ᴍɪɴᴇs 🝮 ᴊᴊ ᴍᴀʏʙᴀɴᴋ

ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶠᵃᶜᵉ?

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"Don't let it get in your head, man. There are three of them and two of us—that's typical Kook behavior," JJ said, earning a light slap on the back of his head from Belle, who rolled her eyes playfully.

"What was your typical thought process?" JJ asked Pope, genuinely curious.

"I don't know, man. I just acted on instinct. I felt like a cornered animal," Pope shrugged just as his father walked in.

"Hey, Pope, someone's here to see you," Heyward said, confusion on his face as a police officer entered the room. JJ and Belle exchanged worried glances.

"Evening, officer," Pope muttered, his heart sinking.

"I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property," the officer said, pulling out his handcuffs, and Belle felt her stomach drop.

"What?" Heyward asked, bewildered at the thought of his son being arrested.

"Hands on the counter where I can see them," the officer instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law," he added, and a chill ran down Belle's spine.

"Whoa, Shoupe, what'd he do?" Heyward asked, panic rising in his voice.

"Take a look at the warrant," Shoupe replied, placing the cuffs on Pope.

"You have the right to an attorney."

"How much did they pay you, man?" JJ pressed, clearly agitated.

"JJ, calm down," Belle said, placing a hand on his shoulder to ground him.

Then JJ did something unexpected. "It wasn't him!" he shouted, catching the officers' attention.

"It was me."

"JJ, wha—" Belle started, but he cut her off.

"He tried to talk me out of it, but I was mad because he just got beaten up. I was so sick of those assholes that I lost my shit."

"I can't let you take the blame for something I did, man. You've got too much to lose," Pope protested, confusion spreading between Kie and Belle.

"JJ, what are you doing?" Belle said, disbelief in her voice.

"I'm telling the truth. For once in my damn life, I'm telling the truth."