𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝟮𝟰/𝟳

Chapter 10

It had been a while since I had found out that John B and Sarah had died at sea, since I had been shot by Rafe, since I had officially cut things off from my own father. I had ran away from home. Before, I had been crashing at John B's, but since he—he was gone, it felt strange to stay at his house when he wasn't even there, when he wouldn't ever be coming back. Instead, I alternated between Kiara and Pope, who were more than happy to provide an extra bed, which I was grateful for.

I wasn't exactly sure what was going on between them, but I was 75% sure they were a thing. Which was pretty OK? I guess.

Dad—my father—hadn't called up. He hadn't tried contacting me, seeing me, or anything. He didn't even carethat I'd run away. He was probably holed up in his little Sheriff office, drinking martini's with fucking Ward Cameron.

I hadn't seen JJ in a while, in fact, I think he was working a lot but I wasn't really sure. So when he showed up saying we were having this "thing" for John B, I was super supportive.

JJ had carved a gravestone in this huge Maple tree in John B's backyard, and we did a toast to him.

"And Sarah," I added, and we drank from JJ's flask.

I didn't see JJ for a while after that.

↬——✾——↫

I joined Kiara and her parents at Peterkin's funeral. I wanted to go pay my respects, but without my father. I saw him only once, but ignored him. He didn't make an effort to say anything to me. Kiara's parents were mad at Kiara—they always were—and she told me they'd started to talk to her about boarding school again. I told her she should just leave, but she said she wouldn't. I guess she really loved her mom and dad.

Kiara and I were surprisingly okay. She had taken a while to warm up to me, longer than JJ, and now she fully trusted me. She thought I was a Pogue, one of them, and I was happy.

For the most part.

When I asked Kiara what was going on between her and Pope, she didn't answer at first. "I don't know," was her honest answer.

"What do you mean, you don't know?! Are you dating or what?" I demanded after the funeral.

"It's complicated."

"Well, do you like him or not?!"

"I said it's complicated!" She shouted.

"Okay ..."

↬——✾——↫

August ended. Summer ended, and with that, so did John B and Sarah. I felt myself continuously looking around for them, almost calling out to them out of habit.

Pope started talking about school, about going into grade 12. And then I realized, where would I be going? Would I even start school? I had gone to the Kook Academy on figure eight, but that had been when I was with my father. He paid for the very expensive tuition to the school, and so without that, I probably didn't even have a spot.

"You can't drop out of school!" Pope insisted.

"Well then where am I supposed to go?"

"Where we go," Pope said, like "duh".

"The public one?"

"You got any other ideas?"

"I guess not."

I wasn't sure how it would work, joining the public high school down at the cut with the other Pogues, but Pope assured me I had a spot. Apparently, everyone had a spot enrolled, no matter what, and he knew the teachers very well and had spoken to "the office" about it.

So on September 2nd, the first day of grade 12 at my new school, I hopped in the Twinkie with JJ, Pope, and Kiara. I hadn't seen JJ in forever, and had barely spoken three words to him since ... well, since everything had happened. I was nervous about going to a new school, but not for the typical reasons.

I worried what my father would do. He was Sheriff Victor Shoupe, he literally smelled of power and authority. Why he hadn't sent out a huge search team after me made me suspicious. I didn't even know my own father, and before everything had happened, we had been close. We trusted each other. And now? I had no clue what the fuck he was thinking.

We stepped out of the Twinkie and started up the hallways to our first class—History. People kept whispering around us, pointing at us as we walked.

"—John B didn't do it? Please." Someone scoffed.

"—Pogue's insist!—"

"—Completely crazy!—"

"—Nutso's!—"

Pope and Kiara had to drag JJ away from the whispering crowd of kids. "We have class, c'mon!" Pope nearly pulled us into History, and we took our seats at the back of the class. Well, by "we", I meant everyone but Pope, because he sat right up front, and took out his notebook.

Once class started, I immediately zoned out. JJ and I had barely spoken since John B and Sarah had died, and I still didn't know why. I tried to convince myself it was better than where we had been when we'd first met: Fighting like crazy, hating each other, being complete jerks to one another. Even if we weren't speaking as much, it was better than fist-fighting.

I looked over at JJ, who was typically half asleep at his desk. A thought dawned on me: I had officially gotten over him. I mean, I guess I had a long time ago. Ever since he'd pushed me into the well at Ms Crain's place, when we'd been looking for the gold, I had been all "Fuck you JJ I hate your guts". But now, I think I was more "I'm mature now, I've moved on '' sort of thing.

Huh. I'd matured!

Beat that, JJ.

JJ hadn't matured at all, he'd stayed the same idiot he'd always been. Obviously. I think that's what I liked the best about him. He was always consistent, you could always predict what stupid thing would come out of his mouth.

I missed Sarah. I missed my best friend. Even when we'd been fighting, when I'd been mad at her for macking on John B without telling me, she was still my best friend. I had known her since seventh grade!

And now she was gone.

They both were gone, and it was awful. Just awful.

Suddenly, Kiara grabbed her phone. At the same time, so did JJ and Pope. When Pope looked at his phone during class, I knew it was important. Since mine was currently smashed on the side of the road, I motioned for Kie to show me what was up and she did.

It was a picture of John B and Sarah, selfying together.

JJ immediately dashed out of the classroom, Kie and I followed, and finally Pope said something about a "family emergency" while Kie mentioned something about the "bathroom".

"It's some sick joke," I said when we were out of the classroom and outside in the school yard.

"I'm texting the number back," Kie furiously typed back on her phone.

JJ paced around, running his hands through his hair. He'd been stressed out lately, I knew that much. Apparently (from Pope) JJ had been fired from his job for getting into this fist-fight.

"Don't waste your time," I told Kiara bitterly.

"They're responding!" Kiara jumped up and down.

"What'd they say?!" We all rushed over, crowding her around the phone. I, admittedly, lost my whole nonchalant act and also looked at the phone.

Did JJ nab my board?! Texted the unknown number.

We all burst out laughing; it was John B.

"Holy shit!" Pope grabbed us all in a group-hug, and we all hugged.

"This is insane!" I grinned at JJ.

Instead of acknowledging me, he high-fived Pope instead.