Eastside ₒ OBX

11- Gold Pyramid Scheme

Dahlia Jade sits at the base of the tree beside John B and Sarah as JJ and Kiara melt the gold down in a metal bucket. It seemed like a dumb idea. 
   "No one is going to believe this giant-ass golden nugget is real," she states. 
   "Why are you being so negative?" Sarah props herself up. 
   "Sarah," John B cautions. 
   "Hey, I'm just saying I wouldn't believe us if I saw that being pawned off. No one has that much gold at once. Its got to be what? Seven pounds? That's 110 ounces or something." 
   "112 ounces to be exact," Pope says. They look at him. "What? I know how to do multiplication in my head. Is that a crime?" 
   "No, but break-and-entering an old lady's house for gold is." 
   "Everything is going to be fine," John B tells her. "No one is going to know, and you'll get your share." 
   "Yeah, because my parents are going to believe I magically pulled cash out of my ass. And I didn't join you guys for 'my share'." 
   "What is up with you?" 
   "Yo, guys, its ready," JJ pulls up his goggles. 
   "Nothing. I just can't believe you thought I was only here to get paid," Jade climbs to her feet. 
   "Why would you hang out with us then? Because Sam Moore clearly thinks you aren't welcome with us." 
   "Why are you talking about Sam?" Sarah asks. 
   "You're allowed to have more than a few friends, you know that?" Jade hops into the van. Se sits in back with Sarah, Kie and Pope, while JJ takes the passenger seat. 

When they arrive at the pawn shop, JJ gets out first and takes out the gold from his pocket. The other follow suit. 
   "Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein," he tells Kiara. 
   "Like you could have done any better," she scoffs. 
   "I could have." 
   "I took a welding class." 
   "Oh really?" 
   "Yeah." 
   "When?" she crosses her arms. 
   "Hey, chill out,' John B tries to split them up. 
   "Easy for you to say," JJ holds up the wad of gold. "You're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off. Why was I given this job anyway?" 
   "Because you're the best liar." 
   They walk into the shop and wait for JJ to bargain their best bet. Jade looks around, curiously eyeing the trinkets and knickknacks. 
   "Hey, do you want to talk about what was going on there?" John B asks quietly. 
   "This isn't the right time or place. Maybe I just don't want to talk about it, period." 
   "If this is about the gold..." 
   "Its not." 
   "Is this about your vacation?" 
    "No, its just that this wasn't what I expected. Plus I have a lot on my plate." 
   "You can talk to me about it. I don't mind. I'm actually a good listener." 
   Jade shakes her head, "can this wait? I don't feel comfortable in a setting like this." 
   "Yeah, sure. I understand." 
   That was something about John B that Jade couldn't quite get. How was he so good at being... the perfect boy? Perfect was a slight stretch. It was like he was a fictional character made ideally. Maybe Jade was imagining him in front of her, but there he was. 

The woman at the desk suggested they pick up their money at a warehouse, which to Jade sounded overly sketchy. 
   "I think we should head back," Jade says. 
   "There's nothing out here," Kie agrees. 
   Sirens sound in the distance as they draw closer. 
   "Cops," Pope looks in back of them. 
   "Out here? What did we do?" 
   "JJ, you don't have your gun, do you?" John B turns around to look at him. 
   "No, I don't, just..." JJ opens his bag and reveals a ton of weed. 
   "Are you kidding?" Kie exclaims. 
   "Guys, he's coming up," Sarah checks the mirrors. 
   "If they're cops, then we can easily talk our way out of it. I took an improv," Jade stops at the barrel of a gun shows up. This was no cop. "Shit." 
   "Everyone put your hands up," the guy with a skull bandana wrapped around his face orders. "Out of the car. Everyone out." 
   "I wish Zoey were here, she'd be able to fight this dude," Jade mutters. 
   "Hey, no talking. Or else I'll blow that cute little head of yours right off. Everybody outside the vehicle." 
   Jade takes a breath in. From what she knew about fighting, from what she learned for a brief time training with her best friend at her dojang; foes were best handled closer. 
   "Lie down in the ditch, unless you want to get shot." 
   Giving no time to react, Jade jumps at the man and tries to wrestle for his gun. She claws her arms around his neck, attempting to choke him out. But her grip wasn't as tight as she liked, and her skill in attack was off kilter.