Jiara: My Mistakes Were Made For You

Part 6: Aftermath

Pogues gathered at the château, but there was no sign of JJ. They waited for a while, but everyone one was too excited to tell the others about what went down, plus JJ didn't answer even when they called. 

"We should get started." Kie said finally. "I don't think he's coming." She felt something pressuring her chest, almost like a rock. He was with Val and he wasn't leaving her. 

"Did something happen between you guys?" John B asked. 

"No." Kie replied looking away. "Val came over."

"He just can't wait for like... an hour? Really?" Pope said rolling his eyes.

"Who's Val?" Sarah asked, she turned to Kie and checked to look on her face, it didn't seem great.

"Just some girl JJ's obsessed with." Pope said.

"Guys do have a hard time getting over their first times." John B said, he lightly nudged Pope and laughed. Pope joined him.

"Don't we have better stuff to talk about?" Kie suddenly got in between, raising her voice. Everyone stopped for a moment and turned to Kie. Seeing Kie kind of stressed, Sarah walked near her.

"We sure do." Sarah said. "Actually, i've got some good information for you. We think we know who's delivering the gold for Ward."

"He transferred some money to a bank account in Nassau a week ago. It says "home maintenance" but you could maintain a palace for less money." Cleo said.

"What are we gonna do?" Pope asked. "Are we gonna lay an ambush between Bahamas and some french colony and wait for them?"

"I know every single boat in Nassau, man." Cleo said. "I know there is only one crew who would do this. It's the Navigator P.R.S." 

"And?" John B asked.

"And we think, I don't want us to get our hopes too high, but we think they are going to make a stop here. You see, the receipt had a note, it said "deep clean daughter's room". We think it's a message. I think he wants them to take care of me."

"Is it you having high hopes? Being the target of a crew of criminals?" Kie said with a little smirk.

"If they do make a stop, we'll be able to get the gold back!" Sarah shouted with joy. Kie laughed, she had her doubts, sure, but she was happy that she was wrong. It was a pleasure seeing Sarah go full pogue.

"We need to learn when will they leave Bahamas, though. And what if the message doesn't mean that? What if they don't stop here?" Pope was trying to think, but he was kind of freaking out. 

"We'll go after them." John B said. "We know the name of the boat. We know their route. If we fail to catch them, we'll meet them at Guadeloupe. That's where they'll be eventually, right?"

"I admire your confidence, dude, I do." Pope said putting his arm around John B's shoulder. "But how the fuck are we going to do that? Are we going to sail into the ocean with HMS Pogue?"

"I know how to figure that out." John B said with a smirk on his face. 

They talked over and over about what did they know, what could they do, who's help could they get. They thought of different possibilities, plotted different plans. Nothing was definite, but they sure got their hope and energy back. They all felt a little sceptic about Carla after John B told them about her, but using her resources was an offer they couldn't turn down. Especially now, when almost all of them lost their families. 

JJ didn't come over, didn't call, nothing. It was making Kie furious, but not just her, as everyone expected him to be there while they were planning. It was understandable that their first day back could be exciting, but they were all in on this and came back except JJ who didn't even let them know where he was. Kie forced herself not to talk about him, because she was scared she couldn't control her words. He was such a dick, he was a douchebag who couldn't say no to sex just for once, for Kie who really needed him at that moment. But sure, that was Val. Beautiful, mature, fun Val. Seemed like his first love was more important and urgent than anything else, anyone else. It was bad Kie didn't have a first love that she could hurt JJ with.