Thalassophile // JJ Maybank

Chapter 35

I sit in the van with Sarah and Kiara outside the chateau. I don't know what happened but the two of them seemed civil. Kiara was also being less hostile as usual toward me.

"He said it looked something like this." Kiara shows me a map of the tunnel system in the well where they found the gold. She points toward the column of the well. "That's 50 feet down, and they're using 100 feet of rope. So I guess this little wagon will go... straight to the gold room."

Sarah let's out a laugh. "Who drew this?" I question giggling at the drawing.

"Who do you think?" Kiara laughs, looking over at Pope.

JJ voice pulls our attention away from the other boys. He walks toward the van with the gold in his hand and tosses it onto the floor of the van. "Kie, this better work. We can't pawn this if there's a giant wheat symbol on it."

I climb out of the van, stepping over to the blonde boy. His arm wraps around my shoulder absentmindedly, my own snaking around his waist.

Kiara pulls a blow torch out from behind her, holding it up to us. "It's gonna work."

The other girls move out of the van, preparing a spot to melt down the gold. Kiara puts on a pair of safety goggles, putting the gold into a pot.

JJ pulls me a step back as Kiara switches on the blowtorch. The gold melts as Kiara hovers the intense flame above it. JJ and Pope high-five excitedly. JJ presses an excited, chaste kiss against my cheek.

Kiara melts the gold enough for the wheat symbol to disappear.

"Alright, good enough." Kiara announces. "Let's hit the road.

"Okay." John B shrugs as he gets up. Sarah follows right behind him, heading toward the van. Kiara grabs the gold with a towel before we all climb into the van.

John B drives to the pawn shop and parks outside. JJ grabs the gold before climbing out of the car. We all follow him out to the sidewalk.

"Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein." JJ looks down at the lump of melted gold.

"Like you could've done better." Kie retorts as she climbs out of the van.

"I could have." JJ announces. "I took a welding class."

"You—"

John B cuts off Kiara before she could say anything back to JJ. "Woah, woah, hey! Sh! Chill out, okay?"

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off. How did I get this job anyway?" JJ grabs my hand, turning to walk toward the door of the shop.

"'Cause you're the best liar." Pope speaks up.

"Afternoon, Ma'am." JJ greets the woman behind the counter.

"Afternoon."

The rest of the Pogues follow in behind us as we walk up to the corner.

"I see you buy gold." JJ says to the woman.

"That's what the sign says, don't it?" The pawnbroker sasses.

"Alright, there's no need for that." I speak up. The woman glances at me in annoyance.

"I hope you buy a lot of it, because I'm about to blow your mind." JJ sets the backpack on top of the counter, opening it.

"I ain't got much mind left to blow, so have at it."

JJ sets the gold on the counter. "How about them gold apples?"

The lady laughs. "That ain't real."

"That ain't real?" JJ challenges.

"It can't be."

"Feel how heavy it is."

The woman picks up the gold, evidently slightly shocked.

"Why don't you put some light on that, yeah?" I ask her.

The pawnbroker grabs a magnifying glass with a light attached and shines it over the gold. "Spray painted tungsten."

"Spray-painted tungsten? Really? Okay. Why don't you see how soft it is." JJ says.

"You mind?"

"No, go for it."

The pawnbroker takes a pick and mallet and strikes the gold once before looking closer at it.

"Wow, would you look at that?" JJ asks.

"Hold your horses. We ain't go to the acid test yet."

"Ooh, the acid test!" JJ glances at me in fake excitement. "My favorite, princess."

The lady drops acid onto the gold. No reaction. "Well it ain't plated and it ain't painted."

"Ma'am, I'm tell you. It's as real as the day is long."

"It looks like someone tried to melt it down." The woman points out.

"I did." I speak up. "We had lots of pointless jewelry around the house that my mom didn't want anymore. She told me to get rid of it. So here I am."

"Then why is he here doing all the work?"

"Oh, him? That's my boyfriend, ma'am. He's here to make sure nothing shady goes down."

"Hm, okay." The pawnbroker turns to put the gold in the scale. "Seven pounds. That's a lot of earrings."

"She's the Kook queen. She's a Taylor." JJ informs the woman.

The woman disappears into the back room for a couple minutes. I look up at JJ.

"Do you thinks it's working?" I ask.

JJ's arm snakes around my waist as he presses a kiss to the side of my head. "Don't worry, Franklin. It's gonna be okay."

"You're sure?"

"Relax." JJ whispers.

The woman comes back into the room. "I talked to my boss."

"And?" JJ presses.

"And uh, this is what I can do." She sets a paper down on the counter with a number written down. I glance at it with an eyebrow raised.

"Fifty thousand?" JJ questions. "You think I walked in here not knowing the spot price? Ma'am, I know for a fact this is worth 140 at least."

"Well, sweetie, you in a pawnshop. This ain't Zurich. Do I look Swiss to you?"

"Don't talk to us like we're stupid. We're not 5." I tell her.

"Ninety, or I walk." JJ says.

"Seventy. Half price... and um, I don't ask questions about where you got this."

The blond glances at me. I give him a small nod.

"I'm gonna need that in large denominations, please."

"Well, here's the snag. I don't have that much denominated. Not here, anyway. I can write you a cashier's check."

"Cash... no, ma'am. I want the cold hard. That's what that sign says." JJ points at a sign in the wall. "Cash for gold. And that's what I expect. I'm gonna get it in cold hard."

"Well I have to send you to the warehouse. I have the money there. Is that all right?"

"Where's this warehouse?"