Bad Karma

nine

Leilani Elrod

Episode 2. The Lucky Compass

"DCS! I know you're in there!"

I shot up out of bed, JJ's hoodie still devouring my body and my blankets nearly suffocating me.

"John B?" I called from the bedroom. Right now was probably the worst time to get skunked by DCS. Especially after our discovery last night. I pretty much dissociated for the whole night until I fell asleep, but my brain allowed me to remember finding Big Johns compass in the boat.

"It's just JJ." He assured me.

I'm not even going to lie and say that I wasn't nervous about seeing JJ. After what happened, I just needed to be alone. I felt bad for always dragging the group down, constantly needing attention and all that. Though as much as I wanted to be normal, my episode yesterday just showed that I still had a very, very long way to go. Safe to say being shot at didn't exactly help either.

"How's my little champ doing?" JJ appeared in my doorway.

"Perfectly splendid." Obviously, I wasn't okay.

JJ's smile dropped and he sat next to me, our knees brushing, "You know I'm sorry, right? Like, super incredibly sorry. For everything."

"I know, J. You've told me, like, a thousand times."

"What I did was stupid, but didn't want you being caught. I don't think I could handle you being sent away."

My eyes bulged from my head and I got up, throwing my arms around him and facing him, my hands squishing his cheeks, "Oh, my god! You're a total simp!"

He shoved my hands off his face, his cheeks turning rosy and a smirk playing on his lips, "Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

"You're not even denying it? Pinch me- do it. I feel like this is a dream!"

His laughter died down and he raised his eyebrows at me, "You down for an adventure?"

My face fell and I climbed off him, sitting criss-crossed, "I dunno, JJ. I think I should just sit out for a bit. I don't want to keep being a nuisance and holding you guys back." I played with my fingers, not meeting his gaze.

"Hey.. Lee.." His hand grabbed my fidgeting ones, "You never bother us. We love you and care about you. We can't do this- I can't do this without you. And I know I've fucked up and said some dumb shit and I can't promise I won't do it again, but I need you. So, please, come with us and if you want to bail later, that's fine."

A grin plastered itself on my face and I gazed over at him, "I love when you beg!" He began laughing uncontrollably, "Hey! What's so funny?"

He didn't reply, instead wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him, kissing my cheek. I'm not sure when our friendship switched into swift kisses, but I wasn't mad about it. My face turned beat red and he laughed, putting his head in the crook of my neck, lightly pecking the spot.

My throat hitched and I cleared my throat, "So, what's this adventure?"

"-so that's why we're going to visit Miss Lana." John B finished his explanation as we drove to Miss Lana's house, which wasn't very far from ours.

"Don't you think it's a bit, I don't know, insensitive?" I said.

"We have to find out why Scooter had my dads compass, and this seems like the best way."

"Maybe I could pick her a few flowers before we go in."

JJ turned around to face me from the front seat, "She'd love that, I bet."