Chapter 5: Roadside Escapes

The Chateau was its usual mess of papers, notebooks, and random scraps, all remnants of John B's dad's treasure hunt obsession. The cluttered kitchen table groaned under the weight of Big John's journals. John B and Pope were hunched over the latest one, trying to make sense of the mess of notes, maps, and cryptic symbols. JJ, as usual, wasn't taking things nearly as seriously, lazily flipping through a different journal, eyes wandering to the TV every few seconds.

"I'm telling you, Pope, we're close," John B muttered, tracing a finger over a rough hand-drawn map. "My dad knew Anne Bonny was connected to the San José somehow. We just need to figure out how."

Pope leaned in closer, squinting at the journal. "Yeah, but a theory isn't going to cut it. We need actual proof."

JJ chimed in with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "When have we ever needed solid proof? We've gone on treasure hunts with less. Say the word, and we'll hit the road blindfolded."

Kiara, lounging on the couch and scrolling through her phone, shot him a look. "That's because you're always down for chaos, JJ. You thrive in it."

"Chaos is what makes life interesting, Kie," JJ shot back with a wink.

Pope, ignoring their banter, suddenly snapped his fingers, eyes lighting up. "Wait a minute—Anne Bonny's journal! There's a historical journal at the St. Augustine Pirate Museum. It's one of the only surviving artifacts tied to her. If we could get our hands on it, we might finally connect her to the treasure."

John B sat up straighter, the excitement clear in his eyes. "Where is it?"

"Florida," Pope replied, thumbing through a book for reference. "The museum is in St. Augustine. The journal could be the key to connecting Anne Bonny to the San José."

John B grinned, his mind already racing with plans. "We're going. Spring break starts in a few days. We can make this a road trip."

"Road trip? Treasure hunting during spring break?" JJ threw his hands up in victory. "This is exactly the kind of 'Pogue life' content I signed up for."

Kiara, looking up from her phone with a grin, nodded. "Count me in. Beats whatever my parents had planned."

Sarah, who had been quietly sitting beside John B, couldn't help but smile at his excitement. This trip was exactly what they all needed—a break from everything, the uncertainty, the heaviness. It was their way of feeling alive again. "Let's do it."

The next morning, the Twinkie was parked outside the Château, packed to the brim with surfboards, camping gear, and enough snacks to fuel an army. JJ was already sprawled across the backseat, feet propped up, happily munching on a bag of chips. Meanwhile, Pope wrestled with the roof rack, trying to secure the last of the surfboards.

"I don't trust your knot, man," Pope muttered, tugging on the rope with suspicion.

JJ, cramming another handful of chips into his mouth, waved him off. "Dude, my knots are impeccable. You're just paranoid."

Kiara, perched in the front seat and flipping through her playlist, laughed. "Pope's default setting is paranoia. You should've seen him during finals last year."

Pope shot her a mock glare. "Hey, some of us actually care about our grades."

JJ kicked back, arms behind his head. "And some of us prefer to live life without the oppressive chains of academia dragging us down."

John B slammed the back door of the van shut, grinning at the crew. "Alright, who's ready for a road trip?"

"Born ready," JJ said, tossing the empty chip bag aside.

Sarah climbed into the passenger seat, slipping on her sunglasses. "Let's hit the road before JJ finishes all the snacks."

JJ shot her a wink from the backseat. "I make no promises."

John B started up the Twinkie, the engine sputtering to life with its usual growl. The windows were down, the breeze already blowing through the van, and just like that, they were off. The open road stretched ahead of them, endless and inviting.

The first few hours of the trip flew by in a blur of music, laughter, and JJ's never-ending stream of commentary from the backseat. Kiara and JJ were locked in an intense battle over the aux cord, JJ insisting on blasting his rock playlist while Kiara fought to sneak in some of her indie tunes.

"Dude, this song again?" Kiara groaned as JJ's favorite blared through the speakers for the third time.

JJ shrugged, unapologetic. "Hey, you can never have too much Zeppelin."

Pope, who had been navigating with a map sprawled across his lap, piped up, "I think we've reached our limit, actually. There's a rest stop coming up in about twenty miles. Let's fuel up there and maybe recalibrate this whole playlist situation."

John B glanced over at Sarah, who had been enjoying the breeze through the open window, her face relaxed for the first time in a while. "You good? Need anything?"

She turned to him with a grin. "Honestly? Can we stop soon? Not because I'm carsick—just because I'm sick of JJ's music."

JJ's mock gasp from the backseat echoed throughout the Twinkie. "I am personally offended by that."

Sarah laughed, shaking her head. "Good. Maybe that means we can listen to something else for a change."

"Fine, fine," JJ huffed, handing the aux cord to Kiara with a flourish. "But I expect full DJ control when we're back on the road."

"Deal," Kiara replied with a smirk, immediately switching the song to something slower and more mellow. "See? Now this is road trip music."

The car settled into a comfortable rhythm after that, the miles ticking by under the warm sun. The excitement of the trip was palpable, buzzing in the air around them. They were on a mission, but it felt like more than that—it felt like freedom.

The Twinkie roared down the highway, its windows open wide to let the salty breeze whip through the van. Sarah sat with her legs propped up on the dashboard, her bare feet crossed as she lazily played with John B's hair, twirling the strands between her fingers. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting comfortably on her thigh, his thumb occasionally brushing her skin in a soft, absent-minded rhythm.

Sarah glanced out the window at the endless stretch of road, the sun hanging low in the sky. She smiled to herself, feeling lighter than she had in months. For the first time in what felt like forever, the constant weight of anxiety, fear, and doubt had lifted—if only a little. The air felt fresh, the open road full of promise, and for the moment, it was enough.

John B glanced over at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "What's going on in that head of yours?" he asked, his voice cutting through the hum of the road and JJ's playlist blaring from the speakers.

Sarah shrugged, her smile widening. "Just thinking."

John B raised an eyebrow, his thumb still absentmindedly brushing her thigh. "About what?"

She turned her head to face him, her fingers still tangled in his hair. "About how… for the first time in a long time, I actually feel light. Like, I can breathe, you know?"

John B glanced at her quickly before returning his eyes to the road. "Yeah?"

Sarah nodded, her gaze drifting back out the window. "I mean, with everything that's happened—my dad, Rafe, the baby—I've been so caught up in all the trauma. It's like I couldn't see straight. I thought I was broken, like I didn't belong anywhere." She paused, her voice softening as she continued. "But being here, with you guys… it's different."

Her fingers brushed the back of his neck, and she smiled to herself as she spoke. "I fit here. With the Pogues. This—this is my family."

John B's hand on her thigh squeezed gently, his smile widening. "You've always fit here, Sarah. You're one of us."

Sarah's chest tightened at his words, but this time, it wasn't from fear. It was from something else—something warmer, something stronger. She had spent so long feeling out of place, surrounded by the chaos of the Cameron family's betrayal and destruction, that she hadn't realized the Pogues had become more of a family to her than her own ever was.

They didn't care about status or money or appearances. They didn't judge her for her past, her mistakes, or the baggage she carried. They just… loved her, unconditionally, in a way her father never had, in a way her brother was incapable of. The Pogues were chaotic and reckless and stubborn, but they were hers.

The thought hit her like a wave, the weight of it so simple and yet so powerful. She wasn't lost. She wasn't alone. She had found her place.

John B glanced at her again, his expression soft. "What?"

"Nothing," she said, smiling to herself. "Just… I'm happy."

John B grinned, his eyes twinkling with affection. "Good. You deserve to be."

Sarah leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek, her heart swelling with a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in years. The road ahead of them stretched out endlessly, but for the first time in a long time, Sarah wasn't afraid of where it led.

As they cruised along the coastline, JJ's eyes locked onto something magical—perfect waves crashing against a mostly deserted beach. His surf senses tingled immediately.

"John B, stop the car!" JJ practically climbed over the seats in his excitement. "Waves! Perfect waves!"

John B groaned but was already veering the Twinkie toward the exit. "You're worse than a kid in a candy store, you know that?"

"Waves wait for no man, John B," JJ said, already grabbing his board from the roof rack before the van had even come to a complete stop. "Especially these waves."

Kiara rolled her eyes but grabbed her own board. "Alright, fine. Let's take a break."

Pope, ever the pragmatist, sighed as he glanced at his watch. "We're never going to make it to St. Augustine at this rate."

Sarah smiled as she watched JJ and Kiara sprint toward the water, already kicking off their shoes. Their excitement was infectious, and for a moment, she felt lighter, like the road trip was exactly what they all needed.

John B stayed back with her, leaning against the Twinkie and watching the others surf. "You sure you don't want to get in the water?"

Sarah shook her head, still smiling. "Nah, I'm good watching. Besides, it's nice just hanging back for once."

John B nodded, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they watched JJ attempt to show off his surf skills, only to get effortlessly out-surfed by Kiara.

"He'll never admit she's better than him," John B said with a grin.

Sarah laughed. "Never."

By the time they reached their campsite later that evening, the sun was starting to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over everything. The beach was secluded, with soft sand stretching out for miles and the sound of waves crashing nearby.

Kiara tossed the tent bags onto the ground, hands on her hips. "Alright, let's get this camp set up before it gets dark."

JJ grabbed one of the tent poles, spinning it around like a baton. "You're looking at the master camper."

Kiara raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Master camper? Last time you 'set up camp,' we lost half the stakes, and we slept on the ground."

JJ shrugged, unbothered as usual. "That was one time, Kie. One time."

Pope, sitting on the cooler, shook his head with a smirk. "I'll let you two figure that out."

Kiara shot him a look. "You're not getting out of this, Pope. Grab a pole."

As they argued, Sarah watched from the sidelines, laughing at the familiar dynamic. John B came up beside her, eyes sparkling. "You enjoying the show?"

"Honestly? Yes," Sarah replied, shaking her head. "They're like a married couple."

John B chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, but they'd kill each other in a week."

Eventually, they got the tents up, though not without a fair bit of grumbling from JJ and Kiara. The fire was lit, and they all settled down around it, the sky darkening above them and the stars slowly appearing in the inky blackness.

As night fell, the group gathered around the campfire, the flames flickering softly as the stars twinkled above them. JJ was busy roasting marshmallows, though his first few attempts ended up as charred, flaming blobs on sticks.

"Perfectly charred," JJ declared, holding up a burnt marshmallow with pride.

Pope grimaced, shaking his head. "Dude, that's basically ash."

JJ blew out the flames with a shrug. "It's got character."

Kiara tossed a marshmallow at him. "You have no standards."

"But you love me anyway," JJ shot back with a wink.

The fire crackled, the sound of the ocean in the distance, and for the first time in a while, the group felt like they could just be. No treasure hunt, no looming threats—just friends, under the stars, by the fire.

John B sat beside Sarah, their legs stretched out toward the fire. "Remember when we used to do this all the time?" he asked softly, nudging her with his shoulder.

Sarah smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Feels like forever ago."

"We needed this trip," John B said, his gaze drifting to the others, who were laughing and joking around the fire. "Feels good to just be out here, you know?"

Sarah nodded, her heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks. "Yeah. It really does."

Kiara, overhearing their conversation, nudged Sarah with a grin. "You doing okay?"

Sarah gave her a playful eye roll. "Kie, I swear, if one more person asks if I'm okay, I'm going to lose it."

Kiara laughed, hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. Just checking."

JJ, overhearing them, waved his arms dramatically. "Enough with the emotional stuff. We're treasure hunters, not therapists. Let's talk strategy."

Pope raised an eyebrow. "You mean the 'strategy' where you surf instead of actually doing anything productive?"

JJ grinned, unfazed. "It's called multitasking, Pope. Get on my level."

The banter continued late into the night, the fire burning low, and the stars glittering overhead. The world outside their little circle felt far away, and for the first time in a while, they were all just... present.

The campfire crackled softly, sending sparks up into the clear night sky. The flames cast a warm glow on the Pogues as they sat around it, the laughter from earlier in the evening now replaced by a comfortable silence. The ocean waves crashed in the distance, a steady rhythm that matched the ease of the night.

Sarah had fallen asleep in John B's lap, her head resting against his chest as the warmth of the fire and the day's long drive finally caught up with her. John B leaned back, smiling softly down at her as he absentmindedly ran his fingers through her hair.

Pope stood up, stretching his arms. "We're running low on wood. I'm gonna go find some more."

Cleo hopped up beside him, brushing the sand off her jeans. "I'll come with you. No use in one of us getting lost out there."

As Pope and Cleo headed down the beach, their voices fading into the night, John B looked down at Sarah, still fast asleep, her breaths slow and steady against his chest. He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face before shifting her gently in his arms.

"I think it's time I take my sleeping beauty to bed," John B murmured, the words filled with affection.

He carefully slid out from under her, lifting her into his arms with ease. As he did, Sarah stirred, her eyes fluttering open just enough to mumble, "I'm not tired... just resting my eyes..." Her voice was soft, her head tucked against his shoulder.

John B chuckled under his breath. "Sure you are, princess."

She mumbled something incoherent into his shoulder, barely awake, as he carried her toward their tent. He smiled to himself, enjoying the way she snuggled closer into him, her trust in him absolute. The weight of the world seemed lighter in moments like these.

"Night, guys," John B called softly over his shoulder, leaving JJ and Kiara alone by the fire.

JJ waved lazily from his spot on the sand. "Night, lovebirds. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," he teased, earning a snort from Kiara.

Once John B and Sarah had disappeared into their tent, the quiet of the night settled back in. Kiara poked at the fire, the embers glowing bright against the dark beach, while JJ lay back, his arms folded behind his head as he stared up at the stars.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. The crackle of the fire and the distant sound of the ocean filled the silence. Then, Kiara let out a sigh, her voice quieter than usual.

"Sometimes I'm... jealous, you know?"

JJ turned his head toward her, frowning in confusion. "Jealous? Of what?"

Kiara's eyes stayed fixed on the fire, her expression softening as she spoke. "Of John B and Sarah. The way they love each other. It's like... they just know that they're it for each other."

JJ propped himself up on his elbows, something tightening in his chest at her words. "John B? Seriously?"

Kiara glanced over at him and quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's not like that. I'm not into John B….. Or Sarah." She paused, her gaze drifting back to the fire. "I just... I want that kind of connection. That kind of love. Someone who makes me feel like everything else disappears when I'm with them."

JJ tried to laugh it off, but his smile faltered. "So, what? You're saying I'm not good enough company?" he teased, though there was a hint of something deeper behind his words.

Kiara looked at him then, really looked at him, and for the first time in a while, JJ saw something vulnerable in her eyes. "That's not what I'm saying, JJ. It's just... sometimes, I wish it was just easy like it is with those two, their like magnets or something."

JJ's heart raced a little, and he found himself leaning in closer, almost without thinking. "Yeah. I get that," he said, his voice softer than usual.

For a second, it felt like something shifted between them. The air was thicker, the space between them smaller. JJ's eyes flickered to her lips, and for the briefest moment, he thought maybe—just maybe—this was it. "Kei …. I…."

But before he could close the gap, the sound of footsteps in the sand broke the spell. Pope and Cleo reappeared, arms full of driftwood, laughing about something as they approached the fire.

Kiara quickly leaned back, breaking the moment as she turned to greet them. "Find enough wood?" she asked, her voice light but betraying a hint of something unsaid.

JJ let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and dropped back against the sand, his heart still pounding in his chest. Whatever had just happened between them, it wasn't over. Not yet.

Inside the tent, John B gently laid Sarah down on their makeshift bed, her head resting on his arm as she instinctively curled closer to him. He smiled down at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she mumbled something incoherent in her sleep.

The firelight flickered through the tent's canvas walls, casting soft shadows across her peaceful expression. John B watched her sleep, his heart swelling with something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a while—peace. Even after everything they had been through, Sarah had come to be the best thing in his life.

As his gaze drifted to her stomach, the small life growing inside her, John B felt his hand unconsciously move to rest gently over her abdomen. His fingers splayed across her flat stomach, and for the first time since the news had hit them, he allowed himself to feel a little bit of excitement. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he imagined what the future might look like.

He couldn't deny it anymore. He was terrified, sure—but beneath the fear was a growing sense of something else. Hope. Maybe they really could figure this out, just like they always did. Maybe this baby—their baby—was part of that next adventure.

Just as he let out a quiet breath, content with the stillness of the moment, Sarah shifted in her sleep. Her face scrunched up, and she mumbled something into his chest.

"...no...JJ, stop stealing the marshmallows..."

John B snorted, biting back laughter as he kissed the top of her head. "Get some rest, marshmallow police," he whispered, smiling against her hair.

With that, he closed his eyes, his arm still wrapped protectively around her as he let the sound of the waves and her steady breathing lull him to sleep. The future was uncertain, but right now, in this moment, everything felt right.

The next morning, the group slowly packed up camp, groaning as they shook the sand from their gear. JJ, unsurprisingly, was the first one up, dragging his surfboard toward the water for a quick session before they hit the road again.

"Come on, man," Pope called after him, half-heartedly packing up the cooler. "We've got places to be!"

JJ waved him off without looking back. "Five more minutes!"

Kiara shook her head, zipping up the tent. "He's like a kid on Christmas morning."

John B and Sarah stood by the Twinkie, watching the waves crash against the shore. The road ahead was still long, but for the first time in a while, they weren't rushing to figure everything out. They had time. They had each other.

"Ready to get back on the road?" John B asked, slipping his hand into Sarah's.

She smiled, squeezing his hand. "Let's do it."