𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

23

🦋☀ 🌊 - 23

JJ and Olivia pulled up to John B's place, where he and Pope were tinkering with a sturdier system to lower John B into the well. The plan from the night before had been interrupted by Mrs. Craine's sudden chaos, leaving some of the gold unrecovered.

"Hey, you two," John B greeted them, brushing sawdust off his hands. Pope gave a lazy wave, eyes smirking at the sight of JJ and Olivia. JJ grinned and high-fived both boys for the work they'd done, clearly impressed. Olivia lingered for a second, sharing a small smile with John B before heading back to the van where Sarah and Kiara were already seated, talking quietly about the chaos of the night before.

JJ tossed the few bars of gold they had into the van. "We can't pawn these if there's weed symbols on them," he said with a smirk, leaning against the open door.

Olivia raised an eyebrow, correcting him. "Wheat."

"Whatever," JJ muttered, rolling his eyes and leaning fully back, the excitement barely hiding behind his cool exterior.

Kiara held up a blowtorch, the metallic glint of it catching the sunlight. "It's gonna work," she said confidently. Her voice carried a mix of nerves and determination.

Everyone except John B and Sarah huddled around the pan where Kiara began melting the gold. Sparks flew faintly, and the sweet metallic scent filled the air. Sarah and John B sat a few feet away against the tree, watching, their conversation reduced to murmurs and occasional nods.

"We're gonna be rich," JJ whispered, leaning down to Olivia. There was a sparkle in his eye, a rare glimmer of uncontained excitement. He thought about his dad, about finally being able to pay restitution, about proving he could do this on his own.

"We are," Olivia said, wrapping her arms around him, tilting her head to smile up at him. She felt his enthusiasm ripple through her, infecting her with the same energy.

"Ready to go?" John B asked, walking up to the van, Sarah at his side.

The group piled into the van, anticipation buzzing through the cramped space. John B outlined a plan to sell the gold, designating JJ as the point person.

JJ held the towel-wrapped gold with pride. "Nice job melting this down, Mrs. Frankeinstein," he teased Kiara.

"Like you could've done any better," Kiara shot back, arms crossed, trying not to smile at his confidence.

"I could've! I took a welding class. How did I get this job anyway?" JJ rolled his eyes dramatically, walking toward the pawn shop with the swagger of someone who had already won.

"'Cause you're the best liar," John B called after him, the words carrying both amusement and admiration.

Inside the pawn shop, the group split naturally. JJ approached the woman behind the desk, his backpack heavy with gold.

"That ain't real," the worker said flatly, eyeing him suspiciously.

"That ain't real? Feel how heavy it is." JJ held a piece out, letting her lift it, testing its weight.

The worker squinted, then retrieved a magnifying glass with an attached light. "Uh huh. Let's get some light on that." JJ smirked, enjoying every second of the charade.

"Spray painted," she observed, holding it up.

"Spray painted? Really? Why don't you see how soft it is?" JJ pressed, leaning closer, voice slightly strained to sell authenticity.

"May I?" She tapped the gold with a small hammer-like tool. "Hold your horses; we still have the acid test first."

JJ grinned. "My favorite." He watched intently as she applied a small drop of acid, holding his breath as the metal sizzled and resisted. "Ma'am, I'm telling you this is real."