𝚃𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 》𝙹𝙹 𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚊𝚗𝚔

S2 Two

I had been planning on ways to get to Sarah. All of which haven't worked out. I texted the number again only for some random hotel lady to respond. I sighed. I didn't have money to travel. I didn't even know where to go. I was sitting in class plotting when I heard a familiar name being called out.
"Pope Heyward?" They said. I looked up and looked at Pope who stared back in confusion. He shrugged as he followed the man in the suit out of the door.

As Pope entered the classroom, a strange envelope in hand, the symbol on it sparking a jolt of recognition within me, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. "What the fu-" JJ's reaction was cut short by the teacher's watchful gaze, but my mind was already racing, thoughts bolting with possibilities.
After the test, I wasted no time in making my way out, the urgency unbearable.

As we all gathered in the library, tension hung heavy in the air as Kiara read aloud the contents of the envelope, the words echoing with promise and mystery. "Alone?" I said, mostly to myself in disbelief mirrored in Pope's expression.
"No chance" JJchimed in, his resolve firm. The librarian snapping her head at us barely registering, my focus was solely on the task at hand.

"We need to go, now" JJ urged, a sense of urgency pushing us into action as we hastily agreed with the blond boy.
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As we squeezed into the truck, the limited space forcing us into awkward positions, I found myself perched on JJ and Kiara.
Arriving at Kiara's house, we sat in silence, observing the heated exchange between her and her parents, a sense of unease settling over us. When Kiara finally made her way to the truck, JJ and I quickly hopped out to make room for her in the middle.

As she settled in, I couldn't help but let out a sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on us. "Well, that was smooth" I remarked dryly, the sarcasm lacing my voice a reflection of the tension that still lingered.

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As we finally boarded the ferry, we all nested in the back of Pope's truck, JJ's blunt made its rounds, each puff shared among us silently. With a warm smile, JJ extended the blunt to me, a gesture of familiarity that spoke volumes. Taking a leisurely drag, I passed it to Kiara, who accepted with a nod before offering it to Pope.

"What version of Pope are we getting today?" Kiara quipped, her tone light but teasing. Pope shook his head, a reminder of our mission's gravity. "I need to stay focused," he replied with determination.

"Come on, let loose a little" Kiara persisted, her playful banter met with a mixed reaction. Sensing the tension, I interjected, defending Pope against their jests. "Let's not be assholes," I chided gently, my words aimed at diffusing the situation.

JJ, quick to recognize the shift in mood, sobered up and joined me in solidarity. "Yeah, Kie, not cool," he agreed, his tone carrying a hint of apology. Rolling my eyes at their antics, I turned to Pope, offering him a reassuring smile, which he returned.

I found myself on the other side of JJ, my rested my head on his shoulder feeling a wave of exhaustion. I felt his arm snake around my waist as he held me closer to him.
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I stirred awake in the bed of the truck, JJ beside me, a sense of unease lingered in the air, overshadowing the tranquility of the morning. Sitting up, I caught JJ's gaze, his eyes reflecting a mixture of exhaustion and a linger of worry.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked softly, breaking the silence that had settled between us. I nodded in response, but the weight of unspoken words hung heavy between us.

Since the accident with John B and Sarah, a rift had formed between us, a subtle distance creeping into our once-close bond. Alone together now, the barrier of unspoken tension felt suffocating. I finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry, JJ" I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper, unable to meet his gaze.

But before I could dwell on my words, JJ drew closer, enveloping me in a comforting embrace. His reassurance washed over me like a balm, a silent acknowledgment of our shared pain and uncertainty.
"You got nothin' to apologize for"
Our moment  was abruptly interrupted as the truck jolted to a stop, a cloud of smoke billowing from under the hood.
Reacting instinctively, we scrambled out of the truck, the urgency of the situation overriding any lingering tension between us. As Pope inspected the engine and JJ diagnosed the issue, Kiara and I brainstormed alternative transportation options, but as the looks of it, there was nothing for miles.
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As I sat alone in the field, lost in my thought JJ's approach brought a glimmer of comfort. "Hey" I greeted him softly, a faint smile playing at my lips. His concerned look was noticeable as he settled beside me. "Are you okay?" I paused for a moment.

"Yeah, I'm just... thinking," I admitted, my voice slightly raspy. JJ's tilted his head. A sign he wanted me to continue. "About... everything," I confessed, the weight of my words threatening to overwhelm me.

Before I could retreat into the shadows of my thoughts, JJ's hands reached out, drawing me into his embrace. As tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, I let myself surrender to the vulnerability, to the raw honesty of my pain. "I've lost... everything, my sisters, my brother, my dad- hell even Rose" I murmured, my voice trembling. I took another short pause. "And now... I feel like I'm losing you too."

In that moment of vulnerability, JJ's reassurance enveloped me like a lifeline, his words soothing me "You're never going to lose me" he promised his touch a tender reminder of the unwavering bond between us.

With a gentle lift of my chin, JJ's lips met mine in a tender kiss, a silent vow of love. Lost in the moment, I surrendered to the warmth of his embrace, the world fading into the background as we fell into each other.

But as Pope's voice rose in argument with the mechanic, reality came crashing back. As we pulled away me and JJ shared a glance. Our moment of intimacy interrupted by the harsh realities of our circumstances. We followed Pope into the fray, a sense of determination settled over me.
The bill of the radiator high. I couldn't help and I felt useless. Kiara offered to pay which Pope took gratefully.

——————-——————-——————-—————-The night settled in, we piled into the bed of the truck. Pope's rhythmic breathing signaled his descent into slumber, while Kiara wandered restlessly nearby. I nestled beside JJ, his drowsy state evident, I gently removed the half-empty flask from his grasp, setting it aside with care.

Sinking into the comfort of his embrace, I rested my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek. His arms instinctively encircled me, a silent reassurance in the darkness, and a soft smile tugged at my lips in response.

As it got later Kiara finally settled down, kissing Pope on the cheek before she settled down.
"Goodnight Kie" I said. "Goodnight Y/N" she responded before I closed my eyes and drifted.
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DAYNG this was long.

It also kind of sucks because I was writing as I was watching the show lol so there's a lot of time skips in this one.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS!!!