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❝ think happy thoughts, sylvie ❞
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𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

JJ, Pope, Kiara and I all stand in the pouring rain, Pope pointing an old camcorder at Ward Cameron's car.

"Nice camera. Where'd you dig up that relic?" JJ says sarcastically "Why don't you just use your phone?"

"Well, first of all, I like my antique electronics. Second of all, this is a telephoto. It allows me to get a close image from far away" Pope rants

"Lord of the dorks" Kiara comments.

"For definitive proof of witness payoff, we're gonna need quality glass" Pope defends.

"Ignore them, Po. They're just jealous of your tele...telethingy" I tell the boy, patting his back.

"It's a telephoto, but thanks" He smiles at me before perking up, pointing across from us "There he is"

"Yo, get down" JJ demands and we all duck behind the fence.

"And there's Gavin" Pope adds "Where are you going, you son of a bitch? No, no, no, no. I'm losing him. Shit. Where's he going?"

"Hold on" JJ says before running off and I frown in confusion.

We wait patiently until I hear the sound of JJ whistling and we run in the same direction, finding the blonde boy.

"Yo! Hey. I found something. Come here" He tells us and we follow him through an alleyway until we reach a set of ladders on the side of the building.

"Gotta go up top" He explains.

"That'll work" Pope agrees.

"Hurry. Don't wanna miss anything" Kiara snaps as I climb up the ladder, JJ right behind me.

We all make it onto the roof and drop down behind the small wall circling the edge.

"You rolling, Pope?" JJ asks.

"Are you getting it?" Kiara then asks.

"Yeah. Yeah, I see them" Pope answers.

I shiver at the cold breeze that hits my soaked uniform and immediately regret leaving my jacket at the Wreck. The blonde next to me immediately notices my trembling hands and slips off his backpack before slipping off his wet hoodie, wrapping it around my shoulders.

"I know it's wet, but it'll keep you warmer" He tells me, pulling me into his chest and rubbing my arms to warm me up.

"Thank you" I murmur, kissing his cheek.

"Ward just handed Gavin something. I think it's a duffel bag" Pope explains.

"Guys, I think this is a payoff" JJ states.

"Gavin doesn't look happy about something. It looks like he's yelling at Ward" Pope tells us.

"Why?" Kiara asks.

"I don't know, but he sure looks mad" Pope replies.

"I've got a really bad feeling about this, guys" I voice my worries.

"Shit" Pope then curses and my stomach flips in anxiety "Whoa, whoa, whoa"

"What's going on?" Kiara snaps.

"I dunno. They're fighting over something" Pope says.

"They're really going at it" JJ adds.

"I don't wanna look" I breathe out, burying my face in JJ's neck and he holds me tighter.

"Ward's kicking the shit out of Gavin" Pope declares.

"What are they fighting over?" JJ asks.

"I don't know. I'm trying to see" Pope responds "Holy shit. Ward's got a gun"

"I bet that's the murder weapon" Kiara states.

All of a sudden, two gunshots split through the sound of rain hitting the ground and JJ drops to the ground, wrapping himself around me like a shield.

"Oh, my God" Pope pants.

"What the hell?" JJ breathes out and I feel myself trembling, only it's no longer from the cold but from fear.

"No, no, no, no. That did not just happen" Kiara struggles to breathe "What is going on?"

"Tell me you just got that" JJ pleads.

"Enough to put this asshole away for life" Pope says proudly.

Another gunshot goes off and I violently flinch, hiding my face in JJ's chest as a whimper escapes my lips.

"This is freaking crazy" Pope says.

There's silence for a moment and I shakily look up at JJ to see him looking down at me in concern, my eyes tearing up as I cling to him. Kiara and Pope peek over the wall once again but I can't find it in myself to leave JJ's hold.

"Oh no. Get down. Get down" Pope orders and they drop behind the wall next to us "Holy shit"

"I think we should go right now" JJ speaks up "Pope, you have enough, right?"

"Yeah" Pope nods before pausing "Hold on. He's coming out. There he goes. I think he's looking for the gun"

"He's lost it?" I croak in disbelief.

"I think the gun just went down the drain. He's looking for it" Pope tells us "Hey. He's looking for the gun"

"Hold this" Kiara says, passing something to Pope.

"What are you doing, Kie?" JJ asks in confusion.

"Kie, please" I plead, knowing she's about to do something stupid.

"What is wrong with you? Murderer!" Kiara screams and my heart drops in horror.

I leap up out of JJ's arms and cover the girl's mouth with my hand, yanking her down away from the ledge.

"Get down" JJ grumbles in annoyance.

"Kiara, are you crazy?" Pope snaps.

"Do you understand what you've just done?" I ask in disbelief.

"I don't care if he hears me. He's a murderer" Kiara spits in rage.

"Yeah, and he's gonna murder us, Kie" JJ retorts.

"Guys, he sees us" Pope says and chills of fear run down my spine.

"Are you serious?" JJ asks in surprise.

"No" I whimper out, grabbing onto Kiara tighter and she gives me a guilty look.

"Come on. We gotta go. He's coming" Pope rushes out as we run towards the ladders.

Pope pushes me towards the ladders first so I quickly scramble down them while he does the same after me and JJ follows him down, Kiara right behind him.

"Come on. Go! Pope, hurry!" JJ rushes us.

"I'm going. I'm going!" Pope snaps and I reach the ground, stumbling back away from the ladders.

"Ah! My hand!" JJ yells and I watch in fright as the blonde kicks Pope in the face.

Pope yells in pain and is sent sprawling off the ladders, hitting the concrete floor with a thud.

"Pope!" I gasp, rushing to his side.

"Sorry! So sorry" Kiara says as her and JJ reach the ground.

I try to make sure my friend is alright but Pope scrambles towards his camera in disbelief, not even caring about the pain he's most likely in.

"No, no, no, no, no" Pope mutters.

"You're kidding me. You fumbled it?" JJ scoffs.

"You kicked me in the face!" Pope retorts.

"She stepped on my hand!" JJ snaps, pointing at Kiara.

"I was trying to hurry!" Kiara argues.

"Guys, we have to go!" I warn them, pulling JJ's arm anxiously.

"He's coming" Pope agrees.

We run to the nearest fence and push ourselves over it, racing towards the car. My legs run as fast as they can, my gut twisting and my heart beating hard against my chest in fear of being caught by my father.

I reach the car first, practically throwing myself inside before the others do the same and we all sit for minute, panting as we try to catch our breath.

"Could someone fill me in on what the fuck just happened?!" JJ abruptly yells.

Pope groans loudly in anger and I curl up in a ball, laying my head on JJ's lap.

"Think happy thoughts, Sylvie. Think happy thoughts" I mumble to myself repeatedly, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Holy crap. I can't believe it. Wait, wait. What were they fighting over?" JJ asks.

"Uh...it was-it was a gun, the one Rafe used. He must have kept it" Pope answers.

"Of course! Of course! The murder weapon!" JJ shouts.

"Pick up. Pick up. Pick up" I hear Kiara chanting, worry clear in her voice.

"Who are you calling?" JJ demands.

"Who do you think?" Kiara retorts.

"The cops?" Pope asks in disbelief.

"Who else am I supposed to call?!" Kiara shrieks and I cover my ears with my hands but it does little to block out the sound of shouting.

"Why would you call the police?! That's Ward!" JJ argues.

"Sheriff's Office" A voice speaks on the phone.

"Shut up!" Kiara screams at JJ before holding the phone up to her mouth "Hello? Hi, somebody's been shot at the- at the Grand Street construction site. You guys need to hurry because he's dying. I don't know if he's already dead or not! You guys need to hurry! Please!"

"We gotta go. We're sitting ducks" JJ spits.

"We can't stay here" Pope agrees.

"What do you want me to do?!" Kiara snaps.

"Just drive, Kie!" I beg, on the verge of tears.