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❝ i'll show you independent ❞
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𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

After we all calmed down and took a deep breath, I decided that Rudy deserved a funeral. JJ dug a hole and Kiara helped me make a sign while Pope and John B put Rudy in the ground. I pushed the small cross we made into the ground and admire Kiara's handwriting where she wrote 'RIP Rudy Rooster'.

"Rest in peace, Rudy" I mumble with a frown.

"RIP" The others say in unison.

"Does anyone want to say anything?" I ask politely.

"About a rooster?" Pope laughs in disbelief, making my frown deepen and JJ elbows him in the ribs at the same time Kiara slaps him upside the head.

"Ha ha, very funny, Pope. Let's all laugh at the girl who gave the rooster a funeral!" I exclaim, my emotions hitting me like a tsunami and the Pogues' eyes widen as they watch me "Forgive me for thinking that when someone dies they deserve to be laid to rest with nice words. Everyone deserves to have nice things said about them after they die. Even roosters!"

"Angel-" JJ tries to talk to me but I shake my head.

"No, it's not fair. I'm sick of it!" I scream, storming away from the group.

I sit down at the end of the dock and pull my legs up to my chest, laying my chin on my knees as I watch the water. The sun shines down in golden coloured beams and the water reflects the light as the gentle waves wash over each other.

I don't mean to be so irrational and rude to people, especially my friends, but sometimes my emotions get too overwhelming for me to cope with and I just explode at anyone who slightly pisses me off

I hear the creak of wood behind me and I turn my head to see JJ sit down next to me.

"Is he mad at me?" I ask curiously, looking back at the water.

"No, but he thinks you're mad at him" JJ answers and I frown.

"I shouldn't have yelled at him" I admit and the blonde shakes his head in agreement.

"What are you gonna do about it?" He asks and turn my head to look at him.

"Apologise?" I suggest and the Maybank boy smiles, nodding softly.

He wraps his arm around me and I lean my head on his shoulder, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Are you okay, angel? You seem like you're somewhere else" JJ asks curiously, rubbing small circles on my arm.

"I'm just thinking" I hum.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" He asks.

"A lot of things...but mostly my mom" I answer with a small smile.

"You've never spoken about your mom before" JJ points out and I nod.

"I was just a baby when she died so I can't remember much about her, but I do remember her voice and the way she'd sing to Sarah and I" I tell him and he lays his head on mine.

"What did she sing?" He wonders aloud.

"I have all her old records, they're mostly Elvis or Johnny Cash, a couple Patsy Cline ones" I smile, fiddling with a loose thread on my shorts "But the one I remember her singing the most is 'You Are My Sunshine' by Johnny Cash, she sang it so peacefully"

"I know that song" The blonde perks up, making my smile widen as he starts singing "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray"

"You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away" I sing softly, turning to look at JJ who is grinning down at me.

I can't tell if my mind is playing tricks with me or if I actually see the blonde boy lean down, but my heart skips a beat and I inhale a sharp breath.

"Hey, you two. Let's go!" I hear Kiara holler and I jump away from the boy.

He mutters something under his breath but I'm already on my feet and walking towards Kiara.

"Moving on my ass" The Carrera girl scoffs with a smirk and I push her with a pout.

"I'm trying" I whine.

"I know, lovie" She chuckles, throwing her arm around me as we walk towards Pope and John B.

As we all get into the van, I grab Pope's arm and he turns to me in confusion.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you, Popey" I smile sheepishly, scratching my arm out of nerves.

"Don't worry about it, Vie" He smiles, ruffling my hair.

✯¸.•'*¨'*•༻❁༺•*'¨*'•.¸✯

"I mean, it's obvious, right?" John B asks.

"A family heirloom. What better place to hide a message. He had to know it was gonna get back to me, right?" He adds.

"Yeah. It's possible" Kiara nods.

"It could also be possible that you're concocting wild theories to help, you know, deal with your sad feels" Pope states.

"Bro, you know how I process my sad feels?" JJ quips, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

"Dank nugs and the stickiest of ickies, that's how I do it" He shrugs.

"I surf storms and do other reckless shit, or throw things at JJ" I mumble and the blonde chuckles.

"I'm not concocting, okay?! My dad's trying to give me a message" John B snaps and JJ absentmindedly plays with my hair.

"If it helps you believe, John B" Kiara says softly.

"Look, I-I don't need a therapy session, okay?! I'm not trippin out" John B argues.

"It's okay to trip, bro, but-" JJ is cut off.

"Look, my- my dad is missing, okay? Missing. You don't know what it's like to have the person closest to you vanish and then have no idea what happened. Just wake up every morning wondering" John B says, his voice cracking.

"It's been almost a year" Kiara frowns.

"Hey, he could of been kidnapped. That's definitely a possibility" JJ suggests and I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, could be in a Soviet sub getting interrogated by the KGB somewhere" Pope adds.

"Absolutely. Uh...or Atlantis" JJ continues.

"JJ" Kiara scolds him and I shrug the blonde off me, popping in between the two front seats.

"Johnny, you're right, okay? We don't know what any of this must feel like for you, and I know how close you and your dad were. If you feel like your dad is really trying to send you message then I believe you, but just don't get too caught up in your head and remember that you're not alone" I assure the Routledge boy and he nods.

"Thanks, Vie" He says and I shrug nonchalantly, sitting back next to JJ.

"Look, what do you think the message is?" Kiara asks him.

"Redfield Lighthouse. That's my dad's favourite place" John B says as we approach the lighthouse.

I hum in response and hop out the side door after JJ and Pope.

"Right here's what's gonna happen. You two are gonna post up and look out for bogeys, okay?" John B tells JJ and I.

"Wait...why us?" JJ asks.

"Because you're not coming" Pope replies.

"What, and you can, Einstein?" I retort in offence.

"There are independent and dependent variables. You're independent. We don't know what you'll do" Pope explains.

"Shut up!" JJ snaps getting defensive.

"I'll show you independent" I threaten, clenching my fists and Kiara grabs my arm.

"Listen to me for a second. Just listen! Pope, you stand look out with them, okay? If we get split up, we meet back at JJ's house" John B orders.

"Great" Kiara chirps and walks off with John B.

"I'm gonna work on my merit scholarship essay, and I'm trying to keep felonies to a minimum" Pope states as JJ kicks around a hacky sack.

"All right, would you just shut up already?" The blonde huffs.

Pope gets into the van and shuts the door to get some peace and quiet. I find a nearby tree and climb up it, sitting on one of the lower branches. I then swing back and hang upside down, something I tend to do a lot when I'm bored.