Against the world/OBX

Chapter 34.

JJ hasn't let go of me since John B's boat disappeared, I had my head buried into JJ's chest crying harder than I have ever cried before. I could feel my shoulder slightly wet as well knowing that JJ was crying too. I looked over at Kie and Pope who were kissing on the dock.

"Unexpected" I whispered to JJ as he looked over at the two and then back at me

"Can you hear that?" He asked

"Shit, cops" I said as we heard the police sirens coming closer.

"Hey, guys, I'm sorry to ruin the party, but we gotta go right now" JJ yelled to Kie and Pope

We didn't make it to the car before all the cop cars pulled up and Shoupe got out of his car, they were all pointing guns at us making us raise our hands in the air. I hated the feeling of letting go of JJ's hand.

"We're too late. He's gone. Damn it" Shoupe yelled realising John B wasn't here "Bratcher, have your guys stand down. Let me talk to these kids" Shoupe said coming up to us

"Savannah, where is your brother" He asked looking straight at me but I stayed silent

"JJ? I see you're living up to your name" Shoupe said looking at JJ

"This isn't a fucking game! You can still do the right thing" Shoupe said looking at all of us

"Fuck you" I said to Shoupe making him come back to me

"You're coming with me now" Shoupe said, pulling my arms behind my back and leading me to his car.

"Shoupe! She didn't do anything" JJ yelled as I was being taken away

"Where is your brother, Savannah? You do realise this means you will be taken into foster care. Ward Cameron isn't your legal guardian anymore and your brother will be in prison for murder" Shoupe said to me while we are alone

"I won't tell you anything, ever. Even if I did you wouldn't listen" I said back annoyed

"I will listen" Shoupe assured me

"Rafe Cameron shot and killed Sheriff Peterkin. Not John B. Ward framed him, he killed our dad too" I said to him hoping he would listen but he didn't answer me

"Where are you taking me?" I asked as we drove past the police station

"Back to your friends" He said driving towards the water

We pulled up to a pile of tents which were swarmed with police and other locals all looking for John B. Shoupe helped me out of the car and led me towards a tent where I saw JJ, Kie and Pope already sitting.

"Thank god" JJ said once he saw me and pulled me into a tight hug

"I said sit down and don't move" Shoupe said pushing JJ back down before walking away

"What happened, are you okay?" Kie asked

"Yeah he just tried to get information but I didn't tell him anything" I said but they already knew I wouldn't have said anything about John B.

JJ put his hand on my knee after noticing me not being able to sit still, filled with anxiety.

"God I hope he got away" I said to whoever was listening.

"Savannah Routledge" A cop called out not knowing which one of us was John B's sister until I looked up at him. "Come with me miss" He said, leading me out of the tent and into another one where I saw Ward Cameron talking into the radio and then I heard my brother's voice.

"You killed my father, and you framed me for a murder I didn't commit. You took everything from me. I swear to god Ward, I will come back one day and take what's mine. So you listen to me, I'm coming for you" John B said

"We need you to get your brother to turn around, he's heading into the storm" Shoupe said to me as the SBI agent took Ward away to talk to him.

"John B" I said into the radio

"Sav? I can't come back. Not yet" John B said

"I know, I would never ask you too" I said, making Shoupe roll his eyes at me "John B, I'll see you soon. I love you" I said before Shoupe dragged me away and back to the tent with my friends.

"Here I thought you were the smart one, useless" He said pushing me down

"Don't touch her" JJ yelled protectively

After 10 minutes we saw Shoupe and other officers reappear in our tent with a concerned look on his face, we all stood to greet the officers.

"Did you find them?" Pope asked

"No" Shoupe said simply

"So, they got away?" Kie asked hopeful

"We lost them. I'm sorry" Shoupe said looking at me, I didn't need any more explanation I knew what that meant. I turned from my friends and sat back in my chair with my head in my hands letting the tears fall.

"What do you mean you lost them? Like they're gone?" Pope asked

"They took an open boat into a tropical depression, Pope" Shoupe said back still not answering Pope's question

"So they're dead?" Kie asked knowing what was about to be said

"We don't know" Shoupe said, that's what they said about dad once too.

"You drove them straight through the storm, man. Are you kidding me, I'm going to kill you" JJ yelled lunging at Shoupe making Deputy Thomas pull him off and hold him back, I was watching this all but I couldn't move, I couldn't feel my body to help my boyfriend.

I watched as Kie's parents came into the tent, they gave me a small smile as they headed over to Kie who cried in her parents arms. Pope's parents also came in and his mum went straight to him while Heyward came up to me and placed his hand on my shoulder making me look up at him as he gave me a sympathetic smile and went to hug his son.

I spotted JJ across the room looking just as broken as me and he walked straight over to me engulfing me in a massive hug and we just cried into each other, not even noticing when Kie and Pope left with their parents.

My brother was gone. Nothing was bringing him back.

"JJ" I said looking up at my boyfriend who had red puffy eyes and a soaking wet shirt after I had been crying into his chest for an hour.

"John B and I used to always say it was me and him against the world but he's gone now. What do I do? I don't know how to live without him" I said crying again at the memory and making JJ cry more also.

"Hey, I'm here forever. Kie and Pope have their family but me, I only have you" He said looking at me. He is the only thing keeping me alive right now.

"You and me against the world?" I asked JJ with a small smile

"You and me forever. I love you little Routledge" He said kissing me softly

"I love you, JJ Maybank