A slow succession of words was cut short as a tall sandy haired man turned a silver key to halt the boat and drop anchor. The sudden lack of music and noise jolted a young woman into full consciousness. She blinked her grey eyes and lifted her head to glare mildly at the man.

"Aw, what the hell? Brian, why'd ya turn off the music?" she called, propping her tanned form from the pristine white seat covers with her elbows. "Damn, what time is it?" She sat up and began unwinding her long, dark brown hair from it's braided bun.

Time to wake up? A voice said sarcastically. Pepsi rolled her eyes. Stupid inner voice, always annoying, never helpful.

It's what I do, kid. Jerk-off.

"It's almost nine. We're going to go deep sea night diving, remember?" Brian Kluningum answered his sixteen-year-old cousin. He shouted into the lower deck. "Jason! Carl! Get your damn asses up here! It's time to go!" The boy turned around. "P.C., you sure you don't wanna come? It'll be fun!" Brian grinned cockily, as his cousin shot him a wry grin and snickered. She knew he was trying to distract her from the events of the day before.

He can always try. Ain't always that easy, is it, Pepsi?

Jessica 'Pepsi-Cola' Endemion cocked an eyebrow. "Brian. I am on this boat with three guys for the next two days. I need some time to myself," She rose from the seat and placed her hand gently on his sunburned arm. "Yes, I'm sure I'll be fine. All I plan on doing tonight is drinking, smoking, sleeping, maybe do some writing while my muses are a tad drunk." Pepsi laughed lightly, mischief shinning brightly in her grey eyes.

"Don't'cha know that that shit'll kill ya, kid?" Her uncle, Carl Ploche, called merrily as he hauled twin scuba tanks up the ladder. He grinned cheekily at her, brown eyes laughing as he ruffled her nearly waist length hair.

He does have a point. The girl told the mental voice to go to hell. There's always Hank. He's almost done it twice, remember? Pepsi flinched mentally. Shut up. Not happening, kid. Someone's gotta keep your stupid ass alive.

Pepsi smiled softly. "Yea, yea. Everything in this world is a killer." she snorted, eyes far away for a moment. "I promise I'll quit smoking - after high school. So, see? That's soon!" Her uncle laughed at her antics as he placed the two tanks on the deck. He turned around and grabbed a second load of scuba gear that was sent his way by the elder of the two Kluningum brothers, Jason. "Everything will be fine, Uncle Carl."

Sure, as long as you don't go home anytime soon. No shit?

Carl looked at her, an unreadable emotion in his eyes. "Yea, kiddo, that's what they all say. That is what they all say."

"Hey, Pepsi. Nice to see you up and around. You coming?" Jason called, loading the last oxygen tank to the deck and clamoring up. "How's your cheek?" He glanced at the still dark bruise.

"Nah, I'm not coming tonight. And my cheek is fine; still a little sore though." she answered, picking up her shirt and placing it over her tan shoulders, self-consciously rubbing her left cheek.

You've been hit harder. Don't worry about it. He won't be able to hurt you anytime soon. Anytime soon? He'd be able to hurt her as soon as she went back home.

"I'll be fine, just leave me the keys so I can listen to my music, okay?" she said with a bright smile, beginning to walk down to the under deck. "Where's the beer?"

Her uncle answered. "In the fridge. And don't drink more than three. I don't want you falling off the boat 'cause you're drunk, got it? The coffee grounds are next to the coffeepot which is under the cabinets on the left side, and don't forget to drink some water either, okay? If anything happens don't hesitate to blow the horn. We'll be back in a few hours, most likely before midnight."

Carl muttered darkly as an after thought, "I still can't believe Hank hit you like that."

"'Kay." she replied, signaling she wanted that part of the discussion to be terminated. "I'll be fine, y'all! Have fun." Pepsi fully made her way to the under deck and opened the smallish white fridge. She listened for a moment as her family suited up and began jumping into the cold water. She sighed heavily and raked her fingers though her hair.

Be on guard tonight, kid. What the hell was the voice on about this time? Just listen to me for once in your damn life, okay? Alright… whatever it said…

She pulled out a Corona and popped it with a little trick her cousins had taught her, added a slice of lime and began to drink it. "Ick…lite beer. Gross." With that, she placed the bottle on the counter and went to the small 'room' to change.

Stripping out of her bikini top, she pulled on a white bra and stepped out of her bikini bottoms and jerked on a pair of underwear before pulling on her favorite pair of cut off shorts. She picked up the loose articles and placed them carefully in her bag before pulling out a navy blue tank top and her favorite long sleeve button down blue plaid shirt, putting them on and leaving the over shirt unbuttoned. She grabbed her wallet out of habit and placed it in her back pocket. She sighed as she placed a hand softly on her bruised cheek before pulling her hair up into a ponytail.

Well, if tonight goes right, you won't have to be scared for a little while, at least. Well, not of Hank.

Pepsi rolled her eyes skyward. "Stupid asshole." she muttered, referring both to her step-father and the voice, walking back to her abandoned beer and pattering bare foot up to the top deck. She glanced into the dark waters, looking for any sign of her family before settling down and laying on her back, looking up at the stars.

"Wow…" she murmured, her now-blue eyes growing as she took in the sight of the celestial body that was above her. She lifted her beer and took a quick gulp before setting it down again. Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she spotted a shooting star. She gasped aloud and shut her eyes.

"Star light, start bright, shooting star in the skies tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish come true tonight. I wish…" Pepsi trailed off, completing the wish in her head. 'I wish I could just leave. No one wants me here. Please, please send me anywhere…but here.' She opened her eyes and laughed softly at her own childishness.

You never know, kid. It just might work this time. Pepsi rolled her eyes again. The voice was being an evasive jerk, as usual.

She stood up, smoothing back her bangs and tugging on her ponytail before checking the little dials and other nautical looking things that told where they were, the time, temperature, and practically everything else that the captain would need to know. She glanced offhandedly at the one that had to do with their location as she turned the boat back on. Latitude 30. She did a double take. 'Latitude 30? Isn't that where the Bermuda Triangle thing is?' The time was 9:17.

I'll tell you again, kid. Be careful for fuck's sake. What was going on? The voice sounded almost…worried. Weird. Just remember the time, got it? Okay…sure. The time was 9:17, right? Just remember the time, damn it. Got it, remember the time.

Suddenly the boat shook. Not just a simple shake, but one like something had taken a hold of it and whammed it against a wall. "Fuck!" she shouted, careening into the metal poles that stood sentry at the sides of the boat.

"Shit!" Pepsi cried out, struggling to get to the boat's horn so she could warn her uncle and cousins. The next thing she knew, an explosion sounded and she was thrown backwards and slammed against the mast, nearly losing consciousness as her head snapped backwards. The boat quaked again. The last thing that crossed Pepsi Endemion's mind was that she just wanted to fade into the blackness.

Good luck, Pepsi.

XXXXXX

Hey, y'all! Guess what? I'm not dead! Ho-hah! I'm working on revising all of the chapters in this story, while I'm still stalled on Chapter 11. While I'm revising, I'll also be working on three one-shots:

Why Pepsi hates fighting

How Pepsi got her nickname (going more into it)

The reason Pepsi was sent back

Hope y'all like 'em!