Eastside ₒ OBX

13- Committed Crime

Returning to the Chateau after nightfall, Jade searches for the Pogues on the property. She doesn't find anyone and is about to head back to her vacation house before she spots a tiny light on the water. Jade puts her hands in her pockets and strolls over to the dock where she sees John B sitting at the edge. She gradually makes her way over to him. 
   What had been bugging her the past few hours was the fact that he said his dad was murdered. It clung to her brain like moths to a light and it would not stop. "John B?" 
   The boy jumps a little. "I didn't hear you come." There is a pause. "Do you know where the others went?" 
   "They weren't here when I arrived, I don't think." 
   John B stands up and it is at that moment that Jade notices he's been crying. "Why are you here anyway?" he asks. "Don't you have more rehearsals to study before your starring role?" 
   "I came because I want to be there for you. I'm sure if they knew you'd be here, they would." She walks further down the docks towards him, "I'm guessing you didn't put that gun to his head?" 
   "No. For all I know, Ward told the police I hurt him on the boat." He glares at the water as if Ward Cameron was lurking beneath the waves. 
   "The best liars always tell the truth," Jade whispers.
   John B looks at her.
   "They tell the truth to the right people. That's what makes them good at lying." 
   "Well, right now, he's the one who just keeps lying. But thank you for coming. It means a lot." 
   "What are friends for?" she shrugs a little. 
   "Friends?" It was like the concept was almost alien. "I don't think that's what this is."
   "Look, I think you need some time to recuperate, John B. You just had a mini funeral. We'll talk about this some other time. I'm sorry for your loss," Jade starts back-tracking.
   "We should talk about this now, not later. Before things escalate." 

Jade turns around and crosses her arms, "don't you already have a girlfriend?"
   "What are you talking about?"
   "Sarah Cameron."
   "There's nothing going on between me and Sarah."
   "That's not what it looks like."
   "Tell me what it looks like then."
   "What?"
   "Tell me what you saw and I'll explain it."
   She stares at him for a short while. "I can't believe I'm having this conversation right now. Its getting late and my parents are gonna be pissed. I'll see you tomorrow." Jade picks up her knapsack and turns to leave again.
   "The entire time I was with Sarah... whenever I looked at my bag, I kept on seeing this. Just look, okay?"
   Jade exhales and pivots around to see the keychain in his hand. "I bet it was difficult to kiss her with that."
   "I didn't... At the end of the day, I didn't want to."
   "So you're admitting that you did?"
   "No, that's not it," John B runs a hand through his hair. He begins walking to her. "We're not a thing. I like you, Dahlia Jade."
   "I think that I--" Jade doesn't get time to finish as John B kisses her. 
   He parts from her, "I'm sorry. I forgot to ask you before I did that." 
   She stares at him in a daze. "That-- that's okay. I don't mind." Jade cups his face and kisses him back. She smiles a little and looks into his eyes. 
   "Other than my friends and finding the gold, you're the best thing that's happened to me all summer." 
   "Besides the top two most important things?" she teases lightly. 
   "You're in the top three, I guarantee it. And definitely one of the the most important things in my life right now." 
   She raises an eyebrow, "okay, now you're just dragging it out. You pass." 
   "Passing is what I go by every day," he grins. 
   "And now I have a glimpse of what your schoolwork is like." 
   "Hey, I do good in school." He leans in for another kiss, but Jade's phone starts going off. "I thought there wasn't any cell-signal." 
   "There wasn't, unless something changed. Maybe its my data," Jade holds the device up to her ear. "Hello?" 
   "Dahlia Jade, where are you?" Regina comes from the other end. 
   Jade has to pull the phone away to avoid her shouting. "What do you mean?" 
   "Mom is flipping out. You said you'd be home an hour ago." 
   "I'll be there, just give me some time. You deal with her until I get back, and if you don't, I'll tell her everything that you did." She hangs up and manages a smile. "Sorry about that." 
   "No, that's fine. You've got to go?" 
   "Yeah, or else my parents are going to wring my neck."  
   "I guess I'll see you later then," John B grins. 
   "Of course." She kisses him on the cheek, "goodnight." 

Jade returns from her dress rehearsal, beaming from ear to ear when she reaches The Chateau. She sets down her knapsack and then stops at the sight of her friend's upset faces. "What's wrong?" 
   "Ward Cameron stole all our gold," Kie says miserably. 
   "What?" 
   "Snuck in at night and stole it, that bastard," JJ grumbles. 
   "How was your play?" John B asks, trying to change the subject. 
   "Oh that's right, you sucked Sam Moore's face," JJ snaps his finger. "Bet that went well. Heard he's talking to Sarah, just hope she does come for you." 
   "Uh, thanks for that vote of confidence, JJ," Jade furrows her brow. 
   "You sure he got everything?" Kie asks John B. 
   "Every last bar. The whole enchilada," John B yanks off his cast. "Its not I expected a happy ending or some shit like that." 
   "John B, you can't do that." 
   "Its just a hairline fracutre, no big deal." 
   "You bump it or cause any further trauma and you're screwed." Jade picks up the brace. 
   "Yeah dude, you shouldn't do that," JJ agrees. 
   "Its fine. See?" John B holds up his hand and wriggles his fingers. 
   "Guys!" Pope comes racing down the dock. "Oh my God, I ran all the way here." 
   "How'd your interview go?" Kie questions. 
   "Doesn't matter. Before that, my dad was talking about the Cameron's tactical airship on a landing strip. He had to cut palms because it was too heavy. So during the interview, I was thinking why that was. Its the gold, JB. Now's our chance and we have to go." 
   "We can't give up now," Kie grins. 
   "Lets go get our gold," John B says. 

Jade sits in the back with JJ and Pope while they pull up to the airstrip. They watch along the chain-link fence. She leaves her bag in the van and curls her fingers around the links, peering inside. 
   "There's no chance in hell that thing's taking off successfully. His little private plane's going to nose-drive as soon as he goes over the sea." She takes note of the area. 
   John B reaches for his binoculars. 
   "I'm going to take a closer look and report back." 
   "Here, take this just incase," Kie tosses her the knapsack. "If anyone asks, you're on a hike." 
   "I don't think it'll come to that," Pope remarks. 
   "If anyone asks you what you're doing, you say you got lost on a hike." Kie repeats to Jade, "got it?" 
   "I'm glad you're always one step ahead," Jade replies. 
   "Well, we biracial girls got to be on our A-game." 
   Jade smiles at the comment and treks off into the woods. Then the sound of a car engine revving and the a crash makes her turn around. The van with John B at the wheel tears through the grass and across the asphalt. The plane comes to a stop and shouting starts. Jade catches glimpses of everything happening, but the brush and trees are in the way. 
   Then sirens start wailing. Something illegal was about to happen. Jade creeps closer to see Sheriff Peterkin get out of her vehicle. Her phone starts to go off, vibrating in her pocket. She reaches down to see a text message from Sam about how he was worried for Sarah. But before Jade can message him back a gunshot rings out. 
   Jade nearly drops her mobile device on the ground and her heart pounds. She tries to steady her breathing. She moves closer to the fence and sees Sarah yelling, and John B rushing over to the wounded sheriff. She could not see who shot the officer but Ward was there. Stunned and scared, Jade begins backing away. Without having a second thought, she bolts. 

Author's Note: 
Okay, sooo Jade's a witness. In her defense she couldn't see well about what happened, but she knows John B doesn't have a gun and someone did. *cough* Rafe *cough* 

Also the other Pogues ditched her??? 

And to make things more complicated, her and John B are somewhat of an official thing? Maybe. It certainly looks that way. Things are escalating pretty quick. Wow. 

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   ~ SHIELD-Avenger