-36-

"Are you guys seriously surfing today?"Pope asks the others as Stella rocks up.

"Oh. Don't. Don't " John B protests.

"As opposed to what?"

"Well, I don't wanna sell the million dollars I have in my hand for 50k so... i'm gonna look into this."

"Into what?" Stella tries to look at the object in his hand.

"You have missed so much." Sarah tells her, pulling her into a hug

"Wait. Pope, you just heard me, right? I said it's a perfect swell day."

"Pope don't make me a 5th wheel right now." Stella sighs.

"There'll be other swell days... and Stells, why don't you just invite Rafe?" He suggests, packing his bag.

"Oh. Wow." Her jaw tenses.

"Pope that's like saying there's other pizza to eat, all right?" JJ explains. "Like, come on. Are you serious?"

"Listen to your Earth Mother, pope. She's, like, begging you to surf. Or at least come along like Stells." Kie points.

"I think my Earth Mother is telling me to maximize our intel."

"Telling you to maximize being boring." Stella mumbles, leaning on Sarah's shoulder.

"Mine's telling me to maximize the swell."

"I'm gonna maxmines this tan." Sarah adds.

"Mmm." Stella agrees.

"Okay well everyone have fun maximising."

"Wait. wait. Hold on. Wait, where.. where's Cleo?" John B asks.

"She just texted me... she said that she was on Pogue patrol and she's looking for bait in the Cut."

"Lame. Tell her we're closed."

"I'll text her right now."

JJ tries to convince Pope again but it doesn't work, and he walks off.

"So where have you been Stells." Sarah nudges her.

"Went back home for the night. Rach had a day off work."

"Ahh I see. And about what Pope said... you're not inviting my brother are you?"

" No. He's the last person I want to see right now." She sighs, as they head to the Twinkie.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Don't you just immediately feel like life is better at the beach?" Kie asks as the others set up. 

"Oh boy."

"What?" JJ and Stella ask, turning to see the Kooks.

"Fuck me." Stella mutters.

"You're joking." Sarah exhales.

"Don't stop."

"Anywhere but here."

"Oh you're joking. Of course they stop here."

"Honestly thinking they're slightly obsessed with us." Stella chuckles.

"We were here first."

"It's a waste of waves if you're asking me."

"So lame." Stella sighs, sitting down in one of the deck chairs and pulling out her book.

"Great my brothers here."

Stella looks over to see Rafe, standing next to Sofia. She smiles softly at her but before Rafe looks over, she turns back to her book.

"Ah sunshine's coming, What do you think he wants?" JJ asks as Topper comes over.

"I don't really care."

"What does he ever want?" Kie wonders as John B walks over to talk to him.

Stella ignores everyone and focuses on her book. Occasionally she looks up to watch the others surf, when Sarah joins her.

"Why do they always have something to say?" Sarah sighs, sitting next to her.

"Cause they're sad little kooks."

Sarah chuckles, turning to face Stella, "Are you sure you don't fancy a little swim?"

"Nah."

"You don't have to surf."

"I know but it still freaks me out... the water."

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Guys, there's a turtle hatch." Kiara yells as they are packing away.

"Aww." Stella coos.

"They're so tiny."

"We should make it like a highway."

"A turtle highway"

The other Oogues start helping Kiara lead the baby turtles to the shore so Stella was the only one who noticed the Kooks. 

"Oh fuck guys." Stella exhales, as the jeep heads right towards them. 

"What are they doing?"

"Hey! Stop" Kie waves. "There'a s hatch."

Despite the Pogues protests, they didn't seem to be slowing down and were heading straight towards Kiara.

"Stop!"

"There's turtles. There's a hatch!"

"Kie move!" Stella shoves the girl out of the way just in time. "You okay?" She holds her out.

"Yeah... Oh my god they're coming back."

"There's a hatch." They repeat. "There's a hatch, stop!"

"Stop!"

JJ pulls Kiara out the way this time as Ruthie throws her drink "Suck it, Pogues."

It splashes all over Stella, and she glares daggers at the back of the jeep, "I'm going to kill her." She mumbles as Kiara notices the dead turtle.

"Stay here." Kie tells the others, and the two girls storm over.

"Kie, Stella w-" JJ runs after them. "Guys. Kie, listen, I know i'm the last person to say something like this, but we need to be smart about this."

"I don't care."

"JJ they deserve this." Stella nods.

"No. All right. Just a little outnumbered."

"I don't care.

"Here they come guys. On a warpath, get ready." Topper taunts.

"Look what you did." Kiara shows them the turtle. "Is this okay? No look at it!"

"There was a turtle hatch, you idiots!" Stella adds.

"You drove right over it."

"I understand you're upset, Kiara."

"I'm more than upset, Topper."

"All right, but there was only one." Ruthie points out, "I mean, look, there's so many more of them. It's just the cycle of life"

"You fucking heartless bitch." Stella jumps towards her, but Topper steps in the way.

"I think we need to teach this little Pogue a lesson. " She tilts her head.

"Yeah?" Stella taunts, as Ruthie gestures for Topper to move. "Let's see what you've got Kook." She shoves her.

"Oh typical, the pogue likes to play dirty." Ruthie smirked, as Stella felt someone grab her arms. She glances behind her to see two kooks.

"Typical, the kook likes to cheat." Stella tries to get out of their grip.

"No, I like to win." Ruthie stepped forward before punching her across the face.

"Ha, is that all you got?" Stella shook her head.

"Stella... Let's just- " JJ tries to warn.

"No, no. I'm good." She tells him, but immediately regrets it. 

"You know a little birdy told me you're not a fan of the water."

Stella couldn't help it, she looks over at Rafe who was avoiding her gaze. Trying to hide her fear she laughs in Ruthie's face,  as the kooks holding he shoves her towards the water "Oh three versus one. Wow."

"Do you ever shut up?"

"No."  Stella smiles smugly as Ruthie pushes her back into the water. Blinking away the salt Stella comes face to face with Ruthie again.

"God I feel sorry for Topper." Stella sighs.

"Shut up." Ruthie grits, and pushes her under.  Struggling against her grip Stella wondered if next time she should just keep her mouth shut, she also wondered why Ruthie was so freakishly strong. The sound of muffled yelling seemed to get quieter, but Stella used the ounce of strength she had left to flip Ruthie over. Panting, she held her down under water but it didn't last long because Ruthie had kneed her in the stomach and she was back under water again. This time her vision starts to blur, as Ruthie's hands find there was around her neck. She just about saw glimpses of someone pulling Ruthie away before JJ and Kiara dragged her out of the water.

"She's a fucking psycho." Stella hears Kiara while she coughs up water.

"Yeah and watch this get pinned on us." JJ agrees.

Her eyes focus again and immediately land on Rafe's, her jaw tenses as she glares at him. He looks back confused, and still concerned.

"There's something seriously wrong with you people!" Stella hears Kiara yell again as the other pogues rush over to her.

"I've seriously never hated them more."

"Can you guys drop me off at home?" Stella finally spoke.

"Yeah no worries."