JJ had his head in his hands as he sat in the chair beside Kie and Pope, not being able to focus on a single thought as he awaited news. From the second that boat had left the dock JJ knew it was wrong. He knew that June and John B shouldn't have been anywhere but with them and that there should not have been a chase to begin with. When JJ has heard that they were going into the storm, that they were right there outside he had gotten up and tried to fight his way past the guards but there was no way he could get by them and they had threatened to handcuff him if he didn't stop. JJs leg was bouncing up and down, the anxiety getting to him as he sat up and took his hat off. Kie looked over at him with a worried look, but gave him a reassuring smile nonetheless. The smile was short lived as they all looked over at Shoupe and two officers, making their way into the tent. They dropped their hoods, nodding at the kids as they walked over.
The three of them stood, JJ putting his hat back on his head as they walked over to Shoupe. The officers looked at them, their eyes revealing an emotion that none of them wanted to accept. Pope spork first, looking directly at Shoupe.
"Did you find them?" He asked, making Shoupe take a breath in. He shook his head, biting the inside of his cheek as he looked between the three teens.
"No." He answered.
"So they got away?" Kie asked, looking to JJ and then back at Shoupe. He shook his head though, looking down at his feet and then back up at them.
"We uh....we lost them." Shoupe said. There was a silence after that, all of their mouths dropping open as they looked at Shoupe. JJs face went blank, his chest clenching as he replayed the words in his head. "I'm sorry."
"You lost them? What- what do you mean you lost them like they're gone? What are you talking about?" Pope questioned, the denial thick in his tone. JJ looked down at his feet, biting his lip as he waited for an answer.
"They took an open boat into a tropical depression, Pope." Shoupe said. Tears were in all their eyes as they tried to wrap their heads around the information.
"So they're dead?" Kie asked, not really wanting an answer.
"We don't know." Shoupe answered, letting out a sigh. JJ couldn't help himself now, his emotions getting the best of him.
"You drove them straight through the storm man! Are you kidding me? Come here! I'm gonna kill you!" JJ said, grabbing Shoupe by the shirt. The other officer started to pull him off, but JJ continued to struggle against him, yelling. "I'm gonna kill you you bastard!"
"JJ stop!" Kie cried, tears running down her face.
"You killed them! You killed June!" JJ yelled, still struggling to get to Shoupe. He was blinded by anger, his tears dropping down his face.
"They didn't kill anyone and you know it!" Pope said, getting in Shoupes face.
"We're still looking for them alright?" Shoupe said, gritting his teeth. He had realized his mistake, he knew something else, something bigger was at play. Pope turned away from him, putting his head in his hands.
"Pope please. Pope stop. Please." Kie cried, pulling Pope to her. At that moment Kies parents entered the tent, Kie finally breaking into sobs, walking towards her mom and falling into her embrace. Popes parents came in too, his mother going straight for him to embrace him. He finally let out a cry, the realization hitting him fast that his friends were dead.
