The First Punch [t.h.]

Chapter 18 - Wires

A plan. SJ has a plan and that's great. It is finally something. Something to hopefully get all of them out of the mess they're a part of. It's just a little bit of relief. Just a little. Because part of Tom is wondering why she's been up here thinking of a plan after they've just had this fight and she thought he actually left. And with her mom being back. She's up here thinking of a plan when she could have been doing literally anything else, possibly a healthy coping mechanism. But, then again, it wouldn't quite be SJ if she had healthy coping mechanisms.

"So, I was rereadding my book on mollusks for like the hundredth time." SJ starts and Tom just raises a brow.

"You've read a book on mollusks a hundred times?"

How are mollusks going to help? Who reads a book on mollusks after that kind of fight? What is going on?

"Why do you people always interrupt me? As if you haven't read a damn book about fucking Jupiter or something a hundred time." SJ snips, not trying to sound annoyed but wanting to get to the point.

Whenever SJ mentions something that isn't completely related to the topic, everyone wants to question that. Why is everyone so interested in everything else instead of the whole situation they're all in? Can't everyone just stop asking so many questions for a few minutes and let her just explain things?

"'s fair." Tom nods, gesturing a hand out for SJ to continue.

"Anyway, one is nicknamed a dancer which made me think about a gala--"

"Isn't that...what you did last time?" Tom cuts her off, remembering her talking about breaking into Arthur's office during an event.

Tom's voice is not confident and SJ is not oblivious to his skepticism. Yes, it is exactly what she did last time that got he caught her but this time it's different. Tom and Harrison have no else that Arthur can touch. Last time, there was more Arthur could do. This time, what's he really going to do? He can't take Harrison away, he can't take Tom away, he won't touch SJ. He could go after her friends but she's planning to account for that if they get caught. But she doesn't think they'll get caught this time.

"Yes. But, last time, I was with Ian's brother. Ian's brother had, well, Ian. Someone Arthur could destroy. So, he threw me under the bus to save his ass and Ian's. Fair enough if you ask me."

SJ has never been mad about it. Well, in the moment, she was mad because she had a plan and Ian's brother went against that. It kind of blew up and it got her burned. It sucked but in the end, if it were Travis, SJ would have done the same thing. So, she holds no anger in her words, just understanding.

"What's gonna be different this time, then?" Tom asks, worry radiating off of him.

"I have you." SJ responds, words short and simple, easy.

Tom pauses for a second and she's so confident he wouldn't turn on her. And maybe he wouldn't. He hates thinking about the possibility of turning on her. That would not be ideal and it would crush him. But, there's a part of him that knows it doesn't matter. Harrison has been his best friend nearly his entire life. If it were him, if he had to throw SJ under the bus, he would. It's horrible to admit and it's a bit crushing but at the end of the day if he had to pick who to pull out of a burning fire it would always be his best friend.