𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

6.

🦋☀ 🌊 - 6

Everyone was unusually quiet as they walked up the dock, the night air cool against their skin. The adrenaline from what had just happened still hummed under their skin, leaving them shaky and disoriented, but there was laughter too-nervous, relieved, and shaky. They wanted to focus on something tangible, something they could control. Like the bag.

"What do you guys think it is?" Kiara ran up the dock with John B leading the way, the others following at a slower pace. The sound of water slapping against the pilings mixed with the soft rustle of their footsteps.

"Should be money, right?" John B asked, a flicker of hope in his voice.

Bending down, he unzipped the bag slowly. The backpack looked like it could hold anything: cash, jewels, secrets.

"That-or the keys to something valuable," JJ laughed excitedly, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.

"Can we just open the bag already?" Pope cut through the chatter with a rare serious tone.

"Wow, Pope, that's a rare outburst of emotion," Olivia teased with a smile, nudging him lightly.

"You guys are just killing me with anticipation. Just open the bag," Pope disregarded everyone's comments, eyes fixed on the zipper.

John B dug into the bag and pulled out a smaller pouch, metallic and cylindrical, the top slightly open. He reached inside carefully.

"What is it?" Olivia knelt down beside him, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"A compass."

The group's smiles fell. The excitement in the air seemed to vanish for a moment.

"Oh wow. That's... great," Olivia said dryly, patting John B on the shoulder before standing to stretch her legs.

"Dude, what? It's not worth anything," JJ said incredulously, scrutinizing John B's face.

Everyone turned to look at John B. The words that followed were a shock.

"This is my father's," John B said, a small, proud smile on his face.

"No way." Olivia sank back down next to him, disbelief written across her face.

"We've got to figure this out," John B stood up, energized, the mystery suddenly making the night feel electric.

"Tomorrow though. I've got to get back home," Olivia said, looking around to make sure the coast was clear.

"Yeah, I have to go," Kiara said, swinging her backpack over her shoulder.

Olivia noticed JJ's slight slump of emotions, the way his shoulders drooped for a second. She glanced at him. "JJ, can you walk me home?"

JJ looked up, surprised. He hadn't expected her to ask, not after the tension of the night. But he smiled anyway. "Yeah! Of course."

The group drifted off in different directions, leaving JJ and Olivia alone. They walked in silence through the quiet streets, the chill of the night making them shiver.

"I'm really sorry about the other night," JJ said finally, scratching the back of his head, breaking the stillness.

"You were protecting your friend. It's whatever," Olivia shrugged. "Just... please don't do it again."

"I won't," JJ chuckled softly. "I thought you were going to kill me."

"I was thinking about it," Olivia admitted, smirking despite the cold.