XIII. tell me to stay

Bridger couldn't feel anything because of the adrenaline pumping inside him. He felt like he was in two places at one, trying to battle himself between them. In one place, he was in his Kook world with his friends, drinking till he collapsed and partying till the sun came up. The other place, he was with JJ and the Pogues. His hand was clutching the blonde's tightly like he was afraid he would disappear if he let go. He ran with them away from Midsummer where his father stood there in anger and embarrassment. He was walking a tightrope and he knew whenever he landed, it would end up bad in the long run.

But at the moment, all he cared about was JJ. Bridger ran with them all the way to Rixon's Cove. None of them really registered he was there until they stopped and settled. Now that they were, all eyes were on him and JJ. Kiara was distraught and she looked between the boys in utter confusion. Pope wasn't as confused as he was before. It was quite obvious that there was something going on between them. John B. . . well, John B always had a feeling. JJ was his best friend. He knew practically everything about him.

Bridger sat on a log, feeling extremely awkward. He really didn't know what to say. He kind of just went with them on a whim. He wanted to piss his dad off but he also wanted to prove a point to everyone. He was done living for other people. He wanted to make his own decisions.

"So. . ." Pope spoke first, his voice trailing. "H-How long?"

"More like how?" Kiara added, her voice a little harsher.

Bridger and JJ glanced at each other. Jesse was absolutely ecstatic that he decided to join but he didn't really think of what his friends would say. Bridger was a Kook. The treasure hunt was a Pogue thing. No outsiders were allowed. "Uh. . ." Bridger trailed and rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at the blonde. "Well. . ."

JJ took the lead. "We started hooking up two Summers ago."

"Jesus, JJ." He muttered in shock at how blunt he was.

The Pogues widened their eyes. "Oh, sorry," he laughed. "We were super drunk at a boneyard party and we ended up making out which led to us hooking up. Total secret love affair, you know? Then we started dating. Well. . . I'm not sure if it was technically dating. It might've been. We were totally in a relationship though. Then something happened and Bridger ended things. We hated each other, realized that we miss each other, and now here we are."

Bridger held his breath throughout the entire explanation. He shut his eyes tightly and felt them look at him again. He slowly opened his eyes and glanced at the beaming blonde by his side. If he wasn't so cute, Bridger would've probably punched him. "He makes it sound a little less complicated than it actually is."

"Bottom line is we love each other and we don't care what anybody thinks," JJ simplified. He glanced at each of his friends. "Say whatever you want but I don't care. It's not going to change my mind."

A soft smile curled on Bridger's lips and even though he felt awkward and out of place, he was happy to be wherever JJ was.

The Pogues stayed silent. A judgmental look sat on Kiara's face and she didn't know how to feel. She glanced at Pope and John B. John B looked like he didn't care at all which was expected. Pope only had the slightest bit of shock in his face. He was more or so just surprised Bridger was here at all. She looked at him again. He was extremely uncomfortable. He didn't think he would ever be this situation.

She heard the fight he had with his dad. He sounded completely broken and angry. Kiara wasn't stupid. She knew Dawson Fitzgerald wasn't a good man. She could see right through his good guy act. That's how she saw through Bridger. What shocked her the most was his confession about JJ and the confession of his sexuality. Kiara had no idea. A part of her, the smallest bit, felt bad for him. "Okay."

All of their eyes widened in shock. "What?" Bridger said, feeling startled.

She shrugged. "I don't like that you're here and I'm still on the fence about how I feel about you, but. . ." She looked at JJ. "We're Pogues. We're best friends. If this is what makes you happy then who am I to take it away?"

The group of boys smiled at her. Kiara was the tough one of the group. She was the one who always stood her ground about how she felt. But she also had a soft spot for the Pogues. She wanted them to be happy.

Bridger gave her a grin. JJ glanced at Pope and John B.

"I didn't expect it but. . ." Pope started. "I'm happy for you guys. Truly."

"Thanks, Pope." Bridger said barely above a whisper.

John B smirked. "I already knew."

"What?" They all collectively said in unison. JJ's eyes widened out of his head. "You knew?"

"Course I did," he replied with another smirk. "Whenever someone said the name Bridger, you immediately left the room. I obviously knew there was some history between you guys. You were also lovestruck all the time so I assumed you were seeing somebody. I kinda started to connect the dots after a while."

Bridger looked at Jesse and their eyes went wide. "I thought you were discreet." He uttered.

JJ shook his head. "Apparently not."

John B waved his hand. "I'm happy for you guys."

When that was settled, Pope started to freak out again. "Okay. Now that we have that settled. My dad's already gonna kill me. So what's this mandatory meeting about?"

Bridger agreed. "Yeah, and I'm sure my dad's already planning my death so. . ."

John B glanced at JJ. "Might as well tell him, man, before we're gaffed."

Then he glanced between Bridger and the other Pogues with raised eyebrows. Kiara waved her hand. "He's already here, so, might as well let him in."

Bridger furrowed his brows.

John B nodded. "Ready for this?"

They nodded as well.

"So, the gold was never went down with the Royal Merchant—"

"Wait a minute, the Royal Merchant?" Bridger interrupted. His eyes widened. "You guys are looking for the Royal Merchant gold?"

"Oh, my God. Here we go with this again," Pope groaned.

"Holy shit!" He laughed loudly. "So y'all are on some secret treasure hunt?"

"Not really a secret anymore." Kiara mumbled.

"Yes, Bridge, we are, and you to swear to us that you're not going to say anything," JJ told him, looking him in the eye. "Like swear to God or whatever. I mean it. Nobody can know about this."

Excitement lit in his eyes. "So I'm the first person you've told?" The others groaned and he gave in. "Okay, okay, sorry. Yes, I promise to God I won't say anything. I swear on my mom."

It went dark fast. Bridger didn't realize that it had slipped out. The Pogue's faces fell at his statement and John B continued. "It's been here the whole time." He glanced at Kiara. "It's on the island."

"Are you serious?" She asked and breathed out a laugh. "Oh, my God!"

"That's so fucking awesome." Bridger emitted and looked at JJ with excitement.

"I'd like to voice my skepticism," Pope stated.

"I'm sure you would, Pope, but can I please present you with my evidence, sir?" John B asked and stood up.

He gave in. "Processed."

Bridger leaned into JJ. "I can't believe I'm here for this."

He grinned. "Believe it, baby."

"All right. So, in my backpack, I have a letter from Denmark Tanny," John B informed and took out a letter from his backpack.

"Who the hell is that?" Kiara questioned.

"Denmark Tanny was a slave that survived the Royal Merchant wreck. Check this out," he continued and handed the letter to Kiara. "Here you go. Okay, slaves weren't mentioned as crew members on the ship, but my dad, he found the complete manifest. That was his big discovery. So Tanny used the gold from the Merchant to buy his freedom,"

"Badass." Bridger exhaled.

Kiara whistled and handed the letter to JJ. Bridger and Pope leaned over and looked at it.

"After that, he bought his farm. Drumroll, please, because that farm is. . ."

They drum rolled and slapped their knees.

"Tannyhill Plantation."

Bridger let out shocked noise. "No fucking way!"

"Tanyhill?" Kiara repeated in complete shock as well.

John B nodded. "Yeah. So, after that, he used his money to free even more slaves, and then he sold a shit-ton of rice, which pisses off all the white planters, and then they decide to lynch him."

Bridger scoffed while looking at the letter. "Racist assholes."

Kiara rolled her eyes at the information.

"So on the day they were coming to get him, he writes a letter to his son as a farewell, and in the last line of that letter, he leaves a coded message about where to find the gold," John B went on. His face was lit up with excitement as he explained everything.

Kiara grinned. "Where?"

"Harvest the wheat in parcel nine, near the water. Except. . . there's no wheat."

Bridger repeated the information under his breath a couple times until it sunk in. He blinked rapidly. "Wheat is code for gold?"

John B smiled and pointed at him. "Ding, ding, ding!"

"Nice job." JJ praised and patted him on the back.

"Bridger is correct. Wheat is code for gold. Check this out." He leaned over Pope, who was holding the letter. "The gold is in parcel nine, near the water."

"Holy shit." Pope breathed out and Kiara let out a laugh.

"All we need is an original survey map of the property, and we've found the gold!"

JJ cheered and stood up from the log. "Okay, so this might have a small chance of being actually true," said Pope.

"This is fucking awesome." Bridger exclaimed

"Dude, it's like King Tut!" Kiara followed.

"I'm a genius—Hey, whoa!" John B gasped when JJ brought him into a hug and lifted him up. "Hello! Fire! You're near the fire. You're going to burn."

Bridger chuckled.

"I'm so proud of you right now!" Jesse told him and cupped his face.

"Thank you. That's really sweet of you."

"Okay, so, guys. What's the plan?" Pope went on.

"Good question," John B pointed. "So, Sarah Cameron's coming tonight. She's gonna bring an original survey map—"

Bridger's eyes widened largely. "Wait, what?"

"Wait, wait, hold on," Kiara added. "Sarah? Wh-Why Sarah?"

"Um. . ." The boy started.

"This is gonna be good." JJ muttered.

"What does this have to do with Sarah?" Bridger questioned, equally as confused as Kiara.

"Sarah, um, she—she got me into the archives in Chapel Hill yesterday, and that's where I got the letter," John B stammered.

"You were in Chapel Hill with Sarah Cameron?" Kiara asked hastily.

"Seriously?"

JJ came back around and threw his arm around him.

"Yeah, um—"

"He was mackin on her."

"I wasn't macking."

"You were totally macking Sarah Cameron." JJ smirked.

Bridger gasped out loud and pointed at John B. "You're the boy toy?" He quickly turned to JJ. "He's the boy toy?"

He nodded quickly. "He's the boy toy."

"I'm not the boy toy!" John B denied. "And I wasn't macking on her, okay? I was using her for access."

Bridger gave him a look. "Excuse me?"

"There was access, all right." JJ muttered crudely.

Pope's lips curled into a grin.

"Did you tell her about the treasure?" Kiara accused.

"I was trying to get into the archives!"

"Is that a yes?"

"I—I left out key details!" He stuttered again.

"Yo, what?" Kiara exclaimed. "You let a Kook in on our secret?"

Bridger titled his head. "Uh—"

"What about Pogue Lyfe? What about the T-shirt company, bro?"

"I-I was just using her for information," John B continued. He pointed at Bridger. "Bridger's a Kook and he's here!"

The said Kook narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me—"

"Because I want him to be here." JJ defended him

"Why don't I believe you?" Kiara questioned, mainly focusing on John B.

"I feel very out of place."

JJ shook his head. "I got you, don't worry."

"I'm trying to make us filthy rich here," said John B with a slightly laugh. "Okay, so that we can lay off a boat, or—or, uh. . . Send you to autopsy school to study dead bodies!" He said to Pope.

Bridger looked at him and hummed. "You want to study dead bodies?"

He nodded excitedly. "Yeah."

"Do I look the type of person to fall for Sarah Cameron?" John B questioned.

They went quiet. LDo you want us to answer that, or. . ." Pope trailed.

"I didn't think I was the type to fall for Bridger Fitzgerald but. . . here we are," JJ stated with a sly smirk.

John B shook his head. "Just—Just stop."

"Look, you don't know her yet. I do!" Kiara exclaimed again. "You can't trust her."

"Okay, that's a little excessive," Bridger started.

She glared at him. "You have no say in this."

"Her brother did hit me in the back with a golf club." Pope reminded them.

"Sarah's nothing like Rafe." He defended his friend.

John B motioned to him. "Yes!"

"You should know. Aren't you his best friend?" Kiara shot at him.

Bridger glared at her. "Do you want me to leave? Cause I'll fucking leave."

"No!" Jesse immediately objected. He turned to Kiara. "What did she do to you, exactly?"

"She's like a—like a spitting cobra! First, she-she blinds you, and then—"

"This a bad analogy." Pope stated.

"Very bad." Bridger agreed.

"Listen to me! Whatever we get, she's gonna and take," Kiara tried to convince John B.

"Who's to say Bridger won't?" He expressed.

Bridger scoffed and stood up. "You know what? I'm fucking done." He gave up.

"Bridge, no." JJ quickly said and stood up as well.

He pointed between them. "I'm not going to sit here and listen to you fucking judge me! I don't deserve this shit."

Jesse quickly grabbed his arm before he left. "No, hey." He looked at his friends. "If he goes, I go."

"JJ."

"Dude, come on."

Bridger gave him a look. "Jess, no—"

"No!" JJ exclaimed and almost glared at him. "Okay, I just got you back. You're not fucking leaving again. Okay?"

His harsh expression dropped. It seemed like the others did as well. John B looked down at his feet.

He looked at the other Pogues again, feeling desperate. "He's here, okay? He already knows everything and he promised he won't tell anyone. So we can either all get along and do this or I go with him."

JJ would never in his life choose anyone over his best friends. They were his life line. He would do literally anything for them. But he would also do anything for Bridger. He was in love with him and he didn't want to lose him again. It left the others in shock. They had never seen JJ do passionate and serious about something like he was about Bridger.

Bridger looked into his eyes and felt guilty. He calmed down at faced them all again. "I'm sorry," he started. "I'm sorry for everything I've done to you guys and I'm sorry for never stopping any of it. I was trying to be someone I'm not because I was scared what people would think if they saw any different." He briefly glanced at Jesse. "You don't have to forgive me. I'll keep your secret. I swore on my mom so I would be an asshole to break that promise."

They gave him small smiles.

He looked at JJ again and nodded. "If I'm welcome, I'll stay."

The remaining Pogues glanced at each other in thought. Kiara bit the inside of her cheek. "Okay," she agreed. "Fine. Stay."

John B nodded slightly. "Sorry man."

Pope agreed. "I'm for it."

JJ smiled at them and looked at Bridger with his eyes lit up. He smiled back.