FUMES [2], jj maybank

8. THEN WE'LL BE ALRIGHT

KIE WALKED ME HOME but all I could do the whole time was talk about what could be happening to JJ or what will happen. "Hey, you'll be okay? I promise. If you need anything, please let me know."

"Thanks, Kie." She hugs me and I don't know what to do for a second. I hug her back but pull back quickly. "Bye," We both say as I walk into my house. I want to cry and scream and run to JJ's house to see how he is but I fear it'll make it worse for him.

"Sam?" My mom calls out as the door shuts. Should I talk? The lump in my throat will break.  I'll sob. My mom comes around the corner and stops in her tracks, "Why are you crying?" She runs up to me and hugs me. As much as I wish I could sob into my mom's arms, I don't let myself. Now, I'm pissed. I'm pissed at Topper and Rafe and Kelce. Fucking Kooks.

She pulls back from me and holds my face. I clench my jaw, "JJ got arrested." My mom's mouth drops and that's when I notice the fancy jewelry all over her. Tonight is Midsummers. Shit. I completely forgot.

"He damaged property, apparently Topper's. At least that's what Pope told us. And now I have no idea what Luke is going to do and I forgot about Midsummers and I have to go to Sarah's and—"

"Stop, call JJ. Go see him," She wipes the makeup off my face that smeared down my face from earlier. "He probably wants to be left alone. Especially if Luke did something or he's with John B. He's okay with John B but I just want to see him," I fight with myself as to what to do.

"Will you see him tonight?" My mom asks and I shake my head, "I have no idea." She sighs loudly and I can't help but feel bad. My mom loves Midsummers. When she was a kid she went every year. She grew up rich, met my dad and lost everything because he's from The Cut, can't keep a job and everyone hates him. This is the second time she's going in 14 years and I came home crying. She'll do nothing but worry now, about JJ and me.

  "You're both resilient kids. You'll be fine," Mom says.

I've been hearing that my whole life and it never is fucking fine. "I'm just goin' to grab my stuff and head to Sarah's," I say. My mom nods and I run upstairs. This is my second time going to Midsummers and I wouldn't hate it this year if half the island had power. Once again The Cut is left to rot.

I open my closet and stare at the long black dress I picked out. The black pumps sitting right next to the red flower crown. A necessity of Midsummers. I hear my door creak and I jump. "You going to Sarah's?" It's Marcus. My youngest brother. The one that hides and I envy him for just being able to blend in. No reputation to ruin him—he's just Marcus.

"Yeah, you're lucky your setup is simple," I refer to his tux and gelled hair he would do in an hour. "Is—is JJ, okay?" His question surprises me and I turn around quickly. I think about what to say. I'm not going to tell him JJ got arrested. He'd bully him for it the next time he sees him.