One with the Pogues [jj x reader]

31. Shoupe Always Gets in the Way

Sarah's getting dressed but she's talking about what happened.

"He was down, and John B was still hitting him."
"I've never seen him like that." Kie says. "You think he's gonna get arrested?"
"He can't get arrested." Sarah says.
"Especially not now." I say.
"If he's locked up, he can't help his dad. I have to fix this. Can either one of you give me a ride to Toppers?"

Kie and I share a look.

"Please."
"You don't think this plan could make things worse?"
"I don't know. And I don't know what's gonna happen with me and John B." She says.
"He's hurt. But you guys have gotten through shit before." I say.
"I just can't sit by and watch him get arrested while his dad's abducted. I have to try." She says.

"I have to go and try to reason with John B, I can drop you off on the way." I say.
"Thank you."

I drop her off and get to John B's.

JJ is on the couch on the porch.
"You good?" I ask John B while I sit next to JJ.
"No. That whole 'no hard feelings, bro.' You know?"
"No hard feelings.' Kinda hard to not have hard feelings about that." JJ says while laying his head on my lap.
"It's just that.. that look. That Kook look, you know."
"It was clear provucation."
"Provocation." I correct.
"Provocation, and, uh, I mean you had to do what you had to do. I would've done the same thing."
"Thank you." John B says.
"Not that Y/n would do that."
"We gotta figure out a plan on how to get to South America like yesterday." I say.

"You got any food?" JJ asks.
"Yes. I didn't have time to eat at Kies." I say.
"Kies?" John B asks stepping back out.
"Oh yeah, you slept over there." JJ says.
"Was Sarah there?"
"She was in fact there." I mutter realizing what I just did.
"You're fraternizing with the enemy?"
"No." I say.
"What did she say about the situation?"
"I'm not telling you."
"So she said something?"
"John B." I try.
"I'm your brother."
"She's my best friend."
"Blood comes first."
"And how long have we known we are related?" I ask.

"Okay, let's not do this, right now." JJ says.
"Okay. Passports." John B says.
"Don't have those."
"We can't fly commercial. We need other ideas."
"Don't you have the money, you took from Portis?"
"I have that to my dad."
"What about a boat?" I ask.
"Limbrey, Limbrey has a boat!" JJ yells looking in the fridge. "What if we took that one down."
"Yeah. She took that back. And the port of Spain? So no on boats."
"So what you're saying is, we don't got any money, and we also don't have a boat that can make it to South America."
"Unbelievable."
"Actually, I might know a guy. I'm onto something."

I glance out the window. There's a cop car.
"John B." I say. He looks over.
"Uh-oh." He says getting down. I do too.
"Don't start with uh-oh. You're so negative, dude." JJ says.
"Get down." I say. John B pulls him down.
"What?"
"Shoupe is out front right now."

"Alright, John B!" Shoupe yells.
"Shit."
"Come on."

We start crawling.

"Anybody home!" Shoupe yells.

I point at the table.
"Under there. Go." I say. John B crawls under. JJ does too. I get in but barely fit. JJ pulls me closer to him. He holds onto my legs so they aren't seen.

"Oh shit."
"Shut up." I whisper.

Shoupe knocks on the window.
"I know you're in there."
"If he sees you, it's game over." JJ says.
"I know."
"Be quiet." I say.