I Can Fix Him (no really I can) || Rafe Cameron

12. Rumors of the Dead

The day starts like any other. School feels like a chore, a way to kill time, and I'm barely paying attention as I walk through the halls, listening to the chatter around me. But today, something's different. There's a buzz in the air, this strange energy, like something big's about to happen.

I catch sight of JJ and Kie as I round the corner to my locker. They're talking in low voices, JJ leaning against the wall with that glint in his eye he gets whenever he's about to do something reckless. Kie's got her arms crossed, looking like she's half-exasperated, half-amused. As soon as they see me, their conversation halts.

"Pen," JJ says, his grin widening. "You hear the news?"

"Depends on what news we're talking about," I reply, glancing between the two of them. "Did Pope finally break a rule or something?"

Kie rolls her eyes. "You wish. No, it's...bigger than that."

Before I can ask, Pope jogs up to us, looking out of breath and more than a little frazzled. He glances around, making sure no one's within earshot, before he leans in close.

"They're alive," he whispers, his voice barely containing his excitement.

My heart skips a beat, and I stare at him in shock, my brain working to process what he just said. "Wait... who's alive?"

"John B and Sarah," Kie says, her voice trembling with disbelief and relief. "They're in the Bahamas."

JJ, unable to contain his excitement, punches the air. "Hell yeah! Our boy made it!"

I feel a mixture of relief and confusion wash over me. John B was supposed to be dead. We'd all mourned him, buried him in our own ways. And now, suddenly, he's alive? It doesn't make sense. And Sarah, too? After everything with her family?

"But...how?" I manage to stammer, still trying to wrap my head around it.

"Word's going around that they somehow survived the storm and made it to Nassau," Pope explains, pulling out his phone. "It's all over the news. Cops are saying they're fugitives, but who cares? They're out there, and they're alive."

I glance down at the phone, seeing a grainy image of what looks like John B and Sarah walking through a bustling market. The headlines are plastered with phrases like Fugitive Couple Spotted and Storm Survivors Return from the Dead.

"They must've had help getting out there," JJ says, shaking his head in awe. "Dude's like a cockroach- never goes down no matter what you throw at him."

My heart's still racing, and I can barely keep my thoughts straight. John B and Sarah. Alive. I can't believe it.

"We've gotta tell everyone," I say, unable to keep the smile off my face. "I mean, this changes everything, doesn't it?"

Kie nods, her eyes bright with hope. "We thought we lost them. But if they made it this far, maybe... maybe we can help them."

JJ grins mischievously. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm thinking Bahamas road trip."

Pope groans, but he's smiling too. "JJ, it's not that simple. They're wanted by the cops. And if they're in Nassau, it's not exactly like we can just hop on a plan and go say hi."

"Never said it'd be easy," JJ shrugs, his grin widening. "But when have we ever done anything the easy way?"

Just then, the bell rings, jolting us back to reality. We all glance at each other, knowing that there's no way any of us are going to focus in class today. Not with the thought of John B and Sarah out there, alive and waiting for us to find them.

I look at Kie, JJ, and Pope, and it only takes a split second before we all make the same decision. No one says a word, but we all turn on our heels, making a beeline for the exit, ditching class without a second thought.