TIDES OF FATE - JJ Maybank

XXVI. Goodbye for now

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.:

3rd person POV

THERE WAS A heavy feeling that settled at the bottom of Lily's stomach as she and her friends docked the Phantom.

After leaving Barry and Rafe groaning on the floor of the boating garage, they managed to get the old cigarette boat into the water and miraculously the engine still ran. The entire ride from the garage to their meeting point, all Lillian could think about was how John B's life was ruined and that she was moments away from saying goodbye to him.

She couldn't fathom a world without him. Nearly losing him after the fall at Hawk's Nest was scary enough, but this time it was real.

This time, she was losing him to the law and to Ward Cameron. And while the group planned to follow him to Mexico in two months time, she couldn't tell if that was fantasy or reality.

She knew he had to leave, but God, how she wished he didn't.

Lily's thoughts were disrupted by Kie jumping off the boat and onto the dock. "Dude, where is he?" The curly-haired teen wondered, looking around at the empty space where John B should've been to meet them.

JJ looked up. "Give him a second," he said, eyes catching the nervous look on his girlfriend's face. "He'll be here. He's coming. He'll be fine."

Pope followed after Kie, but not before stopping to offer Lily a helping hand. She took with a grateful smile and stepped off of the boat, letting go once she was safely on the dock.

From the corner of her eye, Lily could see the flashing lights of a Kildare Police cruiser and her face dropped. "JJ," she called warily, gesturing for him to start the boat again. "We've got company."

He looked over at her and swore under his breath. "Hey, yeah." He called out to Kie and Pope and nodded towards the Phantom. "Get back on the boat. Untie it."

While the teens moved as quickly as they could, they weren't quick enough because in the time between their first recognition and now, the cruiser had parked and the door had opened.

They all watched as John B stepped out fixing his backpack as if stealing a police car was an everyday occurrence.

"No way," Lily laughed, relief filling her senses. "No fucking way." She shook her head and headed down the dock to give him a hug.

"Shoupe let me take it for a spin," John B stated smugly as he let go of Lily.

Kie nodded with pleasant disbelief in her stare. "Okay, that's believable." She walked up to the pair and wrapped her arms around the tall boy. "I'll buy that for now."

The trio neared the boat and JJ tossed John B the keys. "It wasn't easy, bro, but I got the Phantom for you, and she runs like she was made yesterday. You ready to go?"

John B glanced around. "Where's Sarah?"

Lily and Kie shared a look before checking the police car and the surrounding area for their favourite blonde Kook. "She's not with you?" The latter questioned.

He shook his head. "No, we got separated in the swamp. She said she'd meet me here."

Pope gave him a sympathetic look. "No, we haven't seen her."

"Okay, well, I'm not leaving without her," John B stated defiantly.

JJ stepped down from the boat and wrapped an arm around John B's shoulders. "John B, look at me," he said, forcing the boy to look at him. "I know you feel bad for leaving, but there's no time, man. You've got plenty of gas, plenty of food. Once you get around that point, it's a straight shot across the sound to Dismal Swamp, okay? Once you get there, lay low, alright? Hang out for a couple of weeks and then go overland, cross the border at Brownsville, you got that? Brownsville."