Redamancy / JJ Maybank

Chapter 32: Compatibility

Going home. The thing that Lila has dreaded for the past month. She didn't want to go back to Kildare where everyone would judge you based on your social status. But, she knew her friends needed to go home and see their families, so, she obeyed the orders of her brother, going home.

When they arrived back at the Outer Banks, Lila and Sarah went to the Routledge household to go check if John B was back. The two girls ended up in the familiar driveway before Sarah rushed into the house, going to check on John B. The brunette girl stood still for a moment, looking at her old home before following Sarah into the house.

Sarah had woken John B up from a nightmare while Lila went inside of the house. When Lila was walking by the couple, John B was babbling about their dad being alive but, Lila thought he got into her weed stash.

For the next few hours, Lila had been cleaning herself up while Sarah was staying with John B, who still talked about his father. Lila had gotten dressed after taking a shower before meeting the couple outside.

"I'm not crazy. Look, that's the boat right there, okay?" John B pointed out the boat parked near the dock. "And he was sleeping inside, right there. Look, you have to believe me."

"John B, did you get into my weed stash?" Lila questioned her brother, stepping outside while she adjusted the hem of her shirt.

"No, I swear, I-"

"Hell, I wouldn't believe him either."

A new voice had joined them in the conversation, making them look in the direction of the voice. Sarah and Lila turned their heads only to be shocked when they saw Big John Routledge, alive and well. Lila stared at the man, trying to convince herself that she was just dreaming before she finally gave in. "Dad."

"Hello, flower." The man greeted his daughter back, making her realize it was him.

Lila glanced at John B, earning a cheeky grin from him before she started to rush towards her father. Once she reached him, she launched herself into his arms, almost sending him back due to the impact. She held him tightly, not wanting to let go before he finally returned the hug.

The father-daughter duo held each other for another moment, realizing how much they missed one another before pulling away. When they pulled away from one another, Lila's sweet smile turned into a frown. Realizing how long he's been gone, she slapped him in the forearm roughly. "What the fuck, dad?!"

...

After spending time with her dad, Lila realized she hadn't seen JJ since they got off the boat. She decided to leave, ending the sweet reunion while letting the boys attend to their duties that she didn't know about.

Lila pulled into the driveway of JJ's house when she noticed him in the backyard, drinking a beer. He didn't notice her pulling in, so he was taken aback when he heard her voice. "Hey."

She shut the car door behind her before she started walking over to him. While walking by the house, she had noticed the eviction notice sign plastered on his front door. "Yo, what's going on there?"

"Eviction notice." The blonde boy confirmed for her. "For, like, non-payment or whatever."

"Why didn't you come stay with me at the house?" Lila asked him, folding her arms across her chest. "It's your home too, JJ."

"I didn't want to bother you." He answered her in a low tone, letting her know something was up.

She knew how JJ didn't like talking about his feelings, so she continued to tell him about her findings. "My dad is alive."

JJ stopped working on his dirt bike, looking to his girlfriend with a smile on his face. "Seriously?"

"Yeah." She mumbled, watching as he rised from his kneeling position on the ground. "He thinks we're close to the same treasure that Singh was talking about."

JJ nodded his head once, not saying anything else to her before he started working on his dirt bike again. Lila could sense something was going on with JJ and she finally decided to ask him about it. She approached him slowly, getting him to stop what he was doing as she cupped his face, making his eyes meet hers. "Hey, what's going on?"

JJ placed his hands on top of Lila's, making her think that he was okay with the physical touch before he removed her hands from his face. "I don't know if I can do this anymore."

"What?"

JJ stepped away from her, not wanting to be close to her as he continued to go through with his actions. "You're smart, Lila. Put the pieces together."

"I'm not Albert Einstein." She retorted with a harshness in her voice. "Tell me what is going on."

"We don't work, Lila!" The blonde shouted to her in response. "You see, you have a home, you have a dad, you have a chance at going to college! But, what do I got? Nothing."

"That's not a problem-"

"It is for me!" He claimed, interrupting her part of the argument. "Why would you care? I'm just some loser-"

"JJ." She called to him in a soft tone, trying to get him to calm down.

"You don't care. No, you don't." He repeated to himself, acting like he was trying to convince himself rather than Lila.

"I do care!" She argued lightly, making him turn towards her. "I don't know why you think that you're worth nothing to me, but, J... you're my whole world."

JJ didn't know how to process this information. He just couldn't believe that someone could think highly of him or even tell him that. He stepped to the side, walking past the girl as he hopped onto his dirt bike. "Not anymore."

"Jayj." Lila called to him quietly, her voice cracking in the process. He started up the engine on his bike before he started to drive away from her entirely. "So, what?! This is just over?!"

JJ didn't answer her question, leading her to come to the answer that they were over.

...

After what happened with JJ, Lila drove home while she was crying a great deal of tears. She would try to stop crying for a moment before the tears would continue to fall. She hadn't experienced pain like this in a while.

Knowing that she didn't have electricity at her house, she needed to find a way to make money to support herself. She knew that even with her dad home, she was still going to have to support herself.

Pulling up to her old place of work, the brunette girl wiped away her tears quickly when she noticed Kie's parent's in the restaurant. Trying to hide the sadness she felt, she forced a smile onto her face as she approached the parents. "Hi, Mr. and Ms. Carrera."

They turned towards the direction of the voice when they were shocked to see Lila. "Lila! How have you been?"

"Okay for the most part." She replied to their question honestly. "I'm sorry to ask this on such short notice, but, can I work here again?"

"Of course, you can, sweetheart." Anna answered with a smile, missing having the girl around.

"Are you okay to work now?" Mike chimed in, stuffing his hands into his pants pockets. "We're low on staff today."

Lila thought about if she had plans that day but, she had none. Her dad and brother were off doing their own thing, her and JJ are broken up and she doesn't know where the others are. "Yeah, I can."