vii. champaign problems

The black, starry sky had since been replaced by the soft hue of the morning sun. The dewy air was replaced with humid air and the smell of salt that wafted off the crashing waves surrounding them. Nova sat on her balcony swing, watching as the sun overtook the night sky, and feeling the cool air become blistering.

Nova had been home for less than an hour. She was running on two hours of sleep, a cold shower, and iced coffee. Her entire body ached in sleep deprivation. But as she stood in the kitchen, she swallowed her pills and pushed the thought of her burning muscles to the back of her head.

Nolan met her there. His hair was tangled and loose, bouncing with every giddy step he took. He wore a pair of overly tight black pants and a tropical button-down shirt that he left half unbuttoned to show off the gold dangling around his neck. He grinned, nodding to greet his little sister.

"A rare sight to see," whistled Nolan, eyes wide in fake shock. "Nova Scott, awake before noon."

Rolling her eyes, Nova laughed monotonously, "Oh, how funny you are, big brother!"

"Seriously, you're up early," he noticed.

Nova shrugged, "I haven't really had the chance to sleep yet."

The expression on Nolan's face grew worried. She could tell that he wanted to ask how she was doing. To check up on her. But he refrained, deciding that he trusted Nova, and hoping that if something was wrong with her, she'd go to him about it.

"So..." he sighed, turning away to get a box of Lucky Charms cereal from their cupboard above the toaster, "How's the boyfriend?"

Nova could the heat in her cheeks rising to the surface, "He's fine."

She assumed that John B. was more than fine. He was flying high. He was going to be rich. He'd found the gold. John B. was doing great.

"When do I get to meet him?" Nolan asked, cereal spilling from his overstuffed mouth.

Nova cringed, shaking her head, "Never. That'll never happen."

"We'll have to see about that," her brother sighed, leaning his back against the counter, holding his bowl of cereal in the palm of his hand. "It'll happen. I'm gonna get to talk this John B. Routledge."

"Doubt it..." whispered Nova.

And Nova was on her way out of the house before anything more could be said.

She honestly didn't have any issue in introducing John B. to her brother. He wasn't judgemental, only protective. Besides, Nova has introduced Nolan to much worse, and he managed to keep his cool. He never did try to dictate who Nova chose to date. And even if he did, she wouldn't listen. That, they both knew.

They were irritating one another, Nova could tell. Their faces said it all. As she pulled to the end of the driveway, Sarah and John B. stood, waiting. Already arguing about something. Sarah's arms were crossed over her chest, her eyebrows set downward in a scowl. And John B. refused to even look at Sarah, though he kept rolling his eyes at her.

"Finally, you're here," Sarah was already on top of Nova by the time she opened her car door. "He is being a complete nuisance."

Scoffing, John B. rolled his eyes again, "Okay, well it isn't my fault that Ward suddenly wants to be Papa Bear."

Furrowing her eyebrows, Nova moved out of Sarah's hold on her, "Papa Bear? What?"

"Yeah, my dad wants to take John B. out on the yacht for some quality bonding time..." Sarah seemed annoyed. "I think it's ridiculous if you can't tell."

"Okay, but why?" asked Nova.

Ward was only supposed to be John B's guardian. Never did Nova think that he'd actually want to make him part of the family.

"Rafe is sort of off the walls at the moment," sighed Sarah, resting her hands on her hips. "Dad probably just wants to fill the void of disappointment by playing pretend family with John B."

Though it made sense, Nova still couldn't fully wrap her head around what was happening. Rafe, she expected to go awol. He was attention deprived and obviously so cast off as the second favorite child, sometimes not favorited at all. But Ward taking John B. under his wing would make things even worse with Rafe.

"We are not family!" John B. stated firmly.

Nova squeaking, her head tilting, "Well..." her tone became high-pitched. "Ward does have guardianship over you."

"Doesn't mean a thing," he shook his head.

Now Nova was just messing with him.

"Maybe not now, but give it a few months," she shrugged teasingly. "Ward will want to take you school shopping, maybe buy you a nice car, oh and he'll definitely enroll you at the Academy."

Sarah scoffed at the thought of John B. attending their school. And to be fair the sight was a funny one. Picturing John B. in the navy-colored slacks with the red and white tie. He'd never go for it, and the look of horror on John B's face proved it.

Nova rolled her eyes, jabbing her elbow into John B's good side, "Relax, I'm only kidding."

Taking either side of Nova's face between his hands, John B. gulped, "The thought of that actually terrified me."

"Tell me," said Nova, as John B. took her hand into his and began leading her to the passenger side of his van. "What are your plans for when you're actually rich?"

With him knowing where the gold is, it was only a matter of time before John B. became a Kook himself.

"I'm not sure," he opened the door so that Nova could slide into the passenger seat. He sighed as he leaned against the open door, arms crossing over his chest. "I'm not really one to plan things out."

"Trust me," snorted Sarah. "We can tell."

Looking back up at John B, Nova laughed. He smiled and shut the door, rounding the van to take the seat beside Nova, behind the wheel. The engine roared to life, the old vehicle shaking under them, and they were off.

Money and gold awaited them.  

The day became a scorcher. Beads of sweat dripped down the foreheads of those seated inside the inhumanly hot van. Nova, using the back of her hand was made to wipe the beads off her forehead before they managed to drip into her eyes. There was no breeze offered to her, Kiara, or Sarah as they crowded into the back of the van. It didn't matter that the doors were wide open, the sunset them ablaze.

Pope had just left them, handing them the newest plan he'd drawn up late last night for them. It was a plan on how they'd get the rest of the gold out of the well. Nova hoped that Pope considered how they'd escape the shotgun-wielding old bat that lived upstairs.

He returned to his spot beside John B, where he attempted to explain his newest invention, the pulley system. But John B. wasn't listening. How could he be when he stood there, staring at Nova the entire time that Pope ranted to him. She was smiling, barely looking up at him through her eyelashes, but he knew that he had her attention. He gave her a quick wink before turning his attention back to Pope and shoving his hands deep into his cargo pockets.

"The gold is here!" JJ's horrid attempt at a posh British accent pulled Nova away from John B, ending her trance.

She'd been so preoccupied that she hadn't even noticed him approaching the van.

Picking up the dropped bar of gold that JJ dropped onto the van floor, Nova turned it over in her hands, inspecting it, "You know, there's no way we're going to be able to pawn this," she told them. "Not with this big ass wheat symbol on it," Nova turned the gold so that Kiara and Sarah could see the marking. "It's marked, which means it's traceable."

"Oh gee, thank you for your genius input," JJ sounded condescending and Nova rolled her eyes at him, handing him back the gold bar. "I would have never thought of that."

"Don't worry Nova," Kiara sighed, picking up a large blow torch off the floor beside her. Nova looked bewildered; she hadn't even seen that thing sitting there. "I have this."

Scoffing, JJ shook his head, "That better work."

"It's going to work," Kiara assured him.

But Nova sided with JJ on this one. She didn't think it was going to work.

The three bars of stolen gold were dumped into a broken grill. Everyone stood, lingering around the open flame, curious, watching Kiara melting down the bars worth thousands of dollars. Nova watched the giddy faces of everyone around her, not having the heart to voice her concern about their melting method. So, she kept quiet.

She found that John B's gaze was glued to the hot flame of the blowtorch. He stood, leaning against an old tree, Nova in front of him. His arms lazily draped around her shoulders, holding her into his chest, his chin resting on her right shoulder, but his eyes far ahead.

The gold bars refused to melt at the speed that everyone wanted them to. Kiara was getting wary and her arm was dropping. But even when help was offered, she refused, seeing it as a sign of weakness to not be able to melt gold on her own. But the reality was, the flame being used wasn't hot enough to quickly melt three lumps of gold. Especially at the speed, they wanted.

When the gold was finally melted and cooled Kiara pulled the lump out of the old grill. Nova's eyes widened. It worked... a little.

"Oh. My. God..." whispered John B.

Nova nodded, her nose scrunched, "It's hideous."

But no one besides Nova seemed to care about the appearance of the golden lumps. All they could see were dollar signs. It was now something they could pawn. Now untraceable.

Minutes later they were all back into the hot van. The AC working but barely so. JJ directed John B. to a pawnshop that he swore would trade with minors.

It was an old thing, pawnshop. In a random shop on a deserted street. The bricks were overtaken by vines and surrounded by abandoned grocery stores and souvenir shops. Nova was surprised that they even stayed in business. Though, looking as shady as it did, Nova could probably guess why it was still in business.

"Jesus!" JJ shook his head angrily as he took the lump of gold out of his bag. "Really good job melting it down, Frankenstein!"

Kiara rolled her eyes at JJ's sarcastic jab, "Not like you could've done any better!"

"Actually, I would've," he argued. "I took a welding class."

Following JJ outside of the van doors, the group huddled in front of the pawnshop doors, awaiting further instruction or argument.

"Calm down, all of you," John B. said, appearing from around the front of the van.

"Easy for you to say," JJ scoffed, shoving the gold into John B's chest. "You're not the one that has to pawn this piece of shit off."

John B. rolled his eyes, calmly handing the gold back to JJ. It'd been decided on the drive here one what role each of them would play. Most of them had it easy, besides two, who'd been picked to stand at the front desk to attempt to pawn the lump of rock.

"How did Nova and I get stuck with that job, anyway?" asked JJ.

Nova was curious too. Because it'd just been assigned to her to assist JJ in seconds, no one giving her a reason why it had to be her there with him.

"Because, of us all, JJ, you're the best liar," said Pope, sighing with his arms across his chest. "And Nova probably knows the most about how gold is sold."

"Hm, quite the considerate assumption, Pope," Nova rolled her eyes, though he was right. She had picked up some knowledge on selling and trading when listening in to her dad's business calls.

Eyes widening, Pope shrugged, "Am I wrong?"

Biting her lip, Nova shook her head, "No," she sighed. "No, you're a hundred percent right."

"Thank you."

The bell placed at the top of the door sounded throughout the empty room and JJ and Nova led the way into the dusty establishment. Hunting trophies adorned the wooden walls. Outdated clothes and room, décor sat untouched on the unclean shelves. The glass sat vacant, though thousands of little fingerprints littered the surface.

Nova never had a problem with allergies, but all the dust swarming around her made it difficult to keep from sneezing.

Sauntering up to the front of the room, a confident smirk on his face, JJ cleared his throat, "Evening, ma'am!"

Rolling her eyes, Nova moved to stand beside him at the front desk.

Glancing up from her large, round glasses, the old woman behind the counter sighed, "Good afternoon."

Her tone not only suggested slight annoyance but suspicion.

"I see you buy gold," he said proudly.

"That's what the sign says, doesn't it," said the old lady, now highly annoyed.

"Well," JJ laughed. "I hope you buy a lot of it because I'm about to blow your mind."

Sighing, Nova regretted not opting to do the talking.

"I ain't have much mind left to blow... so have at it," she told him.

JJ shrugged his old bag off his shoulders and placed it onto the glass desk in front of them. Opening it he pulled out the lump of melted gold and placed it onto the glass before them and the old woman.

"How about them golden apples," he smiled, nodding toward the glob of gold.

Laughing the store keep shook her head. Barely even glancing at the piece sat before her, she shrugged the two teens before her off.

"That ain't real," she said.

"Oh, it's real," Nova assured her.

"It can't be..."

"Feel how heavy it is," JJ told her.

Curious, the old lady decided to play along. She picked up the lump off the glass case and moved it from hand to hand, testing the weight. Her eyes widened slightly as the weight fell into her hands.

"Maybe you should try the light," suggested Nova, her confidence building.

Still, in disbelief, the old lady barely spared a glance in Nova's direction before taking her advice, grabbing a hand-held light, she held it over the clump of gold in her hands. She moved the rock, studying each side and corner. Trying to find a tell.

"Spray-painted tungsten," the old woman

"Spray-painted tungesten? Really?" JJ crossed his arms, offended. "Why don't you see how soft it is, then?"

Sighing, the woman took a hammer from the back shelf. She patted the clump before her a few times, before really deciding to go in on it, wanting it to crack beneath the weight. But to her disbelief, it never did.

"Well," hummed Nova, eyebrows raised. "Would you look at that..."

She and JJ turned, sharing confident smirks, both sets of eyes sparkling in amusement.

"You two just hold your horses," the old woman quickly interjected, noticing their growing confidence. "We ain't done the acid test yet."

"Oh, of course, Nova, how could we forget about the acid test?" gasped JJ, feigning shock, once again turning to look at Nova.

"I love the acid test, JJ," she attempted to match his energy.

Laughing JJ turned his attention back to the front. Both of them once again watched as the lady behind the desk tried her darndest to discredit this piece of gold. With a small dropper, the woman allowed a few pieces of liquid acid to fall onto the golden clump on her glass table. Watching, she waited, hoping for something to melt before her. But the drops of acid only rest on top of the gold, doing nothing.

"Well, it ain't plated and it ain't painted," the old woman finally admitted.

Though she still seemed hesitant to believe that what she was looking at was real, genuine gold.

"Ma'am, I urge you to trust me," Nova did her best to sound professional, mocking the tone her dad used when on official calls. "As a member of the Scott family dynasty, I know genuine gold when I see it."

"The gold is as real as the day is long," JJ decided to unhelpfully add.

"It looks like someone tried to melt it down," the wrinkly woman's tone quickly turned to one of suspicion.

Nova gulped nervously, her eyes quickly darting to JJ, silently pleading with him to say something. But he was just as shocked as her. Had they been caught?

"That's my fault," quickly deciding to take the blame, Nova faked a laugh, trying to appear relatable. "I just have all this jewelry lying around the house and I decided to try and consolidate it..." she slowed, trying to read the expression of the old woman. "I've heard my dad talking about it before. Guess I didn't do a very good job."

The old woman hummed, shaking her head. Nova's lie hadn't been good enough.

"Seven pounds?" she asked.

Nova shrugged, "I have a lot of earrings."

The woman wasn't buying a word of Nova's made-up story. She needed JJ's help. Looking over, she once again pled with him to say something.

Sighing, JJ shook his head, his expression turning solemn, "Look, Nova, it's okay, you don't have to lie for me anymore."

Nova's eyebrows furrowed. What was he doing?

"Look ma'am this isn't easy for me to talk about. And my friend here, she knows how hard it's been and was just trying to help me out," he faked a saddened face well enough for Nova to believe it. "It's just my mom is basically falling apart from Alzheimer's."

The room went silent. Even their friends who roamed the isles stopped to see of the skeptic woman was going to buy into the fake sob story JJ just gave her.

She sighed, and it seemed that he'd won her over, "Just give me a minute..."

Watching silently, Nova and JJ remained still until the old woman hobbled out from around the corner and made her way into a room at the back of the building, making sure she shut the door behind her.

Once alone, Nova turned, rearing her arm back and punching JJ in the shoulder. Shocked, he turned to her, one hand holding the now sore spot on his arm.

"What the hell was that for?" he cursed quietly.

"Alzheimer's is a serious condition, JJ," she scolded him.

"I know that," he defended his lie. "But you weren't getting us anywhere with your dummy heiress act," JJ wasn't wrong. "I mean, really? Melting down seven pounds of earrings?"

"It was the first thing that came to mind!"

"And it was terrible!

Nova scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Just admit it, I saved your ass!" said JJ.

"Fine, you're a good liar, JJ," Nova groaned, annoyed. Even more so when she noticed his smile, "Did you really just want to hear me say that?"

"Thank you," JJ winked.

The door opened again. Cutting both, Nova and JJ off from their useless arguing. The old woman hobbled back into sight and behind the counter, taking out a scrap piece of paper she scribbled something down with a pen she'd pulled from her back pocket.

"I talked to my boss," she clicked the pen shut. "That's the best we can do."

Sliding the small piece of paper across the table, Nova reached for it first, turning it over, and nearly laughing at the scribbled markings.

"Fifty thousand?" she scoffed. "Do you really think that I walked in here not knowing the spot price?" Nova slid the piece of paper back across the glass counter. "This is worth 140... at least."

Laughing the old woman shook her head, "Well, sweetie, you aren't in no jewelry store. This is a pawn shop."

Nova gritted her teeth. She didn't like the condescending tone the old woman used when speaking to her. Talking down like she was stupid.

"Ninety, or we walk," she threatened.

"Seventy," the old woman fought back. "Half the price and I won't ask questions about where you really got this."

Nova gripped onto the countertop, leaning over it, ready to fight this old lady for the money they deserved. For the money, she was knowingly keeping from them. But JJ reached an arm around her, pulling her back onto the carpeted ground behind the counter. Making sure to keep a hesitant hand on her back.

"I'll need the seventy in large denominations, please," he said, settling.

"Here's the snag," the old woman sighed. "I don't have that much denominated. Not here anyway. I can write you a cashier's check."

"No way. You're already shorting us out. We want cash, that's what the sign promised," said Nova, still ready to go after the woman behind the desk.

Gripping her shirt, JJ pulled Nova back and away from the desk by a few inches.

"Then I'm going to have to send you to the warehouse," she told them with a shrug. "I have the money there. Is that alright?"

JJ shook his head, unhappy by this deal. They were already being shorted and cheated, no way they were going to give up anything else. Not even gas to get them to some warehouse. He turned, looking to Nova, now needing her help. What were they going to do?

Giving in, Nova sighed, "And where can we find this warehouse?" 

They were out of the old pawn shop in seconds. After retrieving a written address from the scowling woman behind the glass shelf, the old van shook back to life and began trudging down the road, carrying the group of Scooby misfits on yet another adventure.

Nova, this time, stole the passenger seat. Sitting beside John B, fingers entangled through his, listening to the banter in the back seats, and looking out at the passing blur of lonely fields, only stealing glances every other second at the boy beside her.

"They really keep the money all the way out here?" asked Pope, skepticism present in his tone.

Nova shared the same skeptic thoughts, but hers remained unvoiced.

"That's what she said," said JJ, and Nova could already envision the lowering of his eyebrows and the growing smirk on his lips as he sucked in a deep breath. "That's what she said..."

"Stop. No. Stop that, right now," Pope was quick to shut down all the pervy jokes racing through JJ's head.

"Honestly," sighed Sarah, latching back onto Pope's earlier skepticism. "I've never even heard of Resurrection Drive."

"That's because you're rich," JJ stated, matter-of-factly.

Looking back from her front seat, Nova laughed as Sarah flicked her middle finger at JJ, unamused by his poking.

"Oh please," scoffed Kiara, siding with Sarah. "JJ, you've never heard of it either."

"See? Thank you!" said Sarah.

Eyes widening, Nova looked to John B. who was already staring back at her with the same expression. Both were pleasantly surprised that Kiara chose to take up for Sarah.

"There is literally nothing but overgrown fields out here," sighed Nova, her eyes back on the open window, waiting to pass the building that the woman promised would be there.

"Look, just because it's a little deserted, doesn't mean ─"

JJ's optimistic words were slowly drowned out by the wailing siren growing behind them. Nervously, the head of the six teenage misfits turned to the unmarked police vehicle tailing them.

"Cops? Out here?" Kiara asked, eyebrows pulling together.

"God! You have got to be kidding me!" JJ seemed angrier than he was confused or nervous.

Turning back from the police car to Nova, Sarah shrugged, "What did we even do?"

Pulling over onto the dirt road, John B. sighed as his van slowed to a squeaking stop. Looking around Nova's stomach twisted into knots. They weren't anywhere near home. There was nothing around, only open fields and the blue sky.

The backseat was in much more of a frenzy. Rushing to hide anything that could implicate them. Which was a lot. Weed or JJ's beloved handgun.

"I really hate cops," grumbled JJ throwing his belongings under a pile of what seemed to be dirty clothes.

"I can't believe you really brought the gun!" John B. scolded his best friend from the driver's seat.

"What're you talking about?" JJ played stupid. "I didn't see any gun."

But Nova watched as JJ quickly wrapped the gun into an old hand towel before shoving it beneath the bench that he sat on. Turning back around, Nova ran a hand through her wind-knotted hair, wondering what she was going to say when she had to call her dad from a jail cell.

Nervous arguing ensued. Mostly targeting JJ and his antics. All except John B. who sat, watching out of his rearview mirror as the man in the unmarked car stepped out and began making his way toward the driver side window of the van.

The knuckles of the undressed cop pressed against the glass of the window. Shutting his friends up, John B. rolled down his window without much attention to who stood on the other side. Until he turned back around, expecting to meet a cop, instead, met the barrel of a very large gun.

"Alright! I want all hands up now," the cop wasted no time in giving orders to the obviously scared teenagers inside the vehicle.

Confused and afraid they hesitated. They'd been expecting a routine traffic stop. Maybe a warning to slow the driving down, or to tell them that a brake light or something was out. They weren't expecting to be ordered around while a gun was pointed at them.

Nova was sure they weren't dealing with a normal cop, or a cop at all, as most of them that she knew from the island didn't wear skull masks to hide their face.

"Put your hands up now!" He yelled, ordering them again.

Quickly, and this time with no hesitation, their hands went up, and their eyes widened in a fear-stricken realization. But they were careful. Careful to not make the person behind the mask not put any pressure on the trigger that his finger hovered over.

"You," he used the head of the gun to point at John B, "You, I want you to go ahead and step out of the vehicle," his voice shook as if there were some nerves behind his threats. "Right now, let's go!"

So not to put anyone else in danger or at the head of the gun, John B. obeyed, slowly opening his door and stepping out obediently. Leaning back in her chair, Nova's eyes tightly closed as she listened to John B. and the fake officer round the van, him ordering John B. to let everyone else out of the car, slowly.

Nova was first. John B's expression was sullen, scared, and regretful. She knew he didn't want to have to do this. He got out of the car to deal with this, he didn't want to have to be the one to lead the rest of them out, and into a situation where they had no idea what was going to happen.

"I'm sorry," he mouthed over and over as he reached over to unbuckle Nova's seatbelt.

Though she was shaking, Nova shook her head, "It's fine. I'm fine. John B, it's okay, we get it."

She took his shaking hand into hers once her feet hit the dirt ground below her. She made sure to keep her whispers low and soft, though it wasn't enough.

Whirling around, they were once again targeted by the barrel of the gun. Nova's breath hitched and her eyes widened. John B. stepped in front of her, only tightening his grip on her hand, readying himself for whatever was to come.

"I didn't say you could start talking, did I?"

John B. shook his head and brought the rest of his friends outside of the van in silence. All their hands still raised in surrender. All except JJ, who moved to take a protective stance in front of everyone else, even shoving off Nova and John B. as they reached to pull him back. His entire body shook, a mixture of anger and fear building up inside him. The gun touched his forehead, he didn't back down though, not even when the man behind the trigger began screaming, telling JJ he wouldn't hesitate to shoot.

"That's it!" he yelled, dropping the head of the gun to the dirty ground. "Lay in the ditch! Put your face to the ground! I will shoot!"

Hands still over her head, Nova fell to her knees, rocks scraping the bare skin as she moved slowly to lay on her stomach with the others. Her cheek pressed to the ground, the brown dirt spreading and blowing outward with every jagged breath she took.

"He isn't ─ dammit, he isn't a fucking cop!"

The masked man had gone far enough to where Nova knew she wouldn't be heard. And she had to talk ─ she had to say something. She had to keep the tears back. She had to push the fear away. And so, like JJ, she had to get angry, and angry Nova talked.

"This was a fucking setup," Kiara said, sounding just as angry and afraid as Nova felt.

"Dammit!" JJ's fists hit the ground, sending up a cloud of dirt circling around him. His teeth clenched and his hair fell into his sweaty face. "That old bat shanked us!"

They were all right. Watching the man climb into the back of the van, Nova knew. He definitely wasn't a cop. The old woman at the pawnshop lied to them. And this was absolutely a setup. There were never supposed to find a warehouse. They just needed to be secluded so that whoever tailed them could find an opportunity to take the gold.

Nova heard his weight shift onto his feet. Old white converses scraping against the rock-covered ground. Her head turned.

"No ─ no, John B, stop it," she pleaded as she watched him pull himself up onto his feet, crouching to remain hidden by the ditch. "Please, don't do this. John B, please."

Bending to meet her, John B. kissed her forehead softly, "I'll be quick."

Nova went to grab him, but her boyfriend was already on the move. Her eyes darted back toward the van. Luckily, the man that held them hostage had busied himself in rummaging through every nook and cranny he could find. Hoping the find sight of the gold.

"Yo, John B," Nova heard Pope whisper as John B. moved on down the line of his face-down friends. "C'mon, don't ─ don't be a hero."

Of course, he didn't listen. Nova had learned in her short time of knowing him that it wasn't in John B's nature to follow orders. Even if they were desperate pleas from his friends as they attempted to keep him from getting killed by a nameless gunman.

With glassy eyes she watched him. Stopping at the parked car further behind the van. The driver-side door had been left open. Sliding inside, Nova watched John B. fumble his way into the backseat.

Along with watching John B, Nova made sure she kept a close eye on the masked man as well, making sure his attention stayed inside the van. She had no idea what she'd do if he came back to them and John B. had gone missing. Or if he noticed John B. moving around his car. Kill him, probably.

The thought alone made Nova's mouth go dry and her chest ache. Her heart pounded. And tears threatened to spill onto her cheeks, but she remained stoic, holding the shaking hand of her best friend who quietly cried beside her.

Her breathing stopped completely when the man in the skeleton mask moved out of the van. His gun raised once again, roaming over all of them, lying before him in the ditch. Nova waited, wondering when it'd hit him, but he never noticed. John B's absence had gone unnoticed as the unknown man turned away from them and started back to his car.

He'd obviously found what he'd been looking for. As his mind was knowingly elsewhere when he didn't take notice of a missing captive.

It was almost laughable. Almost. Nova might have started laughing if the gunman wasn't heading straight toward the car that John B. had hidden in only minutes prior.

Her body cringed when she heard his car door shut. What was John B. planning? Was he going to ride home with this guy? But before the car could even be started John B. once again appeared in the backseat, lunging for the driver.

The scuffle could be heard from the rolled-down windows. Slowly, everyone rose to their knees in the ditch, too stunned to even think about moving. Everyone except for JJ, who wasted no time in pulling himself back onto his own feet and racing toward the car to help his best friend.

Two bodies fell out of the car. Both reached for the gun that had been pointed at Nova's head three times in less than an hour. Reaching out, John B. pulled the gun toward himself, and JJ slid back into the car, retrieving his wrapped gold, only to return with a punch.

It made him fall back into his car. His head was thrown backward, hitting the metal plating. Crowding around, the six of them hovered over the skeleton-man, daring him to move, as he was now without the weapon, and out-numbered.

Reaching down, JJ pulled the mask off the faceless man, "I know this piece of shit," he scoffed, tossing the old fabric aside. The person sitting before them couldn't be much older than they are, "He's a basehead."

Nova's eyebrows rose, she turned to Sarah, "He probably knows Rafe," she said, before realizing that she did say that to his sister. "No offense."

"You're probably right," Sarah shrugged.

"Yeah, he sells coke to my dad," JJ rolled his eyes, seeming unaffected as he just spilled that piece of information to all of them.

The anger was slow-building though. Because after a few seconds of digesting that piece of information himself, JJ pulled the gun out of John B's loosened grip and pointed it at the man sitting before them.

Raising his hands to shield his face he began to panic, "Look, I couldn't hurt a single one of ya'll. I just ─"

But his pleading was cut off when the butt of the gun connected with his face.

It was almost as if Nova could feel his anger. It was stuffy and a little frightening. It radiated off him and surrounded them like a shield. A red one, Nova imagined. Red for his fury. Red for the blood that now poured out of the sorry sod's nose.

Daring to reach out, Nova's finger's barely brushed JJ's wrist when he pulled away, only to bend down and fish a wallet from the guy's pockets. Standing up, he turned them.

"We have one more stop to make," he said. "Let's go see where this son of a bitch lives."

It seemed that no one had it in them to stop this outrageous idea. Following JJ, everyone piled back into the van, almost as if nothing happened. But still standing, watching over the boy passed out against his own car, Nova looked up at John B, and by his expression, she could see that he didn't like this idea of JJ's. But for his best friend, he would do it.

So, taking his hand, Nova moved to lead him back to everyone else.

"We should go," she whispered.

"Yeah," John B. nodded. "Let's go."

The car ride was eerily silent. No one dared to speak. Not even as JJ offered up a first-aid kit to Nova, who'd he noticed had been bleeding from her scratched knees.

As she spread a band-aid across the bruised skin, Nova urged herself to feel it. To feel what everyone else seemed to be feeling. The fear. Even JJ's anger. But she couldn't. For the first time in a long time, it was quiet. She didn't feel overwhelmed by the swarming thoughts in her head. The chaos had temporarily ceased. And Nova feared it was because of the gun being pointed at her. Real-life was starting to match the chaos inside her head.

"Wow..." Sarah's voice sounded in a whisper.

They pulled up on a lonely trailer. A trailer that they learned belonged to Barry, from the stolen license. The weeds grew higher than the old deck built on the front door of the mobile home. Scrap pieces of metal and glass littered the front lawn. The siding was falling off the home. And windows were missing.

But Nova wouldn't let herself comment. Not even on the mold caking the doorway.

"Welcome to crackhead wasteland," Sarah scoffed, having no issue voicing her own opinion of the place.

"Look, I don't know about this, man," said Pope, sitting in the back beside JJ, his tone full of concern.

"I agree," said John B. finally turning around to look at JJ. "Dude, why are we at Barry's?"

Rolling his eyes, JJ opened the back doors of the van, "This'll only take a second."

Not thinking he should be alone, Nova pushed John B. urging him to follow. Thankfully, it took no convincing as John B. jumped out of his van and ran to catch up with JJ, following him inside the sketchy, run-down home.

Needing the space and air, the four remaining also stepped out of the van. None of them moving to go inside the trailer though. Instead, they roamed the yard, careful with their steps, as old glass bottles piled at their feet.

"So," Nova breathed in an almost-like chuckle. "Was this anyone else's first time at gunpoint?"

Three heads turned to her with curious and almost worried eyes. Quickly, the smirk on Nova's lips disappeared and she shook her head, catching on.

"Not the right time," she noted. "Got it."

Apparently, it was too soon to start joking about their now shared trauma.

Sighing, Nova lifted her head to the sky. The blue slowly began to fade into an orange as the sun lowered. Birds flew above them, chirping, unaware of the horrors below. Nova wished she could fly too. Sometimes. Just to reimagine the world from another point of view. Hoping that something might change.

Her gaze fell when the slamming of a screen door sounded. Footsteps followed soon after. Running down the porch steps JJ and John B. reappeared.

"Alrighty," JJ laughed, his mood seeming to have dramatically improved. "So, we're looking at about five grand each," he said, approaching them. "Reparations for putting us through that bullshit."

Shaking her head, Kiara scoffed, clearly disgusted by the wad of cash in JJ's hand, "So that's what we're doing now?" she asked. "Stealing from drug dealers?"

"Yeah, what if this Barry guy finds out?" Sarah asked, from her spot leaning against the van. "I mean he could come after us. He could even report us."

Nova nearly snorted. Instead, she opted for chewing on her thumbnail.

"Look..." sighed Nova, shrugging. "I'm not saying that I condone this ─ because I do not. But..." she sighed. "I mean, c'mon, what's he going to do? Go to the cops to report his drug money stolen?"

"See? See guys?" With a saddened, strained laugh, JJ pointed a finger toward Nova. "She gets it. I knew you'd get it, Nova."

Pitifully, Nova gave him a smile. She was not on his side. But right now, she didn't have the heart to tell him that.

"JJ! Seriously!" Pope approached, taking the shoulders of his friend and attempting to shake some sense into him. "Now is not the time to go wildin' out."

Nodding, JJ stepped back, his gaze roaming over everyone, "So, how'd you all like having a gun pulled on you?"

Easy. Nova hated it.

Urging JJ to calm down, John B. stepped up to meet him. But instead of listening to his pleas, JJ made a fake gun with his fingers and pointed it to John B's head. Mirroring what had happened just an hour earlier. The sight of his best friend with a gun to him, it obviously messed with JJ. It'd mess with anyone.

"Look, JJ, we've got to go get the gold, okay?" he tried changing the conversation to the money they've been after from the beginning. He reached for the money in JJ's hand, moving slowly... carefully, "I'm going to put this money back."

When John B's hand latched onto the wad of cash, JJ pushed him back. Something having snapped inside him. He lunged forward, grabbing the collar of John B's shirt and slamming his back against the metal interior of the van.

"What? So, you feel like a tough guy, huh?" John B. yelled at him, shoving JJ off him. "What're you going to do when Barry comes for us?"

Laughing, JJ shrugged, "Punch him in the throat."

He wasn't thinking straight.

"Yeah," scoffed John B. "Real fucking good idea."

Stopping, and stepping back, JJ shook his head, "No," he said. "I'm not putting it back."

Pain. There was so much of it. Hiding behind the fury in his eyes, Nova could see it. JJ becoming overwhelmed. The emotions building inside him, and he didn't know how to deal. He was desperate. Desperate for control since he could not control himself. Nova's felt that before. Not being able to control her thoughts, she felt the need to control everything else around her.

Running a hand through his hair, JJ pushed his way back into the van. No one followed. It was gut-wrenching to witness. Nova had no idea what to do. She didn't know what she could do. If she could do anything.

And noticing their moves not taken, JJ stepped back out of the van, laughing again.

"We're sick of your shit, JJ!" John B. told him.

He shouldn't have said that. JJ needs reassurance. Not to be kicked when he's already down.

"Oh?" he furrowed his eyebrows. "My shit?"

"Yes! You're pulling guns on people, shit!" Kiara yelled at him.

"You're acting like a maniac, JJ," Pope agreed.

It wasn't being a maniac. It was being manic.

"Pope, I took the fall for you, man," JJ said, hurt that Pope had taken a stance against him. "Do you know how much money I owe because of you?"

"I told you that I would pay you back," said Pope. "And besides, I never told you to take the fall for me."

"We just did pay it back," JJ waved the wad of cash before him, holding it like some relic. "Right here, right now, and all by myself."

His gaze fell over all of them, looking, hoping for support. But no one moved. It was an enclosed feeling. Feeling like everyone was turning on you.

Scoffing, he shook his head, "You know what?" he looked back up at his friends. "That's exactly what I'm going to do..." JJ said. "I'm going off by myself."

Refusing to hear how crazy and irrational he was being, JJ moved to take his bag back out of the van, and moved away, turning his back to walk away.

Quickly, Pope reached out, but JJ pushed his hand away.

"Just wait, man," he pleaded.

"Let him go, Pope," Kiara shook her head.

Nova grew confused. Eyebrows furrowing as no more moved were made to go after JJ. They were really just going to let him go. Like this.

"Are you ─ oh my god, are you really letting him go?" she asked them.

She'd been quiet. Nova knew this was not a time for her to voice her opinion. She'd been here only a few days compared to their years. She didn't know how this friend group operated, but she was still confused by them just letting JJ go.

JJ needed someone to agree with him. To tell him that he was doing alright. Nova understood that, she'd needed that once too.

"He shouldn't be alone...," said Nova. "I mean, this isn't, I don't think this is what you think. This is a cry for help."

"It'll be fine, JJ does this, from time to time," John B. shook his head, moving to wrap a protective arm around Nova's shoulders. "He always comes back home."

"It's just..." Nova bit the inside of her scabbed lips. "Everyone deserves someone to go after them." 

The shade began to lower. The blue in the sky darkened. The moon rose higher than the setting sun. And quiet settled over the small island. At least, on Nova's end. Sitting in the passenger side of the van, besides John B. who laced his fingers through hers, sat driving the low hum of the engine the only noise around them.

Nova's head turned absentmindedly. Her forehead resting against the cool glass-paned window. She watched the trees pass them by in a blur. Slowly, the ever-present thoughts began to come back, even when she tried pushing them away.

Her body came slowly forward as the breaks squeaked to life. The van had stopped. Nova barely noticed. She turned, not expecting the location she was parked in. Laughing, she took in the old, nearly dilapidated church sitting before her.

She turned to John B, "You brought me to a church?"

"Yeah, but don't worry," he told her, opening his door, allowing a fresh gust of wind to blow through the old, hot van. Quickly, he rounded the front and pulled Nova's door open, even though she was perfectly capable of doing it herself. "We're not here to confess our sins or anything like that."

"Good," Nova nodded, accepting the hand he held out for her so that she could step onto the gravel ground. "Because we'd be here all day, I think."

Scoffing, John B. nodded in agreement.

Nova let John B. lead the way into the old, sacred building. The doors stood open. The chain that had once been keeping them closed, dangling loosely, opened. Going inside, they were met with a cloud of dust, both of them coughing, waving a hand to clear the air in front of their faces.

Through her watering eyes, Nova could see the saddening sight of the church still. Only a few pews remained. Pushed out of the usual rows they'd sit in. Used for only God knows what at this point. All Nova knew is that she probably wouldn't trust one enough to sit on it. Either it'd break under her weight, or she'd end up at the doctor with an infection of some kind.

Stained glass windows sat shattered. Bottles of every kind littered the floor. Cans, glass, plastic. Old construction equipment left, now rusted by the weather and damp air. Apparently, renovators had changed their mind about the place, as boards still lined the walls, ready to replace the old, rotting wood walls that still held up the place.

But it was still beautiful. In some spots. If you stand in the right place and look at the right spot, you might be able to catch the setting rays of the sun leaking through the colored glass windows, ones that haven't been shattered. You might be able to catch the golden hue that surrounds the church at sunset. You might be able to see the beauty that once was. Or the beauty that could've been.

"It's pretty cool, huh?" asked John B, noticing Nova's eyes widen in awe as she watched the stained-glass shine to life under the heat of the setting sun.

Turning back to John B, Nova smiled, "It's beautiful."

And it was beautiful. Despite all the destruction. There was still beauty to find.

"My dad ─ he used to come here as a kid," John B. came up behind Nova, arms wrapping around her waist as he brought his chin down to rest on the top of her head. "He said it was a relic of the old island. You know, before all the condos and rentals."

Pushing on her back, he led Nova to the front of the church, his hands slowly moving to rest on her hips as he stayed behind her. So close she could feel the rise and fall of his chest with each breath that he took.

"That's the bell tower," he stopped her, pointing to a door in the ceiling, over the podium. "Back in the day, they would ring the bells when boats would come in."

Turning around, now chest to chest with him, Nova grinned excitedly, "I want to see it."

"I'll go up first," he told her, moving past her to get the questionable-looking ladder. "Need to sort everything out. Like rats and whatnot."

Nova nodded, only hoping that John B. was joking about the rats. Suddenly she was looking around her feet, making sure she hadn't missed any running across her toes because of John B's distracting touch.

She watched him climb up the old ladder. He climbed slowly, careful with each step he took up. Opening the wooden door hidden in the roof, John B. pulled himself up the rest of the way, disappearing out of Nova's sight. Though she could still hear his feet shuffling over top of her. Stuff could be heard being moved around, things dropped, and Nova even heard something roll across the floor. She about climbed up to check on John B, but just before she could, his head appeared from the ceiling.

Reaching a hand out for her, he smiled, "Just watch your head, okay?"

Just like he had, Nova was careful when climbing the ladder. Especially since some of the railings was missing on it. Once she was a few steps over the floor, she reached out, taking John B's patient hand, and allowed him to pull her the rest of the way up.

Shit bit into her lip as she pulled herself off ground, using her hands to dust the dirt of her shorts. Turning, she took in the remnants of the high-placed room. It was bigger than she imagined it'd be, roomier. It wasn't just a room, this place, it scaled out over almost the entire church.

It was shadowed. Lacking light. Except for the one window at the front. One window that withstood the age and hoodlum teenagers. One that hadn't been shattered. Old trinkets decorated the dusty shelves. Furniture was pushed against the back wall. Old carpenter drapes fell over the wooden floors.

Taking her hand, John B. pulled Nova back to where he stood, pointing to a post beside him, he smiled, "Look at this."

Stepping closer, Nova used her thumb to run over the deep carvings on the old, wooden post. Carved into it had been a name ─ his name, and the year it was carved in there, which had now been a couple of passing.

"This is you?" Nova turned.

John B. nodded, "Me and my dad carved it."

"There's a fence in my backyard," Nova told him, though of course John B. already knew that. "My dad built it, Nolan, me, and my mom, we all painted it. But after, each one of us got to carve our initials into it." She couldn't help but smile at the memory. To take a second to remember her mom that day. Floral dress blowing in the wind. Her dad is about to have a panic attack when it is what the kids' turn with the pocket knife. "My dad, now, refuses to touch it. Won't even repaint it."

"That's why the paint is chipping," John B. noticed.

Nova nodded, "He doesn't want to lose the memory of that day."

"I get that," said John B, reaching over the bring his thumb over the carved name in the old wood.

"Do you come up here a lot?" asked Nova, no longer wanting to dwell on their past.

"I used to," he told her. "Haven't been in a while."

She nodded, carefully letting herself fall onto the ground, tired of standing. She pulled her knees up to her chest, turning her head to look out the small window on the wall. From here she could see the ocean, and the sun slowly disappearing behind it. Looking up, she caught John B. already staring down at her with his gentle gaze.

Smiling, she raised her eyebrows at him, "So, why do I get the feeling that I'm not the first girl you've brought up here?"

"What?" asked John B, laughing. "Do you think that I just bring all of my random, secret hookups up here to my hideout?"

With a playful grin, Nova shrugged, "Well, I don't know what you do with all of your random hookups."

"This is the first time. I promise."

He bent onto his knees, sitting before Nova, hands reaching out to cup her pinkened cheeks. He smiled, letting his forehead fall to meet hers. She lifted her head slightly, only enough to where his lips grazed over his, barely touching. Then, she too was on her knees, hands resting on his shoulders to remain steady as she pressed her lips against his. Her hands slid up his shoulders, to his neck, then stopped to rest right beneath his jawline, which her thumbs softly moved over.

John B's hand moved behind Nova's neck, cupping it to keep her pressed to him. The other hand, lay lightly on her waist, only occasionally gripping the soft material of her shirt. She was so close that she could feel his heart beating against his chest. She felt his breaths rise and fall against her.

And it was like the entire world slowed around them. The fire stopped. The storm ceased. All was calm. With him, it was like floating. Fearless. She felt safe wrapped in him. The world was still. Nothing could happen to her when she was with him.

Pulling back their heavy breaths fell into each other.

"I love you..."

The minty breath burned Nova's neck as the words were breathed into her. Her breathing stopped. Heart stood still. Eyes opened. The too many desired words had been spilled. And she was speechless.

Nova blinked, over and over, words fumbling, "John B..."

It was all she was able to say. She sat. Being held by him. All the chaos had subsided with his touch. And she couldn't say it. Nova couldn't say it back. Even though the words were right there, on her tongue, waiting to be said.

He could see her internal struggle. He could see her eyes darting around. He could feel her mind racing. He could sense the chaos rising inside her.

So quickly, John B's hands found either side of Nova's face, his thumbs trailing down her cheeks, "Hey, look at me. Look at me, Nova," he whispered, and when she did, she found him smiling. "It's alright ─ it's okay. You don't have to say anything," John B. could see that she wanted to. He knew she wanted to say it to him too. "I love you. That's all. I just wanted you to know."

"I have been lied to so many times," Nova pulled away from John B. frustrated. "And it's because of that, that, no matter how much I want to say it, I can't," she told him. "I have to be protective of myself this time."

"You don't have to say anything, Nova," he breathed, slowly moving toward her again, taking her hand.

"With you," she whispered, leaning into him. "I need it to be different."

He nodded, leaning down to meet her. Their lips find one another again. Nova's hands clenched around the old, loose material of John B's dirty shirt. She could feel the heat of him beneath it and only wanted more as she moved in closer to him if that was even possible.

While smiling, John B. bit into Nova's bottom lip, earning a quick chuckle but also a small, quiet whine. They laughed against each other's lips.

John B's tried to keep his hands PG. The hand that wasn't trapped by a cast hand found its way up the back of her shirt, where his fingers trailed down her spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Nova's own hand's hand found themselves on bare skin. Either palm resting on his warm chest, still covered by his shirt.

Nova's heart was racing. Her breathing was heavy. She knew where this was going and she almost found herself not caring. Ready to break that promise she'd made to herself. So quickly. So easily.

But her mind came back. Just in time. John B. had just begun to fumble with the button on her shorts, and quickly, Nova pulled away from him. Panting, trying to catch her breath. Cheeks, and her entire body still hot because of him.

She licked her lips, running a shaking hand through her hair, "We can't ─ John B, I cannot have sex with you in a church."

John B. laughed. In a real, genuine way that Nova hadn't been expecting. His lips were still red and swollen. Cheeks flushed and hair fell in every which direction. Still laughing, he leaned back, falling into the wall, bringing his knees up to drape his arms over.

"Okay," he nodded, wearing a sly smile. "So, if we weren't in a church...?"

Nova rolled her eyes, "Not in your van either."

He didn't ask for an explanation. He didn't need one. John B. knew why Nova wouldn't allow herself to go there with him yet. It was for the same reason that she couldn't bring herself to tell him that she loved him. She didn't want to be hurt. Nova wanted this time to be real. And still, he loved her.

And he hated that she'd been hurt in such a way that made it hard for her to believe that he was in love with her.

"Besides, we don't even have the time," shrugged Nova, finally breathing normally again. She checked the time on her phone. "I have to go soon to meet Pope and Kiara. We're supposed to be setting up for tomorrow."

Furrowing his eyebrows, John B. scoffed, "And why wasn't I invited?"

"Don't you have to be ready for a fishing trip early tomorrow morning?" Nova reminded him.

Eyes widening, John B. just realized he'd forgotten all about his supposed bonding trip with Ward Cameron.

He sighed, his head falling back against the wall, "Can I just bail on that?"

Leaning up, she kissed his lips, "Don't be dramatic," she told him, before kissing him again. "It'll be fine."

"Yeah, who knows?" John B. rolled his eyes, faking enthusiasm. "Maybe I'll end up falling off the boat and drowning..." he laughed, leaning up to kiss Nova yet again. "That'll be time better spent." 

The once blue sky had gone all black. Cloudy too. Not a star in sight. Nova had watched the sky turn from evening tonight as drove from her house, where John B. had dropped her off, then to his house where she was supposed to meet Pope and Kiara.

"I'm serious," she could hear Pope arguing with Kiara already. "I have to be finished before my scholarship interview."

"Scholarship?" asked Nova, walking into their conversation. "To where? Kook Academy?"

"I hate that place, but the chances at getting into an ivy league college..." he hesitated, sucking in a breath. "Infinitely better than where I'm at now."

It was true. Those enrolled at the Island's Academy were considered serious candidates to any college they apply to. Mostly because of the prestige the school held.

"You're kidding? You're actually joking, right?" Kiara asked, eyes widening. She was assuming the entire thing was a joke. Maybe she thought Pope was already applying for college scholarships. "You can't go to Kook Academy!"

A bit took aback, Nova furrowed her eyebrows, "Why can't he?" she asked Kiara. "I go there. And last I checked; Pope was right. His chances at getting into a college he wants, a lot better there than the public school."

But Kiara already knew that. She'd gone to the Academy for a year before transferring out. She knew the privilege the students had at the Academy. She was just letting her bias get in the way again.

"Guys!" with a raised voice, Pope interrupted the minor argument that was about to ensue between the two girls. "Not now, please, we need to focus."

"Sorry," Nova mumbled.

"Yeah, my bad," said Kiara.

"Look everything is going to be fine. It has to be," said Pope, but it sounded more like he was trying to convince himself more so than Nova and Kiara. "We got JJ and John B. in the well. I'll be up top. And then you, Nova, and Sarah will be outside transporting."

"A bit sexist that you have all the girls transporting, but yeah, we got it, Pope," said Nova, as she followed him to where he was going to stand at his truck.

Rolling his eyes at Nova's comment, Pope opened the latch to the bed of his truck and pointed at the large tin, visibly sitting inside. Why he had to open the latch, Nova didn't know. She could see that thing from where she pulled in.

"This tin," he said, sucking in a deep, excited breath. "This tin can hold 200 ─ 300 pounds..."

Nova's eyes widened as she looked over the large tin. She didn't even want to ask how he came across it. Or how he managed to get it into his truck. But it was nice, and it'd certainly come in handy for when they're stealing gold out of a well.

Sighing, Kiara nodded, patting Pope's shoulder, "Thank you, Pope. Really."

Matching expressions, Nova and Pope furrowed their eyebrows, clearly confused. Was this sarcasm?

"Uh, okay..." said Pope, glancing from Nova to Kiara. Probably fearing that they were somehow making fun of him. "But for what exactly?"

"For stranding us," Kiara said. "Y'know, for leaving me on the boat with Nova and Sarah. Thank you."

Scoffing, Pope shook his head, "Oh, you think that was my idea?"

Kiara laughed, her mouth opening, likely to ask whose idea it'd been, but she never got the chance to voice it.

Instead, a burst of golden hue shone above them, stopping any words that were to be said. Small, twinkling lights strung lazily over the shrubs and trees around John B's house lit a trail, lighting up the once gloomy outside. Looking around, the three of them shared concerned and confused looks.

"Uhm, Pope... who else is here with us?" asked Nova, looking around, too afraid to go and investigate.

Pope shook his head, "No one."

"Well, it's pretty obvious that someone is..." Kiara grumbled.

"I swear to God if this is Rafe and Topper trying to play some kind of game with me..."

Pope trailed off, not finishing his threat as he pushed past the two girls standing beside him and followed the trail of lights. Following him, Nova and Kiara latched onto one another, having a protective hold.

Nova's eyes follow the colored, twinkling lights. Beams of pink and blue mixed with the golden lights. The lights danced on the siding of the white home. Sounds of rushing water and low playing music joined the mix of lights as they slowly neared the back of the house.

Their eyes widened. Nova dropped Kiara's hand. There was no need to worry about Rafe and Topper. It was JJ who'd lit up the grounds. Sitting in the hot tub, facing them, sunglasses pulled down on his nose, he laughed.

"JJ..." Pope gasped. "What did you do?"

"I have a jet going straight into my butt right now," JJ's words were slurred and barely making any sense. Clearly, he'd been drinking. And still was, Nova noticed the beer can in his hand. "Ya'll need to get in here immediately. You hear me?"

A bottle of what looked to be champagne that'd been sitting on the ledge of the tub was then snatched by the wobbly hands of JJ. He filled a plastic cup then down the bubbly contents in just a few gulps.

No one really knew what to say as they stood, watching JJ drown his sorrows in expensive alcohol.

"Dude, how much did all of this cost?" asked Pope.

"Well..." JJ drew out. "With the generator, the petrol, and oh yeah, express delivery," he listed off the items before sighing. "Pretty much all of it."

"Oh boy," whispered Nova, her head facing down, watching the wind blow the grass by her feet.

There'd be no returning the money now.

"All of it?" Pope's voice raised, his tempter growing. "You spent all that money in one day?"

"Yeah, burned a hole right through my pocket," he laughed, seeming to have not a care in the world. "But I mean, come on guys," JJ said, trying to get them to see his reasoning. "This is the finest, jet-based massage therapy. That's what the people told me."

None of the three offered him the support he wanted though. They couldn't. They stood absolutely stunned.

"Oh, come on, can't a man have a little luxury in his life?" he began to reason with them. "After all this scrapin' and diggin'... I think ─ well, I think it's deserved. Besides, we only live once."

She was right. When she said that they shouldn't have let him go off alone, Nova was right. He was a ticking time bomb. A danger to himself. Perhaps not detrimental, but he shouldn't have been alone.

He sighed, no one was saying anything, "Alright, I'm over this emotional shit," JJ told them. "Just come and get into the cat's ass."

Raising her head, Nova asked, "What?"

JJ grinned, happy to have gotten someone's attention, "The cat's ass," he repeated. "That's what I named it."

With widened eyes, Nova nodded, not knowing what to say to that.

"Oh!" he yelled. "And I almost forgot..."

Suddenly, turning on above him, and spinning slowly, a disco ball became visible, hanging from the branch of a tree.

"Oh cool, a disco ball," Nova nodded, unsurprised at this point. "How fun."

The reflection of the glass ball reflected the twinkling lights around the yard, sending beams of light to dance across their shadowed skin.

"Are you kidding me?" asked Pope, visibly angry. "You could have paid for the restitution, JJ!"

"Or have given the money to literally any charity!" Kiara joined in on scolding him.

Nova shook her head. No. That's not how this needs to be dealt with. He doesn't need to be scolded. He's already said it all to himself. That much Nova knew. JJ had already told him everything that he's hearing now.

Now, he needs comfort. He needs a friend.

He looked at Nova, who said nothing, "Well?" he asked her. "What do you think?"

"What do I think?" she was a little stunned, not expecting JJ to care what she thought at all. "Well, it's ─ well, it's a cool disco ball, JJ."

Pope and Kiara shot her questioning looks. Under their gaze, she could only shrug. But she wasn't going to scold him, not as they had. The money was gone. There was nothing they could do that would take back JJ's decisions. Better to move on than to dwell on everything that he did wrong today.

"I thought so too. Which is why I didn't donate to some charity or pay that stupid restitution!"

JJ stood from the hot tub, the water falling to his thighs. Nova gasped, her stomach twisting at the sight. Purple and black colored his abdomen. Welts and bruises spread across his stomach. Her hand found its way to her mouth.

"Instead, I got a hot tub for my friends," JJ's voice cracked with a cry, but he masked it with anger. "No... screw that! I got a hot tub for my family!"

He loved them. So much. JJ only wanted to right by those he loved. And he'd done all this thinking about them. Thinking about how he and his friends deserve this break. Everything he did was for this group. Because outside of them, JJ was completely alone.

"And it's an amazing hot tub, JJ," said Nova.

It surprised everyone. Even herself. But someone had to be on his side here. JJ wasn't just crying for help, he was shouting. And Nova heard.

She raised her eyebrows, "Can we still get in?"

He sighed, "Really?"

His tone was soft, cracking. His shoulders slumped and all the anger seemed to disappear inside him. Nova slid off her sandals. Stepping into the grass, moving toward the hot tub. She climbed up the two steps provided by the tub before slowly stepping into the steaming, hot water.

Pope and Kiara stood carefully. Watching Nova. Afraid for her to be so close to JJ in this state. But Nova wasn't afraid. Not a bit. She was sad. Her heart broke for JJ. Especially as she once again looked down at the fresh bruised covered his skin.

JJ's bottom lip began to tremble, "Nice... right?"

Once again seeking a kind of validation. Nova nodded. Though not saying anything. Instead, she stepped down further into the tub, water soaking the bottoms of her shorts as she closed the distance between her and JJ.

His body fell into her. Arms wrapping around his waist, JJ clung to Nova. His bare chest soaked her shirt. His hands clasped at her waist, needing something ─ anything to cling onto. To keep him standing.

Then he sobbed. Head buried into the crook of her neck, he cried. His body shook, making Nova pull him in tighter. Even she was fighting tears. Relating to every cry of his. Nova remembered this being her. Needing to be held. Needing someone to be there for her to cling to. Even when it felt like the world was falling apart around her.

Another body joined them in the water. It was Kiara. Tears staining her cheeks. Coming up behind JJ, she leaned her cheek on the back of his shoulder, arms wrapping around his waist. Pope followed. His long arms entrapped all of them.

"I just wanted to do something right," JJ whispered, his jagged breaths hitting Nova's neck.

Nova nodded. Her hand stroked the back of his head. She pulled herself onto her toes, attempting to level their heights.

She leaned in, so to whisper, "You did good, JJ."

And the night was spent, standing in an overpriced hot tub, letting the jets wash away all of their champagne problems.  

☼

nova's outfit inspo

☼

an://

honestly, one of my favorite chapters!

edited: 1/14/22