Outer Banks Series Rewrite - A JJ Maybank x reader story

Chapter Eight: The Runway

Warnings: mentions of guns. Murder. Swearing. Near-death experience

"How's it feeling?" Pope asks Kie, slowly lowering her in the bucket contraption attached to the tree.

"Feels good," Kie calls, sitting on the edge of the bucket.

"Bringing you down." Pope hums, slowly letting the rope out.

"John B pullin' a Houdini." JJ sighs, swishing his feet back and forth in the hot tub.

"Yeah, where is he?" Pope frowns. "I got my scholarship interview tomorrow. We gotta get this done."

"Speak of the devil..." I mutter, gesturing to John B as he walks across the lawn.

"Dude, I set up the entire winch to pull up the gold and everything," JJ says proudly.

"No, he didn't." Pope frowns at JJ. "I did that."

John B ignores us, storming inside.

"What's going on?" I frown, my eyes widening as John B pulls JJ's gun from its hiding spot. "John B, what do you need the gun for?"

He huffs, marching to the van.

"What, are you JJ now?" I frown, watching in confusion as John B drives off.

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"What now?" JJ hisses. "We just go up to the front door and ask, 'Hey, have you seen John B?'"

"Look, he lives at Tannyhill now." I shrug. "It's plausible."

"We can play dumb," Pope suggests.

"Look, I've never seen John B like that." Kie whispers, her voice wavering. "We should honestly be going to the cops."

"Yeah, and say what, Kie?" JJ frowns.

"We're worried about our friend because he's on a rampage because Ward Cameron killed Big John?" Kie bites her lip.

"Like they're gonna believe that," I mutter.

"I see Ward!" JJ points.

"Obviously Mr. Cameron is fine, and even if John B was here, he isn't now, okay?" Pope huffs. "Plus, I have the biggest, most important moment of my life in six hours."

"Yeah, well, our friend is in trouble." JJ whispers.

"I'm in trouble!" Pope whisper-shouts. "Guys, I haven't been home in three days. My dad's probably put all my shit on the street by now."

"So you're just gonna bail?" I frown.

"What about John B?" Kie asks.

"Why is it always about John B?" Pope snaps.

"This is about friendship!" I hiss. "This is about Pogues for life."

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"You sure he got everything?" I frown, looking at John B in disbelief.

"Every bar." John B huffs. "Ward got the whole enchilada."

"Guys!" I look up, seeing Pope sprinting towards us. "Guys! Oh, god. I ran all the way here!"

"Pope?" I frown in confusion. "I thought you had your interview?"

Pope slows to a stop, giving us a "don't ask" look. "Ward. Airstrip. Gold." He pants, resting his hands on his knees.

"What?" JJ pulls a water bottle out of his bag, passing it to Pope.

Pope downs the water bottle, crinkling it in his hand. "Before my interview... my dad said he was going down to the private airstrip to cut palms for Cameron's big plane. Because it was too heavy, it needed a longer landing strip to take off. So, I'm there sitting in my interview, thinking to myself, 'Hm. Why would Cameron need a longer airstrip to take off? What could be so heavy to weigh it down?' Gold!"

"Right," I say slowly, glancing at Kie and JJ.

"Guys, this is our chance, but it leaves tonight, and we have to go." Pope tugs off his tie, throwing it to the ground.

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"Hold on!" John B shouts, slamming his foot on the gas pedal.

I shriek in surprise, clinging to Kie.

"What's the plan, dude?" JJ grips the dashboard. "Don't be a hero!"

I'm not exactly sure what it's like to have your life flash before your eyes, but I'm pretty sure mine did at that moment. I can see my mom leaving me with Big John, meeting JJ and Pope, meeting Kie, my first kiss with JJ, everything up until now.

I squeeze my eyes shut, preparing for the impact of plane on van.

"It's okay! It's okay!" I hear John B's voice from far away, peeling my eyes open to see him helping Sarah out of the plane.

"Get off the runway!" Ward roars.

JJ slowly slides open the side door of the van as Kie, Pope, and I climb out. Sirens squeal in the distance, getting closer and closer. "Guys, I can't get arrested." JJ whispers. "I'm on probation."

"We're no good if we're all in jail." I hiss, tugging them into the palms lining the airstrip.

"Put your hands on your head." Sheriff Peterkin's voice rings across the space, her gun pointed at Ward.

"Susan, I told you he lost his goddamn mind." Ward laughs. "I'd do what she said." He looks at John B.

"She's talkin' to you, Ward." John B murmurs.

"You're under arrest for the murder of "Big John" Routledge," Peterkin says, moving closer.

The sound of a gunshot ricochets through the air, Sarah's scream following it.

"No!" I shout, lunging forward as JJ grabs my waist and pulls me back.

We watch on in shock and horror as Peterkin's body falls to the ground, revealing Rafe, a smoking gun in his hands.