book 1 of 3
ever since bianca 'b' prescott was born, she was told that she was the fairest of them all. and like any, the island's very own kook princess had a reputation- she was stubborn and shallow and most of all, she was a spoiled bitch. but ev...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Dude, where is he?!" Kiara grumbled, pacing on the boat ramp where the Pogues were meant to meet John B.
"Give him a second, he'll be here," Pope muttered, glancing out into the distance.
"He's coming," JJ reassured from The Phantom, still packing the supplies, "He'll be fine."
Bianca suddenly narrowed her eyes onto the road, "Do you guys hear that?" There was a faint wailing of police sirens approaching.
Just as the Pogues turned, a cop car swerved beside the ramp, "JJ?" Kiara said in alarm.
"Get back on the boat," The blond quickly instructed, outstretching his hand for Bianca to take, "Untie it."
"Shit-" Kiara was interjected by the door opening and John B himself stepping out.
"No way," Bianca scoffed, rolling her eyes as the boy approached them with a shit-eating smirk.
"I'm sorry," Kiara shrugged at the same time Pope gaped, "You've got to be kidding me."
The Routledge boy stepped towards the group, "Shoupe let me take it for a spin."
"Okay- that's believable," Kiara grinned sarcastically as she threw her arms around him, "I'll buy that for now."
"It wasn't easy, bro," JJ opened his arms wide, twirling the key in his hand, "But I got The Phantom for you and she runs like she was made yesterday," He threw the keys towards the boy, "You ready to go?"
A frown settled on Bianca's face, she'd been waiting for someone else to step out of the car, "Wait- where's Sarah?"
"She's not with you?" Kiara questioned John B, also noticing the girl's absence.
"No- no we got separated at the swamp," John B reassured, stepping onto the boat, "She said she was gonna meet me at her dad's dock."
Bianca's heart was racing, she didn't want Sarah to leave without a proper goodbye- her mind was whirling with millions of 'what if's' and as much as the Pogues said John B was coming back, Bianca knew that endings weren't always so happy.
JJ glanced down at the girl, at the panic in her widened eyes and wrapped an arm around her waist, "Hey, she'll be fine."
"No- JJ," Bianca's chest was rising and falling with unsteady breaths, running her hand through her hair, "You don't know that."
"Hey- hey, B," John B stepped off the boat momentarily, "It's okay- why don't you come with me and we can go pick up Sarah and drop you off at the dock."
Bianca let out a small exhale, nodding slowly at the boy while JJ sent her a comforting smile beside her.
"JB- look at me. We're running out of time, man," JJ interjected quickly, "You got plenty of gas and cash- you can make it out there."
John B's eyes softened, huffing shortly, "Once you get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low, alright? Hang out for a couple of weeks and then go overland. Cross the border at Brownsville, you got that? Brownsville."
"Hey-" JJ interrupted the faraway look the boy had in his eyes, "You got that?"
"Yeah- yeah, Brownsville," John B nodded quickly.
"All right, saddle her up saltwater cowboy. Let's do this," JJ hopped off the boat and came to stand beside Bianca.
"Yeehaw," Bianca said softly, meaning for it to be more enthusiastic, but she only managed to give John B a sad smile instead.
"Hey," John B paused with unshed tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry for basically throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing."
"Yo, John B, we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?" JJ chuckled slightly, but Bianca could hear the slight quiver in his voice. He cleared his throat, feeling himself get slightly choked up as John B laughed along with the group.
"At least we did it together, though," JJ continued, pulling Bianca into his side while the rest of the group moulded together with their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.
"Pogue style," JJ gave John B a small smile, sending a wink towards Bianca and she'd never felt more at home than within his arms.
Bianca felt a pang in her chest, her breath hitching as she watched John B's struggle to keep his tears at bay. Kiara sniffled, "Now get out of here- please!"
"B," John B paused, outstretching his hand for the girl, "You coming?"
Bianca turned, wrapping her arms around JJ's neck and he did the same, "I'll find you, okay?"
"He's going to be okay," She told him and JJ didn't believe her, but nodded anyway. He pulled the girl into him, arms wrapped around her waist with her head leaning against his chest.
"Yeah," JJ pressed a light kiss to the top of her head, "Say bye to Sarah for me."
Bianca nodded into his chest, forcing herself to pull away from the comfort of his arms and taking John B's hand onto the boat.
"Go" Kiara chuckled, "See you soon, John B."
"See you in two months down in Mexico," Pope told him, his smile faltering slightly.
"Love you!" JJ called before the group started pushing the boat away, floating into open water.
John B sent a longing glance to his friends, a small smile slipping onto his face one last time before he revved the engine and sped off in The Phantom. The group watched the boat drive off with Bianca, her disappearing figure into the sunset.
author's note. okay unpopular opinion, but i think kie being mad at sarah for not inviting her to her bday party and basically ditching her with no explanation is completely reasonable. like i'd be soo mad if one of my friends did that to me too !
