Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

63

"You got rope?" John B asked from the front seat as JJ, Pope, Sarah, Kie, and myself all sat in the back digging through supplies.

"Got it." Pope spoke lifting the material.

"Grappling hook?" I shot him a 'what the hell' look.

"B, what budget do you think we're on?" I asked as I kept braiding my hair backwards.

"Yeah, we're not Batman." I snorted at Pope's response, my eyes looking outdid as the sun finally passed the horizon. Darkness slowly creeping in providing the perfect cover.

We'd all gone and changed into black clothes. My black pants were similar in fit to a combat style with their belted waist and several pockets. My dry fit long sleeve black top was tucked in, I had my motorcycle gloves on and I slipped my black beanie and my black bandana on.

Yes, the black bandana. I almost wore my wig but decided I didn't want to pull anything else from that costume bag out. I promised I'd stop and I was worried if I wore it I'd miss it.

"Wifey, you have to tell me where you got that bandana." JJ piped up as he slid into the seat next to me.

"Custom order. Bought it three years back at a shop in Texas." JJ frowned. "Your traditional bandanas look good." He smiled.

"Yeah?" I grinned poking him in the rib.

"I wouldn't lie." I sang as I let myself lean a little closer to JJ. His arm around my shoulders. A small pit of disappointment opened inside my chest.

"Xena, do you have the extra batteries?" I nodded at Kie.

"Yup! And I brought two extra flashlights in case some weren't working."

"You got your strap?" I tapped the holster around my waist, easy access if some axe-wielding grandma tried to attack us.

"Just for you Hub." I mocked knowing he was terrified to trespass on this specific house even if there was gold.

"We got the pulley?" John B asked as he slowed down pulling in front of the house.

"Check." Kie called out as she packed that into a bag.

"Dark clothes?"

"A little late to ask that, B." I reached over and pat his shoulder. "JJ has got a neon pink shirt on."

Kie and I laughed as everyone turned to look at JJ expecting him to actually be wearing a neon shirt. JJ even dipped his chin to look at himself.

"You guys are too gullible." Kie said as John B out the Twinkie into park.

"Alright, then we're good." John B sat back in his chair for a moment before turning to look at everyone. "We're ready."

"Let's go." Kie yanked the van door open.

"Let's go get rich guys." I rolled my eyes at JJ's small voice as he contained his excitement.

Kie and Pope were stopped by John B as he appeared at the door, telling everyone to wait.

"I wanna say thank you, guys. Seriously." He looked at each one of us. I gave him a kind smile when our eye met. "It means a lot to me that you're here tonight."

"Always." Kie shook her head but she was smiling.

"Of course, man." Pope and John B did a little handshake as JJ and I looked at one another.

"Alright, we done with this little circle jerk?" JJ asked as I leaned forward onto my knees. The rope already hooked over his shoulder.

"Yeah, can we go do this?" I chimed in, my smile turning to a smirk.

"Let's go get that wheat in the water." Pope voiced his battle cry as we all hopped out of the Twinkie.

"Weed? I'm up for weed." I smacked JJ on the back of the head as I got up and followed Sarah out of the vehicle.

"Wheat. I said wheat." Pope clarified as he offered a hand for me to get out. I took it giving him a quick curtsy as I shouldered my backpack with the majority of supplies.

We turned from the Twinkie to see Sarah and Kie already climbing over the wall. My flashlight in my mouth as I reached the wall next and started to climb.

I swung my leg over and looked down to see JJ smirking up at me. My eyes rolling as I flipped him off. I pulled the flashlight out of my mouth and swung my other leg then hopped down.

My knees bending when I dropped to a crouch, my hands touching dirt as I rose and moved forward waiting with the girls.

"Y'all excited?" The two nodded with wide grins as I pulled my bandanna up over my face, I tugged my beanie back down and moved to stand in front of the girls on the path. JJ then Pope and finally John B joined us.

"Let's go." I took the front, my flashlight down on the ground as I let myself try to adjust to the darkness. I stopped when I came into direct view of the house, the other five stepping up next to me.

We took a short pause raking in the success of reaching the house, until a light shot on and blinded us. Our eyes blew wide as we comically dove out of the way. Curses rang out as everyone finally ducked behind the bush, our eyes peeping around looking for more movement.

"Flashlights!" Kie whispered all of us rushed to turn our lights on. A panic rising as JJ's went haywire.

"It's on strobe!" Pope whispered-yelled as JJ frantically slammed his hand against it.

"Okay," Pope panted, "okay, so she has motion sensor lights."

"We could, uh... move really slowly, maybe?"

"What?" We all questioned JJ as he shrugged his shoulders.

"That's not how it works." I clarified, not realizing how bad of a typical blond he is.

"Oh, shit. Let's throw a rock at it."

"What?" Pope and I were flabbergasted at what just came out of John B's mouth.

"See, the boat was definitely Xena and Pope. Idiots." Kie whispered as Sarah nodded in agreement.

"You two sure you're not supposed to be in summer school?" I hissed still awestruck at how idiotic their suggestions were.