One Stupid Thing

3:6:90

We arrived back in the OBX early in the morning the next day. Ryan drove us all in his truck from Wilmington and offered to drop us off at the Chateau, but the Pogues refused. Instead, we parted ways at the Wreck. From there, the six of us walked back to the Cut.

When we got there, the Twinkie was parked out front and, to everyone's delight, Big John came running out of the house with his son not far behind. It was a happy reunion.

Big John is exactly as I remember him being: a burly man with unkempt hair, glasses, and the demeanor of a teddy bear. I step back and watch as he engulfs Pope in a tight hug with huge smiles on their faces. As soon as they break away, JJ rushes up to the man and jumps on his back. Big John laughs heartily and spins him around, something that I'm sure had been much easier when JJ was a boy. Knowing how JJ's father, Luke treats his son, it wouldn't surprise me if Big John had taken on the role of a father figure for JJ in his absence. It comforts me knowing that even though JJ's own father is a deadbeat, that he still had good people around him growing up.

Once JJ has both feet firmly on the ground again, Big John turns his head and his eyes land on me. I feel unusually shy. "Well, if it isn't Stella Cameron, the girl who finally tamed this beast right here." He ruffles JJ's hair playfully before starting towards me with open arms.

"Tamed is one word for it, yeah," I tease. "What can I say? He is pretty good at stealing things." I return the embrace gratefully.

"That's what I do," JJ boasts. I shoot him a look over Big John's shoulder.

"It's great to finally meet you, sir," I say once we step away from each other. To my right, Sarah grins at me.

"Oh, no. No need for formalities, kiddo. Just Big John is fine." The man looks from my sister to me and back again. "Well, you boys sure know how to pick 'em." Sarah and I share an embarrassed laugh.

"Hey, Pops," John B starts. He stands on the porch steps with some beers in his hands. I would have expected him to be more excited about his friends reuniting with his father, but there is a solemn air about him. He tilts his head as a gesture to the fire pit and we all begin to gather around it in turn. John B passes out beers to everyone. I take one from him, but instead of opening it, I just fiddle with the tab. I'm too anxious about this conversation to drink.

While the rest of us were trying to get the cross back, John B had been off with his father chasing a lead for yet another treasure. El Dorado, the lost city of gold. The same one that Singh is also so hell bent on finding.

Underneath the giant oak tree, Big John swings back and forth in the hammock, taking occasional sips of his beer and ultimately letting his son do the talking. John B takes a seat on a tree stump, Sarah settles down in a chair on his right, and JJ, Cleo, and I choose to sit on his other side. Pope and Kie stand across from us, both watching John B expectantly and waiting for him to speak.

John B finally clears his throat. "Yeah, yeah, so we, um... we went to the archives in Charleston, and, uh..." he trails off, glances at his dad briefly, and then exhales. "it was... it was a dead end. A dry hole, so."

"So that's the gold, the cross, and now El Dorado," Pope recalls in defeat. He fidgets with a piece of tree bark in his hands. "We're three-for-three, guys." With a grunt, he winds his arm back and chucks the bark as far as he can, releasing his pent-up frustration. "The streak continues. That's great." With one final huff, Pope stomps off.

Kie watches him walk off and gives John B a sympathetic glance. "See you, John B," she says softly before taking her leave.

Feeling awkward, I stand up from my chair and smooth down my jean shorts. JJ looks up at me as I walk up to him, place a hand on his shoulder, and lean down. "Okay, um. I'm gonna go to Ryan's, okay?" A flash of emotion crosses his face briefly.