"Hey Pope, how do you kill a snake?" JJ asked, the small group looking at the blonde as he spoke. They had been brainstorming a plan for about ten minutes now, but nothing seemed to be working out. June was now sweating, they had to reclose the crate due to  a guard walking past. Tyler promised to be on standby in case they needed out, but someone had taken the boy away to the boiler room, leaving them stuck once again.

"You go for the head."

"Exactly. But the head, in this instance, is the bridge. To take the bridge we need maximum firepower. And I happen to know that there is an armory on this ship, in case of pirate attacks." JJ said, June's mouth dropping open as he spoke. 

"Pirate attacks?"

"So we take that, I'm not just talking pistols—"

"You lost me."  Kie said, standing from her spot and  walking past him.

"I'm talking knives—"

"Killing everybody here is not a plan." Kie finished, walking past JJ.

"Ah, we lost her." JJ said, gesturing to Kie behind him and then continuing to talk. "I'm serious, if we get to the armory, I'm talking AKs, pistols, knives, double barrels—" The boy started to mimic the  action of cocking a shotgun, John B shooting up and  stopping him.

"JJ!"

"What?"

"We gotta get out of here first. We can't do anything if we're still stuck in here." John B said, JJ speaking again.

"If I get enough pressure, I can Spartan kick that thing open." June stood now, running a hand over her face as she realized the two boys were about to start bickering.

"You're not kicking shit." John B said, Pope getting up as well to get between the two. June grabbed JJ by the bicep, pulling him back as Pope spoke.

"Stop it, stop it, stop it!"

"Okay then what do you got, Einstein?" John B said, turning his attention to Pope.

"All of your ideas are terrible guys!" June whispered yelled, John B , JJ, and Pope sending her a glare.

"Then whats yours princess? You got a good one up there?" JJ asked condescendingly, June now feeling her own anger spark. The heat was really starting to get to all of them.

"Guys!" Kie yelled, the four teens sending glares at each other before turning to look at the one who had yelled.

"Just relax." Pope said, pushing past them to get to Kie.  John B had his fist balled into JJs shirt, pulling the boy with him as he stepped towards Kie as well. "She's got something. Quiet!"

"Oh I'm so sorry." JJ said sarcastically, June gritting her teeth as she walked behind him. She lifted her foot, kicking JJ in the ass and  making the blonde instantly turn around.

"Did you just...kick me?" He asked,  furrowing his eyebrows in shock as John B used the hand on his shirt to pull him.

"Yeah because you're being annoying!" June said, the girl crossing her arms over her chest and getting grabbed by the collar by Pope. John B and Pope pulled the two towards Kie, frowns on their lips as they reigned the two in.

"Oh real mature Carly. Really damn mature." JJ said, shaking his head at the girl. She rolled her eyes, letting out a scoff at his words.Their attentions turned to the window  on the side did the crate, Kie looking to John B.

"We can fit through that yeah?"

"Hell yeah. Nice one, Kie." John B said, his eyes glued to the grate.

"What was that about a Swiss Army knife not coming in handy?" JJ said, holding up his knife as the sweat glistened on his face. June rolled her eyes again, her head turning towards another part of the crate.

"Just stop it." John B said, shaking his head at the boy. His eyes turned to June as JJ headed towards the grate. The Routledge boy scooted over towards her, June noticing this and giving him a questioning look.

"You're not going." He whispered, his eyes glued to her face as she looked straight ahead. She scoffed, shaking her head at his words and looking up at him.

"Says who?" She asked, furrowing her eyebrows in defiance.  John B raised his, his eyes challenging her as she glared up at him.

"Says me." He said, running a hand through his hair. "You heard JJ, he can't lose you again. Well neither can I. So until the bridge is secured and we are ready to go—you're staying."

"But I-"

"But Rafe is probably looking for you by now too. He's right Carly, you're not going."JJ chimed in, taking a quick second to look back at the girl and then looking back at the grate that he was getting off.

"That's just... that's great." June said, accepting defeat as Pope also nodded his head at the other boys words.

"Okay, we raid the armory, get weapons, roll back here, and plot the next move. The armory is on the third deck, aft, near the laundry room. Let's roll."

"JJ hold up. I don't think we should all  go out there.  It's too risky." Pope said, June nodding at his words.

"Why?"

"Okay I'm gonna be honest I think you should stay here."  John B said to JJ, the blonde looking at him like he was a psycho.

"What?"

"I have Sarah that  I'm gonna go after  and Pope—"

"Has the cross." Pope finished, JJ leaning down.

"Yeah let's go get it right!"

"Also if you go out there, there's 100% probability that you're gonna do something  stupid." June shrugged at that, agreeing with John B. JJ looked at her, shaking his head as  he spoke.

"No don't agree with him! You're supposed to be on my side." JJ said, holding a hand up to June. "First of all, I think the correct terminology is "ballsy".  That is it." JJ said, John B grabbing him to pull him down from where he was sitting above them.

"Ok. Get off!" He said, pushing John and hand off and dropping to the floor. "I'm a field player!"

"If we go out there, and we get in a bind, we need somebody to look out for us. That's what we need."

"Okay. I get it. I get it. I get it. I'll be on the B team." JJ said, his lips tightening in disappointment as they told him he was a weak link in their chain.

"I never said 'B team'."

"I'm sorry are you calling me 'B team'?" Kie chimed in, giving him an incredulous look as June shrunk back from the oncoming argument.

"JJ—"

"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to offend you."

"Did B team not just like find out way out or am I totally tripping?"

"You're not tripping." June said, nodding her head at the girl. Kie gestured a thank you to her, JJ shaking his head.

"JJ just hang back. Hold down the fort." Pope said.

"Great. Looking forward to it. Mhm."JJ said, taking a step back from Pope.

"I'll babysit." Kie said, pointing between the June and JJ.

"You guys have fun. It's your funeral, your game. I'll be in here...on the bench... chilling." JJ said, disappearing I got he back of the crate. The March girl followed after him, finding herself a seat to sit on as JJ shook his head.

"How are they about to sideline me? Im one of the best players. I-I don't get it. Seriously it makes no sense—" June stood from her spot, making her way over to JJ and sitting beside him. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder, cutting him off.

"Yeah I know J I know. You are." June reassured him, resting her head on his shoulder. Her rested his head on hers, his hands clasping in front of him as he stared down at the floor. "But you do make bad decisions and —"

"Oh my God of course. You're really one to be telling me about making bad decisions." JJ said, lifting his head from hers and looking at her. June just let out a sigh, dropping her arm and moving it so that she could knit their fingers together.

"How about you just enjoy this time with me? How about that?" June said, giving him a sheepish grin and the best puppy dog eyes she could muster. He still had a scowl on his face, June closing her mouth and instead jutting her lip out in a pout. His face softened, a sigh falling from his lips before he lifted his hand and pushed her face away.

"Fine. But only because you're adorable." He said, Kie coming around the corner. The Carrera girl looked down at the two of them, giving them a tight lipped smile before sitting down. JJ straightened a bit, his thumb running over the back of her hand as he looked at Kie.

"I guess it's just us."

__________

The more I write the closer we get to the end 🥲