The Summer is ours// JJ Maybank

8: How...How'd you do that?

JJ's POV:

"Dad?" I asked walking out of my room shakily closing the door behind me so he doesn't know Jo is here

"ah JJ, you are home" he said sitting down cracking open a beer "why is the sofa made up?" he asked investigating the pillows and throw still sitting on the couch

"oh um, um John B stayed over the other night, i guess I forgot to clean it up"

"oh you forgot? So my house is just a hotel for your friends?"

"no it was just one night i promise" i said nervously glancing over at the clock "dad it's 4am, where were you?'

"and where do you get off on asking me a question like that?" he snapped now standing up as i took a step back "i think you forget boy, i'm in charge of you. Not the other way round" 

"you've been gone for weeks"

"i was doing business"

"what business dad? I thought you were sacked?"

"i flew over to Mexico for a few days, deliveries"

"oh, so transporting guns and drugs" and with that was when the first hit connected with my jaw and his other hand gripped tightly round my throat throwing me back against the wall

"Now you listen here boy. I work my ass off to provide for this family and I don't need an ungrateful little shit of a son telling me how to work" he said continuing to cut off my circulation and landing a blow on my ribs and dropping me into a heap on the floor as i coughed back for air. "Now get up and go do something with your day, get out of my sight"

"dad it's 4am, i don't start work till 8" I said rubbing at my now bruising neck

"are you still talking back to me?" he said snapping his head back round in my direction

"no, no i'll uh- i'll go get ready" i replied stumbling backwards away from him

"and grab me another beer" he said falling back onto the sofa "and get this shit cleaned up" he snapped throwing the pillows at me.

I walked over and grabbed him a beer. Handing it to him he got one final right hook at me catching my lower lip before downing his beer "thats for talking back" he slurred "now fuck off out of my sight" he said and with that i darted back to my room slamming the door behind me and locking it shut not having the strength to turn around and look at Jo.

"JJ? Are you ok? That sounded bad" she asked from behind me

"i'm fine, i uh just gotta keep you hidden until he leaves" i replied still looking at the door and allowing my head to fall against it

"J, what happened" she asked with concern heavy in her voice

"Jo its fine, honestly" I replied slowly turning round to face her but keeping my head hanging down causing her to jump off my bed and walk up to me. She gently placed her hand under my chin with her thumb lightly grazing my cheek and tilted my head up causing my eyes to lock with hers, her eyes darted around my face taking in every new cut and bruise.

"shit JJ" she breathed not removing her hand from my face lightly bringing her thumb down to pass over my bottom lip "do you have a first aid kit?"

"Jo, genuinely its fine"

"JJ this needs cleaned, where is it?"

"in the bathroom, which is up the hall so it's fine" i said but she had already let go of my face and was walking towards the door, i quickly turned around grabbing her wrist and pulling her back to face me.