𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐲𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧 ~ 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬

𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 ★

"I'm alright," She assured. "I'm not lookin' for a relationship right now anyway. Even if you wanted to be with me, I would've said no,"

"At first, I did want a relationship with you, but I'm over it now," She continued. "I'm gonna focus on myself, you know?"

I nodded, placing the broom aside. "I understand completely. So, we're cool?"

"That's one of the stupidest things you could've asked me, girl" She laughed. We pulled into a hug. The sound of someone coming onto the balcony caused us to pull apart. Pope stormed outside looking extremely annoyed.

Okay, so, not a good time to talk to him. Got it.

"Why you back so early?" Cleo questioned. He snatched the broom I had put down and started sweeping the ground, more out of frustration than anything. "I quit school,"

Her eyes widened. "You did what?"

"Quit school," He repeated.

"What about your scholarship?"

"I lost it," He sighed. "I lost all my old classes. I'll be lucky if I even passed the grade. My transcript is ass,"

"Everything I had going for me, gone!" He huffed. "And do you know why I'm screwed? Because I tried to do the right thing. I tried to help John B with his treasure, I tried to get my family's inheritance back, and do you know what I got for it? Kicked in the dirt! It's over. I'm done,"

"Pope, it's not like you can just give up like that," I told him. "You'll pull through, you always do!"

"Pope! Pope!" A voice called, preventing me from saying more. JJ rushed onto the balcony, out of breath from running.

"Yo! Bombshell," He panted. He paused for a moment, eyeing the three of us. "What's going on? What happened? Detecting a real heavy vibe, what's going on?"

Cleo shook her head. "Pope's quitting school,"

"Being a coroner's kind of weird anyway," JJ shrugged.

Pope glared at him. "Shut up, wrench dick,"

"Right, great. So, it's definitely not the time for this," He sighed. "Okay, shit..."

"What?!" Cleo asked, growing impatient.

"So, I was down at Guffy's, alright? I was trying to get my old job back, and I see the catty across the way, and on it...is Rafe and Barry," He explained. "I sneak over to hear what they're talking about. Pope, he has the cross...and he melted it down. I'm sorry, bro,"

My jaw gaped. There was no limit to what Rafe would do to get what he wanted.

I turned to face Pope, who had a look of pure rage in his eyes. He leaned against the balcony railing, his face reeling with anger. "FUCK!"

"Of course it was Rafe!" He began to pace around. "The Cross of Santo Domingo, desecrated! For money? God!"

JJ took a breath. "I think we need to stay calm to make a plan, but we gotta stay-"

Pope picked up the broom and smashed it against the ground.

"Getting better at that," JJ said.

"This is messed up, man!" Pope yelled. "Even for them!"

"I know. Couldn't agree more, man,"

"And they're just gonna keep getting away with it! They're gonna keep doing that shit! They're gonna keep winning!"

"I mean, Pope, is that news to you?" I questioned.

His eyes met mine. "No. But I'm sick of being the good guy,"