Tʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ (3)

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Estrella sits up in the Twinkie as they come down the road. Red and blue flashing lights bounced around the van as John B slowed down.

"Oh shit! They found the truck." Kie says

"Chill, chill, chill, chill." JJ whispers, "Of course."

"All right, just relax. Just relax."

"Well, lookee here." Shoupe says as John B rolls the window down

"Good evening, Officer."

"Sheriff. Yeah."

"Sheriff. Yeah, that's right." John B says as Shoupe shines the light in the van, "Speed kills, huh?"

"I pulled the tags, and I know whose truck that is." He says as he shines the light in the back, "Hey! Kie, you drop your weed pen back there?"

"Found it." Kie smiles awkwardly

"Oh."

Estrella watches as Pope wedges himself in the front, "Sheriff, I just wanna say that this is all my fault. She had nothing to do with this. I take 100% responsibility."

"Nothing to do with it?" Shoupe repeats, "Uh-huh. You wanna try that again? Your parents reported the truck missing four hours ago, and the keys were missing from the house. I'm taking you home. Or I can pull you all in for leaving the scene of an accident."

"Okay." Kie says

"Good. Plumb." Shoupe points. The officer pulls the back door open.

"Yeah." Kie says, "I gotta deal. Hit me up later and make sure I'm still alive."

Estrella and Pope nod as Deputy Plumb closes the door

"Come on. Let's get you home."

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After leaving the scene, the teens headed to the Cameron house to see if Rafe brought the truck back with the cross. Pope shuts the back door as they all walk up to the wall.

"He's got the truck." JJ says

"Stay low, stay low, stay low." John B whispers

"How much do you wanna bet Rafe has the cross inside that truck right now?" Pope asks

"There's only one way to find out." Sarah says before walking off

"Hey, hey. Wait." John B says

Sarah turns to him, "What?"

"Look, before you volunteer on this death mission, I need to know a couple things."

""Death mission," that sounds familiar."

"Okay, look, Sarah, I just have questions."

"About what?"

"Us."

"Us?"

Estrella rolls her eyes as the boys shake their heads in annoyance, "This is the absolute worst time for that."

"It's John B." Pope says

"What does that mean?" Charlotte asks

"He has the worst timing." Pope, JJ, and Estrella mumble. Charlotte chuckles as they keep their eyes on the front door. The teens turn as John B walks up to them with a smile on his face.

"Hey! Do you want me to perform your vows while you're at it?" Estrella says

"Did you say "be safe"?" JJ asks

"Christ, could you take any longer?" Pope complains

"I said "be safe."" John B confirms

"Of course you did." Estrella says as they watch Sarah open the door to the truck.

"What's she doing?" Pope says

Sarah turns to them waving her arms around. Stress was evident on her features, so the teens wave her back over. She puts her arms out telling them to wait before heading to the front door.

"No." Estrella whispers harshly

"No. No. Don't go inside!" Pope says

"Sarah." Charlotte tries

"You said don't go in the house!"

"I told her!"

"Do the birdcall!"

John B cups his hands around his mouth before attempting a birdcall.

"That was terrible."

"What? That's not what a bird sounds like."

Estrella turns to Charlotte, "I'm going over."

Charlotte nods as the boys continue to argue. The boys finally notice Charlotte climbing over. John B frowns, "What are you doing?"

"Going over." Charlotte and Estrella whisper

"I'm going over." John B says before the boys start to push themselves up. The boys turn as a horn is heard. Estrella and Charlotte drop down as a man pulls up to the wall.

"Uh, excuse me. Can I help ya?" He says before he cocks his gun causing the boys to freeze, "I got double-aught bucks in this thing, so, uh, I can't miss. All right there, buddy, off the wall."

JJ jumps down first as Pope discreetly looks down at the girls, "Stay right there."

Estrella nods as he and John B jump down.

"That's it. Yeah."

"Sir, it's not what it seems." JJ says as they raise their hands

"You boys are on the wrong side of the island." The man says. The boys get down on their knees as he points his gun at them, "I think I'm gonna call the police."

"You don't have to do that, sir."

"I'll decide for myself what I need to do."

"Sir, can I just talk to you for a minute? Just to explain."

"Hey." John B whispers

"No, I got this." JJ nods, "Sir, I know you think we're just some derelict kids from the Cut, but we weren't that to Mr. Cameron."

"Sure weren't."

"We were his yard workers, sir. We were just waiting for our yard associate--"

"What is he doing?" Charlotte whispers as JJ continues on

"He's lying his ass off." Estrella sighs

"Tommy to get back from planting a row of flowers for Mr. Cameron's memorial."

"Keep talking." The man says

They listen as JJ comes up with an elaborate story to try and get the man off their back. Their heads snap up as they hear the door open. Sarah rushes out and makes a beeline for the drivers side door.

"Yes." Estrella cheers while Charlotte smiles. A few seconds pass and they don't see Sarah jump in the seat, "Where did she go?" Her question is answered as they see the back open before Sarah stumbles back, "No, what is she doing?"

They hear her shriek before seeing Rafe pulling her back to the house. Estrella's eyes widen, "Oh my god."

"Who is that?" Charlotte whispers as they see the door shut

"Rafe."

Charlotte turns to Estrella, "What do we do?"

"We can't do anything without blowing the boys' cover." Estrella says. Her hand runs through her hair, "Shit."

"...the Knight of the Rhododendron lives on..." JJ says, "in here. That's why we planted those flowers."

"Sure. Yes."

"Yep. That's why."

"You smell that, right?" JJ says

The man sniffs, "What is that, night-blooming jasmine?"

"No, that's more like, um... like, uh..." JJ pauses, "Sir, that's, um... natural Viagra."

"Okay!" John B says as the boys stand up behind JJ

"That's what it is."

"Really?" The man says

"One sniff and bam! It's hammer time! You know what I'm saying?"

"Our associate Tommy should be here any minute." Pope says

"We'll be quiet, all right?" JJ says leading the man back to his golf cart, "And we'll finish up here. I'm sorry to bother you."

"See that you do." The man says as he starts up his cart

"Yep."

"I gotta get some of those flowers."

"Have a good night, sir." JJ and Pope say as the man drives off. The boys immediately rush toward the wall

"Estrella?" Pope says as they climb over

"Is he gone?"

"Yeah. Did Sarah come back out?" John B asks

"She did, but Rafe took her."

"What do you mean Rafe took her?"

"She came out with the keys, but she went to check the back and he caught her." Charlotte explains

"He dragged her back in." Estrella finishes. John B sighs as the door swings open.

"Get down! Get down!" John B whispers harshly. The teens duck down as Rafe comes out.

"That's Rafe." Pope says. John B tries walking over, but gets pulled back

"Get down! No, wait! Not yet!" JJ says

"Hey, stop!"

"Then what do we do? What's the plan?" John B says

"Well, he might have the gun, so, uh, what's in our favor?" JJ says as Rafe starts to pull off, "The element of surprise, that's what's in our favor right now."

"What can we surprise him with?" Charlotte asks

"He's got my cross." Pope mumbles

Estrella's head snaps to him, "Pope."

"I'm working on it!" JJ argues with John B as the headlights flash at them

As the boys continue trying to develop a plan, Estrella can see the wheels in Pope's head turning as watches Rafe drive off, "Pope." She tries again

Pope grunts as he starts running along side the truck

"Pope!" Estrella calls out as Pope jumps onto the back of the truck. Her eyes wide as he hangs on while Rafe exits the driveway.

"What was that shit?" John B asks

"Oh my god." Estrella says as her hands run down her face

"We got the house right there."

"Rafe's gone. Now let's storm the fort." JJ says

"Shouldn't we think first?" Charlotte tries as the door swings open again

"Get down."

"Who's that?"

"Rose." John B says

"Dude, they got Sarah."

"What'd they do?"

They watch as Wheezie and Rose place Sarah in the back of the car.

"They drugged her." Estrella says as they get in the car and start it. Before she can even think, John B and JJ take off toward the car.

"Guys!" She tries. She groans as she turns to Charlotte, "Come on."

"Where are we going?" She asks as they run

"The Twinkie." Estrella breathes as they climb over the wall. Estrella gets in the driver's seat while Charlotte jumps in the back. Estrella starts the car and makes a u-turn just as Rose pulls out of the driveway.

She pulls up and stops in front of the driveway as the boys run up. Charlotte pulls the back door open.

"Come on. Hurry up!" Estrella yells as the boy jump in the back. The door slams shut as Estrella stomps on the gas and follows Rose.

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