𝐽𝑈𝑆𝑇 𝑁𝑂𝑇 𝑌𝐸𝑇 / JJ MAYBANK

𝟶𝟺

D I V E R D O W N

"Wait, do we know whose boat this is?" asks Pope.

"No, but we're about to find out" John b smiles as he sits down.

"Dude it's too deep" says JJ.

"Oh, for the weak and feeble, JJ" groans John b.

"no kidding, John b, don't do that" I say anxiously. I know that I'm overreacting, but I couldn't stand if something happened to my brother.

JJ looks critically at my brother. "Well I'm not resuscitating you. I'm just making that clear up front"

"That's fine" John b takes out the anchor and goes to the top of the boat.

"Oh my god" I say softly. I hate not being able to control situations.

"Diver down, fool" Pope smiles at John b.

"Diver down" John b replies and is interrupted by JJ pushing him off the boat. "Yeah he is"

"Seriously?" I say annoyed and sit down at the other end of the boat.

And again I'm overreacting, but JJ was actually always the one who cared about me and about how I felt.

"What did I do?" JJ sits down next to me and looks at me. He puts his wet hand on my thigh. For a brief moment I forget why I'm mad at all, at the feel of his hand on my thigh.

"You know how much I hate situations like this." I say. There is a moment of silence at first.

"But I was just—" he stops for a moment. "Sorry, babe. Shouldn't have done this." says JJ.

His words give me literally goosebumps. Whenever John b wasn't around JJ came closer to me. But he has never called me 'babe'. And there I can't help but smile.

"Yeah." I mumble. JJ notices how much my hands are shaking, so he takes his hand off my thigh and takes my hands in his.

"Calm down, Mia. Everything will be fine. He can still dive, he's not that stupid" JJ says laughing, making me giggle.

He is right. John b only dives down to a boat. I shouldn't always worry so much.

We wait tensely for John b to resurface. We look into the water and JJ rubs my back to calm me down, just as John b surfaces.

"Oh my god, that took forever." Kie says to the coughing boy in the water.

I sigh with relief with my hand on my heart.

"Any dead bodies?" asks Pope

"Looting potential?" adds JJ.

"No, no. I found this motel key" John b holds up a key

"A—a key" Pope stutters.

"Yes, a key, Pope" John b pulls himself up by the boat again.

"Great! We salvaged a motel key" says JJ and we drive off.

"Guys we should report the wreck to the coast guard" Kiara suggests. "Maybe we'll get a finder's fee"

"Yeah and not work all summer" replies JJ. "Thanks, Agatha ya batch"

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"Thanks for staying" I say as we watch a movie together.

"You know I would always do that." JJ says honestly and I chuckle in response. „I know things are weird between us, but I'm always there for you. And you know, I hope things will get better between us."

I just nod but after a short moment of silence I break it. "I mean I'm glad you're here... and not on the water"

"Wait a minute" JJ looks at me with a puzzled look. „You wanted me to stay so I wouldn't go surfing am I right?"

"I mean—" but JJ interrupts me.

"What's that about?"

"I—I kind of was worried about you okay? Are you happy now?" I look away annoyed, but a smile remains on my lips.

"Yeah" JJ smiles as he looks at me. "Yeah I am"

Even if JJ had been feeling more than this friendship shit, he would never admit it in principle, because of John b. And then there's the fact that I have a boyfriend...well, it's actually the most important reason. It's only in moments like these, when we are alone, that I realize how much I likes this boy.

I think in moments like this, he regrets everything he has done in the past. At least I hope so.