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"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances." The judge says, "If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty."

Estrella's heart drops as the judge strikes the gavel. Murmurs were heard throughout the courtroom. Estrella looks over to Charlotte. The girl's blue eyes mirroring her own.

"Your Honor, he's 17." JJ says as he stands. Pope quickly standing up beside him.

"Stop." Pope tries

"Quiet in the courtroom." The judge says

"No, he's 17! Are you kidding me?" JJ exclaims. Estrella stands up walking over to him.

"You're good." Pope says

"Bailiff!"

"Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out." JJ says as the bailiff starts to lead John B out

"John B! John B!" Sarah cries, "John B! No!"

"Sarah!" Estrella and Kie call out. Estrella takes a hold of Sarah's arm as an officer starts to push her back.

"Sarah!" Pope yells

"Stop! Don't touch her!" Kie says as Sarah yanks her arm away from the officer, "Let's go, Sarah. Let's get out of here."

"Everybody out. Let's go." A man says. Estrella notices her breathing becoming irregular as they all step out of the courthouse.

"Justice is served."

"He had it coming."

"Is this a joke? Like, are we in hell or...?" Kie says

"I should have never come home." Sarah sniffles

"They're gonna kill him, guys. I know it." JJ says wringing his hat

"Sorry for what you and your family have gone through." A man says. Estrella looks over to notice him comforting Rose and Ward. Her anger quickly rises, "Thank God the system works."

"Can you please shut up?" She exclaims. Her friends turning as well as Rose and Ward, "Of course you think the system worked because it was made to protect you and people like you."

"Estrella." Pope tries

"He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide."

"He shouldn't even be in court!" Kie yells from beside her, "You should, 'cause you're a murderer. You have a lot of nerve showing up to court."

"I know you're upset. I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward says

"Upset?" Estrella scoffs

"I know he's got you fooled. He's got you all fooled."

"No, I'm not just upset!" Kie says swinging her arm toward him. Shoupe quickly steps in as Pope and JJ pull her back.

"Show some respect!" Ward yells

"Muzzle your goddamned dog!" JJ says to Shoupe

"Get off her!" Estrella says pushing the officers hands off of Kie

"Why don't you take the Kooks down for a change, Shoupe?"

"You wanna get arrested?" He says, "Get out! You need to go."

"This is bullshit." Kie says as Sarah rubs her shoulders

"Come on. Look, it's not worth it." Sarah mutters

"Get out of here." Shoupe says

"It's not a coincidence that your daughter's sitting with us." Estrella shouts to Ward. The man looks back momentarily before turning away. As Estrella turns to walk with her friends, she stops. Her face falling as she stands there.

Charlotte turns upon noticing that Estrella wasn't beside her, "Estrella?" The other teens turn as Charlotte walks over to her, "What's wrong?"

"My mom." She mutters. Charlotte turns in the direction that Estrella was staring. Seeing an older woman with dark hair talking with some of the people that were sat in the courtroom. Nodding along to whatever they were saying.

Pope walks over to her, "Come on."

Estrella's eyes linger on her mom as Pope gently turns her away. She blinks rapidly as they make their way away from the courthouse.

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The teens were now sat on the Château patio. Raining was pouring down outside as they tried to come up with a way to help John B.

"I'm gonna testify under oath. I was there." Sarah says, "I just need to get a hold of my sister."

"Sister?" JJ mutters turning to Pope. Pope shrugs in return.

"Kie, do you have your phone?" Sarah asks. Kie hands her the phone with raised brows, "Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day."

"Wheezie?" JJ repeats incredulously

"I don't know what else to do. I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out." She says before walking into the Château

JJ scoffs, "Wheezie? Yeah, that will work. Well, she's right about one thing. We gotta do something. Our boy is a PO-dub right now, okay? He's held captive by the enemy right now,
maybe even scheduled for execution. Are we just gonna sit here?"

"What's the plan? We kidnap Shoupe?" Kie says sarcastically

"Maybe, like, that's not the worst idea actually."

"Oh, it's not?"

"No!"

"That's a terrible idea, JJ." Estrella says with her head in her hands

"It's pretty bad." Sarah says

"You know? Please, just stay out of this." JJ says to Sarah before turning back around, "Okay, Pope, look, we've been doing everything your way, and how has that been working out?"

"Okay, okay, so what's your plan?" Pope stands, "You gonna storm a jail, guns a-blazing?"

"Look, Pope, all I'm trying to get you to understand is they got our boy. Are we just gonna sit here and do nothing? No! We're gonna go get his ass. We're gonna do something about it!"

"JJ, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening."

"No, fine, man. Sit in your comfy chair. Do nothing. I'm gonna see what I can do. Make something happen, even if I have to do it by myself." JJ says putting his hat on

"Okay." Kie says as JJ storms out. Estrella sighs as she stands up.

"Should we be worried?" Pope says

"Yes, for sure." Kie says as Estrella walks past her

"Where are you going?" Pope asks. His question is left unanswered as Estrella steps off the porch into the rain.

"JJ!" She calls out

The blonde turns with furrowed brows. Estrella's limp was evident as she walked over to him, "What are you doing? You're supposed to be relaxing. You've been up all day."

"I don't care. I need to make sure you're okay." She says

"I'm fine." He mutters

"No, you're not." She says shaking her head, "And I'm not either, but John B is in jail. This is so much more serious than most of what we've dealt with. We can't do anything crazy."

JJ looks away, "Estrella."

"I'm serious, JJ."

"So, I'm supposed to just sit here and hope that he gets out?" He says looking back to her, "Those people are not on our side."

Estrella steps closer, "I understand that you wanna help him. I do too, but you getting caught up and put in jail right with him, doesn't help us." JJ looks down as she continues, "You're a smart person, Jay." He looks up his blue eyes catching hers, "I know you care about him and you wanna help, but you have to do it the right way."

JJ looks between her eyes for a few seconds. Both of their clothes becoming damp as they stood there, "I'll be fine."

"Promise me." She says holding his wrist, "That you won't do anything crazy."

JJ smiles lightly, "Crazy's my middle name, Star."

Estrella's hand falls to her side as he walks away from her, "JJ."

She sighs as he continues on. She tucks her hair behind her ear before walking back over to the Château.

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