-6-

"Don't let it get in your head. There are three of them and two of us. That is some typical Kook shit right there" JJ reassures Pope. "What was your thought process, though using your head?"

"I don't know man. I just kind of acted off instinct. I was a cornered animal."

"Hey Pope, someone here to see you." Heyward walks in followed by Shoupe. Stella glances over at Kie, both of them looking equally concerned.

"Evening, Officer" Pope nods casually.

"I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property."

"What?" Stella exclaims.

"Hands where I can see 'em. Stella out of my way." He nudges her slightly.

"Whoa. Shoupe, what'd he do?"

"Take a look at the warrant."

"You're just arresting my boy?"

Everyones eyes are on Pope except Stella's, she was watching JJ contemplate something. "JJ, No, don't" She whispers, knowing exactly what he is thinking .

"I have to Stella, help me?" He says before running up to Shoupe, "It wasn't him! It was me. He try to talk me out of it, didn't he Stella?"

She sighs but nods. Fuck sake JJ.

"But I was mad because he'd just been beaten up. I was so sick of those assholes from Figure Eight that I lost my shit. I can't let you take the blame for something I did. You've got too much to lose."

Pope looks at him confused. "JJ, what are you doing?

"Im telling the truth. For once in my goddamn life, I'm gonna tell the truth. I took his old man's boat, too."

"What the hell?" Heyward looks at him.

"JJ come on."

Just shut up, Pope!" He yells. "He's a good kid, you know where I'm from."

"Yeah" Shoupe agrees. "Stella, that's the whole truth?" Shoupe asks her. She looks between the two boys and JJ smiles.

"Yup, you know I was there, Pope was begging him not too but you know JJ once he commits, he commits. " She gulps. Shoupe takes the handcuffs off Pope and puts them on JJ, shoving him the car and driving off.

Stella bites the inside of her cheek, trying not to tear up .

"Shit!" Pope yells before running off.

"Pope!" Heyward calls out. "Pope!... Stella what the heck is going on?"

She shakes her head, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Who did it? and what did they do?"

"They sank Topper's boat. JJ took the blame. Im sorry, you know how the kooks... yeah"She sighs before heading off to the police station. She had to check on him.

"Hey, Peterkin, Is JJ still here?" Stella asks as she leans against the desk

"Uh no his father just came to pick him up, just missed him." She tells her while walking off. Shit, Stella thinks as she turns to head out. Looking down the street she spots a car. She spots Lucke's car. She notices that it was moving slightly, but she reminds herself what JJ had once told her. Don't get involved. So Stella went to take her anger out on someone else.

"Where is he Barry?" Stella barges into his place, beyond pissed.

"Who?" Barry walks out his room followed by the person she was looking for.

Stella storms up to him, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down to her eye level. "Are you happy now, you asshole?"

"Ah country club, what you done? I've never seen her this mad" Barry laughs.

"I don't know what you're on about." Rafe looks away, she pulls his shirt tighter.

"Don't fucking lie. I bet you're throwing a little party tonight. Is that why you're here? grabbing a little something to celebrate?"

He just laughs, Stella goes to swing at him but he grabs her wrist, turning her around and pushing her up against the wall. Barry whistles before walking off muttering something about not wanting to be involved in their domestic.

"Not so tough now" He mocks and she scowls back. "Besides I had nothing to do with it this time... it was Topper's mum."

"Ah so you do know what Im on about."

"Of course I do," he smirks, tilting his head. "I know everything."

"Oh so then you know that you still owe me."

He pushes against her wrists tighter, "You think I still owe you after yesterday's little stunt? Hmm Estella? In fact I think you now owe me, unless you wanna end up like your little friend. In jail."

Stella strains against his hold, "You motherfucker. Let go of me."

"No. Actually you know I think I have an idea. How about we make a deal?" Stella clenches her jaw, looking away. "What? I heard you love a deal. Right, So, I won't tell anyone about how you threatened me with a gun-"

"Oh I would hardly call it a threat, Rafe." She rolls her eyes.

He leans in closer "If you go to Midsummers with me?"

Stella slowly looks back at him, dumbfounded, "Midsummers? How much coke have you had?"

"Yes Midsummers." He nods, ignoring her question about drugs. " And I mean obviously I don't actually want to go with you... but you see dad isn't really happy with me at the moment, and for some strange reason he loves you. So you going with me might help lighten him up a bit."

Stella huffs, thinking about it. "One condition though."

"No."

"Fine then I decline your offer."

"No, you can't do that..." He lets go of her wrists. "What's the condition?"

"I get to pick the dress, and you have to pay for it." She grins, and it's his turn to roll his eyes.

"That's it?"

"Yup. Oh and I can access your drinks tab... or whatever you call it."

"Fine. Okay."

"Excellent. Then we have a deal." She holds her hand out for him to shake, but he ignores it. "Dick." She mumbles.

"Don't be late." He warns her.

"I still hate you. A lot." She points and glares, leaving Barry's place.

"The feeling's mutual." He smiles sarcastically.

As Stella leaves, her phone buzzes. It was JJ. He'd sent her a location, telling her not to go to the Château. Slightly confused, Stella heads there to find JJ and John B looking on edge.

"Hey boys! JJ ,you okay?" She hugs him, before turning to John B. "Oh, you have missed a lot"

JJ nods, "First, I almost get strangled to death by Kooks, and now i'm on the hook for 30 grand"

"What? 30 grand, oh JJ!"

"It's fine, oh speaking of Stella, she was a complete badass who pulled out a gun on Rafe, shoulda seen his face."

"Stella! on Rafe? You know he's gonna make you pay for that." John B exclaims.

"Don't worry, I've already sorted it?"

"Don't tell me you've killed him, Oh my god, see we should just dip." Suggests JJ.

"No I haven't... yet"

"Okay, where do you wanna go ? hmm"

"Yucatan." JJ nods and John B just laughs. "No, im dead serious right now. Surf all day, and then we just live off lobsters we catch with our bare hands"

"You just wanna leave cause you got your ass beat?"

"John B!" Stella exclaims.

"You didn't see the photos."

"Think about it. They're willing to kill for the gold then it's gotta be out there."

"Have you lost your mind?" JJ yells. "One hundred years man. One hundred years, people have been trying to find this Royal Merchant, and no one succeeded and you think you are gonna be the one that actually finds it? When will you get it in your thick skull ? If you keep going down this road you're gonna end up just like your dad!"

"I can't give up on the hunt JJ, and you know that." John B starts walking away. "Look, I've got a plan. You two coming or what?"

Stella quickly looks between the two boys, "Yeah but I've got somewhere to be tonight."

"Four hundred mil JJ. How much do you owe in restitution?"

JJ gives in and gets in the boat, "Where are you going tonight then Stella?"

"I'm not telling you."

"No fun."