𝐾𝐼𝐴𝑅𝐴, 𝐿𝐴𝐶𝐸𝑌, 𝐴𝑁𝐷 𝐽𝐽 were with Pope at Heyward's helping out with some of the restocking. None of them except Pope actually work there, but they do off jobs for Heyward when he needs it, this being one of those times.
Heyward was aware of the fact that Pope had been jumped due to the cut and bruise on his head. Pope didn't tell his father the gory details, such as sinking Topper's boat, but it only solidified the hatred Heyward felt for the kooks. Even if he did play nice with them. Pope, aware of everything, was still fixating on the fight that had happened. JJ was trying to be reassuring, "Don't let it get in your head. Three of them and two of us. That's typical kook shit right there."
"Hell, yeah." Kiara agreed.
"I want to know why you decided to go ahead first." Lacey asked with a small laugh, to which Pope returned it. He shrugged his shoulders and joked, "I figured I could use my intelligence against them."
Lacey laughed once more, which made Pope smile and look down, clearly nervous. Pope continued to let his feelings for Lacey drive their friendship, something the blonde one there was not too fond of. JJ sent Lacey a knowing look, insinuating that Lacey was flirting with Pope, to which she rolled her eyes. That really wasn't the case, all she did was laugh. It wasn't Lacey's fault that Pope still had feelings for her when she had clearly stopped showing romantic interest.
JJ hates that Pope can outwardly be infatuated with Lacey when he doesn't have that option. JJ wanted to scream his admiration for her from the rooftops, to show off the woman that somehow felt something for him, but he couldn't. It wasn't fair to Pope. Besides, it was JJ's fault that his friend had any kind of hope to be with Lacey. JJ drove them together, but it didn't help him feel less insecure about whether or not he was good enough for Lacey. They aren't dating, they don't know what they are to each other, but JJ did know that his entire heart revolved around Lacey Flores.
"Hey, Pope. Someone's here to see you." Heyward announced as he walked into the shop, Laverne following behind in her new police uniform. Lacey and her mother made eye contact, it being strange to see each other while she was now an officer of the law, but Lacey focused back to Pope, who was nothing but kind. "Hi, Ms. Flores."
