꒰ 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 ꒱ؘ ࿐ ࿔*:·ﾟ
"Does it hurt?"
"What?" Bianca frowned slightly at Pope who was watching her caress her hand to her chest tenderly.
"I said," He repeated, "Does it hurt?"
"Oh," Bianca mumbled under her breath from the back of the van so the other Pogues couldn't hear them, "Yeah, a little."
"Let me see," Pope offered, outstretching his hand for her to take. When she hesitated, the boy merely quirked an eyebrow expectantly and she eventually gave in.
Pope took her hand in his and immediately, the girl winced at the contact, her knuckles stinging from when she punched Barry. The boy send her an amused look, chuckling lightly, "Ever punched someone before, B?"
"No," She said quietly, her cheeks flushing- it was a heat of the moment thing, she wasn't thinking, but she definitely didn't regret it. Though, as exhilarating as it was, it hurt like a bitch afterwards.
"Can you flex your hand for me?" Pope gestured with his own hand and with reluctance, Bianca copied the way his fingers moved.
She cringed the whole while, though the pain had lessened considerably- previously, it had been throbbing, but now it had become more of a dull ache.
"Does this hurt?" Pope questioned, pressing different parts of her hand softly and she shook her head with the occasional nod.
"Ow," Bianca winced at a particular spot, gaining JJ's attention from where he'd been focused on driving the van. He glanced in the rearview mirror momentarily, seeing Pope with Bianca's hand in his and felt his grip tighten over the steering wheel.
Feeling the heat of JJ's glare on his back, Pope quickly dropped the girl's hand with a sheepish expression. The blond merely scoffed in annoyance, forcing his eyes back on the road before he said something he'd regret.
"Nothing looks or feels fractured," Pope concluded, letting go of Bianca, "There might be some nasty bruising in the morning and you might have to clean those cuts with rubbing alcohol, but you should be fine."
"Thanks," Bianca gave him a small smile, "How do you know all this?"
The boy scoffed, a knowing expression on his face as he gestured towards the Pogues, who were glancing out their respective windows in silence, "Take a wild guess."
Bianca laughed lightly at this, "That was a stupid question," The Pogues were practically known for getting into fights and brawls, Pope must've been their designated medic.
"Yeah, I was going to let it go," He chuckled, leaning back into his seat opposite her, "I also want to be a coroner, so I kinda know a little bit about the body."
Pope had been doing a stellar job of trying to get her mind off of everything. He couldn't help, but notice how shaken up she looked after being held to gunpoint and the way her hands wouldn't stop trembling even when she wrung them together. So with JJ out of commission- being way too agitated to care about anything except revenge- Pope took it upon himself to make her feel better.
"Oh, yeah?" The girl smirked, "So the female anatomy must come easy to you then?"
"What? No," Pope dismissed quickly, "I don't have time for girls right now- I've got to focus on my merit scholarship," But Bianca didn't miss the way his eyes flickered over to Kiara momentarily.
"Scholarship?" The girl frowned.
As if Kiara ears began to burn, she whirled around, "Oh my god, please don't bring up the scholarship- he won't shut up about it."
"The Lucas T. Vanderhorst merit scholarship," Pope mumbled, glancing down at his lap- he knew he was embarrassing himself by admitting this. Bianca didn't need a scholarship, she could go to any college she wanted, but to his surprise, her face lit up.
"Pope, that's so cool," She gushed, eyes widened in awe.
The boy's eyebrows knitted together, "It is?"
"Yeah," Bianca said, she admired the boy's work ethic- to be nominated for it was an honour itself. What impressed her even more was that he had done it all by himself- he didn't need his parents or boatloads of money- it was all his own merit.
Bianca was actually kind of envious, Pope was this super talented, smart, funny, sweet guy. He'd worked hard for everything he'd done, but she'd played a part in the terrorisation of Pogues, whether it was enacted by Rafe or the Death Squad or herself, "Pope, I'm so sorry."
The boy frowned, confused as to where her apology had come from, "For what?"
"For Rafe and Topper jumping you- for almost getting you arrested- for the cinema and for everything else," She said profusely.
Pope narrowed his eyes, "You didn't even do half those things."
"But I let it happen," Bianca told him sheepishly, "And I'm sorry."
"It's cool," Pope gave her a small smile, a comfortable silence settling between them, "You know, you're not that bad, B."
"You're not that bad either, Po," She returned the smile, feeling another step closer to her journey to redemption.
"Welcome to Crackhead Wasteland," Sarah scoffed as JJ swerved the van beside Barry's worn out shack of a house. At this, both Bianca and Pope perked up, glancing out the window at their destination.
"I don't know about this, man," Pope muttered, glancing around at the run-down building in front of them, "Dude, why are we here?"
"JJ, where are you going?" Bianca's eyes trailed after the boy, getting out of the Twinkie to follow him inside.
"This'll only take a second," He muttered before hopping out of the van and slamming the door shut behind him, "Stay in the van, B."
John B scoffed, "Dude- what are we doing here!?"
"Yo soy justicia!" JJ called back before storming through the entrance.
"John B," Kiara mumbled, the air within the van thick as they watched the boy head towards Barry's place, making the brunette turn to face her from shotgun, "Go with her," She gave him a pointed look. She didn't want him to do something that he'd regret, especially to Bianca.
"Yeah I got it," John B followed after the tan girl a few steps in front of him.
Bianca's feet faltered when she felt a hand wrap around her wrist. Bianca glanced over her shoulder at John B.
"B- maybe you should stay in the van. I can talk to him-"
"What?" She narrowed her eyes, "No, it's fine-"
"Listen," The brunette muttered lowly, "When JJ gets like this. He's not- he's not himself."
His eyes connect with hers, filled with genuine concern, but Bianca pulled her wrist away, "I'm not scared of him."
The two of dodged pieces of furniture and and junk as they stepped through the front door. The sun was setting, a bright orange glow streaming through the glass panels onto the wooden floorboards. When the three had reached the interior of Barry's home, JJ was pulling out random objects that clattered loudly to the floor when he dropped them.
"JJ, what the hell are you doing?" Bianca spoke louder and he finally glanced over his shoulder at the two before continuing to ruffle through the house.
"I told you to stay in the fucking van, B," JJ growled lowly, "I know you got a stash around here somewhere."
"What's the plan, slick?" John B narrowed his eyes at the boy who barely acknowledged their presence in the room.
"Well- as though hath stealeth from us, we shall stealeth from ye."
"Okay, Shakespeare," Bianca scowled, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Yeah- that kind of got lost in translation," The brunette's eyes widened as JJ began throwing pillows off the couch.
"An eye for an eye," He replied gruffly.
"Yeah- yeah that's great, JJ," John B stepped in front of him as he rounded the corner of the kitchen island, "But what happens when you rob a drug dealer, huh? He knows who we are!"
JJ pushed him backwards, "I'm not scared of this guy."
"JJ-" Bianca tried as the blond stormed into Barry's room while John B waited out in the hall.
He was pulling things out of the wardrobe until he pulled out a dirty blue duffle bag. His eyes widened and he immediately began unzipping it.
"Listen," Bianca folded her arms across her chest, "Just forget what John B said- okay? Who cares if Barry finds out- I get you're angry, but-" her voice faltered when he emptied the contents of the bag out, "What are you doing?"
Bianca's eyes widened as stack of cash bounded by rubber bands came slipping out, "Getting even," JJ began shoving the cash in another duffle bag, zipping it up before throwing it over his shoulder.
"Alright- took care of business," The blond muttered, throwing the bag over his shoulder while Bianca trailed after him.
"JJ," Bianca mumbled hesitantly as he merely pushed passed her and back into the kitchen, "Don't do this-"
"You know what, B? You're the biggest hypocrite-" JJ suddenly snapped, "You're richer than all of us and you're telling me not to steal money?"
"Hey- don't talk to her like that," John B grabbed JJ's shoulders, pushing him backwards, "Look at me- look at me- if you keep going down this road, you're gonna end up just like your dad!"
JJ suddenly shoved him back, grabbing his collar, pressing him into the sink. The blond's jaw clenched tightly, both boys glaring intensely at the other, "You watch your mouth, man."
"JJ- let go of him," Bianca mumbled unsurely, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Hey," John B whispered harshly with a scowl, he caught a glimpse of Bianca behind them, "You're fucking scaring her, dude," he said.
JJ turned to look at the girl who was watching the two wearily before letting his hand fall from the Routledge boy's collar. JJ didn't want to end up like his deadbeat of a father. He couldn't. John B was right- maybe he was turning into his dad. The thought made the boy's chest constrict that he could resemble anything like his father.
"Aren't you tired of being messed with?" JJ spoke harshly, his eyes narrowed at his best friend.
"That's not the point, JJ-"
"-Cause I am," The Maybank boy glowered with finality.
"Screw this," John B scoffed before storming out of the room and down the porch steps. Bianca glanced at the brunette boy before turning back to JJ whose eyes were wild and his movements erratic.
She frowned slightly, her dark eyes searching his, "JJ, this is stupid- you're stealing money from a drug dealer when we have the gold."
The boy merely shook his head, trying to move past her, "Please, just drop it, B."
"I get that you owe restitution money," Bianca pushed him back lightly to get him to listen, "But you're better than this-"
"Am I?!" JJ suddenly snapped, squaring his shoulders to tower over her small frame, "Am I better than this?" He raged. He didn't know whether he was angry at Bianca, at Barry, at himself or at the world. All he could see was red and Bianca was unfortunate enough to be in the way.
The girl narrowed her eyes, "JJ, what are you talking about? Of course you are-"
"Really? Because I'm starting to think that you, and your high standards, and your perfect life," He sneered harshly, making the girl take a step back, "Only think that I'm better than this because you want me to be better than this!"
Her mouth parted, stunned at his abrupt outburst- under the raging blond, Bianca had never felt smaller. His words hit harder than she'd like to have admit because he'd struck a nerve. Bianca Prescott thought that maybe, just for a moment, she was different from all the other Kooks on the island. Her family was more than financially stable, she had her own car and if she wanted, she could go to college on the mainland. Her life wasn't like most lives on The Cut, but JJ knew that her life was far from perfect.
"If and when we're ever together," He sneered lowly, mocking her own words, "You need me to be better so that I can fit in with your Kook life!"
The muscle in his jaw ticked and Bianca could feel his breath fan her flushed cheeks, but she refused to back down. Her heart pounded out of her chest, she wasn't sure whether it was the harsh words he spat, how rigid and cold he was being or the way that he yelled that reminded her of Rafe, but her lower lip began to tremble, "JJ, stop-"
"Well you know what, princess? I'm not better than this, this is who I am!" JJ shouted, his fist meeting the kitchen counter behind her in frustration, "I get into fights, I steal, I have a criminal record and when I get hit, I hit back!"
Bianca pushed her shoulder backwards, ignoring the nagging voice in the back of her head that told her to cower away, "Stealing money from a drug dealer isn't going to make anything better," She ground out, "This isn't hitting back- this is loading a gun that's already in your face."
"B, I have to," He growls, his deep voice sending shivers up the girl's spine, "You don't know what it's like being in so much debt," And it was true, she didn't and she probably never would, but every word still felt like a punch in the gut. JJ's darkened eyes flickered down to his boots, "So, I'm sorry I'm not who you thought I was, but this is what I do."
Bianca felt her heart stutter, her eyes darting between the cerulean blues that were piercing into her very being.
JJ glanced back up at her, jaw still clenched tightly, "Maybe you trying to fight it means you deserve better than me."
And just like that, it was clear that he was more mad at himself than he was with Bianca. JJ felt his entire being falter and shook his head softly before stepping away from the girl, the bag still in his other hand.
"JJ-" Bianca called out to him again, but he'd already left. She glanced away as he stormed off, the muscles in his back more tense than ever as the front door shut with a loud slam and she was left wondering in the silence of Barry's kitchen. Bianca blinked away the unshed tears in her eyes, inhaling and exhaling to compose herself before she slowly wandered back to the group.
Sarah caught her eye, eyebrows furrowing together as she mouthed silently 'are you okay?' to which the girl merely ignored.
"So that's what we're doing now?" Kiara scoffed when the Maybank boy returned with the duffle bag, "Robbing drug dealers?" She frowned when she saw Bianca trail down the porch stairs after him, not meeting any of their questioning gazes.
"This Barry guy's gonna find out!" Sarah narrowed her eyes at JJ, slightly scared as she'd never seen him act like this before, "And he's gonna come after us."
"He will- this is not the time to start wilding out!" Pope interjected loudly.
"How'd you like havin' a gun pulled on you?!" JJ glanced around the circle, stopping at John B, "He put a gun to B's head, man," He whispered lowly so only the boy could hear.
"Relax," John B stepped forward, pushing him back slightly.
"He had it right here on you, bro," JJ pointed to John B's forehead.
"Look- we gotta go get the gold, okay- just give me that shit!" The brunette tried to snatch the bag away, but JJ was quicker. He shoved John B roughly into the van, arm pressed up at his throat.
"JJ-" Bianca gasped, stepping towards them to break them up, but Kiara held her back.
"Do you feel like a tough guy?" John B narrowed his at the blond boy, "What are you gonna do when he comes for us?!"
"We punch him in the throat," JJ replied lowly and Bianca scoffed from behind.
"Yeah- good fucking idea, JJ!" John B shoved JJ off of him suddenly, chest puffed out.
"I'm not putting it back!" He shouted back, taking a menacing step towards John B, shoulders pressed back. When neither of them let up, JJ huffed, turning his back on the group as he got into the van. When no one followed after him, he glanced up, "You guys getting in or what?"
Sarah scratched the back of her head and Kiara clenched her jaw while none of the girls moved either. Bianca's brows furrowed at the boy, she wanted to go with him, but he wouldn't even look at her. She just wanted him to look at her.
JJ stepped out of the van, his fist connecting with the side door as he pushed passed John B, "What?"
"We're sick of your shit," John B stepped towards him.
"My shit!?" JJ narrowed his eyes.
"You're pulling guns on people shit!" Kiara interjected, her arms across her chest.
Pope continued, "You acting like a fuckin' maniac-"
"Pope- I took the fall for you, man!" JJ yelled suddenly, "Know how much money I owe because of you?"
Bianca remained silent, the restitution had been weighing on her conscience since JJ had told her how much he owed, feeling partly responsible no matter how irrational it sounded. If only she could go back, she wouldn't hesitate to pay for JJ's restitution, but her father had cut her off. Nevertheless, she felt like she shouldn't be standing there, witnessing the argument when she could easily do something about it.
"I'm gonna pay you back, and I didn't ask you do that!"
"I just did!" JJ shoved him backward and Pope stumbled before catching himself, "Pay it back. Right here, right now, by myself."
Pope's eyes narrowed at JJ in front of him, both of them throwing each other heated glares.
"You know what- that's exactly what I'm gonna do," JJ muttered lowly when Pope remained silent, stepping towards the van to grab the bagful of money. He paused, glancing over at Bianca before starting to walk off, "Go off by myself."
"Dude," Pope frowned, but John B grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait, man," John B shook his head at Pope.
"JJ-" Bianca stepped forward, but Kiara held her back by the arm. Bianca's eyes followed his fading figure as he trailed away, the bag of money hitched over his shoulder. John B sighed,
"Just let him go."
author's note. hi losers, what did u guys think ? poor jj ):