"𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐨"

THEIR FACES SCREAMED DESPERATION. All of them waited for me to respond to their questions, about the object currently dangling from my wrist. JJ, was desperate to hear what I had to say, while the others just looked at me with their eyebrows frowned.

John B: "Wha- What do you know about this?" -he asked, standing up from the wooden ground.

Adrenaline surrounding his expression.

June: "Alright, I'll tell you. Under one condition. If you first tell me...how the hell did found it?"

June: "Because, I clearly remember Dad, never going out without this thing in his pocket." -I asked, handling the object back to him.

Kiara: "Why does it even matter?" -she asked, glaring at me with an annoyed expression.

I only looked at her up and down, almost trying to calm my anger down. They were all getting in my nerves already. I can't even ask a damn question, without getting bad attitude from them.

June: "Cause that compass comes from ancestors of the Routledge family. It carries bad fortune and it seems to follow this heirloom though." -I explained.

They all began to follow me, as I walked back towards the house. Everyone hearing cautiously everything I was beginning to explain.

June: "Dad, will always carry it around. He said that it brought luck to him in some ways. Even though it's called "the unlucky compass."

John B: "Wait, I have an idea!" -he exclaimed, making all of us turn towards the boy's direction.

John B: "Okay. We found that on a boat that wrecked during the hurricane. This boat belonged to Scooter Grubbs, he had it in this bag."

I was taken aback by the sudden explanation, I instantly began to worry for, the Man.

June: "Was he found safe? Scooter?" -I asked.

Everyone suddenly looked at each other, making me realize.

John B: "He was found dead yesterday." -he mentioned, a sad expression forming on his face.

June: "Why would he have Dad's, compass? I mean...they were friends, yeah. But Dad, never let go of that thing, John B."

John B: "As I was saying, I think Lana Grubbs, might know something about this. JJ and I, will go over to her home and ask her about it."

June: "I'll go with you and before you say no, this is also my Father. I should know too." -I stated, making John B, nod slowly in agreement.

June: "Besides, you said we needed to act as if we were bonding. So here's me giving you some help with that." -I said, walking off with a sarcastic smile on my face.

I stayed awake for a couple of hours. Still sleeping in the small couch from the porch that Pope, allowed me to sleep in. The rest of the group had left, leaving me wondering if John B, might let me sleep on the bed inside.

Even though the couch was comfortable, I couldn't help but feel scared outside. It was very dark, barely no light. The only thing that shined, was the moonlight but it was still very scary.

June: "John B?" -I whispered, tapping his back lightly as he slept on his bed.

He began to move around, eventually looking up at me confused.

John B: "What do you want?" -he groaned, making me sigh.

June: "Can I sleep in the other room? It's...kinda creepy sleeping outside alone."

He stared at me for a while, as I stood there awkwardly waiting for a response from him. After what felt like an eternity, he began to stand up from his bed. I frowned my eyebrows, confused over his sudden actions.

June: "What are you doing?" -I asked, stepping in front of him as he tried to leave his room.

John B: "Sleep here, I'll sleep in the living room. The other room only smells like weed, because of JJ."

He then proceeded passing beside me, closing the door as he left me inside of the small room. I looked around the room, seeing the different things he owned. He had a lot of collectible figures on his desk. I used to find a lot of those when I visited, Dad.

I started to accommodate the sheets on John B's, bed. Getting as comfortable as I could, his bed wasn't that comfortable unfortunately. It had a very hard mattress which only made me scoff annoyed by it. I'm convinced it's a man thing at this point. Dad's, mattress was the same as well.

________________

THE LOUD SOUND OF BANGING AWOKED ME. Soon after, being followed by the laughter of someone I couldn't distinguish. I sat up quickly on John B's bed, rubbing my eyes. I was still feeling tired, but it was time to get ready to head out.

I heard the door slowly open, making me look in front of me. Soon after spotting John B and JJ, peeking through the door trying to get a glimpse of me.

June: "What the hell are y'all even doing?!" -I exclaimed, slamming the door shut quickly.

The both of them began to apologize, as soon as I closed the door on their faces. I pushed my hair back, still practically embarrassed over what happened.

John B: "Uuhh, just get ready! We're leaving in a bit alright!" -he announced.

The small laughter of JJ, could he heard from behind the door.

After a while, we were already on John B's van. Making our way over to Lana Grubbs, home. I wasn't sure what to expect from this, the poor Woman, was still grieving her husband's death. She must be devastated and we're currently on our way to ask about a compass. How stupid can we be?

JJ: "Hey, June. What do you think about John B, possibly dating, Kiara?" -he asked.

A grin formed of his face, while staring at the brunette boy.

John B: "Dude! Come on, I don't have a crush on her. She's literally one of my best friends, besides remember the rules."

JJ: "No "Pogue-on-Pogue macking" Yes, I remember!"

JJ: "But I don't understand why you don't at least try with Kiara, she clearly likes you." -he said, receiving a light smile from, John B.

I was trying my best to not throw up all over the van. This types of conversations are always the ones that I hate being part of.

June: "Why are we talking about this?" -I asked.

I made the blonde boy, look over to me with an open mouth.

JJ: "She's like, "Oh, John B."

John B: "Is that what she does?" -he asked, making me roll my eyes.

I wanted to throw myself out of the car so bad. I could've sworn I almost grabbed the handle to do so.

JJ: "She's sketching about you diving, then she kissed you bro!"

June: "She did?!" -I asked, surprised after hearing that.

John B: "She kissed me on the cheek, it's not like we were makin' out."

JJ: "Low-hanging fruit, bro. Don't pretend you don't notice."

JJ: "I see it in your eyes. You're like, "I kinda like that," and you start blushing and shit." -he explained, everything said detail by detail.

John B: "I blush?"

June: "He blushes?" -I asked, receiving a nod from JJ, who's smiling proudly.

JJ: "Yeah."

I only looked over at John B, who also seemed slightly surprised over what JJ, commented.

John B: "Really?"

JJ: "Yeah." -he replied, grabbing the compass.

John B, quickly tried ripping the compass out of the blonde one's hands. Failing to do so after JJ, pushed him back slightly.

JJ: "I was just looking at it." -he said, taking a look at the object.

June: "It's cool right?" -I asked, receiving a nod of approval from the blonde.

JJ: "I gotta admit, your Father's compass in Scooter's boat, that's freaky." -he mentioned, making me look over to, John B.

John B: "Yeah, and that's why we're going to talk to Mrs. Lana. Figure this whole thing out."

JJ: "And I'm sure she will just love to talk to us, it's not like her...husband just drown or anything." -he sarcastically mentioned, receiving a death glare from, John B.

June: "John B, he's right. Are you sure Lana, will like talking to us? I mean, she just lost her husband."

He looked over at me through the rear mirror, nodding without any words coming from him. I glanced at JJ, who just shrugged his shoulders making me sigh.

A couple of minutes later, we had finally arrived at our destination. I was beginning to feel nervous. I wasn't sure how Lana, will react to our question. My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by me getting pulled by JJ and John B, towards the pink wooden walls from the house.

June: "What the hell are yo-"

JJ: "Sshh! Shut up, listen." -he whispered, while putting his hand over my mouth.

I began to listen to my surroundings and in a matter of time, I heard things breaking. Yelling coming from the house. I widened my eyes and later slapped JJ's hand off of me. I looked over to both of the boys, scared for the Woman's life.

Two different deep voices, shouting at the Woman. She sounded horrified. My eyes crystallize, due to the harsh emotions she was showing. I'm an emotional being and shit like this are weaknesses.

June: "We need to help her." -I whispered to him and John B, who only looked at me as if I was insane.

Unknown voice: "The compass wasn't in the boat! Where is it, Lana?!" -the man shouted, more things dropping throughout the house.

Lana: "I don't know!"

As she shouted that, we all got startled by what looked like paint. All of it falling on top of us, I glanced over to the boys, who seemed confused at first.

JJ: "Is that paint?" -he asked, shuffling his hair around to try and get it out of his hair.

John B: "Yes, it's paint."

June: "Guys, this is really bad. We need to call the police or help her out. They might kill her." -I said, clearly starting to feel for, Lana.

JJ: "Are you crazy?! Those man's are literally insane. If we try anything, we'll be the ones getting killed first." -he hissed, almost shouting at me over my question.

John B, placed his hand on JJ's mouth. Making the blonde, glare at him annoyed over the action.

Unknown voice: "Let's get the hell outta here, man."

We all began to peek through the wall, trying to get a glimpse of whoever was doing this to the poor woman.

JJ: "We should just go, he's got smuggler written all over him."

John B & June: "Shut up." -the both of us said, making JJ, sigh.

As we peeked again, we both quickly hid back again, after seeing the Man come out of the house.

John B: "Shut up. Shut up." -he repeated, placing his hand in front of JJ's, chest.

Peeking once again, the other Man came out of the house. He followed closely behind the other guy, we all watched everything they began doing. The sudden sound of their boat engine starting, made us look over to the water seeing their boat stationed.

June: "Have you seen those guy's before?" -I asked, receiving a nod from the both of them.

JJ: "Dude. Those were the guys that shot at us."

I looked at JJ, with widened eyes after he finished his sentence. John B, was quick to notice my concerned expression.

John B: "They tried to kill us yesterday, while we were out looking for the wrecked boat." -he explained, making me even more concerned.

June: "What? Are you serious? Why didn't you say anything to the police, John B?!" -I hissed this time.

John B: "We haven't had time to talk about it." -he said, receiving a death stare from me.

June: "You can literally just call, John B!"

As they proceeded to leave, we all went further back. Trying to stay hidden from the men. I was almost hyperventilating, over how scared I felt over the situation.

Finally they left, allowing us to start heading near the entrance of the home. We were all in search for, Mrs. Grubbs. Fearing that she might've been badly hurt.

June: "Mrs. Grubbs?!" -I yelled, looking around the home.

Everything was messed up inside, cabinets and many other stuff were thrown all over the house. Unfortunately, still no sign of the Woman.

We all entered a hallway of the house, noticing the woman sitting down on the bathroom floor. Her face filled with bruises and tears, she was terrified and hadn't noticed our presence in the room yet.

John B: "Mrs. Lana" -he whispered, quickly running towards the lady.

John B: "Hey, are you okay?"

JJ and I, approached as well. I quickly sat down in front of the Woman. I took a hold of her hand trying to catch her attention. She was in shock over what had happened.

June: "Hey, it's okay." -I said, slightly smiling at her as she took deep breaths.

JJ: "Dude, she's tweaking." -the blonde one mentioned, receiving a death glare from me.

John B: "Do you need a doctor?" -he asked, as I began to remove some hair out of her face.

She continued sobbing, while holding my hands tight enough for them to begin to hurt.

June: "John B, call the police." -I said, my voice trembling as I looked at her.

John B: "Yeah, let's call the sheriff's department."

Lana: "No, no, no. No cops, please." -she quickly begged, looking desperately towards the brunette one.

I looked over to JJ, who already seemed as if he wanted to run out of the house. Something in me wondered why didn't she wanted help. She needed it badly after all. Her face was pretty messed up and the police needed to find those two psychos. They this horrible thing to her and needed to pay.

JJ: "Mm. That's not good. Come on, dude. Let's just go." -he said, tapping onto John B's shoulder.

June: "We can't just leave her here dumb ass. We need to get her some help."

JJ: "She said she doesn't need it!"

Lana: "You shouldn't be here." -she mentioned, more sobbing coming out of her mouth.

JJ: "That's enough for me. Come on."

John B: "Wait, wait. What do you know about these guys?" -he pushed JJ, aside as he asked quickly.

Lana: "They were looking for something."

I looked towards John B's direction, noticing how he had already been staring at me. He began to search through his pocket, getting Dad's compass out.

June: "John B." -I said, trying to stop him from doing what he was about to do.

John B: "Does it have anything to do with this?"

He began showing the compass. Lana, quickly turning serious after seeing the object.

John B: "Do you know anything about this?" -he asked.

Lana, constantly shaking her head side to side. Trying to stop John B, from speaking, she then let my hands go.

John B: "This is my father's and Scooter, had it. Why?" -he asked, desperation formed on his face.

Lana: "Scooter didn't have it, okay? Don't tell anyone you have it."

She began to freak out, I only looked over to John B, who still seemed to need more answers. I was stressing out, scared that he might've done a big mistake.

JJ: "Come on."

John B: "Why? Why?!"

June: "John B, stop. You're scaring her." -I demanded, but he still kept trying to ask the Woman.

Lana: "They can't know that you have that! You've gotta get out of here!"

John B: "What do you know about the compass?"

June: "I'm really sorry Mrs. Grubbs, I'm sorry." -I apologized, getting pulled by JJ.

Lana: "Go! Get out!"

JJ: "We gotta go. Let's go."

We all walked off the house, still practically out of breath over how terrified we felt. Many questions were still rooming through my brain, but I couldn't keep thinking about them at the moment. I was very worried about John B, he was beginning to act like our, Dad. When he was too obsessed on finding a treasure, it was exactly like this. It all felt like a deja vu.

Since everything started, I can't help but feel scared. Scared that we're going to end just like our Dad, missing.

Or maybe, who knows. Running and hiding, from someone out there. That terrifies me, even though I feel like I'm just overreacting.

End of chapter.

2765 words.
Sofia's notes:
Here's a double update for you guys!! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, I will start writing the next one soon probably so stay tune hehe. 💗 love you all and don't forget to vote :)

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