022
a hostage situation

"Well, there's like a thousand trains here."

Kiara huffed, planting her hands on her hips as she and the Pogues stared out into the rail yard at Wilmington. They were stood on top of a train, only the moonlight illuminating the metal carriages ahead.

"Well, we know it's car 750X on the track to Raleigh," Pope pointed further into the distance.

"Yeah, so now we just gotta find it," JJ nodded, adjusting his backpack on his shoulders.

"Easier said than done," Bianca let out an exhale. "Especially when Downer back there won't shut the fu-"

"B!" Sarah chastised and peeped over her shoulder where Topper was in fact pacing restlessly. "Be nice. He's helping us."

"Whatever," Bianca rolled her eyes.

"Well, news flash," Kiara piped up again. "We're not getting out of here unnoticed with a giant cross."

"We won't have to," Pope explained. "We can nab it somewhere further in the country. Just gotta figure out how to stop the train."

"Right," Kiara pursed her lips.

"Leave that to me," JJ suddenly smirked, causing the others to snap their heads toward him.

"How you gonna do that?" Cleo leaned forward, a challenging glint in her eyes.

"I got an uncle up in New Bern, right?" JJ smirked, the dimple on his right cheek appearing the way it did when he was up to no good. "When he got tipsy, he'd just throw an old chain across the tracks, just for shits and giggles. And uh, that old little chain would stop all the train traffic in coastal Carolina."

"A chain?" Kiara deadpanned.

"He's actually right," Pope's eyes lit up. "There's a low voltage current that runs across all rail tracks. You throw a chain on it, you close that circuit. It would read as another train. Crossing lights come down. Science is actually pretty sound."

"Science," JJ's tongue poked the inside of his cheek mockingly, and fist-bumped Bianca. "I knew my science," To which Kiara rolled her eyes.

"Well, we don't have a chain," Pope shut him down almost immediately.

"No, no, no but I bet Topper's dad has jumper cables in the truck," Sarah offered. "Would that work?"

"Yeah," Pope nodded, envisioning the plan coming together.

As if on cue, Topper's voice cut through the air from below, "Yo, what's going on?! Are- are we doing this or what?!"

The group turned to glance at the boy, dressed in a pair of shorts and flip-flops. He stopped pacing to throw his arms up in exasperation with a frustrated expression.

"Alright, you all wait here," Cleo instructed while the Heyward boy nodded. "Me and Pope will go look for it and send a signal once we find it."

"Do we actually have a plan right now?" Sarah voiced in disbelief.

"Think we do," JJ outstretched his hand for his girlfriend to take, helping her to step over the various metal bars running along the train.

"I honestly can't believe it," Bianca shook her head.

"That's impressive," Sarah scoffed.

"Let's not jinx it while we're ahead," Pope commented. "Come on."

"Nobody ever listens to me," Cleo chimed in, causing the girls to giggle.

Sarah, Kiara, Bianca, and JJ huddled atop one of the empty trains, patiently awaiting Pope and Cleo's signal that they found the train headed to Raleigh. It had only been a couple of minutes but they were already getting antsy. Cicadas chirped in the distance, only adding to the suffocatingly tense atmosphere.

"What's taking so long?" Sarah craned her neck to see past the rows of trains.

"Pope, come on," JJ's fingers drummed on the metal below in anticipation.

"Wait-" Sarah interrupted.

"Hey-" Kiara's breath hitched.

"That's them," Bianca pursed her lips when they spotted the Heyward boy scaling a faraway train. "That's Pope."

Pope flicked his torch light on and waved it in their direction, letting the others know this was their target. The group nodded frantically, waving their arms to tell him his message was received. In the distance, a train horn began blaring.

"That's it, we're green," Kiara announced as they all rose to their feet.

"What's happening?" Bianca's eyes narrowed at the chugging noises of metal scraping against the rail tracks.

"You hear that?" JJ's jaw clenched.

The train's brakes hissed and the metal clanked abruptly. Pope pocketed his flashlight when the carriage began rumbling and inching forward.

"The train's moving. Train's moving. The train's moving-" JJ chanted.

"Shit-" Sarah's eyes widened and lurched after it. "Shit-"

"Come on, we gotta go," Bianca instructed under her breath, scaling back down to the ground.

The train horn blared again and the group watched as Pope and Cleo scrambled to latch on before it departed. The others hopped off the train to get back to Topper's truck who was still pacing and gripping onto his blond strands.

When he spotted the group, his tone turned sarcastic, "Oh, hey, Sarah-"

"Do you have jumper cables in there?" Sarah cut him off, striding toward the truck.

"Here I am involved in illegal activities-" His gaze followed her as she ignored him and opened the car door. "This is great-"

"Not that illegal-" Sarah hummed, pulling out the jumper cables she saw in the backseat earlier.

"I'm not even close to being okay with this!" Topper whispered harshly.

"Okay," She shrugged.

"Jumper cables-" Topper fumbled over his words as Kiara, Bianca, and JJ appeared over his shoulder. "What are we- what are we doing with these?"

"Topper, this would be so much easier if you just cooperated," Bianca pointed out, one hand on her hip.

"What is this?" His eyes widened. "A hostage situation!?"

The girl's eyes narrowed, "It's going to be in a minute if you don't shut the f-"

"B, you're not helping," Sarah groaned in frustration before turning to the blond. "Topper, if you don't wanna go, it's fine. Then, we'll take the truck."

"Ye- the truck?" He deadpanned.

"Yeah," Sarah handed over the jumper cables to her best friend's outstretched hand.

"Thank you," Bianca hummed, an amused lilt to her voice.

Topper whirled around to face all of them, "Hey, I just want to make sure everyone here is okay with ending up in federal prison!?"

"Uh, if it gets to that," JJ pretended to think about it, pulling out his keys from his back pocket. "Yeah, I'll do it for Pope."

Topper scoffed, glaring at Bianca who got onto the back of JJ's bike after him, "Bianca, come on," She always used to be the level-headed one. "Do you seriously think this is a good idea?"

"Actually..." Bianca trailed off, wrapping her arms around JJ's waist. "This is one of the best plans they've come up with, so..."

"Hell yeah," Kiara shared a grin with her.

"So, you're really doing this?" Topper threw his arms up. "You know, you once ratted me out to my parents because I had beers at my birthday party and now you're participating in- in organised crime!"

"Okay, we were like fourteen," Bianca rolled her eyes but could feel JJ's eyes burning against her skin.

"No, no, no-" Topper waved his hands around frantically. "I don't think you understand what you're getting yourself into here. This is-"

JJ revved his engine, the rumble echoing through the empty rail yard. Topper's mouth hung agape at the boy's actions.

"Did you just-"

The bike revved again, effectively silencing him.

"What was that, Topper?" Bianca's smile widened, pretending to cup her ear.

"Bianca, I-"

JJ revved the bike, "Sorry, my bad-"

"Dude-"

Before he could get another word out, the bike lurched forward and Bianca held onto her boyfriend tighter. The wheels spun against the graveled ground, sending dirt and rocks flying behind where Topper stood dumbfounded.

"Later, Top!" Bianca stifled a laugh and glanced over her shoulder, sending a blow kiss to Sarah and Kiara who caught it with equally wide grins.

JJ directed them back onto the road with Topper's truck following, "Wow, guess I really have ruined you, huh, princess?" He mused. Sweet, innocent, little Bianca never would've done these things before she met JJ and the Pogues.

Bianca could practically hear the smirk in his tone, "Don't let that get to your head, Maybank. It's already bigger than your dick."

"I'm gonna take that as a compliment," JJ's lips quirked upward before speeding off down the concrete road with nothing but the moonlight behind them.

The couple rode parallel to the tracks until they reached a clearing some distance away. A train traffic light stood tall in the darkness, shining a green hue to signal the all-clear. Bianca and JJ were silent as the boy parked his bike behind some bushes before helping her off.

"This should be far enough," JJ jogged toward the tracks, carrying the jumper cables in his hand.

"Alright-" Bianca nodded breathlessly. Suddenly, JJ tripped, sending him face-first into the grass below and causing Bianca to slap her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles, "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," JJ grunted, pushing himself to his feet again and sprinting toward the tracks like nothing ever happened. "Alright- oh god, you can hear it coming."

The train horn blared in the distance and the rails below vibrated with how fast it was heading. JJ made quick work of attaching the jumper cables to the bottom of the traffic lights.

"Let's fry this sucker," He murmured.

"JJ, hurry," Bianca whispered as the chugging train got louder. The others were counting on them.

"Okay, now-" JJ jumped over the tracks where the girl stood. "All you have to do-"

"Do your trick," She hummed.

"Is change the current," He grabbed both the jumper cables and adjusted them on one side of the tracks. "Let's go, baby."

"Just uh- don't get electrocuted, please," Bianca warned, her eyes flickering desperately between the traffic light and JJ who crouched on the ground.

"Yeah, no promises with that. Three, two, one-" JJ clipped both the jumper cables onto the side of the track closest to the traffic light. "And red!"

The tracks started making a buzzing sound, causing the girl to take a step back, "Moment of truth..."

The train horn echoed again as they stared at the traffic light for a moment. With held breaths, they awaited for some kind of movement— for the light to change color.

"Come on, man," JJ groaned in frustration, turning back to the cables. "Come on, come on."

Bianca chewed her lip with anticipation, hands planted on her hips. Pope was right, the science was sound. So, why the hell wasn't this working? There had to be something wrong with the circuit.

JJ rose to his feet, pulling his cap off to run a hand through his tousled strands, and began rambling, "Okay, that's what he would do, alright? That's literally what my- so then it would change red— oh my god—" He began pacing. "Think. Think, think, think, okay what if I blockaded the track? That's what I could do. Maybe put, like- a tree?"

"Wait, JJ, shut up," Bianca frowned, her eyebrows drawing together. Hesitantly, she reached for one of the jumper cables, "The train- it touches both sides of the tracks," That's it, it was the circuit.

"What?" JJ watched in confusion as she attached one of the clips to the other rail.

They waited again, and Bianca turned back to the traffic light with bated breath, "Come on, come on. Please, we don't have a Plan B."

Finally, the traffic light turned red, causing both of their eyes to widen. Bianca's heart leaped to her throat and JJ turned to her in awe, his adrenaline soaring.

"That's what I'm talking about! Yes!" Without thinking, his arms wound around her waist and lifted her off the ground. He twirled her in a circle, causing the girl to let out a pained squeal, her nose scrunched up in a wince, "God, I love you, my beautiful little genius- I was gonna do that! I was gonna do that-"

"JJ, wait-," Bianca held her breath, shoving the boy by the chest to force him to let go. "Stop-"

JJ's hands squeezed her hips when he placed her down but she jerked back at the sharp ache in her side from where the seatbelt bruised her skin after the crash. He let go instantly, eyes filling with concern at her reaction.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" JJ took a step closer, reaching for her again but Bianca redirected his hands back down to his sides. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"

"No, you're fine, JJ," Bianca shook her head quickly and tried to move around him but he took her wrist, pulling her to a stop.

"Talk to me," JJ whispered, his thumb rubbing her hand gently. "What happened?"

Bianca shook her head and gave him a small smile to reassure him, "I told you I tripped earlier. I was just in such a rush to get to the Chateau- I'll be fine, don't worry about it," Although he didn't seem convinced, JJ let her walk away. "Come on, the train's going to be here any second-"

JJ allowed her to drag him back behind the bushes where they parked the bike without another word. He wasn't an idiot. As someone who fell at the hands of his father, he knew enough about pain to know when someone was lying about theirs.

"And now we wait. It's gonna work," JJ mumbled, mostly to himself. His eyes flickered between the tracks and Bianca every so often, "It's gonna work."

Even though JJ was worried, they had the cross to think about right now. He didn't like saying it but whatever was going on with Bianca, whatever she was hiding from him, would have to wait.

The train's brakes screeched to a halt not too far behind the traffic light. The sound of metal clanking and low puffing filled the air while JJ and Bianca peered through the bushes at their accomplishment.

"She's slowing down," The blond boy scoffed in disbelief. Everything was going according to plan for once.

"We got brakes, dude," Bianca mumbled under her breath, fist-bumping her boyfriend.

The rest was a waiting game as the two sat together in silence. Now, it was Pope and Cleo's time to shine and steal the cross. When they found it, Topper, Sarah, and Kiara could drive up beside the carriage and deposit the 7-foot gold piece in the back of the truck.

Suddenly, the familiar rumble of a car engine pulling up beside the train tracks forced JJ to tug Bianca backward, "Wait, B. Back up- back up."

"Shh!" Bianca whispered harshly as she huddled beside the boy in a crouched position.

"Shit," JJ cursed as two men in yellow vests emerged from the vehicle with an orange siren flashing on the roof. They were some kind of security guards.

"No, no, no," Bianca squeezed her eyes shut momentarily. "That's not part of the plan."

The guards rounded the traffic light to inspect it with torches, "What is going on here?" They conversed amongst themselves, unbeknownst to the two teenagers watching.

"Hell if I know."

"What is this bullshit?" They bent down to study the jumper cables attached to the rail. "You see this?"

"We have to warn them," Bianca swallowed thickly.

"We can't," JJ shook his head, pushing her behind him slightly.

"Unhook that for me," One of the guards told the other who did as she was told. He reached down to undo the contraption himself, "What is going on?"

Bianca pursed her lips. She couldn't do anything except stare as their whole plan fell apart.

"Throw that in the back for me," The guard instructed the other, handing her the jumper cables.

"Alright," She nodded before heading back to their vehicle.

The lights turned green once again, "You're all set over here," The guard spoke into his radio and waved at the train driver. "Some asshole put jumper cables on the tracks."

"They've had enough time, right?" Bianca finally whispered once the guards got back into their car and drove off.

JJ merely gave her a knowing look. He didn't even need to say anything. All they could do now was hope Pope and Cleo figured something out by now.

"The train's starting," JJ commented as the sounds of metal churning together resounded through the clearing.

"We gotta go get them," Bianca shook her head. There was no way they managed to heist the cross in those short few minutes.

"There goes the plan," JJ huffed, rising to his feet before helping the girl up. "Alright, we gotta help them. Come on."

"Right behind you," Bianca told him.

They jogged back over to where JJ parked the bike only for him to hit his head on one of the low-hanging branches. The boy let out a grunt, his cap falling off and he quickly ran back to grab it.

Bianca arched an eyebrow, "Again? Seriously?"

"It's not my fault!" JJ protested like an angry child. "It's the stupid- trees!" He tried to kick the stump only for his boot to collide with a root and almost lose his balance again.

Bianca rolled her eyes and grabbed his wrist to drag him away, "Let's go."

"Shit, alright," JJ whispered under his breath as he reached into his back pocket to pull out his bike keys.

He mounted the bike but in his panic, didn't realize the money clip he stole from Kiara's house fell out as well. But Bianca did.

The girl's eyebrows drew together as reached down to pick it up off the grass out of instinct, "Hey, you dropped your..." She trailed off, the words dying on her tongue when she read the initials 'M.C.'

This didn't belong to JJ. It didn't take long for Bianca to put the pieces together and when she did, she felt her heart drop in her chest. JJ glanced over his shoulder, watching her face fall with the cash in her hands.

Ice filled Bianca's insides. She knew what he did but she needed to hear it from him, "Why do you have this?"

JJ's jaw clenched, the muscle ticking. His hands were tightened around the handlebars of his bike. He didn't bother looking in her direction, knowing the disappointment in her eyes would kill him, when he ground out, "If I'm going to be accused of being a thief, might as well get something out of it."

"You're not a thief, JJ, don't give them a reason to think you are," Bianca's eyes narrowed into a heated glare. She wasn't disappointed, she was furious, "You're just giving them ammunition-"

"Ammunition for what, Bianca?" This time JJ did finally look at her but with frustration instead. "They're already against me. So, who cares?"

Try as she might, Bianca could never understand what it was like to be him. She could sympathize, sure. Maybe even comfort him like she usually did. But never understand.

"They didn't have a reason," Bianca bit back. "You're giving them a reason!"

"Who cares, Bianca?! Just forget it, okay?" JJ's knuckles turned white over the handlebars. "This doesn't have to be a fight."

"It does, JJ!" Bianca burst indignantly. Her hand tightened over the money clip, "We tell each other everything!"

"And I didn't tell you 'cause I knew this is how you'd react!" JJ knew what he did was wrong, and he regretted it the moment he did it. But his pride got the better of him every time, "God, I fuck up one time and you're there to make sure I don't hear the end of it!"

Bianca scoffed, ignoring the wrench of her heart as he spoke. She tried to remind herself he was just lashing out because he was angry. But by now, she knew better than to let that kind of behavior slide, "So, we're lying to each other now? This is what we do?!"

Not to be dramatic but JJ's heart had been stitched together once when Bianca entered his life. And that's why he tried his best to prevent any interference in this relationship because now, he swore he could physically feel a stitch rip open with every remark she made.

"You're one to talk— you tripped and fell in a bush?" JJ's chest rose and fell with shaky breaths. His eyes stung, "You really expect me to believe that? Do you honestly think I'm that stupid?"

Bianca's throat tightened. She couldn't find the words to defend herself this time, "You seemed to find it pretty funny when I told you about it."

"Okay- fine- whatever. Forget the stupid excuse," JJ ground out between gritted teeth. "But you said it yourself. We tell each other everything— so go on! Tell me- why are you lying to me?!"

Bianca crossed her arms over her chest, tucking the money clip away. She wasn't sure at what point during their argument the blame was flipped back on her, "It's nothing. I handled it."

JJ chuckled humourlessly, "I want to believe you, Bianca... I really do," He shook his head and turned away with a blank expression. "You know what? We don't have time for this. Get on."

Bianca remained silent, merely staring at her boyfriend. In the distance, she could hear the faint sound of police sirens echoing in the clearing.

In front of her, JJ grew more agitated, "Get on the bike, B."

Suddenly, a truck sped past, the headlights momentarily blinding them. A beat passed in which the couple both registered whose it was.

"That's Top," JJ alerted as the truck rounded them, revealing a large wooden box in the bed. "And that's the cross- get on! Get on!"

Bianca didn't need to be told twice as she threw one leg over the bike with JJ's backpack on her shoulders and wrapped her arms around his waist. The motorcycle engine revved once again before the boy took off, sending them both lurching after the truck.

Bianca's grip tightened around her boyfriend as the buzzing of the engine grew louder to her ears. The trees and bushes around them blurred into smears of green and the girl had to tuck her head behind JJ's shoulder to stop the sharp wind from stinging her eyes.

Behind them, sirens wailed louder, and flashes of red and blue illuminated the empty road ahead. It wasn't long till JJ's bike caught up to Topper's truck where the cross dangled precariously close to the edge. In the bed, Cleo, Pope, and Kiara clung onto it while Sarah sat in shotgun beside Topper.

"What's the plan, JJ?!" Bianca called over the wind whipping through her hair.

"I was hoping you had one!" He shouted back.

Bianca dared to take a glance over her shoulder where the cop car was quickly gaining on them. With the cross weighing Topper's truck down, it was only a matter of time before they caught up.

"JJ!" Bianca warned when the boy began inching closer to the side of the truck.

"I know, I know," JJ reassured, taking one last look over his shoulder.

Pope gripped the cross, "What are you doing!?"

JJ ignored him and stared into the truck's side mirror where he could see Topper flailing his arms around in confusion, "Top, keep going straight!"

"Hey, y'all be careful, alright!?" Topper's eyes widened, looking back in his rearview mirror.

"Topper, hold it steady!" Sarah instructed.

"I'm trying!"

Despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins, JJ managed to let out a resigned sigh. He didn't know what he was doing but he was sure of one thing. He'd rather die than let anything happen to Bianca.

Knowing she'd be pissed, JJ glanced over his shoulder with a softened tone, "Get ready to jump."

author's note. hi my loves, what did you think of this chapter? powerslide coming up in the next one, ik y'all have been asking for it ! also did anyone notice b's "can't argue with science" from last chapter and jj's "i knew my science" from this chapter hehe they're my fave idiots <3 ALSO HAVE U GUYS WATCHED THE OTHER ZOEY WITH DREW OMG ! dream cast fr