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❝ take a hike, buddy ❞
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𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

After checking up on Pope's dad who was jumped by Carla Limbrey's guard dog Renfield and him giving us the idea of getting information from the Heyward's 'MeeMaw', we're sat in the Twinkie on our way to the old folks home that she is currently staying in.

"Guys, the thing that Limbrey said, I don't think she meant to let it slip" Pope announces "She said the key leads to the Cross of Santo Domingo"

"Wait, can I see that?" JJ asks and Pope hands him the key.

"Are we supposed to know what that is?" Sarah questions.

"It's a key, duh" I reply sarcastically and my sister shoots me a glare.

"I'm guessing it's some sort of historical artefact of great importance" Pope explains, ignoring my comment.

"Well, according to the interwebs, it was a gift from New Spain to the Spanish king" Kiara read from her phone.

"New Spain? Is there an Old Spain?" JJ asks in confusion.

"You are so lucky that you're hot" I hum and he merely grins at the backhanded compliment that he doesn't seem to understand the backhanded part of.

"Shit, talk about over gifting. Look at that thing" Kiara says in amusement, showing us the drawing off the cross on Wikipedia "Looks like a person standing next to it"

"Holy shit, that thing is huge" I mutter out in awe.

"That's what she said" JJ smirks widely and I snort with laughter, pushing him playfully.

"Very mature, guys" Pope huffs in annoyance.

"So it's a giant ass cross?" JJ asks simply.

"It was widely considered at the time to be the most extravagant tribute ever from the provinces" Kiara reads again "It was lost off the coast of Bermuda in 1829"

"Did you just say Bermuda?" JJ perks up.

"Oh, no. Not the triangle" John B states.

"If I have to hear about this damn triangle one more time I'll commit murder" I groan in irritation.

"It always leads back to the triangle, dude" JJ argues "Like, every single time something's weird, it's Bermuda"

"Okay. What does a key you found above your mee maw's pharmacy have to do with any of this?" Kiara questions.

"Yeah" Sarah agrees.

"Where do we come in?" Kiara adds.

"I don't know. That's a good question" Pope sighs.

We arrive at the Shady Acres old folks home and I climb out of the van behind JJ and Kiara.

"Hey, actually, I think I'm gonna do this one by myself" Pope declares.

"Are you sure?" Kiara asks him.

"Yeah, I can handle it. I don't really need you, so..." Pope drawls off and I grimace at his tone of voice.

"Oh, we're just all one big happy family today, aren't we?" JJ says sarcastically.

"That was a low blow, Heyward" I whistle.

Pope walks away from us and we all get back into the van, JJ slipping me between his legs so that he can hug me from behind and press kisses to my neck..

"Hey, man, pick you up in a bit!" John B yells at Pope.

✯¸.•'*¨'*•༻❁༺•*'¨*'•.¸✯

I'm stood outside the surf shop on the main street with Sarah and Kiara, the three of us sipping on slushies while JJ and John B sit in the van across the road.

"Of course I checked on Topper" Sarah scoffs, reminding me of the bitching session the girls are having at the moment "He saved my sister's life and JJ socked him in the face. And you'd think that that is the crime of the century"

"Tell me about it. All of this crazy shit's happening, and Pope's giving me the silent treatment for not being in love with him" Kiara tells us.

"Bitches be bonkers" I mutter, trying my best to validate their anger.

"Isn't JJ pissed at you for being with Topper?" Sarah questions curiously.

"No, why would he be? Topper saved my life" I frown in confusion.

"JJ's a jealous little shit. How is he not mad?" Kiara asks in surprise.

"He's definitely jealous that I was with Topper, but he understands the situation and he's not mad at me. He's just worried about me and glad I'm alive" I explain to the girls who seem to be in disbelief.

"Wow, that's so unfair. Why can't we all have mature man?" Sarah pouts childishly and I grin in amusement.

"No, for real. Where did you buy that one?" Kiara agrees.

"I actually found him in a box on the side walk" I answer jokingly and we all laugh, crossing the road.

We hop in the van and as John B starts up the engine, JJ climbs into the back of the van with us. As the van springs to life and speeds away, the Maybank boy tumbles onto his face in front of the girls and I. We all laugh loudly and JJ grumbles in annoyance, sitting up and pulling me into his lap to kiss my temple and steal some of my slush.

"There he is" JJ abruptly declares as Pope approaches the slowing van.

He climbs into the vacant seat next to JJ and I who are sat on the ground while Sarah slips into the passenger seat silently, Kiara and I sharing a knowing smile.

"So, how'd it go?" John B asks.

"Shit just got way more personal" Pope declares.

We head down to the marina and on the road Pope tells us all the information he's gathered, leaving us all completely shocked and in awe.

"I still can't believe that you're related to Denmark Tanny" John B laughs as we sit down at the docks, drinking beer.

"Uh huh" JJ chirps.

"Are we in the presence of a royal?" John B gasps jokingly.

"A king?" JJ says in a british accent before putting an imaginary crown on Pope's head "We shall crown him. All hail the lord of Tannyhill! We're not worthy!"

"All right. Everybody relax" Pope chuckles as we bow at him "Can we relax, please?"

"Relocate the Cat's Ass, question mark?" Sarah suggests.

"I'm with that" JJ agrees.

"For sure" I hum, leaning back against my sister's legs.

"How soon can we move in?" Kiara asks Pope.

"Cause I don't have a place to stay" JJ adds.

"Me either. Bunk beds?" Kiara asks.

"Bunk beds" JJ confirms tapping her can with his own "Cheers to that"

"You wanna bunk with me, barbie?" I joke and she gasps, grabbing my shoulder.

"Oh my God, totally. It'll be just like old times" She replies jokingly and we both laugh.

"Don't play, your rich ass has never even seen a bunk bed" JJ teases my sister and I snort.

"Hey, I went to summer camp!" Sarah retorts matter of factly.

"I just keep thinking about the letter, the one that Limbrey sent. It had the wheat symbol on it. Like, that must mean it has something to do with the Royal Merchant" Pope speaks up, changing the subject.

"Yeah. Something seems fishy" JJ nods.

"But if we find that cross, we can split it like we were gonna split the gold" Pope tells us.

"Yeah. I'm with that" JJ perks up in agreement.

"And live happily ever after?" A feminine voice asks and I turn my head to see Carla Limbrey with her lackey Renfield.

We all freeze up in surprise, eyeing the pair wearily and Sarah places her hand on my arm in worry while JJ glares at them.

"You assaulted my father" Pope spits in anger, stepping forward and Renfield pushes him back away from the blonde woman.

"Hey, hands off!" I demand, slipping between the males and pushing the guy away from Pope

"Oh, I didn't assault anybody" Carla argues as Renfield glares at me in anger, but he doesn't react.

"He can identify the psycho from a mile away" Kiara retorts.

"Why would my employee a-assault your father? That's absurd" Carla laughs.

"Listen, we can keep on negotiating, but the fact is that I want the key" She adds and Pope lunges past me, but Renfield grabs him.

"Hey, stop!" Kiara hollers.

"Put your dog on a leash!" I yell as JJ grabs me, holding me back.

"Easy" Carla warns the Heyward boy "And I won't stop until I have it. I don't have a choice, which means you don't either"

"It's Limbrey, right? Is that right?" John B speaks up and we all turn to see him holding up a key, a key that I know is not the one she wants but she doesn't seem to realise that.

"Yes" Carla smiles at him, in awe with the object he's holding and oblivious to the fact that it's a fake.

"Is this what you're looking for?" He asks.

"Yes, it is" Carla answers.

"Looking at the tide right now, I'd say it's about 20 feet deep out there. So, if I threw it in the channel, the probability of you finding it again is slim to none. You wanna give it a shot? Let's see what happens" John B explains matter of factly before lifting the key to throw it "Ready?"

"No! Hey!" Carla screams as John B pretends to throw the key before showing her his empty hand "Please don't do that"

"Get him to back the hell up" John B demands, pointing at Renfield who is still holding Pope's arm.

"Of course" She nods, looking at the man "Back up"

The older man rolls his eyes in irritation and walks over to the blonde woman, standing behind her like a bodyguard.

"As I have told you from the beginning, I am willing to be reasonable" Carla tells Pope.

"Okay" The Heyward boy replies after sharing a glance with John B.

"Okay?" She says in surprise.

"I'll give you the key, but I want the tape" Pope states.

"Of course. Of course" Carla grins happily.

"Pope. Hey, hey, hey, hey" John B speaks up, walking over to him and putting his good acting to work "You don't have to do this, okay?"

"No, it's okay" Pope assures him.

"No, dude, this is your family" John B argues.

"Hey, it's fine. It's okay" Pope repeats in a firmer tone "It's about your dad. That's way more important"

The Routledge boy makes a show of reluctantly giving the key over to Pope who takes it with a small grateful smile.

"Oh, you're a good friend" Carla comments.

"The tape?" Pops questions.

"Yes, give him the tape" Carla demands and Renfield hands over a red tape recorder as Pope gives the woman the wrong key.

"You know, I wish that you'd come to this decision earlier" Carla breathes out "We could have avoided all this unpleasantness"

"Nice to meet you" John B chirps as the pair walk away from us.

"See you around, Pope" Renfield smirks.

"Just go" Kiara huffs out.

"Take a hike, buddy" I sneer in disgust.

They disappear from our sight and I turn to the girls, the three of us sharing a sly smirk.

"How long do you think we have until she realises she has your father's old key?" JJ asks nonchalantly.

"Ten minutes" John B answers.

"Whose idea was the fake key?" Pope demands.

"Shockingly, not mine" Kiara says.

"That's a real surprise, considering it was actually a good idea" I tell her and she nods in agreement.

John B throws his arm around JJ who is grinning like the Cheshire Cat, neither of which seem bothered by Kiara and I implying that their ideas are shitty.

"Hmm, I don't know. Should we tell him?" John B asks JJ jokingly, patting his chest.

"Wow, I'm impressed. Maybe you are good for something" Kiara jokes.

"Did hell freeze over?" Pope asks, throwing his arm around JJ from the other side.

"Even a blind pig can find an acorn at times"  JJ laughs as the boys shake him, wide smiles on all three of their faces "I actually don't know what that means, but I saw it on Reddit"

The girls and I let out a laugh at the Maybank boy's weird phrases and he slips from between the boys, swooping me off my feet. I let out a loud giggle, wrapping my arms and legs around him.

"We gotta take the tape to Shoupe" John B says.

"Yes, sir. Ward Cameron, we're coming for you, big boy" JJ declares as we walk up the marina.

"Shot gun!" I holler, causing JJ to start running as Kiara tries to race us to the van.