𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒, 𝗉𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗒𝗐𝖺𝗋𝖽

31: 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚋𝚢𝚎𝚜

After their fight against Rafe and Barry, the group of four were able to get the Phantom out of the garage and onto the docks where they were to meet John B. They had gotten the boat into the water so it was ready for use so their friend wouldn't have to do it instead. JJ stood inside the Phantom, placing all the boxes he and the sisters had packed earlier in the day for John B and Sarah, all of them knowing that the blonde girl was most likely gonna go with him for his escape adventure.

Kie stood beside the boat on the dock, pacing back and forth as they all waited for John B to arrive. The storm was getting closer and closer each minute and they didn't have much time left with how fast the sun was setting. Y/n stood beside her boyfriend as they, unlike Kie, patiently waited for the Routledge boy to make his entrance so he'd escape the island without any police being on his tracks.

"Dude, where is he?" Kie questions.

"Give him a second. He'll be here." Pope reassures as he glances around.

The sound of a siren and tires rolling against the dirt caught the teenagers' attention as they looked over to the sound, seeing a police vehicle driving up and stopping a few feet ahead of them. Panic laces through their veins as they stared at the car, wondering how the police had found them here. However, they all felt relief fill them when they saw John B exit the vehicle, slinging the straps of his backpack over his shoulders and began walking towards them.

"No way. You've gotta be kidding me."

"No effing way."

"Holy shit!"

"I'm sorry?"

"Shoupe let me take it for a spin." John B tells them.

"Okay. That's believable. I'll buy that for now." Kie replies.

The Routledge boy makes his way over to his group of friends, each and every one of them having their own chance to hug the brunette who felt so relieved to see his family after so long. Smiles were spread across their faces, the four happy he was alright and that the police had gotten to him yet.

"It wasn't easy, bro, but I got the Phantom for you, and she runs like she was made yesterday." JJ informs, tossing the keys to the brunette. "You ready to go?"

"Where's Sarah?" John B asks, ignoring his question.

Y/n's brows furrow. "She's not with you?"

"No, we got separated in the swamp. She said she was gonna meet me here." John B replies in a frantic tone.

"No, we haven't seen her, man." Pope tells him.

"Okay, well, I'm not leaving without her." John B objects.

"John B, look at me. I know you feel bad for leaving, but there's no time, man. You got plenty of gas, plenty of food. Once you get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low, alright? Hang out for a couple of weeks and then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville, you got that?" JJ explains.

"Yeah, yeah. Brownsville." John B repeats, nodding in response.

"Alright. Saddle her up, saltwater cowboy. Let's do this." JJ says.

The brunette nods in response, hopping up onto the boat and replacing the blonde's spot who plants himself in-between the Carrera sisters, all of them watching as John B steps closer to the wheel but stops and turns around to face them, showing the few tears on his cheeks.

"I'm sorry for basically... throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing." John B apologizes.

"Hey, John B, yo... we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?" JJ states, all of them exchanging laughs. "At least we did it together, though. Pogue style."

"Pogue style." John B repeats in a whisper.

"Get out of here! Please." Kie demands.

It's clear to anyone that would ever possibly see this that neither of the Pogues wanted their friend to leave, but they knew it was for the best so John B wouldn't be running for the rest of his days from the cops for a crime that he didn't even do. The four Pogues had their arms all wrapped around one another as they stood in a line, tears pricking their eyes as they knew the time for John B to leave was here.

"We'll see you in two months, down in Mexico." Pope informs.

"Tell Sarah I said goodbye, okay?" John B tells them, receiving nods.

"Don't forget. Cross the border at Brownsville, okay?" JJ reminds.

John B nods. "Got it."

The four Pogues unwrap their arms from one another, John B stepping towards the steering wheel and firing up the engine as the others place their hands on the side of the boat, pushing it further onto the water and soon watching John B turn the wheel to face the direction he was to go in before he drives off. The brunette takes a glance over his shoulder at his friends until he had gotten farther and farther.

Both Kie and JJ walk away and off the docks to leave the couple to talk with one another. JJ was slightly pacing back and forth while taking off his cap and Kie was leaning against the vehicle, rubbing up and down on her bare arms. Gently reaching forward, Y/n grabs ahold of her boyfriend's hand, making him finally look at her.

"You okay?" Y/n quietly questions.

Pope nods slowly. "Yeah, it's just... I'm sorry for what happened... back at the garage. I-I wasn't thinking straight, and seeing Rafe hold you like that fired something in me--"

"Hey, Pope. Hey." Y/n interrupts in a soft tone, placing her hands on his cheeks to make him look at her. "It's not your fault, alright? None of it is."

"But you looked so... scared." Pope recalls in a whisper. "And I hated it. I hate seeing you scared. Especially if I was the one to do it."

Y/n shakes her head. "I wasn't scared. Just... surprised, I guess. And you didn't scare me. You never do, and never will."

Pope sniffles, shaking his head. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too." Y/n replies with a small smile.

Leaning forward slightly, she presses her lips gently to his, feeling his kiss back as his hands go to her waist, pulling her closer against his body. JJ and Kie glance at one another, small smiles on their faces. However, the couple's moment was cut short when the sound of sirens filled their ears, causing the two to pull apart as many police cars drove in front of them, parking before many officers frantically exited their vehicles. The teenagers were all quick to raise their hands up, showing they had no weapons on them.

"We're too late. He's gone. Goddamn it!" Shoupe shouts in frustration. "Bratcher, have your guys stand down. Let me talk to these kids. Alright, where the hell is he?"

Neither of the teenagers answer to his question, causing the deputy to get even more frustrated than he already was. The four didn't even glance at one another, too scared to say anything as they didn't want to give their friend away.

"JJ? I see you're living up to your name." Shoupe comments, glancing to Pope. "Pope, how about you? This isn't a fucking game! You can do the right thing now! Where'd he go?"

"Suspect has just left Station twenty-six in a small boat." Bratcher says into his radio.

Hands still raised in the air, Pope takes a glance over his shoulder and at his girlfriend, giving her a soft look to which she gives one back while the wind was soon picking up, blowing in the Carrera sisters hair as they hoped the officers wouldn't find John B.