My phone goes off loudly as I take notes in my class. I glance at it, eyes widening in embarrassment. "Shi- shoot, sorry." I reach over and silence my phone.
I look back down at my paper for just a brief second when Kie, JJ and Pope's phones all go off too. I look up from my notes, glancing at JJ, who sat to the right of me.
He shrugs, grabbing his phone.
"Alright, who's phone was that?" The teacher asks, looking at all of the students. "Nobody? You will be tested? Was that you again, Miss. Routledge?"
I shake my head, shrugging. "No, mine's on silent now."
"Now, to recap, who was Diocletian? An ex-slave who became—"
I grab my phone pulling it off my desk. I had a notification displayed across the front reading : Incoming text, Unknown Number.
"You get the same one?" JJ whispers looking over at me.
"Yeah."
I click on the notification. A picture of John B and Sarah displays across my whole screen. I gasp loudly, the other Pogues look over at me with wide eyes. They had clearly opened it too.
I immediately stand from my desk, running out of the room. I could hear JJ in tow as he followed me out.
I run into the courtyard. A loud sob bubbles up in my chest as I fall to my hands and knees in the middle of the pavement. I suck in a breath but it felt like nothing went into my lungs.
There's no way he was alive. He's been dead for weeks. Shoupe told us they were gone.
"How is this even possible? I mean, Shoupe said they didn't make it. He said that." Kiara announces as she walks over to me.
"Okay, but I... I think we're overreacting, 'cause we can't rule out the possibility that this could all be some kind of weird, cruel hoax." Pope says as he grabs my waist, pulling me to my feet. "Come on, Kat. Take a breath." I look up at Pope, squinting against the sun. He nods his head over to JJ, gesturing for me to look at him.
I look over at JJ. He had the heel of his hand digging into his chest as he made his way over. I take a deep breath, getting myself under control before walking over to him. I place my hands on his cheeks.
"You good?" I ask quietly.
"Yeah." He puffs out. I place a soft kiss on his lips, getting him to relax for a second. "You?"
"It's gonna be okay." I whisper.
I look back over at the other two, who were still arguing about if it was real or not. Kiara sends a text, asking if it was actually them. JJ pulls off his hat, running a hand through his hair, stressed.
I lean up against the wall, trying my best to get my nerves under control.
"He responded?" Pope asks impatiently.
"He's typing."
A text comes through. Is JJ there?
JJ texts back quickly. Another text comes through. Did you pimp my short board?
My breath hitches in my throat. Tears immediately pooled in my eyes as I stare at the message. Another sob escapes my lips as I keel over. I place a hand over my mouth, trying to stifle my cries.
"It's him." JJ confirms between his own cries.
"It's definitely him." Pope laughs as another message comes through.
Are you still banging my sister?
I let out a light laugh when I see the message. JJ walks over to me, wrapping his arms under my shoulders as mine wrap around his neck.
"Oh, god." I sniffle as I bury my face in his neck.
"Everything's okay, baby." He tells me. "You were right."
"I didn't think I'd be this right." I laugh. He sets me down on the ground, looking down at me. A broad smile crosses his face. He cups my cheek, pressing a lingering kiss to my lips.
"Ew, get a room." Kiara jokes.
JJ pulls away, turning toward Pope. He wraps the boy in a hug before moving over to hug Kie.
Pope wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Ready to get your brother back?"
"Hell fucking yeah."
JJ punches the air yelling. "Yeah!" I laugh at my boyfriend's excitement.
Pope pulls me into a full hug. I rest my head in his chest. "Love you, Kat."
"Love you too, P."
"Laying low in Nassau." Kiara reads the next message. "How the hell did they get to the Bahamas?"
"You can't kill a Pogue, dude." JJ laughs with a shrug.
"Now who's the fucking cockroach?" I ask Kie.
"God, your fucking brother." She laughs.
I glance at my phone as another notifications rings out. Can you clear my name? Wanna come home. Be in touch, P4L
"Hell yeah, we're clearing your name, boy." JJ announces. "P4L man! That's what I'm talking about!" He cheers loudly. "P4L baby!"