「✦ THE CROSS✦ 」

────

RAFE LEANED BACK in the booth, a cocky smirk tugging at his lips. "You know," he said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, "there's something kinda hot about us being on opposite sides of this whole thing. Like forbidden fruit or whatever."

MJ snorted, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please. Forbidden fruit? Don't give yourself too much credit, Cameron. You're not some tragic anti-hero."

"Tragic? Maybe not," Rafe shot back with a grin, leaning toward her. "But you can't deny I've got the whole 'villain' thing down."

MJ tilted her head, studying him with a mixture of humour and exasperation. "Yeah, that's the problem. It sucks that you're the villain."

Rafe blinked, his grin faltering slightly. "Ouch. Way to hit where it hurts, Rosemary."

She shrugged, trying to keep her tone light but failing to hide the seriousness in her voice. "I'm just saying... you don't have to be. You're smart, Rafe. You don't have to keep doing all this... shady stuff."

Rafe looked down at the table, his smirk fully gone now. For a moment, he said nothing, tracing a circle on the surface with his finger. "Maybe," he said softly, almost to himself. "But it's not that simple, MJ. Not when your whole life's been... what mine has."

MJ frowned, feeling a pang of sympathy despite herself. "You make it sound like you didn't have a choice."

He looked up at her then, his expression guarded but vulnerable. "Sometimes it feels like I didn't. Like no matter what I do, I'll always be the guy screwing things up."

MJ stared at him, unsure how to respond. This wasn't the cocky, confident Rafe she was used to sparring with. This was someone else—someone raw and bruised by the weight of his own choices.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look, I'm not saying you can change overnight, and I'm not saying it's easy. But maybe you should stop buying into this whole 'villain' thing. It's just... it's not who you have to be, Rafe."

For a moment, Rafe just looked at her, his expression unreadable. Then, a faint smirk returned to his face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You know what's really crazy?" he said, his voice softer now. "Even if I wanted to be the good guy... I'd still choose you."

MJ felt her chest tighten, the weight of his words settling between them like a heavy fog. She looked away, trying to suppress the warmth rising in her cheeks. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yeah," Rafe said, leaning back again, his smirk finally genuine. "But you like it."

MJ rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "You're such a pain, Cameron."

"And you're stuck with me, Rosemary," he said lightly, his grin turning playful again.

Rafe leaned back in the booth, his fingers drumming idly on the table. The conversation had shifted from the usual banter to something a little more serious, and he seemed oddly vulnerable for someone so used to being the one in control.

"You know," he said with a smirk, "I sometimes think I'm like Klaus Mikaelson from The Vampire Diaries."

MJ raised an eyebrow, trying to keep her tone light. "Really? You're comparing yourself to a centuries-old, murderous hybrid? Seems a bit... dramatic, don't you think?"

Rafe let out a breath, the smirk on his face fading as he looked down at the table, almost sheepish. "I mean, yeah, it sounds stupid, but... Klaus is this guy who's always caught in the middle of everything—family drama, betrayal, whatever. And no matter how hard he tries, he always ends up doing more damage than he meant to. I don't know, it just kinda reminds me of... me, I guess."

MJ stared at him, not sure how to respond. She knew Rafe's ego was as big as the island, but hearing him compare himself to Klaus—a guy who killed everyone he loved because he couldn't deal with his pain—felt different.

He seemed to sense her hesitation, his voice dropping quieter, more vulnerable. "I started watching it when you went missing. I know it's... weird, but it helped. Watching Klaus, seeing how he always hurt the people he cared about because he couldn't control himself... it made me feel like you were still with me, somehow."

MJ felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at him, the weight of his words landing heavily. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol still swirling in her system, the exhaustion from the day, or the vulnerability in his voice, but for a moment, she could see him—the real Rafe. Not the man who played games, not the one who pushed people away, but the one who was scared of losing everyone.

"Rafe..." She trailed off, her voice softer than she intended. "You don't have to be Klaus."

He chuckled, but it was hollow. "Yeah, well, seems like I keep playing the role, don't I?"

MJ swallowed hard, her heart racing for reasons she couldn't quite explain. "I get it. You don't want to hurt people, but it doesn't mean you have to follow that path. You're not Klaus, Rafe. You're... you."

Rafe glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, but there was something else there—something raw, almost pleading. "Yeah? You think so?"

MJ hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod. "I do."

Rafe looked down, almost embarrassed, before meeting her gaze again. "I'm not proud of everything I've done. But it's not all I am. I'm... I don't know, trying."

MJ sighed, her expression softening as she reached across the table, giving his hand a brief squeeze. "I know. I see it. But that doesn't mean it's always easy to trust, Rafe."

He nodded, his gaze dropping to their hands, and then he murmured, "I never meant to lose you. Not again."

She took a deep breath, trying to balance the feelings swirling inside her. "We'll see. But one thing at a time, okay?"

"Yeah," he said quietly, his voice filled with something that sounded like hope.

────

Later that afternoon, MJ was crouched down next to her bike at John B's house, her hands working skillfully to fine-tune the gears. The hum of the engine and the sharp scent of oil mixed with the warm afternoon air. She had always loved this—the peaceful solitude, the focus that came with working on her bike. It was a part of her, and in moments like this, she could almost forget about the chaos swirling around her.

As she adjusted the chain, a rustling sound caught her attention. She straightened up, wiping her hands on a rag as she turned to see JJ walking toward her, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He had that familiar mischievous glint in his eyes, but there was something else—something more serious—about the way he was walking.

"Got a surprise for you," JJ said, tossing the bag at her with a grin. "Pack up. We're going to Wilmington."

MJ blinked, still holding the bag in her hands, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Wilmington? Why?"

JJ shrugged nonchalantly, adjusting the straps on his bag. "Doesn't matter. Just pack up. You're coming with us."

Her brow furrowed. "What do you mean, 'coming with us'? What's going on?"

He shot her a look, then smirked. "Don't even want to know what you've been up to, MJ. Whatever it is, I'm not getting involved. Just get ready. We're leaving soon."

MJ chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you just full of surprises today?"

JJ didn't respond right away, just gave her a quick, knowing glance before turning back toward the house. "I'll see you in ten. Don't make me wait."

MJ watched him go, her hands still on the bag as the noise of the engine beneath her bike seemed to grow quieter. Wilmington? What was going on there? She couldn't quite figure out why JJ had insisted on dragging her along without giving her any details. The fact that he didn't even want to know what she'd been doing only added to the mystery, and something told her it wasn't just another casual trip.

Her gaze flicked back to her bike, still slightly disassembled from the work she was doing, and a thought crossed her mind—whatever this was, it felt like it was going to be one hell of a ride.

────

The Pogues had managed to board the boat to Wilmington without much trouble, which, frankly, was a miracle in itself. The only real problem ahead was figuring out how to transport the cross. The thing was massive, and it wasn't exactly going to slide under a coat or anything.

"Honestly, the hardest part is gonna be security," JJ said, leaning back in his chair with a hand on his cap. "Most of the guys will be at the rail yard, but there's still a ton of stuff we gotta figure out."

"Right. So we need to find somewhere off the beaten path to stash it," Pope said, his voice thoughtful. "Maybe a whistle-stop?"

Kiara nodded, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Sounds good. Somewhere we can stay hidden."

MJ sat across from them, tapping her fingers on the table, bouncing in place slightly, her ADHD always making her mind race. "Cool, but also—how are we moving the damn thing? It's not like we're just walking it out in broad daylight, right?"

"Right," JJ agreed, his fingers drumming along the edge of his cap. "We're definitely gonna need some wheels. Maybe my bike?"

MJ shot him a look, her eyebrow arching in disbelief. "Yeah, sure, JJ's bike," she said with a smirk. "I'll ride a motorcycle across the whole state, no problem."

JJ groaned, pulling his hat off and running his hands through his hair. "You really wanna ride it, don't you?"

"Not if you're gonna whine the whole time about it," MJ shot back with a shrug. "It's not like I can't handle it."

"Alright, alright," JJ relented, holding his hands up like he was surrendering. "New ideas. Any other brilliant plans, people?"

Before anyone could offer any suggestions, Sarah's voice cut through the conversation, her tone suddenly high-pitched. "Oh, shit."

MJ groaned. "What now?"

Sarah gestured across the deck, where Topper was talking to a few people by the bar. "Is that Topper?"

"Why is he everywhere?" Kiara muttered, her irritation thick in the air.

MJ rolled her eyes. "Doesn't he have something better to do with his life than hovering around like a damn shadow?"

"Yeah, I'm sure Tara's around here somewhere, attached to him like a damn leech," JJ said with a knowing nod. "They're inseparable."

MJ's lips twisted into a sarcastic grin. "Perfect. Just what we needed."

"Wait a second," Pope said, his expression turning from annoyed to thoughtful. "Topper's gotta have a way to move the cross. His family's loaded—he's gotta have a truck or something."

A grin spread across JJ's face. "Pope's right. Topper's got a rig."

"No," Sarah said immediately, shaking her head.

"Yes," JJ shot back.

"No," Sarah repeated, folding her arms across her chest.

"Sarah, seriously, you've got him wrapped around your finger already," JJ coaxed, a teasing glint in his eyes. "It's like, what, one more thing for the team?"

"Come on, Sarah," MJ added, the snark in her voice cutting through. "It's not like you haven't done worse for us before. You can talk him into it."

"What would John B say?" Sarah asked, her face scrunching up in doubt.

"I think John B would totally get it," Pope said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Look, we're talking about treasure here. This is the kind of thing everyone would get behind."

"We'll handle John B," Kiara chimed in, leaning forward. "Trust me, Sarah. Just go over there and talk to him."

MJ shot a look at JJ, whose grin was growing. "What do you think, Jay? Can she pull it off?"

JJ shrugged, his voice low. "If anyone can convince a Kook to let us use their rig, it's Sarah - or you but only with Rafe-"

"And we don't want that-" Kie said.

MJ rolled her eyes and sighed, but she had to admit, Sarah was pretty damn good at convincing people when she wanted to be. "Alright, alright. Just don't take too long. We've got a plan to ruin."

As Sarah stood up and made her way over to Topper, MJ leaned back in her chair, her legs stretched out in front of her. "You know, I could just totally distract him. I mean, I'm a better manipulator than Sarah, right?" she said, flashing JJ a grin.

He smirked. "No one's better at manipulating Topper than Sarah. And you know it."

"Yeah, but where's the fun in that?" MJ shot back, flicking a piece of hair out of her face. "I'm all about chaos, remember?"

JJ just shook his head, chuckling as he watched Sarah and Topper talk. It didn't take long before Sarah returned, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Done. He's letting us use his dad's truck for the night."

MJ leaned forward, her grin widening. "See? Told ya she could do it."

JJ chuckled, slinging his arm around her shoulders. "Yeah, she's got that charm about her."

"Alright," Pope said, nodding in satisfaction. "We've got a ride. Now, let's figure out how to move this damn cross."

MJ's mind was already racing with the next step. She was practically bouncing with excitement, her ADHD brain firing on all cylinders. "Next step? Next step?" she said, practically vibrating with the energy. "Let's just go get the treasure, already!"

JJ grinned, squeezing her shoulder. "That's the spirit."

And with that, the plan was set into motion.

Topper walked up to their group, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his usual smug expression firmly in place. His eyes flicked over to Sarah for a second, but then he focused on MJ, who was sitting back, clearly waiting for something to happen.

"You," Topper said, pointing a finger at MJ. "You better not bug me while I'm letting you guys use the truck, alright?"

MJ shot him a glance, her eyebrow raised, clearly amused. "Bug you? Me? You don't even know what I'm capable of," she said with a sly grin, tapping her fingers on the table as she leaned back in her chair. "But I'll take that as a compliment, Topper."

His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing. "I'm serious, MJ. Don't cause any trouble. If you even try to pull one of your stupid pranks or whatever you think you're gonna do, I'll kick you out and leave you stranded here. Got it?"

She let out a breathy laugh, her eyes never leaving his. "Ooh, threatening me now? I'm so scared." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, and she flicked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, clearly unfazed by his warning.

Topper didn't budge, though. "You're a lot of things, MJ. Annoying as hell is one of them. So keep it together. I'm doing you guys a favour, not the other way around."

"Yeah, I get it, big guy," MJ said with a mock salute, her lips curling into a smile that wasn't friendly in the least. "I'll behave. Wouldn't want you to cry about it." Her tone dripped with mischief, but she knew how to play this game. She had Topper's number, even if he hated to admit it.

"Good," he muttered, clearly not convinced but unwilling to argue further. He shot a glance over at Sarah, who was watching him carefully, before he turned and walked off, muttering under his breath.

"Ahh, Topper," MJ said after a beat, tapping her fingers on the edge of the table as she watched him leave. "Always so... predictable."

Kiara rolled her eyes, the tension lifting from her shoulders as she sat back in her chair. "Honestly, I don't know how you do it. Every time you talk to him, I feel like you're about to explode into flames."

"Because it's fun," MJ replied, her grin never fading. "He's got such a punchable face. I practically have to mess with him."

"Don't push him too hard," JJ warned, raising an eyebrow. "We need the truck, not another fight."

"Oh, don't worry," MJ said breezily, her voice teasing. "I've got it under control. Topper thinks he's the king of everything. Someone's gotta take him down a peg, and I volunteer."

Pope shook his head, half-smiling. "Honestly, I don't get how you can talk to him like that without getting your face punched in."

"Because," MJ said, leaning in with a grin, "I'm just that good. Topper's all bark, no bite. Trust me, I know."

JJ chuckled under his breath. "You're probably right, but just don't actually piss him off, alright? We need him for the plan."

"Fine, fine. I'll be on my best behaviour," she said with an exaggerated sigh. "But if I accidentally spill something on him, I'm not responsible." She winked, clearly not making any promises.

The group laughed, and despite the tension that always seemed to simmer between MJ and Topper, there was a sense of camaraderie in the air. With their ride secured, they were one step closer to their goal. But MJ could already feel the next round of chaos bubbling beneath the surface. There was no way she was going to keep herself from stirring the pot just a little bit more. It was in her nature.

As they stood up and started to move toward the dock to meet Topper and get the truck, JJ leaned in toward MJ, his voice low but teasing. "I'd be careful with the pranks, though. Topper's more of a loose cannon than you think."

"Oh, I know," MJ responded, a grin dancing across her lips. "That's what makes it fun. The unpredictable ones are the best targets."

JJ laughed softly, shaking his head. "You're impossible."

"That's the idea," she said with a wink.

And with that, they were off—heading toward the truck, ready for the next chapter of their wild adventure.

────

Topper drove them where they needed to go, which, unfortunately, had thousands of trains that Kiara had taken note of once they had gotten on top of one of the trains, while Topper stood below.

MJ had made sure to demand that Topper not tell anyone about her involvement with Rafe, especially with the whole situation around the cross. She wasn't sure how much that would do, but she knew Rafe would want her to keep it quiet. If Sarah found out, things could get complicated.

"Well, we know it's care 750X on the track to Raleigh," Pope reminded them.

"Yeah, so now we just gotta find it," JJ said, eyeing the tracks.

"Easier said than done," MJ muttered, elbowing him in the side. "Unless you're planning to magically find it, genius."

JJ shot her a grin. "No need for magic, M. I've got this." He made a dramatic gesture toward the tracks. "Watch and learn."

"Uh-huh, sure," MJ rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "Let me know when that 'genius' part kicks in."

"Well, news flash. We're not getting out of here unnoticed with a giant cross," Kiara pointed out.

"We won't have to. We can nab it somewhere further in the country. Just gotta figure out how to stop the train," Pope explained.

"Right," Kiara replied, though their plan was becoming increasingly more complex.

"Leave that to me," JJ voiced a confident smirk on his face.

"How yare ou gonna do that?" Cleo questioned.

"Well, I got an uncle up in New Bern, right? When he got tipsy, he would just throw an old chain across the tracks, just for shits and giggles. And, uh, that old little chain would stop all the train traffic in coastal Carolina," JJ explained, looking proud of himself.

"A chain?" Kiara said, her eyebrows raised.

"He's actually right. There's a low-voltage current that runs across all rail tracks. You throw a chain on it, you close that circuit. It would read as another train. Crossing lights come down. Science is actually pretty sound," Pope backed up JJ's story.

"Science. I knew my science," JJ bragged, and MJ slapped him lightly on the back. "Yeah, yeah, you're a genius, I get it," she teased. "Just don't get us arrested."

"Well, we don't have a chain," Pope brought up.

"No, but I bet Topper's dad has jumper cables in the truck. Would that work?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah."

"Yo, what's going on?! Are we doing this or what?!" Topper called out impatiently, arms raised as if they were wasting his time.

"All right, you all wait here. Me and Pope will go look for it and send a signal once we find it," Cleo instructed, and Pope nodded at her.

"Do we actually have a plan right now?" Sarah questioned in shock.

"I think we do," JJ answered, giving MJ a playful side-eye. "Surprisingly, we actually do."

"That's impressive," MJ said, deadpan. "And by impressive, you mean... dangerous, right?"

"Let's not jinx it while we're ahead," Pope told them, starting to move off the train with Cleo.

"Nobody ever listens to me," Cleo joked, making them laugh quietly. The two then got off the train to go search for the correct car number, leaving the four of them on top of the train with Topper still waiting on the ground.

"What's taking so long?" Sarah asked after a while, but no one answered as they waited for the signal that Pope and Cleo said they would shine. MJ leaned over to JJ and nudged him.

"Are you sure you're not gonna mess this up? Because I swear, if we get caught, I'm blaming you," she said, her voice full of mock seriousness.

"Me?" JJ gasped, putting a hand to his chest dramatically. "What kind of twin do you think I am, MJ? I've got this."

"Yeah, you've got 'us caught' written all over it," MJ shot back, smirking.

A little after Sarah asked her question, MJ could see a figure climbing up the train in the distance. "Look, Pope."

They all looked over to see his body climbing up the train before he turned his flashlight on, waving it towards them. JJ put his thumbs up at him, hoping the boy would see it from that far away.

"That's it. We're green," Kiara spoke before the machinery on the train started to turn on.

"What is that?" MJ asked, looking below them.

"You hear that?" JJ said at the same time before the train that Pope was on started to move. "The train's moving, the train's moving, the train's moving!" He pumped a fist in the air, clearly excited.

"Yeah, I know. We're not all blind, JJ," MJ replied, rolling her eyes with a smile as she shook her head.

"Shit, shit, shit," MJ muttered under her breath, pacing back and forth as the officers undid everything they'd just done. She shot a glance at JJ, who was pacing too, clearly just as tense. The officers stepped away, giving a thumbs-up to the conductor to let them know it was safe to keep going.

"They've had enough time, right?" MJ asked, not sure if she was asking him or trying to convince herself.

"I don't know. I think so," JJ answered, his voice tinged with doubt. He watched the officers drive off and the train started moving again. "The train's starting."

"Now we have to go get them," MJ said, a quick, frustrated breath escaping her.

"There goes the plan," JJ muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips. "All right, we gotta help them." He shot her a quick look. "Ready to go, M?"

"Always ready for your messes," MJ shot back, pushing past him to run toward his bike. "You know, I should've known this was gonna go sideways from the start."

JJ tripped over his own feet as he took off after her, stumbling before MJ grabbed his arm to pull him up. "Nice, JJ. Real smooth."

"Shut up, I've got it," he groaned, getting back on track. But as he jumped on his bike, something fell from his pocket.

"Hey, you dropped your—" MJ stopped herself when she saw what it was. "Wait... that's Kie's dad's wallet."

Her eyes flickered down at it, then back up to him. Her voice dropped into something lower, almost suspicious. "Why do you have this?"

JJ froze, his face flushing slightly as he awkwardly looked away. "If I'm gonna be accused of being a thief, might as well get something out of it," he said with a shrug, though it didn't match his sheepish expression.

MJ stared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?" she said flatly. "I can't believe you. First, you dragged me into your stupid plans, and now you're stealing from Kie's dad? Come on, JJ. You're giving them even more of a reason to hate you."

JJ shot her a quick, sideways look, still avoiding her eyes. "They already hate me, M. At least this way, I've got a little something to show for it."

MJ scoffed, shoving the wallet back into his pocket as they got ready to head out. "Whatever. But you're not dragging me into this mess. You fix this one on your own." Despite her words, there was a small smile tugging at her lips, a mix of exasperation and affection.

"I'm pretty sure you'll be right there with me, whether you like it or not," JJ shot back, grinning. "You always are."

"Ugh," MJ groaned, pushing him playfully. "What would you do without me, dumbass?"

"Probably get caught, to be honest," JJ answered with a grin. "But you'd never let that happen, would you?"

MJ gave him a pointed look. "You're lucky you're my twin. The only reason I haven't ditched you yet."

"More of a reason?" JJ repeated, glancing at MJ. "They're already completely against me, so who cares?"

"They didn't have a solid reason before, but now they do," MJ shot back, her tone sharp, but still laced with the care only a twin could understand.

JJ rolled his eyes, running a hand through his messy hair. "Who cares? You know what? We don't have time for this. Get on." He gestured to his bike, but MJ just stood there, crossing her arms with a look that said she wasn't buying it.

"You're not off the hook that easily, Jay," she warned, but she was already climbing on behind him.

JJ shot her a glance. "You're seriously gonna act like I'm the only one making bad decisions today?"

"You're the one with the rock in your hand, aren't you?" MJ shot back, her eyes narrowing playfully.

"Yeah, yeah," JJ grinned, revving the engine. "All part of the plan. Now, just hang on."

The sirens suddenly blared, and Topper's truck roared past, forcing JJ to snap his attention back to the road. "That's Top," he muttered, and MJ nodded, watching the crate in the back of the truck as Pope, Kiara, and Cleo ducked behind it.

"And that's the cross," she added under her breath. "We better move fast."

JJ's eyes sparkled with determination. "Get on, get on!"

Without another word, they were off, chasing after Topper's truck with the cops hot on their trail.

"J!" MJ shouted over the wind, her voice a mix of frustration and worry. "The cops are catching up!"

"I know, I know!" JJ grinned, speeding up and getting closer to Topper's truck. "But this is gonna work. Just trust me."

"What are you doing?" Pope yelled through the wind, his voice tinged with confusion.

"Top, keep going straight!" JJ barked. He inched his bike closer to the truck, his heart racing.

"Hey, y'all, be careful, all right?!" Topper yelled, but it was clear the situation was spiralling out of control.

"Get ready to jump!" JJ shouted to MJ.

"What?!" MJ exclaimed, her eyes wide.

"Are you crazy?!" Pope added, his voice rising with panic.

"Probably! Get ready!" JJ yelled, not waiting for them to process. "Come on, I've got you, M!" He extended his arm back to her, ready to catch her if she jumped.

"J, you're out of your mind," MJ muttered, but despite the fear in her chest, she knew this was the only way. With a quick breath, she prepared to jump.

"Come on! Come on! I've got you!" Pope called out, his arms outstretched as MJ made her move, landing safely on the crate in the back of Topper's truck.

"Easy now. Be careful," Pope said, his voice warm as he helped steady her.

"You okay?" Kiara asked, concern in her eyes as she checked MJ over.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," MJ muttered, but her attention was already shifting back to JJ. She saw him stop his bike abruptly, his eyes scanning the road as the cops closed in. "Oh, shit," she breathed.

"What's he doing?" Cleo asked, her voice filled with unease.

"Whatever it is, it's gonna be reckless," Kiara said, shaking her head. "He's trying to get killed."

"He's throwing a rock," Pope said, realization dawning.

"He's trying to make them chase him," MJ added, barely hiding her worry.

"JJ!" MJ hissed under her breath, but it was too late. He threw the rock with all his strength, hitting the cop's windshield. The sirens screeched louder as the officers switched course and started after him instead.

"He did it! They're chasing him!" Pope shouted, adrenaline flooding the air.

"Fuck," MJ breathed, feeling her heart pound. "Topper, stop the truck!" She gripped the side of the truck, her nerves going haywire as they tried to catch up with JJ.

But Topper had already been turning the wheel, pushing the gas to go after him despite every instinct telling him not to.

"JJ!" MJ yelled again as they saw him up ahead, still being pursued. "What's he thinking?"

"This wasn't the plan," MJ muttered, feeling that sickening knot form in her stomach.

"No way, he's up on the overpass," Sarah pointed out, eyes wide.

Just then, something clattered from the overpass, and they all froze in shock.

"His bike," Pope said in disbelief, as they all watched it fall. "What the hell happened?"

"JJ?!" MJ screamed, her voice cracking as she leaped out of the truck and ran toward the wrecked bike. "JJ?! Where is he?!" Her heart pounded, her chest tightening in panic.

"Shit," Pope muttered, his own heart sinking. "JJ, where are you?"

The others joined in the frantic search, all of them desperately calling for their friend, until Kiara finally looked at MJ, her face filled with concern.

"He's got to be okay," Kiara whispered. 

"I don't know, K," MJ's voice wavered. "I don't know if he's okay." Her eyes started to tear up, but she forced the emotion down.

Then, the unmistakable sound of a familiar voice reached their ears. "I wish I could say I did that on purpose," JJ called out, his voice a little hoarse but full of his usual defiant energy.

The group turned to see him standing there, alive and well, despite the wreckage.

"You're alive!" Pope yelled, running over to him and pulling him into a tight hug. "Dude!"

"Yeah, somehow," JJ admitted, grinning as he hugged him back.

"Oh, shit, that was gnarly!" Topper laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You can say that again," JJ joked, wiping dirt from his clothes.

But before he could say anything more, Sarah ran over and pulled him into a tight hug. "Oh God," she murmured, relief flooding her voice.

"We really thought you did it this time, Jayj," Kiara said, her voice shaking as she finally let go of her sister.

"Then why you cryin', huh?" JJ teased, giving her a grin. "You're such a softie, K."

She laughed, her face lighting up despite the craziness. "Shut up, Jayj."

"Pleasantries are nice, but we really should get out of here," Pope interrupted, his tone serious.

"Yeah, let's go," MJ said, her voice softer now. "This isn't over yet."

"Yeah, yeah, let's roll," Topper agreed, rushing over to the truck.

After the others began making their way over to the car, JJ exchanged a glance with MJ. She was walking toward him slowly, her expression unreadable. It was almost as if they were the only two left in the world.

"Where the hell have you been?" JJ asked, his voice low, trying to hide the relief mixed with frustration. They'd been through so much together. He couldn't believe she'd just gone off and disappeared without a word.

MJ let out a quiet laugh, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I could ask you the same thing," she replied, her voice tight with unspoken emotions. "Thought I lost you for a second."

JJ smirked but his eyes softened. "You can't kill a Pogue, sis."

"Yeah, well, I'm still worried about you, you idiot," she shot back, swiping at the tears that had started to gather in her eyes.

JJ reached out, pulling her into a tight hug. "You're the one who always takes off on me," he muttered, squeezing her tightly as if he'd never let her go. "You should've stayed back with us."

MJ held on just as tightly, not caring that she was probably crushing him. "I didn't want you to have to do this alone," she said, her voice shaky. "I've been trying to protect you, J. We've been through too much already."

Before JJ could reply, the sound of a shout broke through the moment. "Hey! You kids, don't move!"

MJ stiffened, and JJ instinctively grabbed her arm. "Go!" he barked, pulling her toward the truck.

The officer's voice rang out again. "Stay right there! I said, stay right there!"

Topper, already behind the wheel, slammed the truck into gear, and the group quickly piled into the car, escaping just before the cops could catch up.

The road stretched out ahead of them, but they all kept looking over their shoulders, nerves jumping at every sound. "Shit, they definitely called it in," Topper muttered, his hands gripping the wheel tighter.

"Top! Top! Turn here, turn here!" JJ yelled, leaning over, trying to get his attention.

"Don't touch the driver, man," Topper snapped, swatting JJ's hand away.

JJ rolled his eyes and leaned back in the seat, muttering under his breath, "Yeah, yeah, I'm just trying to help."

"Stop treating him like an Uber," MJ teased, nudging him with her elbow.

JJ shot her a grin. "What, you want me to drive? We'd be in jail before we even hit the next block."

The banter continued, but it didn't hide the tension in the truck. Topper wasn't helping the situation. "Look, if I speed up, it's gonna make us more obvious," he argued.

JJ threw his hands up in the air. "Oh, come on! We're already at the point of no return!"

"Then go faster!" Cleo cut in, exasperated.

Sarah glanced nervously at the road ahead, her voice laced with sarcasm, "Yeah, like we're not already drawing attention."

The truck surged forward as Topper finally relented. JJ leaned back, laughing as the truck jerked up and down. "That's what I'm talking about!" he yelled, nearly slamming into MJ as the ride became more chaotic.

Then, suddenly, the truck skidded to a halt. "Shit," Pope cursed as he jumped out to check the fallen crate.

"Great job, Topper," JJ muttered, sarcasm dripping from his words as he followed.

Topper shot him a look. "Hey, you guys wanted to go faster!"

Pope ripped the top off the crate and stared inside, his face falling. "It's fake," he muttered, barely above a whisper.

"Seriously? We stole a fake?" JJ exhaled, shaking his head. "That's just our luck."

"It's not our fault," Pope said, frustration clear in his tone. "How were we supposed to know?"

MJ's heart sank as she saw the fake cross, her mind already spiralling. "What does this mean?" she asked quietly, her thoughts scattered.

Pope bent down, inspecting the contents further, but there was no denying it. "It's all fake," he confirmed.

"Of course it is," JJ sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Just then, the sound of sirens in the distance echoed. Topper tensed up, clearly panicking. "I can't be here. My grandfather's a judge."

"Relax, Top," JJ scoffed. "No one's gonna think some guy in flip-flops is part of a robbery."

Topper shot him a glare. "Oh yeah, with the crate right here next to my truck? Sure."

The group rushed back toward the truck, hearts pounding. Pope grabbed Kiara's arm, pulling her toward the vehicle. "We gotta go," Kiara said quickly, glancing over at MJ with a worried look. MJ just nodded and followed, still processing everything that had happened.

As they sped off into the night, JJ looked over at MJ, a teasing grin on his face. "This is just like old times, huh? Except now we're running from cops with fake treasure."

MJ smirked back, shaking her head. "Yeah, and you're still the same pain in my ass."

────

After their failed heist, the Pogues made their way back to the Outer Banks, but it wasn't the triumphant return they'd imagined. The weight of their failure loomed over them, but still, the world didn't feel like it had fully beaten them yet.

They arrived at the Château, only to find John B and Big John had returned from wherever they'd been. When Big John saw the group, his serious demeanour softened into a grin, and he stepped forward to give Pope an enthusiastic hug.

"Look at you, big man!" Big John called out, his voice full of pride.

JJ, ever the troublemaker, jumped onto Big John's back, making playful sounds that had everyone laughing.

"JJ, come on," Big John teased, pretending to struggle beneath the extra weight, but they all knew it was mostly an act. JJ jumped off with a chuckle and ruffled his hair.

"Good to see you, big guy," Big John said, giving JJ a heartfelt nod. JJ returned the gesture with a wide, warm smile, before shooting a glance at MJ, who was standing just behind him.

"You guys need to stop looking so serious," JJ smirked, nudging her. "It's not like you're in mourning."

MJ rolled her eyes but managed a playful retort. "Yeah, because everything's fine after almost getting caught. Perfect timing, as usual."

JJ raised an eyebrow, flashing her a sarcastic smile. "You're welcome, by the way."

"You didn't do anything," MJ teased, "you just walked around with your hands in your pockets."

"Look, we're here, aren't we?" JJ shot back, his grin widening. "Now, let's go grab some beers before Rafe shows up and ruins the mood."

The mention of Rafe made MJ's stomach tighten, and she quickly masked the reaction with a forced chuckle. "I'm sure he's too busy with his own mess to bother us," she replied coolly, careful not to give away too much.

JJ shot her a knowing look, sensing her unease but not pressing it. He nudged her again. "Alright, alright, we'll get through this. After all, if anyone's gonna make it out unscathed, it's gonna be us, right?"

MJ forced a smile. "Right. You and me, always."

As the group scattered, catching up and sharing stories, MJ's mind wandered. She knew she should probably tell JJ about Rafe—about how despite everything that had happened, she was secretly back together with him. But for now, she kept that secret close. It wasn't easy, especially when her feelings for Rafe were still so complicated, but the connection they shared was undeniable.

John B and Kiara headed off toward the old docks, sensing that they needed to talk. MJ lingered, feeling a little detached from the moment, and glanced over at JJ. He was already a few steps ahead, talking to Pope.

"Hey, don't forget who's the better twin," MJ called out with a teasing tone.

JJ turned to look over his shoulder, rolling his eyes. "As if you've got anything on me. I'm clearly the better one."

MJ laughed, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Oh, please. I was always the one keeping you out of trouble. Remember when you almost set that shed on fire?"

"That was one time, MJ!" JJ grinned back, but there was a deep affection in his teasing.

"You almost set it on fire twice," she shot back, smirking.

JJ glared at her jokingly, his smile warm. "Alright, alright. You win. But only because I'm letting you."

As they joked, MJ's phone buzzed in her pocket. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the name on the screen: Rafe.

"Everything alright?" JJ asked, noticing the brief flash of distraction on her face.

MJ quickly schooled her expression into something neutral, tucking her phone back into her pocket. "Yeah, just... checking in with a friend," she said with a forced smile.

JJ didn't buy it, but he didn't press her either, choosing instead to return to his usual carefree attitude. "C'mon, let's grab those beers. Then we can finally relax. No more heists, no more drama. Just us."

MJ followed him, feeling a sense of relief in the lighthearted distraction, but deep down, a part of her couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change again—and that she wouldn't be able to keep her secret for much longer.

Later that evening, MJ sat on the porch, the soft ocean breeze tousling the loose strands of her hair as she gazed out at the fading light over the Outer Banks. The sound of her friends' laughter floated from the yard, but she felt disconnected, her mind miles away. Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She glanced down at the screen, and her stomach did a little flip when she saw Rafe's name flash across it. A small, involuntary smile tugged at her lips, but she quickly wiped it away, her eyes flicking nervously toward the group in the yard. She wasn't ready for them to know—she couldn't even explain it to herself yet, not until she figured out exactly what this thing with Rafe was.

Her fingers hovered over the phone for a moment before she unlocked it.

Rafe: 

So, I'm thinking about taking the bike out tomorrow. 

Just you and me... 

unless you think you can keep up?

MJ's heart skipped a beat. She knew exactly what he was doing—flirting, pushing her buttons like only he could. It was a game they played, riding together, just the two of them, away from everything. His words were familiar, teasing in a way that made her stomach twist with excitement.

MJ: 

You really think you can handle me? You know how fast I go.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she sent the message, a smile playing on her lips despite herself. She wanted to go, more than anything, but part of her was still afraid—afraid of what would happen if anyone found out.

Rafe: 

Oh, I'm confident. I'll pick you up at 10, and trust me, I won't be slowing down for you.

MJ couldn't help the grin that spread across her face, even though her stomach fluttered with nerves.

She typed back quickly, this time with no hesitation, feeling the familiar pull toward him.

MJ: 

You're lucky I'm in a good mood. I'll be there.

She hit send before she could second-guess herself. Secretly dating Rafe Cameron was a dangerous game, but the thrill of his flirtations, of his attention, was something she couldn't walk away from.