more than gold, jj maybank

The Cross

I wake up to my phone ringing. Of course I did. I groan and lift up my head to see who was calling me. Brodie. I pick up my phone and place it to my ear after answering.

"Hello?" I ask, my voice croaking.

"Hey! How are you? You ran off after the rampage broke out. Are you ok?" he asks.

"Oh, um, yeah I'm ok. Are you?" I ask, sitting up fully and brushing my hair out with my fingers.

"Yeah! Um I just needed to know that you were alive and shit." he laughs.

"Alive and well." I snicke slightly.

"Ok, well I gotta go. But uh have a good time, wherever you are."

"Ok. Bye." I say, hanging up quickly, wanting to avoid any awkwardness.

I stand up and stretch my arms, being mindful to ensure not waking up Kie. I then walk out to the front of the house, breathing in the cold morning air and being able to relax a little.

"Hey."

Well at least I was able to relax.

I turn around, looking at JJ as he walks out of the house, standing next to me. "I wanted to talk." He says.

I look down, "JJ... I don't-"

"I'm not going to beg for forgiveness or anything." He says, "I know I really hurt you, Jade." he says, which makes me look up at him. "It's going to take a while to move on if you're ever able to." he nods his head, making me fiddle with my fingers. "I'm just hoping we could stay civil. Maybe even be friends?" he suggest, nearly making me laugh. "Just for the sake of everyone else." He adds quickly.

"JJ, you said it yourself." I say, "I'm not going to move on instantly." I speak in a nuetral but civil tone, "I can't just be friends with you after you hurt me." I tell him, "I need to do that on my own terms. I won't just be civil for everyone else. They didn't get cheated on." I say simply, ignoring him and walking away and back into the house.

✵

"Add that to the list of things we need to save up for in the house." JB says, laughing with me.

"Please! If we had a list we wouldn't be able to see the end." Kie adds, making us laugh even more.

"Starting with your bed, John B." I say, laughing at the memory.

"That wasn't my fault!" He defends.

"Pretty sure it was, dude." JJ says, smiling.

"Um, correct me if I'm wrong but didn't I tell you both that jumping on his bed was a bad idea?" I say, crossing my arms.

"It was our first time drunk!" JB defended.

"Doesn't mean you jump on your bed like a maniac!" I say, laughing.

"Well, what about the time you got high and took The Pogue out for a joy ride when you didn't even know how to drive it." John B says.

"It wasn't that bad." I defend pulling my blanket back over my legs.

"I had to swim out in the middle of the marsh to get you." Pope says. "You were sobbing on the floor, when I found you." He adds, making everyone laugh.

"Ha ha. Make fun of jade, right?" I say, throwing a pillow at them all.

Our laughing is cut short when the porch door opens revealing Sarah. "Well, hello there princess." JJ says.