-19-

"You've got technique now" states JJ, as he backs away from Pope.

"Oh no! JJ you gotta up your game." Stella laughs.

"When did you start wrestling?" John B asks, as Pope tries to catch his breath.

"I dunno but I'm done. I'm out of here" Pope walks off.

"Did you have too many beers?" JJ teases, as they laugh. "You want round two?"

Kie gets up and follows Pope.

"Really?" Sarah exclaims.

"Yeah way to be discreet" JJ yells.

"It's progressed?" Stella asks and he nods.

"I leave and this is what happens" John B states.

"Are you blaming me?"

"Just a little bit. Uh-oh your boy's out. Beer time." John B walks off.

"You are the ones who died-"

"Literally one job, JJ." Sarah laughs.

"Okay. One job?"

"No pogue-on-pogue macking!"

"What? What about Stella, she was here too?"

"Don't bring me into this." She raises her hands defensively. "You were with them more."

"Yeah, no excuses. You're a pogue. you should know." Sarah tell him.

"Yeah hold that thought" He walks over to John B leaving the two of us.

"So, Stella. How did you end up in the Bahamas with my dad and Rafe?" Sarah questions.

"Ugh I thought I was gonna get away without questioning." She sighs, "Um well Rafe tried to drown me."

"What?!"

"Did the others tell you about the gun situation?"

"Oh yeah, yeah, did Rafe know it was you in the sewers?"

"I don't think he cared that much. But anyway, I yelled at him for almost killing me, as you do. And it led to me making him bring me to the Bahamas."

"Wait, how on earth did you get that out of him?"

"I have my ways." She smirks. "Also your dad owes me."

"Hmm what are you up to girl?" Sarah raises an eyebrow

"Just same-old Stella stuff. Nothing new. Besides I think your dad is totally scared of me. " She says smugly.

"Or he just wants a babysitter for Rafe?"

"Yeah it's looking that way- oh " She gets distracted seeing Pope and Kie leaving on a boat. "Alright, love birds!"

"Have a good time!" Sarah waves, laughing

"He jacked your boat bro."

"Pope's poking on the Pogue."

As Sarah laughs at the boys, Stella hears a car door. Shit, she was going to kill them.

"Wait, wait, wait." John B stops JJ , also hearing the sound.

"What?"

"What was that?" he asks.

"Your chicken?"

"I heard a car door."

"Yeah me too." Stella nods and John B looks in the direction of the sound.

"You two should probably get out of here, just in case." Stella suggests.

"Yeah, yeah." John B agrees. "Tree?" He motions.

"Yeah you guys hide up there, Um i'll go around the back."

"What! No Stells." Sarah protests.

"It's safer than going all together, and besides i'm not the one everyone is after."

"Wait, do you know who it is?" John B asks slightly angry.

"I have my ideas." She mumbles , signalling for them to hide.

And just as expected a couple seconds later Barry and Rafe walk into view. Barry heads indoors while Rafe stands directly below the others. Shit. He starts pacing below the tree as Barry comes back out.

"Yo! Anything?"

"No, ain't shit in there bro."

"No? Nothing?"

"No, nothing , Rafe."

"They were obviously just here based off the smoke man"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Great observation , Boy scout" Barry snarks.

"They're not far, you know? they gotta be around here somewhere"

"P4L" Barry laughs., walking up to the tree "So your sister's a Pogue for life, huh. Now who would've thought?"

"Shit!" Rafe yells, he starts shooting the tree. Fuck, Stella takes that as her cue to announce her presence.

"Hey! What did that tree do to you?"

Rafe spins pointing the gun at her, "Este- What are you doing here?" He lowers the gun slightly.

"Um my friend lives here, what are you doing?" She crosses her arms, walk up to him. "Also not very good at searching the place." She teases looking at the two of them.

"Where are they ? Tell me." He raises his gun again.

"Point that gun at me again and I swear to god you'll regret it." She stops right in front of him.

"Oooh " Barry whistles "Mum and dad are fighting."

"Shut Up Barry." They both yell.

"Give me the gun. Rafe." She holds her hand out.

"Tell me where they are."

"Gun"

He huffs placing it in her hand. She walks towards the car, and they both follow. "Estella?" He yells in rage, she ignores him. "Ettie?"

"They're not here Rafe" She sings. "you just missed them. Look no boat on the dock."

"Fuck!"

"You're fucking idiots, the two of you. Great idea shooting a gun too, gosh Rafe do you want to end up in jail?! "She asks, turning to face them again. "I also just want to know, in what world did you think this plan would be a good idea?"

"If they were here-" Rafe starts.

"Why would they be here? Think about it, Rafe."

"Why were you here?" A sly grin appears on his face, "Don't tell me this is where you bring people? What too scared to show them the shack you live in, i mean it's not like this-" He doesn't finish his sentence as Stella slaps him across the face. He goes to strike back but she points the gun at him.

"You're drugged up, and probably still drunk." She tells him, "You're also mad at the pogues for some stupid reason, but don't take this out on me. You don't know shit Rafe so how dare you."

"But I clearly hit a sensitive spot."

"I'll hit a sensitive spot in a minute." She goes to strike the gun at him but Barry steps in between them.

"The fact that i'm being the sensible one right now is ridiculous. " he looks at Rafe, "Come on let's just bounce."

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Hey guys don't tie up. Stop it!" JJ yells, running down the dock to Kiara and Pope.

"What?"

"We're dipping."

"What are you talking about.?"

"What happened last night?" JJ asks the two in the boat.

"We slept on the break. What's up?" Pope says.

"We gotta get the hell out of here." John B announces

"Rafe knows we're here so we have to leave now."

They end up on a random part of the island, "Look if Rafe and Barry know it's only a matter of time" Kiara points out.

"Before everyone knows."

"I told you guys." Stella states. "Also there's only so many times I can distract them"

"Oh yeah, did anyone else find that weird?" JJ looks at John B and Sarah.

"What? What happened?" Kie asks.

"Stella, managed to get Barry and Rafe to leave without us three getting caught."

"Yeah, and he calls you Ettie now?" John B adds.

"That's been a thing for a while" Stella mutters.

"He actually calmed down around her, what else happened in the Bahamas?" Sarah raises an eyebrow.

"No. Nothing happened. I don't know what- why he listens okay? Just be grateful he does, or last night could've ended differently."

They all look at her cautiously when JJ groans "We should've just gone south. Why does no one listen?"

"I have an idea." Sarah announces. "With me back, my dad's going to have to choose between me and Rafe."

"Sarah, Sarah-" John B starts.

"He's gonna choose me."

"Just please listen. Ward keeps lying to you, Sarah."

"You're both right. Yes, he'll choose Sarah. You should've heard him in the Bahamas. But also we don't know what he'll do about John B." Stella tells her.

"No, I... I know it sounds crazy but just hear me out..."