I'm here // JJ Maybank

5

We arrive at the boneyard and start setting up shop.
I put out some red solo cups and JJ gets the keg all set up. JJ pumped the keg and sprayed beer in John Bs face causing us all to laugh. Me and JJ chugged a few beers until people started to show up. First it was just fellow pogues but then others started to join in too. John B, JJ, and I manned the keg while people started to arrive. I hung out to get a scope on who's here. Silently judging some, and eying others. I quickly got bored and started wandering around.
"Hey Amelia!" I look over and see a group of guys looking at me. I smile and make my way over.
"Hey guys" I said once I got over to them. I look at the group in full, 3 of the 5 I've gotten with, 2 more and I could complete a friend group. May be my next challenge.
"Got any plans tonight?" One of them asks winking at me.
"None that involve any of you. But enjoy the beer" I say tipping my cup to them. I roll my eyes as I walk away.
"Hey Mel's! Come over here" i here JJ call out.
"Cmon I need my shotgun partner." He grabs my hand and pulls me to a group of touron girls who I'm guessing he's trying to impress.
"Ladies, this is the one and only Amelia" he says pushing my shoulder. I smile at the girls who now are all giving me death stares.
"Ok let's do this thing." I grab a beer can and bite it to make a hole at the bottom, JJ doing the same to his.
"Ready? In 3,2,1!" He shouts. At the same time we crack the cans open and start chugging the contents. Once mine is empty I throw mine down and JJ finishes not even a second later.
"I WON!" I shout throwing my hands up. JJ high fives me and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
"I'll get you next time." He says. I shake my head and pull away from him.
"I'll believe it when I see it" and with that I let him entertain the group of girls and go to find John B. I see him leaning on a tree talking to some girl. On my way over I bump into kie and link arms with her.
"What is she doing here?" Kies face drops and I look over to what she's looking at, John B doing the same.
"Awe Barbie and ken decided to show. Yay" I said very unenthusiastic.
By nature, me and Sarah hate each other. She's the kook princess, me the pogue princess, two opposing worlds. Not to mention she's just infuriating of a human being. Kie and Sarah used to be friends, they had a falling out in the 10th grade. Not sure why tho, kie refuses to tell. Toppers is Sarah's boyfriend. Probably the worst of all kooks.
Kie rolls her eyes and walks away, brining me with her.
I go to the keg to get a refill and start filling up my cup.
"Hey Amelia, how are you?" I look up to see who's talking. Andrew, another kook. He's friends with Topper, Kelce, rafe, and all of them.
"Hey Andrew. I'm good. Want a beer?" I ask holding the filled cup to him.
"Yeah thanks." He said taking a sip from the cup. I grab another cup and fill myself one.
"You look great by the way" he said, sounding kinda nervous. I raise my eyebrows at him and sheepishly smile.
"Thanks, not too bad yourself. Where's your tribe?" I ask looking around. He laughs and shakes his head.
"I don't know. Probably trying to score some random touron." I laugh
"And what is it your doing?" I say looking into his eyes and narrowing mine.
"Just getting to know the Amelia Carter" he says smiling big at me.
The sun went down and Andrew and I were chatting on a tree log. Everyone at the boneyard has reached a fun but comfortable buzz and for once seems to be getting along. Andrew's not a bad guy so far. He's been telling me all about this community clean up he's organizing and what not.
"Ok ok enough about me. I want to get to know you" he says.
"Hmm. What do you want to know?" I say cocking my head to the side.
"Anything" he replies.
"There's not much. I hang out with my friends all the time. Or I'm at work. Just ebbing and flowing" he places his hand on my thigh and I look down at it.
"Hard to believe that's it. You got quite the name around here." He says. I'm not exactly what he means by that. Everyone talks, that's known. I also know that the guys have an ongoing thing that I'm the easy one. But for some reason I don't think Andrew meant it in that way.
"I guess I'm just special." I say giving him a tight lipped smile.
"I guess you are" he says. Andrew starts to slowly lean in, looking back and forth between my eyes and my lips. I do the same, letting the alcohol guide my actions. Soon his lips are on mine, moving slowly and with caution. He pulls away and scans my face for any regret. When he sees me smiling at him he goes back in, more confident this time. We kiss for a few seconds before I hear people shouting John bs name. I pull away quickly and snap my head towards the sound.
"I'm sorry I gotta go" I say and run towards the crowd of people. I push my way towards the front and see John B laying in the water and topper hovering over him.
"What the hell is going on?" I shout looking at pope who is holding JJ back.
"I don't know! This just started." Pope shouts back at me, worry all over his face.
"Topper back the fuck off" I say storming over to him and pushing him back.
"Stay of it Amelia." He says in a low tone.
"Stop being an asshole and leave" I say pushing him back again. This time he grabs my arm and throws me to the ground. Kie runs over to me, helping me get up.
"Hey John b don't make me drown you like your old man, all right" he says. I try to break free from kies grasp to hit this fucker but she has me in a death grip. People around us have started chanting "fight fight fight". John B starts to get up and tackles Topper to the ground. Sarah, kie and pope are all screaming for them to stop, whereas me and JJ are cheering John B on. They both lay a few punches on one another and I watch as John B throws topper into the water.
"Topper!" Sarah shouts. I look over at her with disgust. After a few more hits Topper flips John B back into the water and starts to hold his head down.
"JJ what do we do" I say turning to him and tapping his arm. He stares at the scene in front of us silently, which is more worrisome.
"J-" I say as I see him storm towards Topper and pull something out of the waistband of his shorts. He holds the gun up to toppers head, causing all the air to leave my lungs.
"Yeah you know what that is, your move broski" JJ says as he pushing the gun harder into his head. The masses of people start running away as Sarah slowly approaches them, shouting at JJ. I stand there in complete shock, not knowing what to do. JJ has taken it way too far.
"JJ put the gun down!" Sarah shouts
"Did you say something princess?" JJ shouts back. I slowly make my way over, still speechless.
"Amelia can you check your psycho friend, please?!" Sarah shouts looking over at me. JJ whips his head back to look at where I'm standing.
"JJ" is all I say looking at him. He takes the gun off of toppers and walks away.
"Ok everyone listen up! Get the hell off our side of the island!" He shouts then raising the gun and fires two shots into the sky. I jump at each one looking at him in horror. Pope and kie start to yell at JJ, but I turn my attention towards John B who is still lying in the water. I run over to him and roll him onto my legs so that his head is above where the waves are crashing.
"John B your good. Cmon" I say slightly smacking his cheeks to get him to regain consciousness. He finally wakes up and coughs out a little water.
"Guys a little help!" I shout and they all turn their attention to me. John B sits up and tries to control his breathing. Pope runs over and helps us both out of the water. I look over at JJ and don't say a word, I just shake my head.
"Let's get him home" I say to all of them and make my way back to the Twinkie.
—
"He'll be fine in the morning. Just has to sleep it off." I tell the others as we tuck John B into bed. We all walk out onto the porch and Kie and pope say bye and head home. I still refuse to look at JJ but now it's just us.
"Where are you staying?" I ask him. He doesn't look at me and just stares at his shoes.
"I don't know. I could just go home." He says starting to head out.
"No. Your staying at mine. Cmon" I say grabbing his arm and pull him towards my house. Once inside I go straight to my room and grab some clothes that JJ has left here from all the countless sleepovers we have had.
"Here, you smell like beer" I say tossing him the clothes.
"Thanks." He says making his way towards the bathroom. I go into my room and change into pajamas as well and then sit on my bed and wait for him to come out. Once he finished he came into my room and saw me sitting there waiting for him.
"Look I don't need another lecture" he says making his way to his side of my bed.
"Wasn't going to." I say shuffling back so my back is against the wall.
"Though, not the smarter thing you've ever done." I add. He nods his head.
"I panicked." He said quietly. I shuffled closer to him and put my head on his shoulder, him leaning his head onto mine.
"I know." I said quietly also.
"So you and Andrew?" He said lifting his head up.
"What about me and Andrew" I said furrowing my eyebrows.
"I don't know. Just saw you too together." He said fidgeting with my bracelets.
"Yeah. Wasn't deep." I said lifting my head and looking at him. He just nodded and started to get under the blankets. I followed his lead and did the same. This is nothing new to us, we have been sharing beds since we were kids. Everyone thinks it's strange now that we are older but it's just something that's natural for us. And besides I sleep better knowing he's in the safety on my home.
"Goodnight J" I said facing him. His back was to me and he flipped over so that we were facing each other.
"Goodnight Mel" he said softly.