𝐒𝐄𝐗 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐘 𝐄𝐗, ˢᵃʳᵃʰ ᶜᵃᵐᵉʳᵒⁿ

xvi. another mystery

EMMA HEARD THE fire before she saw it. She shoved the back door open harshly, it swung and hit the wall, leaving a dent. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" She shouted at John B who was staring down at the fire he started, burning the last of their father's research. "Put that shit out! Right now! Now!" He wasn't moving, just staring at the fire.

She wasn't thinking, she started pulling things out of the fire with her hands. "Em! No!" John B grabbed the girl by the waist, pulling her away.

"Get off me!"

"You're gonna fucking hurt yourself! Stop it!"

"Fuck you!" Emma shoved her brother as hard as she could, falling to her knees, she began to cry. "Why the fuck would you do this?" Her voice cracked as she picked up the remains of the bulletin board.

"Em. I found something, c'mon, we have to go get the rest of the pouges." John B pulled at her arm, she yanked away from his grip.

"Don't fucking touch me. I'm not going anywhere with you. You can take care of yourself. You and the crew handled the grady-white, you handled the lighthouse, why the hell do I need to go?"

John B shook his head. "Why are you being so difficult? I need you for this, please, Emma."

Emma rolled her eyes. "You get me into any sort of trouble and I'm drowning you in the fucking ocean." She made sure to bump into him as she passed, Emma sat in passenger side of the van and waited.

John B got into The Twinkie, starting it up and heading out to pick up his friends. "Em, I have something to tell you, just don't be mad okay?"

"I make no promises."

John B took a deep breath. "I uh, I got fired today."

Emma looked over at him, eyes wide in anger. "What the fuck, John B. Why?"

"Uh well... Okay so I took air tanks off the Cameron's boat and well Sarah caught-"

"You fucking idiot!" She reached over and slapped the back of his head. "God were you even thinking? She snitched on you?" John B nodded. "That fucking bitch." It was one thing for Sarah Cameron to break her heart, but now she was fucking with Emma's brother and she wasn't going to let that slide.

"Look, I'm sorry, but also, I gave dad's compass to Peterkin."

"What the hell!? How did you even- You've actually gotta be kidding me. Dammit, what the fuck?"

"Emma, I'm sorry."

"It's fine, JB, it's all good, so fucking good." Emma looked out the window, relieved when they pulled up to JJ's house and he was actually there. She moved to the back of the van as Pope and JJ got in.

"Hey, what's up?" Pope asked as he got into the passenger seat.

Emma sighed. "Apparently John B has a new lead."

They headed to The Wreck to pick up Kie. Pope hopped out and went to grab her, though he came back without the girl. "She said she's not coming." Pope shouted toward the van.

"Oh that's just great."

"Why not? What'd you do to her, John B." JJ questioned.

"Shit." John B cussed, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. "Hang on. I'll deal with it." He got out of the van, making his way inside the restaurant.

Emma shook her head. "Of course." She rolled her eyes. "Why does he always have to go and mess something up?"

Pope got in the van and they waited. JJ began to roll up a joint. "Do you really have to do that outside of The Wreck?" He asked. "What if Kie's parents come out?"