✧*̥˚ITS ALWAYS YOU! *̥˚✧ J.M 2

021

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗬-𝗢𝗡𝗘
𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠.

𝗔𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗪𝗞𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗟𝗬 𝗔𝗦 she sat completely still, her eyes slightly widening at the woman's reaction towards her.

Carla regained her balance, shooing Pope's hand off of her arm, silently she walked over towards a chair, gesturing for the boy to seat himself.

"Aria. I can't believe it's you. You're so beautiful." The blonde smiled weakly.

"Thank you. I'm sorry. I don't, uh, know you." Aria stammered, her voice taunt.

"I didn't think that you would." The older woman trilled, her lips forming into a flat line as she glanced over at the boiling water.

Pope flashed the Kook a wearily glance before straightening himself out, "thank you so much for everything. This really means a lot to me."

"Can I offer you something?" She asked, brushing off Pope's detailed thank you as she held up the tea kettle.

"We're okay." Aria answered, finding herself getting annoyed with the woman sat before her, "thanks."

"Well, you look thirsty. I think a toast is in order." Carla beamed, passing two tea cups to the teens, they gladly accepted the drink, "to finding the unfindable. Against all odds, you and your friends
managed to beat everyone to the Royal Merchant, including me, and Lord knows I tried. I also know you've since lost the gold to Ward Cameron."

Aria visibly tensed at the mention of the man she had hated, she placed the empty cup in her lap, "how do you know that?"

"Ward Cameron and I have a long and tortured history." She laughed, "I founded his first development project."

"But he wouldn't tell you-" Pope began, his mouth shutting as he had been interrupted by the woman.

"He didn't need to. Ward and I were partners in search for the Royal Merchant, along with Victor. I'm afraid that Big John Routledge was not the only one that Ward double-crossed."

"You knew my father?" Aria furrowed her brows, sitting up in her chair, suddenly interested in the conversation.

Carla smiled gently, and it did not look like a happy one, "sadly."

"Okay." Pope chimed in, "what else do you know?"

"I know that Rafe Cameron killed Sheriff Peterkin. I have proof of it." She admitted, watching their faces gleam with happiness.

"So you can clear John B's name?" Aria couldn't contain her smile, biting into her bottom lip as she imagined reuniting with her long lost friend.

"Easily, at any time." Carla reached her hand over to the small table beside her, clicking the button on the tape recorder as Gavin's voice flowed through the room.

"He's protecting his son. It was Rafe Cameron who killed sheriff Peterkin."

The teens were in complete disbelief as they sat beside each other, the name of the man leaving their lips quietly, "Gavin."

"I know exactly what happened on that tarmac." The woman boasted.

That feeling of guilt and hopelessness suddenly died down in Aria's chest, for the first time in months she had felt accomplished. She'd be able to bring back John B, bring back Sarah. Everything would be okay.

"So you have the evidence and you know he's innocent. Why don't you just go and clear his name." Pope asked, "it's the right thing to do."

Carla chucked, shaking her head at the boy, "my friend, the Limbrey's did not maintain their position in the Lowcountry for these past 300 years by giving away something for free. Yes I can exonerate you friend, but first there's something that I want. It's a little thing, really. I think you know what it is. I want the key."

Her question had caught Pope off guard as he pulled his brows together, "a key?"

The woman scoffed, clearly not believing one word of his confusion.

"Like car keys?" Pope questioned, "I have house keys. I'm...I'm sorry. I don't know- A key?"

"I'm afraid our relationship won't be very productive if we aren't honest with each other." Carla eyed him, "Denmark's key."

"As in Denmark Tanny?" The two asked in sync.

She nodded, "yes."

"Ms. Limbrey, I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about." Pope apologized, flicking his brown irises between her light ones, seeing the clear unamused glint in them, "but for my friend, I'll...I'll go find it. But I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't have it on me."

Carla stood weakly, picking up the paper laid on the flat surface of the table, she handed it to the Heyward boy, "do you recognize this? Ring any bells?"

Pope was being completely truthful with her, he studied the image, running his vision over every small detail of the old key, none of them seeming to spark a memory, "I'm sorry. It doesn't."

"Hmm." Carla hummed, "come with me. I'd like to show you something. I think you'll find it interesting. Aria why don't you go back and join your friends in the truck."

Aria glanced at Pope for permission, he nodded slowly as they stepped outside once more.

"Nice meeting you. Well, nice seeing you?" Aria fumbled, flashing a awkward smile at the woman before stepping down the set of stairs.

She turned her head over her shoulder, expecting to see the two but they had been gone. She shrugged, ignoring the feeling bubbling in her stomach as she helped herself into the tight truck.

"So?" JJ looked at her, sensing her clear faults on the Limbrey woman.

"She's fucking weird." Aria raised her brows, dragging her tongue along the inside of her mouth as she kept her eyes locked on the window.

:)
yikes