless positivity. "I'm staying in bed forever," she mumbled, her voice muffled.
Ruby rolled her eyes, nudging Harper's leg with her foot. "No, you're not," she countered. "You're starting your new job today, remember?"
Harper groaned again, louder this time, and pulled the pillow tighter over her head, like it might shield her from the reality of the situation. The last thing she wanted to think about was her new job—especially when it meant working for Ward Cameron, the so-called Kook King. Harper had never been a fan of the Cameron family, with all their money, privilege, and unspoken sense of superiority. And now, ironically, she was supposed to start her first shift working for Sarah's dad, the very man whose family seemed to hover over everything in town. It felt like a cruel joke from the universe.
Neena was sitting cross-legged on the floor, sipping on a cup of tea and looking just as rattled as Harper felt. "You think you're ready for that?" she asked quietly, her eyes flicking toward Harper. "After last night, I mean..."
Harper finally sat up, rubbing her face and letting out a long, tired sigh. "I don't even know," she admitted, her voice laced with exhaustion. "I can barely think straight. And now I'm supposed to go be all professional and cheerful while working for him?"
Ruby didn't let her off the hook that easily. She hopped up from the bed and stood in front of Harper, hands on her hips. "Look, I know you're tired and probably still freaking out a little. Hell, I am too. But sitting here and stewing isn't going to help. You need to get up, get dressed, and face the day."
Harper shot her a half-hearted glare, but Ruby wasn't wrong. As much as she wanted to hide under the covers forever, she knew she had to pull it together. And if nothing else, focusing on her job might be a distraction from the mess in her head.
"Fine," Harper groaned, throwing the pillow off the bed and dragging herself to the edge. "I'll go. But I'm not happy about it."
"Never said you had to be," Ruby chirped, flashing a smile. "Just show up, get through the day, and then we can all collapse together later."
Neena let out a small laugh, the tension breaking just a little. "Sounds like a plan," she agreed.
Harper stood up, her body still feeling heavy from the weight of everything that had happened. She grabbed her clothes off the back of a chair, her movements sluggish but deliberate. She could do this. She had to.
As she changed, her mind wandered back to the night before, and her stomach twisted. She wasn't sure what would happen with JJ, or what seeing him again might feel like. The gun, the way he'd held it—it was too much like her dad. She could feel the panic rising in her throat, but she swallowed it down. Not now, she told herself. She had to push it aside, at least for today.
Dressed and somewhat put together, Harper looked at herself in the mirror, taking a deep breath. She didn't feel ready, but there was no backing out now. Ruby, ever the taskmaster, was already bouncing around the room, making sure everyone was getting ready for the day.
"Come on, Harps, you've got this," Ruby said, her voice softer now, a reassuring smile on her face.

The afternoon sun gleamed off the water, casting rippling reflections onto the side of the boat. Harper stood on one of Ward Cameron's many vessels, trying to keep her nerves in check. The boat swayed gently with the current, but her unease felt much less gentle. She focused on keeping her breathing steady, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she listened to Ward explain what he expected from her while she worked for him.
Ward leaned casually against the helm, dressed in his usual polished and pristine attire, looking every bit the powerful Kook King. His smile was disarmingly warm, his tone friendly—too friendly, Harper thought.
"So, Harper," he began, his voice smooth like the water they were floating on. "It's really simple, what I need from you. Just a lot of attention to detail, making sure things are handled correctly with the boat maintenance, keeping the guest lists in order when we have clients. And above all, professionalism. I run a tight ship—no pun intended," he added with a chuckle.
Harper forced a smile, nodding along, but something about him unsettled her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. Ward Cameron seemed nice—too nice. The way he spoke to her, the way he kept flashing that smile, like everything was perfectly fine. It was hard to reconcile this version of him with the rumors she'd heard around town, or even with the fact that he was Sarah's father. But then again, this was the guy who owned half the island, who had a hand in everything. People said a lot of things about Ward Cameron.
"You'll have plenty of time to get comfortable with the job," he continued, his gaze lingering on her a little too long for comfort. "I'll make sure you're well taken care of. It's important to me that my staff feel supported."
There it was again—that overly generous tone. Harper nodded, trying to mask her discomfort. "Thanks, Mr. Cameron. I'll do my best."
Ward waved his hand dismissively. "Please, call me Ward. We're not so formal here. You're part of the team now."
Harper's smile tightened. Something about the way he said that made her skin crawl, but she couldn't show it. Not when this job meant so much—especially after last night. She needed to keep things together.
"Of course, Ward," she replied.
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice like he was about to let her in on a secret. "I know you've probably heard things about me—people like to talk on this island. But you'll see, I take care of my people. As long as you're loyal to me, there's nothing to worry about."
Harper felt a slight chill run down her spine, though the sun was shining brightly above them. She wasn't sure if it was the mention of loyalty or the way he said it that set off warning bells in her head. There was something behind his words, a quiet undertone she couldn't ignore.
"I understand," she said, keeping her voice steady, though her heart was racing.
Ward smiled again, that same too-slick smile. "Good. I like that."
He straightened up, clapping his hands together. "Well, that's all for today. I'll leave you to have a quite tour of boat? Get to know it. We'll officially start tomorrow."
Harper nodded, relieved to finally be dismissed. "Okay. Thank you."
As she turned to walk away, she could feel Ward's eyes on her back, watching her every move. It took everything in her not to look back. Something about him felt... wrong. But she couldn't quite place it. Maybe it was just nerves, or the stress of the last 24 hours catching up with her.
Harper stepped carefully across the deck, her footsteps barely audible against the gentle lap of the water against the boat. The sound of Ward's shoes tapping on the dock faded as he left, but the tension in her chest didn't ease. Her pulse still raced, her skin prickling with unease. It wasn't just that Ward had a way of making her feel cornered, even when he was being polite. It was more than that—like there was something lurking beneath his charming exterior.
She stopped near the bow of the boat, gripping the railing tightly. The salty breeze swept over her, and for a moment, she let herself close her eyes, trying to calm her pounding heart. It's fine. I'm just being paranoid, she told herself. I need this job.
But as much as she tried to shake it off, her mind kept returning to the look in his eyes, the way he had lingered just a little too long, like he was sizing her up for something she wasn't ready for. He had power. Everyone on the island knew that. Maybe this was just how people like him acted when they knew they held all the cards.
The boat rocked gently beneath her, but her thoughts were anything but steady. She was alone now, but the emptiness of the boat didn't bring any comfort. If anything, it felt more suffocating. She leaned against the railing, staring at the water below, watching how the sunlight reflected off the waves, trying to ground herself.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, snapping her back to reality. She pulled it out, squinting at the screen. A message from Ruby.
"How's the first day going? You good?"
Harper sighed, typing back quickly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Weird, but fine."
She hesitated for a moment before sending another message.
"Ward's... intense."
Ruby's reply came almost instantly.
"Of course he is. He's Ward Cameron. Just keep your head down, you'll be fine."
Harper wanted to believe that. She had to. But she couldn't shake the feeling that this job wasn't going to be as simple as she'd hoped. She stared at the water for a little longer, letting the rhythmic sway of the boat soothe her nerves, but in the back of her mind, the unease lingered like a shadow. It was a nice boat, but she already new it was going to be nice.
The sleek lines of the hull gleamed under the midday sun, and the polished deck looked immaculate. But as she inspected the polished wood and luxurious features, a sudden scuffling sound interrupted her thoughts.
She turned around, thinking it was Ward returning, maybe to retrieve something he'd forgotten. But her heart dropped when she found herself locking eyes with John B. What the heck was he doing here? The last she'd seen of him, he had been barely conscious, lying on the beach after that insane fight.
"John B?" she said, her brows knitting together in confusion. He looked a little worse for wear, hair tousled and a bruise beginning to form on his jaw, but he seemed more alive than he had the night before. "What are you doing here?"
He paused mid-crawl, his expression mirroring her surprise. "Heeyy, Harper," he said, his tone playful yet uncertain. The tension in the air was almost comical, like a scene from a sitcom where two characters unexpectedly run into each other in the most absurd of places.
Harper studied him, trying to figure out what was going on. That's when she noticed the key in his hand. It dangled between his fingers like a shiny promise, glinting in the sunlight. "Is that... a key?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Uh, yeah." John B shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "Ward gave me a spare for the boat. I figured I'd come check it out. I work for him. He told me we were going to have a new employee, but I didn't it would be you" He worked for him! She had no idea.
She couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head in disbelief. "So, you're not dead then?"
"Not yet!" he shot back with a grin, his trademark charm breaking through the haze of last night's chaos. "Still kicking. But seriously, Harper, I wanted to see if you were okay. After everything... well, you know. The others told me you and your friends were a massive help last night," He gestured vaguely toward the water, the memories of the fight still fresh in their minds.
Harper stepped closer, concern flickering across her face. "Oh, it really wasn't me, my friends and your friends really were the saviours."
They stood there for a moment, the tension easing as they shared a brief, unspoken connection. It felt good to see him alright, I mean his face showed reminisce of the night before, but to see him standing is good.
Harper watched John B's expression shift when she asked what he was doing there. "Ward told me no one was working today," she said, trying to gauge his reaction. His face turned suspicious, and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he searched for an excuse.
"Well, uh," he started, his tone casual but his eyes darting around. "Ward called me in. Says he needed me to refill the oxygen tanks for diving and things."
Harper narrowed her eyes, her intuition kicking in. She could tell he was lying. "Oh, okay. Do you need any help?" she offered, probing for the real reason he was here.
"Oh no, that's all right," he replied, brushing her off. He started walking toward the interior of the boat, but Harper wasn't ready to let him go just yet.
"Okay... I'll at least help you bring them up," she said, following him inside.
As they gathered the tanks, John B led the way back out onto the deck, and just as they stepped outside, they were met with the last person either of them wanted to see: Sarah Cameron.
Harper rolled her eyes, and John B's expression darkened. "Oh hey, you stalking us, plotting your revenge?" Sarah quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she crossed her arms.
"Yeah, why don't you just tell your daddy I blew the bilge on the Druthers?" John B shot back, his snarky comment hanging in the air. Harper had no idea what he meant but assumed it was some kind of boat talk.
Sarah's gaze landed on Harper, and her expression shifted. "I didn't realize you were the new worker Dad was talking about," she said, feigning politeness.
"Sorry to disappoint," Harper replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm, determined to throw a little shade back.
"Everything's good to go, just topping off these tanks," John B interjected, attempting to steer the conversation away from the tension brewing between the two girls.
As Sarah stepped onto the boat, she made a condescending remark. "Hey, are you okay? Because that black eye looks really gnarly."
"Yeah, you know what?" John B said, crossing his arms. "You can tell Topper he won the first round. I'll get him next time."
Harper looked at John B, wide-eyed. "Please tell me there won't be a next time," she begged, her heart racing at the thought of more confrontation.
"So there's just going to be a reign of terror on this island now?" Sarah replied, her tone condescending, as if John B's words were utterly ridiculous.
"Wars have been started for less, Sarah Cameron," John B retorted, a fire igniting in his gaze.
Harper watched him, intrigued, waiting for Sarah's response. After a moment of silence, she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Can we drop the Pogues vs. Kooks thing? It's really stupid."
"You know it's really easy for a kook to say that" Harper chimed in, and John B shot her an appreciative smile.
"Read my mind," he said, pausing to smirk at Sarah.
With a flick of her hair, Sarah saluted him with a rude finger, Harper couldn't help but laugh at the gesture. The sexual tension between Sarah and John B was palpable, and she was kind of here for it.
"See you later, Harper. Hopefully, we get a shift together," John B said as he turned to leave.
"Hopefully," she replied.
Harper looked back at Sarah, a mischievous smile on her face. "See you around, Kook princess," she said, injecting her words with playful bravado.
"Let's hope not," Sarah snapped, disdain etched across her face as she walked away toward the Cameron family home.
Harper watched her go, feeling a mix of satisfaction and disbelief at the unexpected turn of events. As John B started to head off, she felt a rush of gratitude for their brief moment together, knowing that their bond was only growing stronger amid the chaos that surrounded them.

Harper flopped down onto the couch at Ruby's house, letting out a heavy sigh as she sank into the cushions. Ruby and Neena were sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by snack wrappers and half-empty soda cans, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.
"So, how was it?" Ruby asked, propping herself up on her elbows. "Did Ward turn out to be a total creep?"
Harper chuckled, shaking her head. "Honestly, he was... nice. Almost too nice, you know? He went over what he needs from me on the boat, and he had this slick smile the whole time. I felt like he was sizing me up or something."
Neena frowned, leaning in closer. "That's unsettling. What else happened?"
Harper glanced between her friends, excitement bubbling up in her chest. "Okay, so after Ward left, guess who shows up?" She raised an eyebrow dramatically.
"Who?" Ruby asked, leaning forward with interest.
"John B!" Harper exclaimed, barely containing her laughter. "He just crawls onto the boat like nothing happened, and we totally locked eyes like it was some sort sitcom."
Ruby's eyes lit up. "Pffttt really, even after last night?"
"Yeah it was strange. He was acting all suspicious when I asked why he was there. He said Ward called him in to refill the oxygen tanks for diving. I could tell he was lying."
Neena raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? I wonder why?"
"Hmm, same. Then Sarah Cameron rocks up." Harper said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, great. What a surprise," Neena scoffed.
"She immediately started digging at John B," Harper said, laughing. "I mean, they had this crazy sexual tension. It was so obvious! I've never seen anything like it. They were practically throwing daggers at each other while pretending to have a casual conversation."
"Then John B left in his boat."
Neena raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "You think he really is up to something? He seemed pretty cagey when you were talking."
"Absolutely," Harper replied, her fingers tapping anxiously against the couch. "He's hiding something. I could see it in his eyes when I pressed him about why he was on the boat. It was like he was just waiting for the right moment to slip away and not get caught."
"I mean, what's he doing messing around with Ward Cameron, anyway?" Ruby says.
"He works for Ward as well, that's why he had a key to get the oxygen tanks." Harper replies, stating her new knowledge.
"Hmmm, strange." Neena mused, her voice thoughtful. "It feels like everyone's in everyone's business. You can never really tell who's working for whom around here."
Ruby nodded, her expression shifting as she recalled a recent tragedy. "Speaking of strange, did you guys hear about Scooter Grubbs? The man who died during Hurricane Agatha? They still haven't found his boat."
Harper's heart sank at the mention of Scooter. "Yeah, that was awful. His family must be devastated. I can't even imagine what Lana is going through without him. And Charlotte...she must be beside herself."
"Right?" Neena said softly, recalling the impact of the loss. Charlotte had moved away after finishing school, leaving behind a sense of mentorship that the girls had come to rely on. She had been a beacon of guidance during their adolescent years, always encouraging them to pursue their dreams and providing support when they felt lost. Now, the news of her return felt bittersweet; it was difficult to process that she was back because of such a tragic situation. The warmth of their memories together was now overshadowed by the harsh reality of her father's disappearance. Her return, once a cause for excitement, was now tinged with sorrow, reminding the girls of how quickly life could change and the heartache that sometimes accompanied it.
"Yeah, I liked her," Ruby added.
"I heard she's been helping her mom look for answers about what happened to Scooter," Harper said, her voice laced with sympathy. "I think we should visit them, see how they're doing. They might appreciate the support."
"I agree," Neena said. "We can take them some food or something. Just to let them know we care. It might help them feel a little less alone."
"Definitely. We should go see them this tomorrow," Harper suggested.
After a moment of reflective silence, Ruby broke the tension. "Well, enough of this depressing talk. Who wants to watch a movie?"
"Count me in!" Neena exclaimed, eager to escape the sombre conversation.
Harper nodded, feeling the weight of the day lift just a bit. "Sounds perfect. Something light and funny, please!"
They settled on a classic comedy and curled up on Ruby's couch, the warm glow of the TV providing a comforting backdrop as they lost themselves in the antics of the characters. Laughter filled the room, temporarily pushing away the worries that had lingered in their minds.
As the credits rolled and the credits began to fade, the exhaustion from the day caught up with them. One by one, their eyelids grew heavy, and soon the laughter was replaced by soft snores and the sound of peaceful breathing. Harper drifted off, feeling grateful for her friends and the moments of normalcy they still managed to create, even amidst the chaos surrounding them.