Petty Love | Rafe Cameron, JJ Maybank

CHAPTER 5

Kie and I talked about all kinds of stuff on the brief drive to John B's house. She really opened up to me since the party. The conversation eventually shifted to the boys. She told me about some of their recent shenanigans. I could practically feel the excitement build as I felt a flood of nostalgia rush through me. I never thought I could miss an old shack so much in my entire life. The late-night snack runs, night swims, that one time we tried weed together on the HMMS pouge. We were just kids then, now we are growing up and everything has changed. God. I hate saying that so much but it's true. 

We turned down the familiar road and I rolled down my window. The smell of the beach was faint as we drove past all the smaller homes. Ever since I got back and started living with Kate it just hasn't felt the same. But as we drove down the familiar road it felt more and more like home. This is my home, the cut. The car suddenly slows as we hit gravel. We pull up next to the Twinkie and before Kiara can even turn off the car the black-haired boy is already walking out of the screen door to greet us. 

"Took you guys long enough," Pope said shouting from the stairs. He waited on the last step as we got out of the car. Kiara goes up to him and does the pogue handshake. It's kind of sweet watching them, they seem particularly close. They chat for a second before John B is walking out of the screen door and right past them. He walks up to me saying, "Nice car," I tell him it's Aunt Kate's and that I was just borrowing it while she was gone. He nods before he offers to take a few of the bags from my hands. I smile and give him a couple of them, he nods his head toward the chateau. I look over and see JJ watching from behind the screen door. I remember every word he said to John B earlier. Makes all the wounds sting seeing him there, not coming out to greet us at all. John B notices my stare and reassures me, "he'll come around," giving me a slight shoulder shove. Nothing harsh just a light push. I muster up enough strength to throw on a goofy smile and continue to walk toward the chateau. Kie and Pope enter the house before me and John B, holding the door for us. Kie and I went a little overboard with the snacks, but we got enough to last at least til tomorrow. Maybe not even tomorrow knowing that John B and JJ will probably eat them all before then. I walk into the house and notice how messy it is, typical John B. John B kicks around some empty cans as he leads the way to the kitchen. I see the cooler of beers and other drinks we stole from the party. I smile a little remembering packing it full of drinks. John B plops the bags on the counter starting to unpack them. I do the same as I watch Kie, Pope, and JJ talk on the front porch. 

"So where is Big John...still chasing lost treasure?" I ask joking a little. When I was growing up Big John was always working in his office trying to track down lost gold. John B and I always thought it was some myth and made jokes about it. He went silent and stopped unloading the bags. He didn't look up once, and now I definitely feel like I shouldn't have said anything. He clears his throat before saying, "He uh...went missing 9 months ago. The police said he got lost at sea or something, pronounced him dead 3 months later." Shit. I've missed so much since I've been gone. I didn't know what to say, I felt bad that I made a terrible joke. I instantly wish I could take it back. "I'm so sorry John B, I didn't know...I should've never made a joke about-" he cut off my panic rambling. "Ivy, it's okay. I'm actually glad you did, it reminds me that you're the same person that you've always been. Means you didn't let the Kook get to you." he said chuckling a little bit. I give him a small sad smile. He just gives me a look saying that it's okay. I dropped it before I could make it worse. I take out the last bag of chips before crumpling up the bag it came in and setting it to the side. John B grabs the cooler with the drinks and grabs as many snacks as he can, before walking out of the kitchen and to the front porch where everyone else was. I huff out a breath before turning around and leaning against the counter facing away from everyone. 

I continued to process the information that was laid out in front of me. Big John is dead, it was hard to comprehend. Did no one go looking for him? A small tear escaped and rolled down my cheek as I remember the last time I saw Big John. It was the night I had a big fight with John B and JJ because I was moving. He drove me home, and he told me that the boys didn't mean what they said and they only got upset because they were going to miss me. It was the first time he had seen me cry. He was like a second dad to me. He welcomed me into his home like I was one of his own. He taught me how to fish, he taught me how to drive a boat. Everything I learned about being out on the water he taught me. And now he's just...gone. John B went through losing his father and I wasn't there for him. And yet John B is welcoming me back as if nothing happened. I don't understand.