PRINCESS | JJ MAYBANK

FORTY EIGHT

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SCHOOL
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Kie had drove the four of them to school, thankfully the group managed to arrive just before the first bell went off. Atlanta wasn't prepared for the judgemental looks and comments that she was going to receive.

She had managed to convince her dad to allow her to transfer to Kildare Community High School instead of continuing to go to the Kook Academy. To say he was disappointed was an understatement, Shoupe worked days and nights to ensure that his children had the best education possible and now that was being thrown away.

He couldn't exactly say no, especially when Atlanta blamed him for the fact that John B and Sarah were now dead. Plus, Barnaby didn't let him get away with shouting at her for the idea, so eventually he gave in and allowed her to transfer.

"Come on, princess." JJ placed his hands on her waist and pulled her into his chest. The only way he was going to get through today was with Atlanta by his side.

Atlanta looked up at the boy through her lashes and pursed her lips. The first day at a new school was nerve racking enough, let alone when now with the rumours spread about John B and Sarah.

JJ leant down and connected their lips, it was brief and only lasted a few seconds but it said enough. She knew that he wasn't going to leave her side and she wasn't going to leave his.

"Hey, chill out." Kie spoke once she saw the flask sticking out of JJ's back pocket.

"If I black out, just don't remind me." JJ joked, but nobody seemingly found it funny.

"That not funny." Kie responded back snappily.

Atlanta instantly felt eyes on her. She knew the rumours being spread were that she's betrayed her family and that her and the pogues were the reason that John B got away with killing Peterkin.

Her eyes landed on the memorial that the school had done for John B. The brunette looked between the pogues before her eyes landed back on JJ. He was focused on the picture of John B, outside of his house.

"I feel like people are staring at us." Kie mumbled looking around at everyone.

"Probably because they are." Atlanta responded back as she looked towards the group of girls staring at them.

"Guys, I can't be late." Pope muttered, his attendance was still 100% and despite everything that has happened, he refused not to come to school on the first day back.

"Hey." Kie shouted, but Pope continued to walk. "Hey, we gotta stick together." The girl placed her hand out for Pope to hold, which he hesitantly did.

"Stick together, yeah." JJ scoffed attempting to walk off.

Atlanta grabbed his bicep and pulled him back, she linked her hand with his and practically wrapped her body around him. JJ turned his head slightly and pressed his lips against her temple.

"So, are we all ready for class?" Atlanta raised her brows questioningly as she looked between the pogues.

Pope looked kind of excited to dive back into learning, but both Kie and JJ rolled their eyes. Their minds were preoccupied, not that anyone could blame them.

Atlanta sat in front of JJ in the classroom, his head was down but he leant forward on the desk to link his hand with hers. The girl didn't mind, she knew that it was the only reason that he was still in the classroom.

The brunette looked over to Pope once she heard his phone ding. She furrowed her brows and wondered why he hadn't silenced it, it wasn't like him to forget and leave it on during her school.

"Whose phone was that?" Mr Sunn questioned, only to be met with complete silence. "Nobody? You will be tested. Now, to recap, who was Diocletian?"

Atlanta grabbed her phone and smiled once she saw the 'good luck' text from Campbell and 'have a good morning' text from Barnaby. She furrowed her brows once she saw the unknown number, she quickly typed in her passcode and her eyes widened once she saw the photo of John B and Sarah.

JJ pulled the girl with him out of their seats and over to Kie and Pope, all four of them showed their phones at the same time, and much to their surprised they all had the exact same photo and were all apart of the same group chat.

The group all shared an equally confused look and JJ didn't hesitate in running out of the classroom. Atlanta quickly followed, rushing after her boyfriend to make sure that he was okay.

"We can go to the courtyard." Kie spoke as the four ran down the hall way, JJ wasn't looking where he was going, causing him to trip over a bucket and mop.

Atlanta covered her mouth to stifle her laughs as she helped him back up. JJ gave her a playful wink in response, almost as if he was meant to fall to get her closer to him, but the brunette knew better.

"I mean, is that even possible?" Kie questioned as they made it to the courtyard. "I mean, Shoupe said that they didn't make it. He said that."

"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 shrugged, it was horrible to assume that someone would pull a prank like this.

JJ reached out for Atlanta, his heart was racing and he felt a panic attack coming along and seemingly the only way to calm them was to have Atlanta by his side. The girl didn't mind, instead she pulled him to sit down in front of her as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"I'm just gonna ask." Kie shrugged as she placed her bag down and began to text into the group chat.

"What if it's actually him though?" JJ questioned curiously, he wasn't sure what they would do if John B and Sarah were alive.

"I don't know." Pope mumbled back.

"I hate to be the one to say this, but I don't think John B would known my number of by heart." Atlanta whispered, she didn't want to pull down anyone's hopes of the couple still being alive.

Kie turned and looked towards Atlanta with a raised brow and pursed lips. She had a point, John B probably wouldn't remember Atlanta's number, they weren't friends that long.

"What about Sarah?" Kie asked softly, hoping that Sarah was more than likely going to remember Atlanta's number.

Atlanta teared up slightly and nodded, there was the possibility that Sarah remembered her number. After all before they had phones of their owns, they used their dad's phones to stay in contact and they always remembered one another's numbers.

Everyone turned to look at JJ once John B asked if he was there. Atlanta felt the boy tense beneath her, so she continued to run her fingers through his hair soothingly.

'I'm here Bree.' JJ responded, waiting patiently for a reply back.

'Did you pimp my short board?' Relief flooded over JJ and the others once they read the response. It was them.

"It's him." JJ grinned, happy tears formed in his eyes and he turned to look at Atlanta. He span on his heel, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist and spinning her around.

He lowered her down to the ground, his hands cupping her cheeks as he connected their lips. Atlanta smiled into the kiss, she loved when JJ was happy, it was all he deserved to be. Their lips moulded together perfectly, his hands combed through her hair as her hands gripped his shirt to pull him closer.

"They're okay." JJ whispered as he pulled away and rested his head against hers. Atlanta nodded in confirmation. "YEAH!"

"Laying super low in Nassau." Kie read. "How the hell did they get to the Bahamas?"

"You can't kill a pogue, dude." JJ said as he embraced Pope into a hug.

"Especially John B." Pope nodded in confirmation as he watched JJ hug Kie.

Atlanta made her way over to the boy, wrapping her arms around Pope's shoulders and pulling him in for a tight hug. Their best friends were alive.

"Hell yeah, we'll clear your name, boy." JJ read with a grin.

"Be in touch, P4L." Atlanta concluded, looking towards the group with a contagious smile.