FUMES [2], jj maybank

3. IT'S A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK

   

JOHN B IS ON THIS conquest now to find out how the hell his dad's compass ended up in Scooter's boat. I want to encourage him but I'm terrified of the results of my encouragement.

I couldn't sleep. I wake up too early but make my way down to the kitchen. Early enough that even Vanessa is concerned. "What the hell? Why are you up?" The blonde asks.

I grab a bagel off the counter and bite into it. I'm too tired to even grab a knife. "Why are you in my house, Vanessa?" Like I said, I like my older siblings, one more than the other but I like them. I just went 16 years without them so to have someone question my every move is almost suffocating and that's all Vanessa does. "Your mom let me in. I'm hanging out with Marcus today. You should join us!" Vanessa says all too happy for the early hours.

  I watch as she sips her coffee, smiling into the cup.

  "Nah, better shit to do."

"Is 'to do' JJ?"

  I cough on the bagel piece in my mouth, "You're an ass!" I'm half-joking. Maybe. She laughs and shrugs her shoulders.

Kie is up. I know that. Trying to build our friendship again has been hard—for me. She's all for it. Though she hates my attachment to the eldest Cameron daughter—she can't say shit because she tongue fucked Rafe Cameron. I'll just go to The Wreck until something comes up with one of them.

   The drive to The Wreck is short. There's no one in there as it basically just opened for the day. "Kie—I would love some free—grits," I stare at the girl behind the counter that is definitely not Kie. She's shorter for one and her face is littered with freckles. She's gorgeous. "Hi, sorry I'm looking for Kie. Obviously," I awkwardly say.

Dumbass.

She smiles, "I'll go get her. One sec!" She bounces around to the back and I envy the energy she has this early. My phone vibrates and I expect a message from Pope in the group chat this early but never JJ texting me this early.

jj: morning babe

up so early? why?

i could say the same for you.

morning anyway babe

"Sam?" Kie makes a face once she sees me. "Couldn't sleep. Have this whole compass thing stuck in my head," I explain.

"He's concocting," She rolls her eyes. The pretty girl isn't there anymore so I drag Kie away from the counter. "Who is that?" She goes to directly look back, "Well, don't make it obvious!"

"That's Piper. My dad hired her. She's really nice." Piper emerges from the back room and goes back to cleaning off the counter. "I've never seen her."