we were trouble |JJ Maybank |

two

As we set up for the party, more and more people began to show up.
  "Here ya go miss." JJ said as he handed me a red cup full of beer.
  "Thanks." I smiled as I took a drink.

As the beach became more crowded, our friend group spilt up, and went to talk to other people. I walked past Kie who was talking about plastic waste, and Pope, talking about people when they die.
that will get him all the ladies. I laughed.

"Hey JJ!" I walked over to a very drunk JJ standing on a roof with one foot.
   "Hey Mads! Look how high up I am!" He said full of excitement.
  "I see! You better not fall!"
"Hmm." he pretended to think for a second. "Okay I wont." He began to climb down.
  "Hey." He said as he walked up to me.
"Hello." I couldn't help but laugh, I hadn't seen him this fucked up in awhile.

"What is so funny? Huh lady?"
  "You. You're funny."
"Ill show ya funny." He said as a smile crossed his face.
  Before I knew it, He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder and started spinning.

"JJ stop! oh my god." I laughed as he put me down.
  "Fine, you are down princess." he smiled and bowed his head.

"You are something else." I laughed at him.
"A good something else I hope." He took a sip from his cup.
"Very good something else."
"Why thank you, love."

Before our conversation could continue, we heard everyone shouting and crowding over by the water.
"Topper!" I heard a girl yell in the distance.
"John B!" Kie yelled as she ran over.

JJ and I looked at each other with worry before he grabbed my hand and we ran over. We were met with the sight of Topper on top of John B, trying to drown him.

"Topper get off of him!" I yelled as me and Kie ran up there. Suddenly JJ rushed over and I heard a click of a gun.

"Yeah you know what that is." He said to topper, which caused him to instantly get up and back away.

"Get the fuck off our island!" JJ shouted before he began to shoot up at the sky, causing everyone to run.

"JJ! You brought the gun!?" I asked in shock as Pope helped John B up.
"Well? Good thing I did huh?"
"Jesus." I muttered as I walked over to John B.

"Are you okay?" I asked as he started walking around catching his breath.
"Perfect." He smiled lightly and laughed.

We all went back home. This was the part I hated. seeing my dad.
  "Where the hell have you been?" He asked angrily as I walked through the door.
   "Party." I answered shortly trying to walk straight to my room.
  "Get back here!" He yelled as he tightly grabbed my arm.
   "What?!" I yelled as I smelled the alcohol on his breath.
   "You are a disgusting whore." he said looking straight into my eyes. "Hanging out with all of those boys." He continued. "You are a disappointment of a daughter." He punched me in the face.

"Fuck you." I forced my arm out of his grasp.
   "Do not talk to me like that! I am your father!" He yelled as he followed me into my room.
  "Not anymore. Im leaving. You will never see me again." I spat at him.
  "No you are not." He grabbed my neck and pushed me against the wall. I felt all my air leaving my body. He let me go and threw me back. My head hit the wall.

I immediately started packing all my clothes in a bag as quickly as I could and left through the back door. I ran down the street trying to hold in my tears.

I found myself knocking on John B's door.
  "Hey Maddie!" He greeted warmly
"Hey, John B... Hey I have a favor." I said quietly, not letting myself make eye contact.
  "Of course, anything."
"Could i stay here for awhile? I have no where else to go."
   "Of course, Come in." He rushed me in the house.
"Oh hey maddie!" JJ greeted from the couch. I could tell he had continued drinking after the party.
   "Hi JJ." I greeted quietly. "John B, can I talk to you in the other room?"
   "Uh, Yeah, cmon." We walked to the kitchen.

"So, I know my dad is going to try and find me, I need you to help me hide from him."
  "Okay yeah. anything." He said as he walked over to the light switch to turn it on.
  "No John B!" I tried to stop him from turning on the light but I was too late.

"Holy shit...." John B said quietly as he walked closer to me. "You've got bruises everywhere.." He said loudly from the shock. 

"Who's got bruises?" JJ asked as he walked into the kitchen.
   "Maddie does!" John B said before I could change the subject.
  "No, no. Its all good guys." I smiled it off, walking to the fridge for water. JJ walked over to me, closer hes ever been.

"Dude your eye.. oh my god your neck!" He said angrily. "What happened? who did this?" The two boys started questioning.

"I um. I need to go to bed, Im tired." I walked to the couch, leaving the two boys in the kitchen.
  "JJ! Wheres your Juul?" I asked from the other room. He walked over and handed it to me.

"Hey. You know you can talk to us, we are family." He said quietly as he sat down next to me.
  "JJ, you wouldn't get it. Im sorry."
He sighed loudly.
  "Okay, here. My dad is abusive as shit, like, total alcoholic psycho. I can understand if that is happening to you too." He said quietly.
  "Oh. JJ, i'm so sorry."
"Hey! Its okay! Why do you think I always stay here?" He tried to laugh it off.

I brought him into a tight hug.
   "Maddie, Please be honest with me."
"Fine. yeah, its my dad."
He pulled away and instantly got up and walked out of the door.

"JJ!" I called after him as I ran out the door. 
   "Im gonna kill him." He said angrily.
"JJ. no. Its okay, cmon."
   "No! It is not okay!"
"Please JJ." I heard my voice crack. This whole situation is so embarrassing.

He sighed and angrily walked back into the house.
  "Thank you." I said quietly and I followed behind him.

He had fallen asleep quickly on the couch.
  "Hey, why don't you take the spare bedroom." John B suggested.
   "I cant kick JJ out of it." I smiled.
"Yeah well, Im sure you two will be sharing the room in no time anyways." He laughed as he looked over at the sleeping boy.
"What do you mean?"
   "Cmon! You two have had a thing for years!" He laughed.
   "What?"
"Cmon Maddie. He's totally into you."
  "He is?"
"Trust me."
    "You're crazy John B." I said as I got up from the chair.
  "Goodnight." I said as I walked into the bedroom.