MERCEDES, jj maybank

62.

BONFIRE

"Hey love birds," Pope went over to JJ and trinity who were both getting mai tais, still observing everyone at the bonfire.

"Hey, Pope," Trinity says, doing the handshake which JJ also did. "Nice bandana," She says gently fixing the yellow bandana sitting on Pope's forehead.

"Doesn't he look great," JJ adds with a wide smile, placing his hand on Pope's shoulder.

Pope narrows his eyes at the two, "Okay, I can't tell if you're being sarcastic,"

"No, we're not, here, drink up." Trinity hands him her own half-drunken mai tai and goes and gets herself a new one.

Pope watches her as she leaves, "She's a bit drunk, man,"

JJ laughs and holds up the blunt that Pope didn't notice before, "It's this, man."

"Have you ever thought maybe she's got a weed problem?"

JJ scoffs, "If she's got a weed problem, then I have a weed problem and I don't actually see how that's a problem."

"Right." Pope nods and remembers who it is exactly he's talking to, as Trinity just returns.

"What's wrong?" JJ asks, noticing that her happy face had dropped.

"My brother is doing stupid shit,"

Pope asks a question so that he can gauge how serious the situation is, "Like, like JJ stupid or Tyler stupid," The difference between JJ stupid and Tyler stupid was that every time Tyler did something stupid it landed him in jail.

"Tyler stupid," Trinity pouts and takes the blunt back. "When did you even take this?" She asks taking a drag.

"Oh, that's bad then," Pope frowns.

But she just shakes her head and shrugs it off, "It's whatever, I want to have a good time, so J, let's dance."

"See you later Pope!" JJ says, being dragged off to the spot where everyone was dancing.

Trinity put her arms and JJ's neck and they swayed to the rhythm of the music but JJ looked distracted and was looking at something just a few feet away from them.

"What?" She asks him.

"Look,"

She looks over to see what he's looking at and sees the girl from earlier with John B, but Sarah had just approached them.

"Do you think we should check it out?" Trin asks, JJ being John B's best friend and she was Sarah's it seemed fitting.

JJ hummed, "Maybe give it a second."

And then Topper walked towards Sarah, putting his arm around her. And it wasn't long before a crowd was egging on a fight and all Trinity could think about was the kegger from summer.

She didn't say anything but walked away from JJ to go stand between Sarah and John B, but JJ was quickly following her.

"They all know what happened last time!" Topper shouted.

Sarah pushed John B, "Just get out! Just go!"

"I'll beat your ass!" Topper shouts to John B.

"Get out of here Topper!"

"He started it, Sarah,"

Sarah was keeping the two boys from getting close to each other, "Don't even think about it."

And then Kelce had to butt in, "Hey, she don't want you anymore, bro!"

"Shut the fuck up," John B grits, turning his back and he was ready to leave.

But Kelce did what he did best, "What you gonna do, John B, kill me like you killed Sheriff Peterkin?"

"Kelce!" Trinity scolded.

And at the same time, John B spun around and hit Kelce in the face. He backed up and Topper went for John B. Of course JJ went to his aid and Trinity was going over to Sarah to find out what was going on.

"Trin!" Sarah grabbed onto her arm, "Stop John B," Trinity just looked at Sarah not knowing what to say.

And then the brown-haired girl pushed Sarah over. She laid on the floor and watched as Trinity stuck up for her.

Trinity didn't say anything to the girl but quickly struck her across the face.

"Yes, Tee!" Tyler bellowed, watching and laughing with all his friends.

"Hey, what the hell?" The girl covered her nose as it started to bleed and Kiara went over to help Sarah, "Whose side are you on?" She pushed Trinity.

"Not yours." Trinity wasn't affected by the push but wanted to show the girl up so she punched her again, and then once more causing her to stagger and fall on the ground.

Trinity turned around and was about to go over to Kiara and Sarah, but Kelce and Pope were having it out.

"Kelce do you ever not start shit?" Trinity shouts at him.

"Should I tell Rafe about your new boyfriend?" He threatens her, pointing to JJ.

"Do what you like," Trinity laughs in dismay.

JJ got Topper off of John B and put him on his knees, getting behind him and holding him in a headlock.

"JJ, no, let's go!" Trinity says as all the Pogues were ready to leave.

John B takes JJ's arm and runs off with them all back to the Twinkie. JJ downs the last few drops of his beer and crushes the can, "Well, that was a little unexpected."

"Was it?" Kie asks him.

John B was sat in the back with a cold beer pressed against his forehead. "Hey, JJ," He says, "Maybe she'll come around."

Trinity took one of her blunts that she had put previously in the Twinkie, and lit it.

"Trin put it down," Pope tells her.

Trinity shakes her head, "It's already lit," She places it between her lips and watches the rest of them speak.

"It's like everything that happened to us didn't matter," John B mumbles staring into space.

"She wouldn't have moved on in a day," Kiara says.

"You didn't see her and Topper at the top of the pit, Kie,"

JJ sits in the van and taps Kiara, "Drive,"