✯ North Star ✯

Part 20

(I just love this picture)

I spent most of the day just reading and listening to music.

My dad came running home with a stab wound on his arm
"Dad? What happened?" I ask him with a worried expression
"Stella you need to go back to your room" he tells me
"No dad what's wrong? Where's John b?" I ask him as he tried to get me to go to my room
"Stella. John b stabbed me" he says
"What no no no . He wouldn't" I tell him
"Sweetheart I know it's hard to believe but you need to go to your room now" he says pushing me in and closing the door

It was now dark outside and still no sign of John b but then John b walks into my room holding a gun.
"John B why do you have a gun?" I ask him
"Did you tell your dad about the gold?" John B asks me
"What, what are you talking about?" I ask
"Answer the question. About the gold" John B says
"No. No. I would never do that" I tell him.
"Then how'd he know? Hm?" John B asks me
John B grabs my arm
"Answer me!" He says harshly as I let out a gasp
"John B you're scaring me" I say
"Is life back in the Cut scary to you?" He says getting in my face
"Stella!" I hear my dad yell
John b lets out a small gasp
"Hey. Shh." He says putting his finger to his mouth

John B takes me outside as quite as possible
"Where are you taking me?" I ask him
"Somewhere where we can talk" John B says
"Stella!" my mom yells
"John b what's going on?" I ask putting my hand on his face
"Your dad... he-killed my father" John B says "What?" I ask him shocked
"I need you to listen to me. Look I think they were working together to find the Royal Merchant. There was some sort of conflict and... and nobody knows what happened to my dad except for Scooter Grubbs" John B tells me
"Stop." I say shaking my head
"Look he was... he was a part of this okay? I figured it out on the boat" John B tells me
"Just stop" I beg him
"And your dad he tried to kill me Stella" John B says
"He told me you stabbed him" I tell him
"What are you talking about? He killed my father" John B says
"Stella!" Ward yells
"I just... I can't..." I mumble
"Look at me. It's me star. Why would I lie about this?" He says
"I need to go." I say walking off from him tears falling down my face.

I turn to look at John b again but he was already gone.
"Stella! Ward she's here! Yeah she's fine. She's fine." My mom says hugging me
"Sweetie what are you doing? What are you doing out here?" Dad asks me
My dad takes me inside and sits me on the couch
"John B was here wasn't he?" Dad asks me
"No." I shake my head
"Sweetheart please don't lie to me" Dad tells me
"Okay so don't lie to me." I say standing up
"I'm not" Dad says
"Then tell me what happened on the boat!" I yell at him
"Stella! I wanted to take the boy fishing. You saw that all right? I did it because a boy needs a father figure. So out we go and it was great. It was. And then he just starts... drinking, and then at a certain part he starts accusing me of these... insane things. And the more I try to calm him down the angrier he gets till finally he attacks me!" Dad tells me
"No John B wouldn't do that." I tell him
"You don't believe this? Do you wanna see it again? Where he stabbed me with a spear? Do you want to see the one on the deck of the Druthers? You want to go out there? Let's go!" Dad yells grabbing my arm
"Stop!" I yell
"Right now!" Dad yells at me
"Please... please stop yelling" I say.
"I'm sorry baby. I don't mean to yell. John B is not who you think he is okay? I mean if you heard the crazy things he was saying on that boat." My dad says sitting back down
"Like what?" I ask him
"Like I killed his father. Like that. Me. Did he tell you that? I know you have feelings for John B and I know how strong that can be especially at your age... but sweetheart he's dangerous right now. I don't know what he would do to you if you made him angry and I just... can't have that. I need you to promise me that you'll stay completely away from him and to stay here until this thing all blows over." He tells me
"No I can't- I.... I just need to be alone" I tell him
"I think that's best" Ward says