TROUBLE | JJ Maybank

020. Tipping Point

THE STORM BEGAN to clear as the ROV camera travelled through the water, the smiles of the four teens slowly fading.

 "It's not there. Look, just-- just pull the drone up" John B sighed "Shit"

"Look, we can do another pass and recharge the battery. We can-- we can go back down," Pope proposed, trying to remain hopeful. 

"We've been through it three times. There's nothing there!" JJ argued

"JJ!" Amelia scolded.

"Shut up!" Kiara shouted

"What?! It's true!" JJ argued, turning around

"The gold could be buried. We don't know," Kiara justified.

"If it was there, it would've been found on the metal detector, okay?" John B cut in, "Somebody beat us to it"

"Or it was never there," JJ said to himself.

The disappointment among the teens was heavy, but they had no choice but to move forward, to find another clue, another way.

THE FIVE TEENS returned to land and went their separate ways. Amelia's stomach tightened as she realised she couldn't avoid going home anymore.

Amelia opened the door to her house, the door clicking close behind her.

"Dad?" Amelia called out as she walked through the house

"In here, honey" Ward responded.

Amelia's feet tapped against the wooden floor as she followed the sound of her father's voice.

"Hi, Daddy," Amelia said, her lips curving into a smile. 

"Hi, sweetheart." Ward greeted, taking off his glasses

Amelia smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes as she took a seat across from her father. She could already feel the tension rising between them.

"Sarah came by.." Amelia began slowly

"Yeah, I asked her to check on you," Ward said, his tone more stern than intended. He set his glasses down, folding his hands on the table, his expression unreadable.

"Dad, you don't need to worry about me, okay? They aren't bad kids. Please understand that," Amelia pleaded, her voice soft but firm.

Ward sighed, rubbing his face "I'm trying to protect you, sweetheart."

"But you don't need to..not from them", Amelia countered, frustration and softness in her voice. "They aren't bad; they're just trying to survive. Please trust me on that. Trust the fact that I wouldn't hang out with anyone who wasn't good"

Ward's eyes softened for a moment before exhaling sharply "I just don't want you throwing your life away for those kids"

"I'm not Dad, okay?" She said, shaking her head,  "I'm still going to graduate high school and become a nurse. I'll continue volunteering at the hospital and work towards university, I promise." Amelia explained, "Just..please, let me see my friends" She paused, her expression softening

Ward's gaze lingered on her, silence hanging in the air, his expression unreadable as he weighed his options. Amelia's heart hammered against her chest, overcome with anticipation.

Finally, he spoke. "Okay," Ward said, nodding.

"Okay?" Amelia asked, her voice hopeful yet uncertain

"Okay, you can see them. But there are rules!" Ward said, his tone firm but not unkind, "You must keep up with your assignments and homework. No skipping school. You must continue to show up to your shifts at the hospital, and you need to check in with me so I know you're okay. A  text or a call, it doesn't matter, just something"