𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐄 ¹- jj maybank

𝟎𝟎𝟖 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

SEASON 1
EPISODE 1

"Something like the old times, huh?"

»»-----　　-----««

KIARA PLAYED A RYTHM on the bongos she had found in John B's small work station, the beats filling the air around the group. JJ, as usual, entertained himself by tossing rocks into the water, while Pope sat with a book, lost in his own world.

Victoria rode up on her bike, the familiar hum of the wheels slowing as she reached the group. "Hey y'all," she called out, hopping off and plopping down next to Kiara.

Kie barely acknowledged her, a distracted "Hey," leaving her lips as she kept drumming, but the others remained quiet. Victoria glanced over to John B, who was staring off into the distance, his mind clearly somewhere else.

"You okay, John?" she asked, trying to snap him out of his thoughts.

John B's gaze snapped back to her, and he stood up, moving closer to the group. "Look, I'm calling it off," he said, his voice carrying an unusual seriousness that drew everyone's attention, including JJ, who stopped mid-throw.

"Peterkin said that if I stay out of the marsh, she'll help me with DCS," John B continued, frustration edging his words.

JJ scoffed, raising an eyebrow. "And you believe her?" he asked, his tone incredulous. "An actual cop, John B. You believe a cop?"

John B's voice rose, the tension in the air thickening. "All I gotta do is stay out of the marsh for a few days, and she'll help me out!"

JJ didn't hide his disbelief. "All I gotta say is, that's a bad move, man. You really think it's that easy?"

John B shook his head, irritated by JJ's dismissal. "It doesn't help that your ass was the one shooting a gun," he snapped.

JJ didn't back down, his voice rising with his frustration. "You know what I should've done?" he asked, cocking his head in mock thought. "I should've let Topper drown your ass, man."

John B let out a humorless chuckle, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, because Topper was gonna drown me."

Victoria spoke up, cutting through the tension. "Cut the bullshit, John B, he was gonna drown you."

JJ wasn't done yet. "I mean, have you looked in the mirror?"

John B stood up straight, pushing past JJ as the words hung heavy in the air. "Tell me some more," he snarled, a smirk appearing on his face. "Come on."

JJ was visibly frustrated, his hands gesturing wildly as he spoke. "They always win, don't they, man? Kooks versus Pogues. They always, always win!" He slapped a hand against a hanging buoy in anger. "Goddamn."

Kiara stepped forward, trying to calm JJ down. "Look, it's okay!"

But JJ spun around sharply, his anger flaring up again. "No, it's not okay!" he snapped, walking under the hut, pacing. "They don't want us to go down to the marsh, that means there's something valuable down there, and you know it!" He pointed at John B before turning to Pope. "And I understand why you don't wanna go. You're the golden boy. You've got way too much to risk. And you—" he turned to Kiara and Victoria, "You're already rich as fuck anyway. Why would you bother?"

JJ's focus returned to John B, frustration pouring out of him. "But you and me, man, we got nothin' to lose! We really don't, all right?"

John B let out a long sigh, not convinced. "JJ..."

"I know it didn't used to be that way for you—" JJ was interrupted by John B's groan.

"I don't wanna talk about this," John B muttered, pushing off the equipment he'd been leaning on. He walked a few steps before turning to face the group. "I don't wanna talk about it."