all i ever wanted|| JJ Maybank

The Beginning of a Long Summer

John B stood at the edge of a rooftop, with one foot firmly planted and the other leg was raised for balance. His arms were stretched wide, giving him a sense of freedom, as if he was about to take flight. He savored the refreshing sip of beer from the can he held in his hand. The taste danced on his tongue, while the wind softly ruffled his hair.

The movement of the waves and ever-changing hues of the water drew his eyes. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was a constant background melody, punctuated by the occasional call of seagulls and rustling of the breeze through nearby palm trees. It was a picture-perfect view that would have captivated anyone who wasn't preoccupied with calculating the distance of the fall.

"That's what? a three-story fall to the deck?" Pope queried the boy, feeling the warm rays of the sun hitting his face. Holding an electric drill in a relaxed manner, he added, mocking him further with a small laugh, "I give you about a... one-in-three chance of survival."

Brielle and JJ were sitting shoulder to shoulder on a wooden platform that was elevated off the deck. Their legs dangled over the edge, swaying gently in unison as they gazed out at the endless expanse of water before them. The metal bars creaked slightly under the weight of their arms, which hung loosely over the edge. Each held a can of beer, the chilled surface beaded with droplets of condensation that left their palms damp.

"It's not looking good for you Johnny boy," she joked, earning herself a death glare from the boy who was further demonstrating his death.

John B furrowed his eyebrows as he considered the situation. He tilted his head and ran his tongue along the length of his index finger, before holding it up to gauge the direction of the wind. Satisfied, he turned back to Pope and challenged, "Should I do it?"

With a smirk lifting at the corner of his lips, he replied, "Yeah, you should jump."

"Yeah?"

Pope pointed the drill at the boy. "I'll shoot you on the way down."

"You're going to shoot me?" John B questioned before mimicking a gun with his fingers.

Bri put the can to her lips, her eyes narrowing as she tilted her head back and let out a satisfied sigh after taking a sip. "Please finish him," she drawled, slurring her words. She was already on her 5th beer of the day. JJ looked over giving her a concerning glance.

Despite the potential hazards of hanging out at a construction site, John B and his crew frequented the place daily. As long as the spot was unoccupied, they were not bothered. Moreover, they liked to scope out the newly built fancy houses and dreamed of having one someday.

JJ quickly turned away from Brielle to gaze enviously at the opulent mansions dotting the coastline like diamonds on a necklace. "I could totally see myself living in one of those bad boys," he sighed, turning to Bri with a dreamy look in his eyes. "Imagine waking up in a house so big, you need a map to find the fridge."

The girl sitting next to him couldn't resist indulging in the daydream. She closed her eyes, imagining herself lounging on a plush couch in a massive living room, sipping champagne while overlooking the ocean view. The thought of having multiple bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom and a balcony, made her heart flutter with excitement. But then reality slapped her in the face like a wet fish.

"Let's be real, JJ. We're two broke-ass fools with champagne dreams and a Kool-Aid budget," she muttered.

He laughed, a hint of rebellion in his tone. "Don't be such a buzzkill. We could always win the lottery or stumble upon a suitcase full of cash or something."

Bri rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile at the boy's optimism. "I suppose anything is possible," she conceded.

"You never know, maybe one day we'll each have our own gigantic house, or... we could always consider moving in together," he proposed, wagging his eyebrows.