「 ✦ WINDOW VISITS ✦ 」

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AS MJ'S LAUGHTER FADED, the group fell into an uncomfortable silence. Sarah shot MJ a glare so icy it could cut glass, her fists clenched as she stood across the room, visibly seething.

"Are you done?" Sarah finally said, her voice tight with anger.

"Please," MJ said, smirking as she settled back into the chair. "I was just getting started."

JJ shot her a warning look. "MJ, chill."

MJ scoffed, rolling her eyes. "What? She's the one acting like she's better than us."

Sarah opened her mouth to retort, but John B stepped in, hands up in a desperate attempt to restore peace. "Alright, enough! We've got bigger things to worry about right now, remember?" He cast a glance around the room. "Like, I don't know... finding the damn gold?"

MJ's smirk faded, and she felt a pang of guilt. JJ had gone out of his way to keep her involved in their treasure hunt, even though her recent choices had left her out of the loop. And as much as she liked pushing people's buttons, she didn't want to alienate her brother or the only real family she had.

"Fine," she said, tossing John B an apologetic look. "I'll shut up."

Kie let out a huff, folding her arms and pointedly looking away from Sarah, but at least the tension in the room lessened.

John B nodded, his gaze intense. "Tomorrow morning, we hit the water. Early. No more distractions."

Everyone agreed, and the conversation gradually shifted to the logistics of their plan—who would bring what, who would be the lookout, who would dive. MJ tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering back to Rafe. She remembered the way his hand felt, warm and steady when he'd held her wrists. And the way he'd looked at her, bruised knuckles and all, his icy blue eyes simmering with something she couldn't quite place.

She shook her head, shoving the memory away. Rafe Cameron was trouble—trouble she didn't need right now.

That night, MJ couldn't sleep. The house was dark and quiet, save for the faint sounds of Luke's snoring from the couch in the living room. She lay on her bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling, her thoughts spiralling in every direction. She thought about her friends, about JJ's loyalty, about her own spiralling choices... and about the debt she and Rafe still owed Barry.

Barry. Just thinking about him made her stomach twist. The debt hung over her like a dark cloud, and every time she thought she'd paid it off, somehow, she ended up owing him more. It was a cycle she couldn't break. And after last night, with the drugs and the party, she knew she was deeper in than ever.

A soft knock on her window startled her out of her thoughts. MJ sat up, her heart racing, and crept over to the window, peering out into the dark.

Rafe was standing there, hands shoved into his pockets, looking up at her. She hesitated for a moment before reluctantly sliding the window open.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she whispered, glancing back to make sure Luke was still asleep.

Rafe shrugged, his usual smirk absent. "Wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine." MJ's tone was defensive, though she couldn't hide the slight waver in her voice.

Rafe's eyes flickered, catching the vulnerability she tried so hard to mask. "Can I come up?"

She hesitated, then nodded, stepping back as he climbed through the window. He landed silently in her room, the faint moonlight casting shadows across his face. They stood there in awkward silence, not sure what to say.

"About earlier..." Rafe started, running a hand through his messy blond hair. "I'm sorry I went after your dad like that."

MJ snorted. "Don't be. He deserved it."

Rafe didn't smile. He looked around her room—at the peeling posters on the walls, the chipped furniture, the small signs of a life that had always been a little rough around the edges. "You don't deserve any of this, MJ."

His words cut through her like a knife, and she looked away, crossing her arms. "Rafe, don't start—"

"No, seriously," he interrupted, his voice low but insistent. "Why do you put up with it? You're tough as hell, MJ, but this... this isn't right."

She swallowed, her jaw clenching as she felt a lump rise in her throat. "It's just... how things are. Okay?"

He stared at her, and for a moment, she thought he might argue. But then his shoulders slumped, and he nodded. "Fine. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stand by and watch you destroy yourself. You don't have to live like a dirty pouge all the time."

"You don't have to worry about me, Rafe," she murmured, softer than she intended. "I can take care of myself."

"What the hell are you even doing here?" she whispered, glancing back to make sure Luke was still asleep.

Rafe smirked, his eyes glinting with that familiar, arrogant gleam. "Nice to see you too, Maybank."

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm serious, Rafe. You can't just show up here in the middle of the night."

"Relax." He leaned casually against the windowsill, scanning her room with obvious distaste. "Just checking on you."

MJ bristled, crossing her arms. "If you're here just to insult me, you can leave."

Rafe chuckled, clearly amused. "What, sensitive about the truth now? Thought you Pogues had thicker skin."

Her fists clenched, but she forced herself to keep her voice steady. "Not everyone's born with a silver spoon, Rafe. Some of us have to work for what we have."

"Work?" He laughed a harsh sound that echoed in the small room. "Is that what you call it? Running around with your loser friends, getting high, and barely scraping by? You call that work?"

"Get out," MJ snapped, her voice low but filled with anger. "I don't need to listen to this."

But Rafe ignored her, stepping further into the room as he looked around, his sneer deepening. "You know, I almost feel sorry for you, living like this. No wonder you're so desperate to act tough. You're trying to pretend you're not stuck at the bottom of the food chain."

Her hands shook with the effort to hold herself back. "You don't know anything about me, Rafe."

"Oh, I know enough," he shot back, his gaze cold and unrelenting. "I know you're nothing but a Pogue trying to play at being one of us. But you're not. You never will be." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a taunting whisper. "You'll always be trash, MJ. No matter how hard you try to forget it."

MJ's jaw clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She wanted to hit him, to wipe that smug look off his face, but she knew that's exactly what he wanted. Instead, she glared at him, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

"Why are you even here, Rafe?" she finally ground out. "If I'm so worthless, then why bother?"

For a moment, he hesitated, the mask slipping as something darker flickered in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual smirk.

"Just thought you might like to know that Barry's not done with you yet," he said, his tone casual but laced with menace. "He's got one last little... favour for you. And if you screw this up, well... let's just say he's not as forgiving as I am."

MJ felt a chill run down her spine. She knew what Barry was capable of, and the last thing she needed was to be even deeper in his debt. But she kept her expression blank, refusing to let Rafe see her fear.

"Tell Barry I'll handle it," she said coolly.

Rafe snorted, giving her a mocking salute. "Good luck with that, Pogue." He turned and climbed back out the window, but not before casting one last contemptuous glance at her. "Maybe next time you'll remember your place."

And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving MJ alone in the quiet darkness, her heart pounding and her mind racing.

She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. Rafe's words echoed in her head, each insult a reminder of just how much he looked down on her, how much he saw her as nothing but an outsider, someone who didn't belong. But if he thought she was just going to roll over and give up, he had another thing coming.

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The next morning, MJ joined the group at the dock, where John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara were loading up the boat with supplies. She could feel the tension between them all, but she was determined to put it aside. They had a mission, and if there was one thing MJ was good at, it was throwing herself into a dangerous situation and hoping for the best.

JJ caught her eye, giving her a faint smile. "You ready for this, sis?"

She returned the smile, even though her heart was pounding. "Always."

As they set off toward the uncharted waters where the Royal Merchant—and the gold—awaited, MJ tried to push Rafe's words out of her mind. But deep down, the sting lingered. She was determined to prove him wrong, to show him that she was more than the insults he threw at her.

As the boat cut through the early morning waves, MJ's mind buzzed with fragments of the previous night, Rafe's words gnawing at her like a splinter lodged deep in her skin. She tried to shake it off, focusing instead on the calm rhythm of the ocean and the quiet camaraderie of her friends around her. They were all in their worlds, focused, a little tense but united by the same goal. Here, she didn't need to be anyone else, didn't need to prove herself. She was just MJ, part of something bigger.

Pope leaned over the map, brow furrowed as he went over their plan for the hundredth time. "Once we're close enough, John B and I will dive in and scout for the entrance," he said, running a finger over a section of the map. "Kie and JJ, you'll keep a lookout from the boat."

"Where do you want me?" MJ asked, trying to sound casual. She wasn't exactly a trained diver, but she wasn't about to let herself be sidelined.

Pope hesitated, glancing at John B, who looked equally unsure. "Uh... maybe you could... help Kie and JJ keep watch?"

MJ's face fell. "Seriously? I can handle the dive."

"It's not about that, MJ," John B said quickly, holding up his hands. "It's just... the dive's going to be tricky. We don't even know what we're dealing with down there."

"I'm not some delicate flower, John B," she shot back, her voice sharper than she intended. "I can handle myself."

JJ placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his gaze soft. "Hey, it's not a question of toughness. We just need someone we can trust to watch our backs up here."

She wanted to argue, to insist that she was every bit as capable as the rest of them, but something in JJ's expression calmed her. She nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But if you get into trouble down there, don't expect me to just sit here twiddling my thumbs."

"Wouldn't dream of it," John B said with a grin, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern.

They continued toward the spot marked on the map, an eerie sense of anticipation hanging in the air. MJ watched as John B and Pope strapped on their diving gear, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders. She had to make sure nothing happened up here—especially with Rafe's threat about Barry still fresh in her mind. If she messed this up, it wouldn't just be the treasure they'd lose. It would be the safety of everyone she cared about.

The boys gave a thumbs-up before disappearing beneath the waves, and the world above grew quiet. MJ took a deep breath, scanning the horizon. The water was calm, the only sounds were the gentle slosh of waves against the hull and the occasional creak of the boat.

Kie shifted beside her, glancing over. "You okay?"

MJ nodded, though her jaw was tight. "Fine. Just... waiting for the storm, I guess."

Kie offered her a small smile, understanding in her eyes. "We're gonna find it, you know. The gold. And when we do, we're going to make everything better."

It was a nice thought, but MJ wasn't convinced. Gold or no gold, people like Rafe and Barry would always find a way to make life harder for people like her. But she couldn't bring herself to say it, not when Kie's optimism was the one bright spot in an otherwise dark morning.

Just then, JJ cursed under his breath, grabbing a pair of binoculars and squinting at the shoreline. "We've got company."

MJ followed his gaze, her stomach dropping as she saw a sleek, familiar boat speeding toward them.

Rafe.

He was at the helm, with a couple of his Kook friends flanking him, all of them with that same smug look she'd come to despise. MJ clenched her fists, her heart pounding. She knew he wouldn't just show up for a friendly chat—especially not here, of all places. No, he was here to cause trouble, and she was willing to bet he'd somehow found out about their treasure hunt.

"Unbelievable," Kie muttered, her face twisted in frustration. "Does he ever take a day off?"

"Not," MJ replied, her voice tight. She glanced down at the water, but John B and Pope were still nowhere to be seen. They were on their own.

Rafe pulled his boat up alongside theirs, a mocking smile spreading across his face as he leaned over the side. "Well, well. Didn't expect to see you out here, Maybank. Figured you'd be slumming it somewhere else."

"Not today, Rafe," she shot back, arms crossed. "Take your goons and get lost."

"Oh, I'd love to," he replied, his tone dripping with fake sincerity. "But see, there's a little problem. You're on my turf." He looked around dramatically as if the open water belonged solely to him. "And I don't take kindly to trespassers."

Kie scoffed, stepping forward. "Since when does the ocean belong to you, Cameron? You're not that rich."

He ignored her, his gaze fixed on MJ. "Tell me, Maybank, did Barry send you out here? Or are you just this desperate to scrounge up a few coins for him?"

MJ's face burned. He knew. Somehow, he knew. She gritted her teeth, refusing to let him get under her skin. "It's none of your business, Rafe."

"Oh, but it is," he said, his smirk widening. "See, I've got a little interest in that gold myself. And unlike you, I don't have to beg or borrow to get what I want." His eyes swept over her, full of disdain. "But you... you'll always be a little scavenger, won't you?"

JJ's hand twitched, and MJ could see the anger simmering just beneath the surface. But she didn't want this to turn into a fight—not with John B and Pope still underwater, completely unaware of the situation.

"Look," she said, trying to keep her voice steady, "we're not bothering you. Just leave us alone, alright?"

"Or what?" Rafe sneered. He leaned closer, voice dropping to a taunting whisper. "You gonna call your big, bad brother to come save you?"

That hit a nerve, and she could feel her fists trembling with the urge to swing. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to hold back. This wasn't the time.

JJ, however, wasn't as restrained. He stepped forward, his voice low and full of menace. "Back off, Rafe. Before I make you regret coming out here."

Rafe raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh, I'm terrified." He looked around at his friends, who chuckled in response. "What are you gonna do, Pogue? Scratch up my boat?"

Just as things seemed like they were about to explode, a splash sounded from the side of the boat. John B and Pope resurfaced, gasping for air and unaware of the showdown that had unfolded above them.

"Did you find anything?" MJ asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

John B nodded, but his expression was grim. "Yeah... but we've got bigger problems." He glanced up, finally noticing Rafe. His eyes narrowed. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"Same thing he always does," MJ muttered. "Acting like he owns the place."

Rafe rolled his eyes, leaning back as if bored. "You know, I could just... report you all to the cops. Tell them you're messing around out here, causing trouble. One call and you're all done."

MJ forced herself to look him dead in the eye. "Go ahead. But remember, Rafe... some of us don't have the luxury of hiding behind daddy's money. We have to pay for our mistakes."

Rafe's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second, and in that moment, MJ saw something raw and ugly flash across his face. But he quickly masked it, stepping back to his boat.

"Fine," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Have your little adventure. But remember, Maybank... I'll always be watching. And when you screw up—and you will—I'll be there to remind you exactly where you belong."

With that, he fired up the engine, giving them all one last, sneering look before speeding off, leaving a trail of churning water in his wake.

The group stood in silence, watching him go, the tension thick and suffocating. MJ took a deep breath, trying to shake off the encounter, but Rafe's words lingered like poison.