——

"Listen, we have to be really quiet. I think my mom is home." Emelina whispered to JJ. Their feet carry them to the back door that belonged to her house.

She couldn't wait to get out of the sandals that were suffocating her pedicured toes. All she wanted to do was jump into her regular sets of clothing, but she had a mission, and her desire to wear something comfortable couldn't happen just yet.

"Hey, can we talk for a minute?" JJ asked, poking her shoulder.

She spun around and caught a glimpse of his blue eyes shining from the moonlight above. He shook his blonde hair and brushed it back with his fingertips. Now and then, she catches herself staring at him, and she doesn't even do it intentionally. "Yeah?"

"I guess you know I say lotta things I don't mean." he started, and Emelina nodded, a small smile forming on her lips, "Yeah, you do."

"Look, I think we should start over... I dunno, slowly start as friends?" he said. Emelina tilted her head slightly, "Are you playing with me?"

"Shut up," JJ looked down with a small smile. "So, can we call this truce? It'll at least make Kie happy." JJ stuck his hand out, waiting for it to be accepted.

It took her a solid minute to give him an answer. They were close to finding the gold, and she would hate if there were tension between them when they had bigger fish to fry. 

"Truce," Emelina accepted his hand, "but this is your only chance, okay? If you screw up next time, that's it. The truce will be broken."

"Got it... So, remind me why we're at your house and not at your mom's office."

"Well, how else are we supposed to get into her office without her keys?" Emelina asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Ah, I see," he said.

Emelina unlocked the door with a spare key they kept hidden underneath a gnome. She quickly stepped in, and JJ followed suit. Her eyes were set on a small rack they had on the wall used for car keys and, most importantly, her mother's office key.

"Shh," She put her finger to the lips, and they both crept over to the rack. The forbidden key laid perfectly on a hook. She grabbed it and kept it secured in her hand.

"You got it?" JJ whispered near her neck. She hadn't realized how close in proximity they were and that alone made her breathing hitched. She nodded, not turning around to face him.

She heard footsteps that didn't belong to either her or JJ. She started to panic, and in her mind, she was running out of options to avoid being caught with her mother's key.

Emelina turned around quickly, grabbing the back of his head and pushing it toward her. She made their lips touch and at that moment, she slowly placed the key into his pocket.

JJ was hesitant at first, completely thrilled and shocked at her sudden movement. But slowly, he took the initiative to place his hands on her waist and draw her closer. The lights flicker on, but neither of them springs apart because they wanted to take in this savory moment.

Her fingers loop through his hair and she slowly slid her hand down to the back of his neck. She couldn't even think straight, not when her mouth was moving with another. They break the kiss when someone cleared their throat.

Emelina's mother stood there, hands on her hips and her foot tapped against the tiled floor. She didn't say anything, but the look in her eyes frightened Emelina.

"Thank you for bringing my daughter home," she said to JJ but her voice wasn't genuine; it was cold and monotone.

JJ didn't keep his eyes off of Emelina. He couldn't believe she just did that and when they kissed, something clicked. He hadn't realized he's been craving her. His everlasting hatred made him blind to his desires.

Slowly, he peeled his eyes off of her and toward the older woman. "Yeah, sure," he replied.

"Please lock the door on your way out," she said. Emelina turned her body, so it was no longer facing her mother. She mouthed, "Go." to JJ in hopes he would get the message that she cannot leave with him.

He nodded and walked straight to the door. He didn't want to leave her since she should be included in their mission for the gold, but he knew he'd be stupid to fight for her against her own mother. He twisted the doorknob and left, making sure he succeeded at her mother's request.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room once JJ was nowhere in sight. Her lips tingled as if they were still being touched by him, but she couldn't think about him, not now.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Mom..." Emelina sighed and turned to face her. Her mother, raging in silence, walked over to her and in a blink of an eye, her hand slapped across her face.

Emelina stared at her mother with wide eyes, but slowly she relaxed her facial expressions and showed no emotion. She was prepared for her mother's outburst.

"You embarrass our family and now you have the nerve to kiss one of those penniless Pogues?" Her mother raged.

"They are people," Emelina said, her voice small.

"People..." she laughed out loud. "They aren't people, Emelina. You saw them today. They do nothing but cause destruction. They're like animals—It's a shame they lack parental supervision. I would hate for their bad influence to rub off on you."

Emelina didn't reply to her. The anger she felt consumed her body like no other. Those were her friends she was talking about, and she couldn't let her say that about them any longer.

"I saw Topper tonight." Her mother changed the topic, "Why can't you go back to him? He was good to you." she asked, but it sounded more like a demand than a question.

"JJ's more of a man than Topper will ever be." Emelina retorted, her eyes narrowing up at her.

"JJ?" Her mother raised her eyebrows. "Is he one of the ones who ruined the homes that we built?" 

Emelina hesitated but nodded. "He had every right to—"

"I do not want to hear you defend them. Do I make myself clear? You know I spent a lot of time and money on those houses—"

"You were trying to push them away!" Emelina cut her off, "These people are barely surviving for their next meal and you gentrifying the community does not make it any better."

"Who have you become?" she asked, towering over her daughter with a look of disgust, "Your father would not be proud."

Emelina, now glaring, wanted to say so much back, but she couldn't. She was her mother, and no matter what she says, it wouldn't matter. She learned her lesson in the least pleasant way, that her mother no longer listens to her.

"I don't know what point you're trying to prove, but I have had enough of this rebellious skit. It's time you grow up. Go to your room." she said, and Emelina, on the verge of tears, made her way out. "And I don't want you speaking to them anymore!"

Once in her bedroom, she locked the door and leaned on it. Tears were now streaming down her face and quiet sobs escape her lips. I wish my dad was here. He would know what to do, she thought to herself.

§

Emelina laid her back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Dried tears stained her red cheeks even after she took a shower in hopes to wash away her mother's cruel words.

She packed a small bag with everything she needed; clothes, bikinis, toiletries, and more because she was going to make a run for it. She doesn't know when or how, but all she knew was that she needed to be there for her friends, and moping in her bedroom wasn't it.

Mellow knocks come from her window, and she got up, quickly wiping the tears away, and aimed toward the sound. Kiara stood on the roof, waiting for her to open.

"How'd you—" Emelina widened her eyes, wondering how she got up there.

"The tree. Listen, we have to go now. John B's at the hospital." Kiara said, and Emelina blinked to process this information. "H-Hospital? What happened?!"

"I'll explain it all to you when we get in the van," she said, and then she handed Emelina a cold metal key. "We didn't get to use it, but it was worth a shot." Kie frowned.

Emelina took the office key from her palm and then peered upward. "Does that mean Sarah..."

"It means Sarah is the reason why John B is in the hospital," Kie replied and Emelina exhaled a deep sigh as fear crept in. "Is he okay?"

"Look, just put the key back, and we'll go," she replied, and the brunette nodded. She quickly ran out of her bedroom on her tippy toes and put the key back in its original place, and quietly returned to her room.

Emelina threw on a pair of shoes, looking down at her T-shirt and comfy shorts, and grabbed her bag to leave out of her window with Kiara by her side.

The ride over to the hospital didn't make Emelina's feelings about the situation any better. She was worried, but they convinced her he should be fine.

Topper pushed John B over the railing at the Hawk's Nest, and she was livid when she heard this news. It seems like every day, he was popping out like a cockroach to sabotage her life. Why? She wouldn't know.

And JJ, the subtle glances he kept shooting at her and the side smirks when she caught him. Her mind was so preoccupied, she hadn't thought about the kiss she gave him.

Thinking about the kiss alone brought the heat to her cheeks, but she couldn't think about that. Not now while John B could be fighting for his life.

——

a/n: felt like they're boring as hell so i had to do sumn