I'm here // JJ Maybank

9

John B is the first to exit, the rest of us cautiously follow. He immediately gets into the Twinkie. I look at JJ, hoping that he's sharing the same thoughts as me.
"I don't want to" I say quietly to him. He looks at John B then at me, obviously conflicted.
"It's okay. We're okay. I promise I won't let anything happen to you." He says pulling me into his chest. I accept the hug and sigh into his chest.
"It's not me I'm worried about." I say.
—
"I mean it's obvious right?" John B says from the drivers seat. Who's gonna tell him that it's not. He drives down a random road bringing us to god knows where. He's lucky I have fomo because I would not have come otherwise.
"A family heirloom. What better place to hide a message? He had to know it was gonna get back to me right?" He says. I close my eyes and lean my head back.
"Yeah it's possible" kie says from the passengers side.
"It could also be possible that your concocting wild theories to help, you know. Deal with your sad feels." I could agree more pope.
"Bro you know how I process my sad feels. Dank nugs and the sickist of ickies" JJ says making me roll my eyes. He looks at me and raises his eyebrows at me.
"I mean. Same I guess" I say giving in to his look.
"I'm not concocting okay? My dads trying to give me a message." John B says really trying to defend his case.
"If it helps you believe, John B" kie says trying to be comforting.
"Look, I-I don't need a therapy session okay?"
"I think we all need a therapy session." I counter.
"Im not tripping out"
"It's okay to trip bro, but-" JJ tries but John B is quick to cut him off.
"Look, my- my dad is missing okay? Missing" John B snaps making us all go quite.
"You don't know what it's like to have the person closest to you vanish and then have no idea what happened." John B says. Everyone but JB turns to look at me. I don't meet any of their eyes but they all know that I do know what it's like. My parents weren't closest to me by a long shot, but having them vanish with no idea as to what I did or why, check that one off. I cross my arms and turn my body to stare out the window.
"Just wake up everyday not knowing." John B adds.
"It's been almost a year." Kie says.
"Hey he could have been kidnapped. That's definitely a possibility." JJ says, I think he's trying to be funny but it's not working. Or he's serious, it's hard to tell.
"Yeah he could be in a Soviet sub getting interrogated by the KGB somewhere." Pope continues.
"Or off in Narnia living the dream" I say with a slight chuckle. No one laughs but at least I thought it was funny.
"Guys. Look, what do you think the message is?" Kie asks John B.
"Redfield" John B says. Again a man of many words.
We pull up to redfield light house. A place big John used to take me and John B all the time as kids. When I could come over crying from something that happened at home, he would also bring us here to calm me down. We all
Get out of the van and look up at the lighthouse.
"Okay your gonna post up and look out for bogeys, okay?" John B says pointing to JJ.
"Wait.. why me?" JJ asks disappointed.
"Because your not coming." Pope says as if it was obvious.
"Why?"
"Jj there are independent and dependent variables. Your an independent variable. We don't know what you'll do" pope explains. JJ took this very personal
"Shut up pope!" He says pointing his finger in popes face.
"Listen to me for a second. Pope you stand and look out with JJ okay?" If we get split up, we meet back at JJs house." John B goes over the plan.
"I'm staying down here."
I say heading to go sit down by a tree.
"Your not coming up?" John B asks me and looks at me concerned.
"Too many memories. And I'm emotionally tapped out for the day. Good luck tho" I say waving him off. He doesn't walk away immediately but kie pulls him towards the lighthouse. JJ throws a mild fit as pope goes to work on his essay in the van. I take a seat by the tree and stare at the light house. JJ comes over and lightly kicks my leg.
"You good?" He asks looking down at me. I send him a half smile and a thumbs up.
"Just peachy." I say looking back at him. He pulls out a ball and holds it out to me, asking me to play without actually asking. I smile at him, one of JJs many talents is getting me to smile, no matter how awful of a mood I'm in. I hold my hand out to him and he grabs it, pulling me to my feet. We toss it back and forth for a bit, and kick it back and forth trying to not let it fall to the ground. We do this for a while until I become bored of it.
"Pope it's your turn to entertain the child" I yell to him. He looks at me annoyed but puts his essay to the side and comes out of the van, JJ smiles like a little kid at him and throws the ball his way. I lean on the tree and watch my friends play. pope tossed the ball and JJ catches it in his pocket. I clap for them but then immediately hear sirens approaching us. I turn to look down the road and see the lights coming our way. We all sprint into the van and JJ starts to drive off.
"Should we wait?" I say looking back for any sign of them.
"No they'll meet us at my house remember." JJ said panicked.
"Yeah unless they get caught by the police first." I say still looking back hoping that I see them.
"Shit" I say light smacking the front dashboard.
JJ drives us in the direction of his house.
"Ugh I forgot I have work in an hour. Can you drop me off at mine please J?" I say running my hand through my hair.
"No just skip it" he says shaking his head.
"I can't. Last time you made me skip Mike almost killed me. And Connor will also hang me if I don't get groceries soon." I say. He looks over at me and huffs. He turns and starts driving in my direction. We pull into my drive way and all look over at the chateau, memories from a few hours ago hitting us all.
"If anything happens just go to my house okay? Run as fast as you can." JJ gives me a stern look.
"Yes sir. If I see any burly men I'll run for the heavens. Thank you for the ride. Love you both." They both say love you back and bid me a goodbye. I rush inside and change as quickly as possible. I get on my bike and hurry my ass over to the wreck so I'm not late.
—
A little over an hour into my shift kie comes in with her dad, Mike looking very angry and kie looking upset.
"Hi!" I say to both of them. Mike looks at kie disappointed.
"Hi Amelia. At least one of your friends is responsible kiara." Mike says to kie which makes me furrow my eyebrows. Kie hands her head low and makes her way over to me.
"I've never been referred to as responsible. That's new. What the hell happened?" I say grabbing her arm and pulling her to one of the tables, away from Mike.
"My dad had to bail me and John B out. We got caught. John B kinda assaulted the guy in the light house." Kie says. I shake my head in confusion.
"Kie what?" I say with my eyes wide.
"Yeah and I have to tell you something but you can't tell anyone. Not JJ Not pope okay?" She says. I nod just wanting to know already.
"John B kissed me" she says quietly making my jaw drop.
"You're joking. He actually kissed you." I say. I don't know if I'm excited or just in shock but my energy level just increased.
"I know it's bad. But I don't him we're friends and you know no pogue on pogue macking" she said.
"Right. Right. Okay. Well. Like is it awkward now. Are we mad at him? Are we slightly happy?" I ask trying to get a feel for what her thought is.
"I really don't know Mel. I think he was just emotional. I don't like him like that." she says. I can tell she's being truthful because her tone is showing that she feels bad.
"Kiara. Stop distracting my employee. Here take this. The paint could use some retouching. " Mike says appearing out of nowhere. I give him a tight smile and go back to checking on my tables. She rolls her eyes and grabs the paint.
Another hour later I hear the the bell to the door so I go over to great whoever came in.
"Hi you can take a seat wherever you like" I say looking down and grabbing some menus.
"Uh that's okay." I look up confused and then see Andrew standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Oh uh hey" I say looking around to make sure Mike isn't looking.
"I went by your house but you weren't there. I remembered you said you worked here so thought I'd find you. And I did" he said shifting on his heels. I can feel kies eyes peering into the back of my head as i nod.
"So yeah uh I just wanted to let you know that the party is tomorrow night, If you still wanted to come. I mean I would love it if you came." He said rubbing the back of his head. I have this issue where I can't say no. It's a guilt thing, i don't know everyone has character flaws okay.
"Uh sure yeah. I would love to." I say, slightly regretting it as the words leave my lips.
"Okay awesome. I'll uh pick you up then. Cool" he said. I nod and smile as he walks backwards and leaves. I mentally slap myself in the face as I hear footsteps approaching me.
"What was that?" Kie asks, looking disgusted and confused.
"Uh nothing. Andrews bringing me to some party." I say trying to play it off.
"Mel cmon. I thought you were passed that." She says, referring to my quick phase I went through after my parents left.
"No it's not like that. I'm not gonna sleep with him or do drugs or probably even drink. He's nice to me." I defend. She looks at me worried
"He's a kook. With kook friends, who harass us on the daily." The kook says.
"I just want to see where it goes okay. God forbid a guy wants to hang out with me and not just hookup and pretend that it never happened." I say getting worked up. I walk away and look around at the restaurant. I have no tables to go run to so I just awkwardly stand in the middle on the restaurant. Kie goes back to painting. The door rings again so I turn around, this time it's pope.
"Hey John B calling a meeting. Attendance mandatory. Let's go." He says. I start to follow him but when I look back kie isn't budging. Okay so we are mad at John B.
"I'm good thanks." Is all she says. I look between them both and shrug my shoulders to pope.
"Yeah I'm working too." I say, not wanting to leave kie by herself. Pope huffs and leaves. Mike comes out and looks at me then around at the restaurant.
"Hey kid, I'm sorry I know you need the money but it's dead here. You can go with them. I'll take care of anyone who comes in." He says looking at me, there's a sad expression on his face.
"You sure. I don't mind sticking around." I say because I really do need the money.
"Sorry kid. Go with your friends though. Enjoy summer while you can." He gives me a friendly smile and I nod.
"Kie just come." I say taking my apron off.
"No." The door goes off again and in walks John B. With that I leave him to do the Job. This is his mess anyways. I walk outside and am greeted my two big smiles from Pope and JJ.
"Here's my lovely lady. After you" he said offering me a hand into the van.
"Is kie coming?" Pope asks. I shrug and he looks at me confused.
"You know something. What did John B do?" JJ asks narrowing his eyes at me.
"No clue. Mikes not happy with him though." Is all I say. I've been sworn to secrecy I can't tell them by law.
Soon enough John B and Kie walk out laughing. Okay so we aren't mad at him anymore.
We all get seated in the van and John B drives us to our next adventure.