Big Blue Sky | JJ Maybank x Male OC

~ 27 ~

I laid next to JJ on the porch couch, watching Pope pace back and forth as he read another entry from Denmark's diary. He said that the Royal Merchant acquired the Cross by taking it from a burning ship.

"So it didn't go down off Bermuda," JJ said.

"And it was a Limbrey, stealing shit, again," Kie said.

"This proves that both the gold and the Cross of Santo Domingo were on the Royal Merchant," Pope said.

"Why didn't we find it in the well then?" JJ said. "I mean, if Demark was able to get this, like, bedazzled cross off of the Royal Merchant to shore, why didn't he just hide it with the gold?"

"When Kie looked it up it was depicted to be as tall as a man," I said. "It was too big."

"Right," Pope confirmed. "He had to hide it someplace else."

"But where?" Kie said.

"Right before he was hung, Denmark said he'd buried the treasure at the foot of the angel."

"Wait, I thought this was about the key," JJ said.

"Right," Kie said. "So what's the connection?"

"The path to the tomb begins in the island room," Pope said.

"And yet," I said obviously. "We have no idea what the island room is."

"You know what helps me figure shit out?" JJ said, standing up.

"Here we go," I mumbled.

"Smoking beers and drinking weed," he said, causing me to make a confused face. "The ideas just pour out of me. If we just sit here and try to figure this out, we're gonna get nowhere. But if we get creative, and go to this bonfire tonight, maybe we get somewhere."

"Well, I just got disowned by my parents," Kie said. "And I'm an official member of the I-have-nothing-to-lose club."

"Sky?" JJ said, turning and pointing at me.

"Pope?" JJ said.

"We're so close," he replied.

"Look. Look, think about how much you could think if you just gave your brain a rest."

"Okay, fine," Pope said.

"Okay, great!" JJ said, causing us to cheer a little. "Okay, wait. We've gotta shotgun first."

Later that night, after the sun had set, we made our way to the bonfire. The annual tradition of the Outer Banks. John B stopped the Twinkie nearby and we piled out. It didn't take long for us to meander through the crowds. John B was telling JJ and I about his fight with Sarah. He said that she broke up with him, but he didn't know what to do. We were cut off as a girl from our class grabbed John B's attention. JJ and I chuckled a little, then made our exit. John B ball-tapped JJ on his way over, causing JJ to double over a little.

I laughed a little, then grabbed his arm to support him. I led him over to the coolers, where there was beer and drinks.

"Come on," I said. "John B ditched us. I'll shotgun with you."

"Yes!" He cheered, already partially drunk.

We laughed a little, then began to shotgun the beers we retrieved. Some others joined in.

After JJ and I were sufficiently filled on alcohol and drunk enough to fully enjoy ourselves, we made our way to where there were throngs of people dancing. JJ and I joined, red solo cups in hand. We danced to the music, holding each other close, ignoring the looks we received from some people.