iv. playing pretend

Only when the sun began to sneak through the barrier of the blackened sky did Nova Scott finally fall asleep. A breeze blew inside from the forgotten balcony doors. As her tired eyes blinked to life the rays of the sun began to pour like orange juice across her white floor, warming the room.

A weight had fallen over her body. And not a metaphorical one. An arm lay lazily draped across Nova's stomach. Attached the arm was a wrist decorated with an all too familiar pink braided friendship bracelet.

Sleep deprivation had made Nova forget that Sarah had ended up in her bed during the late hours of the night. Nova woke only enough to make room on the bed for her and lift up her heavy duvet so that Sarah could slide under with her. There was no time to ask about the smeared mascara on Sarah's puffy pink cheeks. As seconds later both girls had fallen asleep.

Nova turned, Sarah was already lying awake, mascara still staining her now dry cheeks. Using her thumb, Nova brushed the dried makeup off her best friend's face.

"What happened last night?" Nova finally asked.

Sighing, Sarah rolled over onto her back, staring silently at the high ceiling. She ran a hand over her face before speaking, "Topper told me that he loved me."

Nova furrowed her eyebrows, assuming those words would be news that Sarah would want to joyously sing to Nova, not the kind that made her end up in the same bed as her past three in morning, crying.

Willing herself to sit up, Nova finally managed to get out of bed, though keeping a close eye on Sarah, just to let her know she was still listening to her.

"He loves me. Topper loves me..." she sat suddenly from her lying position. "And I still wasn't ready to have sex with him!"

"Just because someone says they love you doesn't mean you owe them sex, Sarah."

Nova wished she was able to take her own advice. Wanting love so bad, she constantly fooled herself into believing these boys' false declarations and fell into bed with them, because she wanted their words to be true. Each time she wanted the boy to be the exception to the last. Sarah shouldn't have to go through what she had.

"I know that," Sarah assured quickly, nodding her head. "And Topper understood... I think. I'm just really confused."

"You're confused because you aren't ready," said Nova, placing her hairbrush back onto her dresser before turning to face her best friend. "It's a big step for a lot of people. If you aren't ready, don 't feel bad about it."

"You've done it," pouted Sarah.

Nova scoffed, "And look where it's gotten me."

She was right. Sarah knew that too. There'd too many late nights of Sarah consoling a broken-hearted Nova. Holding her from night until morning. Threatening to take the life of those who lied to her best friend. Nova would be that person for Sarah in a heartbeat too. But she wanted to avoid having to be for as long as she could.

"What if it's more than me just not being ready..." Sarah whispered.

Nova leaned against her dresser, crossing her arms, "What do you mean?"

"What if I don't love him back?" she confessed.

Tears glassed over her eyes.

"I have been waiting so long to hear Topper tell me he loves me. I've imagined it a million times. Created the entire picture in my head," the tears escaped onto Sarah's mascara-stained cheeks. "And then he actually told me and I didn't feel ─ I didn't feel anything."

"You should tell him."

"I should?"

"It'll hurt. Maybe even break his heart," sighed Nova, knowing the feeling too well. "But honesty is better than blind hope."

It was one of the worst heartbreaks to learn that all this time Nova believed she was loved, only to be told that it was all a lie. After that hurt, she preferred the brutality of honesty.

"Now, I think we should go out for breakfast," said Nova, in an attempt to lift Sarah's spirits, even if just for a few hours. "I'm starved."

"Pancakes?" Sarah sniffled.

Nova laughed, nodding her head, "Yeah, we can get pancakes."

They ended up in a long line at Starbucks. And since Nova had taken the ticket at IHOP, Sarah insisted on paying for their absurdly priced iced coffees. Not that it would a dent in either of their accounts, though.

"You never told me how you spent your night," said Sarah, as they exited the still packed building and headed into the parking lot.

Cars had now wrapped completely around the small, brick building.

"Oh, well it was very exciting," said Nova, tone dripping with sarcasm. "I ordered a pizza, ate almost the entire box, and then fell asleep."

She did spare the details of the hours spent thinking about John B, knowing it wasn't time to have that conversation with Sarah yet. Nova could barely explain what was going on to herself, there was no way Sarah would understand.

Sarah's laughter cut short as her eyes furrowed. Nova looked, confused, before Sarah pointed a finger toward the middle of the road, "Holy shit, is that John B?"

Speak of the devil. Better yet, think of the devil.

The universe, or fate, as Nova's Lovey called it, really had it out for Nova Scott these days.

Nova followed Sarah's gaze; a bike had been caught in a chain near the road. The rider, John B, had been flung over it. His body sprawled out near the road.

"I think he just yeeted over that chain," said Sarah, confused.

Taking Sarah's hand Nova ran them into the middle of the road. Cars sped past them, blaring their horn. Rightfully so, they were easily jaywalking. Nova tightened her grip on Sarah, trying her best not to get them hit by a car, likely drove by a tourist.

Without a scratch they made it to the other side of the road. Nova couldn't say the same for John B. though. Still writhing in pain on the concrete sidewalk, holding his side, she heard his groans of pain, and noticed the blood spreading on his dirt-stained shirt.

"Holy shit," gasped Nova, dropping to her knees quickly in an attempt to aid John B's wounds. "Your shirt. There's blood."

She was panicking, she knew she wasn't making any sense.

With a soft, and hesitant touch Nova moved to lift the ends of John B's salmon-colored shirt up to assess the damages. At this moment, she began to wish she would've taken those first aid classes her dad wanted to sign her up for.

Her mouth dropped. And Sarah started to gag behind her. The gash was pretty deep in John B's side. And there was a lot of blood. More than she expected there to be.

"Damn," Nova had wide eyes.

Noticing her horror-stricken look, John B leaned upward, grunting in pain as he did so, to see the damages for himself.

"Oh," his head fell back tiredly. "Well, that's not ideal."

"Yeah, this isn't good at all," whispered Nova.

She pulled his shirt back down. Not wanting to look at the wound anymore.

"You think you could just take me to the hospital?" John B. asked, his head turning toward Nova.

He seemed calm. Too calm for someone who was lying on a sidewalk gushing blood.

"Right now?" asked Nova dumbly.

John B. nodded, "Right now would be fantastic."

Nova turned back to look at Sarah. It was her car that they'd brought into town. It was her who would be driving. So, the decision was up to her.

"Fine," she sighed. "Come on!"

She bent down to help Nova attempt to pull John B. off the ground. He'd be leaving a small puddle of blood behind. They managed to get him into a sitting position so that he could bring himself to his feet, with their support . An arm draped over the shoulders of either girl. His weight fell heavy onto them. They struggled to crossing the street with him, and even more getting him to lay down in the back of Sarah's car.

Sarah slammed the door shut when they managed to lay him across the seat, "What the hell are we doing?"

"We couldn't just leave him to bleed out on the side of the road," Nova defended her actions. "And you agreed to drive him!"

Sarah sucked in a sharp breath and turned to get back into the driver seat of the car. It was silent as she started the car and pulled out of her parking spot. Though John B's spotty breaths were quite loud.

He sat up on his elbows just before Sarah went to pull out of the parking lot, "Hey do you see ─ do you see like a cop SUV, or anything? Y'know, blue and white?"

Nova and Sarah exchanged nervous looks.

"Jesus, yes, there's a blue and white SUV!" Nova rolled her eyes, falling back into her seat.

What kind of fugitive were they harboring?

"What did you do?" Sarah demanded, glaring through the rear-view mirror.

John B, tired, fell back into the leather seats, "Shit, of course. Do you see a guy with no neck?"

He'd ignored Sarah's question.

"Yeah," nodded Nova, staring intently out of the windshield, and across the road where the cop car had parked. "Yeah, that man definitely doesn't have a neck. And there's a woman, and her pantsuit is just hideous. "

"And what're they doing?" he asked.

Nova turned, annoyed, "How the hell should I know? Would you like if I walked over there to ask them?"

"Okay, no, don't do that!" John B. said quickly. "Can we just go?"

His tone was loud, growing agitated.

Sarah didn't move the car as she turned in her seat to glare at the bleeding boy in the back, "Don't use that tone with her. Because if it wasn't for Nova, your sorry ass would still be bleeding out on the street!"

John B. nodded; his eyes widened in fear. Even Nova was a little afraid of Sarah right now.

The traffic light above them finally turned green, Sarah could now safely put out into traffic. She was extra careful in her driving, especially as they passed by the cop car that had John B. so worked up. She couldn't risk getting pulled and them finding the boy they were looking for in her backseat.

Finally, Sarah made it out of town, and the traffic was less heavy as she turned onto an empty road. With a sigh, Nova allowed herself to relax. There was no way anyone would be able to see John B. now. At least , she hoped.

"So, why are the cops looking for you?" asked Sarah, once again peering at him through her rear-view mirror. "You didn't like rob a bank, or murder anyone, did you?"

John B. laughed breathily, clutching his bleeding side, "It's probably best neither of you know anything."

"So, you're actually a fugitive?" asked Nova, now turning around to face him.

"Right now, more like a refugee," John B. attempted to laugh at his poor joke.

Nova turned back around in her seat, slightly slouching. What had she gotten herself in? Nervously, she began chewing on the inside of her lip.

"Sarah, we can't take him to the hospital."

"What? Why?" Sarah questioned.

"He is running from the police. Once the hospital clears him, they'll be waiting to take him in the lobby," Nova explained.

Sarah shrugged, "So what?" she stole a quick glance at Nova. "That isn't our concern."

"Sarah, I ─ we can't just let him get arrested," Nova tried to reason with her stubborn best friend.

She sighed, "Then what are we supposed to do with him?"

John B. sat up, "You can take a left here."

He'd been listening to them argue about him from the backseat the entire time. Granted, Nova and Sarah weren't be the quietest.

"I have to get something..."

Sarah sighed but didn't argue as she slowed into the left turn. She pulled off onto the side of the road when John B. told her to stop. With quite the struggle he managed to get himself out of the car and began wobbling down the road. Sarah and Nova watched him for a second, before Sarah turned, smacking Nova hard on the arm.

"What do we do with him?" Sarah whispered angrily, as this was not how she'd planned on spending the day with her best friend. "We can't take him to the hospital, but that wound is going to get any better."

Nova chewed on her lip, thinking, "There's no way we can go to my house. Dad'll be home anytime this afternoon."

She turned, looking at Sarah, eyes pleading. Sarah wasn't going to be a fan of Nova's idea.

"No..." she said slowly. "Nova, we can't!" Sarah tried pleading with Nova, but she gave in rather quickly with a long sigh. "Fine. But once he's patched up, he's gone."

Nova nodded, "I know. After that, he's gone."

For good, Nova hoped. But her words had been falling on deaf ears for a while now.

They quieted when John B. sat himself back in the car, shutting the door behind him. In his hand, Nova noticed, the weathered polaroid picture. She couldn't make out what was shown on it, but by the why he held it , she knew that it was important to him.

After a few more minutes of silent driving, Sarah finally turned into the top of her driveway. The trees that once lined the concrete roadway had been knocked over, branches littering the grass, but recently moved from the road. Sarah didn't bother pulling her car under the carport, but instead stopped it in front of her front door.

"What the hell are we doing here?" John B. seemed slightly panicked when Sarah killed the ignition.

He sat up suddenly, eyes widened, as he took in his surroundings. He cringed and held at his wounds; the sudden movements weren't good for the tear in his skin.

"Calm down, please," said Nova, stepping out of the passenger side door, and rounding the vehicle to meet John B. "That wound has to be taken care of before it gets infected."

"Unless it already is," scoffed Sarah, leaning against the hood of her car.

She still wasn't fully on board with all of this.

John B. shook his head, "No, but I really can't be seen here."

Nova sighed, rolling her eyes, she opened his door, and stepped aside so that he too could get out with her help, "Can you just trust me?"

"Okay," he sighed, "I trust you."

"Great, now come on," Nova motioned for him to step out of the car.

With his arm tossed around her shoulder, Nova helped a hobbling John B. up the stairs to Sarah's porch, and into the cool, air-conditioned home. Sarah was a few steps ahead of them, making sure no one would pop out and surprise them.

"I'm not sure if Mr. Cameron will like that his ex-employee is bleeding out all over his expensive floors," said John B, his tone condescending, though whispered in Nova's ear.

Rolling her eyes, ignoring the feel of his hot breath on the back of her neck, Nova also had to refrain from punching him in the ribcage.

"Shut up," hissed Nova.

Sarah quietly stepped into the foyer, scanning the open room for anyone who might see them.

"Hey!"

Nova gasped, hearing the familiar ring of a voice and quickly pulled John B. behind the nearest corner. She pressed her back against the wall, covered in expensive printed paper, and listened to Ward Cameron's footsteps jog down the wooden staircase.

"Jerry, don't tell me we can't renegotiate the rate. We can absolutely renegotiate the rate, Jerry!"

Nova was sure that her heart was going to beat out of her chest. Though, she couldn't quite figure out why she was hiding from Ward. She'd been in his home a million times before today. Though, she was sure it would raise some questions when he noticed her holding up John B. Routledge who continued to bleed onto the floor.

Sarah's voice sounded much too enthusiastic when she greeted her father who had descended the staircase. She kept him talking, focused on her while Nova and John B. stood in Ward's office space, backs pressed hard against the wall, waiting for Ward to leave.

Minutes of silence passed by them. In her nervous state, Nova had folded her hand around John B's wrist, holding on for dear life. It wasn't until the front door slammed shut that Nova noticed how she held onto him. So did he . And quickly, Nova dropped her hand and refused to meet his gaze until Sarah appeared from around the corner.

The stairs were hell. Sarah ended up having to support John B's other side, since Nova alone wasn't enough to get him past three stairs on the high staircase.

They'd finally stopped in the library. Nova had only been this room a couple of times. Most them being when she'd have a history report due. Ward was always happy to help with that. Wooden shelves rounded the room, pressed against the walls. They were full of old books. Most being on the island's history, or Ward's family history. Some of them sat untouched, collecting layers of dust.

One wall was bare, without a high-standing bookshelf against it. It's where the couch sat. A leather couch. Not even dented from being sat on. Nova led John B. there, plopping him down with a tired sigh.

"I'm going to find a First Aid kit," said Sarah, once Nova had managed to catch her breath on the cushion beside John B. "Stay here, please."

Nova nodded, once Sarah was out of the room, she turned to John B, once again rolling up the ends of his shirt to expose his deep wound. Somehow it looked worse than before. Like the cut had gotten bigger, probably because of the moving they'd been doing. And Nova and Sarah weren't exactly qualified to be doing any of this.

"That doesn't look good," John B. sighed, looking down his chest and at the bloody gash on his side.

Glancing upward, Nova bit her lip, she shrugged, "Could be worse..."

"Yeah?" John B. laughed, "How?"

"You could be dead."

Sarah returned to the library just then. Carrying a bottle of cold water and a plastic first aid kit. She put it down on the wooden coffee table that sat a few feet in front of the couch.

"This should help," she said.

Panicked, Nova looked up at Sarah, "What the hell are you expecting me to do with this?"

"I thought you knew!" said Sarah, annoyed. "You're the one who wouldn't let me drop him off at the hospital."

"I can't do this," said Nova, shaking her head. "I once cried for three hours when I cut myself while slicing an apple. For god's sake, I made Nolan put the Band-Aid on my thumb."

Sarah scoffed at the memory, but her expression quickly went serious, "Come on, how hard can it be?"

Nova nodded, "You're right," she reached for the plastic case, hands slightly shaking. "What really could go wrong?"

"Excuse me," John B's voice, full of fear sounded from beside her.

He winced, sitting up, looking between the two clueless girls. They had no idea what they were doing.

"Just calm down," Nova pushed him back into the couch, so she could once again assess his wound. Pulling up his shirt she wanted to cringe, but decided against it, wanting to keep John B. as calm as possible.

There was dirt all around the bloodied wound, a bruise was already forming on his ribcage, "We need to disinfect it."

First, she poured the water from the plastic bottle onto an old rag that Sarah had brought with the other supplies. Carefully, with a soft touch, Nova cleaned around the wound. Trying to take up as much dirt and dried blood as she could. And there was a lot.

Every time she inched closer to the actual gash in his side John B's body would tense up, only to relax again when she pulled away.

Throwing the rag aside, Nova began rummaging through the case sitting on her lap. She took a handful of gauze and the brown bottle of pure rubbing alcohol. John B. was watching Nova's every move.

"Is that rubbing alcohol?" he asked, sounding afraid.

Nodding, Nova began pouring onto the dry gauze, "It's the only way to make sure you don't get an infection."

Nova turned back to his wound. She allowed John B. a few seconds to prepare himself for what was to come. He braced his hands on either side of himself and leaned as far back into the cushion as he could. He nodded, telling Nova to get it over with.

"Alright, close your eyes," she instructed, knowing this would be easier if he wasn't watching every move she made. "I'll do it on three. One... two..."

There was no three before Nova pressed the alcohol-soaked gauze to the open wound on John B's abdomen. And as soon as she made contact with his skin John B's breath hitched and his muscles tensed, pulling himself off the couch he let out a loud yell.

Grabbing his arm, Nova pulled him back down on the couch, placing a hand over his mouth, muffling the screams coming out of it.

"Jesus, are you an idiot?"

Nova waited for the sounds to stop coming from his mouth before she slowly removed her hand. His breathing was heavy and jagged. She glared at him through her lashed as she continued to wipe around the wound as well, seeing it was scratched all around his stomach area.

He didn't yell anymore. Though in desperation, John B. began swatting at Nova's hand every time it moved to a new part of scratched skin.

"Could you stop for a second, please?"

John B. apologized through clenched teeth, and urged Nova to hurry.

"It'd help if you distracted yourself," Nova advised him.

Nodding, his moved around the room, scanning, looking for something that he could focus on instead of his burning skin.

"That guy," he nodded to the wall behind Sarah. On it hung a large-framed portrait of a man Nova never bothered learning the name of. "Who's the guy on the wall?"

Nova shrugged, she wouldn't know, not being a history buff, but Sarah might, "Sarah who's the guy in the painting?"

She shrugged, annoyed that she'd been brought into their conversation, "Denmark Tanney, I think. My dad said he's the founder of Tannyhill."

Furrowing his eyebrows, John B. looked up at Sarah, "How does a slave found a cotton plantation?"

"If they're a free man," Nova shrugged, guessing.

"According to my dad, the dude is kind of a mystery," said Sarah, still standing on the other side of the room. "He showed up out of nowhere and paid for all the lands around here in gold."

"In gold?" John B. attempted to move from the couch, but Nova pushed him back into the cushions.

Sarah nodded, her expression bored and uncaring. She didn't seem to care why John B. had suddenly became so encapsulated with the man in the portrait behind her. And because of this newfound fascination and complete disregard to Nova still cleaning his open wounds , he stood from the couch and crossed to the other side of the room.

Moving aside, Sarah allowed him to gawk over the portrait.

"Yo, Jack Sparrow, I wasn't finished," said Nova, rolling her eyes.

But John B. no longer seemed concerned about the possible infection he could get. All his attention had been turned to the man on the wall. An old 1800's painting of a man none of them really knew. The bag he'd been carrying on his back since Nova and Sarah found him lay on a table beside the painting. For some reason he began to rummage through it.

With a sigh, Nova figured the only way she was going to finish patching John B. up was to go to him. So, she found a large bandage and some tape and crossed the floor.

"Denmark Tanney, I recognize that name," he spoke, mostly to himself. "He was on the Royal Merchant. But there weren't any survivors."

John B. was so into whatever he was mumbling about that he didn't even try to move away from Nova's touch. Lifting the hem of his shirt, she used a cotton swab to apply a random ointment she found inside the kit. She kept a steady hand, not wanting to press too hard on the wound and risk more bleeding.

Watching from afar was Sarah. Her eyebrows raised curiously.

Nova and John B. had practically closed in on one another, seeming as comfortable as ever. It was an intimate act, and neither of them acknowledged it. It's like they'd been doing this for years. As if this was where they were supposed to be.

But Nova had a secret. Because no one could feel the fire that burned Nova's fingertips every time she grazed over John B's exposed skin.

"What else do you know about this guy?" asked John B. turning to Sarah.

He was completely unaware to the mental war Nova was having with herself.

"When we first moved in, we found a diary, an almanac, a bunch of papers..." she sighed going on. "My dad donated all of it to the state archives at Chapel Hill."

"Can I go to see it?" John B. asked excitedly.

"See what?" asked Sarah.

"The archives! I need to see them."

Nova snorted, pressing the large bandage onto John B's abdomen, and smoothing it out, "Yeah right. You'll need a trustee's pass to get to them."

He seemed disappointed. Nova noticed the slump in his body that still lay under her careful touch. She looked up, eyes scanning his disappointed features, "Why is this so important?"

John B's gaze dropped, seeming surprised that she cared enough to ask.

"It is just a bunch of information about some dead guy..." she sighed, finally dropping the hem of his shirt, still stained with blood.

"No," John B's tone dropped, his eyes serious as his gaze returned the painted portrait on the wall. "I need to see them."

There was a wooden table beside the wall. John B. rested his tired frame on it as his gaze lingered disappointedly at the man on the wall. Nova and Sarah shared a questioning look and simultaneous shrugs.

And it was like Nova couldn't stop the next words out of her mouth, "My dad ─ my dad, he has a trustees pass."

Nova returned to the couch. Avoiding eye contact with Sarah and John B. as she pretended to rearrange the first-aid kit. She could feel John B's gaze shift to her though. It was like a heat wave had fallen upon her.

Lincoln Scott's name, of course, would be what got John B. past the scrutinous gaze of Chapel Hill's security. Nova's been using it to her advantage for a while now. And she still couldn't believe she'd just offered it out.

"Do tell, though," Nova looked up from the first-aid kit, adding quickly before John B. could take advantage of her offer. "Is this also to do with the treasure hunt?"

Sarah snorted, her back still resting against the wall across the room, "What, like a scavenger hunt?"

John B. ignored Sarah completely, his desperate turning to daggers, "You're unrelenting."

"So, I've been told," Nova shrugged.

A slight smirk was pulling at the ends of her lips.

"Fuck! Fine, yes!" John B. admitted, his voice loud and annoyed.

With a triumphant smile, Nova stood up from the couch, "Great," she sighed. "I'll take you to Chapel Hill."

"What?" his eyes widened. "No. No you aren't."

"If you want to see that diary, I am," Nova argued, crossing her arms over her chest. "Remember, it is my dad's pass that I'm using."

"I'm a fugitive right now. Are you forgetting that?" He attempted to scare Nova into backing out.

But she was resilient. She stood her ground.

John B. shook his head, "You don't want to be seen with me."

"Don't tell me what I want."

"You could get into trouble."

Nova had to scoff, "I'm not getting into trouble, John B."

As much as Nova had been taught to never rely on money for morality, she knew that she had enough of it to get the help she needed to get her out of a lot of trouble. She wasn't trying to brag. She was trying to beat John B. in this argument.

And it seemed that it was working as he struggled to find the right words to use against her. But they never found their way through, instead, he sighed, "Okay. But this is it. Just this once, because I need your help ."

Nova shrugged, "Once, that's all I ask."

Suddenly, Nova was being jerked into the hallway, the door slamming behind her. Blonde hair spun, and Sarah was facing her, eyes wide and questioning. She'd been quiet up until now, watching the interaction with intrigue, but saying nothing.

"You're crazy," she said, harshly.

Nova nodded, bottom lip between her teeth, "Only a little though, right?"

Sarah scoffed; arms folded across her chest.

"Also, this might be a bad time to ask..." Nova's scared voice trailed off, as her eyes met everywhere but Sarah. "But I did leave my car at the house, and with my dad coming home ─"

"Jesus Christ," Sarah ran an exasperated hand over her face. "You're actually planning to do this. To run off with him to the mainland?"

Nova shrugged, "I thought I made that obvious inside..."

"Are you going to tell me what's going on here?"

Nova shrugged, playing stupid. She should've known better. Sarah could see it. Of course, it'd be Sarah who guessed it, even before Nova herself.

"What is going on with you and John B?" Sarah asked, making her question clearer. So that Nova couldn't avoid it.

"I don't ─ I don't know," she whined, running her hands over her face. She chewed on the inside of her lip as she looked at the closed door, thinking of the boy locked away inside. "I know it's crazy. And really, really stupid. But I want to know, what it is."

Sarah sighed. She wanted to be angry. But with Nova's honest revelation, she couldn't. She could only worry about her best friend.

With a sigh, Sarah reached her hand out, car keys dangling in her grip, Nova reached for them, but Sarah was hesitant to release, "And you'll be careful, right?"

"Sarah, I've never even gotten a parking ticket," scoffed Nova.

Honestly, she was a little offended. She'd always been the better driver in their friendship pairing. Why was Sarah suddenly so worried about her car.

"I'm talking about you, stupid," Sarah rolled her eyes. "I want you to be careful."

"I'll be careful, Sarah," Nova promised.

With a sigh, Sarah handed over her keys. Letting Nova know that whatever it was she was doing, she'd support her.

Nova smiled, thanking her one last time.

The complaints seemed never-ending. John B. had nothing but complaints to talk about on the way to the boarding dock. But Nova shrugged them off. Refusing to hear them. Refusing to listen, or to back down.

Nova was taking him to Chapel Hill, and that was final.

With a handful of coins found in Sarah's middle console, Nova filled the meter, much to John B's dismay, already claiming they were running behind. She feared that she hadn't fed the meter enough, but John B. had already grabbed her wrist and began pulling her away.

John B. kept a tight hold on Nova's hand as he ran them toward the ticket booth. There was no line, in fact, the entire boarding plaza was basically empty, except for a few construction and boat workers lingering near the bridge.

They were definitely late, suspicions confirmed when the man working the booth had stepped outside, hat on and jacket draped over his arm. They begged, pleaded, everything short of getting on their knees and bowing to the poor man just wanting to get home. Nova offered money, insane amounts for a ferry ride. But there was nothing the overworked man could do. The last ferry had already left the board.

"So, what now?" asked Nova, still being led along the boarding plaza. "Do we jump onto the ferry? It hasn't gotten really far, and I think with the right force ─"

John B. shook his head. He pulled her near a string of smaller boats, shipping boats, fishing boats. It reeked, smelling of sweat and dead fish.

"We're gonna have to talk our way onto this barge," he told her.

"Oh, bribery, right," nodded Nova. "Yeah, I can do that, but is there an ATM nearby? I don't have much cash on me."

"No," John B. shook his head, he dropped her hand, leaving it feeling exposed and cold, so that he could face her. "These are my people, just let me handle it."

With a stern finger, John B. made Nova promise to stay put. With a nod, she promised. Even though she felt slightly offended that he didn't think she'd be able to help him in this situation. A sigh escaped Nova's lips as she leaned back onto a wooden post. The edge dug into the center of her back, but her feet were too tired for her to care.

"They're booked," John B. ran a tired hand through his messy hair.

Nova nodded, "Figured."

"Great, so we're just done here..."

Nova rolled his eyes. For someone so determined he was so quick to accept defeat. Lucky for John B, Nova wasn't as useless as he was putting her off to be. While being put in timeout, Nova had done her fair share of observing, taking in her surroundings.

"Don't give up yet, little pirate," said Nova.

Wordlessly, Nova moved past John B. and toward the banisters that kept them from falling into the sound ocean. She'd watched as a group of construction workers had put their rain jackets over the damp wood in their haste to load the crates into their designated boats.

Looking around, Nova quickly took the rubbery coat off the banister and shrugged over her own shoulders. It hung almost to her ankles and the arms were about a mile too long, but she wasn't wearing it for the fashion.

Taking another jacket, she tossed it into John B's stunned arms, "It'd be easier to get on the boat if we blend in."

"Wow ─ wow, I uhm, I wouldn't have thought of this," John B. stammered as he shrugged on the oversized coat that had been tossed into his unsuspecting arms.

"I know," said Nova. "So, maybe next time you won't leave me standing alone like I'm so clueless."

"I'm sorry... I didn't..."

"Don't worry, you're already forgiven."

She didn't want to fight. They didn't have time. She'd let him off the hook only this one time.

Nova nodded, she took John B's wrist and led him to nearby deserted boat. They managed to squeeze themselves through the bottom entrance, and with their heads kept down, unsuspecting by the other mechanics and loaders. Though they had a crowd coming in behind them , one they wouldn't be able to escape by keeping their heads down.

Quickly John B. took head of the situation and locked them into a nearby supply closet. The room was lit by a red, flickering light bulb. Nova looked around, shelves stocked with canned food and other miscellaneous objects that made no sense of being there .

The room jerked to life. Cans on the floor went rolling, crashing into Nova's feet. She moved, holding the wall for balance, slightly confused.

"We're moving," sighed Nova, relief present in her tone.

They'd made it. Somehow, by some crazy force, they'd made it.

"Yeah," John B. grinned, seeming just as stunned as Nova. "Yeah, we're moving."

"Good," Nova gulped, slowly sliding onto the ground, nodding nervously. The gravity of the situation she's managed to put herself into finally hitting her. No escape now. "That's good."

The heat of the small space had become close to unbearable. Nova had ripped off her jacket, kicking to the other side of the room, as she leaned her head back, accepting any kind of air that would wash over her. Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead and the back of her neck. Her vision had become foggy so she shut her eyes. Her breathing being the only thing she focused on. Trying not to think about heat exhaustion.

The heat had gotten to John B. as well. As his long hair stuck to the back of his neck and his jacket had ended up crumpled in an empty corner of the small closet, they sit stuck in. She'd tried her best to not watch as he tore away his blood and sweat soaked shirt, using it to wipe the beads falling off his face and

John B. sat without a shirt on his back. Having torn it away with his jacket. Nova tried not to watch as he used the blood-soaked material as he wiped the beads of sweat off his face and the back of his neck. But she failed, and had accidentally caught his gaze when he went to toss his shirt aside.

"So," Nova swallowed. She been shamelessly checking him out, and he's caught her. "What's the hottest you've ever been?"

"Right now," John B. nodded.

"Same."

Nova fell silent with the room, failing to keep the conversation afloat.

The only noise filling the room was the whirring of the engine beneath the boat. She'd moved since the boat started drifting along the waters. Finding a seat above the dirty floor and instead on a less dusty crate. John B. had settled for the floor, right beneath her.

She could hear his breathing. It was heavy ─ tired. Like hers. She began to fear they'd have a heat stroke before missing the mainland.

Nova sighed, she'd gave into her better judgement and stole a glance downward. Only to find John B. already looking up at her.

"Do you want to play a game?" he asked, surprising her.

"A game?" snorted Nova. "Right now? You sound like Ghostface right now."

She was smarter than that. To agree to play a game with a boy in a tight-fitting room. Alone. She'd made one too many mistakes in that scenario.

John B. sighed disappointedly. Then Nova felt guilty. She was making assumptions about him and she didn't know his intentions. So, she turned to him.

"There is this one game. Sarah and I play it a lot," She felt stupid, giving in, but she had his attention now. "It's sort of like truth or dare, but without the dare."

John B. scoffed, "Nova, that's just truth."

"Okay, so we can argue about the technicalities of the nature of the game, or we can play it," she raised her eyebrows to him. "You choose."

"Alright," John B. laughed, with a nod. "I'll play."

"Okay first-timer," smiled Nova. "You first."

John B. sat up, straightening his back against the wall behind him. He pursed his lips, pretending to truly ponder through possible questions to ask Nova. For a moment Nova became nervous, thinking over all the possible questions he could throw at her. But then he opened his mouth.

"Tell me, why did you kill Dimitri?"

A terrible, Russian accent came through, making Nova throw her head back with laughter. Her shoulders relaxing slightly, worry slowly disappearing.

"Oh, that is too easy. Dimitri, he ─ he knew too much," Nova mocked the terrible accent. "He was compromised."

Nova had decided to play along, deciding that this was easier than delving into any deep questions.

"Yes, well, we all know too much eventually," John B. nodded dramatically, continuing the game.

"Alright," Nova cut the game short, her smile softening, but not disappearing. "My turn."

He nodded, his own expression falling to comfortable as well.

"What's this treasure hunt for?" she asked.

John B. sighed, shaking his head, "I can't tell you that."

"Come on," Nova rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed. She'd snuck him onto this boat, kept him from bleeding out, and he couldn't give her this one thing. "Why can't you just tell me?"

"It's a web of danger and complication," John B. told her. "You don't want to get caught in it."

Nova turned her head to the side, "Then why are you doing it?"

John B's head dropped without answer. Nova watched as the hands that lay in his laps began wringing through each other.

She sighed, "Is it your dad? Is that what all of this is about?"

Nova regretted the assumption, and even more so regretted voicing it. That was none of her business. But she didn't even realize what she'd asked until it was already done.

"John B, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have ─"

"No..." John B. cut her off, lifting his head again so that he could look at her, eyes soft and sympathetic. "You're right."

She nodded, not saying anything, getting the sense that John B. was planning to continue.

"So, you know how whales make their deep noises?" He asked as Nova furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, wondering where John B. was going with this. "It's like ─"

Nova's hand clasped around her mouth to keep from laughing in John B's face as he mimicked the low noises of a whale. Though noticing the amusement gleaming in her eyes, John B. managed a smile at her.

"Well, that's how other whales hear each other across the ocean," he explains further, and Nova nods, still smiling, but no longer on the verge of laughter. "It's like I can hear him calling to me ─ like he needs my help." John B. sighs, beginning to doubt himself, "It sounds crazy, I know."

"It's not weird, John B," Nova's hand reached down to rest on his shoulder, squeezing in an attempt to comfort him. "It's like when my mom... I get it."

John B. smiled, eyes glowing in shock. He'd moved, so that now he was sitting across from Nova, back resting against the locked door. He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. Never would John B. Routledge imagine the day he'd find himself relating to Kook Royalty, Nova Scott.

And yet, here he sat, in total awe of her.

Nova chuckled nervously, "Why're you looking at me like that?"

"Like what?"

It was a look she'd seen many times before. His eyes wild and full of wonder. His lips etched into a smirk. Nova knew this look well.

"John B, we aren't going to kiss," she rolled her eyes.

"I know that," he said.

Though his demeanor betrayed his confident words. John B's cheeks had become tinted pink, and his head fell in embarrassment, as he shook off the initial feelings, he just a moment ago held for Nova Scott. It was a very personal conversation, and John B. allowed himself to fall into his emotions.

But Nova didn't place blame on him. She'd been him in that moment plenty of times. Falling into something too quickly, and without thought. It's kind of what she was known for.

"You don't even really know me," she reminded him.

And she was right, they'd barely had a lasting conversation.

John B. sighed, shaking his head, "No..." he whispered. "But I'm starting to."

It was raining. When John B. and Nova snuck of the ship they were met with rain. Their jackets suddenly serving another purpose other than sneaking onto ships.

They were trapped inside a crowd. Having arrived with a ferry, Nova led them into the hoard of tourists to hide themselves from any wondering or suspicious eyes. Umbrellas hit them in the face as everyone bustled to get out from under the heavy raindrops. Though, to Nova and John B, the cool droplets of water and heavier winds was much appreciated after spending hours in a steam room closet.

And they looked just as terrible as they felt. Soot from the engine room stuck to their faces. Their clothes soaking from sweat, and now rain. Hair matted and damp.

"We look disgusting," yelled Nova, over the crowd of tourists that'd been engulfed in when making their way off the bridge.

Looking as they do now, they wouldn't even be allowed inside Chapel Hill, let alone be allowed to handle historical artifacts.

"We won't be allowed into the archives looking like this," she added.

"You don't think so?" asked John B. cluelessly.

Nova laughed, shaking her head, "We look and smell like we've crawled through a swamp."

Looking down at his own attire, noticing the still bloodied shirt now soaked, sticking to his body, he nodded. He allowed Nova to take his hand, pulling him from the crowd of umbrellas and onto the less crowded sidewalk across the street. Quickly, they discarded their jackets, leaving them to lay on a random park bench nearing the outlets they'd come upon.

Nova ignored John B's suggestion. Surf shop after surf shop, he pointed out to her, but she refused to even consider the idea. Further down, past the tacky tourist stops, there sat polished buildings, much more reserved than the surf shops John B. had been pointing out.

"Here's a good one," she stopped suddenly, staring up at a store she'd seen the logo of before on a shopping bag her dad had once brought home. "I think my dad's bought some suits from here."

"Fitted suits?" John B. asked, reading the sign pasted to the store's glass window. "I don't think this is for me."

Ignoring him, Nova pulled John B. inside, the air conditioning blasting them in the face one the doors opened.

Firmly though, John B. planted his feet on the ground. Like a child he refused to move further into the clothing department, having a tantrum that Nova wasn't going to let him walk into Chapel Hill in a pair of board shorts and dirty converse.

"Seriously, John B?" Nova rolled her eyes, spinning around to face him, hands placed firmly on her lips. Her tone scolding.

"Look, I don't think you understand. This is like an organ," he motioned toward his ill-fitting and dirty outfit. "With the wrong blood type, it doesn't work."

Nova furrowed her eyebrows, "Kind of a dramatic analogy, don't you think?"

She turned, leaving him standing at the door to pout while she continued on looking through the racks of clothing, knowing that eventually, he would have to come around. He'd have to, if he really wanted to get into the archives room.

"Yes!" gasped Nova, pulling a sweater from the rack of clothing, moving to show it to John B, who'd only taken a step into the store. "John B, it's cashmere!"

Reaching forward, he turned the tag to face him, eyes widening in horror, "And also three hundred dollars!"

"Don't worry about that. We have store credit," she explained, shrugging her shoulders, moving to hang the sweater back in its place. "Just consider me your sugar-mama for today."

"Please don't every say that again," John B. shook his head, but Nova could see the slightest of smiles pulling at the corner of his lips.

"Relax, I was joking," Nova rolled her eyes, turning to him so that she could place a pair of sunglasses on his head. "We can be undercover if you wear these."

He looked exceptional in the sunglasses. So much so Nova began chewing on the inside of her lip. But with a sigh, John B. took the sunglasses off, giving Nova a serious look, handing the glasses back to her.

"Look," he sighed. "I don't want anything from here."

"So what?" Nova shrugged. "You're going to go to the surf shop down the street and buy a new pair of board shorts and OBX shirt?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, normally," she explained. "But if you want to get into the archives at Chapel Hill, using Lincoln Scott's Trustees Pass..."

Nova trailed off, allowing John B. to come to the conclusion himself. Thankfully he did, though reluctant, John B. joined Nova by the clothing racks with a sigh, and slumped shoulders.

There was a man, Nova noticed, watching them from behind the desk, whispering to his co-worker. They were being watched carefully. Their dirty clothes and matted hair set them apart from their usually drawn customers. Nova and John B. looked like street kids ─ hoodlums. The two retail workers were marking them for possible thieves.

With a smile, Nova met the man's gaze, waving for him to join her. With furrowed eyebrows he looked over at his co-worker who shoved him away and toward Nova.

"Hello," the man with bleached hair greeted with a slight bow of his head. He cringed when he noticed the true atrocity of their clothing. "I'm Ike. How can I help you this evening?"

"Well, Ike," sighed Nova, resting her hand on the clothing rack. "As you can see, my friend ─ my friend Jonathan, is in a bit of fashion crisis. He needs some serious help."

Ike nodded his head, agreeing as he took in John B's sweaty and bloodied appearance. A slight look of fear crossing over his shielded expression. Immediately, Ike led them into another, more appropriate section of the department. Following behind him, Nova took John B's hand and made him come along as well.

He started out hesitant, looking through the racks. But when Nova showed little regard for prices the pace began to quicken, and Ike became more likely to suggest an outfit. Once there was about ten to fifteen garments thrown over the three of them, Ike shoved John B. into an empty dressing room and escorted Nova into a plush, leather chair, so that she could wait for him.

Nova had to laugh. Some of the outfits that John B. had been made to model looked ridiculous and just downright uncomfortable. A black suit, paired with a white button-up shirt made John B. look like he was preparing for a middle school formal. Another, completely green, with a lighter green shirt under. A nice, and expensive-looking monochromatic look, but John B. wasn't feeling it, as he cringed when walking up to the mirror.

The last attempt was a suit Nova had thrown into the pile of suggestions at the last second. It was a suit, blue and white striped. The jacket lining perfectly with the pants. It was John B's exact size, and though she wasn't suspecting it to be a winner, she just wanted to see it on him.

But he was taking forever in the dressing room.

"C'mon, John B, what're you doing in there? Checking yourself out?" sighed Nova impatiently, having stood up just to knock on the dressing room door.

"I'm not checking myself out," John B. sounded defensive.

Nova turned, raising a disbelieving brow to Ike, who nodded, agreeing. John B. was definitely checking himself out.

"Okay, then get out here," she demanded.

She heard John B. sigh from inside, "No, because you're going to want to buy this one!"

Nova scoffed, leaning against the wooden doorframe, arms crossed, "John B, that is literally the entire point of this fashion show."

He opened the door. Quickly, Nova turned, adjusting her stance, and looked at the figure in the open doorway. She smiled. It was perfect. Fitting like it was made for just him. The light colors of the suit complimented his tanned skin. This was most the handsome ─ the most dapper she'd ever seen John B. look. Even if he wasn't wearing a shirt beneath the thin, un-buttoned jacket.

Nova could feel the heat rising to her chilled cheeks. She nodded, quickly moving to turn away from him. Trying to rid herself of anymore thoughts of how handsome John B. looked standing before her.

John B. stepped before the mirror, he too seemed struck over how well that suit fit him, "If anyone I knew saw me in something like this..."

Nova sighed, "They wouldn't let you live it down, I know," she finished for him. "Which means it's a good thing we're undercover, right?"

John B. turned, his eyes wide, "You're right, we are undercover," he gasped excitedly. "So, we'll probably need an alias."

Nova quirked an eyebrow, she'd moved to a table of shirts, searching through them for something that John B. can wear beneath his jacket, "Yeah, what're you thinking?"

"Vlad," he nodded surely. "From Russia."

Nova laughed; John B. had used the same, terrible Russian accent that he'd used on the boat.

"And I'll be, Val, from Paris," she added with a wink.

A place of romance. The city of love.

"Parlez-vous français?" John B. seemed impressed, asking if she spoke French.

Nova nodded, "Oiu Oiu, monsieur. Et toi?"

John B. laughed, shaking his head, "No. That's about all of my abilities."

She grinned before tossing him a shirt. It'd been pressed. No wrinkle in sight. Buttons ran all the way up to the neck. And the salmon color reminded her of the shirt he wore this morning, only without the sweat and blood stain on the side.

"So, since you got to spiffy me all up," he stepped to stand beside of Nova, who still wordlessly searched through the racks of clothes. "I believe it's my turn to pick something out for you."

"Oh no..." sighed Nova.

She stopped swiping through the cashmere sweaters and turned to John B. Her eyes wide and shaking her head.

"It's only fair," argued John B.

"You don't even know how I dress."

John B. looked down at her outfit.

"This isn't good reference," said Nova quickly, stepping back and covering her dirty outfit, embarrassed.

"It can't be that hard."

Ike returned, excited to help this time. Nova had been cast aside, told to wait, and every idea of an outfit she offered them had been shot down, because she wasn't supposed to be choosing her own outfit. It was a sick game. To ask a shopping addict to sit out of her own shopping spree. Especially when she was going to be made to wear one of the outfits, she had no say in.

Like John B, Nova was shoved into an empty dressing room. A mountain of clothing options thrown to her from over the door. She sighed, looking at the articles of clothing before her. Some already causing her eyes to roll.

The white pant suit is what done it for her. Walking out of the changing room, clutching the jacket over her bare chest, cheeks red with anger, she watched as Ike cringed back behind the desk, and John B. clapped his hands in incontrollable laughter from the plush leather seat.

"I thought it was a good idea!" John B. could barely speak enough to defend his questionable actions. "Like a powerful woman move."

Nova rolled her eyes, didn't say a word, and stomped back into the dressing room. Thankfully, nothing else in the pile was as bad as the 'boss babe' pantsuit.

A red dress, speckled in white flowers that fell just to her ankles had almost been picked right then and there. But Ike insisted she go through the rest of the outfits before choosing. There was a turtleneck moment, paired with a layered, silk skirt. Also cute, but better suited for fall, and not the hot days of June. Another silk option was the navy-blue number that'd been picked for her. John B's jaw practically fell to the floor when she walked out wearing the body-conforming dress that fell to her knees. It was nice, for a party, maybe Nova would come back to purchase it.

The red dress was starting to seem like the winner as Nova narrowed down the pile. Until she finally walked out in a plush blue sundress, adorned with small white polka dots. The neckline cut into a deep 'v', the waist fitted, and at the hips it flew out, stopping a few inches above the knee. It was comfortable, fitting for the occasion, and exceptionally cute.

John B. stood up the moment she appeared in the doorway, his jaw having once again dropped, "Wow ─ wow, you look..." he stammered, trying to find the right words. "You clean up nice, Val."

Nova played with the hem of the dress as she stood before the large, wall-length mirror, studying her reflection. The dress was beautiful. And it complimented her figure nicely. As well as her sun-kissed skin and freckles that began to appear across the bridge of her nose.

"Vlad," she smiled, looking at him through the mirror, cheeks pinkening. "Always the charmer."

John B. smiled, then cleared his throat as he stepped up beside her, "So, do we have a winner?"

"Just one more thing," said Nova, turning, leaving John B. at the mirror as she hurried to the back of the department store where the shoes sat displayed across a wall.

Nova reached for a pair of suede, nude platforms. Not wanting to be running around in her still sopping wet Birkenstocks. She strapped herself into the heels, making herself a few inches taller than her regular height, and smiled.

"There," she sighed, satisfied.

She turned, to head back to the front desk, still needing to pay for the items they'd put themselves into. But instead of taking a step, she ran into John B's chest. Who still stood a lot taller than her.

"My turn to ask a question," he said, confusing Nova. "Why did you want to come with me today?"

She gulped, taking her bottom lip between her teeth, racking her brain for a believable lie, "Well," she laughed nervously. "You're using my dad's pass to get into the archives."

"No, I don't really think you care too much about some Trustees Pass," John B. shook his head, not buying Nova's nervous lies. "It's the truth game, Nova," he reminded her. "You have to tell me."

Except there was no truth that Nova could give him. Because this trip was supposed to be her truth. Her time spent here, with him, was going to have all the answers. She couldn't tell him that she liked him, because she didn't know if she did. Not yet, at least. All she knew is that there was a tether tied to them, and with each passing day, that tether was pulled tighter.

Nova chewed on her lip until the familiar taste of iron ran down her throat, "I think I just wanted to spend more time with you. Uninterrupted time."

That was it. That was the best Nova could give him.

"Yeah?" John B. asked, his voice low, barely a whisper. He stepped closer to Nova, his chest nearly touching hers. If either of them took a deep enough breath, they would be. "I thought it the idea of us spending too much time together was dangerous."

He was using her own words against her.

Nova's entire body lit up like fire, being so close to him, it felt stepping into a burning home, and she had nothing to extinguish the flames, "I do stand by my previous statement," she told him truthfully, finally looking up to his meeting his daring gaze. "I guess ─ I guess I'm just trying to decide if I really care or not."

John B. nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. And then her turned and walked away from her.

Nova was left standing, feeling like her heart was on fire.

By the time they were dropped off in front of the college, the sky had been painted night and was glowing with speckling stars. Though late, the sidewalks were still awake, and littered with lingering tourists and college students, emerging from library doors, rushing to the dining hall or their dorms to turn in for the night.

"The library is on the other side of the student center," Nova spoke, as she led the way down the upkept sidewalks. John B. lingered behind; his eyes wide with bewilderment as he took in the expensive, college architecture that surrounded them. Nova smiled as she turned to face him, still gawking at the sights. "Have you been here before?"

Though she already knew the answer by the way his gaze tore into everything around him.

Nova had been here plenty. If not with her dad on business, and the promise of lunch after a long meeting, then with Sarah, sneaking into college parties. It'd also been the college her mom went to. She'd kept in touch with her professors and made countless donations and contributions to the performance departments. There'd been times that the school would invite her to give speeches, perform, or even teach a seminar class.

"I've actually never been to a college," John B. confessed, turning to Nova with an embarrassed grin.

Her heart sank at the confession.

"Growing up, my mom dreamed of going to Julliard," said Nova, deciding to tell him something personal as well. "But the school was too expensive, and without a full scholarship, my grandparents would've never been able to afford it," Nova lifted her gaze, scanning the familiar college campus. "She was accepted here. On a full performance scholarship."

John B. seemed confused, "I would've thought your mom would have her pick of schools to attend."

"Actually, unlike my dad, my mom grew up on The Cut, just like you," said Nova, remembering the stories her mother would recount of her childhood. Some were tough to here. Because it wasn't the life that Nova had grown to view as normal. "My grandparents done the best they could. And my mom worked two jobs to help and save for college while in high school. She even worked herself through college."

"Well," said John B. after giving himself a moment to absorb the life story of Nova's mother. "What's your plan? College?"

Nova nodded, glad to have the subject change, "Probably, though I haven't really thought about it," she confessed, feeling a little privileged for admitting that. "It just seems a waste to not go, especially when I have the means to."

She wanted to ask John B. the same question. Surely college was in his future. For someone as bright and determined as him. And the way he was lost in his surroundings when they first arrived. He belonged at a place like this. A place that would cherish his mind.

But the ringing of her phone cut the conversation of their future short. Nova took her phone from the small bag she'd bought on her way out of the department store until she found her phone. It was her father's name that flashed across the locked screen.

"Shit."

"You dad?" John B. asked knowingly.

Nova nodded, declining the phone call, but instead opting for a text to tell him that she couldn't answer the phone because she was out with Sarah. He wouldn't question that. It was too plausible. And of he did, Sarah would cover for her.

"He just got home today," she informed.

"Ah," John B. laughed, "And what would he think if he knew his little girl was out, running around with me?"

"Out with you?" asked Nova, and John B. nodded. "He wouldn't care, I don't think," she sighed, putting her phone back into her bag. "But, out with you this late at night, off the island? He might have something to say."

"Really?" John B. questioned, not believing that someone like Nova's dad wouldn't have concern over their daughter hanging out with someone like himself. "You're out here cutting it up with a Pogue, and he wouldn't care?"

Nova, once again, shook her head, "No," she told him. "Because this Pogue has absolutely no idea when to make a move."

She'd been resting against a post. John B. stepped forward, blocking her in. There was no escape. The corner of his lips twitched into a smirk as his gaze fell from her and to her lips, over and over. Their breathing was heavy, and neither of them said anything. Nova had reached around her, clutching onto the white pillar for support, as her body burned from fire once more.

Do it. Do it. Do it. The voice in Nova's head pleaded.

"We should go. Before the library closes," his hot breath tickled down the side of Nova's exposed neck.

She gulped, forcing herself to nod, "Yeah," she managed, pulling herself off the pillar, legs still a bit wobbly. "Follow me."

It would be lying if she said that she wasn't the slightest bit disappointed. She'd also be lying if she said she hadn't been relieved when the moment ended. Nova was still confused. About everything. In the blink of an eye she would go from wanting to punch John B. to wanting to kiss him. She didn't know what lay between that thin line, if anything at all.

They fell in step behind a group of college students. They were complaining about some exam coming up. One was nice, and held the large glass door open for Nova and John B. before jogging to catch back up with his friends who eventually settled at a large table on the second floor.

"Okay," sighed Nova, her heels clicking against the polished, tile floors. "Truth game. My turn to ask a question."

She stopped walking, centered in the large room, the same distance to the front desk as she was from the door. Holding John B's wrist, he was made to stop with her.

"Why do you need to be here?" she asked.

John B. sighed, his eyes rolling back as he ran a hand through his hair, something Nova found he does often when stressed, "I already told you." He stopped, looking at her, eyes serious. "I can't tell you."

"Okay, well that just isn't going to do, John B," said Nova, staring up at him, eyes just as serious as his. "What am I helping you get into? What am I helping you find?"

John B. nodded, her turned, facing away from Nova, wondering if all this was worth it. Could he trust her?

"I have reason to believe that Denmark Tanny was the sole survivor of the Royal Merchant wreck," the words fell out of his mouth, he'd given in to her. And feared it wouldn't be the last time he did so. "And this might sound crazy, but there might be a chance that he got away with 400 million worth of gold. Which is how he would've been able to buy Tannyhill. And the location of the treasure, it could be in his papers."

Nova's eyebrows were furrowed, she shook her head, "That's it?" she scoffed. "That's the big secret you couldn't tell me?"

"Well, 400 million is a lot of bubble wrap, Nova ─ Val," he corrected himself quickly.

She nodded, biting her lip to keep from laughing at John B's seriousness, "I don't want your 400 million worth of gold, Vlad, I promise."

John B. furrowed his eyebrows, confused, he assumed she'd jump on the money, "You don't?"

"Do you know how much the Scott family is worth?" she asked, he shook his head. "Billions. We're worth billions," Nova explained, and not in a way that suggested bragging, but in a way that made John B. feel bad for assuming she'd want a cut of his money. "When people say eat the rich, we're that kind of rich."

John B. gulped, "That's even more bubble wrap..."

"I feel like you need some time to digest," Nova noticed the starstruck expression on John B's face. "I'm going to let you take a second, reflect, and I'll find a librarian."

She shouldn't have told him. She shouldn't have said anything. Nova scolded herself as soon as her back was turned to him. She'd left John B. completely shell-shocked. Would he look at her differently now? He knew she was rich, she had Kook money. But did he know about the Scott family dynasty? She shouldn't have told him.

He did catch up to her. Just as Nova was showing her ID to the woman behind the desk, looking to be a student worker, John B. walked up beside of her, offering a tight-lipped smile. Thankfully, he seemed to have calmed down.

"Nova Scott, I cannot tell you how thankful Chapel Hill is for all of your family's generous donations over the years," the woman spoke, kindly, but as if rehearsed.

It wasn't uncommon for Nova to receive such behavior. People treated her with kid gloves and overwhelming gratitude. Not wanting to risk losing the donations or the potential partnership with her father. Because in reality Nova done nothing, she'd made no donations or held any part in the business, she was just a stepping stone to her father. A line of communication.

But Nova smiled, like she'd been taught to, "Of course."

Stepping out from behind the desk the young woman motioned toward the stairs, "The Tanny Artifacts are right up here."

John B. thanked the woman as they were led into a cold, lonely room. The light glowing a dim yellow against the wooden walls. There was no dust, everything was immaculately cleaned, in an attempt to keep history preserved.

They'd even been given cloth gloves, to keep the oils from their fingertips from further deteriorating the artifacts.

"Well, this is it," sighed Nova, pulling the white gloves over her hands.

John B. nodded, his attention solely focused on the brown box that sat on the table before them, "Down the rabbit hole."

There was a lot of explaining that had to be done on John B's part. Nova had never been a history fanatic. And right now, she was more lost than ever. Because until today, she'd never given Denmark Tanny a moment's worth of her thoughts.

"It says that Denmark used the money from Tannyhill to buy slaves and give them their freedom," Nova recited what she'd read from the old and discolored news clipping. "He was accused of inciting revolt. This was even before the Civil War."

Whatever John B. had been looking at didn't seem to interest him as much as the words Nova read to him, since he dropped what he was doing and leaned into her, reading the clipping over her shoulder. Nova had to readjust herself as a hot flame ran down her spine when his breath hit the side of her neck.

He pointed at the piece of paper in Nova's hand, "That's why they hanged him."

Nova couldn't believe the amount of information they had on Denmark Tanny here. Or the amount of history Ward had collected out of his colonial style mansion. The history had been condensed to two, wooden boxes, but within them lay a lifetime worth of information.

"Here, what's this?" asked John B, reaching across the table to pull another piece of Denmark Tanny's past life out of one of the boxes.

Nova studied the black leather book in John B's hand, "It's a bible, I think." She watched John B. open the book carefully, and flip through the thin pages. Quickly, she stopped him, by laying a hand on his arm and pointing at the book. "Look there. Are those all birthdays?"

John B. nodded, reading over the scribbled ink, "Yeah, there's Denmark Tanny and Cecilia. Here are Robert, Lewis, and Abraham; Denmark's three sons."

The box was nearly empty now. Most of its contents sitting out on the clean, wooden table. But one thing had been left, hiding at the bottom. Nova reached, pulling out a small piece of paper, a picture more like. She looked it over, eyes widening when she realized just what she was looking at.

"Holy shit, John B," Nova nudged his shoulder with hers, tearing his attention away from the bible and birthdays. "Is this it?"

He nodded, "It's the gold," carefully, he put the leather-bound bible back into the box, before reaching for the small picture Nova held in her hand. She let him take it, knowing that he'd find more out of it than her. "This is how he bought the land. It's British gold."

John B. laughed, looking over the picture. He shook his head in clear disbelief. This was the proof he was looking for. The gold existed.

Looking in the other box, placed in-between her and John B, Nova found another, familiar-looking document, "It's the last correspondence," said Nova, as she pulled it out of the box. "This is what Ward found in his house, I think."

"It's in Gullah," John B. once again moved in close to read over Nova's shoulder. "The last Creole language."

Nova nodded, impressed, she turned to John B, forgetting just how close their faces were, and with one wrong move... "Can you read it?"

Laughing, John B. shook his head, he sat up straight again, "I wish, but no."

There was a moment's pause. John B. had gotten lost in thought, and Nova sat, completely struck by the unfamiliar language on the paper before her.

"So, Denmark Tanny finds out that the posse's coming for him..." he whispered, Nova assumed talking to himself before his attention turned back to her. "What's the date on that letter, again?"

"May, 3rd, 1844."

She was completely lost. But she gave John B. the information he needed. Nova liked watching him like this, so caught up in something he was passionate about.

"Wait, but that's ─"

"That's the day he dies," Nova finishes, reading the date of the letter. "And it's been addressed to Robert."

"So, on the day Denmark dies, he writes a letter to his son," Nova shrugged, it sounded reasonable enough coming from John B. "In a language only, they can understand."

"Whatever in this letter is meant to stay in this letter then," said Nova, still not understanding completely, but able to grasp at a few pieces of information. "What does that mean?"

John B. shook his head, he took his phone out of his pocket and began snapping photos of all the documents laid across the wide table.

"I'm not sure," he finally turns to tell Nova. "But I'm going to find out."

Fucking dawn. It was fucking dawn by the time the bridge opened the next ferry to the island. All night, Nova and John B. had been running around the mainland. Even having to sleep on a bench, waiting for the bridge was open.

Sarah wasn't just going to have a fit, she was going to have a ticket. There was no way Nova had put enough quarters in the meter to cover the hours they'd been gone. Though, it wasn't like she'd planned for this. It was supposed to have been a quick trip to Chapel Hill and back home. It wasn't supposed to have happened like this.

There was a small bench near the railing of the boat. John B. and Nova had taken rest there. Silent as the sharp, salty winds stung their sun-burnt cheeks. Neither of them really knew what to say next. They'd accomplished what they came to do. What now? A goodbye? A declaration of friendship? It seemed unlikely to Nova.

Especially since John B. hadn't looked at her in the past half an hour, since boarding the ferry. Not that she's made much attempt at a conversation either. Nova didn't know where to go from here. So much had happened in so little time. She knew John B, now, parts of him she didn't before. And she was expected to let it all go now. She didn't know if she'd be able to just forget the day they had.

Nova sighed, leaning back on the bench, bending her head upward toward the light blue sky. Puffy, grey clouds formed overhead. It was going to rain.

"You know," John B. followed her motions, also sitting up beside her, surprising her that he even spoke. "You weren't as bad as I thought you'd be."

Nova scoffed, glancing downward at him, keeping her head upturned, "Yeah? And what were you expecting?"

John B. shook his head, "I don't know, really. Just not this."

"Let me guess," laughed Nova, turning her head back down so that she could look at him. He seemed nervous. "Kook princess? Or perhaps, bubble wrap queen?"

"Something like that," he laughed. "Maybe like, rude to waiters at minimum."

"I would never," gasped Nova, mocking hurt.

"Yeah, well, I know that now."

John B. smiled, looking over at her.

"You're not what I was expecting either, you know?" confessed Nova.

"Oh?" he questioned, quirking an eyebrow at her. "And what were you expecting?"

Nova laughed, "You are much weirder than I imagined. And you've certainly got a touch of ADD," she only half-joked. John B. took a moment, feigning shock, before allowing Nova to continue. "I thought, at first, you were just this really chill, laid-back surfer bro. Turns out, you're really on a mission."

"Yeah, well," he shrugged. "I just really want to get this letter translated."

"Here's to getting to know people," sighed Nova, pretending to toast to her own words. "And to breaking the mold."

In their hands they held white, styrofoam cups, now filled with their melted slushies. Together, Nova and John B. raised those one-dollar slushies, and hit them together. Toasting to their new revelations.

"So," John B. said lowly, bent over, his elbows resting on his knees. He played with the edge of his cup, not meeting Nova's gaze. "What happens when we get back?"

The smile on Nova's face faltered. It was like John B. had known her thoughts. Because she too was asking herself that very question. She hadn't yet given herself an answer. Scared of both possible scenarios. She could walk away from John B, and pretend to forget this day with him, and likely regret walking away. Or, Nova could stay with him. Admit that there was something between them, ride it out, and potentially end up more hurt than she's ever been.

Both endings terrified her.

Nova's gaze had been cast out, looking over the calm waters, "What do you mean?"

She'd decided to play stupid, apparently.

"Like... I don't know," he sighed, finally looking up at her. "This," he motioned between the two of them. "Us."

"I don't know," she shrugged, whispering. "What's supposed to happen?"

That wasn't the kind of answer John B. was looking for. In fact, it wasn't an answer at all, "Is it still dangerous for us to be around each other?"

"Yes."

Nova didn't even hesitate. Because she could feel it. Whatever it was between them had the strength to break them.

"I had a really great time, though," she told him.

John B. turned to her, lips turned into a smile, but his eyes dim ─ disappointed...

"Me too," he told her. 

It was raining now. An hour later. Rain pouring heavy from the sky as she stepped off the ferry and onto the bridge. Nature mocked them. The clouds dreary and grey, covering the light of the sun. Winds sharp as blades, hitting her wet cheeks. It whistled around them, as if entangling them together. It was damaging.

"So," Nova turned, speaking over the rain. "Now that we're on home base I think it's safe to drop the alias," she told him. "So, if you see me on the street..."

"Ah yes," the accent made a return. John B. was attempting to hide the desperation between the two of them with humor and wit. "I am a true professional."

It worked. For a moment. Nova laughed, forgetting that this day was the last. John B. too allowed himself a moment's worth of cluelessness. But the sight of Nova's smile, aimed at him, reminded him of the rain and their own personal thunder storm.

"John B," Nova reached her hand out to him, standing straight, shoulders squared professionally. "It was a true pleasure getting to know you."

He smiled. And she melted. Then he took her hand, and her body burned.

"The pleasure is all mine, Nova Scott."

Nova smiled again, truly. And then their hands dropped. And she was cold again. Before anything else could be said, Nova gave him a final, parting nod, and turned away. Bracing herself for the steps ahead. Away from him.

Her thoughts fought. Should she turn back. Just one last time? No. Nova shook her head. She couldn't. Because what if she couldn't turn back around after?

Only a little more to go. Nova pushed herself. Just a few more steps and you'll disappear into the crowd. She'd be able to pretend none of this every happened. As if the string between her and John B. hadn't finally snapped, bringing them together. Finally, answering her question.

"Wait! Nova! Just wait!"

The voice stopped her. Her eyes had gone wide. Breath caught in her throat. She didn't turn to him, willing herself to keep that promise.

"Really?" she heard him yell at her, nearly laughing. "You're really going to walk away like this never happened?"

He was right. She was the one walking away. She'd made that choice.

"Well," And she broke that promise she made to herself. Nova turned around, facing John B, watching his face fall in the pouring rain. Waiting on her to say something ─ anything. "I just though ─ it's the safe choice, isn't it?"

"Nova I just had the best day of my entire life," John B. yelled over the heavy rain and high winds. "I don't care about the safe choice. I don't care if my friends find out. I don't care if your brother, who I am a little afraid of finds out."

His eyes never left her. Ignoring the passing strangers and the thundering overhead. He was only talking to her. And she couldn't move.

"Yesterday, I had no idea who you were. And today I'm like... Nova Scott," he sighed, motioning in her motionless direction. "And honestly, in my limited experience, that's rare."

She wanted to say something. To move. To tell him that he's right and she felt the same way. But she couldn't. Her body wouldn't listen to her mind.

"It's like ─ like lunar eclipse rare. Like a blind person seeing color for the first time. Or Bigfoot evidence, or the Northern lights..."

John B. rambled on and on. Determined to get her to stay. Determined to not have her walk away from him. There were a thousand words he wanted to say to her. And if he had to, he'd say them all. Because Nova Scott was worth every breath.

"I can't pretend like this isn't real ─ like this didn't happen," he shrugged, giving into his feelings. Giving into her. "I'm sorry. I can't just go with the safe ─"

Her brain had become putty. Nova couldn't think right anymore. Everything she'd ever wanted to hear had just been said to her. And it left her terrified. A million times before Nova had been hurt, and yet, nothing scared her like the boy in the soaking wet suit across from her talking about a lunar eclipse and Bigfoot. She'd been hurt a million times before, and for those other boys, she felt not a fraction of what she was feeling now.

This hurt would be unimaginable. The heartbreak would very well end her. But they could be beautiful.

And yet, with the risk of hurt and heartbreak heavy on her shoulders, Nova stepped toward him, and kept doing so until she stopped before him.

"This could all go to hell, you know that, right?" she asked, looking up at him. Her heart thundering against her chest and hands shaking at her sides. "We could end up hurt. And I'm still not so sure that this is a good idea."

John B. grinned, "But do you care?"

A simple question. With a simpler answer.

Nova shook her head, "No."

Then he kissed her. No longer caring about how bad this might be. Or hurt they might end up. Because it was all maybes. No one really knew how this was going to go. Not him, not Nova, not anyone around them.

And Nova kissed him back. His raindrop flavored lips brought Nova onto her toes. Her eyes fluttering closed and arms reaching around his high neck. They moved together as of they'd done this a million times before. Like they fit. Like this is where they belonged.

John B's teeth grazed Nova's bottom lip as the corners of her mouth turned upward into a smile. They stayed, hovering over the other until they both couldn't help it no more, and they laughed.

Nova shook her head, her thumbs caressing the back of John B's neck, "I don't want to go with the safe choice, either."

They stood there. Lost in one another. Ignoring the moving reality around them. Momentarily stuck in their game of make believe. Too afraid that the realness of the world would taint the perfect picture they'd painted together while playing pretend.

☼

V I S U A L S

nova's dress inspo

☼

an//:

finally the story is starting to pick up and we're getting some action.

I'm actually in love with this rewrite, I hope you guys like it too.

Also, John B. and Nova, ship or sink?

edited: 12/15/2021