reminisce| jj maybank²

fifteen

ivy sat on the floor in the back of the twinkie, lightly tapping her fingers against the back of her phone during the awkward silence held between them all.

'guys, the thing that limbrey said, i don't think she meant to let it slip. she said the key leads to the cross if santo domingo.' pope spoke up.

jj's hand reached back towards pope, 'hey can i see that?'

'are we supposed to know what that is?' sarah asked.

'i'm guessing it's some sort of historical artifact of great importance.' pope replied.

'well according to the interwebs, it was a gift from new spain to the spanish king.' kie read.

'new spain?' jj asked. 'is there an old spain?'

'shit, talk about over gifting, look at that thing.' kie continued, holding her phone up so everyone could see the old picture of the giant cross. 'looks like there's a person standing next to it.'

'so it's a giant ass cross.' jj simplified.

'it was widely considered at the time to be the most extravagant tribute ever from the provinces. it was lost off the coast of bermuda in 1829.' kie said.

'did you just say bermuda?' jj asked.

'oh no, not the triangle.' john b said.

'it always leads back to the triangle dude! like every time somethings weird, it's bermuda.' jj yelled.

'ok, well, what does a key found above your mee maw's pharmacy gave to do with any of this?' kiara asked.

'yea.' sarah said softly.

'where do we come in?' ivy asked.

'i don't know. that's a good question.' pope replied.

the twinkie slowly came to a stop on the side of the road, pope jumping out, jj's hand now extended for ivy to grab. and once kiara was halfway out the van, pope cleared his throat.

'hey, uhm, actually, i think i'm gonna do this one all by myself.' he spoke.

'are you sure?' kie asked.

'yea.' pope nodded. 'i can handle it. i don't really need you, so.'

'oh we're just all one big happy family today aren't we?' jj asked.

kie then turned back into the van, taking a seat near sarah, ivy then sitting where pope sat.

once jj closed the passenger door, john b started the twinkie, 'we'll pick you up in a bit!'

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'remember when life was simple?' jj asked.

'yea, like seven days ago.' john b replied. 'i mean dude, think about it. wards still out there and he's got the gold. and he killed our dad.'

'i know.' jj said. 'john b i know, and we won't let it go. but i'm worried about you man, it feels like it's either you or him. and you know who else i'm worried about? sarah. i mean like bro, it's her dad. you see what i'm saying?'

john b barely nodded his head, not taking his eyes off sarah, 'she knows what he did.'

ivy sighed to herself, swinging out the open door of the twinkie, jogging towards sarah and kiara.

'of course i thanked topper. he saved my life, and id put him through so much already. and you'd think that that is the crime of the century.' sarah spoke.