Hᴏᴍᴇᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ (3)
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Estrella sighs as the Château finally comes into view.
"There she is." John B says
"Bet it is good to see her old bones." JJ says, "Welcome home, guys."
JJ ties the boat off as everyone climbs out.
"You know, I gotta be honest." Kie says, "Not exactly looking forward to a check-in at home. My parents probably already arranged my funeral."
"I also predict unpleasantries at the Heyward household after I left the truck in Charleston." Pope says
"My shit is definitely on the street right now." Estrella says as she stands beside Pope
"Hmm." John B mumbles
JJ looks between them, "No one knows we're here, right? And you three aren't gonna get into any more trouble for showing up 12 hours later. Am I right, or am I right?"
"You're not wrong." Pope shrugs
"So that means we have 12 hours to do whatever we want." JJ smiles, "Huh? A little Pogue fellowship. How does that sound? Show Charlotte how the pogues celebrate?"
"Let the shit hit the fan tomorrow." John B says
"Yeah!" JJ cheers before his eyes land on Estrella, "Come on, Star."
"I didn't say anything."
"Exactly." He says, "We haven't had a beer chugging contest in awhile."
Estrella smiles as she looks down.
"The cops could be looking for us." Sarah interjects, "It could be really stupid."
"Sarah Cameron, you've heard of my philosophy, right?" JJ says walking over to her
"No."
"Stupid things have good outcomes all the time." JJ says. John B, Kie, and Estrella mouthing along with him before he claps, "Who's with me? Let's get some beer!"
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After taking showers and grabbing beer from a local shop owned by someone JJ knew, the teens went back to the Château to celebrate.
They set up the hot tub JJ bought and did what they did best. Had fun.
"I never made good grades in school
When I get out, I act like a fool
They say I come in the party
And cause a commotion
I'm smooth
Yeah, call me lotion."
"Pope, that was terrible." Estrella laughs as the others join in
"Do it, Pope!" JJ says, "Just like the good Lord intended."
"That was way too genuine." Sarah smiles
"Come on. Give me... give me that shit!" JJ exclaims as they laugh, "Give me it."
"Ah!" Pope says as he gives JJ a side hug
•••
After awhile, the teens decided to get out of the hot tub. They were all sitting around as JJ and Pope played a game they've seen them play a million times.
"Get it, Pope!" Sarah laughs as JJ pushes his shoulder
"Yes! Yeah!" Pope says as he stands up straight
"Okay!" JJ says as they start wrestling, "Ah! Good, good, good, good, good! Get on the leg! Oh!"
"With the single-leg sweep." John B says as Pope takes JJ down
"You've got a new technique now."
"As you should, Pope." Estrella says finishing her beer. Charlotte laughs beside her.
"When did you start wrestling?" John B asks
"I dunno." Pope breathes causing Sarah to laugh, "I'm done. I'm out of here."
"Did you have too many beers?" JJ says in a funny accent as Pope walks off, "You want a round two?"
"Yeah, I think I'll take my losses."
Estrella looks up as Kie gets up and follows after Pope. She turns to Sarah who raises her brows, "Really?"
"Oh yeah. Way to be discreet!" JJ yells
"I leave, and this is what happens." John B says
"Are you blaming me?"
"I'm blaming the both of you." John B says pointing between JJ and Estrella
"What? Me?" Estrella says, "It's my fault now?"
"Just a little bit." John B says, "Uh-oh. Your boy's out. Beer time."
"You guys are the one that died, okay?" JJ says. Estrella's face falls slightly, "That was..."
"Literally one job, JJ." Sarah jokes
"Okay."
"No Pogue-on-Pogue macking!"
"One job?"
"One job."
"Sarah, one job? Okay-" JJ says looking around, "Who got you the Phantom? Huh? You ever think about that?"
"Only one, ya know-"
"No." JJ says. Charlotte chuckles at the two going back and forth.
"It's literally-"
"You weren't there. I looked up-"
"No." Sarah shakes her head, "No excuses. You're a Pogue. You should know this."
JJ looks toward John B, "Wait. Yo, hold that thought."
The girls watch him get up and walk toward John B who was looking at the memorial they carved into the tree. Estrella turns back to Charlotte, "How are you enjoying it?"
"Yeah." Sarah smiles, "Enjoying the Pogue celebration?"
"Absolutely." Charlotte says, "Is this how you guys always celebrate?"
"Yeah." Estrella chuckles, "Every time."
Charlotte smiles as she nods, "I'm kind of jealous actually. You guys are so much closer than I am to any of my family."
"Is Limbrey the only family you have?" Sarah asks
"Yeah, pretty much." Charlotte says, "My mom died when I was young and I've never known my dad. Any friends that I have are all about money and living the most luxurious lives."
"Seems pretty nice to me." Estrella chuckles
"It is until you realize that they don't really care much about anyone but themselves." She says looking down, "They're not actual friends."
Sarah smiles, "Well, I'd say you've made a couple of friends right here."
Charlotte looks between the girls who give her bright smiles. As JJ and John B make their way over to them, they hear a boat in the distance. They look toward the water and notice that Kie and Pope took the H.M.S Pogue.
"Oh! All right." JJ yells
"Have a good time!" Sarah exclaims in a sing song voice
"There here he goes." JJ says turning to John B, "He jacked your boat, dude."
"Pope's poking on the Pogue." John B says
"Ew." Estrella groans as Sarah yells out at the two on the boat.
"You should probably-" JJ starts
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." John B says
"What?" Estrella says as she looks where John B was
"What was that?"
"What was what?"
"Your chicken?" JJ says
"I heard a car door."
Estrella stands up as JJ starts clucking like a chicken. John B quickly covers his mouth. Estrella takes the beer in Charlotte's hand and tosses it onto the fire putting it out. She steps over toward the boys, "We have to hide. Now."
"Where?"
"In the house?" Sarah suggests
"No, that'll be the first place they look. We have no idea who the hell it is." Estrella whispers
"The tree." Charlotte says
"What?" JJ says
"In the tree." She says standing up, "We can climb and hide in the tree."
John B nods, "Come on."
They rush over and John B climbs in first. Sarah climbs up next with JJ and Estrella helping her since she had her gunshot wound on her side.
"Go next." JJ says to Charlotte. The girl quickly climbs up on a branch beside Sarah, "Go."
Estrella climbs up to a branch above John B. JJ takes a branch next to her. The teens watch as Rafe and Barry walk over to the house. Rafe eyes the burnt out fire as Barry goes inside.
"Where the hell are you?" He mumbles. Estrella's heart beats hard in her chest as Barry slams the door open, "Yo! Anything?"
"No, ain't shit in there, bro."
"No? Nothing?"
"No, nothing, Rafe."
"They were obviously just here based off the smoke."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Great observation, Boy Scout."
"They're not far, you know?"
"Smokey the Bear! Look at you, bro!"
"They gotta be around here somewhere." Rafe turns toward the tree.
"P4L." Barry reads
"Well, shit." Rafe laughs
"So your sister's a Pogue for life, huh, Rafe? Now who would've thought?" Barry chuckles. Estrella's breathing grows heavy as she sees Rafe become visibly angry.
"Shit!" Rafe yells
"All right, chill." Barry tries, but fails as Rafe shoots at the tree. Each of the teens sitting on the branch trying to hide, but as Barry grabs Rafe's arm, he sends more shots into the air.
JJ hides behind his branch as one comes flying toward him. Sending bark flying as it hits the branch. Estrella groans as she feels a sharp pain on her thigh.
"Hey! Whoa! Hey, chill, bro! Rafe!" Barry yells, "Chill your shit! Chill out! You're gonna get our asses busted, dawg! Let's bounce. Let's bounce. Let's go!"
Rafe breathes heavily as Barry pushes him back, "Let's go!"
JJ comes out from behind the tree eyeing the missing bark. Sarah turns toward John B with heavy breaths. John B listens in and finally hears the doors closing and the sound of the tires rolling on the gravel. Indicating that they drove off.
"Okay." He says, "I think we're good." He hops down first and holds his hand out. Sarah takes it and jumps down. JJ jumps down with Charlotte right behind him.
"Holy shit." JJ breathes
"JJ." He hears.
He looks up toward the tree and notices Estrella hadn't come down. His face drops at the sight of her hand on her thigh. Blood slowly trickles down from her hand as tears begin to fall down her cheeks.
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