THIRTY-SIX FORGET ABOUT ME

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They made it through the night, but that wasn't saying much considering John B was practically holed up inside Kiara's car all night, ducking any time anyone drove by. Hidden out, they had nothing better to do than listen to the radio and Norman was getting really sick of it.

"Good news for residents of Outer Banks," the broadcaster spoke through the car radio, "Dominion power says their underwater transmission line, which will restore power to 90% of the area, should be functional within 24 hours."

"About time," John B muttered, but it was interrupted by the sound of a siren blaring getting closer and closer. JJ kept an eye out while the other boys kept their heads down, both police cars whizzing by without a second glance.

The broadcaster continued, "And still, no arrest in the shooting death of Sheriff Susan Peterkin. The state police have issued a statement regarding a local person of interest, a juvenile-"

Kie reached forward and turned the radio off. Norman sighed as a heavy silence cast itself over the people in the vehicle. It was packed and in the summer heat, it was worse, but Norman knew this was what was safest for John B at the moment.

JJ was the first to break the silence, saying, "Let's game this out. Maybe you guys can help, being the smart ones and all, but who are the cops going to believe? Ward Cameron or us? So, the accuser is a bigshot developer, kind of lord of the island, got the governor on speed dial kind of person, and the accused... is John B, who is pretty much... a homeless sixteen-year-old boy at the moment."

"Thanks," John b muttered.

"JJ, that's not really helping," Norman mumbled in response, "I can always set you up with my dad's lawyers if worse comes to worst."

"Ideally, he doesn't get caught," Kie added, "But thank you, Rocky."

"Shit," Pope muttered from the backseat, "I can't believe this... this is a real conversation we have to have. Fuck Ward Cameron, man."

"Okay, man," JJ spoke again, "Yucatan, right? I'm saying that's the only option. What other option do you have?"

John B sighed, "Enough with the Mexico bullshit. Sarah can bail me out."

"She did witness the whole thing," the girl affirmed, "I know she would vouch for you."

"And she's gonna snitch on her brother?" Pope added with a pessimistic tone.

Alisha scoffed, "If Rafe was my brother, I sure fucking would. That guy's a creep."

JJ sat up, exhaling the smoke from the blunt in his mouth, saying, "Not happening, bro, okay? We've gotta get you off this island."

Norman nodded, but he hated that JJ was right, "Chances are much better for you on the mainland."

"The ferry," contributed Pope, "It's the only way."

"Exit stage left while you can," JJ said, "Before the entire island is on lockdown."

The conversation was cut short by the sound of a police siren getting closer to their spot. Out of habit, Norman shrunk down, keeping his hand on John B's arm even though he was in the backseat. Part of him wanted to keep a hand on John B just to hold onto the idea that he wouldn't have to leave him again even though he knew that was more than likely.

"Wherever you go, I'm coming with you," Norman muttered. "I mean it."

"I never wanted you to get mixed up in this," the boy sighed, "Any of you. I just wanted to finish what my dad started and now my chances of getting free are on Sarah's shoulders."

Pope sighed, "Sarah's not a Pogue, John B."

"Yeah, you can't stay here, man."

"I'm not a Pogue, neither is Alisha," Norman spoke up, "Even Kie is rich, you guys forget, and I know, at least for myself, and I'm sure for these girls, too, that if we were in Sarah's place right now, we'd defend John B. The truth is the truth."

"Aw, you rich people's ideas are so cute," the blond boy mocked, "Yeah, but about two weeks ago, Sarah Cameron was a massive bitch to all of us -- no offense, Kie--"

"None taken," the girl shrugged.

"And asking her to choose this raggedy son of a bitch--" JJ motioned to John B, "Over her dad and her brother? Is a lot to ask of a girl like her. Anyway, we can't rely on that, we need to get John B on the ferry before they close off the island. God only knows how much time we have left."

Norman sighed, "Let's just fucking go, then."

JJ started the car, pulling out of their makeshift hiding spot for the first time in hours. Norman honest to God could not believe this was happening -- he hadn't even started his junior year and he was already aiding and abetting an alleged murderer. They all knew John B didn't do it, but Norman had a feeling the law wouldn't be so forgiving. John B had to lay low in the passenger seat during the whole car ride, the rest of them keeping an eye out for any police cars or pretty much anyone giving them a second glance. They could never be too careful.

When they got to the pier, Pope motioned for the others to stay in the car while he got out to check the ferry times. The boy came back up to the car, looking stressed.

"Okay, so um, the ferry's closed, and there's this," Pope explained, handing Kie a piece of paper as he got back into the car.

"What is that? What is this?" John B asked as she handed the paper back to them. Looking at it, Norman could see it was literally a bounty on John B's head. He half expected to see the words "dead or alive" written across the bottom.

"Well, John B, this is a good framer of you," JJ attempted to crack a joke, but considering the subject matter, it fell flat. No one was really in a joking mood at the moment.

Pope sighed, sounding more stressed than he had ever seen him, save for the garage meltdown, "So the whole island's lookin' for John B right now."

"That's a lot of money," Kie added.

"This is what happens when a rich man shoots the sheriff," Alisha muttered.

JJ handed the poster back over to the boy, "Congratulations, John B, you're famous."

Kie tried her best to piece together a plan, "Guys, we've got to go to the HMS. We need small, no running lights--"

"It's at the chateau, Kie," JJ sighed, "And I wonder if the cops have the entire place staked out. Let me think, oh, yeah, no. They definitely have that place locked down."

"Yeah, copy that," the girl groaned.

"Let me just think for a second," Pope tried his best before he shot up, saying, "JJ."

"What?"

"Does your dad still have that boat? The cigarette boat, The Phantom? The one he used to race."

The blond shrugged, "Maybe."

Pope continued with newfound enthusiasm, "You could get right up the coast, no problem."

"Okay, look, the surf's running from three to four," Kie explained as Pope started the car up once again.

"I don't even know where the keys are," muttered JJ from the backseat, but Norman had a feeling there were other reasons he didn't want to go home. Still, Norman couldn't judge.

"Well, find them!" Pope exclaimed, "Why is nobody moving forward?"

"Can you relax?" Kie yelled, "JJ, how much weed did you give him?"

"Guys!" John B shouted to get their attention, "Your car's on the poster."

"Can we move it?" Pope asked to no one in particular as he honked the horn.

Alisha spoke up, saying, "Dude, chill, you're just going to draw unnecessary attention towards us! Do you want us to get away with this shit or no?"

"Shit," Kie muttered, looking out the window where a little boy and his mother were looking straight at them. Ah, so they had reached worst-case scenario at this point.

"We got a snitch," JJ pointed out, "Pope, turn the car on, we need to get out of here."

"More people are looking at us," Norman exclaimed as he made sure John B kept his head down, looking out the windows to see just how much attention they had drawn towards them. "Oh, we're so fucked. We're fucked!"

Norman practically jumped out of his skin as a man started banging on the window and screaming at them meanwhile Kie and Pope were screaming at each other trying to get the car moving. Oh, this was a nightmare. Norman was living in his nightmare. It was then that Pope got the car to start moving, ramming it into the rear of the car in front of them before backing up and getting out of where they were and on the road. Everyone was yelling and Norman could barely keep track of who was saying what because all he was focused on was making sure no one was chasing them. Pope yelled as he ran into a couple of mailboxes and Norman was fairly certain the boy had lost his mind.

"I'm livin' my best life, now!" Pope exclaimed, much to the dismay of about everyone else in the car who absolutely despised this driving style of his.

"My mom'll kill me," Kie muttered.

"I should be the last to say this," yelled JJ, "but you are not okay to drive. Stop!"

Finally, Pope screeched to a halt, the car lurching as he did so. Turning to the backseat, he said, "John B, get out. We'll draw the cops, you run."

"I'll get the rig, and I'll meet you in the dump tomorrow," JJ added. "Three o'clock, okay?"

"Let me come with you," Norman gasped, grabbing John B before he could get out of the car, "Please. I know it's stupid, but I can't leave you again. Please."

Part of him had an inkling feeling that John B was going to force him to stay in the car and go along with the rest of them, but Norman couldn't leave him again. Not after last time.

Surprisingly, John B nodded, "Okay. Let's go."

Norman pulled himself out of the car, not before giving Alisha a hug, and pulled John B into his arms, savoring the brief moment before they were both going to have to run for their lives. JJ clarified the plan and this was it. Norman took a deep breath, both boys nodding to each other.

"You can walk away, you know," John B said, "Go back to your big ass house and forget about this, forget about me."

"John B, you know I can't do that."

So, they ran.

the thought of this story being to close to the end is killing me WHY did this show have to only be one season so far like PLEASE but honestly I'm glad this isn't going into season two because with norman and john b already together i feel like there wouldn't be a point but oh well anyway when this story ends I'm gonna SOB