COMFORT CROWD [3] , jj maybank

12. nothing's free

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

IT'S NOT EVERYDAY I'M woken up by a fucking church bell.

   It's bright. So bright. I block the sun from my eyes, reaching out by finding myself in an empty bed. Where's Bailey? I fix my shorts that have ridden up, scratching at my chest as I leave the guest room. The bells are louder and louder. It's John B. I know it's John B with some child like hope that Big John will hear them and appear at the house. My heart aches for him. He just got him back and he's already fighting for his father's life.

The familiar sounds of seagulls squawking sound as I step onto the back porch. On the couch, JJ groans himself awake and Bailey is smoking a blunt on the stairs. "How long has he been at it?" I ask, pointing at John B and the bell. "Long enough that I couldn't ignore it," JJ grunts. JB rings the bell one more time before walking back over to us. We have matching bruised fists now. Truly a best friend moment.

"Morning, Sam," JB ruffles my hair. "Mhm," I hum, taking the blunt from Bailey. "Hey, what the hell?" Bailey yells. I inhale. It's been a while since I smoked and I'm sure my lungs were thankful for it but as the smoke rolls down my lungs, I like the burn, the taste of weed. I blow the smoke from my mouth, handing Bailey back the blunt before plopping down at the couch next to JJ.

"Morning?" I say more as a question. I'm trying to gauge his reaction. JJ smiles a tired smile at me, scooting closer to rest a kiss on my cheek, "Morning, princess."

So he's not mad anymore? Good. This is good. Skateboard wheels roll across the porch. "It's something about that dude's face, you know?" John B bitterly says, "Like the whole, no hard feelings, bro. You know what I'm saying?" He mimics Topper oddly well. "No hard feelings. It's kinda hard to not have hard feelings about that," JJ chuckles.

Bailey lays back against the porch, "Kooks take what they want. It's what they're used to."

"I know. It's just that—that look. That Kook look, you know?" John B asks. "It was clear provucation," JJ says. That's the wrong word. I knit my eyebrows together, "Provocation," I correct him.

"Provocation, and, uh, I mean, you had to do what you had to do. No choice about it," JJ says.

"Punching Topper was the right move. Also the multiple blows considering he's tried to kill you. Twice," I say with a tilt of my head. "Thanks for the reminder," He sarcastically says.

"Yeah, no problem, man," I match his sarcasm.

"No choice. We gotta figure out a plan to get to South America, like, yesterday. They've got my dad," John B says as he walks into the house. I'm so tired. My arm is sore but we follow him nonetheless.