After leaving the Crain house, Lane goes to Kie's to collect the rest of her things and moves them back to her home next to the Chateau. Lawson was at work but she hoped he'd be happy to see her belongings back in her bedroom whenever he got home.
Kie was helping her dad out with some things at The Wreck so she said she would meet up with the rest of them a little later to come up with a plan on how they were going to get the gold out of the old well under Mrs. Crain's house.
Lane was buzzing with excitement as she made her way over to the Chateau after unpacking everything. Pretty soon they could have the gold and she could be starting a whole new life. She felt this same feeling when they thought they would find the gold with the wreck of the Royal Merchant but this time she felt better about it, there was more proof this time, more assurance.
As she makes her way toward the screened in front porch of John B's home, she notices JJ's bike along with another bike that she doesn't recognize but it looks awfully fancy.
"Hey, who's bike is that out there? Are the Girl Scouts selling their cookies early or some-" Lane stops in her tracks when she sees a very unexpected face sitting next to John B.
None other than Sarah Cameron is sitting next to her best friend, JJ and Pope sitting on the other side of the porch shooting knowing looks between Sarah and Lane. "Lane…" John B starts.
"Nah-" Lane holds up a hand, "Save your breath for when Kie gets here." She shoots a glare at John who shrinks back into his seat, "She's who you really have to convince." But her eyes don't leave Sarah as she makes her way over to the other loveseat on the porch, sitting on the arm of it next to JJ.
"You don't have to look at me like that." Sarah finally pipes up.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Lane says, her gaze not faltering. That is until JJ slides his arm around her waist from behind and gives her hip a firm squeeze and she lets out a deep breath, relaxing her tense muscles.
"Play nicely," He whispers to her.
"I am," She whispers back through clenched teeth, "I only bite when I'm provoked, so as long as she doesn't provoke me…"
"You...bite?" JJ frowns up at her but she doesn't get a chance to answer him as the screen door swings open and Kie walks in, the temperature in the area drops at least ten degrees as Kie gives Sarah a stone cold glare.
"No effing way!" She snaps, standing in front of John B and Sarah as they sit, "You brought her here so, what, she's in on this now?"
John B looks over at his other three friends for help but Pope simply shrugs, "What? I dunno."
"Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share." JJ says and Lane stays silent, giving John B a look that told him everything she was thinking.
"You know I don't remember taking a vote.' Kie's raises her voice even more, "This is our thing, a Pogue thing."
"I gotta say I'm just a tad uncomfortable with all of this." Pope speaks up.
"When are you not?!" John B asks him.
"I dunno, I rode here on the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably!' He defends himself and Lane turns to frown at the two boys sitting next to her.
"It's true, most relaxed I've ever seen him." JJ can confirm.
"That's cute, guys, really." John B rolls his eyes.
"We were all extremely comfortable until you brought her here." Kie looks at John B, bringing attention back to the actual issue at hand.
"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Sarah finally finds her voice and snaps at Kie.
'Then leave."
Sarah shakes her head, scoffing as she turns to John B, "I told you."
"Told him what, exactly?" Kie asks, "That you're a liar?"
"No, that you're a shit-talking bitch." Lane jumps up from her seat at Sarah's words, surprised smoke isn't coming out of her ears.
"Oh no, no-she bites-she bites!" JJ hisses, reaching to try and grab Lane but she's too far from him.
"You're the shit talker if you think you can just come in here and start talking to her like that!" Lane's words are mixing with the two other girl's as they all yell over each other.
"Everybody shut up!" John B yells, making everyone pause just after JJ and Pope have exchanged bets on who would win in a fight between the girls. "Kie, you are my best friend, right?" Lane rolls her eyes, "And Sarah, you're my…" He pauses, waiting for the right word to use.
"Say it." Sarah whispers.
"You're my girlfriend."
"Oh...that's new." Pope groans, dropping his head in disappointment.
"She's your girlfriend now?" Lane scoffs, "What happened to you're just using her for information?"
"Yeah, get a map, cut her loose?" Kie asks, "Look, if she's in, I'm out."
"Kie-" She doesn't give him a chance to finish.
"I'm very interested, actually, me or her?"
"Both." Lane rubs her hands down her face in irritation. John B was losing brain cells by the minute, it seemed.
Kie storms off of the porch and the door slams behind her. "It'll be cool, right?" Sarah says to John B sarcastically, "I'm gonna leave, let ya'll chat."
"Yeah, probably a good idea." Lane rolls her eyes as Sarah walks away.
"Fallon!" John B says in almost a scolding tone. But Sarah is already gone and Lane didn't care if she possibly hurt her feelings, she was so angry that she didn't care about hurting anyone's feelings right now.
"I can't believe you, John B!" She snaps at him, "Bringing her here with no warning knowing full well how Kie feels about her and for what? Because you 'love' her?" She scoffs, "you've known her for five minutes." She makes her way toward the screen door just as Kie had done moments ago, "If you choose her over Kie I'm out, but let's not forget you're not the only one who's parents sacrificed everything to find this gold."
As the door slams shut behind her the boys left on the porch share awkward glances before Pope stands up, "I'll take Kie," He says, taking a deep breath.
"I'll take Lane," JJ stands up after him and points a finger at John B, "you stay here and think about what you've done."
JJ finds Lane sitting on the steps in front of her and Lawson's house. Her elbows rested on her knees and her head in her hands, lips pouted in a way that if he didn't know she was so mad he would chuckle. She looks up at JJ as he approaches her and takes a seat next to her, "Did he send you?" She asks.
"No, I came on my own." He tells her, "I get why you're mad, believe me. I don't want her around either."
'But…?" She prompts him, raising an eyebrow.
"But, I've never seen John B risk everything for a girl before. And you and Kie are everything to him so if he's willing to piss you guys off so much because of her then he must be really pussy whipped." Lane can't help but let out a small laugh.
"I just don't get it. It's the one person Kie genuinely hates and he's really willing to risk his friendship with her to have Sarah involved in all of this." She pulls her knees to her chest.
"In a parallel universe where Kie hates you, I would risk everything to have you involved." Lane turns her head to look at him, a faint smile on her lips.
"Are you just saying that because you want to make out?" Lane asks teasingly, even though she did appreciate his thoughtful words.
"Maaaaaybe…" JJ starts to lean in with his lips puckered and Lane shoves him away playfully.
"Later. John B isn't going to dig himself out of this hole without me." she stands up and dusts off the back of her shorts. JJ follows her back to the house where John B is waiting in the kitchen alone.
"Still don't like me?" He gives her his puppy dog eyes.
"No, I don't like you." Lane shakes her head, sitting on the counter while JJ grabs a beer and then comes to stand between her legs, her arms wrapping lazily around his shoulders, "But I love you too much to stay mad at you. Plus, you need my help." John B nods simply. If it were anyone else, the affection between JJ and Lane would seem weird but those two had always been quite touchy.
Pope comes into the kitchen not long after that, "Yup, she hates you." he says, obviously not making much progress with Kie.
"What am I going to do? I can't choose between the two of them." John B says.
"Well, I can't do this without Kie." Pope says, JJ and Fallon nodding in agreement.
"And I can't do it without Sarah." Lane rolls her eyes, "We need a plan." It's silent in the kitchen for a moment before Lane looks up and realizes all the guys are looking at her.
"Really?" She sighs, "Do I have to do everything around here?" She demands, their silence seems to answer her question and she groans, "Fine, I have one plan. But, if it doesn't work and Kie hates us afterward then it was all your idea." She points a harsh finger at John B.
"That's my girl," JJ pats her exposed thigh and Lane blushes slightly, "Now, inform us of your genius plan."