𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲

sixty: Death Penalty.

THE GROUP of five show up to the courthouse in support of their friend who now stands before the judge hitting her gavel. "John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances. If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty." This causes an uproar of clamouring from the crowd of people as Kai looks at JJ.

He looked at Pope, Sarah and Kie next as the other side of the rows of seats had people smiling. "Your Honor, he's 17." JJ said as he stood up, "JJ." Kai stood up, grabbing his arm. "He's 17! Are you kidding me?!" JJ says as Kai pushed his arms down.

"JJ, please relax." He told him. "Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out!" JJ shouts as Kai held onto his shoulders and Sarah yelled for John B. "Sarah! Sarah!" Kie went to her as the police officer stops her. "Don't touch her!" Kie pulled Sarah back from the man.

"Let's go, Sarah. Let's get out of here."

As the teens left the courthouse, Kai heard people saying shit about how justice was served or John B got what was coming to him. "Is this a joke? Like, are we in hell or...?" Kie asked as they walked down the stairs. "I should have never came home." Sarah says making Kai look at her. "They're gonna kill him, guys. I know it." JJ says as a man approached Ward.

"So sorry for what you and your family have gone through. Thank God the system works." He said and Kai grimaced. Asshole. "Can you please shut up?" Kie got their attention making them turn to her and the others. "Of course you think the system worked becauae it was made to protect you and people like you."

"He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide." The man simply tells her. "He shouldn't he even be in court! You should, 'cause you're a murderer." Kie yells at Ward. "You have a lot of nerve showing up to court."

"I know you're upset. I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward walks towards her. "Upset?" Kie exclaimed. "I know he's got you fooled. He's got you all fooled." Ward gestured to the five teens. "He doesn't have any of us fooled, asshole. You do, with all your money, your somewhat power over everyone, including Shoupe." Kai said as Shoupe walks over to him.

"Alright, that's enough," he put his hand to Kai's chest. "Don't touch him." JJ pulled Kai to his side, and looked at Shoupe. "Why don't you take the Kooks down for a change?" He asked their so-called sheriff. "Get out! You need to go." Shoupe tells them. "This is bullshit." Kie says as Sarah grabs the girl's shoulder.

"Come on. Let's go, it's not worth it."

"Sorry, you ahouldn't be going through this." Plumb apologized to them making Kai glance over and scoff. "It's not a coincidence that your daughter's sitting with us." Kie shouted out before they began walking.

As it rains later that day, Sarah spoke up as Kai was enjoying a cigarette. "I'm gonna testify under oath. I was there. I just need to get a hold of my sister." Sarah tells them. "Sister?" JJ says, looking at Pope sitting by Kai.

"Kie, do you have your phone?" Sarah asked and Kie raised her cellphone to the girl. "Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day." She says, looking to the others. "Wheezie?" JJ asked her.

"I don't know what else to do. I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out." Sarah says as she walked away. JJ scoffs, "Wheezie? Yeah, that will work." He says and Kai sighed "Well, she's right about one thing. We gotta do something. Our boy is PO-dub right now, okay? He's held captive by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution. Are we just gonna sit here?" JJ asked them.

"What's the plan? We start by kidnapping Shoupe?" Kie asked him, mocking his other plan he came up with before. "Maybe, like, that's not the worst idea actually." JJ says. "Oh, it's not?" Kie remarked back. "No!" JJ exclaims. "That is actually the worst idea I've ever heard." Pope tells the boy. "It's pretty bad." Sarah says from inside of the Chateau, the window open.

"You know what? Please, just stay out of this. Okay? Pope, look, we've been doing everything your way, and how has that been working out?" JJ asked the boy in front of him. "Okay, okay, so what's your plan?" Pope asked as he stood up, "you gonna storm a jail, guns a-blazing?" He asked and JJ looks up.

"Look, Pope, all I'm trying to get you to understand is they got our boy. Now, are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No! We're gonna go get his ass. We're gonna do something about it!" He shouted at the other boy.

"JJ, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening." Kai said as he stood up. "No, fine, guys. Sit im your comfy chairs. Do nothing. I'm gonna see what I can do." JJ said, looking back and forth between his boyfriend and his friend. "Make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself." JJ tells them.

"Okay, babe. Just don't die. Or do anything illegal." Kai sighed, plopping back down onto his chair. "Should we be worried?" Pope asked as he turned to Kai and Kie. "Yes, for sure. Look, I'm gonna hit my parents, and I'm gonna see if I can get money for a lawyer." Kie says. "John B has a public defender. He doesn't really need that now." Pope tells the girl. "Are you crazy? Justice costs money." Kie says.

"You're right. So I'm gonna dig in hard into anything I can find out about this key, because that tape Limbrey has, that's exculpatory evidence. That can exonerate John B." Pope explained to them. "Yeah. Gotta try." Kie said as Kai stood up. "I'm gonna go home..." He said making Kie look at him.

"You gonna be okay?" She grabs her friend's wrist gently and he just nodded softly. "Yeah... I'll be back later. Or tomorrow, fuck, I don't know." He said and Kie just nods. "Good luck..." She said to the boy who pulled his hand back, grabbing his backpack and leaving.

AUTHORS NOTE
john b lives so rent free in ward's mind, and for what? literally for what? mans paid a fuckin cop to kill john b 🤨😐

+ i forgot to update at 8, i'm binge watching sex education season 3