complicated • jj maybank

➳ 2

Originally, when I got in my car, I had the intention of going home and spending the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself. But instead, I took a detour and headed to the chateau. I knew for a fact JJ and Pope wouldn't be back there yet, but I had a plan.

I stop the car outside of the place I'd spent most of my life crashing at. Someone was always crashing at John B's place, without fail. I hesitantly got out of the car, walking up to the porch and knocking the door softly. Within seconds, I was greeted with the warm smile that belonged to Kiara. She threw her arms around me, squealing and telling me how glad she was to see me.

"I'm really sorry for being so distant lately, there's just a lot going on." I say, pulling away from the hug and sitting on the couch and taking in my surroundings. Absolutely nothing had changed since the last time I was here, except from the new mess that had formed from the constant revolving door of teenagers passing through. I let out a sigh, turning to Kie, who had a knowing look plastered on her face.

"Trust me, of all people, I know." She agrees, looking up at the other side of the room. I follow her gaze, spotting the boy who'd been like a brother to me my whole life. I spring up from my place on the couch, throwing myself into him and hugging him tightly, apologising over and over.

"Bella, don't be ridiculous." He chuckles, letting me go and looking at me, like he was observing something so intricately, taking in every little detail. "You may be wearing clothes that cost more than I make in a month but you haven't changed one bit."

I talk to the pair for a little while longer, weary of the time. I didn't want to run into JJ again, not after our conversation earlier. I tell my friends all about how life was treating me on figure 8, and we laughed about the irony of it all. I knew deep down that this is where I belonged but life was different now, and that was just something I had to accept.

I say my goodbyes, getting up to leave when the door swings open and in strides the blonde boy and his accomplice. His warm smile turns cold when he sees me, rolling his eyes as if the sight of me disgusted him. I sighed, pushing past him and walking out of the chateau. I'm nearly at my car when I hear a voice from behind me.

"So it looks like you did remember your way around the cut. Run along now princess, you don't belong here anymore." I ignore his comment, getting in my car and gathering my thoughts before driving off back to my house.

Maybe he was right. Maybe that side of me was dead now. But I can't help but miss the pogues. Especially that irritating blonde who has absolutely nothing nice to say to me.

Once I arrive back at my house, I get inside and walk straight through to the back yard where my parents are sat with Ward and Rose Cameron. My mom spots me first, waving me over to them. So I make my way across the garden and sit at the table with them. "Hey Bells, how was your day with Sarah?"

"It was okay." I shrug, reaching over and taking a strawberry off the platter in front of me. "Where's Rafe and Sarah?" I ask the Cameron's, turning their attention away from my day. Ward tells me the siblings were preparing for some party at the beach tonight, something Sarah had probably told me about but I hadn't thought of since.

I engage in conversation with the parents for a while before excusing myself, grabbing the shopping bags from my trunk and finally heading up to my room. I start to put everything I had bought away before my phone started to ring. It was Sarah.

"Hey Bella, you still coming to the beach party tonight?" She says, I can hear her playlist in the background meaning she must be getting ready already. "Please tell me you are. I don't wanna go alone."

"You won't be alone S, Topper will be there with you." I sigh, getting comfortable on my bed. "I really don't know if I feel up to it." I hear her shout something to Rafe before she picks up her phone again and proceeds to beg me to accompany her to yet another dumb rich kid party.

"Come on Bells, it will be fun! I promise to get you absolutely wasted so you won't remember it in the morning." I hear keys rattling and a door open, and then the sound of an engine. "Whatever your next words are gonna be, save it. I'm already on my way to help you get ready." The call ends without another second for me to protest, and before I know it Sarah Cameron waltzes through the door, letting herself into my house as if she's lived here her whole life. But I honestly didn't expect anything less.

As Sarah starts to rummage through my closet, deciding to take the role of my personal stylist tonight and always, I slowly start to forget about my visit the chateau earlier. I know how JJ felt about my lifestyle now and I knew how loyal that group was. If one of them hated me, all of them did. But why should I care? I love my kook friends, we had fun, not as much fun as I did with the pogues, but fun nonetheless, right?

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this is just a filler chapter!! i promise the next one will be much more eventful