𝟒𝟑|jailbird

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Callie somehow thought that they wouldn't be able to fall any lower. John B and Sarah Cameron had nearly died, they'd witnessed a murder and Callie had been shot. 

She wished she had been right but she couldn't have been more wrong. This was what led to them all sitting in a courtroom watching the trial of John Booker Routledge. 

They were beginning the trial and the judge was about to begin. John B was putting on a brave face but Callie had seen his expression when he first walked in - he was terrified.

Callie was holding onto JJ's hand tightly, the boy worried she may actually break his bones. She sat next to him with Pope on her other side. On the seats in front of them were Sarah, Kiara and Florence. They had all been surprised to see the Thornton girl sit with them instead of the Kooks but she did so without hesitation.

JJ's hand moved in Callie's the boy trying to stay calm as he waited for the judge to speak. He hated this. He hated that the Pogues were treated like second-class citizens. John B had told them that it hadn't been him but they all knew the chances of them believing him.

"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances," the judge announced. "If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty."

Confused and shocked talk broke out amongst the crowd but Callie couldn't hear any of it. She felt like someone had grabbed her by the throat and forced her underwater.

All of the air had left her chest and any noise was muffled. She felt like she might be sick, her eyes flickering to find John B. His shoulders were slumped, the boy as shocked as the rest of them but also not surprised.

When JJ saw the relief on Ward's face, he stood up from his seat in frustration. "Your honour, he's seventeen!"

"Quiet," the judge told them all, banging her gavel.

Forcing herself out of her stupor, Callie squeezed his hand, "JJ, don't, it won't change anything."

He shook his head, throwing his free hand up as he looked at the judge. "Yo! He's seventeen! Are you kidding me?"

"Bailiff!" the judge called.

The bailiff went over and took hold of John B's wrists, beginning to lead him out of the court. The Pogues stared after him but John B didn't look back at them - he didn't want them to see how afraid he was.

"Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out," JJ shouted over the noise of the crowd.

Sarah pushed through the crowd to the barricade, yelling the boy's name. It was only then, hearing her voice, that John B looked back.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐒 ∴ JJ MaybankWhere stories live. Discover now