The Cool Kids - JJ Maybank

News and Letters

Wordlessly, I pass the envelope through the crack. Pope takes it from me, handing it over to John B while I start to work on getting out.

"That's not gold," Pope says slowly.

Taylor rolls her eyes. "What gave that away?"

Before Pope can argue, John B mutters, "Holy shit." I jump over to the other side, JJ's hands holding my arms to steady me. I offer him a small smile but quickly straighten myself, focusing on John B who is looking between the group. "This is from my dad."

"And Jake," I add, muttering. "He called me Ghost. Your dad and my brother..." Neither of us can deny the fact that they were somehow working together on this now.

I hadn't noticed JJ grab a roll of weed until he lit it, taking a big breath in and out. I glance at Kiara who is offering John B a small hopeful smile while Taylor watches her carefully like she's some piece of art that the blond girl can only admire from afar. It almost reminds me of Stanley - who I had met in the mental hospital - and how he had looked at Thomas until they got out, sending me letters that the two of them became a couple after their release back into the wild thanks to my match-making skills.

But before I can even attempt to try anything for Taylor and Kiara, I hear the sound of wheels approaching. "Shit," I mutter.

JJ notices too. "It's gotta be them," he says to me. He catches the attention of the others, already pulling me by my hand: "Guys, we've got groupers."

Instantly, we're all crowding behind the grave, trying to stay out of sight. And then we realize that people still have their lights on. While Pope and John B manage to shut off their lights, JJ struggles until finally, I pull his headband away from his head, switch it off, and let it hit his forehead when I let it go.

Unfortunately, it's too late. "I see something," I hear them say.

Kiara whispers, "Do you think it's them?"

JJ peeks around the corner. "Homie's got a gun." Taylor curses.

"Screw this," Kiara says.

And then she takes off running. The only reason I'm third in line is because Taylor grabs my wrist, being pulled herself by Kiara. And luckily for JJ, he hasn't let go of my hand yet so he's next. Then come John B and Pope. We all climb up the side of the fence. In fact, I think we'll be fine-

"Guys," Pope calls, "I'm stuck. I'm stuck- holy- no. I'm stuck."

I can barely make out what everyone is saying. All I know is that John B and Taylor are talking JJ down from doing something dumb and Kiara and I are trying to help Pope get down. Finally, he's running with us. The only problem he could have with this situation is that his pants ripped apart in the process.

"It's a little Tootsie Roll," John B teases.

As soon as we're inside the van, John B starts it and peels from the scene. Relief sags through all of us before it returns to laughter, being contagious enough to make Pope start laughing about the loss of his pants.

. the cool kids .

I am sitting with John B, staring at the envelope in his hands. But I can't help overhearing JJ and Pope's conversation about mold being good for you in the kitchen. All I have to say is, "JJ," and the blonde is by my side with his moldy sandwich.

John B rips open the package. JJ gags on his bread. Pope is unamused. Kiara is focused on the map John B unrolls. Taylor is rolling her eyes at her cousin. And I mutter, "Holy shit."

"X marks the spot," Pope says, pointing to the x on the paper.

"Longitude. Latitude," John B says. He frowns as his finger goes across the map. "There's something else in there." He pulls out a tape recorder.