Chapter 4
JJ's POV
I sat in the sheriff's office, looking around at everything expecting my dad to barge in and start hitting me. I took the blame for Topper's boat for Pope. The look on his face as he saw his life slip away as they headed for the truck. The door opened to the office and Peterkin walked in.
"You're like a little rock in my shoe. I shake my foot, I think I gotten it out, then dang, there it is again." She said tossing down a file.
"Maybe watch where you're stepping." I told her.
"That little rock on the back of my heel makes me want to crush it." She said sitting down. I nodded and put my hands behind my head.
"Unlawful discharge of a firearm, trespassing on protected habitat, felony destruction of property. All in the last two weeks. You're on a roll, chief." She told me.
"If you think I'm going to rat anybody out, you got the wrong idea." I told her. I crossed my arms.
"I know your little teen brain doesn't like to think ahead, but I want you to come with me to uncharted territory. The future. How you going to feel six months from now, sitting in juvenile prison in Wadesboro?" She said raising her eyebrows. I shook my head and looked down.
"You know these two?" She asked placing two pictures down in front of me. I looked at them.
"My question was, do you know these two?" She asked again. I swallowed hard as I heard Kie crying and Ronnie's screams all over again.
"They. They broke into John B's house, attacked his sister, and chased us through the marsh. Other than that, I have no idea." I said shaking my head.
"Here's a more recent photo. Somebody gaffed them, then used them for chum. Whatcha think, bull shark?" She said. I swallowed back the puke that rose up.
"Here's the bad news, chief. Whoever killed these two men is still out there, and I got reason to believe that their next target could be a friend of yours or his sister. John B and Veronica. You said it yourself, they already put their hands on Veronica. What makes you think, they won't do it again? You kids don't think you're the only ones after the Royal Merchant now, do you?" She said. I looked up at her.
"Yeah. I know about that, too." She said walking back to her chair.
"Okay, Sheriff Peterkin, I can promise you he's not on it anymore." I told her.
"So you say. I'm just trying to keep him and his sister safe. I want you to tell your friend John B to come in and talk to me, and let's see if we an keep you out of Wadesboro." She said walking out. I sighed and leaned back in my chair.
Rafe's POV
I walked into my room expecting Veronica to be awake and plundering through my things. But she wasn't, she was still asleep. I sat the clothes I took from Sarah in the bathroom then walked over and shook her awake. She groaned and covered her head with a pillow.
"Go away, John B." She said slapping my hand.
"I'm not your brother." I told her. She jumped up and grabbed the covers and pulled them around her. She looked around in confusion.
"I'm." She said sighing.
"Not home, yes. My room, sleeping in my bed, yes. Have bed head right now, also yes. Look, get dressed, do a bathroom routine or whatever you girls do, and come out. Top and I are taking you into uptown for a bit." I said crossing my arms.
"Why?" She asked.
"Cause you're coming to Midsummers with us. Now get up." I told her.
"I can't go to Midsummers. I'm supposed to work Midsummers as a waitress." She told me.
"Well now you're a guest. Get up." I said motioning her up.
"I can't. I'm working it." She said slowly.
"Yes you can. I'll take care of it." I said back slowly. She groaned as she flopped back and covered her head with the blanket. I nodded. I grabbed the covers, yanked them off, then picked her up.
"Hey! No! I can walk!" She argued. I walked us to the bathroom and placed her down. She huffed and turned to me.
"Was that necessary?" She snapped.
"Yes. Get dressed or I'm not feeding you." I said closing the door. I heard her growl and stomp. A few minutes later she came out in Sarah's shorts and shoes but had my shirt tied above her belly button.
"What's wrong with the shirt of Sarah's?" I asked. She grabbed her bag off the floor.
"I'm bigger than your sister." She told me. I nodded, already knowing the meaning of what she meant. I walked us out of the house just as Topper pulled up.
"Morning lady and Rafe." He told us. I opened the back door for Veronica and she hopped in. I got in up front.
"Morning. Don't call me lady, it's either Veronica or Ronnie. Not lady, little Pogue or little Routledge, okay?" She told him.
"Someone woke up grumpy." He scoffed.
"I had to see Rafe's face early this morning. Wouldn't you be grumpy?" She came back. He laughed and pulled off. I heard her ruffling in her bag. I looked back and saw her pull out a granola bar.
"I told you, we'd feed you didn't I?" I asked her.
"No. you told me to get dressed or you weren't going to feed me. There's a difference." She argued.
"Really man?" Topper scoffed at me.
"She got dressed, didn't she?" I said shrugging. He sighed and kept driving. We fed her as we told her then walked into the tailor shop to pick up our suits for Midsummers. I nudged Topper when I saw Ronnie looking around at the dresses.
"Austin, can you help us choose a dress for the lady, please? And call her ma'am as much as possible?" I asked him.
"Yes sir. Will this also be charged to Mr. Cameron as well?" He asked.
"Yes, it will." I said nodding. He nodded and walked over to her with a sales' girl. We watched as she tried to argue with the two of them until the sales' girl dragged her off.
"She's going to eat you alive." Topper told me. I laughed and we went to the chairs at the dressing rooms. She tried on several dresses that didn't suit her. I heard her gasp in there. The door opened and quickly shut when she went to step out.
"No." She called out.
"Come on! Let us see." I said standing up. I knocked on her door.
"I am not coming out." She told me.
"Alright, then I'm coming in." I said turning the knob. The door swung open and my breath caught in my throat. She stepped out and placed her hands on her hips. The dress was a light blue, v cut in the front, floor length, with a weird flower thing going to on as the straps. She looked hot.
"I look like a little blue bird." She scoffed. The sales' girl walked up and turned her to the mirror. Then she did her hair up, placed a necklace on her and a blue flower clip in her hair. She also placed silver heels on her feet. I notice black and blue bruising from the top of her dress at the back.
"No girl that has tried this dress on, has pulled it off as much as you have. This dress was made for you." She squealed. Austin walked up and stared at her.
"Trashy to flashy. I like it! Very Cinderella." He said smiling. Ronnie turned around and quirked an eyebrow.
"Wanna repeat that?" She asked.
"What he meant was.. Uh. You're beautiful. We'll take the dress, the jewelry, and shoes." Topper said staring at her.
"No. no, no, no. No way. I can't get all this." Ronnie said arguing.
"But you are. Enjoy it." I told her. She glared at me. I smirked back at her. We paid for everything and walked out. We grabbed lunch at the café and coffee to go.
"Why don't you go home with Topper and get ready there? I'll meet you two at Midsummers. Don't want Ward asking questions." I said when Topper dropped me off.
"Ah, his plan all along! Doll me up and leave me to sharks." She said playfully.
"Not a fan of my mother?" Topper asked her. She crawled over the seat and got in the passenger.
"Not really." She said sighing.
"Hmph. Then we got a lot to talk about. Buckle up." He told her. She did and they left. I felt a slight rise of anger and jealousy as I watched them leave. I shouldn't be feeling this, especially for a Pogue.
John B's POV
After my trip to the mainland with Sarah and a talk with my history teacher, I walked home. I was headed behind the canoe shack when someone grabbed me from behind. I struggled with them.
"It's me, JJ. Stop, stop, stop." He said panting. I sat up.
"What is wrong with you?" I asked panting. He covered my mouth quickly and shoved me against the side of the shed.
"Shut up. Look. See that? They're watching us, man." He said pointing to a car down the road then at the house.
"Who?" I asked.
"I don't know. Let's go. Sneak around to the dock." He said. I followed him down to the water and we snuck over to the Pogue. We untied and drove away. I parked the Pogue on the bank of the old monument.
"First, I almost get strangled to death by Kooks, I'm on the hook for 30 grand, and I think your sister is dating a Kook. We should just dip." JJ told me.
"My sister and a Kook? Seriously? And where would you go? Hm?" I asked scoffing. He thought on it.
"Yucatan." He answered.
"Yucatan." I said.
"No, I'm dead serious right now. Surf all day, and we can just live off lobsters we catch with our bare hands." He said pacing around.
"You just wanna leave cause you got your ass beat?" I asked him.
"You didn't see the photos. Those guys that trashed your house, laid hands on Ronnie! Think about it! They're willing to kill for the gold." He said.
"Then it's got to be out there!" I argued.
"Have you lost your mind! One hundred years, man. One hundred years, people have been trying to find this Royal Merchant, and no one succeeded. And you think you are going to be the one that actually finds it? When will you get it in your thick skull? If you keep going to down this road, you're going to end up just like your dad!" He snapped at me. I shoved him hard.
"I can't give up, JJ! The last time I saw that dude, we got in an argument, and then he took all our rent money, all of Veronica's that she had saved up, and dipped for this Royal Merchant. And then I told him he was a shit father, and you know how the rest of the story goes." I snapped at him. I ran my hand through my hair and turned away.
"Bro that wasn't your fault." He told me.
"It doesn't matter whose fault it is, JJ! Do you not understand that? I can't give up on the hunt, man. I don't care who's out there, who's trying to kill us. Do you understand that? You know that." I said. I went to my bookbag and walked to the boat.
"Look, I've got a plan. You coming or what?" I asked him. I tossed my bag in the boat and turned to him. HIs wheels were turning in his head.
"It's 400 million, JJ. How much do you owe in restitution?" I said. He placed his hat back on his head and walked over.
"Dude if your sister dies because of our doing, she's haunting our asses, no joke." He said getting in. I sighed as I got in the boat.
"You said, you thought she was dating a kook." I said as we pulled away.
"Yeah. She was with Topper, Rafe and Kelce at the movie series last night. Then Rafe took her with them after the fight." He told me.
"Are you sure it was my sister?" I asked him.
"Dude, I've been around her since we were kids! I know what your sister looks like!" He snapped at me.
"Why is my sister with the Kooks? What happened?" I asked him.
"I don't know, man! Pope last saw her with him at Heyward's after they showed up. Then we saw them together at the movies." He said.
"Did they hurt her? Was she more bruised than before, JJ? Come on, man! This is my sister you're talking about!" I snapped.
"No. No man. She wasn't bruised more. Probably has a couple scrapes after she tried to pull us apart." He said shrugging.
"Ugh! My sister! With a kook! Especially with the ones that tried to kill us!" I snapped. He groaned and hit his head on the compartment of the boat. He looked up and back at me.
"It looked like she was having a great time too." He added.
"Keep adding to the fire, JJ. It's helping. Really." I said sarcastically. He shrugged and turned back around.
Veronica's POV
I stood in front of the mirror in Topper's room looking at the dress I had on. I felt out of place. I was used to wearing shorts, tank tops and sneakers. Not this. Someone knocked on the door. Topper poked his head in with his eyes shut.
"You decent?" He asked. I turned to him.
"Dressed wise, yes. Attitude wise, may need some work." I said chuckling. He laughed, opened his eyes and whistled.
"Not bad for a Pogue." He said smirking.
"I'm not a Pogue. I am a hard-working girl, on the cut, trying to keep a roof over hers and her brother's heads, water for a shower, power for amenities, phones for our use, and food on our table." I said crossing my arms.
"John B doesn't realize he has a great sister like you, does he?" He asked.
"Sometimes I wonder." I scoffed. I cleared my throat and looked down at the floor.
"We should go. Don't you have to walk the princess in?" I said biting my lip.
"Yeah, I do. But first. Here." He said. He held out a small box.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Open it." He told me. I opened it and pulled out a white scarf.
"Pretty scarf." I said nodding. He took it from me and draped it across my arms from behind.
"It's a shall. To help cover the bruising on your back." He said adjusting it.
"Right. Should've picked a more covered dress." I said nodding.
"No. You picked the perfect one." He said. I laughed and looked down. We walked out to his Jeep and drove off. We stopped at the door.
"Let's find Kelce and you can hang with him until I walk out with Sarah." He told me.
"I'm fine with being inside. Alone." I said shaking my head. He pushed me out the door gently. Everyone looked at us with strange looks.
"Just smile and walk." Topper whispered. I groaned but plastered a fake smile on and we walked until we found Kelce.
"Keep an eye out for her, man." Topper told him. They shook hands.
"I sure will. Looking mighty fine, Veronica." Kelce said laughing.
"Best line you can do? I get hit on by older men that use that same line at the Wreck. Keep trying though." I said patting his shoulder.
"And you just got owned by a girl." Topper said laughing. Kelce shrugged laughing. Topper walked off while I stayed and chatted with Kelce. Ward Cameron and his family made their entrance a few minutes later.
"Don't we clean up nice." I heard behind me. I turned around and saw Rafe.
"Kelce is there a mirror in front of us or is he talking about you and me?" I teased.
"Definitely, you and me. For sure." He said nodding. Rafe mocked us. We laughed at Rafe. He handed me a drink he ordered.
"You really do look nice tonight." Rafe told me.
"You do too. I also, I do have you and Topper to thank. And I will be paying you back for everything." I told him.
"No worries." He said drinking his drink. We looked around and saw Topper and Sarah talking. Sarah walked off, then we walked up.
"What was that about?" Kelce asked Topper.
"Shut up." Topper said taking the tea he offered.
"You good? You okay? Huh? Hey, lets get shit-faced tonight, huh?" Rafe said smacking his shoulder. He nodded. The guys stood off to the side while everyone else enjoyed. I saw Pope hug JJ out of nowhere.
"I'll be right back." Rafe told me. I nodded and they walked off towards JJ. They ran after JJ inside. I scoffed and shook my head.
Rafe's POV
Kelce had JJ in a headlock. I was about to start swinging after he spat at me when security walked in.
"Is there a problem guys?" He asked looking around.
"Oh! Pardon me, officer. No, there's not an issue. I just… Actually, yes. No, there is an issue. Uh we got a criminal trespass in progress here. Beep! Call it in, right? Blatant disrespect for private property." JJ said looking around. I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Yeah." I said.
"I'm in violation of all kinds of shit, sir. But these young gentlemen, uh caught me, sir, and they're about to take me away." He said touching Kelce's jacket. He slapped JJ's hands away.
"And that's what you should do, escort me out of here." JJ said putting his wrists together. The security guard grabbed his arm and started pulling him away.
"Hey, JJ. Tell John B his sister looks hot for a Pogue and so does Kiara." I called out. He spun around to attack but Kelce stepped in. I pulled him back and the guard went off with JJ. I laughed and adjusted my jacket.
Veronica's POV
I was leaned against one of the pillars watching the high and mighty enjoy themselves. I knew what Rafe and his friends were up to inside.
"You okay?" I heard behind me. I turned around and saw Topper.
"I'm fine. You?" I said crossing my arms.
"As good as I will be." He said sighing.
"So do you partake in their games too?" I asked nodding inside. He looked at the doors then at his drink.
"Would I get hit if I said sometimes?" He asked looking up at me.
"No. Just a scoff, head shake and me walking off." I said stepping down the steps.
"Wait. Wait, Ronnie." He said grabbing my arm. He spun me around to face him.
"I only do it when I'm provoked or drunk enough. That is it. That's all honesty there." He said. I looked into his eyes and he was being honest.
"This is an odd feeling." I told him.
"What is?" He asked. His hand dropped to mine.
"Honesty. John B lies to me constantly, just like our dad did. I don't know how to tell if it's the truth or not." I told him.
"Whoo!" We heard. We looked behind him and saw the guard escorting JJ out.
"It's okay everybody! Do not panic! Leave it to the men and women in uniform. Huh? Let's hear it for them! Rose! Good seeing you, you look like Lady Liberty!" JJ called out.
"What the hell?" I asked sighing.
"Let go of him!" Kie called out. Her dad and mom both tried to hush her.
"You can't boot him! I invited him! I am a member of this club!'" She told the guard. JJ shoved the guard and he knocked into a waiter who knocked into me. I fell with the waiter on the ground and gasped as cold liquid covered me. Topper helped me up and I looked to where Kie and JJ ran off too. I saw JJ and John B salute each other. They all four ran off into the beach.
"Come on. Let's get you cleaned up." Topper told me. I growled as I shook the liquid off my arm. Topper, Rafe, and Kelce followed me inside.
"God! My brother and his friends are idiots, sometimes!" I snapped. I walked into the ladies room and washed the drinks off of me. Sadly, the nice, pretty dress was ruined. I walked out and huffed.
"I'm sorry about the dress and shall. I." I started but Rafe covered my mouth.
"It's okay. Are you?" He said.
"I will be once this dress is off." I scoffed. Topper took off his jacket then started unbuttoning his button-up shirt. He slid it off and held it up.
"Here. Go change." He told me. Rafe cleared his throat. I grabbed it slid it on over the dress. I buttoned it up, then unzipped the dress. Thankfully, I wore shorts under my dress.
"Never seen that done before." Kelce said laughing.
"Alright, let's blow this place." Rafe said taking the dress from me. He tossed it in trash can and we walked out. I took off the heels once in the jeep and sighed with relief.
"Kelce. Undo the necklace, please." I said turning my back to him. He undid it and let it fall. I leaned forward and placed it, the bracelet and clip in the cup holder. I shook my hair loose and grabbed the beer Kelce offered me.
"Do you even drink?" He asked me. I smirked and tipped the beer back. I chugged it down. I sighed when I finished it.
"Well damn." He said amazed. I laughed and he handed me another one.
"Alrighty, come here, baby." Rafe said motioning me up to the front seat. I raised an eyebrow at him at the baby comment. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front seat in his lap. He put a white line between the index and thumb of his hand. Oh god, I thought. I remember the nights growing up and hanging around Barry and his friends. I was good in school, I worked too, but I did have a extra wild side when I wasn't at either.
"Coke? Really?" I asked.
"Yeah. Take a hit." He said grinning.
"I shouldn't." I said shaking my head.
"Come on. Just a hit, won't hurt." He said. I looked at Topper and he nodded. Kelce was nodding from the back. I sighed and leaned in. I inhaled and sighed.
"Atta girl. Whoo!" Rafe said laughing. I blinked and sniffed again. I crawled back in the back with Kelce and drank with them. Topper wanted to talk to Sarah but Rafe told him to move on from her. Which he wasn't going to too. The next morning, I woke up in Rafe's bed again. I sat up and groaned. I still had on Topper's shirt and my shorts.
"Rafe!" Someone called out. The door opened and Ward Cameron walked in. His eyes landed on me.
"Veronica. Uh, what're you doing here?" He asked clearing his throat.
"Uhm, Rafe and I have been talking out the differences between Kooks and Pogue's." I told him. Rafe walked in and tossed a bag on the bed.
"Hey, pops." He said sighing.
"Rafe. Umm, next time you have a guest over please let us know? And Veronica, I'm headed over to the hospital, if you'd like to join me." Ward said nodding.
"Hospital? For what?" I asked getting out of bed.
"Sweetheart, there was an accident with John B last night." He said softly. I quickly grabbed my shoes and I followed Ward out the door. We drove to St. Olive's. On the drive, Ward told me everything. I rushed inside behind Ward. He nodded to the door and I went in.
"John B?" I asked panting. He turned his head slowly. I went over to the bed and got on beside him.
"Oh god. Oh, god. What?" I asked tearing up.
"Easy. I'll explain later, but right now, I need you to bust us out." He said. I nodded and stood up.
"Hold on you two. Now, Sarah told me everything. The little adventure, you two running from the DCS, about how you protected her in the tower. John, I owe you an apology. You were honest with me about a small indiscretion, and I went ahead and fired you anyway. I shouldn't have. I will admit I do have a short fuse." He said.
"It's true." Sarah said nodding.
"I'd like to make it up to you and Veronica, if you'd let me. I spoke with the sheriff and I have offered to be your legal guardian, if you'll have me." Ward said softly. I sat back down.
"What?" We both gasped.
"No more running from the DCS and a roof over your head." He said nodding. I looked at John B and he looked at Sarah, who nodded.
"Sure. Yeah, sounds good." John B said nodding. I nodded too.
"Then it's settled. Welcome to the family." He told us. I had a weird feeling about this, and it wasn't a good one.