——

Sitting at the police station was probably one of her worst nightmares. It was never a place for a girl like her even if being friends with the Pogues puts her at a higher risk.

Her cheeks were stained with tears, anxiously sitting on a bench waiting for her mother to arrive. Kiara left with her disappointed parents. She wasn't sure when she would be able to hear from her again, or anyone... as long her brain kept coming up with potential punishments her mother might spring out on her.

"I'm fucked," Emelina whispered to herself while leaning her head back on the cold wall. An officer announced that her mother had arrived and she couldn't help but feel her heart rapping against her ribs.

Her mother was quickly signing the paperwork, barely giving her daughter the side-eye. Emelina expected that. Not a single word until they were alone.

And when they were, Emelina leaned her head against the chilled car window, staring out at the dark road as they drove home. She couldn't speak. Too much was on her mind.

Anger was still bubbling from what her mother had done to JJ, but it was quieted down by the sadness and guilt of her father's truck.

She decided to bring up JJ later. "I'm sorry about the truck. It was, um, my friend who..." She cleared her throat, knowing there's no point in explaining the situation, "He feels bad."

Eleanor hummed and fixed her rearview mirror as though it never bothered her in the first place. "I've been meaning to get rid of that old thing for months now. It was taking up space in the garage."

Emelina was taken aback. "Huh?"

"Where do you think Charles' truck would go, honey?" her mother asked, the color red flashing on her face from the traffic light.

"Wait, what?"

The light turned green and her foot hit the gas pedal. "I had asked him to move in. It will be a long process before he is officially settled in but I hope you will find room to make him feel at home, alright?"

Ever since her dad passed away, it seemed like Eleanor continued with her life without her. She had to learn it the hard way when her mother started taking more of her business to the mainland, and that having the large empty house to herself was the new norm.

So, this not being discussed with her did not come as a shocker. Emelina exhaled a shaky breath, trying to keep her cool although she felt as if she would blow up any moment.

And she sort of did. "Excuse me?! Is that why you were gone all week? Packing his things? Starting a new life without me? All while trying to ruin mine...? Did you think I wouldn't find out about the paycheck you gave JJ?"

"That's enough, Emelina. I am still your mother and you will not speak to me in that tone. And as for that boy of yours, it was a test. I have yet to see a bank statement." she said and pulled into the driveway.

"He would never take the money. He's not like that." Emelina's face was hot from the anger as she looked at the opened garage door—a truck replacing her father's spot. "I don't want him here. He will never be dad."

Her mother shook her head in disappointment. "We can make a deal if you'd like."

"I'm not making any deal with you." Emelina scoffed and went to open the car door, but her mother was quick to lock it.

"Hear me out, Emelina. You can stay with that Maybank boy... if you don't give Charles a hard time. How does that sound? The choice is yours."

She stayed silent. A chance to be with JJ freely would always outweigh anything else.

Emelina exited the car once unlocking it, slamming the door shut, and walking toward the front door. She could hear her mother behind her. "Why don't you clean yourself up and we will continue this discussion later."

"Fine," she muttered and entered the house. Charles was not in the foyer, thankfully, because she was in no mood to greet him with a fake smile. Her feet carried her up the stairs to her bedroom where she prepared for a shower.

A hot shower was exactly what she needed. The water sprayed down on her body, washing the entire day away. When she finished, she slipped into more comfortable clothing and reentered her bedroom.

JJ sat on the edge of her bed with his usual crooked grin. The window was partially opened and after smiling at him, she closed the window to avoid any more drafts.

She went to join him on the bed but her eyes landed on a piece of paper on her nightstand. She picked it up; the check.

"You can do whatever you want with it. Splurge and shit. My treat." he said to her and she rolled her eyes with a smile.

Her mother was waiting for the money to be taken out and even if it wasn't done by JJ, she could never let her get a grasp of that satisfaction, so she ripped the check into shreds.

"Damn, or do that." JJ widened his eyes.

Emelina put the pieces in the garbage can and sighed. "Kie would kill me if she saw that. There's, like, a million charities she would inform me on but my mom would think you took the money."

"Yeah. We can't have that."

Emelina laid her back flat on her mattress and bit the insides of her cheeks, reflecting the previous hour. "Charles is moving in. I am so tired of my mom dumping big news on me and expecting me to be okay with it."

He laid down next to her, his fingers touching her exposed stomach. He was quiet for a minute before asking, "You alright? You know, with all of this happening at once?"

She stared up at the ceiling. "Not really, but I feel better now that you're here," she spoke softly and grabbed his hand that was tracing shapes on her skin. "I wish it was always like this. Just the two of us."

"Yeah, me too." he replied and when she turned to look at him, he was smiling, "You still up for that surf trip?"

A smile formed on her lips at the mention of it. "Yes. I just want to leave this house. It never feels like home anymore."

Silence filled the room as her mind churned in thought. She sat up again, bringing him up with her. She took the string of his tan jacket and played with it, rendering words to say.

"Look, JJ, I'm not sure what my mom said to you but none of it is true, okay? My future matters to her more than my happiness but what she doesn't get is my future is with you and nothing she can do can change that," she told him, watching his blue eyes the entire time.

He exhaled a breath, his thumb caressing her soft cheek and she leaned into it. "I don't wanna lose you again," he tells her, voice almost as a whisper.

She placed her hand over his and pulled it away from her face. "You won't. I'm staying right here."

JJ leaned in slowly to press his lips against hers. It felt natural—as if the split never happened, but her heart still clenched at the memory of it. His words still hurt.

It was as if he could feel her hesitation in the kiss because he pulled away and asked, "What's wrong?"

Emelina looked down. "Do you... remember what I asked you before I gave the necklace back?"

JJ stared ahead and remained quiet, no doubt thinking about that night. "I, uh, yeah. Yeah, I do. But, Emelina," He turned to her and grabbed her hands, "please believe me when I tell you that was the hardest lie I've ever had to say. I will always be all in if you're by my side."

Her love for him was strong. Maybe that was why she forgave him in less than a day. JJ being so involved in her life and untouchable at the same time was worse than not having him at all.

Her lips curved upward. "I believe you."

He reached deep into his pocket, fishing out his mother's necklace. "Will you take it back?" JJ held the jewelry, that was surprisingly untangled, and waited for her response.

Emelina nodded and could see the relief releasing out of him. Her back faced him and she pushed her hair to the side and waited.

It brought her back to the day on the boat where she feared her father's necklace was finding its way with the fish. JJ found it and put it on for her. She would always appreciate that memory.

She turned back around when he finished connecting both sides, granting him a peck on the cheek and eventually his lips. Her hand went behind his neck and pulled him in to enhance the kiss.

"Mm," Emelina pushed his chest away by a few inches, her eyes meeting his confused ones, "are you okay?"

"Uh, I was until you stopped kissing me," he answered truthfully as if it was a matter of fact.

She gave him a look and ran her fingers through his blonde hair gently, "No... I mean, with your dad leaving and all. If you want, we could talk about it."

JJ shook his head. "Nah," he spoke softly, "not right now."

"Okay." She knew he would open up to her eventually just as he has in the past. With everything going on, he probably hadn't put too much thought into the whole situation.

There were a few knocks on her door that had her sighing in annoyance. "Stay here and be quiet," Emelina whispered and made her way over to the sound.

Her mother stood there on the other side with her usual sly smile. "I hope you have enough time to come up with your decision. I will be downstairs to discuss it further."

Emelina held her arm out to prevent her from walking away. "No, there's no need for that. I have made up my mind, actually. I will go through with it... just as long as you do too."

Her cheek was slowly caressed by her mother's hand and it took everything in her not to scowl and remove those fingertips. "I knew you would make the right choice. Goodnight, honey."

She closed and locked her door and leaned against it, taking in deep breaths. As long as she played the cards right, nothing can get in between her and JJ.

She learned that if she was not in her mother's way, then she will be left alone. Pretending to be the perfect family was what Eleanor always wanted. So, presenting herself as such to the eyes of Figure 8 will have to suffice if she wants to continue her desired life with JJ.

When Emelina opened her eyes, JJ was staring at her, clearly looking for answers. "It's nothing you need to be concerned about. Some sacrifices need to be made, that's all," she told him before he could get a word out.

"Yeah, whatever deal you made with your mom, I'd rather not know," JJ said and propped his upper body up with the help of his elbows against the mattress.

Emelina climbed on top of him, using her hands as support for her body so that no weight was on him. She looked him in the eye and asked, "Wanna smoke?"

"Uh, hell yeah, but..."

"But...?"

"John B and Pope are kind of waiting on us... You see, your old ass grumpy neighbor saw us outside Sarah's house—"

"Sarah's house? Wait, what neighbor?" Emelina cut him off and watched as he rolled his eyes. "The cross is there I think and I don't know, Em, he's old and rude as fuck and had his gun pointed at us. He didn't believe me when I said I was your boyfriend and followed me here and threatened to call the cops when I tried to climb up your window."

"Oh," Emelina giggled, "you're talking about Frank. He does usual neighborhood watch with his golf cart."

"He needs to retire."

Emelina walked over to her closet to pull out all of her goodies. There was one pre-made joint tucked away and she happily snagged it. "We can walk to Sarah's and smoke?"

"I'm with that." JJ grinned.

So, the two of them left her house secretly without looking back. She also learned that her mother took her car keys away, not that she needed them at the moment, but it still left her annoyed.

"She's such a bitch." Emelina grunted and took an extra long hit from her joint, which was a mistake because she was coughing immediately after.

"Easy there." JJ patted her back and took the joint from her fingers to take his turn. He handed her his metal flask and she took a sip of it, spitting it out right after. "JJ, what the hell?"

"What, did you think it would be apple juice or some shit?" he asked and took it right back, tucking it in his jacket pocket.

It only took them a couple of minutes to reach Sarah's house, but enough time to smoke the entire joint. It made her feel a whole lot better, especially after the day she had today.

John B and Pope were standing by the gated stone walls, peering their heads over it to look at her. "Hello, boys. Anything new?" Emelina approached them.

They smiled at her and informed her that nothing has happened yet. Sarah went inside, against their will John B quickly added, and it has been radio silence ever since.

They suggested going over the wall. JJ already had his back pressed against it, his hands put forward as a stepping stool for Emelina to jump right over. "Okay, on a count of three."

She was already on the other side of the wall before he could get a number out. "You always do that!" She heard him whisper.

The four of them hid behind some bushes and as if it was on cue, Rafe walked out of his house and toward the truck. Once again, seeing him made Emelina's skin crawl.

John B was ready to dash over to him, but the rest pulled him back. "Not yet!"

"Okay, then what do we do? What's the plan?" John B asked in a hushed voice. JJ shrugged, "Well, he might have the gun, so, uh, what's in our favor? The element of surprise, that's what's in our favor right now."

"Element of surprise? Are you high right now? What can we surprise him with?" John B asked him.

JJ half-nodded. "My best ideas pop up that way... but I'm working on what surprise, alright? Just gimme a second."

Emelina kept her eyes on the truck that Rafe hopped into and started driving. The bright headlights were turning our way, and the two boys beside her were throwing out random ideas.

"What if we threw something in front?" JJ asked. John B looked at him, "Threw what, where? What, in the tree?!"

"Slingshot. Yeah."

"Slingshot? What can we—" Emelina's words were cut short when she heard footsteps running in the other direction. Pope was after Rafe's truck. "Pope!" He ran as fast as he could, eventually latching onto the handle in the back and catching a ride.

"What was that shit?" John B gaped.

"He should really try out for the track team," Emelina commented quietly.

They turned their attention back to the house. JJ pointed to it, "Rafe's gone. Now let's storm the fort."

The front door opened and from her far vision, it seemed to be Rose and Wheezie carrying Sarah and making their way over to their car. "Dude, they got Sarah." JJ tapped each of their shoulders.

"What did they do to her?" Emelina asked because Sarah did not seem to be conscious. Rose got in the front seat after shoving Sarah in the back and started driving out the driveway.

"Okay, let's just start banging the windows until she stops driving, yeah?" JJ suggested. At this point, that was the best option so the three of them did just that.

Emelina was hitting the car, begging Rose to stop, and caught a groggily Sarah in the backseat, completely unaware of her step-mother's kidnapping method.

Rose only stepped harder on the gas pedal and then she was off. John B tripped at the sudden speed and fell on the grass. Emelina helped him up while JJ urged them to run to the Twinkie and follow them.