Temptations - Outerbanks (JJ)

Chapter 8 - Who jumped you?

The following morning Sarah and I didn't get up until half-past noon. We made legendary blueberry pancakes and had a great time.

 I stayed with Sarah till the late afternoon when I decided I should probably head back to John B's so I can change out of the clothes I had been wearing the night before. 

"Honey I'm homeeeee" I sing entering the home. It looks like no one's here. I grab my bag and search for a new outfit when two of my favorite boys tumble into the house. JJ and Pope.

"Princess" JJ's face lights up and he rushes over to me and plants a soft kiss on my lips. "Ugh" Pope pretends to barf. "Haha, very funny Pope," I say pulling away from JJ.

"What are you boys up to?" I ask. "just finished delivering groceries for his pops and about to catch some waves with John B and Kiara. Wanna come?" JJ asks. "I'd love to but let me get changed first"

I'm trying to grab a container from the top shelf in the cabinet but my 5'4 ass can't reach. "Here let me help you shorty," Pope says reaching up to grab it.

I can't help but notice the new swollen wound to the side of his eye. "Pope, what happened to you?" I question. 

"Oh um..." He looks to JJ and they make eye contact. "...I fell down the stairs?" this comes out more like a question as a statement. He's clearly lying. "Bullshit"

"Okay fine I was jumped today will delivering groceries to figure 8" he gives up. "Who?" I ask and he remains quiet. "Who jumped you, Pope?" I demand. 

"Rafe and... Topper" my heart drops to my stomach. Anger flows through my veins like I'm the hulk. "I'm going to kill that son of a bitch" I mutter out of my clenched teeth and grab my keys. 

"Summer no no no" Pope stops me. "They can't just go around beating people up they don't like. That's not right" I tell him. "I agree but you yelling at him will only make it worse"

I don't say anything. "Summer please" He pleads. "Okay"

"But you guys go ahead I'm gonna swing by the house to grab more clothes," I say and Pope gives me a questioning look. "I won't say anything if I see Topper" 

-

"do you really think it's out there? Like no bullshit" Pope asks. 

The sun had fallen hours ago and Pope, John B, and Kiara were lounging on the chairs while JJ and I were cuddled up in the hammock. We all stare up at the stars. 

"My father thought it was" John B answers. "But do you?" Pope asks him.

"After hearing his voice on that tape. I think I do" John B replys.  "Only one way to find out" 

"Look we're gonna find it okay? Even JJ believes" Kiara reassures him.

"Oh my god, JJ do you really believe?" John B jokes. "Totally. Wait are we talking about four mil?" JJ asks. "Four hundred mil JJ," I tell him. 

"Okay I'm going to dream about shipwrecks" JJ brings me closer to him and closes his eyes. "Goodnight Bird." He then gives me a quick kiss on my forehead and whispers to me, "Goodnight Princess" soon we all knock out. 

-

The following day we set out to the coordinates on John B's map from his dad.  Apparently, while I was gone they stole an underwater camera or something. It's gonna help us find the wreck.

"Alright JJ pin it here" John B yells. "Roger that! X marks the spot" JJ replies. 

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen. To going full kook" John B declares before throwing the hunk of metal and plastic in the water.

Steadily it falls deeper and deeper into the water.

"Alright JJ, we're right over it. Ten seconds northwest" John B calls out again. "Got it ten seconds northwest" JJ begins to turn the wheel. 

"One hundred feet" I yell as Kiara lets out more cord into the water. 

Pope flinches looking at the screen projecting what the camera is seeing. "What. What. What" John B rushes over to Pope. "Oh, um, It's nothing" John B groans. "Sorry,I- I just thought" Pope tries to explain himself.

"Don't do that to me man?" JJ tells Pope. "My bad. I just thought I saw something"

Everyone settles back down. 

"Ans to quote the hobbit 'Down, down, to Goblin-town, down, down you go my lad'" Pope tries to lighten the mood. Everyone is deadly serious about finding this gold.

"Four hundred feet" I yell once again. "The tides turning" Kiara yells noticing the current become rougher.

John B yells at JJ with multiple directions as the water begins to pick up.

"Keep the tether out of the prop," John B tells us. "We're trying," I tell him. 

"700 feet" the wind begins to pick up. "JJ hold it steady"

"okay 900 ft"

"920" Kiara and I struggle to keep hold of the tether. "John B, there's too much current. We're gonna lose it" Kiara and I try our best to control it. 

"What do you got Pope? Cmon man, what do you see?"John B asks desperately. "Nothin' a whole lot of nothin'" Pope replies. "You should be right above it brother," John B tells him.

"960"

"970"

"980" 

"I'm at the bottom. I'm at the bottom" Pope says. "You should be seeing something man," John B tells Pope. "I know I know... wait, wait" 

An old wooden ship shows up on the screen. "Oh my god," I say my mouth hanging.

"What, you guys see something," JJ asks. "It's the royal merchant" a smile spreads across John B's face. Oh my. We did it. We found the royal merchant.

authors note: sry, it's kinda short I just needed to get a chapter out!!!