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Estrella tosses one of her books in her bag before turning to grab a sweater. She looks up at a knock on her door.

"Yeah, Mom?" She says looking back down at her bag again

"Where were you last night?"

"Here?" Estrella frowns

"I meant before. You came in late."

"I didn't come in that late." Estrella says swinging her bag over her shoulder

"Who were you with?"

Estrella sighs, "Pope, JJ, and Kie, Mom. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"What have I told you about hanging out with them? They're not good for you, Estrella."

"I was hanging out with them before and it didn't seem to be a problem." She says walking past her mom

"Yeah and then your friend killed someone."

"He didn't kill anybody. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"As many times as you want because it's all right there." Her mom says as they enter the living room

"I don't have time for this." Estrella says opening the door, "I'm already late."

"Estrella!" Her mom yells. Estrella huffs as she turns back to her mom, "You're not taking me seriously, but I mean it when I say you're not going down the same path as them."

Estrella chuckles humorlessly as she shuts the door leaving her mom standing in the living room.

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"What's happening?" Estrella whispers as she enters the library. She got a text from Pope saying that it was urgent that she meets them there. She sets her bag by Kie as she stands beside JJ.

"Okay, so that guy was from the scholarship committee." Pope says, "Take a look at this."

"What guy?" Estrella says as JJ snatches the paper from Pope

"Read it."

"Out loud." Kie whispers

JJ hesitates before turning to them, "I can't read cursive."

Kie narrows her eyes as Estrella takes the paper from him. She leans on the table as Kie and JJ hover over her, "Dear Mr. Heyward, I am reaching out because I have material evidence
that can exonerate John B. Routledge. It is of vital importance that you come and meet with me in person at my offices at King Street, Charleston at 8:00 p.m. sharp tonight. Please come alone. Regards, C. Limbrey."

"What the--"

"Charleston?" JJ says

"It's like an eight-hour drive plus the ferry. How will we get there tonight?" Pope says

"We'd have to leave right now."

"I have a free period." Kie says

"Material evidence? What does that even mean, 'material evidence' ?"

"It means he can clear John B." Estrella whispers

"Oh, shit, then we're going to Charleston." JJ exclaims earning a look from the librarian

"I gotta tell my mom." Kie sighs, "Look, if we get it this time, we are not giving it to Shoupe."

"Yeah. No duh."

Pope sighs as he looks at the computer. He grabs the note furrowing his brows.

"What?" Estrella says looking at the computer

"I'm not sure, but I think whoever this Limbrey person is, they might be related to the captain of the Royal Merchant."

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Pope, Estrella, and JJ sit in Pope's truck as they wait for Kie to tell her parents about going to Charleston. From what they could see, it wasn't going in her favor.

"They're taking it really well." JJ says

"Mm-hmm." Pope mumbles before turning to Estrella, "Please tell me your mom is gonna be cool."

"Do you want me to lie to you?" She chuckles

"What happened anyway? Ms. Cruz used to be cool." JJ asks

"She thinks you guys are a bad influence on me."

"She's probably not wrong there." Pope sighs

"I wouldn't say bad influence, but look who's talking." JJ shrugs as Estrella chuckles, "How'd you get this rig? I know your old man didn't let you have it."

"I undid the intake valves on the carburetor. Made it start pinging." Pope says

"And now you're just gonna take it to your cousin Jeff's house. Just gonna get it fixed."

"Crash overnight." "Crash overnight."

"Maybe your mom is right. I think I'm rubbing off on you, Pope." JJ says, "Lying to your old man, stealing his truck. Kinda sounds familiar." Pope turns to him and JJ smirks. When Pope turns away, JJ puts his hands up, "All right, that's a sore subject. My bad."

"I'd say we have about 18 hours before he absolutely loses his shit. So as long as we get it back before then, I think we're good."

"Boarding school?" Kie exclaims as she comes down the stairs, "What?"

"It's just an option." Anna says, "It could broaden your horizons, baby, get you out of OBX."

"I'm not going to boarding school." Kie says as she walks toward the truck. JJ and Estrella hop out.

"It would give you structure." Mike says

"They're not my people."

"Look at your life right now! Look at your life!" Mike yells as Kie shrugs

"It's good to see y'all, Mr. and Mrs. Carrera." JJ says as Estrella waves

"Hi, uh, ma'am, sir. I... I promise to have her back at a reasonable hour and safe." Pope says

"What are you doing?" Kie whispers to him

"Kiara, listen to me." Anna says, "You wanna go, then you can go. But if you don't come back at the proper time, then don't come back at all!"

"That sounds familiar." Estrella mumbles

"She's bluffin'." JJ says as Kie gets in and slides toward Pope. Estrella getting in after her, "Y'all have a good day."

Kie sighs as JJ shuts the door, "This shit would be so much easier without parents."

Estrella furrows her brows as she turns to JJ. He looks down before tilting his head.

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Pope shuts the car off as they stop in front of Estrella's house. The girl sighs as her friends turn to her.

"You want us to go in with you?" Kie offers

"No." Estrella sighs as JJ opens the door, "But I can guarantee it's not gonna go well."

She fixes her shirt as she gets out of the car. JJ watches as she makes her way into the house. He turns to Kie and Pope before sitting in the car.

"Is she sure she doesn't want us in there?" Kie says

"She does." Pope sighs as he adjusts his seating

Estrella enters the kitchen as her mom cuts up some fruit, "What are you doing here so early?"

"I'm going to Charleston."

Her mom stops and turns to her, "What?"

"Pope has someone that can clear John B's name."

"Estrella." Her mom sighs

"Mom, I'm serious." Estrella says, "Just like you think I haven't been listening to you, you haven't been listening to me this whole time. I'm telling you, it can help John B. I need to go."

"No, you don't." Her mom says

"Mom."

"I just told you that you're not going down that path with those kids."

"Those kids are the only reason why I'm still standing here right now." Estrella says

"Estrella. We don't talk about that."

"That's your problem. You don't want to listen to me." Estrella says as she heads down the hall

"Estrella."

"I'm not gonna act like nothing has happened." Estrella says standing by her desk. She digs through a box before shoving her key ring in her pocket, "Because it has and I know John B didn't kill anybody. If I can help him, I'm going to help him."

"What have those kids ever done for you?" Her mom says

"More than you have." Estrella exclaims, "I'm trying to do something good for the people I care about and you wanna stop me."

"I'm your mother, Estrella." Her mom yells as she follows her out of the room, "You will listen to me."

"Yeah, okay." Estrella scoffs as she walks out the front door. She's pulled back by her arm. Her eyes wide as her mom's grip tightens on her wrist, "What are you doing?"

The teens in the truck sit up as they watch Estrella's mom yell in her face.

"What is she doing?" Kie says as JJ gets out of the truck. Kie and Pope following him.

"Get off me." Estrella says yanking her arm away, "What is wrong with you?"

"You're out of control!" Her mom yells. Her eyes trail behind her daughter as her friends stand behind her, "You three are the reason that I lost my daughter."

"You didn't lose your daughter, I'm right here."

"No, you're not." Her mom says shaking her head, "The girl that I know would never disrespect me like this." Estrella breathes heavily as her mom stares daggers into her. Her mom storms back into the house before turning back, "Don't come back."

Estrella jumps slightly as her mom slams the door. It goes silent as the three wait for Estrella to move.

"Estrella?" Kie asks softly

They watch as she turns to them. Tears brimming her eyelashes.

"Let's go clear JB."

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