On Top//Topper Thornton

thirty one

After spending the night at Topper's we head back to the chateau. I spot the crew on the dock as we pull up.

"John B!" Sarah shouts.

Sarah hops from the wakesetter onto the pogue. She hugs John B.

"Hi," John B says.

Sarah laughs. "Hey!"

John B hugs her tightly. "Oh my God. I'm so glad you're okay. Hi."

I point at John B. "Don't tell me JJ's plan worked."

JJ shakes his head. "Nah. I broke the wrong guy out of jail."

"Uh, they dropped all the charges," John B tells me.

"What?" Sarah asks.

"Yeah, no, yeah, I'm a free man. Yeah," John B tells her.

"That makes more sense," I confess.

Sarah laughs. "That's amazing."

"I know. It's great, but... But listen, Sarah, they're coming after Rafe," John B warns.

"Good. He's completely unhinged," Sarah states.

"He jumped me last night," I explain.

"What?" Kie asks.

"That's why I didn't come back," I explain.

"Yeah, man. Rafe has lost his mind. Literally almost drowned his own sister. Thankfully, I got there just in time," Topper says.

"My knight in shining armor," I joke.

"Never thought I'd say this but thank god Topper was there," JJ teases.

I shove JJ. "No more doubting if Topper's a pogue."

John B claps his hand on Topper's shoulder. "Welcome to the pogue life."

Sarah and John B head off their way while Pope and Kie head towards the garage. Topper, JJ, and I sit on the back porch.

"Alright JJ, I'm gonna need you to explain to me how you broke the wrong guy out of jail," I tell him.

"Honest mistake," JJ says.

I smile. "So your plan wasn't so foolproof was it?"

"At least I was trying," JJ insists.

"I was trying to get a hold of Wheezie," I tell him.

"And we see how well that went," JJ remarks. "Rafe really tried to drown you?" I nod my head. "That's messed up."

I laugh. "Tell me about it. He shot Sarah in the Bahamas. He murdered Peterkin. He's unhinged."

JJ gestures to Topper. "So I guess we gotta keep your boyfriend now."

"Thanks, JJ," Topper remarks.

"Just think JJ, without Top you would be down one best friend," I remind him.

"Let's go check on the lovebirds," JJ states.

"Which ones?" I joke.

We head out the back door.

"John B. You wanna shotgun one in the name of freedom?" John B ignores JJ and walks into the house. "Sarah, you wanna..."

She cuts him off, "No."

"I'm gonna check on JB," I tell JJ.

"Does that mean I'm supposed to check on Sarah?" JJ asks.

I laugh lightly. "You and Topper can both go. If you think you can handle it."