Rowan hummed as she entered the chateau porch. The plan when it got dark was to search The Crain house with the proper tools and equipment. And most definitely Mitch to Kiara's refusal, John B had invited Sarah Cameron to join their little adventure. She knew it was going to be hard to convince them to work together. But things needed to get done with or without them. But apparently John B had a plan.
And that's what Rowan was doing. Going over to his place to hear it. When she entered the house, Pope and JJ were already in the kitchen.
"So, what's the stitch?" She asked, grabbing the cereal box from JJ, who sent her an offended look as she did so. However, she just ginned and shoved a band full of stale cereal into her mouth.
"Parent trap." Pope deadpanned. Rowan raised a brow. Forcing them together...is that all they could come up with? Rowan couldn't help but let out a long laugh, only until she realized he was serious. "He's not kidding?" She asked, looking between John b and Pope. JJ reached over towards her and snatched the box back. She let him.
"It's the only thing we can think of. Who knows, maybe it'll work. I'm not choosing." John B said, shaking his head. Rowan smiled. She loved he cared, but this was a shot in the dark.
"Say this works," Rowan said, going over to the coffee machine on the counter. She grabbed the tin with ground coffee and filled the compartment and filled it with water, and soon enough, the château smelt like her favourite thing.
"Then what?" She asked, looking between the three boys.
"We work together to get the gold....?" John B said, handing her her designated mug.
"Okay." She said, shrugging her shoulders.
"You think it'll work?" JJ asked
"If they don't kill each other first, sure."
"Okay. That's good enough for me. We'll get the big boat and anchor it in the marsh. Pope will tell kie it's broken or something. We'll trap Sarah first."
"And then you'll dip as fast as possible? That's cruel." Rowan chuckled.
"It has to work." John B sighed. "Let's roll."
"I'll stay here, no way I'm getting trapped on there and witnessing murder."
"All right. We'll be back soon." John B said, giving her a quick kiss on the temple, she held the warm coffee mug closely to her chest. Maybe this was going to work. She sure hoped it it. Because even though after her and John B's trip with Sarah, they may have repaired their broken relationship but it was all up to her and Kie now.
——
Rowan woke a few short hours later. The screen door screeched open and John B waltzed in humming to himself. Sitting up on the couch, Rowan sadly looked over to her cold coffee on the small side table. Forgotten due to sleep.
She turned to John B and watched as he walked to her and sat on the pulled out couch beside her. Letting out a tired sigh as he leaned back. His eyes closed. The sound stood quietly as it held just the two of them.
She leaned back against the couch too. She was close enough that their shoulders brushed up against each other's.
The sounds of the house and the night live filled the comforting silence between the couple. It wasn't that late, the sun had just set but she was exhausted from their never ending wild goose chase.
She turned to John B who was already now looking at her.
"They were pissed." He whispered with a soft chuckle, and Rowan smiled, imagining the anger both Kie and Sarah probably felt watching the boys leave them stranded.
"I bet." She says.
"You gonna tell me what happened between them?" He asked her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, she moved her curly hair out of the way and shook her head. "Not my place to tell." He hummed in response and silence filled between them again and Rowan closed her eyes in content.
"Rowan?" She heard John B ask, and she opened her eyes.
"Do you think it's there, in the well?" He asked, his voice low as he looked desperately at her. She smiled and thought of what to say before she said it. It was a 50/50 possibility. It could be there, the wheat by the water at parcel 9. That was the clue.
That was the message left by Denmark Tanny to his son before he was killed. They were wrong to think the gold was in the wreck. That was their first fail. Who's to say it doesn't happen again? Who's to say someone hasn't beaten them to it?
She wished them to be right, this time. She wished them to have gotten a win.
"I think it is." She answered. Honestly, she really did. It made sense. The only way it wouldn't be there is if someone else found it first. She doubted it though. She really did.
"You don't think I'm concocting something out of reach?"
Rowan shook her head. "No. I think we've got it." She looked up at him, giving him her best smile, he returned one and a moment later, he was leaning in and brining their lips together.
The crickets chirp endlessly as their kiss deepened. No one was around. It was just the two of them. And it was clear as they finally pulled away what the next move was.
Rowan was first to slowly pull off her crop shirt that showed her stomach. The knitted fabric was tossed to the side and landed on the floor. John B copied and took his off.
Their eyes still hold tightly together as each item of clothing is removed and they are left in nothing. Their hearts beat wildly as they smile. The moment a perfect one as they move closer to each other. Their soft skin melts into each other's as they fall into their backs.
Their lips connect once more and Rowan can't help but smile into the kiss.
Their hands travel and wonder each others body's as they do a familiar dance they've done only a hand full of different times. With ease, they pleasure themselves in their own ways. With lingering kisses and heaving breathing, the world before them is lost in each other as they tumble and roll abasing the somewhat scratchy and old sheets.
With one more long kiss, Rowan is the first one to tear apart, with plump lips and a satisfied smile, they lay side by side with a blanket over their naked bodies. The need to become one was met after a long while of waiting. And it was worth the wait.
"I love you." Rowan muttered, turning so she is looking at him.
"I love you too." He says, giving her a a smile.
She never felt like this with anyone else. Not with Rafe. Not with anyone. She loved it. She wanted it to last. And that's why, she would follow him off the deep end if she had to.
—
"Morning!" John B called out, as the boat approached the one stranded in front of them. Rowan giggled as she looked over towards Sarah and Kiara, who did in fact, looked pissed.
"You hate us?" Pope asked, as he smiled and threw the rope towards Kie. Her arms uncrossed over her chest and she caught it.
"You guys need a tow?" Rowan asked, smiling at them. As they got closer, she could see Kie and Sarah roll their eyes at them.
"You gotta admit it was kind of funny." John B said
"John B." Kie said, annoyance laced her tone as she and Sarah waited for them.
"Uh, what was that?"
"Mastermind, huh?"
"I'm always planning."
"Some patriarchal bullshit." She muttered, turning away, she hoped off the boat.
"Yeah, that sucked." Sarah added.
"You still love us though, right?" JJ asked
"We're both gonna get you back when you least expect it." Sarah said, she turned to Rowan, "you too."
"Me? It wasn't even my idea."
"Too bad."
"Rude." Rowan shook her head. "So, did you guys, you know..."
"Reconcile our differences?" Kie filled in
"Mm-mm." Sarah hummed, shaking her head.
"No even close." Kie says
Rowan rolled her eyes. She knew they did. She could totally tell. But she smiled and kept her mouth shut.
"But, we're....willing....to work together." Sarah says, looking to Kiara. Who nodded in agreement.
"You know what? That's a victory." John B says.
"Yep." Adds JJ, Pope humms in agreement and lifts his hand towards JJ.
"Wiggedy- wiggedy- wiggedy!" He laughed.
—
Rowan grumbled to herself as she struggled to put away the rope she promised she'd get for their upcoming expedition. They didn't have them just lingering around so she told the crew she would go and get some. The store clerk didn't seem to even question her as she shoved them in her bag.
Sighing once she finally got them inside, she left the store and made a plan to her straight to John B's. She moved towards her bike that rested abasing the building but was suddenly, as she reached for her bike, a hand grabbed at her wrist, stopping her. She moved to fight who ever was touching her off, but he placed his other hand on her shoulder, holding her still, she looked up and realized who it was.
"Rafe." She gritted out, doing her best to rip her wrist free from his grip.
"What the hell are you doing?" He said, looking from the hardware store towards her.
"None of your business. Let go." She said, finally getting free, she held her hitting wrist and stepped backwards. He huffed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry." He said, looking towards her with and unreadable expression. She shook her head.
"Whatever. Leave me alone." She said, turning away, she went to grab her bike, but he reached for the handles.
"Wait. I—I wanted to talk to you." He says, though it sounded like he was fighting with each work he spoke. "I, I really wanted to go to Midsummers with you."
Rowan couldn't help but scoff. "Well, too bad you couldn't."
"I want to get back to get her." He bluntly stated.
"What?"
"I miss you. And..and...I know I've been an ass—but, I've changed."
"R..." the old nickname slipped out before she could even correct herself. "You've been an ass since we got together. It took me a long time to realize you weren't good for me."
Rafe scoffed, "but that low life, pogue is, huh?"
Rowan shook her head. "Exhibit A. Look, I've got to go." She said, grabbing her bike, she started walking away.
"Wait!" He called out to her.
Rowan stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes. "You need to get over it, Rafe. John B and I are together now. Get used to it." She said, then, hopped on her bike and peddling as fast as she could away from him.
—
"You good?" The concerned voice of John B sounded as she entered the Twinkie. The night quickly dawned on them once more and the others were all giddy with excitement as they piled in the back.
"Yeah." She breathed out, wrapping her other hand around her slightly hurting wrist. John B looked to where she was holding and raised a brow in that direction.
"I'm fine. Lets go get rich." Rowan smiled, ignoring the feeling of guilt and sadness from earlier, she focused on the goal ahead of them.
"Hell yeah." He smiled, even though he wanted to push further. She noticed he wanted to but was glad he didn't. They had a job to focus on.
The Twinkie came to a stop as they reached a familiar rock wall. The house seemed a lot more creepy when in the dark than it had during the day time. However, with flashlights in hand, they slowly made their way towards the front of the house.
Though, at the soft click of the porch light coming on, the group gasps in shock and quickly run out of the way, ducking behind a hedge to stay out of sight.
"Okay, so she has motion sensor lights." Pope said, looking behind him.
"Not ideal." Rowan adds.
"We could, uh....move really slowly, maybe?" Asked JJ, causing everyone to turn and look at him.
"What?" Sarah asked, dumbfounded.
"Yeah. That's not how that works." Pope tells him
"Oh, shit. Let's throw a rock at it." John B said
"What?" Pope and Rowan whispery exclaimed.
"Might as well knock on the front door and let ourselves in!" Rowan added
"Throw a rock at it?" Pope continued
"You have a better idea?"
"Literally anything but that." Kie says
"What about the breaker? In the circuit box on the porch." Sarah says, causing everyone to turn their heads in her direction. "We used to play hide-and-seek here as kids. And if we were brave enough, we'd go all the way up the porch. I'v seen it."
"No way. No way. There's no way you're going in the house alone." John B said, "that's crazy."
"Watch me." Sarah bit back.
"Crain chops people into pieces." JJ says, sending a look to the kook.
"If you believe that, but she's like what, 85?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"She's probably barely still kicking."
"She has a point." Rowan said, "if I go with her there no way the psycho bitch could take us."
"Really?"
"Hell yeah."
"I'll go too. Three against one." Kie says
"All right then. We'll wait for your signal." Pope said, though he didn't like the idea.
"Hey! Be safe." John B called out towards Rowan. "We will." She replied, giving him a salute and followed after Sarah and Kie.
"You guys are sickening sometimes." Kie muttered, as they ventured through the overgrown bush and headed towards the porch. Rowan rolled her eyes.
"Look, she's gotta have a generator right?"
"Yeah, they're like, plugged into the main power supply." Kie added, as they moved around the corner, the wooden stairs came into view and slowly and quietly, they stepped up. Rowan searched around the wall for some type of box that they were looking for.
"Here. Over here." She whispered, once she finds it. The three girls quickly walk up to it and Rowan opens it, but instead of finding what they were looking for, the box it filled with tangled wires.
"Where are the breakers?" Sarah questioned
"What is this?" Asked Kie
"No, no, no," Sarah mumbles as she follows the contracted writer outside of the box. Rowan shook her head as she figured out what that meant."It goes inside." She says, sharing a look with Kie and Sarah.
Rowan walked as quietly as she could against the creaky wooden floor. Her steps were slow as they finally made it towards the breakers. Kie clicked off the light and they let out a breath of relief. However, at the sudden sound of a clock, the girls jump in fright and quickly. The sound of creaking stairs caught their attention.
"Shit." Rowan mutters, quietly. She looked towards Kie and Sarah.
"It's late, Leon. Too late." The scratchy voice followed by a coughing fit fills the house. There's a soft thud that follows each step. Rowan calms her breathing as she and the other two stand against the wall, waiting for the right chance to bolt the hell out of there.
When the steps get closer, the old woman comes into view and Rowan has to grab onto Kie to stop herself from reacting out of fear.
"I can hear you, Leon." The woman says, walking by them slowly. Rowan figured she had to be blind if she didn't see them.
"I've been waiting all night!" She screams, turning her head, she looks right at them with her milky eyes.
"Go!" Kie yells, as Sarah screams.
"Holy shit." Rowan breaths out, trying to erase the creepy image of the lady from her mind.
Running in the other direction, Rowan follows Kie into the other room. Trying to find the exit as soon as possible. But it was hard in the dark and with a crazy woman shouting after you.
"Shit! Rowan, this way!" Turning around, she screeched as the old woman was suddenly in front of her, raising her weapon, she nearly hits her with it before Sarah and Kiara grab her and lead her away. Trapping the woman in the room, they head for under the house.
"Guys! We gotta go!" Sarah exclaimed, as they reached the others. Pope and JJ hold onto the rope that attached to John B. Rowan nods her head.
"That crazy Bitch tried to kill me with a fire poker." Rowan says
"We locked her in the parlour, but we gotta go." Sarah adds.
"Okay, code red." JJ said, "let's go. John B! Get back on, man!"
"Dude, we have to go!"
Rowan brushed a hand through her hair as she looked around for any sign of the lady as JJ and Pope and the others help with the rope, but when they try and pull it up, they fall. Rowan rushes towards the well, she heard the distance shout of John B.
"What's he saying?" JJ asked
"I found the gold!" He yells, again.
"Guys, guys, hurry, pull him up!" Rowan shouted.
"Okay, okay, we're gonna pull you up, okay, Buddy?" Pope said, going with JJ, they grabbed the rope and pulled a muddy John B up. The sound of a gun interrupted the sounds of victory as the teens scrabbled around the underground's. Running towards the Twinkie, they whooped and hollered with excitement and adrenaline.
"Holy shit, that was crazy." Rowan breathed out, looking around everyone as JJ started up the van.
"I'd know if I was shot right?" Kie exclaimed, checking herself for any signs of injury.
"Bitch can't aim." She laughed
"The bitch was blind!" Rowan shook her head with a smile. As the others laughed in pure shock of what just happened, Rowan couldn't help but look towards John B, who sat somewhat quietly to himself. Staring down at something in his hands. She raised a brow.
"JB?" She asked, cashing everyone to turn their attention to him. She watched with wide eyes as he held out something. With his thumb, he wiped away the mud and dirt and something shiny caught her eye.
"No effing way." Rowan laughed, in pure disbelief.
"What?" Pope asked, looking from his sister to John B. His eyes widen once he sees what she does.
"No way."
"You actually got it!" Rowan exclaimed,
"I did!" John B roared with laugher, "I did it baby!"
"To going full kook!"
—