Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

18

"I swear. Every time I'm not with y'all, someone is close to being arrested." I scolded as I slid back into the Twinkie.

"We didn't say anything?" JJ spluttered.

"You didn't need to. Pope looks guilty."

"Pope!" John B slapped his forehead as I shut the door behind me.

"I'm sorry guys! Y'all know I can't control my facial expressions. She reads them like a book!" Pope threw his hands out while he talked as I turned and sat in the back.

"Okay, so what happened?"

_______•*•*•*•_______

"How?" JJ grinned wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

"Just a little bit of Pogue Magic." He traced his other hand in an arc through the air.

"I believe it, damn. JJ, I still can't believe you got chased up a damn boat. And your sneaky ass got away with it." I wrapped my arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze.

"What can I say, sometimes I'm quite clever." We all laughed as John B kept driving.

"What do you say we have nice quiet night at the Château?" John B asked as we turned off the main road.

"After we get food!" Kie shouts as we pull up to The Wreck.

"Is that even possible?" I whispered leaning onto Pope.

"Nope. But food sounds really nice right now." I laughed as we came to a stop. All of us collectively hopping out of the Twinkie.

"Stealing drones sure makes you hungry." Kie voiced as we started walking up to her parents' restaurant.

"What I would do to a beer and shrimp and grits right now." JJ gave a grunt at the thought of it.

"Easy there, Tiger." I joked as Pope added on to JJ.

"It would not be pretty." I chuckled wrapping my arm around Pope's shoulders.

"Pope, what food would you go absolutely feral for?" He hummed thinking about my question.

"You can never go wrong with popcorn."

"That's a snack." Kie pointed out as we climbed the ramp.

"I was gonna lead into more. A nice burger and some fries are always welcomed. Some good gumbo, mmhm." I grinned giving Pope a one armed hug before following Kie inside.

"Hey, Dad."

"Hey."

"Hi, Mr. C!" I cheered, smiling big.

"Well I'll be damned, Xena, it's been a few weeks." He gave me a quick smile as he moved around the counter.

"How'd we do?" Kie asked as we continued walking, the boys behind us.

"Didn't turn it over once." I frowned, normally The Wreck was booming.

"It's probably bad luck because of the storm." Kie wrapped her father in a hug as the boys moved to a table and I stayed behind the counter.

"Yeah, I'll be sure to tell the banks that."

"Guess now is not the best time to ask for free food for me and my friends?" On cue, I cocked my head and smiled, bringing pleading hands to my chest. Mr. C shook his head chuckling at my antics before he looked to the boys.

"Look at them," the three of us all turned to pay attention to the three goons, "they're greedy pelicans. I thought I told you to stop hanging around them." I turned back to the two Carreras caught off guard by what Kie's dad was saying.

"Xena's great. She works hard, takes care of her people, you being one of them. These guys, what do they do other than get you into trouble?"

"Well, everybody at the Kook Academy hates me, Dad. Everyone but Xena."

"Cause you never gave them a chance."

"I did give them a chance. They got stuck up. They care more about shoes than surfing. What am I supposed to do with that?"

"She's not wrong, Mr. C. The only reason I'm still there is to get my high school diploma and get out. I don't have friends there." Mr. Carrera sighed, while Kie continued.

"These are my friends, Dad. Xena's too." I smiled at Kie as we both looked at one another then turned to the boys. The three goons waving like dorks.

"And yeah, they're big dorks who have a nose for mischief. But we do care about your daughter, she's our friend. We wouldn't do anything to purposely put her in harms way." Mr. C chuckled, shaking his head as he gave in.

"Well, I gotta throw it out. Might as well take it." Kie sprang at her dad giving him a hug, no doubt grinning ear to ear.

"Thank you!" I smiled as her dad looked over to me.

"You're welcome. I'll bring it out. And Xena, I have a non-spicy option for you on the back grill." I cheered excitedly.

"I'd starve without you, Mr. C!" I joked him knowing fully well I rely on others to cook for me.

"Or you'd burn your house down." Kie added making two of them laugh as we all knew it was true.

"I was trying to be nice." I groaned replaying the morning I stayed over at Kiara's. I had tried to help Kie make pancakes and the golden glow I was going for was more of a charred caramel.

"Let's go sit." Kie pulled me over to the guys as we took our seats waiting for Kie's dad to come back out.

The three boys more excited than me as they did a little jig in their seats.

The Wreck had way too much food left over, so we did our civic duty and helped them take care of it. We had music playing, the lamps on, food on the tables and laughter filling the air.

At some point, Kie was up dancing and beckoned John B to join her. With the two of them dancing together I looked at the other boys. My eyes narrowing on each of their reactions.

JJ didn't seemed too bothered, dancing a little in his seat to the music. But Pope, well, I think I knew just what was going on with him. I had been suspicious for a while now, but this has cleared it up a bit.

"You know, I'm not good on giving any form of romantic advice. But she's never gonna know if you don't say anything."

"What?" He looked at me puzzled as I stole one of his fries. "Has she said something?"

"Nah, I haven't really had any girl time with her recently. Which reminds me, thank you, Pope," I pause our conversation to yell over the music, "Kie! We need to go on a smoothie date soon!"

"I'm game!" She called back before laughing as JJ stood up and joined the two.

"But, I know what it's like to let something just sit inside. And one day, it might just bubble over like a flood." I sighed, standing back up and tapping the countertop. "But like I said, not really good at the relational advice stuff. Just, take it easy, Pope, I'll always have your back."

"Thanks, Xena."

"Love you, Pope." I gave him a salute as his eyes widened at my declaration.

A grin on my face as I focused back to my task at hand. I checked to see if Mr. Carrera was watching, when I noticed he wasn't, I hopped over the booth seats and returned to eating my grilled chicken, squash, zucchini, and rice.

My stomach growing full as I happily indulged. Thankful tomorrow I had the day off from work.

Who knew what we'd be up to.