The Cool Kids - JJ Maybank

Party Crashers

Peterkin sighs once Gwen's done arguing with JJ's placement in juvie. She can see the love the Turner has for the blonde behind the glare set on her features. "You admitting you had something to do with it will not make his sentence go down, Gwen," the woman tells her.

"And why not?" Gwen asks. Peterkin looks at her. Gwen puts her hands down when she notices JJ leaving with his father. He meets her gaze and his eyes go wide with silent questions. "His dad will beat him if they have to pay for this. Let me pay instead."

"I can't let you do that," she says sadly. "Not only do your parents own the accounts you have access to but you're not a part of his family-"

"I'm much better for him than his dad," Gwen argues, trying to keep her voice calm. "Okay, what about this?" She lifts her sleeve and shows off the bandage JJ had helped her with. She keeps her face from turning red as she explains: "This came from two men who have been trying to kill each of us." Peterkin pales. "You know something about this?"

Peterkin glances up at her and covers the injury. The look in the woman's eyes suddenly brings Gwen to the night of Jake's death. She had asked Gwen if she had seen the man's face - man, not person. It makes her take a step back as she comes to the realization that the men that shot at her and her friends probably did the killing of her brother.

I can see it on her face that she's got some kind of idea. "Who do you think it is?" She doesn't answer me. "Peterkin..."

"Go home, Gwen," she tells me instead. "You've got a life ahead of you... a good one. Don't waste it-"

"If I don't do something in this, I'll be wasting it," I argue. "My brother died for this. I got locked away for this." Peterkin shifts on her feet. "Please. Let me in."

It's quiet for a moment. She doesn't say anything. I've said my piece. Now, I'm waiting to see if she'll give me some breadcrumbs to follow or kick me out without a clue.

Finally, she turns to me. "Gwen Turner, you're almost as stubborn as Jake was." I can't tell if

that's a compliment and wait for her to continue. "But I can't help you. I'm sorry." Then she opens the door without another word. And I step outside, ignoring the pitiful look on her face as I leave.

. the cool kids .

I put on the lilac purple dress that flows beautifully while somehow hugging my body. Kiara and I had tried our best to be similar in color tonight just to be close without being next to each other the entire time. My parents aren't big fans of her family.

Someone knocks on my door. I find myself looking at Dean. "I want to apologize," he says before I can close the door.

I look him over before I let him inside with a small nod. I wait for him to continue as he looks at his hands for a moment. "If that's all you're going to say-"

"No!" He says quickly, looking up at me like he's lost. "I, uh... I'm sorry for everything I've done. I... I did it to impress Rafe." I saw that coming. "I didn't realize how bad of an influence he was until now. I should have but I didn't." He runs a hand through his hair. "I thought that if I told my parents I was dating Rafe Cameron they would be okay with me being in love with another man instead of you. Not that you're a terrible person - in fact, if I liked women I would probably love you but-"

"You don't have to explain why you don't like me, Dean," I assure him. "I mean, I like JJ Maybank so I don't know if I can really judge."

"At least JJ isn't an asshole simply because he can be," Dean points out. He thinks for a moment. "You have good taste, by the way-"

I stop him quickly. "Okay. Okay, nope. No simping over him, please." Dean smiles at me. I roll my eyes. "Not because I'm jealous; just because." He mocks a nod and I shove him. "What were you hoping to get out of telling me?"