𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗧||𝗝𝗝 𝗠𝗔𝗬𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞

twenty-seven |Impatient

Jaz

After working on the pulley system for the well, we were mostly just chilling, making sure Kiara felt comfortable with the plan.

"John B pullin' a Houdini." JJ announced, sitting on the edge of the hot tub.

"Did he say where he was going?" I asked JJ. He looked at me with a blank stare as if he was surprised I was acknowledging him. I've decided to keep things calm until we go back to Ms. Craine's house. Then, after we've got the gold, JJ and I can talk.

Eventually, he managed an answer, "Uh- I- he said he was going fishing with Ward."

I had a gut feeling that wasn't the best idea. Ward already gives me the creeps.

"I got my scholarship interview tomorrow morning." Pope said, "We gotta get this done."

I stood up from the picnic table bench I was sitting at, "Trust, Pope. All will be well and after we get batshit rich."

"Speak of the devil." JJ called out. "Hey!"

My head whipped towards the direction my brother was walking. I immediately walked up to him, the look on his face almost said it all.

I was quickly got on my brothers heels as he ignored JJ's random words. "John, what happened?"

He walked quickly as I tried to keep up. With a tug on his shoulder he finally looked back at me and stopped for a moment. His face softened as he looked me in my eyes. But, as if something clicked, he went straight into the house ignoring all of us.

"Uh...what's that all about?" Pope asked walking up behind me.

"I couldn't tell you." I huffed before quickly following John B.

When we walked in the already messy house was becoming more of a mess from all of John B's shuffling.

"John B, what is it?" I asked him trying to keep up. "What's wrong?"

He kept ignoring me and everyone else trying to address their concern. Eventually he made it to the futon.

Before I knew it he had the gun in his hand. I quickly stepped back. "John, what the hell?"

"John B, what do you need the gun for man? Talk to us!" He quickly pushed JJ out of the way, shaking my hand off his shoulder.

JJ quickly got up and we were all hot on his heels following him out of the house again.

"John! Stop." I called out desperately. "You don't get to do this. You don't get to ignore me."

He stopped in his tracks. "Please just tell me what's going on."

The look he send me was full of hatred and sadness all at the same time. But again, he kept walking and got on JJ's bike.

"Ward knows about the gold."

I shook my head. This was no reason to carry a gun. "So? John, it's fine. You don't-"

His eyes met mine, "He killed our dad."

My heart stopped as he drove away. I couldn't move, I was frozen right where he left me.

Pope, Kie, and JJ tried to run after him for more of an explanation. But there isn't one. It was simple. Our dad wasn't missing. He was murdered by Ward Cameron.

I could've sworn I blacked out, I hadn't even realized my friends were surrounding me. I think I stopped breathing or something.

My dad was murdered.

"Jaz." JJ shook my shoulders gently. His hand came up to wipe the tears falling down my face. But there were too many. He wouldn't be able to get them all. "Are you okay, Jaz?"

No.

"Yeah," I said quietly, the word hardly coming out of my mouth.

I felt betrayed. My brother just left me here after telling me our dad was dead?

All of the sudden I was on the ground. My knees scraping the twigs and rocks beneath me.

JJ's warm hands were still holding my shoulders, "Jaz, what do you need?"

I finally looked at him. Right in the eyes I loved so much. "I need something to drink."

JJ shared a Look with Pope. That's when I knew they weren't gonna get me a beer like I wanted.

"Jaz, let's just go inside." Pope nodded, "I'll call John B."

"Don't bother," I croaked. "He left me here so he doesn't get to come back. Not for me at least."

The three of them shared another look. This time, my vision was too blurry to see what they were all saying.

John was gone and my father was dead.

Unedited