P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

The Arrest

"Don't let it get in your head, bro," JJ said. "Three of them and two of us. That's some typical Kook shit right there."

"Oh yeah?" Kie asked.

Cory and Kie we're standing hip to hip behind the counter of Heywards shop. Kie didn't know why, but ever since JJ and Cory arrived at Pope's that morning, Cory had been clinging to Kie.

Cory eyebrows we're furrowed as she tried to not focus on her encounter with JJ that morning. Kie bumped her lightly with her hip, giving her a look that asked 'you okay?'

Cory pursed her lips but nodded. She would tell Kie later. She needed to talk to another girl about it. Make sure she wasn't crazy.

"What was your thought process, using your head?" JJ asked Pope.

"I dunno man," Pope answered. "I just kinda acted off instinct, alright? I was a cornered animal."

"You used your head?" Cory was asking but just then, Heyward's voice interrupted.

"Hey, Cory!" He called out as he walked in. He had a solemn look on his face. "Someone here to see you."

Then, from the doorway, appeared Officer Shoupe. Cory's stomach dropped.

"Evening, Officer," she gulped.

Shoupe started forward and Cory instinctually stepped back. "I have an arrest warrant for felony destruction of property."

Cory glanced back at JJ, who shook his head subtly. Deny.

"Keep your hands on the counter, where I can see them," Shoupe said.

"Shoupe–" Cory started.

"Get out of my way, young lady," Shoupe said to Kie, coming up behind Cory.

"Wait wait wait," Heyward said. "What she do, Shoupe?"

"Take a look at the warrant," Shoupe said, grabbing Cory's arms and pulling them back together.

"You're arresting her?" Kie asked.

"Shoupe, you know this girl," Heyward tried. "She would never do anything worth being arrested."

The handcuffs snapped onto her wrists, the cold metal clashing against her bracelets.

"Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law," Shoupe said. "You have the right to an attorney."

Cory finally felt like this was real. She was getting arrested. Because Rafe and Topper beat her up. Everyones voice started blurring together.

"How much did they pay you, man?" JJ asked, running around the side of the counter to come to Cory's side.

The voices blurred together more and more as Shoupe started walking her out to the police car.

She could see the anger on everyones faces. Heyward didn't seem to believe she did it. The Pogues knew better, but still they fought for her.

Next to her, JJ was the most upset. He had encouraged her to do it... and she was his best friend, she couldn't be arrested.

And her dad... what would happen when her dad came to bail her out. JJ knew what would happen.

He couldn't let that happen.

"It wasn't her!" JJ yelled, just as they reached the car.

Cory turned to look at him, concern etched on her face.

"It was me," JJ announced.

"Jay," Cory mumbled.

"She tried to talk me out of it," JJ said, trying to make the story believable. "You know her. She wouldn't harm a fly. She always tries to reason with me but I didn't listen. I was mad because she'd just been beaten up." He gestured to Pope. "Him too. My best friends. I was so sick of those assholes from Figure Eight that I lost my shit." Then he turned to Cory. "I can't let you take the blame for somethin' I did."

"What are you doing, Jay?" Cory asked, cocking her head. She wouldn't let him do this.

"I'm tellin' the truth," he lied. "For once in my goddamn life, I'm gonna tell the truth. I took Pope's old mans boat, too."

"What the hell?" Heyward asked.

Cory finally had it. As JJ attempted to keep incriminating himself, Cory turned directly to Shoupe, completely blocking JJ from her vision. He was no longer there.

"It wasn't him," she said stoicly. "He's lying. You know he is."

"Cory–" JJ said.

"I did it, Shoupe," she continued. "Let me pay the price, not JJ."

Shoupe's eyes glanced back to JJ, then narrowed in on Cory.

The air felt still as they stared at each other, ignoring all attempts JJ made to throw himself under the bus.

"Cordelia Katz, you are under arrest," Shoupe said, pushing her into the back of the car.

"No!" JJ yelled, trying to push forward, but Pope held him back. "No, Shoupe!"

Shoupe simply ignored JJ, rounding the car and climbing into the drivers seat.

Cory clenched her jaw as the car started. Then JJ was banging on the window. She turned her face away and didn't look back until JJ was long out of view.

Then, she was taken to jail.