The next moring the door opens and Peterkin stands over sleeping John B. Slowly, his eyes open.

"Get decent, sweetie. We need to talk" John B sits on the couch across from Sheriff Peterkin and doesn't look at her.

                                                                    ••••••••

"look I'm calling it off. I spoke to Peterkin and she said If I stay out of the marsh she'll help me out with DCS"

"And you believed her?" JJ says tossing a ball up and down into the air

"Yes I believe her JJ"

"An actual cop John B, you believed a cop"

"All I have to do is stay out of the marsh for a couple of days and she'll help me out, and it doesn't help that your ass was the one shooting a gun"

"You know what I should've done man, I should've let Topper drown your ass"yeah like Topper was gonna drown me"

"They always win don't they. Kooks vs Pouges. They always win"

"Its okay!" Kie chimes in.

"No it's not. If they don't want us in the marsh it means there's something valuable down there."

He turns and looks at pope "I understand why you don't want to go out. You're the golden boy. If I were you I wouldn't risk it either. He then turns to Kie "And why would you bother? You live on Figure Eight already." Then finally JJ turns to John B "But fucking A, bro. You and me have nothing to lose. It didn't used to be that

way for you - I know - sorry dude - but now we're in the dirt together. And if you think Sheriff Peterkin or anyone else is going to help you, you're tripping"

Turning to face the three of them JJ says "Hell Sydney can't even hangout with us sometimes because she doesn't want Topper or Rafe to find out she's with Pouges" JJ says looking at John B while he looks away and shakes his head " She's probably with Rafe or Topper right now" JJ continues.

"JJ" John B says standing up sounding exhausted "I don't want to talk about this, I don't want to talk about it" John B walks past JJ as JJ follows him "John B listen to me man"

"You got the key for the druther right? There's scuba gear inside. We could borrow it and get down into that wreck this afternoon. And that's what will save you. They don't send rich kids to foster care. But you have to decide - are you going to sit around and wait for Sheriff Peterkin to throw you a crumb or are you going to"Send it into the future." John B mumbles

"That's about it. Your deal." John B considers this then says "You're right. Fuck it."

                                                               ••••••••

Later that day John B manages to sneak to the Cameron's dock and In a window, John B sees the Cameron family together. John B then steps up the short gangplank, slips inside, and walks through a large stateroom. He goes down a stairway quickly and through a dim hallway that ends at the gear closet. He slips inside to see the dull gleam of scuba gear grabs a large duffel and begins shoving scuba equipment inside.

Once the bag is full John B carries the duffel up the stairs and starts to leave when I walk up and say "Hey. How are you doing after last night?"

"That's funny you care considering you left me to get drowned by your brother" He turns around and frowns.

"Oh my god John B. What are you doing with those tanks?"

He starts to walk past me and load the bag into the boat tied next to the yat

"None of your business"

"You know, that eye of yours is really gnarly," I say following after him

"You can tell Topper he won the first round, I'll get him next time" I watch him and walk closer to the edge of the boat.

"You know I'm only here so Rafe and Topper aren't suspicious that I'm hanging out with you guys"

"What so you're just gonna stay at Rafe's house"

"Well, do you want them to be suspicious? I'll meet you guys this afternoon okay"

"Don't bother" John B says after he climbs into the boat

"See you later asshole" I shout after him and hold up my middle finger and salute him

Around 5:00ish the 5 of us are out in the middle of the marsh where we saw the Grady White. I stand a scuba tank on deck and unscrew the regulator "This is empty, you took empty tanks"

Kie takes another tank and checks "This one is a quarter full, that's enough for one of us"

"love it when a plan comes together," Pope says sarcastically.

"Does anyone know how to dive?" I ask while getting the equipment ready.

"Anybody?"

"It's kinda a kook sport" JJ says

"You should know Sydney. You're a kook" John B looks at me with a straight face. I look over at him and roll my eyes.

"I read about it" Pope chimes in.

"Great, Pope read about it so someone's gonna die" Kie says sarcasticlly

"Look, you put the thing in your mouth and breath. How hard could it be?" JJ says looking at me.

"Well if you come up to fast nitorfen gets into your blood and you get the bends" Pope says looking up at JJ who bends over "Bends like, bendover"

"The bends kill you" Pope says. "Right" JJ stops bending and pretends he wasn't doing that.

"I can dive" John B sighs and looks at JJ and Pope still in his mood and ignoring me.

"Since when can you dive?" I ask looking at John B.

"Mind your business Sydney, I don't care. I'll do it"

"Yeah you can dive, I'm cool with that" JJ nods as Pope pulls out a sheet of paper. Stands next to John B.

"I did some calculations."

"Oh, we're cool. Pope did some calculations." JJ says with mock calmness.

"Are you seriouse" Kie says

"That boat is about thirty feet down. It'll take twenty-five minutes at most at that depth. When you come up you need to stop at ten feet for three minutes"

"Ten feet. For three minutes got it" John B nods as i stand on the prow. And take my shirt off holding it in one hand jumps into the water. John B stares at the water in shock and looks at Pope.

"What was that all about?" Pope asks looking at where i disapeard

"I don't know, but i liked it...a lot" JJ says also looking down at the water. John B stands up and shakes his head.

"When you're down there you look for the cargo hole, you stick this thing inside and twist and pull" JJ says, then turns when he hears a sound in the water. Once i surface and climb onto the boat JJ asks "What did you do Syd?"

"I tied my T-shirt to the anchor chain about ten feet down. That's where you do your safety stop."

"Keep an eye on this. You need to make sure you have enough air to decompress" Pope says holding the gauge.

"How much do i need?

"unclear, breath as little as possible. Hurry because if we get caugth out in the marsh we're basically screwed" Pope nods nervously. JJ makes a motion like he's holding his breath as John B steps to the edge and jumps.

"shit guys" I say and point to the sherifes boat approching

"Just act frickin normal" Kie says sitting down as Shoupe and Plumb pull up alongside us.

"Evening Officers" Pope says as he grabs the rope from Shoupe "JJ tie this off"

"You know the marsh is closed."

"Closed, really?"

"No. Not aware"

"No sorry" I say

"Syndey Thornton, I've never seen you hang out with these guys. They your friends?" Shoupe asks.

"Oh you know , Kiara and i are close so any friend of hers is a friend of mine." I say

"Does your mother know who you're hanging out with"

I look at Shoupe and think seriously man. "I don't think there's a problem with hanging out with people who are in a lower class than me Shoupe. I'm quite capable of looking out for myself but thank you soo much for the concern" I batt my eyelashes at Shoupe, but inside I want to slap that look off his face, and I know Shoupe knows it.

"Alright then. Where's your friend you always hang with? He here?"

"He's working" Kiara answers quickly, Pope stands very still and as i look over at Shoupe i can tell he's suspicious.

"Uh huh....Mind if I check you little boat out?"

"Sure check her out" Pope says a little to enthusiastically. Shoupe eyes Pope and nods as he steps onto the boat. As Shoupe checks the Pogues' boat. His eyes drift to JJ, then Kiara, still in her bikini. Then at me and I stare him in the eyes as he looks me up and down. Plumbs voice rings out startling Shoupe "Are you finished with your inspection?"

"Huh Oh, yes, yes" Shoupe says as i watch Kiara is pulling on a rash guard, covering up, as Shoupe walks to the edge of the boat. I watch as i feel my anxiety pick up, hoping, that Shoupe doesnt see John B whos got to be running out of air by,

now underwater. Shoupe looks over, as I take a deep breath the sun comes out and the light flares the surface. I'm practically loosing my mind and I can tell kie, Pope and jj are losing their minds as well. Lucky Shoupe decides to go back to the prow and climb back into his boat

"Let us know if you see anything on your way out" Shoupe nods as he starts his boat.

"Will do, officer." Pope says as Shoupe speeds off.

"Will do?" JJ mimicks Pope and I elbow JJ.

Just then John B surfaced gasping.

"Are you ok?" Kie reaches him before all of us.

"ran out of air. What happened?" John B looks at Pope still avoiding my gaze. like come on are you seriously still mad at me??

"you find anything?" JJ says snapping me out of my thoughts. John B lifts up the bag to show us.

"Fuck yeah" JJ says hyped and he takes the bag and lifts it on deck.

"Guys, it's been fun, lying to law enforcement and all, but let's get out of here." Pope says looking at were Shoupe and Plumb had left.

"Agreed." JJ says while starting to pull up the anchor as John B climbs back on board.

"Guys theres a boat" Kie poits

"Do your recognise that boat?" Pope asks looking at the fast approaching boat.

"Never seen it" Kie shrugs

"What are they doing doing back here the marsh is closed" I say looking at JJ.

"I don't know but let's not stick around to find out" JJ says and from his body language i can tell that he has a bad feeling.

"Don't wait for me." JJ says as he pulls the anchor up faster. Pope starts the engine. I watch as the boat approaches and also get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"I don't like the looks of this" I mumble still watching the boat approach.

"They're coming!" JJ shouts

"Should I wait for them?" Pope askes

"Are you kidding?" John B pushes Pope away, takes the helm, and GUNS IT. Behind

them, the fast boat is already gaining.

"He's got duelies, bro, we can't outrun him -" JJ says. John B looks back at the pursuers and makes a violent turn that almost throws everybody out of the boat.

John B cuts hard in a narrow channel, carving dark water.

"Gaining on us." JJ says. I look at JJ worried then I hear a popping sound.

"Are they firing? They're shooting at us!" Pope starts to panic. As our two boats weave and cut through the marsh, they get closer i stand up and wants to get into the hatch that Pope is sitting on.

"Move it, bitch" I push Pope off of it and open the hatch, I take out a net with floaters. John B sees Kiara with the net. He guns it, and at the last moment, I waits until we cut a sharp angle and fling the net behind us. I watch as the pursuing boat makes the hard cut and then the engine makes a crazy whine and dies.

"That's my girl" JJ says throwing his fist up in the air. That's when I hear it. My name. My name being screamed.

"SYDNEY. WE'LL GET YOU THORNTON"

"What?" I look at Pope who's eyes are wide.