The Least Favorite Cameron

Chapter 17

"I am starving," I said to John B. as we walked through the streets of Charleston looking for food and gas.

"Well it's a good thing JJ taught you how to swipe stuff cause if not we'd have no cash," He said as he held up the money clip I took off the table that belonged to an extremely rude Kook. We finally spot a gas pump outside of a small corner store and so I send John B. in to get the food since I still look like I walked off the scenes of a horror movie. The right leg of my jean shorts were covered in my blood and the bandage covering the stitches poked out from the top. I started filling the gas canisters we brought from the boat, my hands were shaking from how hungry I was. I don't think a five day boat trip surviving on rations and purified ocean water is what most doctors would recommend after almost dying from a gunshot. Just as I finish filling the second canister I spot the asshole we stole money from walking this way. I tuck myself behind the gas pump but then John B. comes out with handfuls of hotdogs.

"John B. get down! It's the guy!" I whisper to him but it's too late, he's spotted us.

"Hey you stole my money! Get back here!" The man shouts at our backs as John B. picks up the gas canisters, dropping several hot dogs.

"Run!" He mumbles to me as he has a hot dog shoved into his mouth. If we weren't being chased by some Kook this would actually be funny. Each stride I take sends waves of pain through my torso as I agitate the stitches even more. This guy does not seem like he's giving up even though he seems loaded. A couple hundred dollars won't hurt him, besides he's a prick for having that much in a money clip in the first place. Just as we're crossing a street John B. pulls me across and we fall because a truck flew through a stop sign and nearly hit us.

"What a dumbass!" I shout as we get up until I see something familiar on the back of the truck. A sticker in the window that says Heyward's.

"Is that-?" John B. starts but I cut him off.

"That's Heyward's truck! That's Pope! No wonder we almost got hit, Pope can't drive!" I said laughing until I saw the Kook gaining on us.

"Hey, let's try this!" John B. said as he hopped onto a bike that had a carriage seat in the back. I hop into the back with the gas canisters and John B. heads after the truck. The man who worked the bike was taking a nap and noticed us driving off. Now there was a Kook chasing us and the poor guy whose bike we stole but it doesn't seem like he can keep up.

We spot another car going after Pope and they turn down an old stone alleyway.

"Hurry John B, he could be in trouble!" I say as I tap him on the shoulder. We pull up behind the car and I see three people running down the path. My heart leaps out of my chest as I spot the silhouettes of Pope, JJ, and Kiara.

"Kie! JJ! Pope!" I shout after them but they are already gone. We're so close. John B. petals around the corner, the Kook still running after us.

"Oh just give up already dude, I know you have better things to do!" I shout at him and he just looks even more annoyed.

John B. then slams on the breaks and just as I'm about to yell at him for nearly throwing me out of the seat I freeze. Pope, JJ, and Kie are standing there in front of us. Their faces convey both shock and pure happiness as we all stand there staring at each other. Time stands still as I sit here looking at my best friends, I wasn't sure how long it would be till I saw them again and now here we are.

"We gotta go!" Pope yells, breaking the trance we were all in. I pull Kie onto the seat with me and hug her so tightly even though my side screams in pain. JJ and Pope stand on the back of the seat as they look behind us at the two men chasing us. The Kook and then there's another one, a guy I don't recognize who I realize is the one they are running from. He is much faster and just before he can grab the railing on the back of the bike JJ reaches around and punches him in the side making him stumble and fall. The Kook finally gives up and we're free. JJ starts cheering and whooping as we head toward the beach where the boat awaits. We all hop off the bike and wait to celebrate until we get back on the water. John B. hops onto the boat first and reaches down his hand for me to grab so he can help me get up.

"JJ help her up will ya?" John B. calls over to JJ as he was gathering rope.

"Come on Gracie, you're a strong girl you can hop up there yourself," JJ says as he walks over but his face quickly goes from smiling to concern as he notices my side and bloody shorts.

"What the fuck happened?" He says drawing the attention of Kiara and Pope who both equally look as worried as JJ. I look up at John B. and he gives me a comforting smile.

"I-uh- I got shot, by my brother," I say and it's the first time I said it and realized the depth of how messed up it was. A lump forms in my throat but I push it away and blink back the tears that threatened to spill over my cheeks.

"What?" Kie gasps as she walks past the guys and embraces me in a tight hug.

"It's okay, I'm okay," I say as my voice cracks a little and I fight to keep myself from falling apart in Kie's arms. I then feel more arms wrap around us as I see the three boys have encompassed us in a hug as well. We must look crazy to anyone walking on the beach, five teenagers standing next to a random boat in a group hug. I don't care though, this is exactly what I've needed. As long as I have John B. and the pogues, everything would be okay.