she wasn't okay - JJ MAYBANK // Outer Banks

FOURTEEN

Six hours. JJ drove six hours to get to Lucy to give her the skateboard. JJ drove six hours back with Lucy's hands wrapped around his waist to get them both home. Lucy felt the wind. Lucy smelled the sea. Yeah, this would be her new home. The wind. The sea. But for how long? She had no clue. And if she was honest to herself, she didn't want to know it. But she had to go and see a doctor at some point, if she still wanted to take her medication. The medication kept her alive. Well, alive alive. Without them she'd lay in bed in pain. Lucy was a little in pain now. Not because of her cancer. She just wasn't used to sit on a motorbike this long. Lucy sat up a bit as she saw they past the 'Welcome to Outer Banks – Paradise on Earth' sign. JJ drove the way to The Chateau and nearly knocked Lucy and him over the bike as he saw what kind of car was parked in front of it. The Twinkie. JJ parked the bike, almost lifted Lucy off of and ran to the backyard. Lucy could hear him screaming of joy. Silent followed. Lucy wasn't sure what to do. She felt uncomfortable. Slowly and quiet she followed JJ's way. When she walked around the corner she could see JJ hugging some boy. Lucy noticed how JJ buried his head in the boy's neck, not letting go of him. The boy in JJ arms did the same. Lucy noticed the hair of the boy. It had the same colour as hers. The eyes of the not familiar, yet still familiar, boy met Lucy's. For a second both forgot how to breathe. The boy gently let go of JJ, straighten his back and walked towards Lucy.

"Hey... I'm John B."

"Hi." Lucy whispered back. She couldn't believe her brother was standing in front of her. "I'm Lucy." Without any warning John B pulled Lucy into his arms. Lucy was overwhelmed. She didn't know how to react, but after a few seconds of realisation Lucy closed her arms around her brother. She took in his smell. Her fingertips felt the fabric of his clothes. He was so tall, yet the little tiny Lucy felt save, immediately. Lucy didn't know how long John B and her stood there. They just stood. Hugging each other. They didn't talk. They just stood there.

"So you two just have to go back to school like nothing happened?" Kiara asked. All of them were sitting around the little fire in the backyard.

Sarah nodded. "On Monday. I get why, but it is strange. So strange after all what happened. And they still don't really believe us. I mean John B is free because of some tapes were sent to the police." Sarah looked to Lucy. "Not yours. They claimed my father did it. Since then he is missing."

"What tape of yours?" John B questioned and looked at his little sister. Lucy had no chance or rather no courage to talk to John B about what really happened. The time wasn't right.

"I went to talk to Rafe." Lucy whispered.

"You what?" John B exclaimed. His head turned around to JJ. "And you let her?"

"JJ didn't know it." Lucy tried to protect him. "I snuck out. And I can take care of myself. I always have." JJ bit his tongue. It was not his place to tell John B what happened to Lucy while she was talking to Rafe. He heard the tape every night since Lucy left with her mum. He wanted Rafe to suffer for what he did to her. JJ saw Lucy neck. He saw the colours started fading away. As if JJ spoke it out loud, Lucy's hands went to her throat. JJ saw her closing her eyes, like she was in pain. "I'm fine." Lucy said into John B's face and JJ knew it was a lie.

"By the way." JJ started. "This is yours." JJ fumbled Lucy's phone out of his pocket and gave it to her. Lucy smiled thanking him.

"I don't wanna sound rude, Lucy. But how come you are back?" Kiara was sitting across from Lucy. Lucy wanted to answer everything tonight, but not this question. She shifted in her chair.

"Umm- so we went inside the plane and I directly told her I need to go to the toilet. When she wasn't looking I walked back, while people were still boarding. Hoping she wouldn't notice till the door closes." Lucy didn't even know if this was possible to do, but she couldn't tell Kiara her mother didn't want her. Didn't want her, her entire life. Not before she told John B. She'd rather tell nobody. She hadn't progressed what her mother did to her. Would she ever? The swallowed her emotions and took a sip from the water in her hands. She desperately need a blunt. She hadn't had one in three days. Well, she had her medication, but it just wasn't the same.