Part 12

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He drives me back to John b's and my face lights up when I see the whole crew John b included standing there

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He drives me back to John b's and my face lights up when I see the whole crew John b included standing there.
"John B!" I yell with a big smile on my face
"Oh my god he's out." I mumble as I hop from toppers boat into the pogue and give John b a tight hug
"Hi" John B says looking at me
"Hi!" I smile at him
"Oh my God. I'm so glad you're okay. Hi." I tell him then I look at JJ back to John b
"Please don't tell me JJ's plan worked" I says
"Nah. No need to worry. I broke the wrong guy out of jail." JJ tells me as I just stare at him wide eye
"Uh they dropped all the charges" John B tells me
"Wait really?" I ask him
"Yeah no yeah I'm a free man. Yeah" John B smiles
"That's amazing." I smile
"I know. It's great but... But listen Star they're coming after Rafe" John B tells me
"Good. He's completely unhinged. He jumped me last night." I tell them
"What?" Kie and Sarah say at the same time
"That's why I didn't come back" I tell them
"Yeah man. Rafe has lost his mind. Literally almost drowned his own sister. Thankfully I got there just in time" Topper says joining the conversation
"Uh yeah he did" I tell them
"Uh well I guess I owe you one Topper don't I?" John B says
"It's all good. I mean somebody had to rescue your girlfriend right?" Topper asks him
"Uh that's funny because she's not actually my girlfriend right?" John B says to me
"Uh...Well what is she then?" Topper asks him
"Tell him" John B tells me
"I'm-we're... unofficial official uh married" I tell him fumbling over my words
"Oh ok wow. All clear on that now. Yall clear on that" topper says trying to hide the fact that he's hurt
"I think it's clear you gotta go now" JJ tells him
"Think I'll head out. It's about that time" Topper says
"Thank you topper" I tell him
"Yeah of course. I'm just glad you're okay"
Topper says before driving off

I sit on the hammock with John B but I can tell something is off by the look on his face.
"JB. What's wrong?" I ask him
"Nothing's wrong Star" he tells me
"I can tell when something is wrong JB. Is this about topper?" I ask him
"I literally had nowhere to go last night. Rafe almost- Rafe tried to kill me. And the only person I wanted to see after that was in jail." I tell him
"Okay I... I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry I couldn't be there." He says throwing his hands up
"I'm not blaming you for that JB" I tell him
"Listen Stella I... I think your Dad tried to get me killed in jail last night" John B tells me
"What?" I ask him
"That's twice" John B says
"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say." I tell him
"Okay but that's not the point" John B says
"Why did you say it that way when you told topper" John b asks me
"JB what do you mean?" I ask him
"Star you're not just my girlfriend" John B tells me
"I know that" I tell him
"Okay then why did you say it that way? Are you embarrassed?" John b asks me
"No I'm not embarrassed" I tell him
"Okay then why did you?" John B asks me
"I just... I didn't know how to put it in front of everyone especially after he just saved my life" I tell him
"You know what?" John b says standing up
"It's not-" I start to say standing up as well
"Whatever. Whatever. It's not important all right? It's not a big deal Stella." John b says
"John B." JJ says walking towards us
"You wanna shotgun one in the name of freedom?" He asks him and John B walks away. "Ella you wanna-" he starts to ask me
"No!" I yell walking away

I sit on the dock thinking over what John b said. When I hear someone walk up behind me
"Need dating advice? Talk to the master" JJ says walking up to me
"I'm guessing john b told you everything" I say as he sits down next to me
"He's just upset. Now is he over reacting, yes 100%" JJ laughs
"You tell him that? Maybe he will listen to you... I just- I don't know" I tell him
"No it's ok what is it?" JJ asks me
"I understand a little bit to what John b is saying. I just didn't know how to put it in front of everyone, especially after he just saved my life from my brother trying to kill me, for the second time might I add. I didn't mean to sound like I was embarrassed" I tell him
"I understand. I get where John b is coming from but I also get where you're coming from. John b shouldn't have reacted that way I just think from everything that has happened he's worked up and he took it out of you. Give him a few days tops and he will apologize. And if you need I'll talk some sense into him, I'm kinda on your side on this one" he tells me
"Thanks JJ. Maybe I should get more advice from you sometime" I tell him
"Actually?" He asks
"Oh no definitely not, I'd just thought I would boost your ego for a second" I smile



"Pope! Pope! Just got a call from Guffy. Something happened to your pops." JJ says as we run towards him
"What?" He asks and starts to run with us
"John B! Sarah! Come on!" Kie yells

When we get there we find Heyward all beat up. I start to cut his cut and put a bandaid
"Let me know if I'm hurting you" I tell him
"You're doing just fine" Heyward says
"Okay. Done" I tell him as I finish it
"Thank you darlin' " he tells me
"Pop what happened?" Pope asks him
"Oh I should've known better. He came in just as I was about to lock up. Caught me by surprise. Once he had me down he put his knee in my chest, and he asked me about that... that... that key from that... that drawing you showed me. And in case you're wondering, I ain't tell him nothing. Now did you track it down?" He asks pope
Pope pulls out the key he found
"I found it in Mee-maw's old apartment above the pharmacy just like you said." Pope tells him
"Shit boy you should've gave this to me. I wouldn't have had to take a beating. What's the big deal? It ain't worth anything. Why they want it so bad?" Heyward asks him
"I don't know. First I get this letter telling me that I need to go to Charleston. And then I meet a rich lady who wants me to give her a key that I didn't even know was in my family." Pope tells him
"None of it makes any sense" Kie says
"Well don't y'all just sit here whining about it.
Figure it out!" Heyward tells us
"No. I'm just gonna give the key to that lady. It's not worth-" Pope starts to say
"No no no. Did I raise you to back down from a fight boy?" Heyward asks pope
"No sir." Pope says
"Well all right. Now I... I didn't think about it before. I admit that. But now...Now? I'm interested. Well did they say why they wanted it?" He asks him
"Something about an old cross. I think it might be some kind of lost treasure" Pope says
"You know who you should talk to? Your great-grandmother Mee-maw" Heyward tells him

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