Now or Never ⇀ John B Routledge [1]

xviii. a match into water

"It's okay everybody!" JJ's raised voice caught Ashtyn's attention, causing the sixteen year old to almost fall face first into the muddy shore below the bow. After her small disagreement with John she returned to The Pogue for some peace and quiet, but it was obvious their plan had already been executed. "Do not panic. Let's leave it to the men and women in uniform, huh?"

She didn't know why the blonde felt the need to cause a scene, he and Luke were supposed to be as inconspicuous as possible, but the mention of 'people in uniform' made her worry that he was getting arrested again. That kid didn't even have to be awake to find trouble it seemed...

Pushing her body off the fiberglass, Ashtyn jogged back to the small clearing where she had left John earlier, only to find the spot abandoned. "Damn it..." She was about to return to the boat when she caught sight of his messy brown hair next to Pope on the outskirts of the party. The pair seemed to be lost in conversation, unbothered by JJ's antics.

"Rose!" The blonde males voice traveled through the air once again. "You look like Lady Liberty! It's good to see you again."

With a sigh, Ashtyn pushed herself to take a step forward. Even if she and John were having problems right now, she wasn't going to let them affect her relationship with the rest of the group. By now, the mainland girl had lost enough, anything else would completely break her down.

The brunette hesitantly placed a hand on John B's tense shoulder once she reached his side. Her way of agreeing to a momentary truce for the betterment of their friend group. "Have I missed anything good?"

"Just the usual JJ schinangians." Pope shrugged, "Where have you been?"

She inched forward, shooting Pope a look that said 'don't worry about it' before turning back to the party. "Just off thinking. You know, the usual teenager thing to do."

"Workers of the world unite!" JJ yelled again as Luke finally came into view. The boys' face was unusually pale, causing Ashtyn wonder what had happened to her brother, but she figured she could ask him about it later in private. "Throw off your chains!"

"That boy is pure chaos." Ashtyn mumbled under her breath.

John chuckled, having heard the remark. "That's why he's my best friend."

"Colonel!" JJ came to a halt in front of his three friends, saluting John like a military cadet. He seemed happier than he did before going into the country club, and Ashtyn wondered if Emerson Slaney had something to do with it.

John saluted back, chuckling at all the eyes currently on them. "Captain."

"Mission accomplished sir." A cocky smirk appeared on Luke's face as he relayed his message to John.

Two arms wrapped around Ashtyn so tightly that the brunette didn't think she'd be able to find her breath again. "Where the hell have you been?" Kiara's voice sounded tired and the expensive perfume she wore made Ashtyn slightly nauseous.