"We're the pogues and our mission this summer is to have a good time all the time."

Tilly's brown eyes gazed out over the endless ocean, the sound of the waves filled the silence in her mind as she breathed in the saltwater air. A blue valley of waves rolled onto the shore, mesmerizing her. A warm breeze brushed her skin as she sat perched on the scaffolding beside her best friend.

"It's calming, isn't it?" she murmured to JJ, who leaned against the railing, beer in hand.

"What is?" He asked, tilting his head sideways to glance at her.

"The ocean," Tilly replied, nodding toward the horizon. The ocean had always been her solace—the waves, the sand, the vast expanse. It was home.

JJ smiled softly, watching Tilly take a deep breath, eyes closed as she exhaled dramatically. Her lips curved into the smallest smile as she watched the view before her.

As they sat peacefully, below them, Pope was watching John B balance precariously on the edge of the the roof.

"That's like a three-story drop," Pope called out, making Tilly's gaze snap to the boy above her. "I'd give you a one-in-three chance of survival," He joked as he pointed a drill playfully at him.

John B hummed as he liked his finger to test the breeze. "Should I do it?"

"Do it!" Tilly cheered.

"Yeah, jump!" Pope joined in, "I'll shoot you on the way down."

"Oh yeah? You're gonna shoot me?" John B pretended to aim a finger gun back at him.

"They're gonna have Japanese toilets with towel warmers," Kiara announced as she stepped outside. Tilly rolled her eyes as she brought her beer up to her lips, "A girl can dream." She muttered before taking a sip.

"This used to be a turtle habitat, but who cares about the turtles, I guess?" Kiara spoke

"Can't have cold towels," JJ chimed in.

Kiara looked up at John B, "Can you not kill yourself?" She asked.

"Don't spill that beer!" JJ yelled. "I'm not giving you another one."

Right on cue, John B dropped his beer.

"Of course he did," JJ scoffed, John B groaning as Tilly burst out into laughter. "Nice, dickhead." She called out.

As the teens laughed, the sound of a car pulling up caught the attention of Pope, he walked over leaning over the balcony. "Uh, security's here."

"Hmm, boys are early." John B smirked as he climbed down the roof.

Tilly looked at JJ, a hint of mischief in her eyes, "You ready?" She asked as JJ hopped off the scaffolding with ease. "Jump, I'll catch you," He teased, having his hands out ready. Tilly ducked under the railing, her body slithering under it.

JJ placed his hands on her waist, helping her climb down. Once her feet hit the ground, he took off his cap, placing it backwards on her head, grabbing her hand the two walked over towards the balcony.

"Hey Gary!" Tilly waved at the security guard, who sneered at her. "Good to see you man!" JJ added with a grin.

"You're asking for it," Kiara giggled and Tilly smirked, "Hell yeah" She cheered as the group bolted inside, racing down the stairs.

As they reached the ground floor, Tilly ran behind JJ but skidded to a stop when a security guard cornered them.

"Shit! Other way!" She shouted, spinning on her heel and doubling back in the other direction. She and JJ followed Pope out the back towards the fence.

"Go, Pope!" JJ urged the boy to run faster the two boys jumping up onto the fence, climbing over.

Tilly jumped next, gripping the top of the fence and hoisting herself over. She landed beside Pope who was slowly picking himself up after face-planting on the ground.

"Come on, bud," she said, helping him to his feet.

As the two ran, John B's van screeched to a stop, Kiara holding the door open. "Bus is leaving!" John B yelled as he honked the horn repeatedly.

JJ quickly jumped inside as the van started to move, Tilly and Pope sprinting for their lives until they finally jumped inside.

As John B started to drive off, Tilly poked her head outside, "Gary!" She cheered as she watched the security guard chase after them.

"Check out Gary gunning for a race!" Pope pointed out.

JJ came to Tilly's side, "Slow down, man," He told John B and Kiara looked at two, "Come on, you're gonna give him a heart attack." She spoke as JJ held out a beer for Gary.

"You're so close! You can do it!" JJ teased, throwing the can towards Gary who caught it, giving up the chase.

"They don't pay you enough, man!" JJ yelled as Kiara grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back inside the vehicle.

"Bye, Gary!" Tilly called, blowing a kiss as she shut the van door.

"The Outer Banks, Paradise on Earth. It's the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island."

As John B drove, Tilly rested her head against the window, letting her brain shut out the laughter of her friends as she watched the outside world fly by her. She watched as John B drove through Figure Eight, her eyes quickly trying to study the white mansions that went past her.

"All right, so this is Figure Eight. The rich side of the island. Home of the kooks. So, guess where we don't live."

Soon million-dollar mansions turned into run-down houses, overgrown grass and trash-filled roads. Home is what Tilly would call it as John B reached their side of the island.

"And this is the south side of The Cut. Home of the working class who made a living busing tables, washing yachts, or running charters. The natural habitat of drumroll, please...The Pogues. That's us."

"Pogues, pogies, the throwaway fish. The lowest member of the food chain. Okay, so the downside of Pogue life is that we're ignored and neglected. The upside of Pogue life, is we're ignored and neglected, which means we do whatever we want, whenever we want."

"That's JJ, my best friend since the third grade. He's about as local as they come. Latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuggling, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water. Best surfer I know, just don't tell him I said that. Mild kleptomaniac, future tax cheat."

"And that's Kiara, or Kie as we call her. When she's not saving turtles listening to Marley or getting a dolphin tattoo, she hangs out with us. I'm not really sure why though. But uh, she's a rich kid actually, foot in both worlds. Her family owns The Wreck, this Outer Banks institution. Total cash cow with the tourist. You know, I'm not really sure how her parents feel about us. I guess we kinda all have a thing for her."

"And that's Pope, the brains of the operation. Finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhost Merit Scholarship, and the smartest person I know. A little bit of a weirdo. "Alright, so his father is his legendary character, Heyward. Anything you wanted on the island, Heyward could get it for you. Now I'm not sure Heyward knew what to make of his oddball son. But it didn't matter, he was a pogue, just like the rest of us."

"And then there's Matilda, but everyone calls her Tilly and when you don't see her nose stuck in a book or making friendship bracelets or surfing off dangerous beaches with JJ. She's getting up to mischief with the rest of us. People consider her 'cute but dangerous,' she doesn't like to back down from a fight, which is sometimes not the greatest thing when she's trying to take on people twice her height. But she's loyal and is true to her Pogue life which is what everyone adores about her. Did I mention she's also my best friend since the third grade?"

"That's my crew."