CONTINUANCE - John B Routledge

014.

"𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?" Kie asked as she entered the Chateau. JJ and Pope followed right behind her, and rushed to the sobbing girl on the floor.

"Em, what happened?" Pope asked, as he wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him back like her life depended on it.

"Ward killed our parents." her voice broke. Everyone looked at each other with wide eyes. "Holy shit, we need to go to Tannyhill before John B kills him." Kie said. The boys looked at her and nodded, but didn't know what to do with Emerson.

"You guys, go. I'll be here." Emerson said, letting go of Pope. "You sure?" JJ rubbed her back. She nodded, not wanting to talk anymore. The group ended up leaving to Tannyhill, making sure John B didn't do something he would end up regretting.

As Emerson saw the HMS Pogue drive off in the distance, she decided to walk into Big John's office. When she sat on the chair, she saw a picture frame on his desk. She looked closely at the picture and immediately started crying again. 

It was her, Big John and John B, fishing. She remembered that day like it was yesterday. The two teenagers were only three at the time, and it was their first time going out fishing. She remembered her dad taking that picture of them, while her mom was home cooking for everyone.

Emerson stood up, and headed to John B's room and fell onto the bed. She continued to sob, until she got tired and fell asleep.

···

"Bubba? JJ? Pope? Kie?" John B shouted, walking into the Chateau. He walked around the house until he found a sleeping Emerson. He layed down next to her, and silently cried. Emerson heard his muffled sobs, and turned to face him. 

"Hi." she whispered.

"Hi." he whispered back. "Come on, I wanna do something." he said, as he stood up from the bed. Emerson followed him, and saw him walk into his dad's office. She stood by the doorway, and John B took a picture off the wall. The picture was a picture of their parents when they were younger. They looked so bright and happy.

John B took some sticks and made a small wooden boat, so that the picture could sit on it with a candle. Then he took a lighter, lit up the candle, and gently placed it down on the water. 

As the two 16-year olds silently sobbed, they both ended up sleeping on the dock together and hugging each other, afraid that if they let go they would lose each other.

···

"Good morning, sunshine!" JJ shouted, running to the docks with Kie. John B was admiring Emerson while she slept, but she started to groan from JJ's loud voice coming towards them.

"Good morning." she said to John B as she gave him a kiss. She was still sad about everything that had happened last night, but she thought it was best to just accept it and move on. 

"Ward took all the gold." John B whispered after a long minute of silence. Emerson sat up and her eyes widen. "What?" she yelled.

"You sure they got everything?" Kie asked, sounding defeated. "Every bar. The whole enchilada." John B said, sounding even more defeated than Kie. Emerson started to tear up as she layed back down next to John B. He wrapped his arm around her waist for comfort.

"Look, it's not like I expected a happy ending or some shit." John B said, taking his cast off and throwing it away. "John B, put the cast back on." Emerson scolded him. "It's a hairline fracture. Who cares?" he snapped. "I care. Your arm's gonna be messed up for life." she said, flicking his forehead. "It's fine, see." he reassured, wiggling his fingers.