"You okay?" Kie asked Lila as they sat together in the court room, noticing Lila had been looking around, "Lila?"

"Yeah?" the blonde asked, turning back to her.

"I asked if you were okay?" Kie questioned again. Lila gave a nod as the judge began to speak yet again.

"John Booker Routledge, pursuant to the North Carolina statute section fourteen, you are charged with murder in the first degree with aggravated circumstances. If convicted, the maximum sentence would be the death penalty." the woman spoke up as John B stood in his orange jumpsuit. Lila breathed out as she ran a hand through her hair in disbelief.

"Your honor, he's seventeen!" JJ called out as he stood up. Chatter escaped over the court room as the judge tried to reason, "Hey, John B, we're gonna figure it out."

"Don't trust anyone, John B! You hear me? Stick to yourself!" Lila called to her friend as her eyes watered, "Just keep it together, buddy, we're gonna figure it out."

"John B! John B!" Sarah called as she rushed past the crowd of people. The deputy held her back suddenly.

"Stop! Don't touch her!" Kie said as she got Sarah back.

"I hope you rot somewhere, Ward." Lila flipped off the Cameron man in disbelief, "Man up, that sounds familiar to you?"

"Lila, the police know you're on probation, keep it down." Pope pulled her into him and JJ as they walked out of the court house.

"Is this a joke, are we in hell?" Kie spoke in disbelief as the crowd of people began to speak on the matter of how justice was served and that John B had deserved it.

"I should have never come home." Sarah cried as she held Lilas hand.

"They're gonna kill him, guys. I know it." JJ added in as they grouped together.

"Fuck, I really thought I was gonna get through to Rafe. I'm so sorry, you guys." Lila apologized, feeling guilty for his actions yet again.

"It's not your fault that he's a asshole."
Pope reassured her.

"Sorry for what you and your family have gone through." Hugh, a man that worked at the Country Club, apologized to Ward as he walked out, "Thank god the system works."

"As if the system isn't broken as hell." Lila mumbled in disbelief.

"Can you please shut up?" Kie snapped as she walked forward, speaking loud enough for them to turn and look, "Of course you think the system worked because it was made to protect you and people like you."

"He'll have his day in court. A jury will decide." Hugh said back as he stuck his hands in his pockets.

"He shouldn't even be in court! You should, cause you're a murderer!" Kie shouted as she pointed at Ward with a harsh glare, "You have a lot of nerve showing up to court."

"I know you're upset." Ward began before he was cut off.

"Oh, shove your own foot up your ass." Lila said his way with a eye roll.

"I understand you're upset, okay?" Ward asked, directed toward Kie, "I know he's got you fooled. He's got you all fooled."

"No, im not just upset!" Kie yelled as she lunged for Ward, Shoupe and another Deputy jumping in to hold her back.

"Show some respect!" Ward shouted their way.

"Rot in hell, you son of a bitch!" Lila shouted at him after they pulled Kie away from the deputies, "Oh shit, maybe I shouldn't say that, cause you'll try and shoot me in a construction site."

"Lila! Hey!" Shoupe scolded as he pulled her back.

"Get off of her, Shoupe." JJ threatened as he pulled Lila away from his hold.

"You wanna get arrested? Get out. Go." Shoupe told each of them with a serious expression on his face.

"This is bullshit." Kie shook her head.

"Come on, it's not worth it." Sarah said as she put a arm around Kie.

"It's not a coincidence that your daughters sitting with us." Kie yelled back one last time. Lila looped their arms as Sarah held her hand, Pope and JJ trailing close behind as they stormed off in anger.

"You didn't got anything? Nothing?" Pope questioned Lila as they all stood on the porch together.

"All he did was cry and say he needs help but doesn't wanna go away and that he needs to man up." Lila answered as she shut her eyes a moment, "It was so confusing, then Barry comes out squawking like a damn mongoose about how John B was arrested."

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

"Sister?" JJ asked in disbelief.

"Kie, do you have your phone?" Sarah asked as she looked toward the Carrera girl, "Wheezie is the only other person that knows Rafe wasn't home that day."

"Wheezie?" JJ asked again in disbelief.

"I don't know what else to do." Sarah shook her head, "I got us into this mess. I'm gonna do my best to get us out."

"Wheezie? Yeah, that will work." JJ scoffed when Sarah walked off.

"JJ, she's trying." Lila said his way, "Cut her some slack. Look, maybe I can help."

"Mhm, yeah, go on, Lila." JJ said as she gave a look of disbelief, "You wanna run off to Rafe and try to get in his brian again? That didn't work either but go ahead."

"I thought it would help!" Lila argued in disbelief his way as she stood up, "I already said I was sorry."

"You knew it wouldn't help, you just wanted to go see him!" JJ was back at her with just as much force as she applied.

"Yeah, because I've been staying away from him this whole time i've been home for no damn reason at all." Lila nodded her head as the sarcasm fell off her tongue, "Makes a shit ton of sense, doesn't it, JJ? I've just been slumming it with you and the rest of you for no reason at all, haven't I?"

"Hey! Both of uou, knock it off!" Kie shouted at the pair, "Seriously, neither of you are helping or making any valid points."

"Our boy is a PO-dub right now, okay?" JJ gave a point of his finger, "He's held captive by the enemy right now, maybe even scheduled for execution. Are we just gonna sit here?"

"Then whats the plan? We kidnap Shoupe?" Kie yelled his way in disbelief.

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

"He's a cop, JJ!" Lila said his way.

"You have any plans then, Mrs Cameron?" JJ smarted off her way as Lila scoffed and rolled her eyes at him, "Didn't think so. Too busy worrying about when to go see Rafe."

"I'm here with you, JJ! Would you leave it the hell alone?" she asked in disbelief and waved her arms around.

"No, that is actually the worst idea i've ever heard." Pope said as he pointed at JJ.

"It's pretty bad." Sarah said from inside.

"You know? Please, just stay out of this." JJ snapped at her, "Okay, Pope, look, we've been doing everything your way, and how has that been working out?"

"Okay, okay, so what's your plan? You gonna storm a jail, guns a-blazing?" Pope asked as he rose to his feet.

"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 shouted as he stood face to face with Pope.

"JJ, we're not storming a jail. It's not happening." Pope shook his head.

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

JJ stormed out into the rain. Lila followed after, "JJ, just hang on."

"Don't have time to hang on, Lila." JJ shook his head as she followed after, hair soaking in the rain suddenly, "What? You want me to drive you over to Rafes?"

"No, I wanna come with you." she stated, "You. Not Rafe. Is that good enough for you?"

"No, you're not coming with me." he shook his head as she trailed close behind, "Keep your ass here."

"Why? I wanna help you." Lila said back as he threw his leg over his dirt bike, "Look, i'm sorry for going to see Rafe. I was trying to help and you can believe anything you want. But if that's why you're so mad at me-"

"I'm mad because I was trying to protect you and you just stormed off and didn't even stop to think about anyone's feelings but his and yourself." JJ cut her off as he looked up from where he sat on the dirt bike, "You don't get it."

"You keep telling me I don't get it but what is it? What don't I get?" Lila asked in disbelief as she threw her hands up.

JJ scoffed and stared the bike up, speeding off and leaving her in the rain.

"Creepy white girl. What you eating my whole house for?" Hayward ask as he walked into the kitchen and saw Lila had multiple snacks infront of her.

"Stress eating. You want some?" Lila asked as she offered him one of the gummy sharks.

Hayward shook his head as he sat, "Worried about John B?"

"Completely." Lila nodded as she exhaled, "Also JJ is mad at me."

"Oh, he'll get over it, that boy." Hayward said back as he took one of the gummies now, "Never met a kid like him."

"Me neither." Lila cracked a grin as she exhaled, "I did something that I thought was gonna help but i'm pretty sure it just made everything a lot worse."

Hayward hummed as he stood up and rubbed her head, "Can always get worse, can't it? Whatever you do, you do for a reason and nothing ever wrong with that."

Lila looked up at him as he gave her a look, "Figure your shit out with that son of a bitch, JJ."

Lila smiled up at him as he walked off.

•

kylie speaks

jj and lila fighting is
very much important for
the next chapter yall.

prepare for jila chapter 40!!!
and rila chapter 41-43 (that's as far as i've gotta so far)
my fav chapters i've
written so far!

HALSTON SAGE FOLLOWS
MADDIE CLINE ON INSTA!
DREW AND HALSTON HAVE
BOTH BEEN CO STARS TO
LOGAN MILLER! COINCIDENCE?
YES BUT ILL PRETEND ITS
NOT!