"WOULD YOU STOP TRYING TO TICKLE ME, JJ?" I swat his hands away for what feels like the millionth time. I'm even sitting behind him in the passenger seat and he keeps trying to reach around me while we do this damn mission. "At least hold my hand, baby," He places his hand right in front of my face. Metal rings decorate his fingers. I roll my eyes but grab his hand.
I can hear cop sirens as we get closer and closer until the blue and reds are bright enough to shine into the car. "Oh shit! They found the truck!" Kie curses. Shit, I forgot we kinda did a hit and run. "Chill, chill, chill," Pope and John B repeatedly say. I turn slightly so I can see the windshield, "Ah, fuck, Kie."
JJ starts panicking next to me, "Of course!"
"Babe, babe, relax!" I grab his hand again but he still has his jaw clenched.
I would say can anything go right but this is basically our fault. "Well, lookee here," Shoupe is here. Of course he is. "Good evening, Officer," John B uses the cheesy line on Shoupe. The lights practically blind me as I look towards him. "Sheriff. Yeah," Shoupe reminds us. Didn't really properly earn that title but, whatever.
"Sheriff. Yeah, that's right. Speed kills, huh?" John B plays dumb. "I pulled the tags, I know whose truck that is, " Shoupe shines the flashlight right on Kie's face as she's hiding beside me, "Hey! Kie, you drop your weed pen back there?"
"Found it," She holds up something. "Sheriff, I just wanted to say that this is all my fault. She had nothing to do with this. I take 100% responsibility," Pope says.
JJ and I glance at each other before turning back to look at Shoupe. "Nothing to do with it? Uh huh. You wanna try that again?" Shoupe asks, "Your parents reported the truck missing four hours ago, and the keys were missing from the house. I'm taking you home. Or I can pull you all in for leaving the scene of an accident."
"Shoupe, anyone ever tell you that that mustache looks amazing?" I smile sweetly at him. I know it won't work but it's worth the push at his buttons. "Okay," Kie says. Shoupe tells Plumb to open the van door and I watch Kie get out. "Kie, you'll be okay," Bailey tries to reassure her but she won't. Kie is going to that damn boarding school. "Hit me up later to make sure I'm still alive," Kie says and I nod sadly at her. The van door closes.
"Guys, can we go to my house real quick?" I ask. I want the gun. I stole it for a damn reason and I want it. "The last time we did that, Vanessa followed us. She gonna do that again?" JJ asks. "No, maybe. Who knows? I just wanna do a check in with my mom, okay?"
"Can't you just call her?"
"My mom hasn't seen my living body in days, Sarah. Can we just go?" I plead, mostly with John B because he's driving. "Fine. Fine. Real quick check in though," JB gives in. "Okay, okay. Thank you!"
When we get to my house, my mom's car is the only one there. She's not home though. It's probably only my siblings. "Let me go with you, I wanna see your mom," Sarah says. I raise an eyebrow, "I mean, okay—"
"What the hell? Why are we having a reunion? We have to get the cross!" Bailey yells. I hop out of the van with Sarah before anyone can stop us and run straight for the door. "We're not here to see your mom, are we?" Sarah asks as I unlock the door. "Nope. She's drinking with the boys right now," I swing the front door open. I can't waste anytime. I run up the stairs and right to my closet.
The shoebox sits in the same spot I left it. The black pistol still feels so wrong to be in my hands. The only time I ever shot one was at my own father. "Oh my God! Why do you have a gun?" Sarah panics and I jump. "Why would you scare me when I have a gun, Sarah?"
"Well, answer my question first, Sam!"
"For situations like this. When something is bound to go down," I click open the magazine and see it's full of bullets. I slip it into my back pocket and cover it with my hoodie. "Can you see it, Sarah?" I turn to show her. "No, no, I can't. Didn't you hate JJ's gun?" I run out of my room, Sarah right on my tail. "Yes. I hate this one too but sometimes fist just doesn't cut it." I can't tell her I plan on shooting Rafe with it. She might get more annoyed for my sake rather than her own brother but still.
"Woah, woah, where are you two running off to?" Blake asks as he turns the corner, beer in hand. He knows about the gun but I don't want to know I have the gun with me. "Out! Bye, Blake!" I don't even give him a second to say anything before I'm pushing Sarah out the door and running to the van.
"Did you do your meet and greet with Mama Rachel?" JJ asks. "How is it a meet and greet if I met her already—17 years ago?" I ask and tilt my head at him. "It sounded funnier in my head," He quietly says.
How do we always end up at the Cameron's? The van door slams behind me as I tippy toe to look over the stone wall. An owl hoots somewhere amongst the trees. "He's got the truck!" John B softly says. Shit, they do. The big truck sits in their driveway.
JJ shushes us, "Stay low."
I crouch beneath the wall but peak over once the others do as well. "Why is it always him?!" Bailey whispers and points to Rafe. "How much you wanna bet that Rafe has the cross inside that truck right now?" Pope asks. "My life fucking savings," I whisper back. "There's only one way to find out," Sarah says and starts to walk away.
"Hey, wait! Sarah!" I quietly call out but John B chases after her. I shake my head. "What are they doing?" JJ asks. "John B being John B and trying to save the day," Pope whispers.
"Us?" Is all I can hear from Sarah but I know that means John B brought up their relationship. Right now? My God. We all shake our heads and roll our eyes. "Are they having a therapy session?" I suck on teeth. "Jesus, yup!" Pope smacks the wall.
"They're kissing. In a time like this," Bailey groans. I scrunch my nose at the sight. They split from each other and John B jogs back towards us. "Hey! Do you want me to perform your vows while you're at it?" Pope tells him. "Did you say 'be safe'?"
"Come on, limpy. Takin' forever," I pull him over by his jacket. "I did say 'be safe.'"
"What's funny about saying that?" Bailey asks, not knowing the inside joke. "Nothing. Don't worry," I shoo the subject away. I watch as Sarah peeks inside the truck. She always gets herself into these situations. "What is she doing?" Pope asks. Sarah turns around and I wave my hands in the air to be like—what the fuck.
"You trying to get us caught, princess? Put your arms down!" JJ pushes my arms down. Sarah throws her hands up and says something that none of us can hear. "Come back!" I motion to her. Sarah points towards her house, "I'm going inside! I'll be fine!"
"No. No. Don't go inside!" Pope whispers back. "Sarah! Sarah Elizabeth Cameron!" I call out her whole name. She ignores us and continues to go inside. "You said don't go in the house!"
"I told her!"
"Do the bird call!"
"The bird call?" I question but then John B starts making bird noises. A really bad bird noise. "John B, what the fuck?" Bailey whispers. "That's not what a bird sounds like!"
He tries again to do a bird call but it just sounds even worse. "What was that? A dying chicken?" JJ asks.
I look towards JJ, "You would know what that sounds like—" He sends a glare at me and I shut up.
"It's not—it's a whistle!"
"A whistle is supposed to be audible, dumbass," I insult JB. "I'm going over!" John B pushes himself over the wall. Shit, okay. I start to push myself over as well but then horn honking and bright lights stop us. "Uh, excuse me!" The old man in a golf cart pulls up, "Can I help ya?" A gun cocking makes me gasp.
Again? How many of these fuckers have—wait, wait. I have a gun. Let me stop.
"I got double-aught bucks in this thing, so, uh, I can't miss," The old guy chuckles, "Alright there, buddy. Off the wall."
I hop off right next to JJ and we slowly put our hands up. "Sir, it's not what it seems," JJ isn't lying. Technically. "You people are on the wrong side of the island," The old man says. I step forward and keep my eyes on the gun in his hands, "I'm from this side of the island, sir."
"Sure as hell don't look like it," His eyes go up and down on me. Gross. "People can have different styles!" I smile as innocently as I can at him. "Yeah, well, I think I'm gonna call the police—"
The bright light is starting to hurt my head. The pounding that slightly went away is coming back. "You don't have to do that, sir," JJ tries. "I'll decide that for myself what I need to do—"
"Sir, can I just talk to you for a minute? Just to explain?" JJ starts to stand up but I nod my head no. "No, I got this," He stands up, "Sir, I know you think we're just some derelict kids from the Cut, but we weren't that to Mr. Cameron."
"Sure weren't," John B comments. How does this guy not know who John B is?
"We were his yard workers, sir," JJ explains. I have to stop myself when JJ takes his hat off out of respect, "We were just waiting for—waiting for our yard associate—To...Tommy...Tommy to get back from planting a row of flowers for Mr. Cameron's memorial."
I stand up next to JJ. "Keep talking," The old guy says. "Ward Cameron was important to all of us," I gesture to us, "He was an amazing man." I want to gag at my own lie. "Yeah, the Knight of the Rhododendron lives on..." JJ grips the guys shoulders. Bailey coughs to cover a laugh. "He lives on," I point at the guy's heart, "in here. That's why all those flowers are for him," JJ and I turn and point to the flowers. "Sure. Yes."
"Yep. That's why."
"You smell that, right?" JJ asks. The old guy sniffs, "What is that? Is that, night blooming jasmine?"
I don't know. No idea. Don't even know what that flower is.
"No, that's more like, um....like, uh.....Sir, that's, um, natural Viagra," JJ's quick lie makes Bailey and I both cough to hide laughs as the others agree with him. "One sniff and BAM! It's hammer time! You know what I'm saying?"
I close my eyes tightly and turn away. Is this guy really believing this? "Our associate Tommy should be here any minute," Pope says. "We will be quiet, sir. Finish up here and be out of your way!" I pat the old guy's shoulders. "I gotta get some of those flowers..." He trails off and gets back in the golf cart. We wave him off as he drives away. Once he's gone, I turn to JJ, "Viagra?" I laugh. "Don't worry, babe. I'd never need that for you. Let's go!"
"Oh, gross!" Bailey hops over the stone wall. I follow quickly behind her. JJ puts his hands on my legs as I scoot down off the wall. "Gentleman!" My feet hit the grass. "M'lady!"
We run to another cover behind a bush. Rafe walks out of the house and JJ yells at us to get down. John B tries to run past us but JJ and Bailey grab him. "Not yet!" JJ tells him.
The sight of Rafe makes my hand go to the gun in my pocket. I can't swing it out right now. It'll cause more chaos than needed. "Then what do we do? What's the plan?" John B asks in a panic. "Well, he might have a gun, so, uh, what's in our favor?" JJ asks. I wanna say don't worry I have a gun too but, I cannot.
"Element of surprise is the safest one right now," I say. "Yeah, that's what works best in our favor right now," Pope agrees. "What can we surprise him with?" John B asks and shakes my shoulder. "Can you not—"
"Not what? Shake you? Like this?" He starts shaking me even more. I pretend to be more annoyed than I am and elbow him in the ribs. "Ow! God!" He groans.
"Guys! Stop! What if we threw something in front?"
"Threw what, Maybank?"
"In the tree?" John B and Bailey both question. "A slingshot. Yeah."
"You have horrible aim, babe," I smirk. "I don't! You do!"
I hear grunting and turn to see Pope just fucking booking it towards the truck. "Pope!" JJ yells. Pope keeps trying to grab at the back of the truck. He's crazy. "Y'all! He's grabbing the back of the truck!" I try not to yell too loud. "What was that shit?" John B asks. "Okay, Rafe isn't home. Let's go in now," I try to rush them. "We got the house right there!"
The door opens and JJ shoves us down again. "Get down."
"Who's that?" Bailey asks. "Sounds like Rose," I tell them. Someone is, like, struggling in their grip—wait, shit, I'm dumb. It's fucking Sarah. "Guys, they got Sarah," JJ confirms. As they get closer I can see how limp Sarah is in Rose and Wheezie's arms.
"What did they do to her?" John B asks. Did Rafe hurt her again? Of course Rose is covering for him—again. They shove Sarah into the car. "John B, let's go," I tug on him. "Sam, no, wait!" JJ now tugs on my hoodie.
The car engine starts. Fuck, I'm not letting them kidnap her, again. Fuck it. I start booking it towards the car and I can hear John B right behind me. "Sam!"
"John B!" The other two call after us but run nonetheless. "Rose! Stop the car!" I yell and bang on the windows. "Hey! Slow the car! Sarah!" John B bangs on them as well. "Wheezie!"
"Hey, Wheezie! Unlock the door!" JJ and I bang on her window and I feel bad when I realize I scared her. We all bang on the windows and try to keep up with the moving car. "Wake up!" John B yells. Huh? I look through the window. Sarah is knocked out. More panic sets in, "Wheezie! Please!" She starts yelling at Rose to stop the car. Rose steps on the gas causing John B and Bailey to fall to the ground.
JJ and I keep running and yelling after Sarah and Wheezie. "Come on!" I run towards the two and help them up. "Let's go get the Twinkie, man. Come on!" JJ and I waste no time running towards the van. "Who's driving?" Bailey yells and pants behind me. "Uh! I got it!" I volunteer. "You sure?" John B asks.
"Yes! Keys!" I turn around and catch the keys. "Step on it, baby!"
My foot slams against the gas pedal.
We follow Rose all the way to a fucking loading dock. I spin the wheel, tires screeching as I turn the corner. My engine sputters as soon as I land the turn. "Fuck! No!" I smack the steering wheel. "Nah, it's okay, ol' girl. We did it," John B whispers in the passenger seat. "Okay, let's go," Bailey swings her door open.
We run, abandoning the Twinkie and use a moving truck as cover. We move away from the truck when JJ points out an opening in the fence. We quietly run through the lot and getting different forms of cover. We stand in between some random shit. I think we lost Sarah at this point. "Wait. The Coastal Venture. Dude, I know that ship. My dad did legs on her last summer. It's a total tramp steamer. I worked on her in port," JJ says. I want to ask what a trap steamer is but I don't. Bailey and both look at each other confused.
"There's the cross. Right there. Look," John B points right at the cross that is currently going up and on the boat. "God, I hate that guy," Bailey whispers. By guy, I assume she means Rafe. Soon, Rose pulls up.
My hand once again goes to the gun hidden by my hoodie. The only person besides Blake who knows I have it is currently knocked out. "There she is!" John B points at her once again limp body. Some random man starts holding her. "Guys, we need to come up with a plan," John B says. "I know. I'm working on it," JJ says. I think for a minute while JJ rants about his idea. Well, we have to get on the boat somehow—
"Howdy!" Kie scares the shit outta us. JJ instinctively goes to hit her or something and Kie jumps back. "Whoa! I was about to stab your eyes out!" Pope shows up as well.
"Kie!" Bailey pushes JJ and I and goes to hug Kie who immediately hugs back. "You look scared as shit," Kie laughs. "How the hell did you find us?" I ask. "Geo-located John B's phone," Kie answers. "Smart."
"Of course you did!" I laugh at Pope. "You okay? What happened?" I finally get a good look at Pope. There's dirt all over his face. Actually, all over him. His busted lip. "Rafe, round three," He simply answers. "Are you freaking kidding me?" JJ shouts. Even more and more reasons that me wanting to kill him is justifiable. "This was a tie."
"But are you okay?" Bailey asks. He doesn't answer because his eyes go right to the cross. "Is that the cross?" He asks. "Yep," JJ says. I can faintly hear the people giving orders to get the cross on the boat. My brain is more focused on the satisfaction of putting a gun to Rafe, just like he did Piper. "They're holding Sarah hostage," John B explains. "We need to get on that boat," Kie says.
I look at the distance between us and the boat and the things that block us from getting there. "First, we gotta get past the goon squad," JJ calls the construction workers to our left. "Okay, yeah, let's move y'all," I tell them. I run with JJ to the next spot. Where's Pope? Or John B? I look back to where we just were and see the two arguing. He says something and starts running from John B. "Where is he going?" I aggressively whisper. "I—I don't know. He says he has a plan!" John B throws his hands up.
We all stand there for a minute trying to figure out a plan.
BOOM
The sound of an explosion that's engraved into my head makes me scream a bit but JJ puts a hand over my mouth before I can get too loud. Debris flying everywhere once again. There is a whole ass fire not too far from us. People yelling and rushing towards it. "Did Pope do that?" I ask. "I freaking hope so or else we have another problem on our hands," Kie sighs. "Well, it's working," Bailey smiles.
Pope starts running towards us at full speed. JJ and I both throw our hands up at him. "Pope, what was that? Huh?" John B asks while panting. "That container is going on the ship! We can get in!"
Pope. You are the smartest person I know.
"Okay, let's go!" We follow after John B and towards the crate. I don't like this idea but we have no choice. Pope immediately gets in but JJ and I pause. Yeah, no, I don't like this. "Did you think this through?" JJ asks, slightly scared. "Yes. This is the plan."
"And what happens after exactly?" I ask. "That's a trap right there. We can't get out once we get in!"JJ points it out. More panic rises in me. "I know! I know!" Pope says. Rafe is on there. Most importantly, Sarah is. John B grabs JJ in his panicked state, "You guys don't have to come. Right?"
"Right. This is our fight."
"Yeah. Right," Pope helps John B in. The four of us glance around at each other. "Nothing to lose?" JJ asks us. "Nothing to lose," We all reply. I pull myself up and Pope helps me, then Bailey and then Kie. We move past the many—many boxes and I immediately regret my decision. I didn't realize how fucking cramped it would be. No, no. For Piper and Sarah.
We rush to the end of the crate and find seats on some boxes. I hold my breath but it starts to feel like the walls are getting smaller and smaller. Really not the best time to have a panic attack. There's guys at the entrance, I can hear them. One of them says it's good to go and just like that—we're stuck in a fucking crate.
Deep breaths. That's all I can do right now. The truck starts moving. I creep my hand towards JJ's. Once I feel it, I turn towards him and he's already looking at me. "We'll be okay, okay?" He's trying to reassure both me and himself. "Yeah, we'll be okay," I repeat. "We gotta be on the dock now—" John B shushes JJ. Metal starts clanking. "God, what the hell is that?" I jump at every noise. Metal clanks again and I'm suddenly sent moving to the side. The crate starts moving side to side. We all start falling all over the place and groaning. I grab onto a yellow rope to try and stable myself. This is even worse than I thought. I forgot we have to go up.
The crate moves again and I lose my balance, falling into JJ's lap, "Hi!" I force a smile. "Hi, sunshine."
The crate slightly moves again. People are screaming that it's good, so we stop moving. "Are we good?"
"Shut up, JJ!" Kie and I tell him. John B peeks out the small window. A hand bangs against it and I jump. I hold my breath until I know we're truly good. As good as it can get in a fucking crate.
Oh, God. We're stuck in a crate. We so fucked—I'm so fucked.