#{gotta let em kno} | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

teenagegoldrush · 2 years

Text

The Darkest Hour

words: 8,019

MASTERLIST Season Two

A/N: I do not claim to, nor do I own Outer Banks; the concept, characters, plot, etc

DAY FIFTEEN

The next morning Andy and JJ woke bright and early, to be at the county courthouse for John B’s hearing at 8:15.

“I’ll shoot Pope a text and have him bring some meds with him.” JJ announced, not looking up from his phone as he was sitting on the couch, waiting patiently as Andy tried to get dressed

They had tried to dress themselves a little more presentable than they normally would dress, but Andy struggled to find something that she found acceptable, considering they never had to go to court before. “I don’t know what the hell to wear!”

“What does it matter, it’s not like we’re the ones on trial.” JJ groaned. “If you take any longer, we’re gonna be late.”

“Well we have to at least try and not look like how they expect us to-“

“Like we don’t have running water?”

“JJ! Exactly! We have to present ourselves as the best possible support system for John B.” She shook her head, deciding on an outfit. “We’re all he’s got.”

She quickly dressed, pulling on her jeans and sweater and rushing to meet JJ in the livingroom.

“Boots.” He kicked them towards her. “Put ‘em on, we gotta go.” She rolled her eyes, pulling them on quickly.

“We taking the bike?” She asked, frowning.

“No other choice. Twinkie’s still impounded, and Kie and Sarah are only picking Pope up on the way.” JJ twirled the key to his bike on his fingers. “So load up, we gotta go.”

Andy rode on the back of JJ’s bike, all the way to the courthouse. They had arrived just in time, the bailiffs were about to shut the doors when they ran in.

JJ and Andy slid into a bench with Pope, Kie and Sarah in front of them.

Pope leaned across JJ, handing her a collection of pills. “Ma had some leftover antibiotics from the last time I had strep. She gave you a days worth, that’s the blue ones, said one now and one tonight.” He whispered.

Andy nodded, tucking one of the pills into her pocket and taking the other one dry. “What is it?” She whispered back.

“Doxycycline.” Pope replied, looking forward as John B was being escorted into the room. Andy nodded.

JJ leaned forward, placing a reassuring hand on Sarah’s shoulder.

Andy clenched her jaw, scanning the room. It was clearly divided, Pogues on one side; classmates and neighbors from the Cut standing in solidarity with John B, and Kooks on the other; The Camerons (minus Sarah, and Wheezie).

The judge pounded the gavel on her desk. “John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section fourteen, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances.

If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty.”

The judge struck her gavel again, and just like that, it was done.

“He doesn’t even get a chance?” Andy asked, turning to JJ, who shook his head in anger.

“Your Honor, he’s seventeen!” He shouted, standing up.

Pope also stood, holding a hand on JJ’s arm. “Stop, JJ-“

“He’s seventeen, are you kidding me-“

“Quiet!” The judge called from her desk.

Kie was comforting Sarah in front of them, but Pope couldn’t get JJ to calm down.

Andy stood, staring longingly at John B. “John B, we’re gonna figure it out!”

“Baliff!” The judge summoned one of her officers.

“J, come on, let’s go.” Andy held his hands, trying to lead him out of the courtroom.

As John B was being escorted away, Sarah broke from Kie’s arms, rushing to the front of the room. “John B! John B, no!”

Kie followed after her, holding her close. “No, it’s fine, don’t touch her!” She snapped at another officer, who tried to pull Sarah away from the gate.

Andy finally managed to pull JJ out of the room, Pope waited for Kie and Sarah to follow.

Outside, on the steps, all the Pogues had vanished, and they were surrounded by a sea of Kooks. “Is this a joke? Are we in hell, or what?” Kie groaned.

Sarah sniffled, finally letting go of her arm. “I should’ve never gone home.”

“They’re gonna kill him guys, I know it.” JJ shook his head, walking down the steps.

The crowd exiting the courthouse was relatively silent, meaning, any conversations that were happening, could be clearly heard. “Sorry for what you and your family have gone through. Thank God the system works.” Someone was saying to Ward and Rose across the lawn.

“Can you please shut up?” Kie shouted. “Of course you think the system worked when it was made to protect you and people like you.”

The man, and the Camerons stopped, staring in shock at Kie’s outburst. “He’ll have his day in court. A jury will decide.” He replied.

“He shouldn’t even be in court!” Kie scoffed. “You should, you’re the murderer!” She pointed at Ward.

“You have a lot of nerve showing up to John B’s hearing when you’re the reason he’s here!”

“I know you’re upset. I understand you’re upset, okay?” Ward sighed, stepping towards them.

Andy clenched her jaw, stepping beside Kie. “You understand that we’re upset?” She scoffed. “How would you understand, that’s not your family in there!”

“I know he’s got you fooled.” Ward said, walking closer, Rose tailing him. “He’s got you all fooled-“

“We’re not just upset!” Kie shouted, lunging at Ward.

Andy grabbed her waist, struggling to hold her back, and Sheriff Shoupe and his deputies were there to hold both of the girls back too.

Shoupe pushed them backwards, into Pope, Sarah, and JJ, while some of the other deputies surrounded the Camerons, to protect them.

“Show some respect!” Ward yelled.

That fired up Andy now. “Respect is earned, not expected, Mr. Cameron! It’s a two-way street!” She yelled, pushing against Shoupe.

“Get off of her!” JJ shoved at Shoupe, pushing his hands off of Andy.

Over Shoupe’s shoulder, Andy could see Ward and Rose, standing with shocked looks on their faces. “He’s not gonna go down for this!” Andy yelled, as they began to walk away.

“We’re gonna get proof! And I’ll be front row in court when your son gets his ass caught!” That statement made Ward turn around, now trying his hand at getting at Andy.

“I’m not scared of you-“

Shoupe yanked Andy back by her arm, pulling her away from the crowd. “You wanna get arrested, Kane?”

The rest of her friends followed them. “You need to go home. Now.” He released her arm.

“This is such bullshit!” Kie defended their actions.

“Come on.” Sarah put her arm around Kie. “It’s not worth it, let’s just go.”

They began to walk towards Kie’s car, Pope following them.

“It’s not a coincidence your daughter’s sitting with us!” JJ yelled as he and Andy walked away.

At the vehicles, Kie and Sarah got into the Xterra, and JJ mounted the bike.

“We’ll meet you guys back at the Chateau.” Pope said to Andy as he got behind the wheel. She nodded, climbing onto the back of the bike.

They all made it back to the Chateau just in time for it to start raining; fitting weather for the day’s theme.

Nobody spoke for awhile, each of them settling themselves onto the furniture in the sun room. Andy laid on the couch, Pope beside her. Kie was on the other couch, and Sarah on the arm chair. JJ stood by the fireplace, a freshly-lit blunt in his hand.

“I’m gonna testify under oath.” Sarah finally announced. “I was there.” She sighed. “I just need to get ahold of my sister.”

“Your sister?” JJ asked.

Sarah ignored him.

“Kie, do you have your phone?” Kie handed Sarah her phone. “Wheezie was the only other person that knows Rafe wasn’t home that day.”

“Wheezie!” JJ repeated, growing agitated.

Andy sighed, waiting for him to blow up.

“I don’t know what else to do.” Sarah shrugged. “I got us into this mess, I’m gonna do my best to get us out.” She ignored him, walking inside.

“Wheezie!” JJ shook his head. “Yeah, that will work!”

“JJ, calm down.” Andy sighed, sitting upright. “She’s just trying to help.”

“I mean, she is right.” JJ shook his head, taking a hit of the blunt. “We gotta do something. Our boy is a PO-dub right now. He’s held captive, by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution! And we’re just gonna sit here!”

“What’s the plan? We start by kidnapping Shoupe?” Kie asked, leaning back on the couch.

“Maybe.” JJ shrugged. “Maybe, that’s not the worst idea-“

“Oh it’s not?” Kie asked, shocked.

“No!”

“That is actually the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” Pope nodded.

“It’s pretty bad.” Sarah agreed from the kitchen.

“Ya know what, please just stay out of this?” JJ snapped at her. “Okay, Pope, we’ve been doing everything your way and how’s that been working out?”

“Okay, so what’s your plan?” Pope asked, eyes narrowing at JJ. “You wanna storm the jail, guns a-blazing?”

“Look Pope, all I’m trying to get you to understand is they got our boy.” The pair was now stood, eye-to-eye.

“Are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No, we’re gonna go get his ass! We’re gonna do something about it!”

Andy stood, stepping between them.

“Don’t-“ She placed her hands on his chest, moving him back from Pope. “Don’t, D! Don’t you agree?”

“Yeah, I do J. We have to do something but I don’t know if storming the jail is the best idea.”

“We’re not storming a jail, it’s not happening!” Pope said, sitting back down on the couch.

JJ shook his head. “No man, it’s fine. You sit in your comfy chair and do nothing.”

He outed the joint. “I’m gonna see what I can do.” He looked at Kie.

“I’m gonna make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself.” He placed his hat back on his head and stormed out of the porch.

Andy sighed, rubbing her hands over her eyes. “You’re gonna go with him?” Pope asked, slightly condescendingly, from the couch.

“Yeah, obviously I’m gonna go with him, Pope!” She snapped. “But it’s not because I agree with his stupid plan, it’s just to keep his ass outta trouble.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea Andy.” Sarah said from the kitchen. “If he wants to go, then let him, but you don’t need to do it too.”

Andy sighed, turning to face her. “Sarah Cameron, I think you of all people in this room right now would understand the importance of tagging along with someone you love, even if it’s for something extremely stupid.”

Sarah furrowed her eyebrows, standing up from her chair and coming back out onto the porch. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean, me going along with JJ and his idiotic plan is the same thing as you going with John B on that boat. Except, I’ve known JJ longer than four days-“

“Are you kidding me? You’re gonna pin this on me?”

“I’m not pinning it on you Sarah. I’m simply saying, you should understand.” Andy turned to walk away.

“You know, if you’re jealous, you can just say it.”Andy’s jaw dropped, she whipped back around to Sarah.

“What on Earth would I be jealous about?!”

“You’re jealous because John B picked me and not you-“

“John B and I were never a thing! Literally never! You couldn’t pay me enough money to even kiss him, let alone want to date him!”

Andy shook her head in disbelief. “God, you’re so wrapped up in your own little world you have no idea what’s happening around you!

We are going to get your boyfriend out of jail! We: me and JJ, not you!

So you sit here, and text your sister on Kie’s phone and just hope god she answers, because surely Wheezie can assist in the situation! And just hang tight, we’ll shoot you a text from a burner phone when we head south.” Andy snapped, turning away again, and stepping out into the pouring rain.

JJ was sat on the bike, waiting for her. “You knew I’d come with you?” She asked.

“No…” JJ sighed. “Was just hoping you would.”

Andy rolled her eyes, wiping rain from her face. “Well just go, before I change my mind.” She sighed, and he took off towards her house.

By the time they made it to Andy’s, their clothes were soaked completely through from the rain.

Without a word, Andy changed out of her clothes, into something dry, and when she came out into the kitchen, JJ was sat at the table, his head hanging.

“Do you feel that too?” He asked, his hand on his chest.

Andy stopped, leaning against her kitchen counter. “Feel what? I feel fine.”

“The air, it’s like thin.” He looked up.

“You don’t feel it? It’s like I can’t breathe. I’m having a hard time here, what’s going on?” JJ stood up, still clutching his chest as he walked over to where Andy was standing.

She stopped him, her hands on his chest. “Hey, calm down.”

JJ was beginning to hyperventilate, taking in deep breaths quickly. “JJ! Come on! Relax!”

He wasn’t listening to her, he just continued to breath the way he was, his hand gripping his chest.

“Andy, I don’t know what’s happening-“

Andy’s heart sank as she ripped his hand from his chest. “JJ you’re having a panic attack.” She practically dragged him to the floor.

“Here, sit, just sit.” Andy tried to stay calm herself, considering that normally she was on the opposite end of panic attacks herself.

JJ’s hands shook slightly as he laid his head back against the cabinets. “Andy-“

“Sh.” She held his hands in her’s. “Just don’t talk. Relax.” She nodded, trying to comfort herself too.

“Slow your breathing. In and out.” JJ nodded, shutting his eyes and slowly regulating his breathing.

“I got you, babe.” Andy exhaled nervously as JJ leaned forward, practically laying himself on her.

He had buried his head in her shoulder, his arms wrapped around her torso, and she held him, gently rubbing his back. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He whispered, his breaths finally normal.

“Nothing’s wrong with you.” She replied, running her fingers through his hair. “Is this the first time that happened?”

JJ shook his head. “It happened when I fought Kelce last week, and when we got the texts from JB at school.”

Andy frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you.”

“They weren’t this bad.” JJ shrugged, pulling her tighter. “It was just my chest but just now it was like everything-“

“Like the world was closing in?” Andy asked.

JJ lifted his head from her shoulder, looking at her with sad eyes. “Welcome to being me.” She sighed.

“That’s how you feel?”

“Not all the time, but that’s why I smoke…. To make it go away.” She shrugged.

“That’s why you didn’t leave your house after John B.” JJ put the pieces together. “I just fucking yelled at you for not leaving your house and that’s how you felt. Holy shit, what’s wrong with me-“

“JJ!” She snapped him out of his rambling.

“There’s nothing wrong with you. You didn’t know. But you do know.” He nodded, leaning his head back onto her. “What do you think caused it today?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a lot.” Andy nodded, racking her brain. “We don’t know what’s gonna happen to John B, and Kie and Pope don’t seem like they want to help, and Sarah’s only thought is her pre-teen sister, and I know you probably feel like you’re stuck in the middle, and I don’t even know where to begin but we gotta help him out somehow-“

“JJ…” Andy patted his shoulder. “That’s exactly why this happened. You have too much on your mind.”

“So what am I supposed to do?”

Andy sighed again. “Go get out of these wet ass clothes, we can take a nap, and then go from there.”

“Take a nap-“ JJ lifted his head from her shoulder again.

“Yeah. We’re mentally exhausted. Some extra rest can’t hurt.” She smiled softly. “Go ahead. I’ll be in my room, you know where everything is.”

JJ changed into different clothes, and then joined Andy in her room, where the pair fell asleep to the sound of the rain.

When Andy woke up, JJ was no longer in the room with her, but she heard him elsewhere.

Shaking her head, she got up, wandering into the kitchen, where JJ was sat at the table again, but this time, scribbling on a piece of paper and mumbling to himself.

"What in the hell is happening here, man?” She asked, scaring him.

“I’ve got a plan!” He grinned, looking up from his paper.

“Okay…” Andy sighed, stepping towards him. “Lay it on me.”

“We gotta go see JB at the jail.” Andy raised her eyebrows at him. “No funny business though, just a visit. But that’s not really part of the plan, that’s just how we tell him about the plan. The real plan, is- You remember my cousin Ricky?”

“The EMT?”

“Bingo! We go to him, see if he’ll let us borrow his bus, because-“

“JJ, I already am not vibing with the direction you’re taking this…”

“Hold on, it gets better.” JJ nodded. “We get Ricky in his ambulance, to take us to the jail, where at the same time John B will be faking appendicitis-“

“There is it.” She sighed, shaking her head. “That’s the catch.”

“It’s not a catch, it’s part of the plan! John B fakes appendicitis, we bust him out in the ambulance, bingo, bango, we’re home free!”

“Yeah except for the part where your cousin is a loose end? Or the part where, what the hell do we do with our prison-escapee friend after we break him out of jail? We live on an island?”

“Nah, Ricky would never snitch on me.” JJ shook his head. “And I have a simple solution to the other issues.”

“If you say Yucatan, I swear to god-“

“We head South, straight to Yucatan.”

“On what boat? The Pogue barely makes it back and forth along the island, you think it’s gonna make it to Yucatan?” Andy shook her head, leaning against the table.

“JJ, you know I love you, but sometimes your two braincells are not really worth the hassle-“

“Awe, you love me.” JJ grinned, standing up from his seat. “You know I really never get tired of hearing you say that…” He walked over to her, grabbing her hands with his.

“Stop trying to distract me.” She swatted him away. “This plan needs to be fool-proof. If we get caught we’re done.”

JJ cocked his head to the side, smiling at her. “You said we.”

Andy rolled her eyes. “So that means you’re in… Hot damn! We’re breaking John B outta jail! Let’s go!” JJ walked towards the door, pulling his boots on.

“Right now?”

“Hell yeah right now, come on!” Andy was slightly worried about how excited JJ was to break their friend out of jail.

“It stopped raining, it’s beautiful out. Prime weather for a ride on the bike, let’s go.” He opened the door, motioning to the outside.

Andy shook her head, pulling her shoes on and following him. The weather had brightened up. It was humid as hell, but the sun was shining, and the ground was fully dry, not a cloud in sight in the sky, as they rode off to the prison.

Andy tried to calm her mind the entire way there. Maybe this would be a JJ plan worth completing. Maybe with the help of his cousin Ricky, it would actually pan out. Maybe they could actually break John B out of jail.

On the way there, they stopped at one of the bait stores, Andy waiting on the bike while JJ went inside.

He returned a few minutes later, a bottle of water in one hand, and in his other, two little pills.

“What the hell is this and where did you get it?” She sighed, taking them in her hand.

“Don’t worry about it and don’t worry about it.” He replied, handing her the bottle of water. “Take ‘em, both of ‘em. It’ll help with your pain.”

Andy furrowed her eyebrows, staring down at them. “What pain-“

“I know your side hurts, you don’t notice it but you wince like every time you sit down.” JJ nodded his head. “And even if you don’t hurt right now just take it anyway. It’ll calm your nerves.”

She shook her head, downing the pills, and half of the bottle of water. “Will you just tell me what I took?”

“After we’re done with John B, and the plan, then I’ll tell you what you took. But for now, just chill out and follow my lead, ‘kay?” Andy sighed, once again questioning why she was going through with literally anything JJ said, and climbed back onto the bike.

By the time they reached the jail, Andy felt like she was entering cloud nine.

JJ was right, she was calmer, and her side barely hurt at all. The air was a little cooler on her skin, and her chest no longer felt tight.

As JJ rolled the bike to a sudden stop, he looked around to make sure the coast was clear. “Alright gorgeous, ready to turn on the charm?”

Andy ran her tongue across her teeth, stumbling slightly as she got off the bike. “What’s the script captain?”

“Kinda good-cop/bad-cop. Except I’m more like annoying cop and you’re the pretty one, but you get the gist?” He stared at her over the top of his sunglasses.

She shrugged. “I’ll just cover your ass when I need to, let you do all the talking.”

JJ held her chin with his hand, nodding in pride. “That’s my girl.” He leaned in for a kiss. “Let’s get ‘em.”

With their hands interlocked, JJ lead her towards the front steps, stopping to salute two officers as they passed them, but immediately flipping them off as they turned their backs.

Andy knew it was a serious situation, but it took every bone in her body to not bust out laughing at JJ.

Inside, they approached the service desk, Andy standing awkwardly as JJ blatantly ignored the officer’s stares.

"We’re here to see John B Routledge.” JJ shouted.

“Get rid of the toothpick.” The officer nodded to him.

Andy looked up at JJ, who was still ignoring the officer, pretending to daydream as he stared at one of the posters on the wall behind him.

Andy nudged him, grabbing his attention. “Oh, I said we’re here to see John B Routledge.”

The officer sighed, motioning to the toothpick in JJ’s mouth, then crossing his throat, silently saying “Take the fucking toothpick out of your mouth!”

JJ nodded slowly, pulling the toothpick out of his mouth. “Oh… no toothpick? I mean I thought it was a free country and all but I guess you don’t like freedom very much, now do you cupcake?” He began to walk towards the door, looking up at the ceiling.

Andy grinned, trying her hardest to not laugh at him. But her laughter was cut short when the officer, who had finally had enough of JJ’s antics, grabbed him by his shoulders and shoved him against the wall. “Hey-“

The door to the hallway opened, and Officer Plumb walked out. “Whoa, not worth it.”

The other officer glared at her, letting JJ go. “Hey, Plumb, nice to see you.”

She nodded, smiling insincerely at Andy. “Take off your hat, empty your pockets.” She turned to JJ.

JJ pulled his hat from his head. “Yes ma’am.”

He emptied his pockets, pulling out his phone, the bike keys, lighter, and a singular stick of gum, which upon discovering, he popped into his mouth.

Plumb patted him down, and then turned to Andy. “You, empty out pockets too.”

Andy rolled her eyes, digging through her pockets. The only thing she had was her phone, then Plumb patted her down, stopping suddenly at the side of her bra. “What’s in there?”

Andy sighed, digging in her bra to pull out the small amethyst crystal she kept on her at all times, and “forgetting” to grab the small antibiotic pill that was beside it.

"Just a crystal Plumb, nothing to get excited about.”

“Next time, leave your rocks at home.” Plumb glared at them. “Follow me.”

Plumb lead them down the hallway, another officer trailing behind them, for maximum security, and they walked down a series of corridors before they came to a small area with a meeting room, surrounded by a few cells.

“Hey!” An inmate pounded on the door. “Why don’t you come in here?” He grinned at JJ.

An inmate in another cell whistled loudly. “Hey pretty girl why don’t you come for a visit with me?”

JJ almost, almost lunged at the locked door, but Andy gripped his wrist, keeping him in his place.

Plumb opened the door to the room where John B was sitting. “Five minutes.”

JJ sat down first, then Andy. And for a few moments, nobody did anything.

Then both of the boys began to laugh, Andy staring in confusion at them. “I thought it was gonna be me.” JJ laughed,

“I did too.” John B laughed. Andy finally caught on and giggled herself, until the three of them stopped. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

“Yeah… when you said you had a new apartment, I had no idea.” JJ nodded, looking around the room. “It’s cozy.”

“You could say that.”

“A little aluminum theme.” JJ patted the table.

“I like to go for the cold dark-“

“Alone?”

“Depressing theme.” John B nodded. Another moment of silence passed before he spoke again. “How are you feeling?” He asked Andy.

She shrugged. “I’m still kickin’.”

“She’s high as a kite right now.” JJ nodded. “Grabbed her some pain meds from the bait shop on Elm, had her take them to chill out while we were here.”

Andy giggled again. “It’s really not funny.” She sighed, trying to be serious. “He won’t tell me what I took.”

“You could’ve just not taken them?” John B said, shaking his head.

“You’re totally right-“

“Look, I’d love to sit and chit-chat but we’re on the clock. And we’re here for one reason only, okay?” JJ leaned forward. “Operation: liberation.”

“Oh boy here we go.” John B sighed, leaning away.

“That’s exactly what I said.” Andy nodded.

“Hear me out though, hear me out.” JJ said quietly. “Step one: piss off the cops so badly, they don’t see what’s coming.”

He waved to the officer that followed them in as he passed outside the window. “Check.”

So his little game with the toothpick was part of the plan. “Step two, at exactly eleven PM, this evening, you’re going to have an attack of acute appendicitis.”

“Do you even know what appendicitis is?” John B asked.

“Yeah.” JJ nodded. “Remember eighth grade? Algebra final?”

“Jesus Christ!”

“Worked like a charm, okay?” JJ continued trying to sell his idea to John B. “Now to sell it, you actually gotta look sick. You got some of that ghost face sunblock in here?”

“JJ I’m in jail, I have a block of soap. That’s it!”

“Right…” JJ nodded, trying to overcome the bump in the plan. “Is it white?”

John B nodded.

“Perfect, that’ll work. Take some of that, rub it into your face alright? You don’t want any of that shit rubbing off when they check your vitals. After that, run your hands under cold water for five minutes.

After that, you’re ready. Showtime baby. Stumble out and collapse. Once you’re on the ground squealing, they’ll rush you to the infirmary.

There, you just gotta convince the nurse that the sucker’s about to burst. Okay? She’s gonna take her hand and she’s gonna put it right here.”

He placed his hand over his torso, about where his appendix was. “When she does that, when she pushes down, don’t do anything. Just lay there. It’s when she takes her hand off, you let it rip, alright? Scream like your life depends on it, like a lobster hitting the pot, like you’re passing a kidney stone the size of a bowling ball-“

“Okay, okay, okay, okay, I get it. I get it!” John B snapped. “Then what?”

“They’re gonna eject you to the county hospital. Remember cousin Ricky?”

“Cousin Ricky, the weed dealer?”

“He’s an EMT now.”

“He sold us our first dime bag.”

“So? You can do both. Gig economy bro.” JJ drummed his fingers on the table. “Step three is extraction.”

John B sighed looking down at his lap. “This is the dumbest idea you’ve ever had.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” JJ agreed. “But you know what’s even more dumb? You thinking you’ve got any other way out of this.”

“Guys, this is a fortress. You think you’re just gonna stroll in here? They’ve got barbed wire, cinderblocks, guards on every corner.

Andy, you’re going along with this?”

“I’m only here to keep his ass outta immediate trouble.” She shrugged.

“You’re not the detail guy. Leave it to the professionals.” JJ side-eyed the door, where Plumb had stepped in.

“Hey, time’s up!”

“Yes ma’am.” JJ sighed. “You gotta trust me on this one. Nothing to lose now… Eleven PM.”

JJ stood, arm around Andy’s shoulder as they walked out the door, leaving John B behind.

They walked back through a different set of hallways, almost passing one of the basketball courts, before JJ stopped, staring through the window.

He dropped his arm from Andy, pounding on the door. “Dad! Dad!”

Plumb pushed Andy out of the way, grabbing onto the back of JJ’s shirt. “Let’s go.”

JJ resisted, still banging on the door. “Dad!”

“Let’s go!” Plumb pulled him away from the door.

Andy frowned, sadness washing over her. “I see what you did there Plumb.” JJ shook his head in agitation.

Plumb said nothing as she escorted the two of them outside. “I just have one question before I leave: how much are you splitting with Shoupe?”

Plumb shoved at JJ with all the force she had, making him stumble into the railing.

“You’ll be back here one day.” She nodded. “Both of you… It’s in your blood.”

JJ said nothing, grabbing Andy by the waist and pulling her away, down the steps.

“Let’s just go home?” She whispered, sensing his body language change. JJ nodded, placing his hat back on his head.

They drove back to her house, changing out of their sweaty clothes and into bathing suits, going for one of the final swims of the season.

When they were done outside, they re-dressed and headed out for cousin Ricky’s place.

“Please, can we not skateboard?” Andy scoffed as JJ dug through her shed for his board,

“Why not? We haven’t skated in forever.” JJ brushed her off, digging through the junk.

“Well because two of us can’t fit on one skateboard. And I don’t have a skateboard myself because, in case you forget, you and John B decided it would be great to attach to the back of the van and “power-skate” through town-“

“Okay, okay, I get it!” JJ stopped digging, holding his hands up in surrender. “We can walk…. It’s a lovely afternoon anyway.”

They began their walk to cousin Ricky’s. “Oh, and by the way, you owe me an explanation for what the hell pills I took earlier.” She smacked his arm.

“Yes ma’am.” JJ saluted her. “I may or may not have snagged you some oxy from someone my dad used to work with…”

“You gave me oxycontin?!” She shouted, eyes wide.

JJ clapped his hand over her mouth. “Shush! Jesus-“

She peeled his hand away. “Don’t shush me Maybank, you gave me oxy and then took me to a jail! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I thought it would calm you down!” He shrugged. “Which it did, it made my job easier.”

“Why couldn’t you just tell me to play it cool? You didn’t need to drug me!”

“I didn’t drug you, you willingly took the pills!” JJ scoffed. “Quit making me sound like a criminal.”

“That’s criminal behavior, JJ! You bought prescription drugs from the back of a bait shop. That’s a crime.”

“I know what you want to say next.” He mumbled, head hanging low.

“Then don’t make me say it.” She sighed.

JJ clenched his jaw, looking back up at her. “Fine, I’m sorry I gave you oxy without you knowing it. But maybe you shouldn’t just take random pills without knowing what they are.”

Andy opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, then opened it again. “Fair enough.” She shook her head, continuing walking.

When they arrived at Ricky’s, the tension between them had disspated.

Ricky was sitting in his garage, tinkering with the engine on his car. “Yo! Ricky! ‘Sup?” JJ smiled, rushing up the driveway.

“JJ, nice to see you man.” Ricky waved to him.

“Oh hello, you forgot about me?” Andy mumbled to herself, following after JJ.

“Oh yeah, hey, here’s someone I want you to meet.” JJ pulled her towards Ricky by her wrist. “This is my girlfriend, Andy.”

Ricky’s eyebrows raised. “Girlfriend? JJ man, you’re growing up!” He smiled, sticking his hand out for Andy to shake.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Ricky.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“She meet your pops?” Ricky asked, returning his attention to the engine.

JJ shook his head. “Unfortunately.” Andy replied. “Luke and I don’t see eye-to-eye on really anything so we tend to just avoid each other.”

Ricky nodded. “He’s got that way about him… So what brings you here brother?”

“Ricky, we need a favor. We need to borrow the ambulance.” Ricky looked up from his tinkering, mouth wide.

“Before you say no, let me finish. First: you would be inside it, because neither of us have our licenses. Second: you know John B, he is being wrongly imprisoned, and we need to break him out.

My man’s planning to fake appendicitis this very evening, at eleven PM, on the dot and we have to be there to pick him up. He needs our help, so will you help us, help John B?”

“You want me to help you bust your friend out of prison?… You want me to drive the getaway car, after you break your friend out of prison?…” Ricky slowly was trying to comprehend the plan.

“Basically, yeah.” JJ nodded.

“Man, hell no!” Ricky shook his head.

“Listen, all you gotta do is keep the ambulance running. It’s a small favor to ask Ricky, just a small one.”

Ricky shook his head again. “It’s not as much about the favor as it is about the general stupidity of the plan.” He looked up, at Andy.

“You’re going through with this with him? Aren’t girlfriends usually supposed to talk their boyfriends out of wild and reckless ideas?”

“Well lucky for me, she’s just about as wild and reckless as I am, so she’s right here with me all the way.” JJ answered before Andy could.

“I did tell him a couple times how dumb it was, but then he gave me o-“ JJ clapped his hand over her mouth again.

“No need to talk about that, now.” He slowly released his hand, turning back to Ricky. “Come on, just leave it running Ricky. You gotta do this one for me, bro.”

“You’re gonna wind up in jail cuz.” Ricky sighed. “Gonna take your girl with you too.”

“I mean, that’s gonna happen anyway, eventually.” JJ shrugged, looking down at the floor. “Might as well be for a good cause.”

Andy frowned. Why would he think that? That bitch Plumb probably got into his head.

“Yeah, well I’m not having any part of it. You’ve come up with a lot of dumb ideas, but this might be the dumbest.” Ricky stood up, walking into the house.

“C’mon.” JJ tugged her along. “I wouldn’t be asking you to do this if it wasn’t important. And let me remind you man, you owe me. Who ran that load up to Cape Fear when your hemp came in hot?”

“That’s what you and John B did when you went to Cape Fear?” Andy gaped.

JJ looked at her funny. “Not important- It was me, right?”

“I’m sorry about your bud, I really am. But I’m not helping you commit suicide. I’m not.” Ricky shook his head, turning to Andy.

“And you should dip out while you still can girl, no man’s worth this much trouble.”

“Bro, I am right here!” JJ groaned.

“I appreciate the concern Ricky, but I go where he goes. Regardless of the circumstances.” Andy smiled softly.

Ricky shrugged. “Suit yourself. Now, I’m working an overnight later, so if you’re cool, can ya’ll get outta my hair?”

JJ, still truly upset, played it cool, nodding at his cousin. “I’m cool. Appreciate you man.” He and Ricky hugged.

Ricky held his hand out to Andy again. “Nice to meet you, you’re very brave to stay with this guy.”

Andy grinned, trying not to laugh at his cousin’s embarrassing comments. “I appreciate the confidence in me. Nice to meet you too.” She turned to JJ.

“Come on, let’s leave the man be.”

Andy pulled JJ out the door before he could bother his cousin any more. “Just go wait outside, I gotta ask him one more thing.” Andy shook her head, stepping outside the garage and waiting.

JJ disappeared inside once more, returning just a moment later. “Let’s go.” He twirled a set of keys on his finger, walking towards the ambulance.

Oh hell no.

“JJ, please tell me we’re not about to do what I think we’re about to do.” She cringed, following slowly behind him as he climbed into the driver’s seat of the vehicle. “Oh yeah, we are.”

Taking a deep breath, she climbed in the passenger seat.

“So… first purchasing narcotics off the street, now vehicular theft, besides breaking John B out of prison, what’s next on your list, actual murder-“

JJ turned to her, his hand on the keys in the ignition. “‘Kay, this is your chance, dip now, or be forever-involved.” He waited for her to answer.

“You said it yourself this morning, we’re all John B’s got. I know it’s stupid, and I know it’s probably not gonna work, but we have to try. We can’t just sit around and not fight for him, because that’s what family does.

They stick up for each other. So are you staying, or are you going?”

“If I do this, you owe me big fucking time. Do you understand?” Andy sighed as JJ nodded.

“Well then let’s go.” She patted the dashboard.

Go big or go home. They were gonna try to break John B out of jail.

They ditched the ambulance at the junkyard (AKA JJ’s secret spot) and returned to his house for the night.

Andy got a good nap in while JJ played some stupid video games, and when it reached ten o’clock they headed back out for the plan, JJ dressed in a solid white jumpsuit he had swiped from the back of the bus, and Andy in an EMT shirt and black dress pants.

“I hate to admit this, but I have a sickeningly optimistic feeling about this.” Andy said, peering up at the stars in the sky, after all, this may have been the last time she would see them for a long time.

“Oh really, after you fought me on it all day?” JJ grinned. “I can be smart sometimes.”

“You’re smart all the time JJ.” She sighed. “Everybody’s just not smart in the same subjects. Everyone has their own niche.”

“Niche?”

“Their own speciality.” Andy nodded. “Your speciality is clearly criminal activities-“

“Your’s is too.” JJ nodded matter-of-factly. “And history. You know a lot about history.”

Andy pondered for a minute, wondering if that was a back-handed compliment or not. “Thank you...”

It was roughly 10:20 when they settled into the ambulance, waiting in comfortable silence. “Just waiting on your call John B. Come on buddy.” JJ tapped his foot nervously.

In the rearview mirror, Andy saw a police vehicle approaching. “Oh you have to be kidding me.” She groaned.

JJ sighed, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Just play it cool alright? Let me do the talking.”

Every single cop on Kildare Island knew Andy and JJ, how could they not? They were products of their bloodlines, frequent fliers, and they’d been all over the news the past few weeks. They were almost local celebrities.

The police vehicle pulled up beside them. “I hate when it’s slow like this, ya know?” The officer asked from his seat.

“Tell me about it man.” JJ said deeply, disguising his voice. Andy rolled her eyes, turning away from them.

“Hey, what happened to Ricky?” The officer asked. “He bang out?”

“Something like that…” JJ replied.

“One-three Eddie. We’ve got an unknown at KC detention.” A voice blasted through the radio. There it was, their way out.

JJ quickly grabbed the receiver. “Yeah, ten-four. We’ll be right there, thanks so much. Over.” He hung it up. “Duty calls. I’ll see you later, have a good night.” He started the bus.

“Hold up.” The cop said, halting JJ’s movements. “I got nothing to do, I’ll pace you.”

JJ sat still for a moment, comprehending what was happening, before following the cop. “This is a freaking joke.” Andy muttered in disbelief.

“Take it as a sign from above babe.” JJ nodded.

They trailed the cop the entire way to the prison, stopping outside the gate. Neither of them looked up at the guard as he shined a flashlight in the vehicle, making sure it’s clear of any potential threats.

“It’s straight ahead to the transfer bay.” The man pointed.

“Copy that. Thank you sir.” JJ nodded as the gate slid open. He drove the ambulance through. He backed it into the loading bay

“Right, you get in the back, put one of them stethoscopes round your neck and get ready to look like you’re gonna save his life, okay?”

Andy sighed, nodding and climbing into the back of the ambulance, waiting patiently for the doors to open. She dug through the cabinets, searching for a stethoscope, which she eventually found, slinging it around her neck.

She waited and waited hearing JJ bullshit continuously outside of the vehicle, before the doors opened up, with JJ, a nurse and a prison guard standing behind it. “Alright, let’s get him on up there. My partner can take care of him.”

They lifted the patient into the back of the van, and Andy couldn’t stop her eyes from widening at the sight in front of her.

The inmate in the back of the van was not John B.

Andy clenched her jaw tightly, timidly helping the inmate onto the gurney. “So they told me the officer would drive, so we could have two sets of eyes on the patient in case of an emergency.” JJ nodded to the nurse.

“He’s weak, feeble, pale and shit. We gotta do medical stuff on him or else we’re gonna lose him. You don’t want that on your hands.” He tossed the officer the keys, pulling the doors shut.

JJ strapped the inmate down, across his arms and chest and legs, and his wrists and ankles were bound.

Andy stayed silent for a few minutes, waiting until they left the prison to speak. “Hi, I’m gonna cover your ears for a moment, okay?” Andy smiled kindly at the inmate before covering his ears with her palms.

"JJ, do you realize that this is not John B?!”

“Of course I realize this isn’t John B! Why do you think I’m panicking?” JJ whispered.

“JJ! This isn’t a joke anymore! This man is seriously sick and they think we’re gonna take care of him!” Andy was panting from anger.

“We broke the wrong man out of prison! We don’t know who he is, or why he’s here, he could be a murderer-“

“I realize that! I realize everything you’re saying! We’re in deep shit!” JJ groaned, sliding down the doors to sit on the floor.

“Be advised, there’s a ten-sixty-three in-progress. I repeat, a ten-sixty-three in-progress. Do you copy?” A voice sounded on the radio.

“Copy…” The officer replied on his coms.

“Continue with the patient to the hospital. We have backup on the way, do you copy?”

That’s it. They were toast.

“I read, ten-four.”

“Officer, everything good up there?” JJ asked, clearing his throat.

The officer simply turned around, sliding the divider shut. “Well that’s it JJ, we’re completely fucked!” Andy clenched her fists, trying to make them stop shaking.

JJ stood up, yanking on the door, which, coincidentally, locked from the inside.

Just outside, a herd of police vehicles, sirens and lights ablaze, began following them. “C’mon Kie, I need a miracle.” JJ talked to himself, puling out his phone and typing on it.

When he was finished, he turned to Andy, a sad look in his eyes. “The ride was fun while it lasted.”

He stood up, pacing back and forth in the small space. “Plumb was right, I’m gonna end up just like my dad.”

Andy frowned. She knew it! Plumb had gotten into his head. That bitch. “JJ-“

“Look, babe I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this. You told me how dumb it was and I still begged you to come with. It’s my dumb fault, and I’ll tell the cops you had nothing to do with it.”

“No JJ, don’t.” Andy stood up, holding his hand. “I’m here because I want to be. You have the right intentions, but just not the right execution. I know you meant well.”

“Guess this is the way it’s supposed to be.” He sighed, pulling her in for a hug.

They relished in the feeling of each other, assuming it would be the last time they saw each other for a long time. “I’m sorry it went down like this.”

The van halting to a stop jolted them from their thoughts. Andy and JJ jumped up.

"Go, go, go!” He shouted at her, the pair bolting out the side door and booking it.

“I know it hurts but keep fucking running!” He encouraged her, referring to her side.

JJ was right, her side burned like hell, but she’d take that feeling over the suffocation of handcuffs around her wrists or ankles any day.

They ran and ran, through the wooded patch in the park, where Kie and Pope were waiting in the getaway car on the other side of the lawn.

Andy dove into the back seat, JJ tumbling in beside her, and Kie took off.

The car was silent, saved for the labored breathing of Andy and JJ.

Andy clutched her chest, willing her lungs to relax as she replayed the past fifteen minutes in her head.

“I’m seriously not even gonna ask.” Kie said, in disbelief.

“Look-“ JJ panted. “We busted the wrong guy outta jail. Sue me.”

Kie’s mouth opened in shock, turning around to look at them. “What!”

“At least we were trying!”

“Why are you two always doing such stupid shit?” Kie groaned.

“Well I’m gonna end up in jail anyway so-“ JJ sighed, leaning his head back against the headrest. “So why does it matter?”

Andy kicked him, not very hard, but just enough to get his attention.

“Would you stop fucking saying that?” She snapped, finally breathing normally. “Don’t let that bitch get into your head. You’re better than that.”

JJ stared at her for a few moments, saying nothing.

“You guys okay?” Pope asked, genuinely caring about his friends wellbeing.

JJ nodded. “Yeah, just a doozy of a day.”

TAG LIST

@chaoticsteve @secretwilliams @writingjjfics

#kane content #obx fic #obx oc #jj maybank imagine #kiara carrera #obx #obx imagine #obx2 #pope obx #outer banks #obx netflix

11 notes · View notes