The Summer Before (JJ Maybank)

Let's go steal some scuba gear from me!

"You got the key to Cameron's big boat, right?" I heard JJ's voice from where I was standing, on the wall by the porch, at John B's house, where they couldn't see me. I had woken up, and noticed that Sarah was still sleeping so I decided to check on John B, to see how he was doing after the fight last night. So I had knocked on the door, but then I heard voices coming from the porch, and once I heard JJ talking about our boat, I decided to eavesdrop a little bit.

'No, JJ." I heard John B say, while JJ continued explaining his plan.

"There's scuba gear inside, man. We just borrow that, and then we go down to the wreck this afternoon, and that is what's gonna save you, man. You don't see rich kids going into foster care, do you?" He said to John B. I couldn't believe what I just heard, they were going to steal from us to go down to a wreck?! It honestly made me miss the Pogues, we would always have so much fun, especially doing illegal stuff, and the thought of being back in on that excited me. I desperately wanted to go explore this wreck with them, even if I had to help them steal from my dad.

"Good plan, but you might need some help." I said, emerging from the other side of the house, with my arms crossed over my chest. All their heads turned to face me, as they looked at me in shock.

"What?!" Kie said angrily.

"You were eavesdropping on us?!" She yelled at me and I threw my hands up in surrender.

"To be fair, it was only once I heard JJ's plan to steal from our boat." I said.

"Shit." I heard JJ mutter under his breath.

"Chill. I'm not gonna narc on you or anything." I said and they let out sighs of relief.

"Only if, you let me in on whatever you are doing." I said and they all looked at me skeptically.

"No way." Kiara said and Pope and JJ muttered words of disapproval.

"Why Kie? What did I even do to ya'll? I asked exasperated.

"You ditched us for your fancy Kook friends!" Pope said angrily and I looked at him surprised.

"Um, no I didn't." I said, looking at Kie, skeptically.

"What did you tell them?" I asked her, and she just looked down.

"What is going on right now?" John B asked looking between me and Kiara.

"I can't believe you!" I yelled at Kiara, once I had realized what she had done.

"How could you do that to me!? Why would you do that to me?!" I asked her.

"I'm sorry, okay? It was not one of my finest moments and I feel awful about it." She said, still looking at the ground.

"But why? What did I ever do to you, besides be a supportive, and wonderful best friend?" I asked her.

"Nothing! Okay, you're right, you didn't do anything." She said.

"Then why shut me out? Why tell everyone that I didn't want to hang out with them anymore? Why tell me that I'm "not a real Pogue" and that I wasn't welcome anymore?" I asked her.

"You told her what?" John B asked.

"Look! Okay, I'm sorry! It was because of Sarah. She did something really mean to me and I just didn't want to be friends with someone who was basically her." She said and I looked at her angrily.

"How could you do this to me? You know that I am nothing like my sister. And you know how much I hate it when people think that we are the same person!"  I shouted at her.

"I'm really sorry, okay? I've regretted it ever since, and I really miss my best friend. Do you think that maybe you could give me another chance?" She asked, looking into my eyes for the first time in forever. I could tell that she was genuinely sorry, but she really hurt me, and I didn't know if I would be able to forgive her.