"Coral, we're leaving in ten," Kie called through the bathroom door.
"I'll be down in a few minutes," Coral responded. Sighing she leaned against the bathroom counter as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
They'd made it to Toppers house on the mainland the night before. Jumping out of the truck she'd managed to dodge JJ's attempt in grabbing her hand. Instead linking arms with Kie she walked inside the massive house quickly finding a bedroom to shut herself inside of.
She'd showered and changed in the massive adjoining bathroom and then laid awake staring at the ceiling till morning. Deciding to venture out she'd gone downstairs to find Cleo also awake sitting at the big oak table eating a huge bowl of what looked like cocoa crisps.
"Morning," she greeted, hunting up a bowl for herself before dumping cereal into it. After pouring out milk she settled in the chair across from Cleo.
"You no sleep well without your JJ," Cleo commented, squinting across the table at her.
"No I don't."
"What happened?"
"What makes you think anything happened?"
Snorting, Cleo shook her head, "Boy, had a serious scrape up out there and you didn't spend the night licking his wounds," she replied, smiling innocently.
"He did something I'm beyond livid about. I don't know how to deal with it or him right now."
Taking a bite of cereal, Cleo slowly chewed before swallowing while studying Coral, "You know I'm new an all, but one thing I know about JJ is he has a good heart. He just don't think before he does stuff."
"No, he certainly doesn't."
"What are you doing? You're eating my food now too?" Topper questioned, walking into the kitchen, glaring at the two girls.
"Relax, Kook boy, from the looks of this place you can afford a box or two," Cleo responded, lazily.
"Yeah, Top, starving your new besties is kind of rude," Coral laughed, pushing back from the table and depositing her empty bowl in the sink.
"What? Besties? No, no, and where are you going? Wash that shit?" he demanded, pointing to the dirty dish in the sink.
"You know all those times I had to clean up after you and your disgusting friends at The Wreck? Well paybacks a bitch, Bestie," Coral responded, blowing him a kiss, "Now, if you'll excuse me I feel in need of a luxurious bubble bath before we go," she said waving as she walked out of the kitchen.
Climbing the staircase, she immediately spotted the boy sitting outside of the room she'd been using. Sighing, she closed her eyes briefly before opening them again and heading down the hallway.
Jumping up he took a step towards her stopping when she held up her hand, "I'm not ready for this, JJ."
"Coral."
"No, I'm so angry at you. I need time."
Swallowing, he nodded before moving past her silently and walking down the staircase.
"Fuck," she muttered, leaning her forehead against the wall.
"You wanna talk about it?"
Raising her head she looked at Kie standing in the bedroom doorway across from hers, "Not really," she responded, "I'm gonna make use of that spa like tub in there," she said, pointing towards her room, "Let me know when it's time to leave?"
Nodding, Kie said she would before following after JJ, "Hey Coral," she called at the top of the steps turning around, "Whatever he did you know JJ loves you and I'm sure he didn't mean any harm," she said before turning and ascending the stairs.
"Fuck," Coral repeated before walking back into the room she'd used.
"Coral! We're leaving. What are you doing?"
Blinking, Coral came back to the present. Opening the bathroom door she smiled at Kie, "I'm ready to go," she declared sweeping out of the room leaving Kie to follow behind her semi confused.
Taking the ferry back the group decided to head to the Chateau, "Do you think John B is back?" Sarah questioned as they walked back to the Chateau after Topper refused to take them any farther once they made it back on the ferry.
"I don't know," Coral answered.
"Doesn't it worry you?" Sarah asked, "Them being away without knowing what's happening," she clarified.
"Of course it does, but it's also something I've grown used to over the years. At least with my dad, this is a first for JB to disappear without telling me," she responded.
"Oh, hey, I think they're back," Pope said, pointing towards the Chateau where the Twinkie sat in the driveway.
Walking around back Coral yelled out for her dad and brother who both came out of the house at her calling, "Where have you been young lady?"
Squinting at her father, she glanced at her brother before rolling her eyes, "Shouldn't it be me asking where the hell you two have been?"
Laughing, John came down the back steps hugging her, "When you're right you're right Cory girl. Sorry about the disappearing act. Won't happen again," he promised, letting her go and taking a step back.
Scoffing, she shook her head, "I won't hold my breath on that promise," she said before turning to the others, "Some people wanted to welcome you back."
"I can't believe you're here!" Pope exclaimed, hurrying over to hug John.
"Look at you, big man," John smiled, before turning to Kie and hugging her.
"Dad, this is Cleo. She helped us with the cross," Coral introduced them.
Nodding, John thanked her for her help.
"No problem," Cleo responded, "Glad you're back from the sea."
"Yeah, you two want to tell us where the hell you've been?" Coral said, glaring at both her father and brother.
Clearing his throat John B nodded, "We should sit," he gestured towards the fire pit. Plopping down in one of the camping chairs Coral crossed her arms waiting for her brother to begin once everyone was settled around the fire pit.
"I'm gonna take myself out of this one," John said heading towards the hammock where he laid down and closed his eyes.
"So, uh, I told Dad about Singh wanting Denmark's diary," John B began, "Problem is the copy Pope had was destroyed in the Twinkie while we were gone."
"What!"
"Yeah, sorry," John B apologized to Pope, "But we went to Mr. Sunn's and he, uh, had the original. So, he let us take a look at it, and well the priest that survived the San Jose I guess he tried passing on some letter and some stone but Limbry wouldn't allow it so the priest was buried with them instead. Dad remembered they were docked in Charleston so that's where we went."
"You went to Charleston?" Coral interrupted, "Thanks for letting me know you weren't even in the state."
"Yeah, uh, sorry 'bout that too," he apologized, "Anyway the church wasn't there. Got taken out by some hurricane or something but we tracked it to the archives. Yeah, so we went to the archives in Charleston, and, uh, it was….it was a dead end," John B told them, "A dry hole. So," he trailed off, shrugging.
"So that's the gold, the cross, and now El Dorado," Pope listed, "We're three for three guys. The streak continues," he said sarcastically, shaking his head, "I'm heading out," he told them before walking out towards the road.
"Nice to meet you," Cleo said to John before hurrying after Pope.
"I should go too. My parents you know," Kie said with a shrug, "See you guys later."
Biting her lip, Coral watched her leave before swinging her gaze towards JJ who was steady watching her. Sighing, he got to his feet, "I'm going fishing. I'll see myself out," he said, continuing to stare at Coral before turning and walking through the woods towards his Dad's house.
"What was that about?"
"Difference in opinion," Coral responded to her brother, glancing at their father laying in the hammock, "JB, while you were gone I tried to start the Pogue. Come take a look at it," she told him, rising from her chair and heading down the docks leaving him to follow after her.
Reaching the end of the pier John B looked at her, "It's rude leaving Sarah up there by herself."
"Rude? Okay, let's talk about rude. What are you and Daddy not telling me?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Booker, we promised no more secrets. Don't treat me like a fucking moron."
"You think I'm lying to you?"
"No. I know you're lying to me," she stated, "You're a shit liar JB. You always have been."
"Well, we all can't be you, Coral. Lying to everyone for months," he reminded her.
"Oh, don't bring that shit up again!" she exclaimed, "Who I'm dating is different then this. This could get you killed. You didn't see what I saw at Singh's!"
"What do you want me to say, Coral? It was a dead end. Singh will find the same dead end if he goes looking."
Shaking her head, Coral sighed, "Fine. Keep your secrets. You and Daddy have apparently morphed into the same person," she responded before turning and stomping her way back up the docks where she found Sarah waiting at the end, "Best of luck with him," she said, continuing on to where she'd left her bike.
Climbing on she sped off towards Kie's.
Leaving her bike leaning against the fence she pushed the gate open before climbing the steps to the front porch. Biting her lip nervously, she knocked on the door.
"Hey," Kie greeted, opening the door.
"Hi, uh, I was hoping to talk to you."
"Of course, come," Kie began to invite her inside until Mike's voice stopped her.
"Hey, hey, hey, no. What did we talk about, Kie? Boundaries."
"Honey. Come on. You got to try and respect our time," Anna added pleading with Kie as she and Mike stood behind her, "We're trying to respect yours, right?"
"Listen, Coral, I'm sorry," Mike apologized, "But now's our time with Kie."
"Actually, Mr Carrera, I'm sorry," Coral told him before reaching into her back pocket and pulling out his money clip. Holding it up she sighed, "I kind of need to talk to you."
"What the hell," Kie breathed out, staring at Coral holding her father's money clip.