𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

29

authors message: these are gonna be longer parts because this story is already long and i want to get it finished. k bye plz enjoy :)

🦋☀ 🌊 - 29.

Pope, Kiara, JJ, and Olivia camped out at The Wreck, too afraid to go back to the Chateau. It had been a long, exhausting night for all of them, filled with worry and barely any rest. They were desperate for sleep, their bodies craving even a few hours of peace.

Olivia had dozed off almost immediately in JJ's arms, letting the tension of the previous night wash away for a short while. The feeling of resting, even briefly, was almost euphoric.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, waking her with a soft warmth on her face. She yawned, blinking slowly, and noticed JJ wasn't beside her. Her eyes scanned the room, and there he was, standing at one of the windows, looking out at the street below.

"You're up already," she whispered, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Kiara or Pope.

"Couldn't really sleep," he replied, opening his arms to pull her close.

She didn't ask why-she already knew. John B had been missing all night, and the only updates came through the radio, talking about Peterkin's death and the search for the "murderer." To them, that murderer was John B.

"He'll be fine. He's John B. He knows what to do. How many times has he avoided cops already?" Olivia hugged him tighter, trying to offer comfort to both of them.

JJ exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "You're right. He's my best friend. I can't lose him."

"You won't. Trust me. He'll be back before you know it." Olivia reached up to remove his hat, ruffling his hair.

"They wouldn't be patrolling if they'd caught him," Pope said, stepping up beside them. He looked out the window, listening to distant sirens. Neither Olivia nor JJ had noticed him or Kiara stirring from their own restless sleep.

"We were in that car. They're probably looking for us too," Kiara murmured from her makeshift bed, her voice hoarse from exhaustion.

"She's right," Olivia agreed. "They know we know where John B is."

"We don't. That's the problem." JJ rolled his eyes, annoyed. Normally, he didn't care where John B went-as long as he stayed out of the cops' hands.

"We know where he's going to be," Olivia corrected, determination in her voice.

"Well, if we're going to be outlaws, we might as well help John B," Pope said, glancing at JJ before grabbing the keys to the motorbike. "We're gonna need gas for the boat."

"Hey, be careful," Kiara said, looking up at him.

"Meet me at the dock at three. Don't be late," Pope said without acknowledging her, turning toward the door and making sure JJ and Olivia heard his instructions.

Olivia gave Kiara a puzzled look as she followed Pope outside. He was in one of his rare moods, the kind that usually followed something reckless from JJ.

"Okay, what's your problem?" Kiara demanded, following Pope.

"Leave them to it," Olivia said, holding onto JJ's arm, giving the two some privacy.

True to form, JJ didn't listen. He walked onto the small porch, peering to watch the exchange. Olivia rolled her eyes but followed, just in time to see Pope take off on the motorbike.

"You okay?" Olivia asked, staring at Kiara in disbelief.

"He confessed his feelings to me last night," Kiara admitted, her voice quiet. She kept her eyes on Pope as he disappeared around the corner.