Eastside ₒ OBX

9- The Well Under the House (pt. 1)

Her parents had at least an hour conversation about running off and joining what Regina called, "The Illegal Outlaw Society." Jade sat through the entire lecture and tuned out half of it. 
   The next morning after John B's accident, the Pogues were regrouping and out to search for the gold. At least according to what Kiara had told Jade before her parents picked her up from the hospital. 
   Jade pulls her long curls back into a ponytail and carefully pulls open the door to the vacation house. Wearing a new dry pairs of shorts and a gray Pequot Museum t-shirt that she tied up. The goal was to sneak out without her family knowing to meet up for the treasure hunt. 
   "Where do you think you're going?" 
   Jade pivots around to see Halle with her hands on her hips. "Going to see if John B's okay." 
   "Dahlia Jade Clarice Galway, you are not allowed to leave this house after the stunt you pulled. You left Regina at the party and  you could've gotten hurt in that storm last night. Did you not hear what your father and I told you?" 
   "Mom, its summer break and I need to see my friends." 
   "What's going on?" Ian enters the living room after Halle. "Where are you going? We told you 'no'." 
   "And John B could be half dead. What if he's on his way out and I don't get to say goodbye?" This was a mostly false statement, but her parents didn't know that. 
   "Ian, we need to put our foot down," Halle prompts. "She can't leave until she's got her chores done and learned her lesson." 
   "She does have a point, and the kid did take a bad fall after all. The more we tighten the rope, the more she's going to want to pull at it." 
   "You let Regina--" Jade starts. 
   "We're not done talking," Halle holds up her hand. She sighs, "fine. You can go out, but only to hang out with your friends. Anything more than that and your ass is grounded." 
   "Thanks Mom and Dad," Jade quickly runs out the door before they can say anything more. She had found a way out and bought the ticket of freedom. 

Jade meets up with the Pogues and they drive out to Parcel Nine. She leaves her knapsack in the van and climbs out after JJ. 
   "I heard Mrs Craine buried her husband's head on the property," JJ says. 
   "I honestly don't believe that," Kie responds. 
   "Which stories did you hear?" 
   "The one where she killed her husband with an axe and that she's been holed up ever since. On certain nights, when the moon is full you can see her in the window! Waaah," Kie mimics a ghost with a laugh. 
   "Kie, that's not funny because its all true." 
   "Guys, I hate horror movies. Don't make me cry in the middle of this haunted house," Jade says. "And I don't want to get murdered on vacation. That's just a terrible way to go." 
   "Look, I don't care if she's an axe murderer," John B tells JJ. "We've got nothing to lose. That's what you said." 
   "That is what you said," Pope agrees, "except us missing our heads is definitely going to be an issue." 
   "Okay, lets look for water sources. Kie will go that way and I'll go this way." 
   "Us splitting up is a bad idea. Remember what happens when Shaggy and Scooby separate from Fed, Velma and Daphne? They run into the monster."
   "Relax, walking-and-talking reference book, no one's splitting up," JJ assures her. "Let me know if you find Crain's husband's remains." 
   They all venture into the basement and look around for any leads. 
   "Down came Mrs. Crain and cut off all our heads. Out came the sun and--" 
   "JJ, if you don't stop singing that creepy song, I'm going to personally chop off your head," Jade sighs.
   "Okay, okay, I'll stop. Man, John B, this girl's a keeper, right?" 
   "I'd actually take Jade over Sarah," Kiara remarks. "Bad karma, you know?" 
   "Here we go," John B grumbles. "Is this because I kissed you? Are you jealous, is that it?" 
   Kie slaps him in the face. Jade blinks rapidly in surprise.  
   "Oh shit," Pope says. 
   "Did you, uh, hit me?" John B asks. 
   "Skeeter," she holds up her hand. 
   John B smacks her back and also holds up his hand, "skeeter." 
   "These damn bugs. Little bastards, they're everywhere," JJ swats at the parasitic insects.
   "Wait, guys, if there's mosquitos," Jade looks at Pope. He then picks up a pebble and drops it in between the floorboards. "There's water." 

Jade watches Kiara pace back and forth as she rants about taking Sarah into the group. Even though Sarah was sitting on the porch with all of them. 
   "This is a Pogue thing," Kie states. 
   "I gotta say, I'm just uncomfortable with all of this," Pope comments. "I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably." 
   "That's true. Most relaxed I ever saw him," JJ remarks. 
   "We were all extremely comfortable until you brought her," Kie tells John B. 
   "You mean Jade?" Sarah asks. "Why did you guys invite her if she's not a Pogue either? Why is she any different?"
   Jade sits there, trying not to look bothered.
   "Maybe its because she didn't backstab or do anything to hurt us. And she actually cares about people rather than casting them aside," Kie snaps. 
   "I told you," Sarah glances at John B. 
   "Told him what, exactly? That you're a liar?" 
   "No, that you're a shit-talking bitch. When have I lied?" 
   "My money's on Kie," JJ hands ten bucks to Pope. 
   Jade slumps against the wall as the other kids quarrel. 
   "Everyone shut up," John B hollers. "Kie, you're my best friend, right? And Sarah, you're my..." 
   Don't say it. Don't say it, Jade shuts her eyes. 
   "...Also my friend." The delivery of that sentence sounded like a lie within itself. 
   "You said you were using her," Kie says. 
   "No, I didn't." 
   "You were using me?" Sarah demands. 
   "I didn't say that." 
   "You did," JJ chimes in. 
   "Definitely did," Pope adds. 
   "I've got to text Sam and Candice," Jade gets up and walks outside the Château. "I need a break from you guys for awhile." 

Author's Note: 
I know this seems a little short, but this as much as I can get done before I put too much content on the page. 
Some of you might be wondering, 'where did Sam and Candice go anyway?' And if you weren't thinking that, they'll show up in the next part because I need a filler in there somewhere to separate parts of the story. 

If you liked this part, be sure to give it a vote! Byeeeeeeeeeee! 

   ~ SHIELD-Avenger