you're on your own, kid... obx

031. court hearing

They get to the courthouse for John B's hearing. Kie, Sarah, Erin, and Zack sit in the row ahead of Pope, Brooklyn, and JJ. Brooklyn starts to follow Pope into the row as she glances around. She freezes when she spots her dad and sister sitting next to Ward and Rose.

"Babe?" JJ quietly asks, eyebrows furrowing at her frozen state. He follows where she's looking, immediately glaring at the four Camerons. "Hey. Hey." He steps in front of her, blocking her view from them. "Just ignore 'em."

"I-- I haven't seen him since--" Brooklyn gulps.

"I know. I know, hey, it's all right." JJ rubs her arms. "You need to go outside for a bit?"

"N-no. No, I-- I need to-- to be here for John B. And-- and you and Sarah and--"

"You'll still be here. We can hang outside until they call his case or whatever it is they do."

"No. No, it-- it's fine." Brooklyn forces a smile before she turns away from him and sits next to Pope. JJ sighs, sitting next to her. He glances over at Brooklyn's dad, ignoring the anger that builds up in him.

JJ reaches over, grasping Brooklyn's hand in his. She tightly squeezes it back, resting their conjoined hands on her lap.

~ ~ ~

"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section 14, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances." The judge declares. "If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty." She strikes the gavel and the crowd all start talking over each other, most of them upset about the judge's decision.

"Your honor, he's 17!" JJ shouts and stands up.

"Quiet!" The judge tries to call.

"Stop." Kie says, she and Pope standing up to quiet JJ.

"No, he's 17! Are you kidding me?!"

"JJ. JJ." Brooklyn gets up, trying to stop him. "Hey, hey. JJ."

"Hey, hey. You're good." Pope says, starting to push JJ towards the exit.

"Dude. Dude, don't." Zack gently pushes his brother back.

"Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out." JJ tells him. Pope holds JJ back as Sarah rushes in John B's direction.

"John B! John B!"

"Sarah, Sarah." Kie calls, going after her. A cop holds Sarah back until Kie gets her. "Stop! Don't touch her!"

"Get off her!" Brooklyn yells at the cop. Sarah yanks her arms out of the cop's grip.

"Let's go, Sarah. Let's go out of here." Kie urges.

Zack and Pope get JJ to the exit, Erin following them. The three kook born girls follow them out, Sarah holding in any tears.

The courthouse empties, people talking about how "justive is served" with John B's sentence.

"Is this a joke? Like, are we in Hell or...?" Kie asks as the group of friends make their way down the stairs.

"I should have never come home." Sarah says.

"They're gonna kill him, guys. I know it." JJ says.

"So sorry for what you and your family have gone through. Thank God the system works." A man tells Ward as he follows him, Rose, Patrick, and Riley out.

"Can you please shut up?" Kie says, getting their attention. Brooklyn can't help but to tense when she makes eye contact with her dad and sister. "Of course you think the system works because it was made to protect you and people like you."