The Second || 𝘩.𝘴.

『19』| 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝚄𝙲𝙺𝙴𝚁 𝙿𝚄𝙽𝙲𝙷

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THE
SECOND
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CHAPTER
NINETEEN
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THE
SUCKER
PUNCH
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[[ HARRY. ]]

I couldn't help but feel anguish. The anguish in me was utterly ravaged, though I couldn't help but feel this wonder for who these people were. Perhaps they could be our allies--or foes who wished we were off the map. The protesters. All I know is, they weren't going to let us walk on their territory without a good swing, that is what I knew for sure. They had to be just as angry, with a daring fire to only stand against us, and Dixie was right in the middle of where this shark tank was. Wherever they resided. My sweetest Dixie of a distant dream, always a seeming second away.

Ace had lurked by the front door, taking a step back as the floorboard had creaked. He winced.

"You were going to start that crappy thing up weren't you?" Jace asked, pulling another gun out from his right pocket.

"No." Ace's voice trailed, staring up at the doorframe.

"Look, we'll go." I finally mustered up the courage to say. "If you let us break in."

"Not happening, man. That girl over the phone was precise. She knew what she damn wanted, and spoke it into the air like a bullet shooting through wind. If anything, she might've cut your trip short, so be fucking grateful."

I was rendered speechless. "This had better be good." I finally said. "And if they do anything to Dixie, they better trust we're flipping things."

"As far as the clear?" Max asked.

"We're in the clear. But this isn't of permanence. We've got ground to cover, let's just be grateful while we do."

"And what happens when we don't? When we lose. We lose everything Harry." Max fought. "And to be honest you haven't been anything like yourself. You're fucking losing yourself man, I didn't want to have to be the one to say this, but you are. Ace and I talked about it one night at Clementine's, and we especially talked about taking things into our own hands if you would turn on us."

"Max-"

"I understand you're distraught, and I understand this all feels like a wound that could be pierced every goddamn time, but you can't forget who your real ones are."

"You can't be implying I would fucking turn on you all. Don't you fucking say it." I broke. This was it, my biggest fear coming to life.

"I already did, damn it. Because you're acting like a fucking pissy ass pussy is fucking what. So snap the fuck out of it, whatever stupid shit you know about fourteen and the drug enforcement, spit it out right the fuck now." Max pointed, red in the eyes.

"You guys." Bellie spoke in disbelief. "Stop."

"Fuck." Jace remarked, raising his eyebrows as he chuckled.

Everyone lowered their guns.

"I know they could ruin our lives. Which is why I had been reiterating we needed to be tedious about smuggling drugs as we trail." I exhaled in defeat. "It's dangerous."

"You're serious! No way, I didn't know that." Max sarcastically rose his arms up into the ceiling with widened and manic eyes. "Please do enlighten me some more. None of the kinky shit, respectfully. Cuffs and shit, that shit's gotta go."

"Look, I understand I've faltered. Who am I to lead a fucking movement, who am I." I said with agony, tears brimming my eyes, as my throat ached from yelling.

Max could no longer hold himself back, as if he did. He had thrown a punch, one that hurt, one that snapped me out of it surely, but one that really brought me to the very edge. The sting, after he had lunged... I just knew I deserved it. I was weak. I thought it wasn't noticeable, that I could wake up one morning feeling it wash away, but it hadn't. It just hadn't.

"Thanks for the wake up call." I spoke sourly, clenching my jaw as the blood dripped from the wound near my cheek bone.

"Get your shit together." Max angered, his nose flaring and his eyebrows furrowed as the tension had risen.

"Tell the others we've got a getaway. We're rescuing Dixie." I finally mustered up the courage to say.

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