False Signals | OBX | JJ Maybank

Chapter Thirteen: Operation Find JJ

Kal

By the time I came home from the beach, the sun was beginning to set. The house seemed louder than usual, though when I walked in, no one was there. And then I realized the noise was coming from the docks not too far from the back of the house.

I told myself I wasn't gonna get involved with the JJ and Kyle thing, yet I found myself following the music and loud voices—One of which was Kyle's.

Who am I kidding, I was involved before I even wanted to be. Kyle didn't jump JJ because of the comment he made about me and what happened at the bonfire. He couldn't care less about what I do. He's using it as an excuse to start problems with JJ simply because he can. And that makes me hate him even more.

"Sarah?" I blurted her name out as soon as I saw her.

She was leaning against the docks, a scolding look on her face as she looked up at Rafe who was on my family's boat along with everyone else.

She turned her head at the sound of my voice, a look of relief on her face. "Thank god—I was looking for you."

I noticed Rafe's stare, which made me assume I'd interrupted a conversation. "What's going on?" I asked her.

"What's going on is that my little sister thinks she can control the world." Rafe spoke up over the music, looking down at us from the boat as he leaned against the railing.

"I'm not having this conversation with you." She rolled her eyes and turned to face me. "Drunk teens on a boat all night does not sound good." she whispered.

"Maybe we should hop on before they start moving." I whispered back.

"What's up?" I heard John B say.

I turned to see him approach the docks with the rest of his group. I'm not surprised that I'm intimidated by their presence yet again. They actually all seemed really nice, maybe that's what scared me. I was so used to shitty people.

"Hey Kal!" Kiara said with a smile as she approached.

I smiled at her as Sarah spoke up. "The noise was a party, as you can all see." She motioned to the boat. "Kal thinks we should join to make sure nothing happens."

"I say we join to party." JJ said as he hung his arm over John B's shoulders, a smile on his face. Only then did I let myself look at him. His smile slowly faded into a smirk as he made eye contact with me. I looked away.

"I knew you'd say that." Pope said with a nod.

"Weren't we working on something?" Kiara said directly to Sarah, her eyes speaking more than her words.

"We can work on it later. I really need to keep Rafe in check." Sarah stepped up onto the boat, holding onto the railings.

John B immediately followed after her with no hesitation, causing JJ to cheer as he stepped up behind him. Pope sighed as he looked over his shoulder and got onto the boat.

"This is a bad idea." Kiara mumbled as she went up.

"I feel like we have no choice." I joined them.

I was instantly engulfed by loud music and tipsy teenagers. JJ grabbed a cup and poured himself a drink, but only got down a couple of sips before Pope took it out of his hands.

"Are we forgetting that the dudes that jumped you are here." I heard Pope say to him.

"I'm not scared of them." JJ said calmly.