𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

28.

🦋☀ 🌊 - 28

JJ, John B, Kiara, and Olivia all waited in Kiara's car, huddled together in the back seats while Pope slipped out to check the ferry schedule. The air inside the car was thick with tension; every time headlights flashed outside, John B instinctively ducked further into the shadows of his hoodie, trying to remain unseen by any nearby police.

"Okay, okay, so look," Pope said, jogging back toward the car, sweat glistening on his forehead from the sprint.

"Pope, can you act normal?" Kiara muttered, rolling up the window quickly, realizing too late that she should have done so the moment they had parked.

"So, bad news," Pope said, holding a piece of paper in his hand, eyes darting nervously around the street. "Ferry's closed." He paused dramatically and handed the paper to Kiara.

"What? What is this?" she asked, grabbing it, but JJ's curiosity got the better of him.

He snatched the paper from her hands. "Wow, John B, this is a good framer of you," he said, showing the wanted poster to John B and Olivia.

Sure enough, staring back at them was John B's face with the words WANTED emblazoned above it and a $25,000 reward dangling like a target over his head. "You're a wanted man now," JJ added, trying not to smile at the absurdity of the situation.

"Okay, so the whole island is looking for John B right now," Olivia muttered, leaning back against the seat, trying to steady her nerves.

"Congratulations, John B-you're famous," JJ said with a teasing grin, earning a soft sigh from Olivia, half-amused and half-exasperated.

Kiara's expression hardened. "We have to get to the HMS. It's small, no lights. That's our best shot."

Pope leaned over the console, squinting at the streets outside. "It's across the Chateau. And I wonder if the cops have the whole place scanned... oh yeah, they definitely have that place locked down."

JJ shook his head, obvious as ever. "He's right. One wrong move, we're done for."

Olivia looked between Kiara and Pope, heart hammering in her chest. "We have to be careful," she muttered.

"JJ, is your dad's lab open? The cigarette one?" Pope asked, his eyes glinting in the rearview mirror.

"Maybe," JJ said cautiously. "You can grab the Phantom. I can get us to the coast."

Pope started the engine, but the car didn't move immediately. "Why is nobody moving forward?" he asked impatiently.

"It's not going to be easy," JJ shrugged, running his hands over his face.

"JJ, just think where the keys are," Olivia said, voice soft but urging him to focus.

Suddenly, a kid pointed at the car in front of them. "That guy, right there!"

"Shit! We have a snitch. Pope, let's go," Kiara hissed, adjusting herself in her seat.

John B tugged his hoodie over his head and ducked lower in his seat. "Great," he muttered, already bracing for what came next.

"Pope, let's go!" everyone shouted at once.

The van lurched forward too fast. Olivia slammed herself back against the seat, her hands gripping the edge of the console as Pope's over-eagerness sent them bumping into the car in front.

"Pope, back up!" Kiara shouted, voice cracking.

"Just go!" JJ yelled, his jaw tight.

Pope swerved onto the grass, sending clumps of dirt flying as the tires fought for traction. They finally made it onto the street, free of the immediate threat of the police-but Pope ran into several mailboxes, leaving them dented and smashed from the panic.

"You are not okay to drive! Stop!" Kiara yelled, clutching the sides of the van.

Pope slammed on the brakes. JJ groaned. "How much did you give him?"

"John B, get out," JJ ordered quietly, his voice firm.

"He's right. Cops will follow us. Run. We'll meet you at the dump tomorrow. Three o'clock!" JJ opened the door, and John B leapt out without hesitation. Olivia watched anxiously as he darted between the trees, constantly glancing over his shoulder for any sign of officers. It was unsettling to see him so cautious, so vulnerable-a side of John B few got to witness.

"Are you good?" Olivia asked, giving him a thumbs up.

"Do I have to be?" John B snapped, eyes locking with hers.

JJ noticed Olivia's shift in mood and took her hand, intertwining their fingers. Her focus was always on comforting others; now, it was JJ's turn to be the source of stability.

John B disappeared into the trees, and the van took off in pursuit, with Olivia and JJ settling into the back. If the circumstances were different, it might have been a quiet, intimate moment. But the tension of the night hung over them, thick and suffocating.

"After all this ends, we're definitely doing something romantic," Olivia said, twirling a bracelet around her wrist, trying to bring a small sense of normalcy into the chaos.

"Romantic?" JJ raised an eyebrow, lips twitching into a smirk.

Olivia smiled at him, knowing he wasn't the romantic type. "Yeah. We'll go out to eat, hang at the beach, watch the stars. Just something... simple."

"I guess I can go through with that," JJ said with a grin, thinking about the future. Finally, he could admit he wanted Olivia, wanted this.

Silence fell over them for a moment. Olivia fiddled with her jewelry, lost in thought. JJ noticed and looked at her, concern evident in his gaze. "You okay?"

She looked up, worry shadowing her eyes. "Are you scared?"

JJ bit the bottom of his lip, hesitating. "To be honest... yes." Fear wasn't something he allowed himself to show often, but right now, he felt it gnawing at him.

Olivia moved closer, resting her head on his lap, looking into his eyes. "I am too."

Hearing that, JJ's chest tightened. She shouldn't be scared; she should be safe, carefree, sleeping peacefully. But this moment... this vulnerability... reminded him why he fought to protect them all. "We'll be okay. John B will be okay."

Olivia nodded, leaning up to press her lips to his. The kiss started slow, soft, then deepened, fiery and urgent. JJ's hand found her waist, sliding beneath her shirt while her arms wrapped around his neck.

Olivia's hands traced under his shirt, feeling his warmth, the tension in his muscles.

JJ pulled her close, arms wrapping around her waist. He wanted more than fleeting moments-he wanted her, the real her, safely, completely.

"Can you tell me the happy ending?" Olivia whispered, toes tucked under her.

JJ adjusted himself, running a hand through his hair. "Of course."

She smiled, settling against his chest. The night was calm, a rare pause amidst chaos.

"We'll finish high school. You'll go to college, become a journalist, travel the world-swim with dolphins, sea turtles. I'll figure out a way to get rich, build a house..."

"With a marble statue of yourself?" Olivia teased, eyebrows raised.

"Well duh," JJ laughed. "Koi pond, oceanside living. Smoothie shack. We'll swim, get high on the beach, eat shrimp and grits with beer. Watch the stars, point out the Little Dipper. Get away from this mess-my dad, your parents, Rafe."

Olivia couldn't stop smiling. "I want to come with you," she said suddenly, sitting up.

"What? Go with me?" JJ asked, eyes widening slightly.

"We can travel the world together. No need for visits-we'll live it."

JJ's frown melted into a smile. "I'd love that, Liv."

She laughed, falling into his arms again for a tight, grounding hug.