the park bench

s e v e n

s e v en

"guys?" joanne meekly poked her head between the drivers seat and passengers seat, glancing at her friend and brother. "um, do you know... where we're going?"

"the beach near the jump cliff, the same place i told you about four times in the past ten minutes." joseph rolled his eyes, pushing his sunglasses with one hand and scanning an upcoming road sign. "jojo, what's wrong? you're so distracted right now."

heather nodded, craning her neck to analyze her best friend. "is there something wrong? remember, i'm here. joanne-"

"before my man, i know." the brunette sighed.

her brother gasped dramatically. "whoa, excuse me, heather, you told me jo before hoe!"

the blonde glared at the boy. "your job is too kiss, cuddle and drive, not to talk." she returned her gaze to joanne. "what's up, jojo?"

joanne fiddled with the bottom of her crop top. "do you know why boys, um, don't like me?"

a silence fell over them, tense and incredibly uncomfortable before joseph burst out laughing, slamming a hand repeatedly down on the top of the steering wheel with heather giggling afterwards.

"is that... is that all you're worked up over? jesus, whew, jojo, you're so precious," joseph gasped out, eyes returning to the road.

"shut up, baby brother!" joanne turned tomato red. "shouldn't have asked you losers." she grumbled to herself, lying back down on the back seats.

"because i told them to back off." joseph replied nonchalantly, "i mean, you never showed interest in any of them, so i told them to back off or i'll rip their dicks off. that way they won't bother and you wouldn't be bothered."

the brunette gaped before her face morphed into an expression of white hot fury. "joseph! why would you do that? you're meddling in my business and ruining my entire love life, oh my fucking god! why do you feel the need to protect me, i have judgment, why do you two think i can't look out for myself, huh?"

with that, joanne didn't speak to her brother or her friend for the rest of her ride.