MERCEDES, jj maybank

63.

MARSHMALLOWS AND ARROWS

Trinity had almost fallen asleep on JJ's shoulder on the ride back to the Chateau but finally, once they had gotten out of the van they decided to not let the night end badly and have their own night around a fire.

The Pogues had gotten marshmallows and put them on sticks to hold them against the small fire in the centre of them.

"I've had more black eyes in the past month than ever before," Pope says, taking his place next to JJ, and on the other side of JJ was Trinity, leaning forwards holding the stick in the flames.

"Don't worry Pope, you rock it," Trinity says, glancing at him but not really taking her eyes off the marshmallow.

"That was building up for years," JJ says, pulling Trinity's arm back, "Rumble in the jungle." He goes to grab the toasted marshmallow but snatches his hand away after burning his fingertips. "Ah!"

Trinity watches him put the tip of his thumb in his mouth. She shook her head at him and let out a spring of laughter.

"Hey, did you really stick up for Sarah?" John B asks Kiara who was sitting next to him. He obviously felt no needed asking Trinity since he saw her fight with the girl.

"Of course I did," Kiara answers him, "She's not a real Kook."

John B scoffs, "Try telling that to Topper. Yo, Trin, you pack some good punches,"

She smiles, "I've got my brother to thank - do you ever learn, JJ?" Trinity snaps after watching JJ burn himself one too many times on the stick and on the marshmallow. JJ sucks the tip of his thumb again and sarcastically smiles at Trinity.

Trinity gently takes the marshmallow and holds it in front of JJ, he opens his mouth and takes it from her fingertips. "Thank you!" He thanks her, but his voice is all muffled.

"That's gross," She says, looking away and putting her hand under his chin to shut his mouth.

John B looks at the s'more in Kiara's hand and brings it to his mouth, "I just want one bite,"

"What are you - no! Stop!" Kie whines and pulls her hand away so fast that she dropped it on the ground making Kiara gasp in sudden sadness, but John B had already taken a fat bite of the s'more and was enjoying it with a smug look on his face.

On JJ's lap where sat his plate, he had asked Trinity to make his s'more ready for him. "Well, you're not having any of mine." He gets up to get more marshmallows, sliding the plate across to Trinity's lap.

"I thought you were gonna share," John B looks to Kie and the s'more on the ground.

"I spent the last of my money on that." She whines.

"I'm stealing your marshmallow," Kiara reaches over and takes the stick John B had been using to roast his marshmallows.

JJ came back with a handful of his marshmallow and stands directly in front of Trinity, "Open," He whispers to her holding a marshmallow in front her mouth.

"I believe that's not even a fair trade," Pope says to Kiara, the two of them completely disregarding JJ and Trinity a few feet away.

JJ snickers and sits back down, picking up Trinity's stick and sliding down a few more marshmallow's to hold over the fire.

"It's not at all!" Kie agrees, "Not even close!"

"Yeah,"

Trinity takes a small bite out of the marshmallow skewer and JJ gently slaps her on the cheek, "Those are for the fire!"

"Yeah and you ate mine,"

"You fed it to me," He retorts and takes the stick from her hands.

"Because you don't know how to pick up hot things!"

"Hey!" John B whispers, "Hey! Shush!"

In the distance, they heard rustling and footsteps. And a few twigs snapping. "Somebody's here," Trinity says, standing up.

JJ holds onto her hip, making sure she does run off and stays by him. He turns his head and looks over.

"You don't think that Topper would..." Kiara mumbles, trailing off as she got up.

JJ quickly stood up and found something he could use as a defence, "I wouldn't put it past him."

"Do you have your gun?" Kiara looks at JJ who is holding a long piece of metal with a hook on the end.

"Oh, now she wants the gun!" He scoffs.

"Oh, now you don't have the gun?" Kiara shakes her head, "Isn't that your secret weapon?" She asks him sarcastically and goes over to John B.

"Shut up!" Trinity snaps at JJ,

"Goddamn, now she wants the gun," He continues to mumble to himself as the group walk together to figure out who is there in the distance.

"Hey, who's out there?" John B calls out but doesn't get a response.

"You Kooks better not try anything!" Kie adds.

In the distance, Renfield was striding towards them with his hands raised in the air, "How y'all doing?"

"It's this piece of shit." Pope mumbles.

"You gotta be kidding me," JJ groans and steps in front of Trinity.

"Lovely evening we're having. Look, I...uh, I don't hold a grudge with any of y'all, alright?" Renfield keeps walking towards them, "But this can go hard, or this can go easy. You know what I'm here for. Let me give you a little demonstration, you see that swing?" Renfield points to the swing next to JJ. "I got the best bowhunters in the Army Rangers with me, hidden."

He whistles and immediately after an arrow comes flying through towards the swing and hitting the tree.

"Now, they're out there, and they'll stick you just as soon as I say so." Renfield keeps moving towards Pope. He whistles again as JJ moves towards him and another arrow hits the ground right beside him. "We clear?" Renfield asks JJ and turns back to Pope, "Now, I'm not gonna give you a countdown or any bullshit like that, I'm just gonna whistle."

Pope looked at everyone in the group before putting his hand in his pocket. He felt that he had no choice but to give Renfield the real key to protect himself and his friends.

"This key belongs to my family."

Renfield fake laughs, "I'm losing my patience with you, Pope,"

Pope still kept the key firmly in his hand, so Renfield moved his fingers to his mouth getting ready to whistle finally forcing Pope to hand it over.

"Did the right thing, kid, knowing when you don't have a choice is an underappreciated talent. You be safe." Renfield turned around and was headed back to where he came from, "Easy there," He looked at JJ and his 'weapon' "Y'all have a good night." He calls out before disappearing into the dark.

Pope let out a long breath and shook his head. "I am so sick of this shit." Pope turned around and went inside, Kiara followed.

"Now what?" Trinity asks John B and JJ.

They both shook their head, not knowing what to say.