FUMES [2], jj maybank

31. 'CAUSE SOCIALLY SPEAKING, WE WERE THE SAME

IF YOU'VE EVER WOKEN UP FROM A WEED HANGOVER, YOU KNOW HOW IT FEELS. First off, munchies. Thankfully, Kie made eggs by the time I was up. Then, your mouth is dry and your body feels like it's too loose to move. And, every bit of sunlight makes me turn away.

We're all sitting in the backyard. My knees are to my chest as I watch JJ's hands move along his board. We haven't said a word to each other since last night. Maybe it's for the better considering how cranky I am. "That's a lot of wax on your board. Put too much wax, it's gonna be slippery," Pope tells JJ. He's cranky as well so Pope's suggestion annoys JJ. "Are you telling me how to wax my board?" JJ snaps.

"Just saying that's a lot of wax—"

"Nah, nah, you're telling me how to wax my board. You kidding?"

Kie and I look at each other. A glare is sent their way when they continue to bicker. "That's a colossal waste of wax!" Pope states. "Guys, really?" Kie stops the bickering. "It's wax. Calm down!" Bailey says as she walks over with a beer in hand.

BEEP. BEEP.

Was that—a car? I untuck my knees from my chest. "Did you hear that?" JJ glances at me for a second but we quickly break eye contact. The honking gets louder. Wait, it's the Twinkie.

"The Twinkie!" I shout and jump up from my spot. The Twinkie pulls up to the house. "John B?!" I start running towards the van. My converse kicking up dirt behind me. "Guess who's out of the clink, boy!" John B skips out of the van. I speed up and hug John B. "Holy shit!" He hugs me back. John B holds me tightly and swings me back and forth for a second before putting me down. "No freaking way, man!" Pope smiles. The rest of the group comes over and engulfs both John B and I into a hug.

"We missed you!"

I let out a laugh of relief. "I missed you guys, too," John B lets go of us. I take in his appearance. It feels so good to have him back—again. "So, how'd you do it? You bust out?" JJ asks. "No, they dropped the charges!" My jaw drops. How? The gun or—what the hell? "That's phenomenal!" Kie smiles.

"So you're telling me I did all that work for nothing?" I'd put the word, work, very lightly, JJ.

"Oh, you mean the most elaborate escape plan of all time?" Pope sasses him. "Didn't he say it was foolproof?" Bailey says behind me. I snort at her but see JJ roll his eyes at me. "Yeah, it was, actually!" I bite my lip and decide to not say anything. It'll only make the situation worse. "Wait, where's Sarah?"

That's when I realize, I haven't heard from Sarah since she left to go to Wheezie last night—shit, I should've checked on her.

"No, no, no. Where...where's Sarah?" John B panics. "She went to go see Wheezie last night. She hasn't come back, shit, we should check on her," I run my hands through my hair. Rafe is a loose canon, especially with Sarah back. John B's face drops. "Where could she be?" JJ looks at me again for a split second. I broke eye contact this time. I'm still upset. Really upset.