i. tickle the wire

All the noise eventually began to blend. No longer could she differentiate one word from another. She really just wanted it to stop, all of it. She didn't want to hear anyone else. She wanted to cover her ears so that she could shield herself from ever hearing anything again. All she wanted was silence. But it never came.

The crushing air of the police station was suffocating. Nova remembered not being able to breathe. She would hit the balls of her hand on the sides of her head to try and quiet the noises. The blasting air conditioner was set too high, sending dust flying around the top of the room. The screaming from the three officers surrounded her in a tight, concrete room. Their yells bounced off the concrete walls and hit Nova over and over.

They all demanded something from her. Answers. But not the ones she was giving them. And they'd start all over again. They asked for hours. Tearing her apart. Tearing her story apart. Tearing John B. apart. They wanted her to trip – to mess up on her words. But she wouldn't. Because she was telling them the truth.

Despite the agonizing and breathless hours that they kept Nova locked away in the small room, there was nothing they found that they could charge her with. Not even obstruction, because she was cooperating. But even if there was something – something to charge Nova with, nothing would come of it. Lincoln, her dad, and his team of blood-thirsty lawyers would see that Nova walked unscathed. And so, there was no other choice. Commanded to do so by North Carolina's very own Governor.

But even the Governor promising Nova's innocence wasn't enough to stop the whispers on the small island.

Things were bad. Really bad. And it took no time for them to get that way. Everything was changing. Nova's life was upside down.

She'd received a long-winded letter from her school in the mail. They had granted her leave until further notice. Citing Nova's mental health and unfortunate circumstances as their reason. This had not been a choice only made by the administration. But also, the Board of Donors & Shareholders. The board of which Lincoln Scott was still actively ahead of. And this meeting in which the decision to grant Nova leave was made, Lincoln had not been informed of. Because of that, the vote was unanimous. Nova Scott would not be returning to school.

As any parent would be, Lincoln Scott was furious. Hours he spent on the phone with his lawyers, trying to find a way to fight the school and their many boards. Nova had been a student there since she was four years old. Tallulah, her mother, had been a teacher there. And her dad was their largest donor. They couldn't just kick her out under the guise of a granted mental health leave.

Eventually, Nova became tired. She didn't want to fight their decision. Because maybe the school was right. At least that's what Nova began to think. If she did go back... it'd only be hell. Nobody on her side of the island believed the story she was telling. The true story. To them, she was a traitor. And by friends and peers she's known all her life, she'd be treated as an outsider now. Nova began to feel as if it'd be easier to not have to face them. Especially since she didn't have her best friend by her side anymore.

Nova did have her big brother, though. And he wanted to walk with her. Nolan didn't think it fair either that everyone had turned their backs on Nova, especially after knowing her all their lives. But Nova wouldn't hear of him leaving the school. The music program offered was too great for him to abandon. Their mom had built that program from the ground up. It was her vision for the school. And Nolan still had friends there. Friends that wouldn't turn their back on him. Nova wouldn't let her brother's senior year go to waste just because everyone hates her.

Lincoln and Nova had considered homeschooling. But her therapist didn't agree with the idea of seclusion. Despite everything going on, she claimed that Nova still needed outside interaction. Nova needed socialization. And so, there was but one thing left that they could do. Enroll Nova into the public high school. The same school to which John B. had gone. And the school that her own mother graduated from. Kildare County High School.

It would be the first time Nova had ever gone to a public school.

Nova had done well in keeping herself occupied up until the day before school. She began to spend more and more time with JJ, Pope, and Kiara. Sometimes Nolan would tag along.

It was the evening before the first day of school. The sun was high in the sky. It'd be another hour or so before it started to settle behind the ocean line. The five of them, Nova, Pope, JJ, Kiara, and Nolan, stood in John B's backyard. And as JJ and Pope slashed away at the large tree in front of the home, Nova sat, her knees pulled up under her chin, and she watched the backdoor. It was like she was waiting for him to walk out, a room temperature beer in his hand, and a smile on his sunburned face.

She wanted him to walk out so badly.

Because without John B – without Sarah... Nova didn't feel complete.

They didn't finish until hours later. And the sun had begun to lower in the sky. An orange hug cast over them and a slight wind began to settle with the evening. JJ sighed, turning around, offering a hand to Nova to assist in pulling her off the grass. For a second, they all just stood there, admiring the sloppy piece of art carved into the old tree. And together they mourned their friends.

There was a heart, carved into the center of the tree trunk. John B's name engraved inside along with the year he was born and this year... the year left them.

Pope cleared his throat, blinking back tears, he raised a beer into the air, "To John B..."

Everyone else followed suit, mimicking his words.

And then Nova raised her own, only she was drinking a juice, "And Sarah," she added. "She should be here too."

They nodded, and with John B, they toasted to Sarah's absence.

"This is like, really fucking depressing," Nolan mumbled, his head down as he kicked at the dying grass with the tip of his dirty converse.

They all laughed, agreeing, but their smiles never quite reached their eyes.

Nova had never been a person who could just let go of things. She loved fiercely. And saying goodbye to people that she loved seemed to happen more often than many would deem fair. She hated funerals. Always has. She hadn't even been able to sit through the entirety of her mother's funeral.

But Lincoln Scott was good and honorable man. And he made his children attend the funeral of Sheriff Peterkin in their best mourning attire, with their shoulders back, and heads high, until it was time to bow for prayer.

Except Nova couldn't. She looked at her feet the entire time. Probably looking guilty in her immense discomfort. The stares from other attendants were burning holes in her skin. Scorching her. Nova could feel the burning of their hatred for her. She could feel their thoughts and judgement that had been cast on her like a fishing net. But, with a hand on her shoulder, Lincoln refused to allow his daughter to falter under the eyes of scrutiny.

It proved easier said than done. The funeral had just ended, and the Scott family was making their way out of the cemetery when a comment had been made about them. Coming from the mouth of Ward Cameron, no doubt. He was wondering, quite loudly too, why Nova had bothered to attend, even wondering why she was walking free on the island, when his daughter was missing... maybe even dead.

It was a dramatic exchange. Meant to reach her ears. But it wasn't Nova who'd reacted. Lincoln turned, his face flushed a deep red. And it took Nolan holding his dad back, to keep him from committing his own murder.

He didn't want to leave them. Especially after a funeral. But work had again called. And he couldn't keep ignoring those calls forever. He'd already missed more than normal. He'd taken almost the entire summer just to see that his kids were alright in the face of the chaos. But they all knew he couldn't put his life on hold forever. Well, he could, but Nolan loved his work, it wasn't time for him to call it quits just yet. Nova wouldn't let him even if he tried. She'd been the one to urge him to go back to work. To continue living. She'd be fine. Lincoln knew that too. Nolan was there.

"Take care of your sister," Nova heard her dad tell Nolan just after he'd left her room from saying goodbye to her. "But make sure you're taking care of yourself too, okay kid?"

Nolan knew what to do. He'd been doing it for years now. Lincoln had been trusting him with Nova for years now. And Nolan, even though he had a million reasons to do so, he never complained. Being there for Nova was not something he considered a burden, despite how annoying and troublesome she could be. He was not made to be an adult. Nolan did not have to grow up faster than he needed to. He still had fun. He still made time for himself. He was still a teenage boy. It's just, sometimes he had to check on his little sister... that's all.

And besides, if anything ever went sideways, they had their grandparents.

Watching from her balcony, Nova waved as the silver Rolls Royce disappeared from the mile-long driveway. Once he was gone a familiar silence fell over the house. It felt as if some part of Nova's life had gone back to normal. An empty house, only herself and Nolan, and Lincoln back at work. This was her life. Along with the sudden normalcy came hunger.

"Should we get food?" Nova's head poked into the already cracked door leading into Nolan's bedroom.

Just as she asked, her stomach grumbled, and Nolan laughed.

"Well, I'm not going to say no," he slid off the side of his bed, fishing his car keys from the pockets of his grey board shorts.  

The siblings took their usual seats at a small table on the patio of the country club. And all eyes had been cast on them. Hushed whispers were heard as they passed by people who would once stop them to ask about their dad or their grandparents. Now, no one stopped them.

Nova did her best to ignore it. The looks and whispers. She should be used to it by now. As for Nolan, he seemed to be just fine. As he scanned the menu for something to eat, he paid no attention to the gazes that lay on them. So carefree – careless, Nova was jealous.

"I'm not really sure why everyone seems surprised to see us here," said Nolan, his voice raised slightly so that it would travel to those who were turned around in their seats looking at them, whispering to the person beside them. "We pay our monthly fees just like everyone else here."

He'd been able to ignore it all. Until the whispers became conversations. And Nova's name was being tossed from table to table like a volleyball.

His slight break of character seemed to work. As those looking ducked their heads and turned away. But Nova knew that the whispers would continue, only now, they'd be more discreet about calling her a liar and a traitor. Which Nova didn't mind, because at least she'd be able to enjoy her omelet in a little bit of peace.

When JJ appeared the Scott siblings took a breath of relief. Finally, someone who wouldn't want to gawk at the two of them or whisper about Nova's assumed criminal charges. The three of them struck up a slight conversation each time he'd stop by their table to refill their water glasses.

JJ appeared out of the doors of the kitchen. Dressed in a black and white suit – the uniform for this job. A black apron tied across his waist and pitchers of water and tea being carried in each hand. And the Scott siblings breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, someone who wasn't going to gawk at their sight, or whisper about Nova's assumed criminal charges.

When JJ stopped to refill their empty glasses the three of them struck up a conversation. JJ informed the two that they were the topic of conversation amongst the cooks and waiters inside. This surprised no one, as out here, they were also the topic of many, if not all, conversations.

Nova went to speak, to tell him about Nolan's slight outburst, but a more abrasive whisper sounded behind them. This conversation meant for them to hear.

"Did you hear about what happened?"

"I heard John B. kidnapped Sarah!"

She sighed, rolling her eyes. Her therapist would tell her to let these words roll off like water on her back. But she couldn't. Because now, not only was John B. a murderer to everyone, but the rumor was spreading that he kidnapped Sarah to keep her as a hostage, and she died with him on the boat.

"Of course, it was a Pogue! What else did you expect?"

"He's a murderer."

"John B. got what was coming to him! And it saved the state the expense of a trial..."

Nova's silverware dropped to her plate with a clatter. The attention of surrounding tables turned her; their eyebrows all raised curiously. Their gazes went between the three at the table, from Nova to Nolan, to JJ, and then back to Nova. They were waiting, waiting for her to break under pressure.

And she nearly was.

"Seriously?" she turned, cheeks red with anger.

"Come on, Nova..." Georgia, she was in Nova's year, she and Sarah would laugh at the horrible ombre dye job that coated her head. She was feigning a smile and batted her eyelashes innocently. "We're just saying what's true."

Before Nova could open her mouth to outwardly make fun of the horrible dye job on her hair, Nolan cut in, "Look, we're just trying to eat here. Maybe save the conversation for another time?"

Georgia looked offended that Nolan offered such an idea.

"Look, John B's going to hell for what he did to Sheriff Peterkin..." sighed Kelce, his tone seemed bored, but he wore a smug smile and looked that stared right at Nova.

Nova knew this was on purpose. Kelce was taunting her, punishing her. For what, Nova didn't know, but it was clear that upsetting her was his goal. And he succeeded.

"Guys, they're still investigating the murder," said Topper, he seemed to be uncomfortable sitting in the middle of all the stares that were now completely on them.

"And they're wasting their time in continuing to do so," Georgia rolled her eyes, scoffing. "It's so obvious that he was guilty."

Was... Georgia had referred to him in past tense.

Kelce noticed the downcast look that had crossed over Nova's face, he smiled, "Exactly."

Nova stood so suddenly from her chair that it fell to the ground behind her. It hit the wooden patio with a loud thud, some customers even gasped.

"Shut up!" she wanted to say, but the voice that did yell it, did not belong to Nova.

She turned, coming up beside her was JJ. His hands clenched the pitcher so tight that his knuckles began to whiten. His jaw was tight, and his entire body tensed as he approached the table.

Topper sighed again, "Listen..."

"Shut up, Topper," said JJ, but his angry gaze was fixed on Kelce.

Topper knew what the end result of this would be, and trying to avoid that he stood up, carefully placing himself between JJ and Kelce, so to break the line of sight. But also knowing that JJ's temper was wearing thin, Kelce stood, wanting those reactions. Seeking it.

"JJ, man, just walk away," Nolan, appearing behind JJ, patted his shoulder, trying to urge him to turn his back, but he refused to move. "He isn't worth it..."

Kelce scoffed.

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" JJ yelled at him.

"I don't think I said anything to you, Pogue!" Kelce spat at him.

JJ nodded. He was done. Nova could see it.

"Hey! Can I have everyone's attention, please!?" he yelled, raising his hands toward the other tables. "I have a little announcement to make," he told everyone. "My best friend, John B. Routledge, did not kill Sheriff Peterkin!" Nova's eyes widened; JJ wasn't going to say it... whas he? "Rafe Cameron shot and killed the sheriff in cold blood!"

"Wow!" Kelce laughed, Topper had tried to block him from stepping up, but he easily made his way past him. "That's what happened?"

"Back up Kelce..." Nolan warned him, his hand still tightly holding JJ's shoulder. "Or do you want me to let him beat the shit outta you?"

But Kelce didn't seem to be too afraid of the threat, as he took a step closer to JJ, "Tell me, why – why is it always the Kook's fault?"

JJ laughed, but the humor did not meet his eyes, which were dark and angry. He pushed away from Nolan, and in one swift movement threw the contents from the pitcher in his hand out and onto Kelce, drenching his salmon-colored polo shirt.

And then the fists came down swinging. JJ took the collar of Kelce's shirt and pushed him back onto the table, where the cups spilled over the girls still seated. They stood up screaming and crying as sweet tea spilled over their legs. Nolan and Topper were behind them, trying to tear them off one another.

And Nova didn't move. She could only watch.

Nolan finally managed to tear JJ away from Kelce. Topper taking ahold of Kelce as he did to stop him from trying to go back. He pushed Kelce, making him sit back down in a chair.

In a fury, the manager appeared from behind the kitchen doors, "JJ!"

JJ was already nodding, tearing away the black apron tied at his waist.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he sighed, sounding out of breath. "I know, Raz, I know," he threw him the apron, walking away. "I'm fired."

Nova still could not grasp what had just happened, but she ran after JJ. And Nolan didn't try stopping her, knowing it'd be useless. Most of Nova's summer had been spent with JJ. No matter how hard he tried, there was no prying her out of his company. Nolan would say he was confused of the growing bond that had formed between his little sister and JJ Maybank, but he knew better than to question it.

"JJ!" Nova called; her sandals padded against the deck as she ran after him. "Hey, JJ, wait!"

Nova stopped out front of the country club. She watched JJ rev the engine to his boke and spin out in the front garden, flowers, grass, and soil sprayed behind him. The desk manager came running outside, waving his arms, pleading with him to stop. Even threatening to call the cops. But JJ didn't seem at all scared.

Finally, he turned, his eyes locking with Nova's, "Are you coming or what, princess?"

And Nova nodded.  

A sickness of nerves had settled upon her on the morning of the first day of school. The sun was just beginning to rise, and her phone buzzed at five-thirty in the morning while Nova sat on the cold tiles of her bathroom floor, bent over her porcelain toilet dry heaving. Her hair stuck to the sides of her sweating face and her breathing came in long-winded pants. She sat like this for another fifteen minutes before finally willing herself off the cool floor.

She stood in her closet. Still feeling sick. She stared sadly at the freshly pressed unform hanging on a rack of its own. A sheet of plastic draped over it to protect it from gathering dust. It was the uniform that Nova would have been wearing if she hadn't been kicked out from her previous school.

The thought of attending public school scared Nova. She's heard all the horror stories. She's watched the movies and seen it all on the news. And gossip traveled fast around the island. Public school was an underfunded shitshow. Kids were let loose, and the expectations were low. And worst of all, barely any public school appreciated the arts.

But she'd decided not to dwell. Last night Nova promised herself that she'd embrace this change. No matter how scary it seemed.

Finally, she found something stuck in the racks of her ever-growing closet. One perk that Nova found about her new school is that there was no uniform code. She would actually have a chance to make a dent in her closet. For that, she decided to be appreciative.

And she wanted to keep that mindset throughout her first day.

But it was easier said than done. Especially when she and Nolan parted ways one, they passed the house gates. No longer would Nova follow behind her older brother in her own car. No more would she sit behind him in the long Starbucks line honking her horn, knowing it pisses him off. And she also hated that there was not one Starbucks on the route to her new school.

Nova kept her head high though. She pushed through the grey cloud of anxiety that hovered over her head, threatening a downpour. She ignored the looks as she pulled into the parking lot where the cement was cracking and filled with potholes. She began to think maybe the Range Rover wasn't the best idea to drive this morning.

The looks Nova could handle. They were to be expected. Besides, she's been putting up with people staring at her all summer. Also, why would these students not stare? She was a Prep-School Kook who was invading their space. It still annoyed her, the Kook vs. Pogue mentality.

"Wow," she stopped short upon noticing the small memorial they'd dedicated to John b. It even put a smile on Nova's face as her eyes scanned over all the pictures plastered onto the surfboard. She was smiling but her heart was breaking all over again. "This is really nice."

As she neared the concrete steps that led to the front of the school, she noticed the back of the heads of the only people she knew here. They were stopped, a little off the left of the entrance, their heads bowed and feet still.

Turning from her path just slightly, Nova walked for them, stopping short, her breath caught. Sitting at their feet was a small memorial. Flowers and pictures of John B. littered the small spot lit up by a single candle. She smiled as a fresh set of tears glassed over her eyes.

"This is really nice," Nova whispered.

She wondered if her old school had set something like this up for Sarah. If they had she wished she could've seen it. Even though Nova knew she wasn't dead. Nova was just missing her best friend.

Kiara was the first to turn, her head lifting and eyes widening as she caught sight of Nova, "What are you wearing?"

Her nose scrunched and eyebrows furrowed, suddenly self-conscious Nova looked down at the chosen outfit. She'd thought it was quite nice. It wasn't much. A small, plaid skirt, black, white, and mint colored green mixing together. With it she wore a cropped mint-colored cardigan and a pair of black Prada loafers.

"Why? What's wrong with it?" Nova began to panic, and she looked over her outfit again. "I thought it was cute, and besides, I didn't know how everyone here dressed."

Laughing, JJ shook his head, "Well, we don't dress like that."

Though he couldn't have disliked the outfit too much because his gaze lingered long after Kiara pulled away.

"Guys..." Pope sighed, looking around them. "I feel like people are staring."

"Oh, they are," Kiara confirmed.

"It's because of Princess Prep-School over here," JJ nodded in Nova's direction, a taunting smile on his lips.

"Oh? All because of me?" asked Nova, scoffing.

"Yes," said JJ, just as they started walking. He placed his hand on the small of her back to lead her in the direction of the school doors. "All because of you."

Once inside, Nova found that she had little to worry about in her classes. Despite being separated from her friends. While Pope, Kiara, and JJ had world history, Nova sat in a math class just a little way down the hall. A geometry class. Nova hated geometry. But still, as Mrs. Knight, the teacher, read over the year's syllabus, Nova noticed that she was far more ahead than the class was.

Whatever they were doing here, Nova had done her freshman year at the academy. She scowled, realizing just how underappreciated public schools are.

Just as Mrs. Knight began going over her no cellphones in class policy, nova's phone buzzed from the inside of her bag. Eyes wide with horror, Nova looked up, to her luck Mrs. Knight didn't seem to have heard. But it sounded again, and this time, Mrs. Knight caught Nova's gaze, and she scowled. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Nova's eyes dropped to her desk.

And then, no more than a minute later, the door to the classroom burst open, no one even knocked, and there stood Kiara, having been shoved into the room by another sent of hands. Nova looked up, her eyebrows furrowed as Kiara laughed and waved awkwardly to the class.

"Hello – Uhm, Mrs. Knight," Kiara turned, her face a dark red color. "I was wondering if I could borrow Nova Scott for a moment?"

"Actually, Miss Carrera, I am in the middle of something," Mrs. Knight's eyebrows knitted tightly together as she released a long and tired sigh. "And you're being quite rude, interrupting my class time."

"Yes, and I'm sorry for that," Kiara continued to plead. "But it is an emergency."

Nova looked confused. Emergency? What could've happened during this time?

"Fine," Mrs. Knight agreed harshly. "But make it quick!"

Kiara beamed, thanking Mrs. Knight. She motioned for Nova to hurry and follow her out of the room. So, grabbing her bag Nova hurried across the room, following Kiara out into the hallway.

To none of her surprise, JJ and Pope were there waiting.

"What's the matter? What happened?" Nova panicked, still following Kiara, and now JJ and Pope through the empty hallway.

"Did you not read our text?" asked Kiara.

"What? No..." Nova shook her head. "Why?"

Kiara only stopped once they were outside. Pope and JJ moved to sit at nearby bench, whispering over something on their cellphones. Their expressions remained unreadable, and still, Nova didn't know what she was doing out here.

"Did something happen? Is something the matter with Sarah? Did they find John B?" Nova panicked as she dug through her bag to retrieve her phone.

No one offered Nova any kind of answer, instead, they watched as she unlocked her phone and scrolled through unanswered messages.

And suddenly she lost her breath.

"Holy shit..." her lips and hands trembled as she looked down at the picture of a smiling John B. and Sarah, through her phone, they looked at her. "Oh my God! Is this real?" She looked down at the picture again. It looked real. "How did – how is this real?"

Nova didn't understand. She didn't know how Sarah could be with John B... She didn't know how John B. could be alive, she thought he was dead. She thought he had drowned. And Sarah, she hadn't heard a word from her, not for months.

She looked at the others, they all seemed just as surprised and clueless as her.

"Is this even possible?" Kiara also seemed to be in a state of confusion and denial. "I mean, didn't Shoupe say that he didn't make it? He did say that right?"

"But I mean – what if we are overreacting?" asked Pope, his tone calm and reasonable. "We can't just rule out the possibility that this could all be a weird, cruel hoax."

Nova nodded. Pope was right. Though his skepticism was annoying, because she wanted this to be real.

Sighing, Kiara shrugged, "I'm going to text back..."

Kiara finished typing at her phone and Nova's screen lit up, showing the text that she just sent.

"What it is him though?" JJ asked, his head turned to Pope. He also seemed annoyed at the skepticism, as he too, just wanted his best friend back home.

"Well, then..." Pope struggled to find an answer. "I don't know," he said, it was clear he hadn't thought this far ahead. "I really don't know."

Nova found a seat on the tabletop beside JJ. Her leg shook and a fresh coating of blood fell down the back of her throat as she chewed through yet another scab on the inside of her lip.

"He's not responding," she sighed, looking down at her phone.

"Hold on... he's typing," said Kiara.

She said just as a small, grey text bubble appeared at the bottom of Nova's phone screen, indicating that someone, maybe John B, was on the other end, responding.

Unknown: Is JJ there?

With furrowed eyebrows, Nova turned to look at JJ, who was already typing away at his phone.

JJ: I'm here, Bree!

Unknown: Did you pimp my shortboard?

They all waited, watching JJ, waiting for him to say something. Was this him? Was this their John B? And JJ nodded, a relieved sigh coming from his lips.

"It's him?" Nova's cracked voice was no more than a whisper.

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, JJ nodded again, "It's him."

And after holding their breaths the four of them were finally able to breathe. Three months later. John B. was alive, somehow. And Sarah was with him... somehow. But they were alright. They were alive. And right now, they could all just take a breath of relief.

But with this sudden revelation, Nova felt a pit in her stomach growing. It almost made her feel sick. It was as if she was guilty. It was the same feeling she'd felt that evening when sitting on the beach with JJ.

Uknown: We're laying super low in Nassau right now

"How in the hell did they get to the Bahamas?" asked Kiara, voicing all their thoughts at that moment.

"How in the hell did Sarah get there with him?" asked Nova.

There were so many unanswered questions, but none of them mattered. All that they cared about was finding out that their best friends were alive, and seemingly well.

Unknown: Can you clear my name? I want to come home!

Unknown: I'll be in touch. P4L!

They waited, but another text didn't come through. The screens darkened and it felt like it was over. Until the simultaneous buzzing.

Unknown: Is Nova there?

Nova: I'm here.

Unknown: I plan to keep my promise.

And Nova smiled looking down at the blue bandana tied securely around the handle of her bookbag. Since the night he tied it around her wrist it's gone everywhere with her.

Nova: I love you.

Locking her phone, Nova wiped the tears that ran down her cheeks, threatening to smear her makeup. Kiara moved, sitting on the table next to Nova, wrapping her in a hug. It was a little embarrassing having them all see the exchange between her and John B, but she was more relieved than anything. They all were.

They had a chance. They could bring John B. and Sarah home.  

"Kiara! I need those setups done by five!"

They passed through the back of the Carrera restaurant on their way to the pier. School had ended, thankfully. Nova didn't know how much longer she would've lasted. And she couldn't concentrate on anything. Nothing but those texts sitting in her phone. Nothing else mattered but those texts.

"Mom, you know that there are other people that work here!" Kiara hollered back over her shoulder, as they moved into the dining area of the restaurant.

"Yeah, but none of them are my daughter," her mom yelled back at her, just as they were walking out of the doors.

Kiara scoffed, shaking her head, her curly hair tangling in the wind.

"Look, I get it," Pope sighed, quickening his pace so that he was walking beside Kiara. "On a deep, emotional level, I can relate."

Nova chose a seat on the railing, sitting over vast waters. She wasn't afraid of falling. She'd jumped into waters from cliffs higher than this for fun. JJ walked behind her, tossing his dingey school bag to the side, not even trying to entertain the current conversation between Pope and Kiara before interrupting them.

"So... are we going to the Bahamas, or what?" he clapped excitedly.

"No way," Pope shook his head, quickly shutting down JJ's excitement. "There's no way we could just sneak off to the Bahamas!"

"Why not?" asked Nova, her nose scrunching. "I could get us there..." she told them. "Like, financially speaking... I could get us there fast."

"We cannot go to the Bahamas!" Pope scolded.

"But why?"

"Because... we have school!"

Nova and JJ both rolled their eyes.

But Pope was right. Nova just didn't want to hear it. They couldn't go to the Bahamas because they were being watched, closely, by everyone on the island. If they all just up and left everyone would notice, and they'd surely be followed. Already everyone was waiting for them to slip up. To incriminate themselves. Hell, some people on the island suspected that they had kidnapped Sarah themselves and are still hiding her away.

"Look, John B's going to get nabbed sooner or later," said Kiara, shrugging, and she was right. Especially now, with Sarah in tow, he wouldn't be able to stay hidden for long. "So, if we're going to clear his name, we need have it done by...."

"Yesterday?" Nova offered.

Kiara nodded. They were running out of time.

"I'll tell you how we do it," JJ stood up, pacing in front of them, too amped up to sit down.

"Oh, this should be good," Pope sighed, crossing his arms over his chest with a disinterest written all over his face.

"We kidnap Rafe!"

"I'm sorry..." Pope was rendered speechless by JJ. "What?"

"We kidnap Rafe Cameron," he told them again. "We tie him up and stick the gun in his mouth, and just wait until he starts squawking!"

With her eyebrows furrowed, Nova shook her head, "No," she whispered. "No, we aren't going to do that, JJ."

"Did you know that torture is a war crime?" Kiara asked.

"So, exactly how do you plan on clearing John B's name from a cell?" asked Pope, shrugging. "Because that isa felony!"

"Okay, well what ideas do the three of you have" JJ finally moved to sit down, pulling himself up onto the railing beside Nova where he rested his arm on her shoulder. "I was just trying to keep it simple. You know? One stop and we're done!"

"Easy?" Nova asked, turning to look at JJ. "In what world would kidnapping someone, especially Rafe Cameron, be easy?"

JJ scoffed, "Oh, how hard could it really be?"

"Incredibly so, JJ" Nova rolled her eyes.

"It's freaking Rafe Cameron!"

"Guys!" Pope yelled, stopping them before they could continue their banter. "All we need is a material witness. We saw Ward's plane fly right over our heads with the gold inside of it. Obviously, he didn't fly it..." everyone was listening now. "If he had somebody else fly, they were there on the tarmac. They saw Peterkin get shot. We just have to find whoever that was and get them to confess on record."

"Okay, I like that idea," said Nova, who really did not want to have to kidnap anyone. "How do we do it?"

"A little light espionage," Pope said with a smile and simple shrug.

"Some ghost recon..." said JJ, once again securing his red hat on his head.

Now they were doing it. They were finding real ways to bring John B. and Sarah home. This was a good plan. This was a plan that could work. They all smiled.

"Woogity-woogity?" Pope held his hand out.

Kiara and JJ followed suit, and together they wiggled their fingers in the weirdest type of handshake that Nova had ever seen. She'd seen them do this with John B. countless times when she was around. And there were times that Nova did feel left out and that she wasn't a part of his group... but never when they did woogity-woogity. Nova hated that.

Stepping off the banister, Nova smoothed out her skirt, "Yeah, no..." she shook her head. "I won't be doing that."

"What?" JJ turned away from his friends so that he could follow Nova. "Are you embarassed by us, princess?"

Watching them, Pope and Kiara's expressions changed. Walking behind them they watched as JJ stood beside Nova, walking with her, his arm draped lazily around her shoulders. They didn't know what was happening, but they knew that something there, what they were before, it was different now.

Even JJ and Nova knew that.

Laughing, Nova bumped his side with her elbow.

"I'm always embarrassed you." 

A small suburban street was the view. The road was lit up by streetlights. Houses guarded by picket fences and pet dogs. The porch lights are on and windows shining because of the television screens. These people lived comfortably. Not luxuriously. They'd never not be able to work. But they also didn't worry about the next meal that they'd have to put on the table. Their bills would be paid on time. But they'd always go for a good sale and bargain.

These people were what sat in the middle of what a Kook and a Pogue were. They belonged to neither. They did not play a part in the war on classes. These people did not live in stone mansions or abandoned trailers. They lived in houses with fresh siding and a fence that wrapped around their gardens that they'd spend all spring perfecting.

Nova would drive by this part of the island a lot. Envious of the people who lived here. It was privileged envy, she knew that. But she wanted that normalcy. Despite having everything and more. She lived in a house with more rooms than a motel. She owned clothes that she'd never get around to wearing. Nova didn't even remember the last time they'd gone grocery shopping for themselves. And yet, she would wish for a life like this. In a three-bedroom home. Not one with a walk-in closet. No cooks or cleaners would tend to their house. She and Nolan would probably have to share a car. And her dad would be home, every night. And Nova might even have to get a part time job at the local movie theater. It was a stupid dream of hers, but she still wished.

"Okay, if this guy flew planes for Ward, he's going to be pretty tight-lipped," said Nova as they sat in Kiara's parked car, across the road from a small, white-painted house. "Ward wouldn't hire just anyone to do this kind of work for him."

"So then direct approach gets my vote," JJ pulled the gun they spent all summer trying to get him to throw away out of his back pocket, cocking it.

"So, then, direct approach is my vote," sighed JJ, pulling his infamous gun from the back part of the waistband of his shorts.

"Are you serious, JJ?"

"No! What?"

Grabbing JJ's wrist, Nova pulled his arm down, so that he'd stop flashing the gun around to every peering neighbor on the block, "Jesus Chris, JJ!" she yelled at him, her teeth clenched. "Put the gun away, now!"

"Guys!" yelled JJ, not understanding why they were refusing the gun. "We have to keep this simple, or we'll never be able to clear John B's name!"

"Or..." Pope turned to look at JJ, sitting in the backseat of the car. "Maybe we tickle the wire."

"Tickle the what?" asked Nova.

"We tickle the wire," Pope explained. "I'll plant my phone in this guy's car, and then we listen in on your Air Pods."

They were an old pair that Nova had given to Pope. He still refused to call them his own, and insisted he was only borrowing them. But Nova would never take them back. He showed her the airpod, as if Nova didn't know what they were, and demonstrated by putting the small buds into his ears. He then fished his phone out of his pocket and put it in Kiara's face.

"Say something," he demanded.

"Something."

Apparently, that was enough as Pope nodded, "Okay, we have audio."

"It's literally just Bluetooth," JJ scoffed, whispering in the backseat, only loud enough so that Nova could hear his smart remarks. "He thinks he's come up with something legendary. It's just Bluetooth."

Nova paid no mind to JJ though, knowing he's only sour because they didn't let him use the gun. The gun that they'd spent all summer trying to encourage him to throw out.

"Why can't I just go and talk to this guy?" she asked, leaning up to look at Pope in the front seat. "I mean, I could bribe him. However much he wants. Really, money is no issue."

"You really just offer that stuff out like its candy, don't you?" asked JJ, turning to Nova. She shrugged, agreeing, though not seeing an issue.

If she had the money, why not use it?

"No, we can't bribe anyone," said Pope, quickly shutting Nova's idea down. "The money could be tracked back to you. And if it would be, there nothing else stopping Gavin from telling the police that you paid him to change his story."

She sighed, sitting back in her seat, "Dammit," she cursed. "You're right."

"Alright," sighed Pope, once it became clear that no one else was going to counter his idea. "Honk or yell – or something if you see anything suspicious."

"Don't do anything dangerous," said Kiara, eyes wide with worry.

Nova's eyes widened, her arms cross over her chest, she looked over at JJ, "This is so awkward."

Pope smiled, "Come on," he said. "I'm not JJ."

That seemed to help calm Kiara's nerves as she managed a laugh.

"Real funny, Pope," JJ rolled his eyes, but Pope didn't stick around to listen to his complaints as the door slammed shut. "I love sitting in the car, doing nothing," he sighed. "It's my favorite past time."

Kiara and Nova ignored JJ. Both, too concerned with the whereabouts of Pope. But once he fell behind the planted bush garden, they lost sight of him. They couldn't do much to help anymore. Only hope that Pope was able to pull this bullshit of a plan off. And that by some miracle they pull something off. Because all the time before were a complete disaster.

"So Kie..." JJ sighed, breaking the silence that had fallen over them in Pope's absence. "How's it been going with Pope?" He sat up so he could look around the driver's seat to see Kiara.

"It's good..." was all Kiara offered him.

And by the bored expression on her face, Nova could tell she really didn't want to be talking about this stuff with JJ.

"Oh! It's good? Alright," JJ nodded. "So, in the bedroom, is he like freaky? You know, cause it's Pope?"

"Please, just shut up, JJ," sighed Nova, her eyes going wide.

"I'm just curious," said JJ with a shrug. "Just spitballin' here."

Kiara glared at JJ through her rearview mirror, "You don't need to spitball," she told him harshly. "We could sit in silence."

"Yes," Nova quickly agreed. "JJ, why don't you like – take a nap or something..." she suggested looking over at him. "Literally anything besides what you're doing now."

JJ sighed.

"But like, ranking wise..."

"Oh my God, JJ," Nova groaned.

"I'm still curious..." he shrugged innocently.

Kiara nodded, "Of course you are..."

Nova sighed, sitting back in her seat. She'd given up. No matter how much she chastised him she knew that JJ wasn't going to stop. So, she decided to ignore him the best she could.

"Is John B. better?"

Kiara spun around, her eyes wide, Nova sat up, and though she'd made a deal with herself to ignore JJ's antics... she couldn't ignore that.

"John B. and Kiara kissed?"

Realizing what he'd just let slip JJ's eyes widened to match Kiaras and slowly he sat back into his seat, even going as far as to slouch into it and pull his hat down over his face. Trying to escape the now inevitable conversation they were about to have.

"Barely..." Kiara assured her with a loose shrug of her shoulders.

Nova didn't know why she was so shocked by the revelation. John B. and Kiara had been friends for a while now, why wouldn't they have kissed at least once? Nova had kissed a lot of her guy friends. And she knew that she couldn't be mad – and she wasn't. Nova was just shocked – surprised, because she never pictured John B. as Kiara's type. Granted, Nova didn't think Pope was her type either.

Maybe JJ's more her type.

And that thought alone made Nova's stomach twist, and then, she too sat back in her seat.

Suddenly the passenger side door opened again, and Pope reappeared, "Alright, phase one is complete."

It seemed as if he was expecting a round of applause at his accomplishment, and when he was met with silence he was surprised, and he looked around the car, waiting for someone to say something. But no one did.

"What did I miss?" 

The hours ticked by. They'd spent hours doing nothing – staking out in Kiara's car. Nova needed to stand up, to stretch her legs. Her bottom was becoming sore, and her stomach had started to growl quite loud in the small space she was trapped in. Even worse, Nova was in the beginning stages of having to pee. And she soon came to regret drinking the rest of the water in the bottle she packed with her bookbag.

Nova distracted herself by watching the sky. She'd watched it change colors. From a bright blue to a blanket of darkness, twinkling with millions – billions of little stars. They'd cracked the windows, allowing a small breeze to race through the car. The coolness made Nova shiver. And becoming tired, she allowed her head to fall carelessly on JJ's shoulder, as his own head had fallen against the cool surface of the glass window beside him.

They were bored. The conversations were little to none in the car. Only small, short-lasting words. About an hour ago they'd all started arguing over what station of the radio to listen to that Kiara, in a fit of rage, just turned it off. And so, Nova had started to play Doodle Jump on her phone until the twenty percent battery warning appeared.

And now, she did nothing. Nothing but wait.

Sitting in front of her, she felt Pope's weight shift in his seat. His back straightened and his gaze locked on something outside of his window. And then he turned.

"Nova, you want to tickle the wire?" he asked.

She sat up quickly, nodding her head in excitement, "Really?" she asked, not waiting for an answer before speaking again. "Yes!"

"What?" JJ pouted, bringing his own head up from laying against the window. "Why does she get to tickle the wire?"

"She's the newest recruit," Pope shrugged. "It's only fair."

JJ fell back into his seat with a long, disappointed sigh. He glared at Nova jealously. But she only smiled. Not being able to ignore the giddy feeling that had filled inside her at Pope's words. He'd called her the newest recruit, meaning, he finally viewed Nova as one of them. And it felt nice to finally belong.

"Should I like, change my voice or something?" Nova asked, looking up at Pope.

He nodded, "Yeah, okay."

"Okay, so I can speak a multitude of different languages – French, Italian, Spanish... Hungarian..."

"...No... Nova..." Pope shook his head, seeming confused. "We need this said in English."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes, "Well that's no fun!"

Quickly, Pope took the phone out of her hands, "Fine," he scolded her. "You lose the tickling privileges."

"What No! I wanted to tickle!"

But Pope ignored Nova's pouts and turned to Kiara, "Do you want to the tickling?"

"Oh my God, really?" JJ threw his arms out exasperated. "So, everyone gets a chance to tickle except for me?"

Nova placed a hand on JJ's should, pretending to console him, to which he dramatically played along by laying his hand on top of hers. Together, they shook their heads at Pope, both wearing disapproving and disappointed looks.

Pope only rolled his eyes at their antics before turning back to Kiara.

She held the phone, looking at Pope nervously, "Okay... what should I do?" She sucked in a deep breath, before turning to speak again, and this time, with an accent, "Should I talk like this?"

It was so bad Nova cringed back into her seat. She debated, even covering her ears. Kiara's atrocious attempt at an English accent was like nails running down a chalkboard. Uncomfortable.

"No, please, not like that...," said JJ.

"Yeah, not ever like that," Nova agreed.

"Batman?!" offered Pope excitedly.

He'd also cringed at the poor excuse of an English accent.

Kiara nodded before tucking in her chin and speaking a low, raspy tone, "Batman..."

"Yeah," Pope nodded. "That one."

"Spot on," JJ encouraged.

But Nova was still cringing, wondering how in the world the others thought that was any better than her accent before.

"So that's what we're going with?" she asked with slight judgement in her tone. "Okay..."

Kiara ignored Nova and pressed the button to call someone. Seconds later the phone began to ring loudly through the car. They'd each moved to the edge of their seats, waiting for the ring to finally cut off. Nova began to bite down on the inside of her lip, and on the sixth ring, she nearly bit right through, because Gavin's voice sounded over the ring.

"Hello?"

Still with her chin tucked inward, Kiara greeted him, "Hello..."

Nova rolled her eyes, "No," she said simply, "No more Batman voice."

It sounded like a prank call being made by some bored middle schooler wanting to look cool in front of their friends. This is not how they needed to sound when talking to Gavin.

And Kiara agreed as she nodded her head, "I'm not going to do it."

"Okay, well, just talk," said Pope, hurrying her back to the phone.

"Is Gavin there?" Kiara asked, back to her normal tone.

"This is Gavin. Who's this? Hello?"

There was a slight hesitation as Kiara thought carefully on her next words, "I know what happened on the tarmac!"

Gavin laughed, though a low nervous one, he was trying to play this off.

"Uhm, who is this?"

"Rafe Cameron is guilty... but you already know that, and you lied about everything," Kiara began to quickly accuse, anger clear in her tone.

She'd been angry all summer. Rightfully so. Even going as far as defacing the Camerons's' property and shouting at them over their stone walls.

"Okay, really, who is this?"

He was agitated now. Nervous. His voice was harsher and more demanding than before. Rushed too. Kiara was getting to him.

"And we're going to prove it," she promised.

"Alright!" He was mad now. "You're going to teel me who this is right now!"

"You could've saved her, Gavin... and you didn't..." Kiara's voice went low, she sounded sad, she wanted Gavin to regret his actions. She wanted him to feel guilty. "And you're not going to get away with this."

"Now, you listen to me!" He was yelling now. "Tell me who this is!"

Kiara hung up. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of finding out whom he was talking to. He didn't need to know that it was four relentless teenagers he was dealing with. They didn't need Gavin running off to tell Ward, who would know exactly who was calling him.

"Okay..." Kiara whispered, allowing herself a second to breath. Her breaths were shaky, nervous. "How was that?"

"I think he's scared." said Nova.

Kiara nodded, relieved.

"Okay..." said Pope. "We tickled the wire... phase one complete."

"Now what?" JJ asked, sitting up in his seat.

"Now we wait..." Pope told them, "and listen."

Nova was not happy about having to wait even longer. Her phone battery was dying and so was her patience. She was hungry, and now, had to pee terribly. But she sat – sat stagnant in the growing flood that would soon consume all of them. Or at least it felt like it would.

The cool glass of the window pressed against her forehead helped ease the annoyance rising inside her. She stayed like that for a few minutes longer, allowing the cool condensation to ease away her foul mood.

Until a soft golden glow hit her eye just right, and she sat up.

Her eyes widened, and she pointed out the window, "Uh – hey guys..." was the only words she could manage in her excited state. "It's Gavin! He's coming out of his house!"

The others turned to look at the house shielded by a white picket fence, but Pope hushed them all, "Stop... get down before he sees us. Hurry!"

Listening to Pope, they all slide down in their seats, so now they could only peak through the windows. Quietly, and with all their hearts racing, they waited and watched as Gavin's vehicle drove slowly past them, completely unsuspecting.

"He didn't see us, right?" Nova asked, and she slid back up into a sitting position. "I don't think he saw us."

"He didn't see anything," JJ readjusted his hat. "We were stealthy as fuck."

Nova laughed.

"Okay, hit it... Go!" Pope wasn't concerned if they'd been seen or not as he turned to Kiara and rushed her out of her parking spot. "Go. Go. We can't lose him."

A dinging rang through the car as Kiara drove down the empty streets. Hurriedly, Pope began tugging at the seatbelt that refused to give to him. He began fighting with it, threatening to break something in Kiara's car if it wouldn't cross over him.

"Pope, forget the stupid seatbelt!" said Nova, finally.

"It does too matter," Pope said through clenched teeth.

He pulled at the belt one last time and finally it crossed over his body and he clicked it into place.

Kiara made sure to stay far enough behind Gavin so that he wouldn't get a sense that he was being followed. Not that it mattered. Because Nova, having been watching Gavin from afar, didn't see him using his mirrors often. He probably hadn't even noticed that a car had pulled behind him. He was too busy talking... and hopefully not to himself.

"He's talking to Ward..." said Pope, as if he'd read Nova's mind.

Gavin began to speed up, putting quite the distance between himself and Kiara. Pope urged her to pull closer behind him, but Kiara knew she had to be careful. She couldn't just tail behind him the entire time. A little space was alright every now and again. At least he wouldn't be getting suspicious.

"Gavin wants to negotiate..." Pope relayed to them. "No... renegotiate."

They were all quiet. Kiara, keeping her eyes trained on the road. And Nova and JJ behind them, sitting patiently, not wanting to miss any information Pope gave to them.

"Gavin's got the gun that Rafe used to kill Peterkin!"

Nova and JJ shared surprised looks.

"He's got it," Pope said again.

"Holy shit!" Nova breathed.

Pope turned to her, "I think he's trying to use it as extortion," he told her and JJ. "As a kind of leverage or something."

"So, we were right, Ward's got him on payroll," said Nova, though she shouldn't have been so surprised, and she knew that. "Shit... of course, Ward's stuffing him with money."

"Shit," JJ cursed.

Nova agreed.

"I should've just bribed the guy myself," she whispered. "I have more money than Ward Cameron."

Pope shushed the two of them. But JJ agreed still. Telling Nova in a hushed tone that she should've just offered Gavin something that Ward never could've given him. Whatever he wanted.

And then Pope shushed them again.

"Wait... shit... what's he doing?" Kiara began to panic as Gavin turned on his turning signal. "He's pulling over. Why is he pulling over?"

"He's panicking," said Pope.

"Well, what do I do?" Kiara yelled at him, beginning to panic herself. "Pope! What do I do?" she urged. "Do I pull up behind him? What do I do?"

"Just go," he waved his hand. "Drive around the block."

With unsure eyes, Kiara continued driving, passing Gavin. Nova turned in her seat, watching the distance increase between the two cars, and when Kiara turned around the street, Nova turned back into her seat.

"I think we're going to lose him," said Nova, knowing that the airpods won't be able to keep signal from this far away.

"Yeah, I can't – I can't hear anything," said Pope, taking the headphones out of his ear then trying to put them back in, even though it'd do nothing. "I'm losing signal. I can't hear him."

Kiara was doing the best she could. Having only listened to what Pope told her to do. And now he was freaking out. But she couldn't zoom down the road. She couldn't play fast and the furious on roads that children run across.

And surely, Kiara, nor any of them, could've predicted the roadblock at the end of the street.

"Yo! What the hell is this?" JJ yelled, motioning toward the Road Closed sign in front of them. "Okay, just stop and turn around now.... pull in here and just back up."

Taking over, JJ was now the one directing Kiara on what to do. Which was no help in the midst of Pope's personal little breakdown from losing signal. All of them were yelling. JJ at Kiara, Kiara at Pope, Pope at all of them, and Nova at JJ for yelling at Kiara. It was chaos in that enclosed vehicle.

Chaos that could've been avoided had one of them made a quick google search about oncoming road work.

And finally, Kiara's car began to back away from the blockade in the middle of the road. But she slammed on her breaks, sending them all flailing forwards. An excavator had pulled behind her. Like right behind her. Making it impossible for them to go anywhere else.

"Oh, are you serious?" Kiara yelled out her window. "Who does this crap in the middle of the night?"

They heard Kiara. Nova knew they had to have heard her yelling at them. But they ignored her. Making no move to back away from her car. Instead, the person driving the big hunk of metal honked at them, as if they had anywhere to go.

"We were backing up!" JJ yelled at them.

Annoyed, JJ opened the door and stepped outside, still yelling at the men in the machines. Pope followed, but not to join the argument now brewing between the construction workers and JJ, instead, Pope took off.

Opening her own door, Nova took off after him, "What the hell?" she yelled. "Pope?"

Though granted, Nova wasn't running as fast as she normally would be. The large, leather boots weighed her down, and she could feel the blisters popping on the back of her ankle. And Pope was already speeding ahead, with a head start.

Running behind her, Nova could hear Kiara and JJ hollering after them. But Nova didn't stop, because if she did, even if for a second, she knew that she'd lose Pope, because he was too fast. Much faster than her.

Pope ran through peoples' yards without care. An act that Nova wouldn't have imagined Pope would normally perform. He scaled fences like a pro, and Nova had never done so in life. And so, when she attempted, the skirt she was wearing didn't help. In coming down off the fence, she wasn't surprised when the chain-link wire dug into the side of her thigh leaving a long scratch engraved in her skin.

Nova winced as she fell into yet another backyard. One with a pool. This time, with people present. Some she even recognized from her new school. She cringed, embarrassed that this would be their first impression of her. She even refused to acknowledge them when they called her name.

She finally managed to catch Pope. But only because in a moment of distraction he tripped over the leg of a children's swing set.

"Jesus Christ, Pope... you little track star..."

Nova panted heavily as she walked up behind him. Her arms gripping her aching sides. And her chest burned as if a flame had been set inside it. And she gasped, needing air, nearly asking if anyone had an inhaler, despite not having asthma.

"What the hell were you thinking, Pope?" Nova went to scold him.

But he didn't even look up. Instead, he dove into the grass, moving it around, crawling around it, whispering to himself. Nova began to fear that he'd lost it. Like, completely.

Pope didn't answer. In fact, he ignored her completely crawling over to the tall-grown hedge at the end of the yard and barely peeked over it. Following, Nova crouched down and looked over curiously. There sat Gavin's car. They were right beside him, and he'd never know.

Pope ended up crawling over to the overgrown hedge separating two yards. Nova followed him, falling to the ground and looking in the same direction. They were likely still being watched by their classmates whose yard they'd ran into.

Nova had a clear view of Gavin. His car was running again, and he backed away from them slowly before disappearing down the road. Pope stood up, he offered a hand to Nova, lifting her off the ground, she winced as she did. The cut burned the outside of her thigh. A thin stream of blood had begun to trail downward.

"What is it?" asked Nova, watching as Pope removed the one remaining pod from his ear. His eyes had grown wide. "Pope, what'd you hear?"

"He – Gavin is meeting Ward... like right now!" he told her, just as Kiara and JJ had caught up to them. "We have to go!"

And again, Pope fled from them.

Nova whined, "Oh please, Pope, not again." 

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nova's outfit inspo

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author's note://

and we're back with part two

prepare for butt loads of drama, betrayls, love & heartbreaks, because it's all here.

edited: 2/17/22