P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

School

"Hey, chill out," Kie warned as the group climbed out of her car.

JJ shoved his empty beer can into the back seat. "If I black out, just don't remind me."

"That's not funny," Kie mumbled.

The four of them started towards the school, their bags held on their backs. Their heads were swaying left and right, watching as everyone muttered things about them.

"I wasn't sure they'd show up," one person said.

"I heard they got arrested," another said.

They walked forward, stopping in front of the John B memorial outside the school.

Cory leaned into JJ, giving her foot a break.

"I feel like people are staring at us," Kiara said.

"They are staring," Cory said.

"Oh, yeah," JJ confirmed.

Pope sighed. "Guys, I can't be late."

He moved around the rock, only to be stopped by Kie. "Hey, hey. We gotta stick together."

She held out a hand, which Pope took with almost no hesitation.

"Stick together," JJ mumbled, intertwining his fingers with Cory. "Yeah."

They moved forward, and Cory locked her hand around Kie's arm.

The four of them started towards the school in a line, linking themselves together protectively.

"And the slave becomes the new ruler," their teacher explained.

Cory threw her head back, boredom hitting her.

"Now, Diocletian splits the sprawling Roman Empire into four separate kingdoms," their teacher said.

In front of Cory, Pope's phone buzzed. He pulled it off the desk. Then, her phone buzzed, followed by both Kie and JJ's.

"Who's phone was that?" their teacher asked. "Nobody? You will be tested. Now, to recap, who was Diocletian? An ex-slave who became the ruler of the roman empire."

Cory pulled out her phone, looking down. She had a text from an unknown number.

"Did you get it?" Kie mumbled.

They all looked up.

Pope nodded. "Yeah."

They all exchanged odd glances.

JJ got up, moving in between them all. They each lifted their phone, revealing the message. On all four phones was an identical image. John B and Sarah.

JJ was the first to move, immediately disrupting class by sprinting out the door.

Their teacher froze as Cory got up, following him almost immediately. Kie was directly behind her.

Pope raised his hand. "Um, can I be excused to help them in the bathroom?"

He moved before even finishing his question.

They moved quickly through the halls, excited whispers being passed between them.

When they reached the courtyard, an empty space outside where they could talk, Kie began to contemplate.

"I mean, is that even possible?" she asked. "I mean, Shoupe said that they didn't make it. He said that."

They approached a table, finding seats around it.