𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 [𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤]

𝐰𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐤

Everyone was there when we finally reached the backyard. Big John was hugging Pope as I looked around for John B. He was no where to be found as JJ jumped on Big John's back. He spun around in an attempt to get the younger boy off of him making me giggle at the sight.

For JJ, Big John and my dad were always the stand-in father figures in his life. I still remembered the one Spring that Big John built bunk beds for the boys that way JJ always had a place to stay when he needed it. I think that's when we all realized that the chateau was going to be our safe space.

While Big John continued to try and shake off JJ, my eyes finally found John B. My once hopeful and happy best friend stood on the porch with beers in his hand, watching. He wasn't watching like everyone else though. He looked sad, maybe a bit apprehensive of the situation. Everyone he loved was in front of him, happy and healthy. What was bothering him?

"Hey shitbird!" I called out to him, breaking him out of whatever he was thinking about. He pushed out a smile as he walked down to us.

Once everyone was reacquainted, we took a seat and waited for John B to explain why he went MIA for 3 days. "We went to the archives in Charleston," he glanced at his father, "But it-uh, it was a dead end." He stuttered through and continued to avoid eye contact with anyone besides his father. A total cover up. "A dry hole. So..."

"So that's the gold, the cross, and now El Dorado?" Pope recounted our losses on his fingers, "We're three for three guys." He threw the empty can that he had been holding, "The streak continues." He said as he walked away with Cleo following behind him. Not too long after, Kiara was following them out of the yard.

"I'm going fishing. Thanks for the beer." JJ sat his can down and walked away. I sat mine down and jogged after him. He finally stopped when we reached the front of the house.

"Jayj." He met my gaze, "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, Lou."

I nodded, "Okay. I'm gonna stay here and see if I can get real answers from John B. If not, I'm gonna go home." He nodded. "See you later?"

"Yeah." I waited until he reached the end of the driveway before turning to go back to the backyard. We needed some kind of answers from John B. Everyone knows that Big John wouldn't say anything and that he could lie and John B would swear to it. Now that it was just me, Sarah, and the Routledges, I knew there was a chance to figuring out something.

When her and John B walked away, I had some faith that she would get something out of him. But I could see the tension rising between them and as it did, they walked away from each other. I tried to get Sarah to stay but she left without a second thought. I don't blame her though. John B could be a jerk when he wanted to be. Especially if there's a reason for it.

"John B?" I looked at him, trying to understand what was going on with him. I used to be able to tell with just looking at him if there was something wrong and what it was. Now, it just felt like I was so far out of the loop that I had no idea what was going on with him.

He didn't look at me as he said, "You should go." I stood up from my seat.

"Don't do that." He raised a brow, "We tell each other everything. I can tell when you're lying."

"I'm not lying." He laughed through his sentence.

"You are!" I didn't want to walk out on him. Give up on him when he clearly needed someone the most. But I couldn't do anything for him as long as his father was around. John B would never budge.

He looked at me like he was being serious, but there was something in his eyes that looked like he was pleading for help. For someone to say something, do something. "I'll see you later, John B."