Chapter Text
"Good news for the residents of Outer Banks. Dominion Power says their underwater transmission line, which will restore power to 90% of the area...should be functional within 24 hours..." the news broadcaster says over the radio. The car had been parked once they found a hidden spot to hide out during the night. Their seats were laid flat and out of site of any frequent cop cars driving by.
Rowan's foot still hurt but she was used to the numbness by now. As she laid back, she closed her eyes and took a breath. "And still, no arrest in the shooting death of Sheriff Susan Peterkin. The state police have issued a statement regarding a local person of interest, a juvenile from—"
Rowan silently thanked Kie for shutting the radio off when she did. She couldn't listen to any more and knew John B probably felt the same.
"Let's game this out." JJ says, "maybe you guys can help, being the smart ones and all, but...who are the cops going to believe? Ward Cameron or us? Right. So the accuser is a bigshot developer, kind of lord of the island, got the governor on speed dial kind of person, and the accused...is John B, who is pretty much a homeless 16-year-old boy at the moment."
"Thanks." John B deadpanned. He turned to Rowan, who was already looking at him. He reached over and grabs her hand.
"Shit." Pope breathed out, as he hid behind his hat. His emotions going haywire because of the stressful situation and the added factor of weed. He knew he shouldn't have, but what did he have to lose? Now that his scholarship was down the drain and he was basically a person of interest in a crime he had nothing to do with. Not really anyway.
"Okay, man. Yucatan, all right? I'm saying that's the only option. What other option do you have right now?"
"JJ, enough with the Mexico bullshit."
"Come on. Rowan?"
"I can see why'd you think I could help but right now, I'm not even listening to a single word you're saying." She said, she turned in her seat and flinched in pain as her foot twitched. She could cross getting shot off her bucket list thanks to Rafe now. John B gave her hand a squeeze as she adjusted in her seat. He felt extremely bad that she got in the middle of all this.
"Look, Sarah will bail me out."
"She did witness the whole thing."
"Thank you."
"And she's gonna snitch in her brother?" Pope asked, "no way."
"Not happening, bro. Okay? We've gotta get you off the island."
"The Ferry." Says Pope, "it's the only way."
"Yeah. Exit stage left while you still can. Before the entire island is on lockdown." JJ says, Rowan quickly pulls him down as a siren sounds.
"Sarah's not a Pogue, John B."
"Yeah. You can't stay here, man."
——
Rowan and Pope were concerned after hearing that the ferry's were closed. It was their only possible way to get John B out of here safely. As they walked back, she began to think of her options as well as his. Would he leave without her? If he had to? If she could, would she go with him? Leave Pope and her family behind? Did she love John B enough to flee from their only home to go somewhere where no one knew of the trouble they've caused? Why was she even questioning it?
Would Pope be okay? Would her father, her mother? Was it a risk she was willing to take?
She had nothing here. Other than her family...she didn't have plans for school. For her future. She just knew that what ever she did do, had to include John B. so maybe she was okay with fleeing the island with him. She looked back to Pope as they continued back to the car. He was strange high. Freaked, anxious, a little too uncaring...jumpy...maybe weed wasn't the best thing for her usually overly organized and cautious brother.
"Shit. Look. Look." Pope said, as they walked up to a bulletin board. He reached for a white paper stapled to the board. Rowan's eyes widened at the familiar face etched in a square.
"Shit." She says."also at the crime scene, Rowan Ann Hayward. If spotted, call the department immediately." She reads, she looks towards Pope, who's shaking his head in disbelief.
"That's not good."
"No shit!" She exclaimed, hitting his shoulder. With the poster in hand, she and Pope head back to the car. "Guys. Guys, look." She said, as she and Pope get in the car. "I might as well be homeless too now." She muttered, as she climbed back into her seat near to John B. "Boarding school or jail. " she said, mocking her fathers tone of voice he used when she got in trouble. She caught the laughter of JJ and sent a glare his way.
"What? What is it?" John B asks, as Kie hands JJ the paper. Rowan brushes her tangled hair between her fingers as Anxiety bubbles in her stomach. They were in deeper shit now.
"Well, John B, uh...this is a good framer of you." JJ says, as he showed John his wanted poster. "Can't forget Rowan's little addition. Hey, could you sign this for me?"
"Not even remotely funny" Rowan shakes her head.
"Okay, so the whole island's looking for John B right now." Pope says
"That's a lot of money."
"Congratulations, John B, you're famous."
"Okay, guys, we got to get to the HMS. We need small, no running lights." Kie says
"It's at the château, kie."
"They've probably got cops all over that place." Rowan says.
"Okay, let me think. Let me think." Pope rambles out. "JJ." He says, turning to him.
"What?"
"Does your dad still have that boat? The cigarette boat, the Phantom? The one he used to race."
"Maybe."
"You could get right up the coast, no problem."
"Okay look—"
"It won't be easy, Pope. I don't know where the keys are." He says, as Pope starts up the car.
"Okay, should you really be driving?" Rowan asks, "I really don't think you should be driving." She said, just as Pope tried to start the car
"Well, find them."
"I'm thinking."
"Guys, calm down." Rowan says, noticing that the windows were open and that if anyone was close by, they'd be able to hear and see them clearly. They were screwed.
"Why is nobody moving forward!"
"Pope! Relax!" Rowan says, "god how much weed did you have?"
"Guys." John B says, trying to get everyone to calm down, he looked to Kie, "Your cars on the poster." Pope honks the horn.
"Pope! That's not gonna help!" Rowan yells in a whisper. But her words did nothing and they were already spotted thanks to Pope's continued yelling.
"Hey! Look!" A voice from outside the car called out. Rowan turns her head to see a kid pointing at them.
"We got a snitch. Pope? Turn the car on." JJ says
"Pope, drive!" Rowan says, as he moved it forward, he backs into the other car in front of him and drives forward and away from the cops. He speeds away and swerved into a few signs.
"What the fuck! Pope!"
But Pope was still high and laughed, "I'm living my best life now." He says, as the car swerved again and hit some mail boxes.
"My mom's gonna kill me." Kie cries.
"I should be the last one to say this, but you are not okay to drive. Stop!" JJ says
"No shit! Didn't I say that? For fuck sake, what the hell did you do to him!?" Rowan exclaims, "Pope, stop." The car comes to a halting stop, Rowan reached out and put her hands against the seat she was sitting in front of and protected her head from hitting it.
"John B." Pope says, turning back to him. "Run."
"What?" Rowan says, looking from Pope to John B
"Pope's right. We'll draw the cops out. I'll get the rig, and I'll meet you in the dump tomorrow, okay? Three O'clock!" JJ says, opening the door for him. John B quickly turned to Rowan and gave her one last glance before getting out of the of the car. Rowan watched from the window. Wondering if she was ever going to see him again.
"This is crazy." She muttered
"I've got a plan." Kie told her. Rowan looked over to her and nodded in agreement.
————
When John B and Rowan first started going out, John B took her to this little hideout place. A bell tower hidden by trees and bushes. Far away from the prying eyes of their friends and judging kooks, a place where they could be themselves.
They hadn't gone in a while, thanks to the crazy that has become their lives, but Rowan couldn't help but believe Kie's plan might actually work. All she had to do was stay put and wait for John B to show up. They would reunite and figure out their next steps. But the cops were putting a damper on figuring anything out.
The kook's were in the lead and a hurdle in their path. Rowan moves quickly between the riddled officers scouting the area for their next catch of the week. She notices Sarah Cameron on her bike, watching the scene with despair and sadness.
She ignores her and makes her way to the church. Slightly out of breath, she finally reaches the building and climbed through the broken wood and looked up. Small footsteps could be heard through the wooden floor.
Quickly, she climbed the ladder. Opening the door, she flinched back as she suddenly is met with a hammer to the face. "Jesus! Rowan!" The voice of John B sounds as she stands up from the ladder with her hands up in surrender.
He grabs her hand and helps her up and pulls her into a hug. Rowan embraces it.
"Were you really going to fight off a cop with a hammer?" Rowan asked, as she held on to him. He moved and their foreheads connected.
"Whatever it took. We gotta get out of here." John B says
"How? They're everywhere."
"Shit." John B says, shaking his head.
"John B? Rowan?" A voice called down from where Rowan just was a few seconds ago. John B moves in front of Rowan and holds out the hammer her still held in his hands. Rowan put a hand on his shoulder, he turned back to her.
"It's Sarah." She says , as the hatch lifts and revels her.
"Holy shit. So much for last mission." she mutters.
Rowan lets out a laugh. "Yeah. So, uh, what's the plan?" She reached out her hand and helps Sarah stand. "We should get out of here. It's getting a bit crowded in here."
"I was thinking—" Sarah was cut off by the sound of footsteps coming from downstairs. John B brushed his free hand through his hair, in a fit of stress, he turned to Rowan. Filled with anticipation and anxiety, the air in the room tensed up, John B stood on guard. Sarah stood beside them. The door opens.
"Oh come on, here we go." John B scoffs as the door opens and reviles Topper. "What, you gonna try and kill me again, Top?"
"Oh, please. What are you doing, John B? You running from the cops? Converting Sarah to your juvenile ways?"
"Stop it, Topper." Sarah says
"Really? This guy's a murderer, Sarah. You really want to run around Outer Banks with this guy?"
"John B didn't kill Peterkin, Topper." Rowan said, moving slightly towards him, but John B held her back.
"Oh yeah? What's with the blood? The cops are here. you're going down."
"It was Rafe, Topper. He shot Peterkin and he shot me!" Rowan said, pointing down to her foot. Topper scoffed.
"He's got you brainwashed, doesn't he?" Topper said, looking to Rowan, she shook her head.
"No. You're the brainwashed one, Top. It's Rafe. And Mr. Cameron. They did this." Rowan says. Topper moved and Rowan moved back. John B stepped in front of him.
"Don't even think about it." John B said, shoving Topper. Topper shoved him back. "Hey, watch it."
"What, are you gonna kill me?" Topper said, shoving John B. Topper grabbed the bell string and pulled it down three times.
"Hey, he's up here! He's up here everybody!!" Topper yelled.
"Shut up! Cut it out!" Rowan said, as she shoved Topper out of the way, she grabbed the sting and stopped the ringing and held it out of Topper's reach as John B grabbed Topper and shoved him against the wall.
"All right." Topper grits out, "I'm sorry. We're good. Just take it easy. Sarah, I warned you about these People, about these Pogues. Didn't I?"
"Shut up, Topper." Sarah says "John B's innocent. It was Rafe."
"What are you talking about?"
"Why would I say my own brother did it....if it wasn't true?"
"I was there, Rowan was there, Topper."
"Don't lie to me, Sarah."
"Sheriff Peterkin was trying to arrest my father. And then Rafe shot her. And Rowan."
"No."
"That's my brother. Why would I lie about that?" Rowan and John B stood hand in hand as they talked. The sound of a siren sounded off in the distance.
"John B, we gotta go." Rowan says, holding onto to his arm. She looks to Sarah and she nods.
"Sarah—" Topper says, trying to reach for her. She steps back.
"We're done."
"Sarah, you realize I'm the one that loves you."
"I'm sorry. I'm done. With everything." Sarah says, "Rowan was right to leave. This world, our world, it's suffocating."
"Sarah, come on."
"No. This isn't about you. You've gotta get over it."
"John B." Rowan says. As soon as the smell of burning wood enters her nose. She looked to Topper, who couldn't take his eyes off Sarah. "You're gonna pay for ringing that bell." Rowan tells him.
—
——
As Rowan ran, each stomp into the ground matched the thump of her heart. The sirens filled each room in her brain and as she followed John B and Sarah away from the scene, she felt as the numbness in her foot slowly disappear. But they couldn't stop running now.
They ran and ran and when Sarah stopped at a house with a relater sign in the front yard, she turned to John B and Rowan and nodded her head towards the front door. Rowan watched as Sarah as she unlocked the door easily.
"Damn, Sarah." Rowan muttered as they entered the house and quickly locked back the door and got down and out of the way. Rowan huddled beside John B as Sarah looked out the window.
"Shit" she muttered, moving towards them. "Cops." She sat and ducked her head. Rowan and John B hold each other as there's knocks on the door. Rowan holds her breath until the flashlight and the noises outside disappear. The three sit in silence. She could feel John B's hands shaking as she held tightly.
"I'm going to get medical stuff from the washroom. We gotta change that bandage." Sarah says, in a whisper. Rowan nods in agreement.
"We'll find a bed" Rowan said, as she and John B stood up, avoiding the windows, they walk up the stairs quietly and found a bedroom. They laid down slowly. Rowan still holds on to John B as tightly as she could. Again, afraid to let go.
A few dogs and police sirens go off and cause John B to sit up in a panic.
"It's okay." Rowan tells him, as she gently pushes him back down. He breaths out and turns so he's facing her. "We're going to be fine."
"Yeah?"
"Definitely. Mexico, remember? That was the plan." Rowan whispers. "Fishing. Surfing."
"What else?" John B asks, quietly. Eating something to destruct him from his reality.
"JJ definitely has a secret weed farm he thinks no one knows about." Rowan smiles as John B lets out a soft chuckle.
"We have a big house. Each room is something different. A room for the pouges. We're unhealthily rich, by the way."
"Sounds like a plan." John B says, as he leans into her touch and kisses her forehead. She closes her eyes and sighs.
"Getting off the island is the first step."
"We can't bring Sarah." John B whispered. Rowan nodded in silent agreement.
They had to get out of here. It wouldn't be long before the cops came back and checked every house on the street for them. Rowan watched as his eyes closed shut. Finally falling asleep.
She wished she could. But there was so much on her mind that prevented her from even thinking about sleep. Her body ached. Her mind raced. Every other sound she heard outside made her heart drop into her stomach.
She hated this feeling. The always looking over your shoulder feeling. When they got out of here, she wouldn't have to worry about anything. About what her father would say to her if he got ahold of her. He would cam her in just to teach her a lesson. She just knew it.
Shaking her head, she was glad Sarah finally came back with bandages and rubbing alcohol to fix up her foot. It was just a graze. Thankfully. But it still hurt when she thought about it. "We have to do something." Sarah says, in a low voice as she wraps Rowan's foot.
"What, exactly? They're not going to Believe us. We have to get off the island." Rowan says.
"They're cops everywhere. Ferry's closed. How are you going to do that?"
"I've got a plan, okay? Just—promise me something?"
"Anything."
"Watch over the others." Rowan says, Sarah nods her head.
"They might not like me very much after this. Whatever this is—I'm not one of you." Sarah said. She was probably right. The others didn't trust her at the beginning, they would never trust her now. But Rowan knew that Sarah had no where else to go. If she got out of this.
"You are. They'll take you in. Where else do you have to go? "
"I guess."
"The t-shirt company. Tell them that and everything that's happened. You'll be one of us in no time, fellow fugitive." Rowan smiled softly as Sarah nodded. She whispered a goodnight and moved to the floor beside the bed. Rowan laid back down in the bed and felt as John B moved his hand back around her.
—-
——
In the morning, bright and early, Rowan woke to a missing Sarah. She woke John B and they anxiously waited for her return. Rowan stood and watched the window, after a small while she walked up the steps and let herself in. "Where the hell did you go?" Rowan whisper yelled, as John B checked the windows. Two cop cars were parked in the front.
"They brought in reinforcements. They have a whole camp set up. I—i tried to tell them the truth." She says, her voice shaky. Rowan shakes her head. John B nudged her, urging her they had to go.
"Come on. I saw a couple surfboards out back." Rowan sighs and says, and follows John B out. They grab the boards and head for the water. The paddle for an hour before they finally stop. Nothing but the sky and tall grass a head of them. Anyone not familiar with the marsh would think themselves lost. But for locals, they know it like the back of their hand.
"Do you really think they'll be able to steal the boat?" Sarah asks, as she catches her breath. Rowan scoffs.
"We stole a drone. A boat is nothing. Especially if JJ's involved." She says, as siren goes off. They peddle more. Rowan and John B head in the other direction, and Sarah notices.
"Where are you guys going? The boat ramp's this way?"
"Look, Sarah, I've gotta go home." John B says, despite what Rowan initially thought of his plan, she knew there was no stopping him.
"What?" Sarah says, and immediately looks towards Rowan. "No. There'll be cops crawling all over that place."
"Yeah, and that's okay. Look, I...we don't want you to come."
"What? What do you mean?"
"The gold from Crain's house. It's at the château. My dad's been looking for that for years. It's all I have left of him. I gotta get it."
"You'll get caught."
"So I get caught."
"Then this is all for nothing."
"Not if we get the gold." Rowan interrupted, "that was the whole point of this. If we don't get it, then it would be all for nothing. I know it's crazy, I tried to talk him out of it...but he's right. You can't come with us.
"Look," John B says, "I need you to go the boat doc in an hour. We're losing time."
——
"Shoupe" Rowan whispers, as they stand at the shed behind the chateau and watched him put a pice of their gold into his car, just like the money and safe at the motel. "I've always hated the guy." John B said nothing as he nodded his head towards the car after they went back inside. Rowan took a breath and followed him, opening the car door she hoped in the passenger seat.
"Come on out." John B says, as he looks toward the front door. Shoupe and another cop slowly appear, their hands on their guns. "Don't shoot. I just want to talk." He said, holding his hands up, Rowan stayed quiet but did the same.
"John B" Shoupe said, calmly.
"You've gotta listen. I didn't do it, Shoupe."
"Calm down. Keep your hands where I can see em. You too, Ms Heyward."
"Okay. " John said, as Shoupe and his partner slowly started coming down the stairs.
"I'm comin' down."
"Listen, I didn't do it." John B says,
"Okay, I'm listening."
"It's not what you think, okay? You gotta take your hands off your gun. Both of you, please."
"Okay. We're gonna talk, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Okay."
"I wanna tell you everything, okay?"
"I wanna see that hand." Shoupe said, as John B reached for the start button of the car. Without thinking, he started it. He pushed on the gas and drove away from the house. Rowan let out a shaky breath as John B sped down the roads and towards their meeting spot. They were cutting it close.
"Rowan?" John B asked, as he made a turn. She turned to face him.
"Yeah?" She answered back
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me? Are you sure you don't want to stay with Pope? The others?"
"I've never been more sure of anything." Rowan said, her words full of truth. She really did mean it. "We started this together. I'm going with you. No matter what."
"I love you." He says, looking over to her and grabbing her hand. Rowan smiles.
"I love you too. " she replies, just as the car pulls up to the docks. The others stand with the boat. "Here we go." Rowan says. The car stops, the siren puts an alarming look upon the other but as they slowly get out, their face turn to smiles.
"No way." JJ laughs
"Yeah." John B says, "Shoupe let me take it for a spin. " as the three convers about the plan, Rowan goes towards Pope, who stands a little to the side of the others. She looks towards her brothers white shirt, a small splatter of clashes with the fabric. She furrows her brows.
"Don't worry about it." Pope said, waving her off.
"Sure."
"Boarding school or jail, huh?" Pope says, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced towards John B as he got on the boat.
"You're going with him, aren't you?"
"I have to." She whispered, Pope nodded. Not really understanding but deep down he knew why.
"I'll try to keep dad from throwing your stuff out." He said, Rowan tried to fight the urge to cry in front of him. She forced a laugh.
"I appreciate that." Rowan moved forward and wrapped her arms around him. He embraced and and held on for a while. "Tell them I love them." She said, thinking of her parents as she pulled away. Time was of the essence.
"We gotta go." John B says, as he sends a look towards his friends. His family. Not knowing it he was ever going to see them again sucked. As selfish as he thought it was, he was glad Rowan was going with him.
"Okay." She says, Turing to JJ and Kie.
"Brownsvill. I was telling him. You got it? We'll see you guys in two months." Rowan smiled at him as she catches the tear fall down his scratched up face. Kie's holding it together well, but Rowan knows her, she's dying on the inside.
"All right. Saddle her up, saltwater cowboy. Let's do this." JJ says, as Rowan climbs onto the boat. She stops beside John B as he stands still.
"Im—im sorry for basically throwing us off a cliff with this whole treasure hunt thing."
"Hey, John B, yo...we were bound to run off a cliff at some point, right?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, take care of my sister, or I swear, I'll call the cops on your ass." Pope says
"Right." John B replied, smiling towards Rowan. Thunder clapped in the distance. Filling the moment of silence the pouge's were having. The water below them caused the boat to bob. Rowan grabbed her bag and tossed it to the seat. Rowan looked back at them. Her heart breaks as she thinks about leaving them. About leaving Pope.
"Let's go." John B said, as the others pushed the boat away from the dock. John B started it up. Rowan looked back. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help it. John B grabbed her hand.
As the boat glided along the water, the sky above them was a mix of pink and gray. Every now and then, a flash of lightning would strike the sky. Thunder crashed and Rowan's stomach churned. They were headed right for the storm. They're timing was impeccable.
"John B." Rowan said, as they reached the lighthouse. The blue and red lights lit up the stormy sky. "Sarah wasn't kidding." She whispered.
"We'll go dark. Let the tide pull us out." John B said, as he turned off the machine. Darkness surrounded them as they held their breath. They weren't that far from the tents. One flash of light and they'd be seen undoubtedly.
"I don't know about this." Rowan muttered, as they huddled together.
"We'll be fine." John B told her. They watched the other side of the island and once they were in the clear, Rowan let out a breath of relief.
"We got it." She said, just they're about to move, Rowan's eyes widen at the lights before them. They were turning on. All across the island, including the lighthouse.
"Shit." Rowan exclaimed, as John B tried to start the boat. It sputters.
"Shit. Check the choke." John B says, as the light flashes onto them. Her heart beats rapidly as she goes over to the back of the boat. Rowan squeezes the ball and thankfully the boat starts up. The sound of sirens follow them as they race through the rain now pouring down on them.
"Shit. What the hell. They're coming from around the cut!" Rowan shouts, as she watched the monitor. They were catching up to them. "John B!" She says, when he didn't respond. She held onto the metal bars as the boat spread up.
"We've gotta go south." He says
"Into the storm?"
"It's the only way." Rowan knew that was true. The rain was whipping at them. The waves, crashed against the open railed boat as they ventured into the storm. The sirens soon were no longer heard the further they got. Rowan looked towards John B, who was already looking at her.
She reached over to the life jackets and didn't hesitate to pull it over her head. Once John B did the same, they held onto each other as the boat crashed with a incoming wave, causing it to tip over into the salty waters.
———
Okay yay! Season one is FINALLY finished!!
I feel so accomplished when I finish a part in my unfinished story's.
I know I have been inactive for a while, while also posting outer banks chapters once in a while, I've been stumped with Vienna for a long time and hopefully this will encourage and motivate me to get it back up and running.
I know this one isn't as popular but it's one of my favourites and will hopefully jump right into season two.
I really struggled with deciding on bringing Sarah along but since this is a John B story, I decided against it. I hope I do everyone but of justice.
Thank you for reading!!
Let me know of spelling mistakes so I can fix them in the future!