Audacious//JJ Maybank (Outerbanks)

Chapter 75

{Jimmy Portis}

I didn't know whether I wanted to cry or laugh at how the universe was so against us. Maybe the universe is trying to tell us something, that we're just reckless teenagers. That, we're nothing. We have no money, no home, Kie is god knows where, and I'm a homeless pregnant teenager. So yeah, the universe is really against us.

"What the hell was that?" Pope mutters, standing up while I sit down between Sarah and Cleo, rubbing my bump. "Why would they want to kidnap Kiara? It doesn't make any sense!" Pope cries, ruffling his hair in frustration. "It's called bait." JJ deadpans, leaning against a metal shack, and looking up at the sun.

"I am so sick of this." Sarah groans. My head is resting on her shoulder as she holds my hand for comfort. I'm too exhausted and it took everything in me to keep my eyes open. "Is there any way we can trust the cops?" Sarah suggests, looking at each of us. I steal a glance at JJ, who is shaking his head.

"The cops? You're joking right?" JJ says frustratedly, getting up on his feet. "You seriously think your daddy hadn't called them already?" JJ scoffs, and I glare at him. "JJ! Stop." I cross my arms, letting out a sigh. "No, Jackie. What do you think is going to happen, huh?" JJ snaps, clenching his fist. I go to stand but I feel lightheaded and sway a little, lifting my hand to my forehead, groaning. A moment later, JJ was by my side holding me up. His eyes were no longer angry or frustrated, but now, worried and scared. "Are you okay, babe?" JJ asks, glancing at me.

"Jackie needs to rest." Pope points at me. "She's pregnant." I roll my eyes. "Pregnant, but not broken, Pope." I glance at him with a soft smile but he only looks at me with worry. "Why don't we call my parents?" Pope suggests. "And say what, Pope?" John B asks. "And say we're alive." Pope scoffs. "I haven't seen my family in I don't know how long. They're probably worried sick about me." Pope clenches his fist, sighing. "We can just call and maybe ask them to wire us some money or something." Pope shrugs.

"And put them in danger?" I say, looking at him. He lets out a sigh, and I reach for his hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. We're all struggling, right now. We want to go home, but what if everything's changed? What if people think we're dead? I can't imagine what Pope or Kiara's parents have been like since we went missing. At least, JJ, John B and I had no one worrying and waiting for us. All we got was each other.

"I got a better plan," JJ speaks up after a moment of silence. "And faster." He holds up a wallet with cash in it. "Whose is that?" I ask, rolling my eyes playfully. "You think I'm gonna go through someone's backpack and not punch their wallet?" He replies sarcastically. "You don't know me then, babe." He smirks cheekily at me and I laugh, as I gently shove him in the shoulder. He plants a soft kiss on my forehead, then winking at me.

"Jimmy Portis, 101 Cattle Wash." JJ rummages through the wallet and takes out a license, calling out the owners name. "I bet that's where they got Kiara." JJ pipes up. "So, that's where we're going." I shrug, looking at JJ as he nods in agreement. "That's conceivable. But can we at least think this through?" Pope suggests glancing at us. "You got a better idea, pope?"
JJ asks sarcastically, turning away and walking down the path. "Come on, 101 Cattle Wash." JJ repeats, reaching out his hand for me. I take it as we head down the road with the others.

The hot and long walk to Jimmy Portus house nearly killed me. I feel like my whole body is in pain from cramps. My muscles are tired and my stomach was growling every few minutes from the hunger. If it weren't for JJ's right grip on my hand, I would have collapsed by now.

Cleo, Sarah and I asked a few residences where the address was on the license. They directed us to a bungalow by the water. We rounded the backyard of the house, hopping over the fence with the help of Pope and JJ into the backyard. "Window?" John B points up to the window in front of us, we all nod in agreement. "Here. You want some help?" Pope suggests as he jogs over to John b and gives him a hand up to each the window. "Be careful, Johnny." I whisper, looking at my brother with concern.