XVI a crook who was caught

Bridger was not happy at the fact that JJ dragged him out of his house to be apart of his evil scheme. The blonde boy reminded him that he was now apart of the Pogues that whatever he did, he had to join in on, which Bridger found to be completely bullshit. He refused to bring up his encounter with Rafe. It was something Bridger wanted to forget, even though he could slept because it was all he could think about.

Bridger stood on the boat with Sarah as JJ and John B messed around with the alternator. JJ told him his job was to keep her busy. The pair watched the sunset on the deck quietly. He glanced at her. "Hey Sarah?"

She hummed and looked at him.

"Have you heard from Rafe?"

Sarah narrowed her eyes. "Rafe? No, why?"

Bridger scratched the back of his neck. "No reason. I just. . . He and I haven't talked since Midsummers. I'm kinda—"

"You miss him?"

He shook his head. "No, not so much that I miss him. I'm just kinda, I don't know, worried about him."

Bridger hated talking about his problems. He absolutely hated it. It didn't help that he was talking to his biggest problem's sister. 

Sarah gave a sad smile. "It's okay to feel that way,  Bridge. I know you and him didn't have the healthiest friendship but it was still a friendship. I know how much you love and care for him."

Brotherhood, the same as sisterhood only more complex. Bridger and Rafe were like brothers. They felt each other's pain and caused each other's pain.  Bridger basically lived at the Cameron estate. Rafe always promised that if anything or anyone was to hurt him, Rafe would take care of it himself.

Bridger never once questioned what Rafe was capable of until now.  The recent events brought him clarity and he realized just now toxic Rafe was to him. The drugs, the alcohol, the theft, the bullying, it's not who Bridger wanted to be. He wanted to be good. He wanted his mom to be proud of the baby she left behind. 

But even still, Bridger couldn't help but miss the boy he once knew. The boy who he stole beers with and the boy who stole the golf carts with on the course. He missed the times when Rafe would pull him into his crazy antics because he thought it made him a man,  but Bridger was too young to realize that it was ruining him. He put his all into their friendship and Rafe gave him nothing at all.

Rafe was his brother, but he wasn't his friend, and Bridger knew their brotherhood was over. 

He heard JJ call out his name and he looked over his shoulder. The blonde gave him a thumbs up signal and he nodded. "Hey Sare, will you help me look for something real quick?"

Sarah nodded. "Yeah, sure."

Bridger led her to where the lower deck was. "JJ told me to help him find a flashlight. Can you see if there's one down there?" He asked her.

The girl nodded again and climbed into the room. It was completely dark and she squinted her eyes to look for a flashlight. "Uh, Bridge, I don't see—"

Bridger closed the deck and locked it quickly. Sarah started pounding on the door from the inside. "Bridger? Bridger, let me out!"

He backed away and her shouts for help became muffled. He went inside the alp where the guys were. "I hope you know how much I'm changing here. She's probably going to murder me when she gets out."

John B smiled at him. "I'm proud of you, Bridge."

JJ looked up and squinted his eyes at him. He smiled. "Have I told you how dashing you look today?"

Bridger rolled his eyes. "Yes, you did when you came to my house and I told you to shut the fuck up because I was exhausted." He bent down and kissed the top of his head. "But thank you."

The HMS Pouge came to view. "Hey, there they are." Bridger announced.

Kiara hopped onto the boat and looked walked into the alp. He casually leaned on the wall and crossed his arms to not look suspicious. "What happened?" She asked.

"Uh, the alternator's, uh, not alternating anymore." Said JJ.

Bridger pinched his nose.

"It's not charged." John B clarified.

"Did you check the plugs?"

"No, no, you should check 'em."

"Yeah."

"Give it a whirl."

She scoffed. "You guys are useless."

"Sorry about that."

"Yeah, sorry, they're kinda stupid," Bridger dismissed and pushed JJ out of the alp. "Go, go, go!"

The three boys ran from across the boat and leaped into the water. "Sayonara!" JJ shouted.

Bridger laughed and paddled all the way to the other boat. "Are you serious!" He heard Kiara shout from the boat.

"Are you joking?"

"Get your asses back here!"

"We can't. Not until you two figure it out!" John B called out and they climbed into the boat.

"I will kill every single one of you!" Kiara shouted in anger.

"Y-You can't just leave!" Said Sarah.

"Sorry guys!" Bridger shouted and wiped the water from his eyes. "If it makes you feel any better, it was all JJ's idea!"

The blonde's jaw dropped. "Hey!"

"There's food in the cabin and JJ rolled a blunt!" Pope told them.

"Hydroponic!"

John B started the boat. "Let's get out of here."

"Godspeed!"

Sarah jumped into the water and started swimming towards the moving boat. "Bridger, I'm going to kill you!"

"I'm sorry. I love you!" He shouted back and laughed as he watched her struggle.

"Love you guys! Bye!" JJ hollered.

Bridger slapped his chest. "If she gets a hold of me and I die, I'm coming back and haunting all of your asses."

"Aww, can I have your car?" Asked John B.

Pope raised his hand. "Can I have your golf cart?"

He laughed sarcastically. "Ha, ha, no."

JJ laughed and kissed his cheek. "You're so cute when you're mad."

Bridger shoved his face away. "Get away from me. I'm haunting you first."

"It would be my honor to be haunted by you, Bridger Fitzgerald."

By the time they got back to his home, it was already dark. "Are you sure you want me here?" JJ asked as they got closer to his home.

Bridger nodded. "Yeah, don't worry. My dad's not home. He's hardly ever home anymore."

The blonde frowned. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I hope he rots in hell," he responded, truthfully. When it got quiet, he glanced at JJ and saw him still frowning. He grabbed his arm. "I'm sorry. I'm just happy there's nothing he can do anymore. He can't blackmail me anymore. I'm free."

JJ's frown turned into a smile. "You are free. I'm so proud of you."

Bridger brought his hand up and kissed it. They finally got to his house and they walked inside, him punching in the code on the alarm. "Good to be home."

JJ grinned.

"Are you hungry?" Bridger asked and walked into the kitchen.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Um, yeah. A little." He responded like he was embarrassed to say yes.

The Kook walked forward and cupped his face. "Why don't you go take a shower and I'll make us something?" He insisted.

JJ's eyes lit up. "Sleepover?" When he got a smile of approval, he kissed him quickly and ran up the stairs where Bridger's room was.

Bridger smiled as he watched him go and he reached into the fridge and pulled out salad mix and a pack of chicken. He turned the stove on and put on a pan. He got out a cutting board and quickly washed his hands before cutting the chicken into small cubs.

When the pan was hot, he put in the cubs of chicken and started to grill them. While that was cooking, Bridger got out a large bowl from the bottom cabinet and dumped the salad mix in. He grabbed tomatoes and some vegetables from the fridge and started cutting them up. Then he grabbed croutons and a bottle of ranch from the fridge and he started tossing the salad together.

When the chicken was done and grilled, Bridger poured it into the large bowel of salad and tossed it around again until it was done.

He turned around when he heard heavy footsteps and he saw JJ running down the stairs wearing only a pair of basketball shorts. His blonde hair was messy and dripping water. Bridger smiled at the sight. "Feel better?"

JJ sighed, feeling satisfied. "So much. Your water pressure is way better than mine."

Bridger hummed and kissed his lips quickly. "Well,  you're free to use it whenever you want." He grabbed the large bowel and salad from the counter.  "Chicken salad?"

JJ nearly fainted. "Ugh, I love you so much."

They directed to the kitchen table and Bridger grabbed two plates, pilling them with the chicken salad. They ate quietly in peace. He smiled to himself as he watched JJ scarf down the food. It made him feel sad on the inside, knowing it was probably the first home cooked meal he had in a while.

He realized how long it had been since he spent proper time with JJ. He realized because their relationship was a secret, he never got the chance to treat him how he wanted to. It was always late night sneaking out, hidden make out sessions when nobody was around, and JJ sneaking into his room when his dad wasn't home. Bridger no longer had to hide. He was finally free. "I want this." He spoke.

JJ looked up at him, his mouth full of salad. "What?"

Bridger pointed between them. "This. Us." He waved his hand around the house. "I want this with you. I want to have dinner with you. I want to come home to you. I want us to have a life with each other. That's what I've always wanted."

A shy grin appeared on JJ's lips. "What, like, marriage?"

Bridger shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe."

His face softened. He sat down the fork. "Aren't we a little young?"

Again, he shrugged. "Yeah, probably."

"I-I don't have a ring."

"We don't need 'em."

"I'm a little messy, y'know?" JJ continued, feeling insecure at the love he was being shown.

"I don't care. I love you and you love me. That's always been enough." Bridget declared.

The blonde scratched his cheek, suddenly feeling giddy. "Okay. Uh. . . I-I mean–"

"Im sorry." He suddenly laughed. "I didn't mean to spring that on you. It's just. . . This is the first time I've ever felt truly happy in my entire life, simply because I can be myself. I'm with you. I don't have to hide who I am anymore. I don't plan on ever letting you go ever again. I-I want you in my life forever.'I don't give shit about rings, or weddings, or a fucking marriage license. I just want to love you forever. Can I do that?"

JJ's watercolor eyes glistened like the waves crashing in the water. He let out a slight laugh, which made Bridger nervous, until he looked at him with a smile full of love. "I'll marry the shit out of you, Bridger Fitzgerald."

When the morning came, Bridger was surprised to see JJ was still there. His eyes cracked open enough to see him still sleeping. He was on his stomach and his head was twisted, facing him. His blonde hair was messy on the pillow and a few strands fell in front of his face.  The light peaking in through the curtains shined on his sun kissed skin. He looked like a dream.

Bridger's fingers trailed on his exposed skin. He was warm, but JJ was always warm. He wondered how somebody could look so pretty sleeping.

JJ let out a low groan and shifted under the covers.  His blue eyes fluttered open and saw Bridger staring at him. "Morning." He muttered.

"Good morning." Bridger smiled.

"Your bed is really soft."

"Helix Sunset Luxe."

"I don't what the fuck that is but it's heavenly."

Bridger smiled again. "Do you want breakfast?" 

JJ contemplated. "Hmmm, can we just lay here for a while?"

His insides warmed again. "Course we can."

JJ shifted again so he was lying on his side. Bridger laid on his back and his arm slung over his exposed chest. They fell back asleep.

"Uh oh! You forget the keys or something!" John B announced comically when they drove the boat into the marsh.

Kiara and Sarah stood up from the edge of the deck when they came into view. 

"You guys need a tow?" Pope shouted.

"You ladies look beautiful this fine evening." Bridger teased, causing Sarah to glare at him.

"You gotta admit it was kinda funny." John B teased as well.

"John B."

"Uh, what's that?"

"Mastermind, huh?"

He smirked. "I'm always planning."

"Some patriarchal bullshit." Kiara sneered.

"Yeah, that sucked," Sarah added.

"You still love us though, right?" JJ teased, his arm wrapped around his boyfriend.

The two girls looked at each other. "Yeah, whatever."  Kiara muttered.

John B grinned at Sarah. "You still hate me?"

"A little." She shrugged and crossed her arms. "We're both gonna get you back when you least expect it."

"Uh oh, make sure to lock your doors, boys," Bridger joked. He hit John B on the shoulder. "Except you, you live with her."

John B laughed mockingly.

Pope raised his hand. "I, for one, welcome that challenge."

JJ agreed. "Me too."

"So, did you guys, you know. . ."

"Reconcile our differences?"Kiara finished and hummed to herself. "Not even close."

"But we're. . . willing to work together?" Sarah asked rhetorically.

John B threw his hands up. "You know what? That's victory."

"Woogidy-woogidy-woogidy!"

"What know what it was guys? Hydroponic." JJ boasted.

Bridger slapped his arm. "No, it wasn't. Shut up."

"You guys ready to hack some loot?" John B asked the girls that were still on the boat.

"Yeah, whatever." Kiara said again and jumped onto their boat. Sarah jumped in behind her.

Bridger grinned at his friend. "So. . . Am I forgiven?"

Sarah stared at him blankly and kicked his shin. 

"OW!"

"That's for locking me in there!"

"JJ made me!"

"Don't blame me!"

Bridger flipped him off. He gave Sarah the puppy dog eyes. "I'm sorry. Please forgive me?" He begged and put his hands together.

The girl rolled her eyes very heavily. "You're so annoying." She grumbled

Bridger smirked and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, kissing her cheek with a loud pop.