Celestial ~ JJ Maybank

023.

They made their way across the island as quick as they could, whilst remaining inconspicuous to the cops on patrol.

They had brought the Phantom over to the dock and the group were now currently pacing back and forth, nervously waiting for John B to arrive. 3 o'clock came and went and the group's fears grew more and more that John B had been nabbed.

"I'm telling you that my dad would've messaged us if they had caught John B guys! He's messaged me throughout this whole chase, keeping me updated so he wouldn't let us down now!" Celeste repeated for what felt like the millionth time, "an hour ago, he said that Shoupe almost got him but John B escaped. Okay?"

"Where is he then?" Kiara growled.

"Give him a second, he'll be here" Pope answered, "besides, he would have to work hard to avoid the cops again like David said"

JJ called from inside the boat, finishing up the final touches, "He's coming, he'll be fine!"

Only then did Celeste hear a sound growing louder and louder. A siren. Shit.

"Guys! Cops!"

By the time she had warned her friends, they all turned to watch as the patrol car came through the shrouded trees before quickly cutting off the engine.

The group shook themselves out of their frozen states, going into panic mode.

"JJ!"

"Hey yeah, get back on the boat!" JJ shouted, running behind the wheel as the others began to follow.

Celeste and Kiara faced the patrol car once more, mumbling profanities under their breaths as the driver side door opened.

It took the group a second to process who was walking towards them. John B. He just got out of the cruiser like it was a normal Tuesday – not the kind of day that he was being hunted for a murder he didn't commit.

"Wait" JJ frowned, "no way"

"No effing way" Pope muttered.

"I'm sorry?"

JJ moved to get off the boat to join the others with a relieved chuckle, "you've gotta be kidding me"

"And you're acting like it's casual for you to pull up in a police cruiser when you're wanted for murder? Like... the fuck?" Celeste laughed.

"Shoupe let me take it for a spin" the Routledge boy answered bluntly, as if that was enough.

"What? We're just taking that?" she looked to the others, not completely serious. She was mostly just relieved to see he was alive and well. Or as well as he could be.

Kiara stepped up to where Celeste was, nudging her shoulder playfully, before pulling John B into a hug, "okay, that's believable. I'll buy that for now"

As she pulled away, Celeste slipped past and made her own way into the boy's arms. He was okay – her brother was okay.

"It wasn't easy bro, but I got the Phantom for you and she runs like she was made yesterday" JJ announced, throwing the keys over to John B.

"Oh, and she definitely runs even better with JJ's continuous words of encouragement every other second. You know, telling her she's beautiful and--" Celeste teased, only stopped when he prodded her a finger in her side, efficiently shutting her up. She couldn't help but laugh however at the cheeky smile on his face. She stuck her tongue out at him to which he playfully returned as he wrapped an arm around her waist, facing the others again.

"You ready to go?" the blonde boy asked.

John B didn't respond for a moment, staring over at the Phantom.