DISCONTINUED / NO LONGER WRITING
❛ and its new, the shape of your
body, its blue the feelin' i got and
it's ooh, whoa-oh. it's a cruel summer.
and it's cool, that's what i tell 'em. no
rules in breakable heaven, but ooh,
whoa-oh. it's a cruel summer...
THE TWINS ARRIVED at their home with their heads hung low after discovering the hard truth: there was no gold left at the Royal Merchant wreck. The gold their father worked so hard to find was gone... possibly never existed.
John B pulled the door open, throwing his and Stella's bags down before slumping down in a chair. Stella groaned when she heard Cheryl, the DCS worker's, voice. "Hey, guys."
"You know, Cheryl, it's kind of a bad time for a check-in," John B said, snatching an open box of Cheerios off the counter.
"Not a check-in," Cheryl said while Stella sat beside her brother. "We're here to take you both."
John B and Stella shared a look before they gazed at Cheryl, dumbfounded. "Today? Really?"
"It's just for a few weeks until the hearing."
"No, no, no. Cheryl, look, we're not going into foster care, okay?" said Stella, running a hand through her tangled hair. "We're not gonna be apart of your little system."
The sound of a radio beeping made their heads turn. Behind them stood a police officer. "John B, Stella, this is Deputy Thomas." Stella and John B stood to their feet, putting as much distance between them and the deputy that they could. "He works with the juveniles for the sheriff's department."
Stella leaned on the Château's wall while John B stood in front of Cheryl. Stella raised her eyes brows, questioned Deputy Thomas as he mad-dogged her. "Look, you guys, I know Uncle T's down in Mississippi working at a casino. He hasn't been here in months."
"What?" John B scoffed. He attempted to run past the police officer but he stepped in front of the boy. "No, see that's my worst nightmare right there. Look, I— I— I want emancipation."
Stella held her hand up. "Oh, me too."
"Emancipation from who? There's nobody here but you two."
"Uh... asylum, then."
"On what grounds?"
"On— on solid grounds. On holy grounds. Look, I feel real— real prosecuted right now by you and... especially Mr. Big Head over here." Stella scoffed as she stepped toward her brother, arms crossed across her chest.
The officer shot the twins a look. Stella unfolded her arms, holding them up. "The fuck are you lookin' at, bro? What're you gonna do? You gonna tase us?"
John B attempted to run off again and the officer caught him. "You wanna dance, huh?"
Stella rolled her eyes, reaching into the cereal box and throwing a handful at him. He reached over, grabbing Stella and holding her down. "Get off me!"
