Crash & Burn (OBX)

2

I was sleeping soundly on a hard sofa cuddled up until I heard the sound of the screen door open. But I was too lazy to move, it's like I felt dead. So I lay there, half passed out, not caring if a murder just walked in. Also barely remembering where the heck I am.

"Sorry to break in like this, but DCS called. They wanted me to check up on you. See how you're doing," a deep womanly voice talks loudly. There's no way she didn't see me, I'm right by the door. "So, how are you, besides the-"

"Oh, no. I'm great. Yeah, fantastic. Uh.. thanks for coming by. Mm, Selene?" John B asks after seeing me on his couch, I wave backwards at him, still not being able to move. And let out a dinosaur squeal of a hello.

"I'm so glad to hear you say that John B, but I heard a few things that worried me. Let me see if I can remember..." her voice sounds familiar I think with my eyes closed facing the back of the couch. "Oh, yeah. One of the things that I heard was that your Uncle Teddy, your guardian, hasn't been in the state for a few months."

Her voice is awfully loud. What a great thing to wake up to? It only gets better when I sit up and notice that it's the freaking sheriff. I wipe the drool from my mouth and sit up tiredly watching as John B picks up the only beer bottles that didn't fit in the trash bag.

"Yeah, that's false," John B deflects poorly.

"You don't have to say anything. I know it's true. I called the school. They said you used to be a good student and now your failing your classes," she rants. I tilt my head wondering why his grades are any of her business. Also wondering if it's a bad time to sneak out, cause this is hardly my business as well.

John B didn't even have a chance to talk anymore before she added on. "And I heard that there was a fight on the beach yesterday, and a gun was involved," she interrogated him.

I look at the blanket on my lap. This isn't going well for him.

"Ok, gun, no. Did I get in a dubstep? Yes. But was there a gun? Pft, no.. no way," he deflects again coming my way. His eyes looking confused when he sees me again, I just shrug. The sheriff also gives me a look.

"And you? You got into a fight too?" She asks me and I look confused not knowing how she could know that. And she points to her cheek for me to check mine. I must have a bruise from dumb Topper.

"Not really my fight," is all I say.

"That's ok. I know who it was. I'll get to him. All I'm worried about right now is making sure you're in a safe home."

"Yeah super safe. Super sound, sturdy," John B says with a knock against the wooden table by the door. I shake my head. That's convincing, I think sarcastically. "And, Uncle T is coming back, so.."

"Is that what he told you?" The sheriff looks annoyed now. I bite my lip, just thinking that it's good she's not here for me. My new art work has been up since last night. Should have cop eyes all over it by now. The piece is actually kind of ironic because of last nights events. "Well if he really is coming, then I think you should be allowed to stay."

"Thank you."

"But if I stick my neck out for you, you have to help me," Sheriff turns the tables making me raise my eyebrows. "Tit for tat."

"What does tat mean?"

"Let me see, how can you help me? Oh, I know. So, a body was found in the marsh yesterday. Were you in the marsh yesterday?" She digs deeper getting up in John B's face. But why would she think he's connected to a dead body, I have no idea.

"Yeah, we were fishing for some drum."

"Catch anything?"

"Nah.. we were skunked." He has a weird vocabulary. The woman didn't even believe a single word he said though.