Thirty-Two

I had woken up in a bed and again, I don't remember being put here. I sat up as the light streams through my bedroom windows and that's when everything. My father, the druthers, everything.

I curled up in a ball, tears falling down my face. My Dad's dead. I would rather see my Dad end up in jail rather than be dead.

A few sobs escape my mouth and I don't bother trying to be quiet.

"Storm." I looked over and saw JJ walked towards me, pain written on his face.

"Is he really gone?" I whispered, my voice cracking as JJ sat beside me and I sat up, tears swimming in my eyes. Everything became blurry.

"Yeah..." JJ confirmed softly, rubbing my arm and pulling me close to him. I sob into him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. "I'm so sorry, Stormy," I snuzzled into his neck, crying.

I sit up, sniffling. "Wheezie. Where's Wheezie? Oh, God. She—"

"She's okay," JJ told me gently. "I was just finished talking to her. She's with Rose now."

"Thank you for being there for her." I whispered, feeling my entire body shake. "Oh, my God." I fall back onto my bed, my eyes widening.

"You should go back to sleep, Storm," JJ told me softly, looking down at me.

I shake my head. "I don't think I can. I fainted, didn't I?" JJ nods. "Sarah—"

"She and John B are talking," JJ told me gently. It was like he was walking on eggs shells. He was being extra careful around me like I would break.

"JJ, can you please go back to your annoying, loving, self?" I begged. "I don't need anyone treating me like I'm about to break at any moment. Especially not you, J."

JJ kissed my lips softly. "Okay, Hollywood."

✫✫✫

"A great man once said that if you're born poor, that's not your fault." Wheezie, Rafe, Sarah, Rose and I watched Dad on a laptop in our kitchen, all surrounding the table. This was his goodbye message, I suppose. "But if you die poor, well, that's on you. I think, in the end, it was my fear of going back, of losing everything I have."

"That made me lose sight of everything I am..." Dad continued. "Everything I wanted to be. I killed Big John Routledge." I pressed my lips together at his confession. "I murdered Sheriff Peterkin. I shot Gavin Barnstead. I know there's nothing I can do to ease the pain I've caused. Many will say I took the easy way out. But I leave this world with terrible pain knowing that I leave behind my family, shattered by grief, broken by my sins."

"I don't expect you to forgive me for leaving you this way," tears spring to my eyes as the memory of yesterday filled my mind. "I pray you understand that... I can't go on ruining your lives anymore. This had to end. To all of you, I leave my estate, uh, to be divided equally, and I leave a love deeper than I could ever express. Take care of each other."

Rafe steps away from the laptop and takes a sip of liquor. Sarah and I sit next to each other, holding onto each other. Rose was comforting Wheezie who had tears in her eyes. Wheezie wipes her nose and steps away, sniffling.

I slammed the laptop closed out of frustation. I let the tears fall down my cheeks and I rest my head on the table, sobbing heavily. How dare he leave us like this? How dare he taking the easy way out? How dare both of my parents taking the easy way out. Now, I have no parents.

Sarah and I exited the Tannyhill house with our bikes, riding out of the gates. We were gonna see JJ and the others, we decided to bike there rather than drive.

"Sarah, Stormy, wait, wait, wait!" Rafe had approached us quickly.

Sarah jumps off her bike and shoves him back, glaring at him. "You touch me one more freaking time!" Sarah spat and I paused on my bike, glaring heavily at Rafe. Sarah picks up her bike again.

"We can't keep ignoring each other." Rafe told us. "Dad wanted us to talk."

"When I tell you you are the last person we want to talk to, we mean it, Rafe." I had sternly told him.

"I know you guys hate me." Rafe's voice trembles a little bit. "I know you guys hate me."

"You've tried to kill me," Sarah had exclaimed. "And you've bet up Stormy more than once."

"I know," Rafe whispered. "I know, I know. Guys, I—" I rolled my eyes and continued to bike down the street, Sarah following me. "No, Sarah, Stormy,"

"Jeez," Sarah muttered.

"Please! Guys! Please don't leave, okay?!" Rafe had called out desperartly. I stopped my bike, causing Sarah to stop behind me. "Dad's gone. And now, it's just you guys, me, and Wheezie."

"What's the point, Rafe?" Sarah sniffles.

Rafe comes around in front of both of us. "I know. I know... I know what I did, okay? But listen, Stormy, Sarah, um... I was only trying to do right by Dad, okay? Everything I... Everything I ever did was trying to help him, okay? And you... You guys heard the recording. He said we should... We should stay together as a family. It was his dying wish, and he's gone. And I swear I'm gonna do what I can to make that happen. I know... I know I can't change the past, but I'm gonna be different now. I'm sorry."

Rafe walks away with that. I looked behind me to look at Sarah and she was already starring at me. I sighed before starting to bike to John B's.

✫✫✫

Sarah and I bike into the Chateua and jumped off our bikes. We linked arms as we looked towards the dock to see John B sitting at the end of the dock.

"You've got this." I whispered to her and she nodded, walking towards John B. I sat down on the porch steps, inhaling deeply, then exhaling. The others weren't here, I wasn't sure where they'd gone.

But, I was wrong. I felt someone sit next to me and I glanced to see JJ sitting there, with a soft smile. "Hey," He greeted softly.
I smiled at him tearfully, pressing my lips together.

"Hi." My voice cracks and I looked down at my hands again.

JJ carefully takes my hands in his. "I'm sorry you had to see that." JJ told me, kissing my hand. "No one should ever see that. Especially not you."

"I thought—" I stumbled over my words and I stopped talking for a moment, to gather my words together. "No one should ever have to witness both of their parents dying right in front of them." JJ stares at me, tears filling in his own eyes. "J, you don't need to cry,"

"You shouldn't have to go through that." JJ told me, some tears running down his face. "And it sucks knowing I can't protect you from that."

"JJ," I smiled weakly at him. "You're doing the best you can more than anyone else has ever done to me before and I appriate that so much." I wipe his tears away. I looked towads the dock and saw that Sarah was stalking towards us with a downcast expression, John B standing behind her with a heartbroken expression. I kissed his lips gently before walking over towards Sarah. "Sissy?"

I approached her and she wrapped her arms around me tightly. "Sissy, as much I love you, I think I need some time by myself." Sarah pulled away from me, her voice wavering. "Okay?"

I gave her a weak smile. "Okay, I—I guess. Just... Just let me know if you need anything, okay? Or I can come over and beat Rafe's ass if he's troubling you."

She smiled at me weakly. "I will. I'll see you at home, Storm. Have fun with JJ." She turns and left towards her bike and I just stand there, watching her leave.

I looked over towards John B again, who was watching Sarah leave. I knew she was going to do this. Break up with John B, but I didn't expect it to hurt me as much it should've.

✫✫✫

"I still can't believe he's gone." JJ and I sit in the hammock in the Chateua that very night. Pope was with John B on the dock, listening to some soft music playing.

I'm cuddled up next to JJ as we watched the sky above us, the stars twinkling down. Hopefully Dad and Mum are watching over me now.

"Ward wasn't, you know, perfect by any means," JJ began softly, making tracing along my skin with his thumb lightly. "But, um... He's still your Dad, you know? I think it's... It's probably hard to be just simple and happy now."

I sniffled, trying my hardest not to cry anymore. I've cried in front of JJ too many times and I'm surprised he hasn't run away yet. "Nothing feels simple." I shake my head and looked at JJ, meeting his gaze as he's got one arm wrapped around me and my head was lying on his chest.

He kisses me softly. "Are you gonna be going to school tomorrow?"

I bite my lower lip and looked back up at the sky. "I honestly don't know."

"If you want, we can both just skip and sleep in the hammock all day long?" JJ suggested and I turn to look at him again, a small smile creeping up on my lips.

"That's the best idea I've heard come from your mouth all day," I snuggled into him.

"Whoop, whoop! I got the beer!" Kie had called and we turned to her, spotting the beer in her hands.

"Hey!" JJ greeted and grinned widely. "Time to get fucked!"

I giggled and slipped out of the hammock with JJ and we approached Kie. "Hi, Storm," Kie greeted, quickly hugging me and I hugged her back, taking some beer from her. We walked down the dock, greeting the other two.

"Hot potato, hot potato!" JJ had thrown the boys some beer as we leant on the rails of the dock. "What are you guys doing down here? Having a good cry?"

"Cry?" Pope scoffed.

"Cry?" John B rolled his eyes. "What are you talking—We don't cry."

"You know it's not your fault, right?" Kie asked as she holds a joint and I frowned.

"You think she'll come around?" John B asked as JJ was downing some beer.

"Yeah, dude." Kie nods her head. "She's one of us."

"Sarah's a Pogue." John B scratches his head, smirking.

"And Stormy," JJ added and I take some of his drink, drinking the other half down. "Hey! You stole my beer."

"You don't care because it was me." I smirked and JJ shrugs in defeat, opening another can.

"She'll come around." John B had continued. "Yep. You know, she'll come right back. Right. You know what, I was just thinking about it, and I'm gonna do a backflip."

"You're lying." Kie points at John B.

"Oh! I won't do it?" John B retorts.

"You any money?" I asked John B, teasing.

"Hold my beer that you already dropped." John B told us. John B does a backflip off his boat and into the water, we all cheered for him.

✫✫✫

Pope being the Dad had ordered us all to get up in the morning as we all lounged around in the Chateua. I was cuddling next to JJ on the couch.

"JJ! Stormy, get up!" Pope pleaded. "We have a geomarsty test in 30 minutes!" I ignored Pope and continued to sleep. "Are they alive?"

"I don't know." John B replied sleepily.

"JJ. Get your shoes." Pope told us, JJ was shifting underneath me and I eventually opened up my eyes. "Ah! The Princess is alive, come on, Storm, we gotta go."

"Can I just... Not?" I moaned, as JJ detatchs himself from me. "Just leave me be, I'll be fine skipping a test."

"You know I'm not gonna let you do that." Pope told me and JJ pulls me up to my feet.

"But I haven't studied!" I continued to moan and groan as JJ puts on my shoes for me.

"We know you're gonna be fine if you haven't studied." JJ teases and I sighed.

"Um, I'm gonna meet up with you guys later." Kie told us as the boys and I walked towards the porch.

"I'm starving." JJ continued. "I need some pizza."

"No, you missed breakfast." Pope informed JJ.

"Okay, okay, okay," JJ whined as Pope pulled JJ and I out of the house.

Pope, not being the one hung over, drives us to school. I had slept during the 15 minute ride. I opened my eyes in time to see JJ flying into the back seat and I couldn't stop laughing at him as Pope had pulled over, parking outside the school.

"Come on." Pope ushers us out of the van. "Let's go. Up and at em, guys." Pope opened the side door, pulling us all out.

We're now in class and I attempted to do my best at the test, and when I was finished I glanced at JJ to see how he was doing. I noticed he was just doing drawings on his paper. He looked up and made eye contact with me. I scowled at him for not doing his best.

I quickly scribbled down a note on my piece of paper.

Look, I know you're hungover and all, but at least try your best?
- Hollywood

I looked up to see if the teacher was looking and he wasn't and I quickly passed JJ the note carefully, not getting caught. I anxiously waited for his reply.

He taps on his pencil lightly on his desk and I looked over to see him glancing at me. He hands me the note when the teacher wasn't looking.

I carefully opened the note.

I guess I'll try for you. I love you to the moon and back. Also, ain't sending notes secretly back and forward during class a little too cheesy?
- J

I looked over at JJ, smiling and scrunched up the note. I mouthed 'I love you too' before slowly flipping him off. He snickered quietly, sliding further down into his seat.

✫✫✫

"Bonfire?" JJ asked as we walked to our next class. In class, John B had gotten a note from a girl regarding the annual bonfire tonight.

"My God, I completely forgot." I said as JJ wrapped an arm around me. I looked up at JJ and smiled. "Wanna go to a bonfire with me tonight?"

"I would love to." JJ kisses my lips gently.

"Uh! Mr. Heyward, Mr. Routledge, Mr. Maybank," I pulled away and see Mr. Sunn looked at us. "And Miss Cameron. Just the people I wanted to see." Mr. Sunn piled us into a classroom.

"Wish I could say the same." JJ cheekily said and I touched his side, causing JJ to flinch away from me. "God, don't do that."

"Ticklish?" I teased and began to continue to touch his side and he completely pulled away from me.

"Stop!" He whines, whacking my hands away from him and I grinned.

"I have a question of an historical nature for you lady and gentleman." Mr. Sunn had cut me and JJ off of our little fighting. "I digitize documents for the Maritime Museum," I sat on a desk, swinging my legs. "And in return, I've been given access to the archives. And I found... This."

Mr. Sunn opens a closet at the back of the classroom, he pulled out a small box from a cabinet. "A box." Pope states the obvious.

"More than a box." Mr. Sunn informs Pope.

"That's a good start." Pope mutters as Mr. Sunn puts the box on his desk. I jumped off the desk I was sitting on and walked over to them. He reveals a book in a plastic bag.

"Go ahead, Mr. Heyward." Mr. Sunn granted. Pope puts his fingers inside the box, taking the book. "Uh... Careful with that." Pope opens the book.

"Woah." Pope mutters, looking down at the book.

"It's a diary," Mr. Sunn continued. "The authors unknown." Pope opens the first page and finds a wheat symbol on there.

"Whoa." John B speaks.

"And this is a sample of Denmark Tanny letter." Mr. Sunn had come back towards us, handing Pope a letter. "Compare the handwriting."

The handwriting looks exactly the same. "No way," Pope whispered. "It's nearly identical." Pope flips through the diary, with parted lips. "This is Denmark Tanny's diary." He finds an illustration with a name written on it. "Guys, this is Captian Limbrey," Pope sits as he continues to flip through the diary. "Agust 6th, 1829."

"That's the year the Royal Merchant went down." John B releases.

"I thought you might find it interesting." Mr. Sunn nods.

"Thank you so much for this." Pope spoke his eyes on the diary.

"It's important to know your own history," Mr. Sunn told Pope. Pope looks up at Mr. Sunn. Mr Sunn steps away.

Pope looks back down at his book. "Oh, my God. It's the Cross of Santo Domingo."

We moved so we were standing by Pope, looking at the cross drawing that people were holding.

"Holy shit." JJ muttered.

"It was on the Royal Merchant."

A/N

I love Mr. Sunn tbh. He needs more screen time <3