𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐓 / / 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊

CHAPTER 7

By the time they had gotten out onto the marshes, it was around 5pm, a lot later than they had originally planned to go out. The sky had a gorgeous glow to it, and Stella made the most of such by sun bathing on the decking of the boat. She had stripped off down to her bikini, stolen Raybans framing her face, she used JJ's backpack as a pillow as she laid behind John B and Kie. The others where talking over the plan, but she wasn't paying much attention, instead debating whether she wanted a joint or drink.

John B had successfully 'borrowed' the scuba diving equipment from Ward Cameron's boat. Apparently he had bumped into Sarah, but she bought that he was taking the tanks to fill them up. Only problem was, those tanks where near enough empty, and they had no way of filling them back up. Kie had discovered such on further inspection, and the fact of the matter made Stella snort. How hasn't he realised they had fuck all in them? The boy could be dim sometimes.

"Can't you just dive down there, Stel?" JB had asked whilst Kiara was still checking out the oxygen levels.

She gave him a questioning side eye. "Dude, I know I can hold my breath long but not that long."

"Okay, this ones a quarter full."

Stella lifted her head up. "Will that be enough?"

"Well, it's enough for one of us." Kie replied. "Does anybody know how to dive?"

The blonde girl tried to hold in a laugh as the group looked around at each other questioningly, before turning to the floor. She knew fine well that none of them had even worn scuba gear before, never mind dived with it on. They couldn't afford shit like that.

"Anybody?"

"It's kind of a Kook sport." JJ finally answered as Stel pushed herself onto her feet, moving to sit besides him.

Pope raised his hand. "I... read about it?"

"Great," Kie's voice held attitude. "Pope's read about it, so somebody's gonna die."

"Look, you put the thing in your mouth and breath." JJ said. "How hard could it be?"

"Well, if you come up too fast, nitrogen gets into your blood, and you get the bends." Pope explained.

The blonde boy bent over slightly in front of her and she resisted the urge to push him over with her foot. "Bends like, bend over and—"

"The bends kill you."

Pope's words made JJ sit back down on the ledge, the realisation of how serious this shit that they where trying to pull was suddenly hitting him. "Right."

"Pope's right." Stella pushed her sunglasses into her hair. "Happened to my dad's brother when he was diving."

Kie raised a brow. "What was he diving for?"

"He was a peddler." She grinned, a laugh on her lips as Kiara quickly adverted her gaze. The stories Stella would tell about her family only became more wild as time went on, and the worst part was? They where all true.

John B must of sensed the uncomfortableness from the girl besides him as he quickly focused back on topic. "I can— I can dive."

"You can dive, I'm cool with that." Jay agreed, earning an elbow in the side from Stella.

"Since when can you dive?" Kiara did not feel comfortable with this situation, all of them could tell. She was too aware of the risks surrounding the sport.

"I'll do it, it's fine."

"I think I should do it." Stella stood up.

"What?" JJ looked at her as though she had grown three heads. "No fucking way. Why the hell would you go?"