Chapter Text
Starts right after JJ was stabbed
Kie: No, no, JJ, look at me – she says while helping him sit on the floor –
Kie: JOHN B! POPE, HELP! – she says, her voice breaking –
JJ: it’s… it’s okay, Kie – he says, struggling to speak –
Kie: No, it’s not okay! – she says, tears in her eyes – SARAH, PLEASE HELP! – she cries – JJ, stay with me – she says, looking into his eyes –
JJ: I… – he swallows – I never told you my wish – he says, a tear escaping –
Kie: Don’t talk, Jage – she says, pressing his wound – HELP! – she shouts louder – stay awake, Jage –
JJ: I… I already got my wish – he says, giving her a smile –
Kie: Jage, don’t talk – she says, crying – JOHN B, DAMMIT! HELP! – she yells –
JJ: I love you, Kie – he says, giving her another smile –
Kie: I love you too, JJ, so stay with me – she sobs –
JJ: Take care of everyone else.
Kie: JJ, you promised it would be us against the world. DON’T YOU DARE DIE – she says, shaking him – JOHN B!
-Kie – a voice calls from afar –
Kie: OVER HERE, JOHN B, HELP! – she shouts –
Kie: JJ, STAY WITH ME – she says, pressing on his wound harder –
JJ: ugh – he groans –
Kie: I know, I know, but remember, it’s us against the world – she says, caressing his cheek – and there’s no “us” without you – she says, crying –
John B: JJ, NO, NO! – he says, running up –
Kie: He’s bleeding out, John B – she says, crying –
Pope: No, no – he says, arriving –
Sarah: Damn – she says, with Cleo beside her –
John B: Hang on, JJ – he says, taking over –
Pope: Don’t fall asleep, JJ – he says, assessing the wound –
Kie: He needs help – she cries –
Rafe: Damn it! – he says, appearing – John B, lift him up – he says, moving past the girls –
John B: He’ll bleed out if I move him – he says –
Rafe: He’ll bleed out if we don’t get him help – he yells –
Pope: He’s right, you guys lift him, and I’ll keep pressure on the wound – he says quickly –
Rafe: JOHN B, NOW – he yells when he sees John B hesitating –
JJ: ugh – he groans as they lift him –
Pope: Go get help – he tells Sarah and Cleo – Kie, keep talking to him.
Cleo: HELP! – she shouts, running off –
Kie: JJ, stay with me – she says, holding his head – talk to me.
JJ:
Kie: JAGE, TALK TO ME – she says, crying – baby, please, don’t leave me – she cries –
JJ: still here – he says faintly –
John B: That’s it, JJ, keep talking to us – he says as they set him down –
Sarah: OVER HERE! – she yells –
John B: Just a little more, brother – he says, reaching where Sarah is –
“Oh my god!” – a lady exclaims –
Kie: He was stabbed – she says, crying – he needs help, please – she sobs –
“Get him in – the woman says, starting her car – come on, get in.”
Kie’s POV
This couldn’t be happening. JJ gave up the crown! This is my fault. We all got into the lady’s car as she started driving. My hands were covered in his blood, the blood of my best friend, the one who saved me, the one who never left me behind, the one I’m in love with. JJ was drifting in and out of consciousness.
John B: JJ, DON’T FALL ASLEEP – he shouts –
Kie: JAGE – she says, shaking him –
JJ:
He wasn’t responding. Why wasn’t he responding?! I leaned closer, and my worst nightmare was coming true.
Kie: He doesn’t have a pulse – she cries out –
“Damn!” the lady says – We’re almost there, 2 minutes –
Pope: Move aside, Kie – he says, pushing her away and starting compressions –
Pope: 1, 2, 3 – he counts – COME ON, JJ – 1, 2, 3 – BRO, DON’T LEAVE US – he cries –
Rafe: Move over – he says when he sees Pope struggling – 1, 2, 3 –
Kie: JJ, PLEASE – she cries, holding his hand –
Rafe: COME ON, MAN – he yells – 1, 2, 3 –
John B: You promised, JJ – he cries –
Rafe: 1, 2, 3 –
Sarah: HOW MUCH LONGER?! – she shouts –
“Almost there!”
Kie: You promised it would be us against the world, Jage – she cries, stroking his hair and whispering in his ear – I can’t do this without you – she sobs –
Rafe: 1, 2, 3 –
“WE’RE HERE.”
“HE HAS A PULSE.”
They both shouted at the same time. Before the car even stopped, Cleo and I were running out, calling for help, while Rafe and John B got JJ out.
Kie: Please help – I say, running up to the counter –
“What happened?” – a nurse asks –
“STABBED YOUNG MAN, BRING A STRETCHER, NOW!” – a doctor shouts before I can answer –
Kie: Save him – I cry, looking into his eyes –
“QUICK, HE’S LOST A LOT OF BLOOD, WE NEED TO GET HIM TO SURGERY, NOW!” the doctor shouts –
The world slows down. The staff moves fast, but all I see is JJ’s stretcher, I see my hands and his blood, I see the crowd of doctors surrounding him, John B frozen like me, Pope wide-eyed, watching the doctors work, Rafe breathing heavily, crouching down, Cleo holding Pope from behind, and Sarah staring at JJ with a hand on her stomach. I watch them rush JJ toward, I think, the OR, and I follow him with my eyes until he disappears behind the doors.
“Are you family?” – a nurse asks, but her voice echoes, sounding distant, as if all sounds are fading.
Rafe: We’re his friends – I hear him say –
Sarah: Kie – she says, snapping her fingers in front of my eyes – Kie – that’s when I come back to reality.
Suddenly, the sounds and people return to normal. I look around; Pope and Rafe are talking to a nurse, John B is covered in blood, his shirt and hands, and my legs suddenly feel too heavy.
Sarah: Help – she says, supporting me –
“JJ!” – I scream, falling to my knees – JJ – I scream again –
Cleo: It’s okay, Kie, they’ll take care of him – she says, joining Sarah to help –
Kie: He can’t die – I say, looking at them – he promised me – I cry in my friends’ arms –
Sarah: I know, Kie – she says, stroking my hair – I know.
John B: He’s only 18 – I hear him say to someone.
I look up and see he’s talking to doctors. I wipe my tears and stand up to join him.
Kie: Please, tell me something – I say, voice breaking –