𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐲

XI. Game of Tag.

THE TWO now sat together in the parking lot at the school, drinking coffee from two take out cups that Kiara got for the both of them. "And then she said she was gonna take it to court. Her dad being a lawyer and all. She wants full custody of Evie..." He says, looking out the front windshielf and Kie sighed.

"She didn't even wanna discuss shared custody? That's not fair. You raised Evie all by yourself since she was born..." She said and he looks over at her. "I told her that, that I was doing fine all on my own, then she just made it all about her. That her dad sent her away, to protect their image or whatever." He sighs and she just rolls her eyes, looking away.

"That's so bullshit." She said and he just looks away, staring out the windshield again. "I don't know what I'm gonna do, Kie..." He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face as Kiara looked over at the boy, seeing the look on his face when Jake set his hands down onto his lap, just staring at the dashboard.

"Whatever happens," she began as she clutched her hand over Jake's, making the Lennox boy look over at her, "I'll be here. By your side. You know that, right?" She says quietly and Jake just nodded, staring at her with a small smile on his face.

"Yeah... I appreciate that, Kie." He says in response with a small smile, rubbing the back of Kiara's hand with his thumb before he leaned over. She leans in, meeting him in the middle for a small, tender kiss, that leaves both smiling and staring at one another.

Later in class, while they're in the middle of a test, a knock came at the door. "Mr. Sunn, can I borrow Pope for a minute?" A man that stepped in asked so Pope looked up. Jake raised his head as well, looking over at their teacher approaching the man. "We're in the middle of a test." He tells him quietly. "I'm from the Vanderhorst Foundation." He said so their teacher looked over at Pope.

"Mr. Heyward, it's for you." He said so Jake instantly looked at Kiara two rows away from him, seeing the girl also watch Pope get up and walk over. "Thank you. Good to see you, Pope." The man said as they stepped out into the hallway. Jake put his head back down and focused on the test again.

When Pope returns, Jake looked at him with a concerned look, all the Heyward does is nod when he sat back down. "Okay, what was that?" Kie asked since she was closer to Pope, who now raised the letter towards her, Jake and JJ. "Is that the wheat symbol?" Jake says, leaning forward in his desk. "Yeah." Pope nodded. "What the f--" JJ stops himself when Mr. Sunn quickly spun around to look at him. "Fu... fudge?" He saves himself.

After their test, Pope now leads the way, Jake, Kie and JJ following him. "Is this a game of tag?" JJ spoke up. "I don't know." Kie says quietly. "Am I gonna have to beat you with your protractor? What's going on?" JJ exclaimed and the librarian shushed them as the four passed by. "Seriously, Pope. You're driving us insane." Jake whispers to the boy.

"Okay, so that guy was from the scholarship committee." Pope finally spoke, turning to them as Kie and Jake took their seats at the computer desk. "Take a look at this." Pope held out the letter which JJ is quick to snatch before Jake can even take it. "Read it."

JJ opens up the letter and took it out, unfolding the paper. "Out loud." Kiara tells him but the Maybank just stared at the paper, glancing up at Pope then over at Kie and Jake before looking back down at the letter in his hands. "I can't read cursive." He whispers and as Kie just made a confused face at the blond boy, Jake takes the paper from JJ, not even saying anything as he held up the paper.

"Dear Mr. Heyward, I am reaching out because I have material evidence that can exonerate John B. Routledge." Jake stopped and looked over at Pope who's pacing and mouthing the words that Jake is reading, since he's already read it. He looks back at the paper. "It is of vital importance thag you come and meet with me in person at my offices at 27 King Street, Charleston at 8:00 p.m. sharp tonight." He read the rest as Kiara scrunched up her face.

"Please come alone." She read the last bit. "Regards, C. Limbrey." Jake now says before looking over at Pope. "Charleston?" JJ says, looking at Pope as well. "I know. It's like an eight-hour drive, plus the ferry. How are we gonna get there tonight?" Pope asked. "Yeah, we'd have to leave, like, right now..." Jake said as he glanced around.

"I have a free period." Kie proposed to the boys, looking up at JJ, looking at Jake then looking away. "Material evidence? What does that even mean, material evidence?" JJ asked, looking down at the letter on the table. "It means he can clear John B." Kie simply says, looking up at JJ. "Oh, shit, then we're going to Charleston." The Mayfield says right away.

Kie sighs, "I gotta tell my mom." She says and Jake nods. "Me too. So she'll know to watch Evie..." He tells them. "Look, if we get it this time, we are not giving it to Shoupe." He says, pointing at the table as he spoke. "Yeah. No duh." JJ simply agrees with him as Kiara also nodded her head in agreement.

Pope looks at the card, then at the computer as he sighs so Kie and Jake look over at him. "What is it, Pope?" The Lennox boy asked him. "I'm not sure, but I think whoever this Limbrey person is, they might be related to the captain of the Royal Merchant." He says, the computer screen open to a Wikipedia page.

At Kiara's, Jake tells the boys he'll call his mom now as he hopped out of the car and took out his phone. "Hey ma, just wanted to let you know I'll be busy today. And tonight." He covered his hand over his eyes. "That's alright, Jake. Will you be staying with your friends again?" She asked and he just nods softly, despite her not being able to see him.

"Yeah, my friends need me right now. I'll be home tomorrow. Don't forget to go pick up Evie from grandma's." He reminds her and she hums, "of course, Jake. I gotta get back to work, call me if you need anything. I love you, my boy." She says and he smiles.

"I love you too, mom..."

authors note
i'm so excited to be writing for this fic again bc i really miss writing obx fics 🤭

+ i finished prewriting the last of my st fics 🥲 but on the bright side, i'll be focusing completely on this fic from now on 🫶🏼