Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

26

"I've got the sandwiches!" I yelled as I stepped off my bike, taking my gear off and going inside Heyward's shop.

"What is all this yelling about?" I grinned, pulling my bag in front of me and unzipping it.

"Hey, Mr. Heyward. I got you a roast beef sandwich from Suzy's. Your favorite." I sang grabbing the rolled meal and holding it out to him as he came into view.

"I should have known that was your bike rumbling out there, Xena. Mmh, how'd you know I hadn't eaten yet?" I put the sandwich in his hands.

"Lucky guess, and it's on me. You work too hard."

"I appreciate that. See, this is why she's my favorite!" I laughed loudly as I continued into the shop and found the two boys rolling their eyes at me.

"Be careful, Pope. Sounds like your dad may replace you." JJ joked.

"You're his son and he loves you. But he may adopt me as his honorary kid." Pope rolled his eyes at me as I laughed. I tossed them their sandwiches. Turkey for JJ and Ham for Pope.

"If he does I'll be seeing you around here a lot more often." Pope hummed as he bit into his sandwich. "Gah, I don't know why we don't hype Suzy's Sandwiches up more. This is absolutely needed on a hot summer day." JJ and I agreed with Pope as we both dug into our sandwiches. Mine a nice oven roasted chicken.

"Hey, you seem to be in higher spirits than when you left. You doing better?" I grinned at JJ, swallowing my mouthful.

"Oh yeah, Roy got me all bandaged up. Then he hit me with some of the good stuff. Pain will be gone for another four hours." Pope and JJ laughed as I fist-bumped the air.

"Gosh, I've missed you acting like a goofball." Pope said making me settle down.

"Don't worry, Pope, I'll be sure to act more like one when I can."

"I second that!" JJ stood from his bucket, pointing a finger in the air. "To being goofballs." He rose his sandwich up like a glass.

"To being goofballs!" Pope and I cheered clinking our sandwiches in the air then taking a bite.

"What are you nutters doing in my shop?" We all turned to look at Heyward as he put his hands on his hips.

"We were, uh, taking a lunch break?" I tried so hard not to laugh at Pope's response.

"I swear you three. Y'all goons are gonna scare the customers off. Go on and eat in the back. When you're done, I'll have stuff for y'all to do."

"Yes, sir, Mr. Heyward." I spoke respectfully as I push JJ along. Pope following as we broke out to the back and start laughing.

"Alright," I checked around the building and saw we were alone. "Now spill, Pope. What did you do?"

JJ slowly stopped laughing as Pope dropped into dead silence. Swallowing his spit as we stood in a triangle.

"I- Xena, you can't say shit."

"Pope!" JJ tried to get him to stop but one look at me made him second guess. "You're right." I rolled my eyes.

"Pope. I'm not going to say anything. I just need to know in case Rafe pulls something out of his ass so I'm not caught off guard." Pope sighed, he knew I was right.

"I sank Topper's boat." My eyebrows rose as I looked at Pope. His voice barely a whisper as I slowly nodded my head. "Xena, you can't say anything."

"Pope. I won't. I just, damn, Pope." I wrapped an arm around him, "did it feel good?" JJ grinned at my question. Pope on the other hand simply groaned.

"Just a little." I laughed and let the boy go.

"Hey. I ain't a snitch. And this whole Kook supremacy is really fucking annoying. Taking them down a few pegs won't hurt them."

"Yeah, besides, Xena pretty much did that all school year with Rafe." We laughed as we thought back to the numerous shit I pulled on Rafe.

"Ahh, that was pretty good. I can say though, I'm glad it's over. He should be out of Kildare and our hair within two months. And I will take the freedoms when our liberation of him shall come to reinstate a more free Outer Banks."

"Alright, Xena for Mayor. Everyone watch out." Pope mocked joining in on the fun.

"Oh that would be horrendous." I added making the three of us laugh.

We sat eating the rest of our sandwiches laughing and joking. The failed attempt at finding gold this morning pushed to the back of our heads as we enjoyed our lunch.

When the time came, we went back inside and helped Heyward out.

Everything was going smoothly, customers satisfied, stock flying off the shelves, it was great. Until it wasn't.

JJ had gone home thirty minutes ago, and I was wrapping up with the few things Heyward needed done before tonight when Pope nearly fell into me.

"Oh shit." I cussed as I stood from my crouch. "Pope, what's going on?" I turned my face hardening as I saw the panic in his eyes.

"Topper, jeep, mad-dogging. Rafe." He spat out the words as I set my hands on his shoulders.

"Pope. Stay here. Remember, nothing happened other than you got jumped." I gave his shoulders a squeeze before walking out the front of the shop.

I stopped at the edge of the porch and saw the two culprits. The two Kooks were looking at each other as I rolled my shoulders back, a pleasant smile on my face as I made my way over to the jeep.

"Hi, there." I called out, making the two jump as they both stared at me from the driver side window. "Whoa, no need to be jumpy. Can I do something for you boys? Or are you guys about to be on your way?" Topper swallowed, putting his mask on as I smiled sweetly. My eyes drifting to Rafe's face and I let a smirk tug at my lips.

"We were just on our way, X, thanks for uh, checking on us." Topper choked out, jumping as I pat the door.

"Good." I started to walk off before coming back, "hey, Cameron, catch." I carefully lobbed a small canister at him. The small beads were a dissolvable variation of the bruising gel. "You look like you could use it. I'd suggest some kisses to heal the booboos, but Topper doesn't seem like the type." I gave him a wink, carefully making my way back across the road as I held in my laughter.

"Unlock this car, Topper."

"No, what the fuck are you going to do."

"Fucking- Tallen!" I heard him roar as Topper started the Jeep and goosed it down the road.

I spared a glance to see Rafe sticking his head out the window and make eye contact with me. Out of my own enjoyment, I set two fingers to my lips and blew a kiss extending my middle finger out to him.

I came back into the shop and grabbed my bag from the staff room. Where I also found Pope anxiously waiting.

"Alright, Pope. You need to go see JJ, I think he may have a better way of helping then what I can do." Pope nodded not saying anything as I helped him off the floor.

"Thank you, Xena."

"Don't mention it, Pope. Also, don't hate me but we got to go on my bike."

"Fuck it." I smiled, Pope had been against riding my bike since I offered to give him a ride this winter.

"I knew you'd come around eventually." He shook his head but took my spare helmet I always keep in my side bag. My own gear on in a minute as I straddled my bike before helping Pope on next. "Alright, hold on."