Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

56

We sit outside on the grass staring at the charred remains of the Château.

"Could've been a faulty electrical wire," Pope offers.

"Place was all wood," Kie states. "A tinderbox."

"Thing just went up," Cleo says. "Boom."

"Verdict's in, bro. Whoever's up there does not like you," JJ tells John B. "Sorry."

We sit down on the dock. Staring at the remains of the Château is getting a little sad.

"Sarah, when did you say the pilot was getting in?" John B asks.

"Probably like an hour?" Sarah tells him. "But I mean, once he's here, my dad says we can leave whenever we want."

"Okay, well, as much as I would love to ghost my parents again, I can't," Pope insists.

"Pope, we're talking El Dorado here," JJ tells him. "Can you just slip out the back maybe?"

"Great advice," Kie tells him.

"It always worked for me," JJ argues. "How to avoid unpleasant circumstances 101. If there's a problem, you don't wanna face it, turn that face and keister around and walk the other way."

"I'm not doing that, okay?" Pope tells him.

JJ sighs. "I just want you to be there, dog."

"I'm gonna be there," Pope assures. "I'll meet you at the airstrip in an hour?"

John B nods. "Yeah, we'll see you there."

"One hour, Pope," JJ tells him. "Not a second later."

"Think you should let me talk, Pope," Cleo tells him. "Think your mom kinda likes me."

"I don't think it's gonna be pleasant for either of us," Pope tells her as they walk down the dock.

"Storm and I are gonna take a stroll back to the shack. For old time's sake," JJ says as he grabs my hand. "I always wanted to go to South America. Great surf, cheap weed."

"Yeah," John B says.

"See you guys on the tarmac," I tell them.

JJ and I head to his place to grab some things.

"Next time we're back here I hope it's to pack our shit to move," I confess.

JJ wraps his arms around me. "It's gonna be a new start."

"And you can stay in school," I tell him.

JJ groans as he buries his head in the crock of my neck.

I hear a car pull up outside.

"What the hell?" I ask.

JJ looks out the window. "Oh shit. Shit."

I look out the window and see Mike. "Shit. JJ."

"JJ! Your ol' buddy, Mike," he shouts. "You lost my load. Time to pay up!"

JJ and I inch towards the back door.

"All right, we're gonna do this your way. Hmm?" Mike says. "I'm coming in, JJ! Yeah, I know you're in there." The front door opens. "We're gonna do this your way."

JJ grabs my hand and we run out the back door. We don't stop until we're out of sight.

"JJ! Damn it. Where are you?" Mike shouts. "JJ! I'm gonna find you! I want my money."

"El Dorado better work," I tell JJ.

He nods. "It has to."

JJ and I head to the airstrip. John B, Sarah, JJ, and I are the only ones there.