𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝟮𝟰/𝟳

Chapter 15

Later that night I went to visit Pope and Kiara who were hanging out at John B's place. I'd still ran away, so I was crashing at John B's for a bit.

Pope rushed inside just as I was settling down on the couch for the night, covered in dust. "Mercedes—I've got news about Denmark."

"What?" I sat up, worried.

Apparently, Denmark was Pope's relative, which he had figured out from his Mee-Maw.

"We've got to go investigate my Mee–maw's place," Pope was panting miles a minute, and looked like how John B had been when he thought his dad was alive. Basically, he looked desperate. Crazy.

"Pope, maybe you should sit down for a second, calm down a bit," I pushed on his shoulders, making him sit down next to me.

"No! You don't understand!" He shouted. "My bloodline was on The Royal Merchant! Denmark Tanny is my relative—"

And then I kissed him.

JJ didn't want me—he thought our friendship was never going to happen. Sue me, I was acting on adrenaline. I was upset. Kiara had dumped Pope, and I don't know what I was thinking. But I was thinking that—

His lips were warm. I kissed him hard, harder than I usually would with any boy, because I was desperate. This had to work out. Fuck JJ, this was my revenge.

Pope shoved me away, wiping at his mouth. "Mercedes, what?! No."

"I don't understand!" I stood up angrily. "Kiara rejected you! She dumped your fucking ass. And I'm right here, available! You're just like him—" I caught myself. JJ didn't want me. Pope didn't want me.

"Mercedes, no. This is wrong." Pope unsteadily stood up.

"Well fuck them, then. Fuck Kiara. Be with me, make her feel what you're feeling right now." I clung to him. I didn't care if I was desperate. I wasn't talking about Kiara. I was talking about JJ.

"N—no," Pope shook his head. "It's not right."

"Because of the no Pogue on Pogue macking rule?! It's stupid, Pope, no one even listens to that anyways!" I cried. "For fucks sake, take a risk. Be different. Be bold. Get fucking revenge!"

"No, Mercedes," Pope said. "You're acting different. You're not in the right headspace. I have to go anyway," and then he left.

He just fucking left!

And I stood there, staring after him, feeling like a complete idiot.

Actually, I was a genius. And I had no regrets.

I wanted JJ to feel how I was feeling. I wanted revenge. And Pope could give me that. Together, we could work as one to make it work. I didn't care if I was hurting anyone's feelings, I just wanted JJ's feelings hurt.

And if Pope couldn't see that, well he was an idiot. And he was weak.

↬——✾——↫

The next morning Pope, JJ, and Kiara showed up in the garage of John B's. Pope had gone back to his Mee–Maw's, and had found an ancient heirloom of his. A key.

While Kiara kept trying to break the awkwardness that I had between Pope and JJ, I moodily sat there playing with my polaroid camera.

Suddenly, the Twinkie pulled up with John B in it. We all ran out to hug him, amazed that he'd been bailed out. Apparently, they'd "dropped charges" and John B had been free to go. We all cheered, and headed down to the water to celebrate.