ᵂʰᵉʳᵉ ʷᵉ'ʳᵉ ᶠʳᵒᵐ, ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒ ˢᵘⁿ
ᴼᵘʳ ʰᵒᵐᵉᵗᵒʷⁿ'ˢ ⁱⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵏ

【 ♪ 】

ᵗøᵖ
ʰᵒᵐᵉᵗᵒʷⁿ

⭑━━𝙪𝙣𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨━━⭑

They brought back the boat at Pope's. Then, they all split up after giving an appointment the same evening to the Kook's outdoor cinema.

Isis went with John B to his home, since she wasn't able to come back to her own. Hopefully he wouldn't ask for a rent any soon.

She lay down on the back of the HMS Pogue as he drove them through the marsh.

"Are you still sulking?" she asked.

"I'm not sulking, I'm pissed."

She chuckled.

"You'll notice that the two are closely related."

"I just, I-- nevermind," he sighed.

"No, tell me, what's up?"

"I just-- I have to find the gold. We have to. Or, more than our time and efforts, it's all my dad's life, all of his work that would be useless. I can't let this happen."

Isis straightened up and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, look-- not for real, you dork, you'll have us sink!" she giggled as John B righted the ship. "Okay, so listen. There's still hope, right? We won't give up. Not until I'll have the smallest crumb of this treasure in my hands."

John B smiled softly.

"Thank you."

"I'm dead serious, bro. Today is not the day I stop looking for it. Neither tomorrow. You know what? We'll clinch a deal."

She held her little finger out. He hooked his own to hers.

"Deal? We find it? Together?"

He smiled.

"Together. Deal."

"Great," she smiled.

John B parked the boat. He held out his hand to help her step on the dock. They walked to the Chateau holding each other's fingers.

He let her enter first, and closed the door behind them.

"Hey, buddy," said an unknown voice, making Isis start.

"Oh for God's sake!" she let out loudly, turning to the woman sat on the couch. "You can't do that!"

"I just did," she smiled.

Isis frowned at her.

"Who the fuck are you?! What are you doing here?"

John B tried to calm her down putting his hands on her shoulders.

"It's okay," he soothed. "I'll take care of this."

But Isis didn't chill out. She looked at the woman with anger.

"Is that your girlfriend?" asked the latter staring at John B. "She's lovely."

Isis felt the irony in her words, and it annoyed her even more.

"She's not-- nevermind," sighed John B, putting his backpack down on the table. "You know, Cheryl, it's kind of a bad time for a check-in."

The young girl understood it was the woman from the DCS.

"Not a check-in. We're here go take you."

Isis scoffed.

"Excuse me, what?!"

"Today, really?" asked John B at the same time.

The above-named Cheryl totally ignored Isis, only glancing at the young man sitting at the table.

"It's just for a few weeks until your hearing," she explained.

"No, no no," sighed John B. "Cheryl, look, I'm not going into foster care, okay? I'm not gonna go be a part of your little system."

Isis saw another guy -a cop judging by his uniform- approaching behind her friend.

"What the--," she breathed.

"John B, this is Deputy Thomas," said Cheryl. "He works with juveniles for the sheriff's department."

John B jumped up and got away of the deputy. He stood behind Isis, grabbing her arm. She tried to look imposing, pulling a threatening face.

"Look, I know Uncle T is down in Mississippi working at a casino," resumed the woman from the DCS standing up. "He hasn't been here in months."

"What?" pretended John B, frowning.

Suddenly, he catched Isis' wrist and tried to escape. The police officer reacted quickly, and they stopped.

"No, see, that's my nightmare right there," JB said, tensed up. "Look, I-- I- I want emancipation."

"Emancipation from who? There's nobody here but you."

Bitch, hissed Isis in her mind.

"He'll come with me," she said just like that. "He'll live with me."

Cheryl raised an eyebrow toward her.

"Are you of age?"

"My mother is," jeered Isis with a annoyed look.

"Then I'll have a word with her. When will she be free?"

"F- for now it's kinda complicated, but in a few days, I swear--"

"I don't have a few days to waste," sighed the woman. "It has to be settled today."

Isis frowned.

"Are you a cold-hearted bitch everyday, or you're just in a bad mood?" she grumbled.

Cheryl narrowed her eyes at her. She didn't answer, and turned to John B.

"Please, I won't fight with you. Pack your things, we're leaving."

"I don't wanna come with you."

"You don't have a choice! You're a sixteen year old teenager who's living on his own! Look, I'm not your enemy, okay?"

John B didn't say a thing.

"If your friend's family is willing to receive you, it would be quick. But I have to meet them first. It'll be just a couple of days, if she's right."

Isis felt offended in a way, but she kept her mouth shut. She looked up at John B. His lips were pursed.

"Okay," he sighed. "You won."

He walked to his room. Isis followed him with a heavy heart.

"I'm sorry," she said in a low voice.

"What? No! There's nothing you should be sorry for, Iz, I swear..."

He took her face in his cupped hands and kissed her temple.

"I'll talk to my mom," she promised.

"You don't have to," replied John B. "I know it's hard for you right now. I'll find another way to get around this."

"... I'll talk to her anyway."

He chuckled.

"Thank you."

She watched him as he packed his things. Before leaving, John B put a hand on her shoulder and looked at the DCS woman.

"Can I have a moment with Isis? Alone."

"I prefer not."

He sighed.

"All right."

He searched at the bottom of his pockets, and pulled off a set of keys.

"Keep the house for me," he said giving it to her.

Isis put it away in her own pocket, and wrapped her arms around John B's waist. He hugged her tight, dropping kisses on her head.

"See you later," he said then softly.

She watched him get in the blue deputy's car from the porch. She ran her hands over her face. She was upset with not being able to do something. What kind of friend she was if she couldn't help the ones she loved?

Shit. The events were taking an unwelcome turn. Just when she and John B had promised each other to go through with the treasure hunt.

She started to freak out thinking about how she'd tell the others.

⭑━━━━⭑

hope you liked it!!

hope your first day back to school went well too!

send you all my love

☀️💓