THE PRINCE'S QUEEN | J.MAYBANK

[11]

"No effing way! What the hell is this bitch doing here?" Kiara squealed as she walked onto the deck of the chateau and saw Sarah sitting on the couch next to John B, "you brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?"

Everyone remained quiet, then Pope shrugged, "I dunno."

"Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share," JJ said and pointed to John B, who seemed fine with it.

"You know, I don't remember taking a vote. This is our thing. A Pogue thing," Kiara cut back in, and I rolled my eyes, leaning against JJ's chest and adjusting myself in his lap, "that's why she shouldn't be here either." The brunette pointed at me, and JJ's jaw clenched.

"She's a Pogue, Kie," he groaned and rubbed his forehead tiredly.

"No, I'm not, J, we've been over this," I whispered to him, and he looked up at me, his eyes hard as rocks.

"I don't care if people think you aren't a Pogue. I still love you," he squeezed my side, but we both froze as the others continued their argument. Our eyes both widened, and we looked away from each other awkwardly. I cleared my throat.

"Everybody shut up!" John B snapped, and we all glanced at him, "Kie, you are my best friend, right?" Kiara nodded, "Elle, you're like a sister to me even if I've only been friends with you for a couple of weeks."

He then looked at Sarah and smiled softly, "and Sarah, you're . . . . you're my . . . ."

"Say it," Sarah urged

"You're my girlfriend," John B finally spat out. I smirked at him, and he licked his lips.

"Ohh . . . . that's new," Pope muttered.

"She's your girlfriend now? What was all that talk about you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose," Kiara raised her eyebrows, and that's when I snapped.

"Kiara, just shut the fuck up, okay? You aren't making any of this better?" I yelled at her and stood up.

"You said you were using me?" Sarah whimpered to John B.

"No," John B said.

"Yeah, you did," Pope cut in.

"You said those things," JJ added, and I turned around, glaring at him.

"Look, love, just walked in, okay?" John B cried.

"Oh, vomit," Kiara mumbled.

"I didn't expect it. Just like JJ and Elle, they didn't expect to be dating, would they? It just -- it kind of happened. And I'm not gonna deny it. Right?" John B said and couldn't stop staring at Sarah.

"Oh! That's corny," JJ teased, but I ignored him. We all stood in silence for a while.

"Look, cut the bullshit, John B. If she's in, I'm out," Kiara bit her bottom lip aggressively.

"I'm not doing this. I can't!"

"You are gonna decide. I'm very interested, actually. Me or her? The questions for you, too, JJ. Me or Elle?" Kiara raised her voice, and I looked at JJ.

"Both," John B answered. Pope and JJ whistled, JJ trying to avoid his question. Kiara huffed, wiping her nose and walking out to the dock as the two boys tutted.

"It'll be cool, right?" Sarah asked, grabbing John B's attention. He stayed silent. "I'm gonna leave," she stood up and looked at me, "you comin'?" I nodded.

"Sarah, Elle, don't," John B begged.

"Gonna let y'all chat. Let us know," Sarah grabbed my hand in hers, and we walked out of the Chateau to my gold Bently.