"𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮,
𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞."

SILENCE, AWKWARD SILENCE FILLED THE SPACE. There was no way we could get away with this. Sarah, had seen us and nothing could stop her from believing we actually have something.

We only looked at her awkwardly, instantly stepping away from each other. The blonde one, only stared at us with grinned eyes. I could've sworn I could see flames come out of her ears, kinda like those animations they do on cartoons.

Sarah: "Holy shit...are you guys-"

Rafe: "What do you want, Sarah?"-he quickly asked, cutting the girl off mid sentence.

She glared at him annoyed, crossing her arms while exchanging looks with both, Rafe and I.

Sarah: "Dad, told me he saw you pulling up with, June."

Sarah: "Which obviously I wanted to check out cause she's my BEST friend." -she replied, a sarcastic smile forming on her face.

I walked over to her, taking a hold of her wrist to walk out of Rafe's room. I wanted to work things out as quick as possible. The both of them meant so much to me, if I don't talk things through with Sarah, everything will go downhill.

We stood in the hallway, my hand still held onto Sarah's wrist. Making her winced out in pain, over how tightly I held onto her.

June: "Look, I'm really sorry. I know we've talked about this millions of times, but I just can't fall out of love with someone."

June: "I tried, I tried my best to stop liking him that way. But I love him, I love him a lot." -I explained, looking directly at her eyes.

She had her arms crossed, doing the same as me. Looking at my eyes, they almost widened after she heard the word "love" being included in my sentence. Sarah, is one of the most overprotective person I've met, and I get why.

She never really had any friends when she was young, just me and Kayla. She gets scared that she will loose me one day, but I know she won't. I care for her so much, nothing can separate me from her.

Sarah: "Look, I'm not mad. Is just that I know how Rafe, is." -she said, making me nod waiting for her to continue.

Sarah: "I don't want him to hurt you, I don't want him to do that because he will just end  up ruining our friendship."

June: "I know, just try giving him a chance. I really want to try this out, okay?"

She then nodded, looking behind her to see Rafe, peeking through the corner of the door frame. Making her roll her eyes after noticing him, she then grabbed my hand glancing back to the boy.

Sarah: "I'm gonna steal her for quite more." -she said, pulling me upstairs.

As we entered her room, I noticed her window opened making me frown my eyebrows confused. She sighed after seeing my expression, quickly walking over to the window to close it.

June: "Everything okay?"

Sarah: "No, I mean, okay no." -she stuttered, grabbing her hair to put it up in a bun.

June: "Oh god, what happened?"

I approached her, grabbing her shoulders concerned for the girl. I then noticed how she also frowned her eyebrows, seeming to worry about something.

Sarah: "June, what the hell happened to you? Who did this?!" -she asked, grabbing my face with both of her hands.

Her eyes widened by all of the bruises formed on my face, I only grunted over how aggressively she was moving my head around.

June: "Now you noticed?!" -I questioned, slightly chuckling over the girl's stupidity.

Sarah: "I'm not laughing June, who the hell did this?! Was it, Rafe?! Oh I swear I'm gonna kill him."

I pulled the girl back before she tried to walk out of her room, her expression screamed anger.

June: "He didn't do this! It was just some psycho on the town, I basically almost died."

June: "But Rafe, Topper and Kelce, saw everything. Thankfully they were there to help."

Her mouth was wide opened after I explained, at this point I didn't know what was going through her head.

Sarah: "Topper, didn't say anything about that. I'm so sorry June, did you called the cops or anything?" -she said, embracing me into a hug.

June: "No, I didn't wanted to. I just felt so tired, I still do."

Sarah: "What?! Are you kidding, June? You could've filled a complain or something, sue the guy even."

June: "No, no, no. That takes too much time, besides I was already safe. The man won't try anything again, trust me." -I replied, receiving a death stare from her.

I sat down on her bed, as she began to search for something in her vanity. As I explained everything detail by detail, she smiled at me throwing me a shirt.

Sarah: "Put that on, your shirt is messed up. It also looks disgusting, I'll try finding some shorts." -she said, walking over to her closet.

June: "Thanks, also, I don't got anything else to say. It's your turn to continue speaking, tell me something that's happened."

Sarah: "Well, I wanted to apologize about something else too." -she stated, handling me some short pants she found.

She then sat beside me, her facial expression quickly getting serious.

Sarah: "I'm really sorry about the fight at the beach."

Sarah: "You know with Topper and John B, I should've drank the stupid beer JJ, wanted to give me."- she apologized, only making me stared at her confused.

June: "That whole fight started because of some beer?"

She nodded, almost cringing after realizing how stupid it sounded saying what she mentioned.

Sarah: "I tried talking to Topper, about it. He didn't agree with me at all and now we aren't on good terms."

June: "I'm so sorry Sarah, I didn't knew that."

Sarah: "It's fine, he will get over it eventually. He takes the whole kook vs pogue thing very serious sometimes." -she said, a chuckle coming out of her.

Sarah: "Go take a shower already, you stink."

I glared at her slightly opening my mouth, making her laugh after seeing my expression.

June: "Excuse you! I do not stink!" -I argued, hitting her with a small plushy she had.

Sarah: "You do! And also, ow?!" -she laughed, still hitting each other with the pillow.

I stood up from her bed, making her sit down to look up at me. Still slightly chuckling over the small fight we had, it reminded me of old times. We used to do that all the time, we spend hours playing different games.

June: "So, are we still friends?" -I asked, stretching my hand towards her.

Sarah: "Is that even a question? Yes! Hell yeah!"

She grabbed my hand pulling me into a hug but quickly pushed me back, as she did a fake gagging noise making me roll my eyes.

Sarah: "Ew! You still stink ugh"
________________________________

A COUPLE OF HOURS HAD PASSED, I was finally home again. I left Sarah's, home avoiding Rafe, since I didn't felt ready to have a conversation with him about what happened.

I arrived home before nighttime, just how I said. But John B, wasn't home yet, which only made me worried he might've continued the treasure hunt still.

I wasn't sure of what to do, I could sleep and wait for him to wake me up with the sound of his van pulling up. Or I could go out to town again and find him, but let's just not do that...at all.

I cleaned around home, trying to get stuff adjusted after the mess the two men had left at, The Château. Only thing is, I was too lazy to do so.

I only threw some water bottles and beer cans to the trash, and fell asleep on the living room waiting for John B, to arrive. Which, thankfully didn't took long enough.

I woke up to the sound of clapping on top of me, my eyes quickly opened to see the brunette one, looking down at me. I sat up rapidly after noticing his face covered in dirt, same as his clothing.

June: "What the hell happened to you?!"

John B: "I could ask you the same thing, who did this to you?" -he asked, pointing at the bruises formed on my face.

June: "Got attacked by some weirdo at the town, got helped out by some friends though."

I obviously didn't mention the part about Rafe, Topper and Kelce, being the ones that saved my life. I wasn't sure how he will feel about that, so I assume it's better to not find out.

John B: "Well, same thing happened to me. Except, I bumped into a freaking electric fence and almost got myself killed."

John B: "Then got my ass saved by Sheriff Peterkin, who I later gave the compass to."

June: "You did what?!" -I shouted, making him jump up startled by my sudden reaction.

I stood up from the couch, standing in front of the boy who's face screamed confusion completely.

June: "I mean, yeah that was a good choice. But, is she giving it back to you? Or what? That thing belongs to us, is a family relic." -I explained, only receiving nods.

John B: "She said it's important for evidence of something, I don't know what though. Look, I'm not gonna keep searching for the treasure."

I frowned my eyebrows, suddenly wondering what could've change his mind over everything.

He almost died, yeah. But something tells me that isn't the only reason why.

John B: "I need to know something, June."

June: "What?" -I asked, taking a sit beside him.

It took him a while to continue speaking, almost as if he was trying to find the right words to say. I waited patiently, avoiding to look at him so he wouldn't feel pressured.

John B: "Why did Mom, left?" -he asked, almost making my heart drop to my stomach.

John B: "I only have blurry memories of her, but I know we used to be happy."

My eyes began to get teary by hearing his words, is hard to respond to this question. I mean, even I don't know why she left. I also remember stuff, and he is right. We were all happy, we were a close family.

June: "I don't know, John B. Mom, never told me anything, which sucks because I also wanted to know."

June: "And I'm sorry I don't have an answer for that, I really am."-I responded, tears beginning to fall down as I heard him slightly sob too behind me.

John B: "Then why did you leave? Why didn't you try to at least to come back?!" -he queried, turning me to face him.

June: "It wasn't my choice to leave, John B."

June: "I was forced to by our mother! And I wished all the time that I could come and visit both of you, but it was hard." -I sobbed, standing up from the couch.

I paced around the room, the amount of silence was driving me insane at this point. I stood in front of the window, glancing at the different books on top of the desk. Tears still roomed down my face, but I tried hiding the fact that I felt so broken.

John B: "I'm sorry, June."

June: "Why?! Because you made everyone believe that I left you in my own will, and you feel guilty now?" -I replied, making the brunette one, look down to the ground.

June: "Your friends don't quite like me to be honest, the only one that gave me a proper welcome was Pope, I'm trying to make things better alright?"

John B: "You said you didn't wanted to be a part of this anymore!" -he mentioned, making me scoff.

June: "That doesn't mean I'm not gonna be your sister anymore! I want to be part of your life, be your best friend because that's what siblings are."

June: "I want to know you, I need to know you." -I finished, brushing my hair back.

He stood up from the couch, quickly making his way towards me. He stopped in front of me, making me frown my eyebrows.

John B: "Let's make a promise." -he stated, looking at me with his eyes still filled with tears.

I nodded, allowing him to continue his sentence.

John B: "Let's start everything again, introduce ourselves the proper way. And tomorrow, we'll hang out the whole day and get to know each other properly."

John B: "And I promise you, June. I won't fuck this up, I will try my best." -he finished, grabbing my shoulders.

June: "There's something else you need to promise me."

John B: "Okay, anything." -he replied, placing his hands on his hips.

June: "Let's be honest with each other, all the time. No lies and no secrets, got it?"

He nodded, making me smile slightly. I quickly embraced him into a hug, pretty sure getting his whole shirt wet with all the tears I had.

John B: "By the way, I got arrested today too."

June: "What?!"
________________________________

Me and John B, kept talking. The sunset slowly was falling, it felt nice talking to him about everything. We both cleaned the house for a while, eventually leading him to throw some of Dad's stuff outside. It made feel sad, I know he was doing this for his own good but something didn't felt right with doing that.

He began to burn all of the stuff piled up outside, almost looking angry with something but I couldn't decipher what was it exactly. Only a couple of seconds later, he started trying to get some board out of the fire, almost burning himself halfway.

June: "What is it?" -I asked, approaching the boy who sat on the ground.

John B: "Do you know about, Olivia R. Routledge?"

June: "Oh yeah, her name is actually Red- Oh shit!" -I said, realization hitting me.

The boy quickly smiled, standing up in front of me.

June: "John B."

John B: "I promise I won't do anything stupid! Just trust me with this!" -he replied, almost begging for my approval.

June: "Sometimes I feel like I'm the older sister."

He nodded, almost letting out a laugh while we ran towards his van. We quickly headed inside of the vehicle, making me sigh after seeing his slight smile.

John B: "Let's get our friends." -he mentioned, making me frown my eyebrows.

June: "Our friends? Are you sure about that?"

John B: "Yes! Our, they will like you sooner or later I know it."

I smiled, rolling my eyes as he began to drive.

And after a while later we had arrived near the docks, noticing JJ and Pope, together. John B, signaled them to get inside, making them head over quickly.

JJ: "Let's ride."

Pope: "This better be good." -he mentioned, a smile forming on his face.

They both headed inside, making me death stare at JJ, who had a cigarette on his mouth as he sat down.

He threw it out quickly, as we drove off the place heading to go get Kiara, this time.

John B: "So, I have some news." -he announced, making the three of us stare at the boy.

John B: "June, we'll be part of us now. And I want you guys to respect her, treat her right."

June: "Okay, that sounds kinda cringy but thanks, John B." -I smiled, making Pope, laugh behind me.

Pope: "Well, I'm okay with that. Another friend won't hurt too bad, right JJ?"

Pope, stared at the blonde one making him sigh and nod in agreement awkwardly. A couple of minutes later, we arrived over to a place called "The Wreck".

I've never been to this place before so I was practically filled with curiosity. Pope, headed inside of the place as the rest of us waited outside on the car.

June: "So, what's this place? Well, I know it's a restaurant but why are we here?"

John B: "Oh, this is Kiara's parents restaurant. It's quite known around the town, one of the most visited restaurants." -he replied, making me nod while glancing at, JJ.

JJ: "Her parents are rich, she's half kook/half pogue."

June: "Does that...matter? She's still a good friend to y'all, doesn't matter if she's a kook or pogue." -I responded, shrugging my shoulders.

John B, smiled at me almost seeming proud over what I said.

The sound of the door opening made us all glance over to the restaurant's entrance. Seeing Pope, come out almost seeming worried.

Pope: "She says she's not coming" -he shouted, all of us looking over to the boy confused.

JJ: "Why not?"

June: "Maybe she's not feeling good?" -I wondered, making John B, sighed.

JJ: "What'd you do to her, John B?"

The blonde one asked, his tone coming out annoyed.

John B: "Shit." -he mumbled, getting near to the car's wheel.

We both stared at John B, waiting for him to explain only for him to tell us to wait out here.

John B: "Hang on. I'll deal with it."

He headed out of the car as JJ and I, stared at him confused. He left us alone in the vehicle, making the awkward silence surround the space.

June: "So, do you want to talk about anything?" -I asked, making JJ, sighed almost annoyed.

JJ: "Nope."

June: "Okay...do you work?"

The boy glanced back almost death staring me, making me nod awkwardly.

JJ: "Does it look like I work?"

June: "I mean, you don't have to physically look like you work, you can look like that and still work." -I replied, making him scoff.

JJ: "Alright, that's rude."

June: "Well, you're the one being rude in the first place. I was just trying to build a conversation...damm."

I glance through the window, regretting speaking in the first place. He sat on the seat beside me, tapping my shoulder to get my attention.

June: "What?" -I asked, looking towards him.

JJ: "Do you actually care about, John B?"

June: "What type of question is that? Of course I do, he's literally my brother! I'm always gonna care and love him no matter what." -I replied, making his gaze turn towards the restaurant.

JJ: "Okay, well, promise me something."

I rolled my eyes after hearing the word promise again, looking at him with frowned eyebrows.

June: "Does everything have to be a promise with y'all?" -I asked.

A smile appeared on my face making him chuckle slightly. I opened my mouth widely after realizing, startling the boy as I grabbed his shoulder aggressively.

June: "Oh my god! Did I just made JJ, smile?!" -I exclaimed, only making JJ, roll his eyes as he laughed.

JJ: "Stop I'm being deadass! Promise me that, no matter what you will stick by his side and support him with his dumb decisions."

June: "JJ, of course I will. I love him and there's nothing else in this world that I care as much as I care for, John B."

June: "I promise you that." -I finished, raising my pinky finger making him laugh once again.

JJ: "Really? Pinky swear?"

June: "I'm being deadass." -I replied, interlacing my finger with his.

We waited for a couple of minutes. Finally John B, arrived accompanied by, Kiara. Both of them smiled at us, as they headed inside of the vehicle with, Pope.

June: "So, where to?" -I asked, making everyone glance at, John B.

John B: "You'll know when we're there."

Kiara: "Okay, that sounds creepy."
________________________________
A CEMETERY, MY WORST NIGHTMARE. LITERALLY. I stared at John B, as we arrived to the location. My expression screaming that I was about to shit my pants.

June: "I thought we were going to Redfield, not a damm cemetery, John B!" -I whispered, as we walked throughout the dark place.

John B: "We already went a couple of hours ago, it didn't went well...at all."

Kiara: "Did you told her the part were you got arrested?" -she mentioned, a small smile appearing on her face.

John B, nodded as we all jumped across a fence that blocked the way we were supposed to keep walking through.

John B: "Come on, hey." -he whispered, telling Kiara, to hurry over.

Kiara: "I'm coming. This place is scary. John B, what are we doing?"

June: "I could ask the same thing, literally." -I replied, crossing my arms while staring at the brunette one.

John B: "Shhh, shut up. Okay, you know how you're trying to remember a song and can't remember who sings it?"

Kiara: "Yeah."

John B: "So, Redfield. This whole time I thought it was a place, right?" -he explained, walking near one of the graves.

June: "It's a person." -I finished, making him nod as everyone else just stood silent.

JJ: "Voi-effing-là."

I looked at JJ, with a smile after hearing his fake french accent him doing the same as me.

John B: "See, our great-great-grandmother, Olivia Redfield."

June: "That was her maiden name."

Everyone glanced over to the small building, covered with vains all around the almost collapsed grave. The place was getting creepier by the time. I stood near Pope, almost searching for protection.

John B: "Help me with the door, come on." -he begged, all of us standing in front of him contemplating if we should move.

Pope: "All right."

I watched how John B and Pope, stood near the grave beginning to try and move the door. Kiara and I exchanged glances with JJ, who still seemed hesitant to begin helping.

John B/Pope: "One, two, three."

Kiara: "Go." -she demanded, shining the light at, JJ.

The two other boys grunted, both of them trying the door to open but unfortunately it wouldn't budge at all.

Pope: "Are you pushing?"

John B: "Yeah, I'm pushing." -he replied, his voice coming out with harsh grunts.

Pope: "Come on."

JJ, started walking over to the two boys leaving me and Kiara, behind. Waiting patiently for them to open the grave.

JJ: "Hold on. Here, I got it." -he bragged, a slight smile appearing on his face while glancing at, Kiara and I.

Pope: "This door is like 700 pounds Man. It's not gonna budge."

The both of us exchanged looks with each other, our heads shaking side to side knowing they weren't succeeding.

June: "Guys, let's just try and find another way inside." -I whispered, looking around the graveyard fearing to be caught.

JJ: "We didn't come this far to get this far, all right?" -he stated, looking towards me.

All of us jumped after hearing a sudden hissing coming from inside the grave. Everyone stepped back, noticing a big snake coming out of the small space.

Pope: "Whoa!"

June: "Guys, be careful!" -I worried, grabbing Pope's shoulder.

JJ: "A snake!"

Pope: "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" -he shouted, almost falling back as the snake began to fall down to the grass.

JJ: "That's a moccasin, all right? Ye olde Dr. Cottonmouth."

We all watched JJ, with weirded out expression after he began to bark at the animal. All of us trying to get him to lower his tone, looking around the place. 

Kiara: "JJ, shut up. Shut up!" -the curly head exclaimed, stepping closer to me.

Pope: "You're gonna wake the death, man."

JJ: "They're afraid of dogs. Everyone knows that, man." -he replied, sounding out of breath after Pope, pushed him back.

Kiara, John B and I tried getting near the grave once again, but we're stopped by, JJ.

JJ: "If there's one, there's probably dozens." -he exaggerated, making everyone sigh.

Pope: "What?"

June: "That's not true, JJ. Right?" -I asked, suddenly feeling anxious.

Kiara: "Can you stop? Stop, your scaring us." -she said, already done with, JJ.

He started to bark again making everyone get near him to try and shut him off, getting slapped by me on his shoulder.

John B: "Stop barking at the snakes."

The three boys began to argue, making Kie and I look inside through the hole. Almost instantly reading each other's minds basically.

Kiara: "I can get through." -she said, making the three boys stare at her direction.

John B: "What? No, no, no, no. You think you're gonna fit through the hole?"

John B: "That hole?" -he pointed, making Kiara, sigh.

Kiara: "Look, this is about your dad. And honestly, I really don't believe in it. But you deserve to know the truth." -she said, shining the light towards the grave.

We stayed silent for a while trying to see if anyone opposed, but no one did. Not even John B, who seemed to be sad.

Kiara: "I'll do it. Come on, you're coming?" -she asked, flashing the light towards me making me quickly shake my head side to side.

June: "I can't go, I'm scared of tight spaces."

I looked around, everyone seemed to be surprised after I mentioned that. Making Kiara, laugh by my weirded out expression.

Kiara: "They're surprised because half of the time we always go inside places like that, so you won't be liking the stuff we'll do." -she explained.

She then began to step in front of the grave, trying to get the vains out with her hands. Quickly being helped by JJ and John B, too.

John B: "Give her a boost."

JJ: "I'm gonna boost you, all right. I've seen it in movies several times. Ready?" -he said, positioning himself in front of the building.

Kiara: "Remind me what we're looking for."

John B: "You'll know when you see it." -he whispered, nodding in between sentence.

We then began to help Kiara, up. Thankfully it was easy and not as hard as we thought it will be. She was already inside, making everyone try to peek and take a look at what she was doing. Which was stupid since half of us didn't fit.

Kiara: "Okay, flashlight?" -she shouted.

Pope, quickly handled her the flashlight, while glancing into the darkness.

June: "Are you alright?" -I asked, worried about her safety since I was scared that more snakes could be inside.

John B: "You alive? You got, like, a...a heartbeat and everything?"

Kiara: "So far." -she replied, making the rest of us glance at each other while nodding.

John B: "Thats good. That's good."

June: "Just be careful, Kiara." -I remarked, trying to look inside.

Kiara: "Yep!"

We stayed quiet for a while, waiting to see if she found anything.

Kiara: "Uh...I need some more light."

John B: "Yeah, yeah, here. Yeah, I gotcha." -he responded, placing his own light inside of the small hole.

More silence filled the place, we didn't know what could be happening inside since the girl, had gone quiet.

I glance inside almost seeing Kiara's eyes almost shining, she found something. Her face expression was really happy, almost excited. I quickly started to wonder trying to peek more, but couldn't unfortunately.

June: "Found something?" -I asked, not receiving any answers from the girl.

JJ: "Did you found something?"

The boy repeated, glancing inside as well.

JJ: "Is there gold?"

Kiara: "Oh, my God."

End of chapter

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Sofia's notes:
So, here's a new chapter!!! Finally worked things out with John B and June's bond hehe.

Hopefully you guys don't mind that little decision haha, if you enjoyed this chapter don't forget to leave a vote which helps me out a ton. Love you all 💗

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