Depths

Secret's Revealed

After John B's long and special night with Sarah, he rises early to meet with her dad for their fishing journey. John B has been at The Druthers for a bit when Ward arrives, seeing the hard work the teen is putting into getting things ready for their adventure. The two soon set sail for the open waters of the ocean.

"Too bad your sister missed out on this trip." Ward tells the younger boy standing at the helm with him.

"Yeah... she's not much of a morning person anyways." John B laughs. "Guffy said he got into it pretty good just north of Big Rock."

"Guffy, huh?" Ward chuckles. "With the mouth on him, there'll be 15 boats up there already. I say we go south. Swansboro Hole. It'll be just you and me down there. Sound good?"

"Yeah, yeah." John B agrees with the man and the two set sail south.

 The two have been fishing for hours without any luck when Ward offers John B a drink, telling him that it's okay since they're so far out in the ocean. For a minute John B actually believes that this is a nice trip for the two of them to get to know each other better and build trust, which will inevitably help in his relationship with Sarah. But then the conversation switches to the gold. John B hides his concern with a straight face, denying finding the gold. But, Ward is unconvinced. No matter how much Ward presses, John B refuses to give in about finding the gold.

"You need me. I can help you." Ward tells the young boy. "What do you say? Wanna do this?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." John B lies.

"Okay. Okay, John." Ward chuckles. "Okay. All right, all right. We can play it that way. I think very quickly you'll come to realize there's really no other choice. I mean, I know, right?"  Ward laughs again. "I know that you have it. I know that you've had a little taste of it. I know a submersible went missing from the salvage yard, right?" Ward continues to ramble on. "I know maybe that's how you got it out of the water. If it's on land, I know that you've been all... all around the Eight recently, okay? I know maybe it's something to do with Redfield." This catches John B's attention. "I know you asked for the map from Sarah, so I gave you the map from Tannyhill."

"What did you just say?"

"I know... the map of Tannyhill."

"What... what did you just say? The other thing." John B questions again. "How do you know about Redfield?" Ward chuckles at John B's question. "Unless you have my father's compass."

"Um... I don't..."

"And if you have the compass, then you knew to search for it, right?"

"Do you hear how crazy you're being?"

"Yes, yes. I'm listening!"

"You sound crazy." Ward tells him.

 "Redfield! You said Redfield, did you not?" John B demands, but continues when he doesn't get a reply. "Redfield was the last message my father left before he disappeared. You know about his disappearance, don't you?" Ward shakes his head fiercely. "Don't... don't... don't fucking lie to me, Ward. I can see that you do. Let's see what the sheriff has to say about this." John B takes off towards the helm to steer the boat back towards Figure Eight. "Goin' home."

*****

JJ's the first to wake the next morning, Harli still wrapped in his arms. He smiles down at her sleeping figure, his t-shirt hanging loosely on her body. She probably doesn't even realize that it's his- one that he'd probably left at the house on one of his many stays to avoid his dad. His mind wanders to the kiss they shared in the bathroom and his smile grows wider. He'd been waiting a long time to do that. Waiting a long time for her. Then, his mind slips to the bruises on her arm. Bruises that was put there because of him. Because of his actions. Instantly his smile fades as he thinks about the danger that he's put her in. No matter how much he cares about her and wants more with her, he can't put her at risk. He can only ever be friends with her. So, quietly and slowly, he slips out of her arms and leaves the room. He waits outside for the rest of their friends while the green eyed girl continues to sleep.