ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤLyra pedaled her sage-colored vintage bicycle down the road that led to The Cut, her backpack bouncing against her back and a bag of grocery supplies on the bike basket. She rang her bike’s bell thrice, announcing her arrival, as she parked it in the Château’s front yard and walked to the front porch. Clearing her throat, she prepared to call out to John B, “J. Booker, I brought food—” but stopped abruptly when Sheriff Peterkin emerged from the kitchen, his gaze fixed on her.

ㅤㅤ“Oh, uh, good morning, Sheriff,”

ㅤㅤ“Lyra, good morning.”

ㅤㅤLyra followed the sheriff’s departure with her eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. She entered the kitchen, unpacked the food and groceries she had brought, and set the table. But as she glanced at John B, who was still glued to his seat, her breath caught in her throat.

ㅤㅤ“What did she want from you?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

John B assisted her in setting the table, his movements tense. “She wanted me to stay out of the marsh,” he replied, his voice filled with frustration. “And she threatened to send me to the mainland for foster care if I didn’t.”

ㅤㅤLyra sighed, unsure of what to say. “So, what’s your plan now?” she asked, her voice filled with concern. What could be so crucial in the marsh that the sheriff wouldn’t allow John B to go there?

ㅤㅤJohn B shrugged his shoulders, his expression one of defeat. “Still not sure,” he admitted. “I guess I’ll decide when everyone is here already.” He arranged the plates and cups on the table, his movements methodical.

ㅤㅤ“If you like,” Lyra pauses, her voice filled with hope. “You can stay at ours in the meantime. Also, I think Klyd wants to talk to y’all.”

ㅤㅤJohn B laughed a nervous chuckle. “What changed his mind?” he asked, remembering the day Klyd had stormed into the Château, scaring him and JJ.

ㅤㅤ“No, idea but I am growing to like this new and improved Klyd,” Lyra replied, her voice filled with a mixture of confusion and relief. “So, what do you say about my offer?” she reiterated, hoping that John B would agree.

ㅤㅤJohn B hesitated, his face a mask of conflict. “I can’t ask that much from you and your family, Lyra. You’re already supplying groceries for me…” he protested, his voice filled with guilt.

ㅤㅤ“Oh, please, it’s the least I can do. I literally spend my time here more than I do at our house, just think of this as my payment for rent. Besides, it’s not you who’s asking, JB. It’s me,” Lyra chuckled, a hint of desperation in her voice. “Apart from that, my parents adore you—well, maybe a little more than they should if you think about it.” 

ㅤㅤ“They sure do,” John B stated, sharing a laugh with Lyra. He clicked his tongue, his expression a mix of amusement and contemplation. “I’ll think about it and I promise I’ll let you know,” he replied, his voice firm. “Thanks for everything, Lyra. It means a lot to me that, despite everything, you still chose me to be your best friend.” He reached across the table, taking Lyra’s hand in his.

ㅤㅤ“Pogues for life, right?”

ㅤㅤ“Pogues for life it is.”

ㅤㅤLyra flashed her most sincere smile as John B removed his hand from hers. She could see the lines etched on his forehead, a clear sign of his hesitation. She took a bite of her bacon sandwich, her heart pounding in her chest. John B, meanwhile, ate his hotdog sandwich, his gaze fixed on her. Finally, he spoke.

ㅤㅤ“Can I ask you something?” he said tentatively, his voice barely a whisper.

ㅤㅤLyra nodded, her heart thumping in her chest. The way John B was looking at her made her nervous. She sensed the question he was about to ask would be challenging to answer. “Sure, about what?” she replied, trying to sound casual.

ㅤㅤ“About you and... Rafe,” John B said, his voice trailing off at the end.

ㅤㅤ“Huh, me and Rafe,” Lyra spoke. It felt so wrong to say,  she could feel rust at the back of her mouth. She knew where this would go, she’s played this scenario in her mind a million times.

ㅤㅤJohn B took a deep breath, and Lyra could see the worry lines on his forehead deepening. “Yeah, I just gotta ask. Is there something going on between you two?” he asked, his voice low and serious.

ㅤㅤLyra took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. “We’re not a thing but we had an agreement,” she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. She bit her lower lip before continuing. “We’ve shared a few kisses, but it wasn’t going to be serious between us.”

ㅤㅤ“So, a fling, but without sex?”

ㅤㅤ“Yes,” Lyra admitted, grimacely. She went on to tell him the story right from the start. From how and when it started, from telling her reason. She also told him that she didn’t choose Rafe, because if there were other options, choosing Rafe wouldn’t even cross her hind.

ㅤㅤJohn B didn’t utter a word, making Lyra sweat in bullets and her hands shaking. He only stared at her for a few moments, his expression unreadable. “Yeah, it was pretty bitchy, but I honestly don’t blame you. You had your reasons, and I think they’re all valid,” he let out a chuckle, and Lyra couldn’t help but feel relieved and sorry.

ㅤㅤHe raised an eyebrow, his expression turning serious. “He’s not hurting you or anything, is he?”

ㅤㅤLyra shook her head, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “No, he never hurt me physically or emotionally. Wait, does biting my lips count?” She cracked up as John B’s face contorted in disgust. She knew she could only laugh because John B took it lightly, a stark contrast to the reaction she expected from the others. “Tell you what, he’s a good kisser,” she teased, enjoying John B’s discomfort.

ㅤㅤ“Lyra, stop, that’s too much information. You’re like a sister to me, I don’t wanna hear about your sex life!”

ㅤㅤ“JB, my sex life is pretty much non-existent. So, rest assured we’re not talking about it.”

ㅤㅤThank God, John B was calmer than Lyra thought he would act. But she couldn’t expect the same about Kiara. Pope would also be calm, but he would be mad. But Kiara? That girl has a deep-rooted hatred against the Cameron family, of course, she would be furious, and let’s not talk about JJ—that man’s a ticking time bomb when it comes to those Kooks. One thing’s for sure though, she might only have one or two friends left after telling them her secret.

ㅤㅤMeanwhile, in John B’s mind, he has already pictured JJ’s reaction. JJ would be furious, he would combust but he can never resist Lyra. It is no secret, everyone in the OBX knows that the three of them care about Lyra. She’s their female best friend. Pope and John B can even consider her as their sister but to JJ, they really can’t tell. He would claim he sees Lyra just the same as them but there are times that John B would beg to differ. His suspicion rises since JJ can’t say directly in Lyra’s face that he only sees her as a sibling.

ㅤㅤPerhaps it is in JJ’s nature to flirt with any girl he’s met but with Lyra, it’s different. There’s a twinkle in his eyes when he teases and flirts with Lyra. Everyone sees it, even those tourons they’re wasting their time with see their connection whenever they catch Lyra and JJ together. It’s like an open secret. 

ㅤㅤ“So when are you gonna tell ‘em?”

ㅤㅤ“Today. After you tell them about your DCS situation.”

ㅤㅤ“Then, I guess it is a bad day for JJ.” John B murmured. Then, an idea came into his mind. He starts talking about JJ’s crush on Lyra and how he keeps on flirting with her whenever he gets the chance.

ㅤㅤHowever, Lyra wasn’t convinced. “That was a long time ago, JB. Besides, JJ flirts with everyone, like literally everyone. Was that supposed to give butterflies in my stomach?”

ㅤㅤJohn B, frustrated, asks Lyra, “It depends, do you like JJ?” to which she doesn’t respond and decides to finish her bacon sandwich instead. She shifts the conversation to John B’s black eye and inquires about what happened at the beach last night.

ㅤㅤApparently, Topper and John B got into a fight, and somehow, JJ got himself involved. It was a minor argument at first, but it became a problem when Topper was drowning John B. Topper even dared to mention Big John as he was provoking John B. Everyone was telling him to stop—even Sarah. Still, he didn’t listen to any of them. And that’s when JJ aimed his gun at Topper’s temple to scare him off—not just him, but almost everybody at the Boneyard. His plan worked by firing the gun twice into the air.

ㅤㅤIt was an overwhelming amount of information, and that complexity fueled Lyra’s deep-seated disdain for the Kooks, particularly Rafe’s inner circle. There was an arrogance that surrounded them, a sense of entitlement that gnawed at her. The Pogues, while not always blameless in their actions, often found themselves on the receiving end of harsh judgments. In contrast, the Kooks seemed to operate in a world where the rules didn’t apply to them. They could engage in any number of misdeeds—both legal and illegal—and yet they managed to evade any real consequences for their actions. This stark double standard infuriated Lyra; it was as if they lived above the law, empowered by their wealth and status.

ㅤㅤMeanwhile, the Pogues struggled to vindicate themselves. Despite their efforts to prove their innocence time and time again, society was quick to label them as troublemakers. It didn’t matter how many times they acted with integrity or how often they were wrongfully accused; the Pogues bore the brunt of scorn simply because they lacked the influence that the privileged residents of Figure Eight wielded. This unjust disparity weighed heavily on Lyra, deepening her resentment toward the Kooks and their careless disregard for the consequences of their actions. 

ㅤㅤLyra completely understood the pain of being a victim; after all, she and her family had lived that reality. Growing up as a Pogue, she might have been young at the time, but the memories were etched into her mind, vivid and unforgettably clear. Every moment of struggle and resilience shaped her, and she carried the weight of those experiences with her. So, she swore to herself that the only thing she had similarities with the Kooks was having a trust fund and nothing more.

ㅤㅤAs the clock ticked for half an hour, the duo finally decided to wrap up their meal after devouring two sandwiches each. They were thoughtful enough to leave some food for their friends, JJ, Pope, and Kiara, who were supposed to join them at the Château later. John B willingly offered to clean up the dishes while Lyra took charge of tidying up the table.

ㅤㅤAfter their cleaning activity, they headed towards the porch, where Lyra relaxed on the couch while John B sat beside her. Suddenly, Lyra’s inquisitive nature made her ask about JJ’s whereabouts, to which John B couldn’t help but grin. “Chill, I’m just curious!” Lyra defended herself, letting out a soft chuckle.

ㅤㅤJohn B then informed her that JJ had left for some errands while Kiara and Pope had gone back to their respective families. A question lingered in the air like a whisper, echoing in John B’s mind as he dissected the complexities of Lyra and Rafe’s summer affair. His heart raced, caught in a web of curiosity and hesitation. Should he dare to ask her? After a brief internal struggle, he made his choice. Biting down hard on his inner cheek, he finally mustered the courage to voice his thoughts. “Lyra, don’t get mad if I ask you this… are you a prude?”

ㅤㅤLyra’s ears buzzed with disbelief, her eyes widening as she processed his question. “You’re really asking that?” A soft, incredulous chuckle escaped her lips. Yet, when she caught sight of John B’s stillness, the way he awaited her response with an unsettling seriousness, she felt a wave of confusion wash over her. “Wait, you’re serious?”

ㅤㅤJohn B simply nodded, his brow furrowing slightly as he braced himself for her answer. 

ㅤㅤ“Oh, okay. Well, to answer your question... I am not a prude,” she explained, her tone steadying as she gathered her thoughts. “I just don’t think the hookup culture is for me. I mean, I have nothing against it. That’s just me. You do you.” Her words hung in the air, settling into the spaces between them as John B absorbed what she had said.

ㅤㅤThey sat together on the porch, the wooden planks creaking softly beneath them, and an awkward silence enveloped the conversation. John B couldn’t shake the feeling that he had crossed a line, his heart heavy with uncertainty. He cursed himself inwardly; he shouldn’t have asked that question. The weight of the moment felt thick and uncomfortable, leaving both of them lost in their own thoughts, unsure of where to go from there.

ㅤㅤ“I’ve made things awkward, didn’t I?”

ㅤㅤ“I’m not gonna sugarcoat it… yes, you did.”

ㅤㅤJohn B and Lyra shared a laugh for a short moment, before the former cleared his throat, “Hey, Lyra, you’ve gotta be ready for what’s about to come. Both of us know that they won’t take it lightly. But rest assured, you won’t be alone later, I’ve got your back.” John B smiled, as Lyra let a sigh out, leaning on his shoulder. 

ㅤㅤ“That means a lot, JB, thank you so much.”

ㅤㅤBoth of them sitting there in silence, Lyra was in awe. Oh, how she loathed herself even more if only she could turn back time and warn her younger self not to be desperate for anyone’s attention, she would. But she couldn’t, so she had to face the consequences of her own decision, even if it meant losing the people she treasured most.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

ㅤㅤ“Look, I’m calling it off. All right? Peterkin said If I stay out of the marsh. She’ll help me with DCS.” John B announces while holding a wooden stick.

ㅤㅤJJ scoffed in disbelief, “And you believed her?” 

ㅤㅤ“Yes, I believe her.”

ㅤㅤ“An actual cop, John B. You believed a cop.” JJ seethed as he forcedly threw a piece of rock into the water.

ㅤㅤ“All I gotta do is stay out of the marsh for a couple of days, and she’ll help me out. It doesn’t help that your ass was the one shooting the gun.” 

ㅤㅤLyra’s eyebrows creased, “I am not justifying what JJ did, but need I remind you, John B, that if it weren’t for him, we would’ve been mourning about you if Topper succeeded in drowning you.” She spoke, twirling the stem of the daffodil flower that JJ gave her when he arrived.

ㅤㅤJJ acknowledged her support with a grin, “Thank you, mi amor.” Lyra brings her warmest smile towards JJ. “I mean, they always win, don’t they? Kooks versus Pogues. They always, always win. They don’t want us to go down into the marsh. That means there’s something valuable down there, and you know it!”

ㅤㅤJJ pauses for a second before starting again, “I know you do,” He noted as he stared at Pope, “And I understand why you don’t want to go. You’re the golden boy; you got way too much to risk.” Then his eyes drifted to Kiara, “And you, I mean, you’re already rich as fuck anyway. Why would you bother?” He asserted, making Kiara twitch her head while Pope stared at the oblivion.

ㅤㅤJJ hoisted Lyra’s chin by his index finger, making his cerulean eyes meet hers. “Lyra, no offense, but I doubt your parents wanted to add more cash to your bank accounts.” All of a sudden, Lyra couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt as JJ’s words echoed within her. She knew her parents had the means to change her friends’ lives, what was stopping them from doing it? 

ㅤㅤ“But you and me, man. We got nothin’ to lose! We really don’t, alright?” JJ shouted; his voice was laced with anguish and pain. The blond-haired man was right, and the others knew he was, and as expected, John B was always influenced by his somewhat stupid ideas.

ㅤㅤLater that day, Lyra found herself on a boat with John B, Kiara, JJ, and Pope. She couldn’t believe that John B had borrowed two scuba tanks from his boss, Ward Cameron, without getting caught—or so she thought.

ㅤㅤLyra had a black two-piece bikini underneath her floral off-shoulder dress. Sure, it was a bad idea to wear a sundress today, but she did it anyway. Like how stupid JJ’s plan is, John B still listened to him because if he didn’t, they would still be at the Château, not in the middle of the sea, asking Kiara to check the scuba tanks that John B borrowed.

ㅤㅤKiara checked the other tank, a frown creasing her brow. It was only a quarter full, enough for one person. She turned to the group, her gaze scanning their faces. “Anyone know how to dive?” she asked, her voice filled with a mix of hope and desperation.

ㅤㅤLyra shook her head vehemently, her laughter echoing through the air. “Kie, you know I’m a terrible swimmer. What makes you think I can dive?” she replied, running her fingertips through her blonde hair.

ㅤㅤKiara shrugged, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. She turned to JJ and Pope, who both shook their heads in unison. “Well, great!” she exclaimed, her frustration evident.

ㅤㅤ“I can dive!” John B announced, his voice filled with a surprising confidence.

ㅤㅤ“Since when did you learn how to dive?” Lyra inquired, her eyes wide with disbelief. John B shrugged his shoulders in response.

ㅤㅤWhile Pope was busy making calculations, Kiara stood up, taking off her shirt. Before anyone could question her actions, she had already jumped off the boat and into the water. Three jaws dropped to the sea floor.

ㅤㅤ“Uh,”

ㅤㅤ“What was that about?”

ㅤㅤ“I don’t know, but I like it. A lot.”

ㅤㅤJohn B sat in his scuba suit, his gaze lingering on Lyra, who was seated behind JJ. Her lip curled slightly before she turned away from her friends, facing the water as the wind gently slapped her face. She dipped her foot into the liquid surface, a shiver running down her spine. Grateful for her phone and her brother’s generosity, she plugged in her earphones, letting one of her favorite music fill her ears and thoughts while her friends went about their business.

ㅤㅤAs she hummed along to the lyrics of the music that was playing, a hand landed on her shoulder, causing her to turn around. John B was on his knees in his scuba suit, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Wish me luck?” he spoke.

ㅤㅤLyra paused her music, removing one of her earphones. “Be careful down there,” she spoke softly, flashing a reassuring smile. The young man in front of her smiled back, his eyes filled with determination.

ㅤㅤ“He’ll come along,” a voice behind her said. Lyra turned to see Kiara, her expression a mix of impatience and concern. “Tell them already, and I’m giving you two minutes.”

ㅤㅤLyra’s pessimism clouded her judgment. “Just be back here alive, yeah?” John B nodded, standing up, and walking a few steps away from her to get ready to dive. She accidentally tapped the next button on her phone, and “Fearless” by Taylor Swift started to play, a stark contrast to what she currently feels.

ㅤㅤUnaware of what was happening behind her, JJ and Pope were already interrogating John B about their conversation. Nevertheless, the curly-haired man wouldn’t snitch, “You’ll know soon” was the only thing he said before diving into the water.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

ㅤㅤLyra Monroe-Aragon was appreciating her music at the highest volume possible, wholly lost in the rhythm of the beat. Suddenly, the shrill sound of a police boat siren pierced through her ears, causing her to curse under her breath. She quickly paused her music and switched off her phone.  “Guys, cops are incoming!” Lyra’s heart rate increased as she told her friends the cops were approaching.

ㅤㅤPanic began to set in among the four teenagers. Pope politely greeted the officers, but they all knew that they were not supposed to be there. The police boat pulled up next to their vessel, and the officers asked how they were doing. They informed the teens that the marsh was closed.

ㅤㅤPope and JJ peeked at each other, signaling each other to talk. “Wait, the marsh is closed? We haven’t heard of such news, sir.” Lyra approaches right next to JJ as the cop scans her face.

ㅤㅤ“Lyra Aragon?”

ㅤㅤLyra nods to answer, “It’s Monroe-Aragon, but yes, that is me.” She smacks JJ’s thigh with her hand, commanding him to talk. “Can I ask why it is close?” He feigned his curiosity as he held her shaking hand.

ㅤㅤ“Well, we’re conducting a search out here. Boat went down. Seen anything?” The cop replied.

ㅤㅤ“I’m afraid we didn’t see anything, sir. We would’ve reported it immediately if we did. We only went here for a night swim.” Lyra admitted, a fake smile occurring on her face.

ㅤㅤThe cop nodded, not buying her excuse, “Where’s your friend you hang with? He here?” He shoots another question.

ㅤㅤ“As you can see, he’s not with us. He’s busy.” Lyra mentally rolls her eyes; he asks too many questions. 

ㅤㅤ“Yeah, uh, he’s working,” Kiara answered, calmly sitting at the bow. Still, the cops are unconvinced, so they search the entire boat later.

ㅤㅤIt was painted on their faces, the fear and concern for John B. He’s almost out of oxygen now, Lyra suspected. When the cops told them that their boat was clear, they left. The four teenagers were in solace. The quartet is in the bow, anticipating John B to resurface at the water. And then, he did.

ㅤㅤLyra, JJ, Pope, and Kiara were overjoyed as John B returned with a mysterious black bag he had found in the sunken boat. While still on the water, he passed the bag to JJ, and the group gathered around eagerly, anticipating what could be inside.

ㅤㅤ“You, okay?”

ㅤㅤ“Yeah, I almost ran out of air.” John B responds.

ㅤㅤLyra frowned. “Doesn’t sound okay to me,” she grumbled. 

ㅤㅤ“You scared the shit out of me!” Kiara exclaimed as the others agreed with her. “The cops were out here, but, uh, we took care of them.” Pope professed.

ㅤㅤJJ ridicules his friend’s words, “You mean Lyra took care of them. Mi amor’s a natural liar.” JJ wraps his arms around Lyra’s waist.

ㅤㅤ“Did you do it?” John B looks at Lyra, his brows furrowed.

ㅤㅤLyra shook her head as she subtly removed JJ’s arms, which earned a frown on his face.” She walked closer to the bow and sat down. The other three, clueless about what they were talking about, just stood there in silence. 

ㅤㅤNot until a mysterious boat arrived at the marsh did John B go behind the wheel and start controlling it while JJ pulled the anchor from the water. The quintet lowered their head as the person on the other boat started to fire bullets at them. Kiara, as brilliant as ever, came up with a good idea. She threw the net on the water, making the boat behind them stop working. Their engine got stuck with the net as the HMS Pogue got far away from them.

ㅤㅤAs they arrived at the Château, the group got off the boat, and John B rummaged through the bag. The others watched as he pulled out item after item, each more mysterious than the last. They had no idea what they had gotten into, but they knew they were in it together.

ㅤㅤKiara stood behind John B, who was on his knees. She asks him, “What do you think it is?”

ㅤㅤ“Gotta be money or something, right?” John B replied.

ㅤㅤJJ strutted on John B’s left side while Lyra stood behind him,  “That or a couple of keys with street value to the low to mid-mils.” he joked, making Lyra snicker.

ㅤㅤ“Can we just please open the bag?” Pope blurted out, standing on John B’s right side.

ㅤㅤ“Wow, Pope. That’s a rare outburst of emotion.” John B admitted as the others chuckled at Pope’s unexpected outburst.

ㅤㅤPope sighed deeply in defeat, “You guys are killing me with anticipation. Just open the bag. We almost got killed over this.” he pleaded. Lyra nodded in agreement, resting her head on JJ’s shoulder as they all waited for the mystery bag to be opened.

ㅤㅤSo John B. complied with his friend’s request and opened the black bag. Inside was a canister, and he revealed what was inside it. It was a compass.

ㅤㅤ“Good job, everybody! We found a compass.” Pope sarcastically applauded his friends’ discovery.

ㅤㅤThe compass looked familiar to Lyra, and as she glanced at John B’s expression, it was identical to hers. Lyra distanced herself from JJ and looked closer at the compass.

ㅤㅤJJ took off his cap before commenting, “Dude, what? It’s not worthy of anything.”

ㅤㅤ“Maybe not in the market—JJ, but that was Big John’s compass,” Lyra deadpanned.

ㅤㅤJohn B nodded slowly, confirming Lyra’s assumption. “This was my father’s.” he chuckled softly.

•─────⋅☾ 𝔫𝔶𝔵 ☽⋅─────•
hello, everyone! how’s everyone doing? here’s an update, sorry to keep you waiting.

have a lovely day/night, mga mahal <33