Chapter Text
July was officially a Pogue, and their mission this summer was to have a good time all the time. Or so that’s what John b claimed, and July couldn’t help but agree. The strange girl with blue hair had been on the move for a portion of her life, she never had the chance to get close to people until she moved in with her cousin Kiara, and met the girl’s friends. After four months she was finally starting to see herself as a Pogue, and Kiara’s friends were her friends too.
“That’s what, a three-story fall to the deck?” Pope calls out to John b on the roof. “I give you about a 1 in 3 chance of survival.”
John B licks his finger and holds it up to the wind in false consideration. “Should I do it?” The boy challenges.
July instantly can’t help but be an instigator and laughs, “Do a flip!”
“Yeah, you should jump, I’ll shoot you on the way down.” Pope threatens as he holds up the drill he found as if it were a gun. The gang had decided to hang out and explore a new house currently under construction. It seemed like rich people, or kooks as they were called in the outer banks, were always expanding and investing, always greedy for more.
“They’re gonna have Japanese toilets with towel warmers!” Kiara steps into view with her scowl. July goes to take a sip of her drink, only to frown when she realises the can is empty.
“Of course they are, why wouldn’t they?” John B is still balancing on one leg on the roof, July thinks he makes it look harder than it should be and tries not to laugh at the thought of John B attempting what July and her younger siblings used to get up to. If John b saw the chaos and danger little man created at seven years old, he may just have a Pope level anxiety attack.
“This used to be a turtle habitat but who cares about the turtles I guess?”
“I can’t have cold towels!” JJ jokes from his place above the deck. July notices him take a sip of his drink and wonders how on earth did she finish hers before him. The blonde notices her stare and winks at her, always flirty and playful. She just looks away hoping her face remains stoic and doesn’t betray her. Although, she isn’t sure she’s sober enough to succeed.
Kie, finally spotting John B on the roof begins to worry. “Can you please not kill yourself?”
“Ooh! Dibs on the Twinkie if you do!” July calls, purposefully facing away from her cousin so she can ignore the fierce girl’s harsh glare.
“Dibs on the HMS!” JJ adds. “Just don’t spill that beer. I’m not giving you another one.”
But John B never listens to JJ, and he immediately drops it. July can’t tell if it truly was an accident or if the boys just got a kick out of messing with each other. Either way, the slip does not surprise her at all.
“Of course you did, like right when I said.”
“Smooth” Kie rolls her eyes.
“Hey securities here!” Pope interrupts. “Let’s wrap it up.”
“Boys are here early today!”
“Humpty-dumpty, let’s roll.” The blonde urges his clumsy friend from the railing. The group of teenagers quickly make work of leaving, but still they don’t let it ruin their fun. “Gary is that you?” July won’t admit it aloud, especially not to Kie, but she admires JJ simply for his ability to always have fun. Even now as they escape the house, running from the police, so close to getting nabbed, JJ is still making quips at Gary and laughing. He thrives in this world of adrenaline, and she can’t help but think he’s having more fun than he was moments ago.
To be fair they were all a little tipsy, and JJ and July had shared a blunt, her first smoke since arriving on the island four months ago, so she too was giggling as she ran out into the yard, over the fence and stumbled into the twinkie after Kie. When July had turned around only to see Pope had face planted in his attempt to jump the fence, her face burst into a grin the Pogues had never seen before, and she let out a snort they definitely had not heard.
John b honked the horn from his place in the driver seat to urge Pope and JJ to hurry up before they were arrested for trespassing. “The bus is leaving!”
“Hurry up idiots!” July extended her hand outside of the twinkie door to pull in JJ who was already linked to Pope. Like most things, July clearly hadn’t thought that through as both the boys fell on top of her and Kiara in the scramble. Pushing off each other with groans and faux annoyance, July shoves JJ’s face away, palm to face, and the boy decides to lick the palm of her hand just to annoy her. He always loves to annoy July. “Gross!”
“Check out Gary, gunning for a raise!” Pope, who manage to take a seat much quicker than the pair, calls out making JJ turn around and lean most of his body out of the van.
“Come on, Gary!”
“You’re gonna give him a heart attack.” Theres no real conviction in Kie’s voice, she’s still having fun, and July decides she’ll join in on whatever game JJ is playing and leans out of the vehicle right behind him.
“C’mon doggy!! Who’s a good boy come on!”
“You’re so close! You can do it!” JJ throws the half empty beer at Gary. “There you go. They don’t pay you enough bro!”
“Guys, stop. Stop.” Kiara pleads the pair, there is still no real anger in her tone, but the pair oblige anyway, falling back into the van in a fit of giggles and shutting the door, securing them in safely.
“Oh, come on that sort of incitive is just begging to be punished.” JJ defends.
“If Gary wants to be a hot shot that’s on him.” July adds. Kiara just rolls her eyes and lets that look settle onto her face. July couldn’t describe it if her life depended on it, but it’s a look that reminds July she’s trying to be good, and she hates the feelings it stirs within her gut. For a moment she wants to open the door and jump out of the moving van, she wants to run.
But its JJ who unknowingly brings her back, hand on her shoulder as he turns to her. “You are so much cooler when you smoke! Did you really just call Gary a dog!”
“I don’t know why I ever quit, and that shit is good you’re officially my new dealer!”
“Yes ma’am!” The blonde boy eagerly nods. “I’ll even throw you a discount if you want to pay in other ways.”
Everybody starts yelling at the boy as July shoves him off the seat and even gives him a light kick too.
“OW!” He exaggerates. It didn’t actually hurt, if anything she just tapped him. “You’re supposed to be a pacifist!”
“Aspiring pacifist more like.” Pope comments. It’s true, aspiring pacifist fit a lot better. She tried to be good, tried to follow her therapist’s rules and keep her head down. She had recently told her therapist that her friends help her stay out of trouble, help her stay rooted in reality, but that wasn’t the complete truth. There were little moments where they all tempted her unknowingly. JJ specially made the dark side appealing at times.
“I may be willing to throw my morals out the window for you JJ, but not my standards.” The comment earns a snort from Kie, and suddenly her cousin is looking at her again like she wasn’t completely disappointed in the girl moments ago. And maybe she was never.
When July first moved in with Carreras, she had no desire to form a connection. She assumed her aunt and uncle had just taken her for a little money from the state just like her previous foster parents. But Kiara had stuck by her, introduced the new girl to her friends and explained the ins and out of Kildare.
No matter how hard July had looked, Kiara never seemed to have an agenda. She simply just wanted them to be friends, to be a family. It was easier than the blue haired odd ball cared to admit to let her walls down around Kie, with all the girl’s rants about the kooks and the classist divide on the island she was easy to trust. Kiarra Carrera, honest and wore her heart out on her sleeve. She says what she means and stands tall for what she believes in. Therefor, July admired her fierce nature and looked up to the girl. Even if July was technically a year older, and had lived more lives than Kie might ever, July did not want to disappoint her cousin.
Kiaras parents had pulled her out of what she called ‘The kook academy’ so that they could attend the local Kildare public high school together. She was more than happy to have multiple classes together and promised to introduce the new girl to her friends. July had bit her tongue, they’re only in the same grade because she was held back, and she certainly doesn’t make up for her lack of genius with conversational skills and friendly attitude. But Kiaras friends were welcoming, despite how closed off July was in the beginning, they had all slowly knocked down her walls together. The Pogue’s were her friends. Even if July still planned to leave the moment she turned 18, she was grateful for them.
As they drove through the town and July started to calm down, she realised her little high was quickly fading away and reality was fast to approach.
“Hey Kie, could you cover for me tonight? I think I’m gonna camp out on the beach.”
“That’s a great idea we’ll all join you and have a bonfire.”
“Speak for yourself” JJ grumbled. “Why would I sleep on the beach when I can sleep in a bed?” Kiara lightly kicked JJ, who was still laying on the floor and gave him a look he clearly couldn’t read. “What? She’s a big girl she can handle herself.”
“Hate to agree with JJ of all people,” July chimed in ignoring the sour expression on the blondes face at her words. “But he’s right I’m a big girl.”
“I just don’t want you to be alone.” Kiara pouts. “Let us come with you just for a little bit and if you still want to be alone, we’ll go.”
“Why do I feel like there’s something I’m missing here” Pope adds.
“Yeah, why do you want to sleep at the beach? Did you get into a fight with Kies parents?” John b questions. “You know you can stay at the Chateau anytime.”
July takes a moment to think, most people would tell their friends the truth, that’s what friends are for, right? She’s a little new to having friends like the Pogues, but she supposes this what real people do. “Alright fine, you guys can join but there better be more alcohol and weed. You can’t expect me to deal with my feelings sober like an insane person.”
“Now you’re speaking my language princess.” JJ moves to sit next to July again and slings an arm around her shoulders. “I don’t mean to brag y’all, but avoiding feelings is one of my specialties” The group all chime in with ‘not something to brag about’ and ‘get a therapist JJ’ But July is too busy being thankful that no one decided to push.
--
Later that night, sitting around the small fire they lit, July stared out at the ocean, listening to the water move in and out with her friend’s laughter. Was she allowed to feel grateful for them, today of all days? Could she be happy to be surrounded by loved ones on a day she mourns?
“I thought nobody could love the beach more than JJ, but I think you might just have him beat July.” Its Pope who brings her out of her guilty spiral. “Although I don’t understand how you can sleep here, isn’t the sand uncomfortable?”
She looks down at her fingernails, picking at the surrounding skin before replying. “I had some of the best nights of my life sleeping on the beach with my little brother and sister.”
John b turns to July with a questioning look. “I didn’t know you had siblings.”
“Is that why we’re out here tonight?” Pope asks.
“You don’t have to answer that.” Kiara’s always quick to defend her cousin, knowing how hard things have been. At least, she knows some things, July isn’t sure how much she knows, and she’s afraid for the way the girl might see her if she really knew.
“It’s alright Kie. Yeah, Today is little man’s birthday. He would have turned 11.”
Would have. The boys definitely-didn’t miss the past tense usage. A sad silence fell over the group and July couldn’t help but wish she never said anything, this is why she hated making friends, she always ruined the fun.
To everyone’s surprise it was JJ who spoke up first. “What did you guys do? You obviously weren’t hanging around for the waves.” July let out a small huff trying not to smile at the mention of her terrible surfing skills, but from his place next to her, he still noticed. “Seriously you could have a world record for worst surfer.” The blonde is still sitting on her left, moments ago they were sharing a blunt but neither had bothered to move away once it was done. In fact, he may have moved closer, but she isn’t sure. And her brain is too cloudy to care for space.
Finally, she let it crack, baring her teeth and rolling her eyes. “Just for that I’m not letting you near any treats I bake all summer.” The Pogues all laughed at the exchange as JJ tried to take back his words. But they all knew she was bluffing. Whenever she would bake, she made sure everyone got a piece. “And for your information we were running away. First time Mikey was only three, so I had him and Naomi distract some old ladies at the bus stop while I stole money from their purses. Although, we didn’t sleep on the beach back then, the kids got scared as soon as it got dark, and we had to go back home.”
“What!” Kiaras shocked gasp is barely heard over JJ’s cheers, of course he would cheer for theft. “You never told me that! You stole from old ladies?!”
“Children cost money Kie.” The blue haired girl shrugged as if it were nothing. But she didn’t really believe that. She feels guilty for most things she did as a child. Although she wouldn’t change that instance if she went back in time. One of the things she bought with that money was a wheelbarrow from the thrift shop and the kids loved riding around in that thing. It helped her take them home too.
“Did it have to be old ladies?! Couldn’t you steal the money from your parents?”
“Hey, hey hear her out.” JJ interrupts. “Old ladies have lived long enough, alright. Who knows, they might have died before they could spend the money anyway. And it was for a good cause!”
“JJ, I don’t think you’re helping her case man.” John b argues with an echo of agreement from both Pope and Kie.
July smiles and rolls her eyes. “Yeah, please don’t become a lawyer bro. Let me defend myself in the court of Pogue opinion.”
“Alright, my bad. Continue, please, what did you do with the money you stole from these nice old ladies, who still had long lives to live, and needed the money for cancer treatment.”
“JJ!” Kie scolds.
“What I’m on your side now how am I still the bad guy?” July can’t help but throw her head back in laughter unknowingly making JJ proud of himself. Sure, she’s not exactly sober, but she’s still laughing at his jokes. Lately he’s noticed she’s begun to let go of her rigid posture and her jaw isn’t so tense. The girl smiles and laughs, and the blonde feels proud knowing he was a part of that. He wants to keep making her laugh. He also likes when he can annoy her into a reaction. He’s like child, pulling at a girl’s pigtails on the playground, people say it’s because he has a crush on her but really, he just likes being mean and he likes being funny.
He likes how she has given up on violence, says that she did it competitively as a child but wants nothing more to do with that lifestyle now, and yet he see’s it in her eyes. He tempts her. If she’s sober and he’s bored, he finds away to make at her look at him with that look. It’s like she wants to snap him in half.
July turns to JJ, finally catching his gaze. “Little man, the little shit, would have loved you.”
“Yeah? Mikey?” He can’t help but smile as he gazes over her, as much as he enjoys being her opponent, this look is great too. Illuminated by the fire, her smile bright, captivating and unwavering. Her pupils are wide, she’s as high as a fucking rocket. He couldn’t ruin her mood if he wanted to, not that he wants to. Happiness look’s good on her. Even if her deep blue hair is falling out of her ponytail in such a mess it’s probably barely holding on.
“Mhm. Michelangelo, Mikey for short, or little man. I named him after objectively the best ninja turtle.”
“You can’t say objectively and then state an opinion.” Pope cuts in.
“I can say whatever I want nerd!”
“Yeah nerd! Let the woman speak!” JJ joined.
“Which one is Michelangelo again?” John B asks.
“What?! First Star Wars and now ninja turtles?! Was your childhood spent under a rock?” July was outraged at the boy. How did she, the little girl who grew up too fast have the pleasantries he didn’t?
“Thank you! I’ve been saying this since 3rd grade!” JJ Loudly agrees.
“Honestly JJ, how you could be friends with that boring loser this long, I could never understand.” At this, John B Threw his (supposedly) empty can past Kie and directly at July getting beer all over both the girls and consequently on JJ too.
The boys couldn’t help but laugh as both the girls whined and scolded him, JJ of course not caring about the small splatter on himself, just letting out a small huff. July decided to swipe JJ’s drink from his hand, quickly march towards JB and empty the beer all over the boy’s head. This quickly turned into an aggressive game of tag, John B chasing July around the fire, who upon getting caught, quickly decided to shove pope off a log and scream “You’re it!”. The 5 teenagers chased each other around the fire, giggling and laughing. Each had more fun than they expected too that night, making a memory they will cherish till the end of time.
Before the group left July on her own, they were pulled into the ocean to swim under the moon and stars and there was a moment where the girl could have sworn time stopped. She was surrounded by people she cares about, people who care about her. Their laughter mixing together with the sound of waves splashing was like a siren call begging the girl to let go of her fears. It begged her to stay in this moment forever.
Later, once it was just July, her belongings, the dying embers of the fire and a blunt JJ had generously given her to help her sleep, she decided it was okay to be grateful for her friends. She could be happy to have people and mourn the loss of others simultaneously. So, she laid there, under the stars and moon and spoke to little man as if he were just out of view. She told him about her friends, about her new life with the Carreras, and she even spoke about Naomi. She cried reminiscing about the past, and the days they spent by the ocean. She promised that in the next life, if she got the chance to be his sister again, she would do better. Be better. He would get to live.
-
The next morning July had woken early, thanks to the uncomfortable ground beneath the tree and blaring, bright sun. She used her bag as a pillow and a towel beneath her body to soften the ground. It did nothing to help. She still wakes up sore. After a quick swim, that she hoped would make her feel better but ultimately fails, she began the trip to the Chateau on her board. She expected Kie to be at John B’s house, and she was, but that wasn’t why the older girl had gone. John B and July both had appointments on the mainland that day and were planning on catching the ferry together. But it hadn’t crossed the girls mind until her walk that today would be their first day one on one with each other. She had spent one on one time with Pope, the resident genius helping her with her homework and study. And she had (accidently) spent one on one time with JJ, when Kie had promised a surfing lesson but was needed to work a shift at the wreck last minute, leaving the eldest girl to practice on her own. Until JJ had shown up. Since then, JJ hadn’t stopped joking about how awful her surfing was and occasionally offering her ‘private lessons’. Truthfully, she wasn’t that bad for a newbie, her skateboarding skills had helped her balance, but it was still a very different art. One she was nowhere near mastering.
July wasn’t a stranger to casual, but hooking up with one of her cousin’s best friends felt messy. So, she had been sure not to end up alone with the boy since. As a child she learnt not to piss off the people that feed and shelter you. And foster care had only cemented that lesson. With her Aunty and Uncle barely liking her, or so she thinks, Kiara was really the only reason she had a roof and a bed in Kildare. And July’s friends are Kiara’s friends before her own. The girl would on occasion hang out at the skatepark along with other kids in the neighbourhood, they were friendly but not exactly close friends. Kiara’s friends were all she had.
John B’s house, being their designated hang out spot, was always a mess, and every time she went over, she tried so hard to keep herself from doing a full “mother level” clean. She didn’t want them to know that she cared enough to try. But when everyone was asleep, she couldn’t help herself from doing little jobs around the house, surely the inattentive idiots known as the male species wouldn’t notice if she threw away a few empty bottles and did the dishes occasionally. So far no one had said anything, and she was glad, it was a task to occupy her on the nights she couldn’t sleep, kept her busy when the nightmares shook her awake. A mindless activity to clear her anxieties, one she was hoping to do this morning before she freaked out about being alone with John B.
Unfortunately for July, John B was awake when she arrived. He was laid out on the hammock, and it seemed he was the only one up. Great.
“Morning July,” His voice still had that morning grumble, as if he were still waking up, and yet, he had a beer in his hand.
July scoffs as she gets close and snatches the drink, “Bit early, don’t ya think?” despite her words she takes a large gulp, she earnt it after all, coming all this way. John B just rolls his eyes and adjusts to give her room to join him. She sits down, one leg beside him in the hammock, the other still touching the ground. She always has to keep some kind of barrier, she can’t get too close, although she’s only ever aware of the physical distance, not the metaphorical one.
JB snatches the drink back, “What time do you want to leave.”
“Gotta see my therapist at one, but I shouldn’t be in there long. When’s your appointment with DCS?”
“Twelve. But does it matter if I show up a little late?”
“It absolutely matters JB.” She assures him. “Show up on time, tell them whatever bullshit they wanna hear and you might just be able to avoid the fucked-up system they call foster care.”
He’s quiet for a moment, taking another sip of his drink and starring out onto the marsh. July begins to wonder if that’s her que to go inside, maybe that’s all he wanted to say. But finally, he turns back to her and speaks. “Is it really that bad?”
Maybe she should sugar coat it, that’s what Kiara would do. But if they really are considering sending him away, he should know what he’s going up against. Know the enemy and you may just survive the enemy. “I was thirteen when they first put my sister and I in the system. They promised to keep us together, send us to a loving home, and they tried at first. But I was a kid with violent tendencies, and she was this perfect angel, young enough to save. Young enough to fix. The older I got the less they cared. You’re seventeen, you already are who you are, and no foster parent can change that. They know it. You know it. They’re not there to help you, they have their own agenda.” She once again took the drink from his hand, yeah, honesty earnt her another swig for sure.
“When was the last time you spoke to her?” He was curious. In a way he understood never mentioning her brother, he was dead and clearly that had left her with a bitter scar, but Naomi was still alive. And yet, She had never mentioned her once in the four months since they had met.
“Two years ago, on her 12th birthday. She’s been officially adopted by these gay guys who also took in a baby and deaf kid. Well, he’s probably not a baby anymore, but anyways she seems happy. She’s one of the lucky few who managed to get a better life and I’ve tried not to disturb that. She deserves it.” John B was looking at her like he wanted to argue, so she was quick to speak again. “Enough of my sob story. Point is, if you want to keep living the way you are, get to that appointment on time, in fact be at least 10 minutes early. They like that sorta shit.”
“Yeah, I don’t know about that.” John B takes another sip of beer as July stands from the hammock with a devilish smirk and before he knows what’s happening, she’s using all her strength to flip over the hammock making him fall to ground, spilling his beer on himself. “Ow! What was that for?”
“Oops.” She faux gasps. “I guess you better go have a shower now huh? Might as well get ready.”
John B slightly lightly shoves her as he drags himself past. “You better watch your ass because I am so getting you back for that.”
“You’re welcome!” The girl sings as she follows him inside, eager for caffeine.
Kie is beginning to stretch and lift herself from the pullout sofa when they enter. “What are you two bickering about so early?”
“Kie, your cousin is an asshole.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” She grumbles.
“Yeah, alright you can make your own coffee then.” July Grumbles at her cousin making JJ perk up as he exits the hallway, passing John B with a playful shove.
“Since I’m your favourite you’ll make me one though, right?”
“Pretty sure I’m her favourite!” Pope calls out from the porch couch, apparently not asleep.
“Popes right, he’s my favourite. But I’ll make you a coffee too only because you’ll whine like a dog if I don’t.” She quickly gets work, first putting her dead phone on charge then boiling the kettle and setting out 3 mugs, despite her words earlier she will still make a cup for Kie, and both girls know it. Plus, an extra cup is an extra thing to focus on as JJ stands next her leaning back on the counter with his full attention on her.
“So, what I’m hearing is, you think I’m cute.”
“I think you’re full of yourself for sure.” She’s still staring at the kettle, refusing to make eye contact with the boy. He moves closer and she can’t help but tap her fingers on the counter. She needs to do something.
“Oh, c’mon princess, you can’t avoid the question. I heard you loud and clear. You think I’m cute. Adorable even. Like a little puppy dog.”
Finally, she gets the courage to turn and look him directly in the eye. They’re close. Possibly too close. His ocean blue eyes are filled with challenge. It’s like a game, he’s daring her. But she refuses to show fear, refuses to back down. She puts on the same challenging façade she did in the ring. She plays the game, just like Mitch taught her. He smiles at her, probably thinking she’s staring in silent admiration. She brings her hand up to cup his cheek for a moment, and just as he goes to talk, to say some smug line, she pinches him.
“Ow!”
“Pimple.” She simply shrugs before turning back to the kettle, filling the three mugs with hot water. There wasn’t actually a pimple on his cheek, she doesn’t think she could stomach the possibility of popping another person’s pimple, but the defeated look on his face makes her feel victorious.
For a moment she wonders if she will talk to her therapist about this interaction. Or at least how she always must view everything as something to win. They’ve spoken about it before, and her therapist tells her something about her childhood and she nods along. She would always leave the session trying, or at least convinced she would try, to stop seeing life like a dog fight. Interactions can’t be won. But July decided she didn’t care today. She was proud for winning that interaction. Instead, she would focus today’s session on all the good things, on how she’s gotten better. Mary, her therapist, will say she’s proud of her and then she will be in a good mood on the way back with John B. She’ll win that interaction too. Get some brownie points and be more embedded into the friend group. As she made the coffees to everyone’s liking, or what she assumes they like, she decides she has nothing to worry about. Today’s plan was fool proof.
That is until, she handed JJ and Kie their coffees, and Pope who had finally gotten up and was more alert spoke to the blonde. “Bro, since when do you drink coffee?” July pauses, she had actually never seen him drink coffee before.
“Phft! Everyday what do you mean.”
“No, you don’t.” Kie adds, coming to a realisation. “Actually, you hate coffee. One time I made you one and you yelled at me for trying to poison you.”
“That’s because you make terrible coffee! You straight up may as well have given me poison. You could have killed me Kie! But July here, she’s warm like summer and sunshine, that’s why her name’s July. My girl here wouldn’t kill me okay.”
July rolls her eyes and tries to push away the feeling she gets. He may have called her sunshine and my girl, but he was just rambling. She hopes they were one-time phrases and not something he picks up. Occasional Princess was bad enough, but sunshine was different, more personal. “Drink it then. I dare you.”
He looks at her and then down at his coffee for a moment before shrugging and taking a large sip, only to quickly pull away and fan his mouth. “Hot, Hot! Oh my god how can you drink that, that’s so hot!” JJ quickly rushes over to the fridge and starts drinking the milk straight from the carton, spilling it all over himself and the floor.
“Dude you’re an idiot.” Pope grumbles.
“That’s what you get for trying to impress a girl while there’s another in your bedroom.” At Kies words, July finds her stomach curling in on herself. She had lost that interaction. She was the one who was played and didn’t even know it.
JJ Maybank had lured her into a false sense of security, allowing her to tire herself out before delivering a blow that had her crumbling. She thought about what Mitch taught her, all the ways he taught her how to fight dirty. ‘If you’re out matched physically, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re out matched mentally. Theres always Phycological warfare.’ The example he used at the time was to smile and laugh as if you liked being hit. As if you enjoyed the pain. In the ring that advice rarely worked, the mouthguard and literal pain made it hard. But now, it meant refusing to show her opponent she’s lost. He doesn’t have to know he won.
So finally, she looks up at him again, he’s already staring back at her, a guilty look on his face, mouth slightly ajar, milk carton still in his hand. She can feel Kie and Pope both staring at her too. The crowd is waiting to see her next move. She lets her mouth fall into a grin and tilts her head slightly. The guilt on his face has morphed into confusion, questioning. She goes for the kill and preys she doesn’t miss this time. “Well don’t leave the poor girl waiting. Leave her alone long enough and she may just sober up enough to realise you’re all bark and no bite. She’d be better off helping herself than waiting around for you.”
JJ lets out a little laugh, holding his free hand up to his heart as if he had been wounded and internally July is screaming, she may have over shot. “Ouch sunshine. If anything, I’m all bite no bark. And trust me, that ‘poor’ girl will be passed out for a while. I don’t keep the ladies waiting on papa J.”
“Ew JJ” Kie scrunches her face in disgust.
“Literally just woke up.” Pope complains. “Can you not be you right now.”
July rolls her eyes and walks out to the front porch trying to drink her coffee in peace, but the boy can’t seem to take a hint and follows her out.
“If I didn’t know any better, I would say you’re jealous.” He rushes out after leaving the milk on the bench and the mess on the floor leaving Pope to ultimately clean it up, only because he doesn’t want to deal with the smell of spoilt milk.
“And where the hell did you get that crazy idea.” She sits on the couch now and he quickly joins her, laying back and resting his legs over hers. What is it that possesses him to feel the need to rub in his win and why does he always feel the need to be in her space?
“You just seem a little bitter is all.” The look on her face is clear she doesn’t want him so close right now, but he only smirks and settles his hands behind his head, he has no intention to move.
“You started bothering me before I even had my coffee and you’re wondering why I’m bitter?”
“You know that shits like a drug right. Soon enough you may as well be a full-on crackhead the way you’ll be tweaking for it.”
“Are you seriously giving me health advice right now?”
“Just saying.” He shrugs.
“Well maybe you can just shut up before you make me tweak and lose my shit.”
JJ puts on that mischiefs smile. “Oh, sunshine I could make you tweak, all you gotta do is ask.”
Despite that bitter feeling still sitting in her stomach the blue haired girl can’t help but let out an unintentional small chuckle, and smack him on his leg. “Seriously you’re disgusting!” He can’t help smirk up her, but the insult and light hit isn’t quite enough. He needs more. He wonders if he should ‘accidently’ spill her coffee, that would truly piss her off. “And Kie’s right. I get you’re a total whore and all, but please don’t flirt with me while there’s a girl in your bed.”
He rolls his eyes but his smirk nor ego never fades. “I still think you’re jealous, and that’s why you’re calling me mean names, but fine I’ll tone it down.”
“Oh c’mon. It’s true. Jackson James Maybank, you are a whore.”
“Oh, you think you government or something?”
“I have my ways.”
“Yeah, alright, July Maria Jones.” Her jaw drops open at the mention of her middle name. “Yeah, that’s right, I got my ways too.”
--
July ended up going home alone that day, John B was too upset after his meeting to stick around, and she didn’t mind. Mary apparently wasn’t letting July out early anyway, somehow the woman knew it was little man’s birthday.
July didn’t get the chance to see the Pogues again, besides from Kiara of course, until after the hurricane. There was no power, no cell service, but Kiara was sure they would see the boys on the HMS today.
When July aired her doubts Kie claimed she was so certain that she would bet on it. The next time her parents told the girls they had to cook dinner that night, the one who was wrong would do all the cooking and all the dishes.
So, the girls waited at the dock with a cooler of drinks, but they didn’t wait long. As the girls saw the three other Pogues near, Kie turned to her cousin with a smug look. “What did I tell you?”
“Yeah, whatever.” But July couldn’t help feeling glad she lost the bet. Hanging out with her friends definitely sounds more fun than whatever her aunty and uncle wanted her to clean.
“Ooh, top of the morning to you ladies.” JB calls out as he nears the boat.
“Morning boys.” Kie sung out, always happy to see her friends.
“Whatcha got? Got some juice boxes?”
“You know just some juice box’s, carrot sticks.” Kie and July step onto the boat as they slow down and July tries to ignore the way JJ holds out his hand, helping Kie and then herself carefully step down. That small second they held hands was way too long, next time she will just risk the embarrassment of slipping and landing on her face.
“How about my kinda juice box?” The blonde, borderline alcoholic asks.
July is the first to reach into the cooler and hand out beers before taking one for herself. “At what point should we start to ask ourselves if we’re alcoholics?”
“It doesn’t count if it’s the summer” JJ counters.
“Don’t worry July.” Pope speaks up beside her. “I’ll keep the signal clear.”
“Look what you did sunshine! Pope’s boring because of you!”
“Don’t blame me! He’s a big boy and can make his own decisions!”
“Children don’t make me turn this boat around!” JB grumbles in assumably his best parent voice making the group let out laughs, snorts and eye rolls at the guy.
It isn’t long before JJ decides it’s time to show off a party trick. Theres a chorus of low complaints as JJ asks Pope, who is now driving the HMS to speed up. JJ convinced his ‘trick’ will magically work this time, balances at the bow. John B has the sense to hide at the back behind Pope, and July cowers behind Kie. As Pope obliges and speeds up a little, JJ opens him mouth wide and holds his beer up high, pouring it into his mouth.
But also, all over the person sitting directly behind him, Kiara. “You’re getting it in my hair!”
Everybody begins to shout at the blonde to stop, he has once again made a mess and annoyed every Pogue. Before he gets the chance to listen, although July isn’t sure if he would have, the HMS comes to a sudden jerk causing everyone to fall in different directions inside the boat. Except JJ, who flew forward into the water.
July didn’t get a good look at how the boy fell, too busy falling back herself, but she could have sworn JJ tumbled forward, possibly hitting his head on the boat. Without thinking the girl is scrambling, she’s barely gotten a chance to stabilize herself, she has no idea if the people behind her are still inside the boat, no idea if her cousin beside her is ok, yet on instinct she’s going after the boy who had her attention during the commotion. The one she watched fall.
Moments away from diving in herself, said boy emerges from the water. Relief floods July as she lets her body flop on the surface beneath her.
Someone behind her lets out a groan as they attempt to fix themselves. “You ok JJ?” Pope asks.
“I think my heels touched the back of my head.” The blonde answers. So, he still technically hit his head, but he hadn’t knocked himself out and drowned to death therefore July considered him ok.
“You ok kie?” John B calls out
“I’m alright” the girl grumbles out.
“Yeah, I’m alright too thanks for asking guys. How about you Pope?” July calls.
“Pope what did you do?” JJ’s voice is getting louder, he already sounds like his annoying self again. He’s fine.
“I’m ok. Sandbar. The channels changed.” Pope replies to the two at once.
“No. shit.” Yeah, he’s definitely ok. Everyone begins to crowd around the front checking on JJ as he swims back. His voice is squabbling on about something still, but July isn’t listening. She’s trying to get her eyes to adjust and the world to stop spinning. Now that she takes a second to adjust, she thinks she may have hit her head. Ironic how she was so worried that’s what JJ had done and was prepared to dive down in his rescue.
July laughs at the thought, she wouldn’t have been much help.
Kiara turns to her, finally taking the time to fully inspect her cousin, finding the girls laugh odd. “Dude, are you sure you’re okay?”
“Guys,” Pope interrupts and July can’t help but think thank god! “I think there’s a boat down there.”
“Shut up.” John B says in disbelief.
“No way.” Kie agrees.
“No, no, guys I’m serious. There’s a boat down there.” He’s insistent and so sure of himself and it makes July and the rest of the Pogues lean down and check.
“Oh shit, I see it you’re right!” July exclaims.
“Holy shit he’s right. Let’s go!” Kie rushes.
July is quick to rip off her oversized shirt, revealing her back tattoo as well as other small patches on her body, and strip out of her shorts. “What are we waiting for losers!” She dives in without a second thought, John B and Kiara seconds behind her.
“Guy’s wait up!” Pope rushes to take his shirt and quickly bombs into the water.
The five waste no time in swimming down together, inspecting the boat beneath them.
July didn’t know much about boats, she wasn’t even confident she knew where the hull was, but one thing she did know, was rich people liked rich looking things. And this thing looked expensive. It clearly hadn’t been under water for long, probably sunk during the hurricane. The group stayed under for as long as they could to marvel at it, but quickly their lungs were begging for air. The second their heads were above water, barely gasping in a breath, JJ was gushing. “You guys saw that thing, right?”
“Yeah, I did” They all agree.
“That’s a Grady-White. A new one of those is like 500 Gs, easy!”
“500 hundred grand holy fuck!” July echoes as the group swims back towards their humble HMS Pogue. “Whoever owns that is gonna be pissed.”
“That’s a primo rig!” The Pogues all gush, JJ borderline fangirling, as they climb back onto the boat. The group is buzzing with excitement and curiosity.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s the boat I saw when I surfed the surge. Maybe it hit the jetty or something.” John B’s statement isn’t exactly a surprise to July, but apparently her cousin isn’t as uncaring as she is.
“You surfed the surge?”
“That’s my Boy. Pogue style.” JJ’s proud expression shocks no one though.
“What the heck.” Kie is turning to her relative now, hoping the girl beside her is in agreement, but the blue haired girl only shrugs.
“Boy’s will be boys.”
“Wait, wait, do we know who’s boat it is?” Pope isn’t purposefully trying to stop a scolding, but July’s pretty sure his interruption did so anyhow.
“No, but we’re about to find out.” John B is still acting casual, as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb and Kiarra isn’t freaking out right now.
“Dude it’s too deep.” JJ says and July mumbles an agreement, trying to ignore the way Kiarra is staring at all of them. How do men make ignoring and gaslighting a woman so easy? This shit is hard.
“Oh, for the weak and feeble, JJ.”
“Well, I’m not resuscitating you I’m just making that clear up front.”
“I know CPR but honestly I’d rather not do it today.” It’s true July has a lot of experience in first aid and has patched up all sorts of injuries. The Carreras think she should become an EMT or some kind of first responder. But July doesn’t get her hopes up. She’s a lot better at hurting people than fixing them.
“That’s fine.” John B stands holding the anchor, ready to sink himself down much faster.
“John B.” Kiarra finally interrupts.
“What?” The boy laughs, continuing to act as if he has no idea what’s wrong.
“Diver down fool.” Pope salutes the eldest boy off.
“Yeah, he is!” JJ is quick to shove his best friend off the boat.
The gang kneel on the edge of the boat, waiting in silence for their friend to go in. Moments pass and a tension begins to rise. “Should we go get him?” Pope, ever the worrier speaks up first. But as if on que, like their friend was just waiting for them to worry aloud, John B finally emerges.
“Oh my god that took forever!” Kiarra breathes out her worry.
“Any dead bodies?” Pope’s weird fascination with dead bodies is ever apparent.
“Looting potential?” And JJ’s desire for money just as obvious.
July stays quiet in the exchange, waiting for the guy to get in a word himself before asking questions.
“No, No.” John B finally speaks up. “I found this motel key.” He lifts his hand out of the water showcasing a key attached to a room number tag.
“A key?” Pope
“Yes, a key Pope!” JB already sounds annoyed at their questioning. So instead, July wordlessly holds out her hand and helps haul the boy back into his boat.
“Great! We salvaged a motel key.”
As they turn around, apparently too enamoured by this mystery boat to go fishing now, Kiarra is the first to make a suggestion. “Guys, we should report the wreck to the coast guard. Maybe we’ll get a finder’s fee.”
“Yeah,” JJ gets the most excited by Kie’s suggestion. “And not work all summer! Thanks Agatha ya batch!”
Ironically that was only true for the boys. Both girls currently resided on the edge of figure eight but would still have to work at the Carreras restaurant, The Wreck.
July welcomed those shifts, not only had waiting tables become a sense of normalcy since turning sixteen, but it made her feel like she actually earnt the right to live with the family. The house was quite spacious, with a balcony view overlooking the water. July had sat out there for hours with no end, admiring the view.
Out there was much more comfortable than in the room which she slept. Her belongings were few, so the room was always tidy. The bed was big and comfortable and there were plenty of closet space. Yet none of it felt like hers. She was sleeping in someone else’s bed, under someone else’s roof. She was eating food that was not hers and the clocks ticking was just a reminder of her limited time.
By her bedside table sat a lamp, notebook and a couple of books. The notebook didn’t hold much, just a few doodles or quotes she wanted to memorise. But its pages had begun haunting her as of late. After summer vacation, mid-August, July turns eighteen (Her mum apparently thought naming an august baby July was hilarious). And July knows for sure it won’t be easy to say goodbye to Kiarra. But it’s doubtful her aunt and uncle will let her stay any longer than obligated. July’s solution is to sneak out one night and leave behind a note. But she did the same thing to her ex months ago, and she cares for Kiara a lot more than that asshole. She deserves better.
Will she use the same notebook she did then to write a goodbye note like a coward?
July followed behinds the Pogues as they approached the chaos where the coast guard was set up. “Yeah’” she muttered. “This looks like it will go well.”
John B and JJ pushed their way to the front and just as the now silent girl had expected, nobody cared to listen to the teenagers. Feeling overwhelmed she was quick to part from the group and make her way back towards the boat. They could keep trying if they wanted but a mob of chaos was not something she wanted to be around.
When the four approached and informed her, they would be looking for the owner directly, July tried not to let her excitement show and pretend like she didn’t care. But the hunt was beginning to be fun. And at least it killed the time.
Approaching the motel JJ let out a whistle. “I thought the Chateau looked bad.”
“This place is a shitshow.” John B adds
“Motel or meth lab?” Kie asks.
“Nah, meth labs make this look like a 5-star hotel.” July joked in a deadpan voice, just hoping someone would fall for it.
“Wait, you’ve been to a meth lab?!”
July can’t help but chuckle. “What?! No I’m just kidding I haven’t actually been to a meth lab, Kie.”
“This doesn’t look like the type of place someone with a Grady-White would stay” John B diverts the conversation back and subtly nods at the smile July threw at him.
“No. Looks like a place someone with a Grady-White would get killed.” Pope chimes in as their boat nears the bank.
“This is your captain speaking.” JJ’s putting on a voice as if he were talking through walkie talkie. “HMS Pogue coming in for a landing. WHOO!” The blonde secures the boat to the bank.
“Alright. Here goes nothing.” John B, the sane one of the pair, sounds too eager. That should be worrying, and she tries to feel that worry as someone who’s good. Like Pope and Kie probably feel. But a person can’t deny the way they feel, shoving it down doesn’t make it go away. Truthfully, she’s intrigued at the possibilities of what could happen next.
“Hey.” Pope stops.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t let him do anything stupid.” Pope is clearly referring to JJ.
“Oh, we will.” JJ provides his friend no comfort.
“I’m not making any promises.” John B was smart enough not to get Pope’s hopes up. He was asking for a lot.
The Pogue newbie had still been around long enough to know JJ was definitely going to do something stupid. “Hey JJ.” July is looking Pope directly in the eyes with a mischievous smile, not bothering to even look at the boy standing on the bank behind her. “Do something incredibly stupid. In fact, steal me something nice, would ya?”
“Sorry Pope, can’t say no to sunshine, she drives a hard bargain.”
Pope rolls his eyes in annoyance and Kiara steps closer to John B, giving him the room key. “Be careful… I mean it.” He steps away slowly at first before finally breaking eye contact and heading off with JJ by his side.
July and Kiara make eye contact and the look in both girls’ eyes is obvious. To them at least, not Pope. Each girl has their head tilted slightly or eyes squinted in question. July is asking about the interaction with John B. But Kiarra clearly has a question about the way she instigates JJ. Neither want the other to voice anything, no matter how innocent those interactions may have been. So, they both agree to not mention anything.
But Pope of course, was not in on their Jedi mind communications and spoke up. “Did you have to encourage JJ like that.”
“Pope, you worry too much. You need to have a little trust.”
“I do trust. I trust that things will go horribly, and he will do something very illegal.”
“Kie c’mon help me out here.” The girl begs.
“He’s not wrong, did you really have to ask him to steal?” Great so their silent agreement was immediately broken. Either that or July had totally made the entire interaction up.
“We all know he’s going to anyway, why not make use?”
“Because we don’t want him to go to jail!” Pope argues.
“They’re breaking and entering as we speak.” Pope tries to roll his eyes and turn away, but July just puts both her hands on each of his shoulders keeping him in place. “And they won’t go to jail, because we won’t let them get caught. Alright?”
“Alright fine. I guess I can be happy that you’re not up there with him encouraging him even more.”
“There ya go! Theres a bright side after all.”
July joins her seated cousin and snatches the vape out of her hand taking a puff. “Yeah, you can totally have a puff thanks for asking.”
“You’re welcome.” July mumbles out as she hands it back and tried not to laugh at the annoyed look on her cousin’s face.
“Hey, hey. Cops!” Pope panics making the girls look over towards the motel and sure enough a cop car is pulling up. “Call them.”
“I can’t” Kiara replies. “Towers are down.” Two cops exit the vehicle begin their way into the motel and talk with locals cleaning up the front.
“What are the chances of cops showing up for a totally different room.” July whispers as she follows the duo ducking and crouching behind the fallen motel sign.
“If I lose my merit scholarship, I’m going to kill someone.” Pope stresses.
“If you kill the cops first, you might not lose it at all.” Despite the panic inducing predicament, the blue haired girl can’t help but joke.
“Maybe they’re not going up.” The boy ignores her. “Maybe July’s right they’re just – maybe they’re just”
“They’re going up.” Kie whisper shouts. Kiarra feels as if she’s the only one thinking straight out of the three, and maybe she’s not wrong.
As the two cops begin the trek up the stairs the three anxious teenagers run to the side of the building. Pope quickly grabs a rock and throws it at the window. Or at least tries too.
“Didn’t you ever play baseball?” Kie scolds quickly grabbing a rock herself. July throws the next rock while they’re bickering Hitting the wall inches away from the window.
“I was on the math team!”
“A mathelete?”
“Nerd.” July teases. She can never really help herself. She doesn’t actually think being a nerd is a bad thing, she just loves bullying her friends. It’s practically her love language.
The three are still stressing, despite their humour a deep panic has set in, and they are all throwing rocks at the window hoping their friends will hear and nobody else. Finally, John B sticks his head under the blinds. The three make frantic hand motions and pope’s mouthing the word cops. July is glad it’s John B who looked out the window and not JJ. The blonde was terrible at charades. The trio quickly run back to the HMS, they have done all they can to warn the pair, there’s nothing to do now except sit back and hope they can hide. “Should we peel?” Kiarra asks.
“We never leave a Pogue behind.” Pope says, and July smiles a proud smile.
“No seriously should we peel.”
“Maybe.” Pope is quick to take back.
“No, look!” July interrupts before they could make up their mind. From their place on the boat, they can see both boys quickly rush out the window standing on the ledge. They press themselves up against wall, hopefully going unnoticed from the inside.
Pope waves his hands at them, stressing and Kie makes known her shock at the sight.
“They’ll be fine alright just have a little faith.” July reminds them. The tension is thick, anxiety is high. And it certainly doesn’t help when JJ reaches into his pants, only for an object to fall out making a larger than sound on its way to the ground. July is given no choice but to look away and act natural when the blinds are pulled up and one of the cops are revealed. She wants to turn her whole head so desperately. She wants to watch more than out of the corner of her eye. But she can’t raise any more suspicion on the boys. When the man in uniform disappears from the window, and soon after is seen exiting the room with his partner, July can’t help but release a sigh of relief. “Thank God! I totally lied, I had no faith.”
The moment it’s safe, the boys are out of there and back with their friends. They quickly make work of leaving before beginning conversation again. Can’t get court loitering. “Well, that was fun.” JJ chuckles, clearly enjoying the adrenaline. “Could have warned us sooner.”
“We would have, except Pope was on the math team.” Kiara joked.
“You were on the math team?” John B questions, confusing July. Hadn’t they known each other for years? Or was he just being sarcastic?
“The cops took everything like it was a crime scene.” Pope ignores the question either way. “Did you guys find anything?”
“Did we find anything? No, I don’t think so. Oh, yeah, we did!” JJ pulls his hands out of his pockets holding a large ward of cash in one hand and a gun in another.
Even July is stunned.
“What the hell!” Pope is quick to up and attempt to scold the blonde.
“Dude chill c’mon.” JJ says as if it were nothing of significance.
“Why would you take that from a crime scene?”
“It’s better than the cops having it bro.” JJ’s logic wasn’t very logical. Cops had guns on them all the time.
“Are you serious?” Kie turns to John B, questioning how he let his friend do this.
“I’m gonna lose my merit scholarship.” Pope panics. And JJ, who probably has good intentions but never shows good outcomes, tries to shush his friend, tapping the gun up to his lips.
“It’s not my fault when July is the one who told him to do something stupid.” John B defends himself from Kiarra, who quickly turns who stern gaze to cousin beside her.
“At least you have us right.” The blonde truly is a blonde. Comforting his friend with the very thing he is panicking about.
“I’m living the nightmare.”
On their way back to the Chateau they see a body being taken by EMT’s. Some local fucked up teenage girl had informed them it was Scooter Grubbs, a ‘dirtbag’ who had recently acquired a brand-new Grady-White. And then she showed them a picture of the dead body proudly. July is remined why she never bothered to make friends outside of Kiarra’s group. People sucked.
Now, back in the privacy of John B’s home the group can finally talk about the information they have gathered without being arrested for how.
“Ok.” Pope starts, being the last one to join them on the porch. “We need to have total and complete amnesia.”
“Actually, Popes right for once.” JJ agrees, standing from the lone lounge chair in the corner. “See, I agree with you sometimes. Deny. Deny. Deny.”
“Guys we can’t keep that money.” Kiara speaks up. If Pope wasn’t going to be the rational one the girl had no problem filling in his shoes.
“Okay not all of us can afford unlimited data plans, Kiara.”
“We have to pass that off to Lana Grubbs. Otherwise, it’s bad-”
“Oh, definitely not!” July interrupts her cousin from her seat on the ground next to the girl. “We can’t admit we committed a crime!”
“It’s bad to be implicated in a felony, too” Pope agrees. “We gotta go dark.”
“If that means we keep the money, then I agree.” JJ adds.
Finally, John B speaks up, in a voice softer than the Pogues expected for such a conversation. “I don’t agree.”
“What? Why?” July doesn’t miss the way JJ’s full body turns attention to his best friend. He doesn’t immediately argue. No, he wants John B on his side.
“This is Scooter Grubbs we’re talking about alright. Same dude that’s buying individual cigarettes at the porthole. Shit, one time I saw this dude begging for change in a Save-A-Lot parking lot because he needed gas. We’re talking about a dirt bag marina rat who’s never had more than 40 bucks in his pocket, and all of a sudden, he’s got a Grady-White? Just saying.”
“Okay that information would have been useful before I casted in my vote.” July had a known a lot of sketchy people in her life. Those who can turn their life around overnight always have something to hide. And their skeletons were not something to be disturbed.
“So, you agree.” Kiara turns to her cousin. “We should give the money to Lana.”
“Nope I didn’t say that. We just need to think this through a little.” The girl stresses. “JB I’m gonna raid your pantry.” She doesn’t bother waiting for a reply, instead just walking into the house and helping herself. Weird how she feels more at comfortable and at home here, than the place that is supposedly her legal home.
“Food. Count me in!” JJ’s voice is quick to follow her into the kitchen
“Still got any of that cereal left?”
“No, but there should be some crackers I think.”
July goes looking through the pantry until she finds what she’s looking for. When she turns around JJ is a lot closer than she expected him to be, making her jump. He laughs and holds up his hand, dangling pearls on a gold chain. It’s a necklace. For a moment she’s stunned, until she remembers what she had told her friend before breaking into the motel. “JJ, is that…”
“Nice enough for you Princess?” He’s got that stupid smug smile on his face. She takes the necklace out of his hand, inspecting it. July doesn’t own much jewellery (not including the abundance of mixed gold and silver she has poking through almost every possible spot in her ears). She’s currently wearing a friendship bracelet Kie made and a random beaded and shell necklace she had made. And although she had been given (or occasionally stolen) Jewellery before, she never found any other piece significant enough to keep. They’ve either been a part of the things she’s lost in a move or something she pawned for money.
“You sure you’re not gonna wanna take this back to pawn off?” She sceptically ask’s, it’s not like the necklace would be crazy expensive, but a little goes a long way.
He snatches the necklace back from her hands. “Shut up and turn around before change my mind.”
“I can put it on myself Jay.”
“I didn’t go through the trouble of stealing this, almost getting caught by the pigs should I add, just for it to fall off your neck and break because you are too stubborn to let me help. So, turn around woman.”
July obliges, mumbling under her breath as if she didn’t want to. “Turn around woman! I’m JJ Maybank and everyone’s gotta listen to me.” She reaches up grabbing her deep blue, soft curls, and holds it out of the way for him with her right hand. He chuckles as he listens to the terrible impression of himself. She can feel his breath on the back of her neck, she can feel his hand brushing her collarbone as he reaches around, and it sends shivers down her spine. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and she feels as though she’s paying the price when his fingers lightly brush against her neck. Why is he always desperate to invade her space?
Friends don’t have moments like this. People who are leaving don’t feel this way. Or was she just so touched starved that she was making a big deal out of nothing? The second she’s certain he’s clipped the necklace she’s quick to turn around. She puts on her best fake smile as she turns back to him and lightly punches him in the shoulder. “Thanks, bro!”
JJ just smirks, he’s flustered her. That’s new. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and steps back, leaning against the kitchen counter and shrugs. “Anytime bro.”
Clutching the crackers as she speeds walks as fast as she can to her friends who are now moving to the dock with fishing polls.
How many interactions will she lose against JJ Maybank?