𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫, 𝐋𝐢𝐚𝐫 | 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

74. go suck your daddy's dick.

S E V E N T Y - F O U R
go suck your daddy's dick.

"Could've been a faulty electrical wire," Pope proposes a reason the Chateau got completely destroyed.

Rest in peace. You will be missed.

"The place was all wood," I mumble, leaning back between JJ's legs. My arms crossed over my front. I'm tired. Shocker. "A tinderbox," I add.

"Thing just went up," Cleo says solemnly.

"Ka-boom. But not in an explosion way, more abstract. Avant-garde, if you will." I make an explosive action with my hand. I'm delirious. I can feel JJ's chest shake as he tries not to laugh.

After the initial panic and shock, there was a deep sadness that crept in. It's not like I grew up in the Chateau, but it's still sad. It was more than a house; it became a congregation site where everyone gathered. People would crash there when they didn't have a place to go. It was the place you could always fall back on. Fuck, even I had to sleep in the Chateau before my Mum left my Dad. That entire experience was easier because of the Chateau.

It really is one thing after another. We almost got burned down inside. When I said I could die happy, I didn't mean getting burned to death. An aneurysm would've been sufficient.

"Verdict's in, bro. Whoever's up there does not like you," JJ says. He realises it's a little harsh and reaches out to pat John B's shoulder. "Sorry." JJ grabs an empty beer bottle from beside me, reaching over, he chucks it into the house that is still lit with embers.

My throat burns, I think I almost died of smoke inhalation. I coughed up my lungs and probably a toe; it was that violent.

At least we didn't have to do the walk of shame back to the sofa, and sit down like nothing happened. Sure, this is probably worse for everyone, but rainbow linings, hey?

I sit forward and push a few pieces of my stray hairs back. "I, for one, really need a shower," I announce, moving to stand up. I stink of smoke and am covered in soot. Not to mention I may have a UTI brewing because I didn't have my post-coital pee. JJ sticks his hand up for me to help him to his feet. I put my shoes over his and grab his hand, leaning back to pull him up.

"We'll meet you on the pier in a bit," JJ says to the others. They all nod, and we walk off.

We walk silently back to my house, both going over the day's events. It's a comfortable silence. I think, living the lives we both have, we've learnt to enjoy every peaceful moment. They get taken so quickly.

As we near my house, I see my mother's car out the front. I was hoping she wouldn't be home.

"She can't see us like this, she'll freak if she knows we almost got set on fire," I whisper yell at him. We're far enough away that there's no chance she'll see us, so we have time to make a plan.

"Okay. Good point." He nods.

"The tree that sits out the back of my room, we climb that and go in. Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy. There's no way that can go wrong." I nod. "She'll probably be asleep; she usually has the night shift on Wednesdays." I don't bother waiting for his opinion, I just begin walking the long way around the back. Her room is out the front, and the only window out the back is in the guest bedroom, which she has no reason to be in.

I get to the tree and grab the first branch. We just need to get to the second story.

"Careful," JJ whispers, sounding stressed.

"I'll be fine," I dismiss his concern. Slowly pulling myself up higher, the rough bark scratches at my skin a little. Not enough to cut me, but enough to make me cringe.