Crash & Burn (OBX)

3

I stopped the car and swung out with a huff, waiting for them to follow me. They slowly get out and I go inside the food place also owned by my cousin. "Hey, I was expecting you. I even made my little cuz some spare tacos!" She exclaims pointing to the bag on the counter. I smile happily and give her a quick hug. Before running up the stairs waving the other to follow behind me and they hesitantly did. The stairs lead to a hallway and then to the roof. Which is my little hideout for my things that I don't want to keep at home.

"Alright here it is," I spin around to face them all and gesture to the little hut I made on the top of the roof. They look skeptical, but go inside the little hut, but it's made of wood beams and a huge tarp. The inside decorated by lights and chairs, a little table and my drawings of course.

I waited. One of them will figure it out I think.

"No... no..." Pope lets out the words not telling anybody why. I laugh at his mouth dropping and his eyes getting wide and landing on me.

Then Kiara, "This is yours?"

Then finally JJ puts the pieces together with his signature smart ass look. "Your that graffiti artist. The only art up in town worth looking at."

"Wow, that's a bold statement," I tell him and he shrugs. Love the compliments of course. My cheeks are burning, but I would never admit that.

"Ha, then your the one who spray painted that one comic with the cops," Pope exclaims. I narrow my eyes at him making him resign himself. How is that the one piece he remembers?

"They pissed me off. Another story for another time. Anyway, we should go. I don't like being up here in the day too much. The cops are freaking nosy," I comment and lead them back to the car, but definitely not forgetting the tacos.

"Can you drive? I'm done with it," I ask John B, feeling lazy, and his eyes brighten up like a child on Christmas. I laugh and toss the keys to him. He all but runs to the car. Before I could get in JJ stops me by the shoulder.

"Hey, you aren't still mad at me are you?" He asks as if it matters how I feel towards him. I scan both of his pretty blue eyes.

"It depends. Are you always a jerk or is it just when you're drunk," I ask unimpressed with his behavior. His jaw tenses making me purse my lips and move to walk away.

But I stop when I see Pope in the front seat. Guess it doesn't matter that it's my car. Then Kiara already on the side seat, meaning...

This is so awkward. A whole 15 minutes of JJ making comments and side eyeing me. John B takes a terrible turn causing me to slide into him quickly and my hands go out on accident one of them lands on his bare bicep. I look at him and he looks down at me. He has this face he does, when he's feeling flirty and I couldn't deny the butterflies that flitter around when he gives me that look. Nonetheless, I basically ran out of the car once it stops at John B's house.

"You guys want tacos?" I ask them holding up the bag. They all nod quickly and I laugh. Kiara helps me get everyone plates and stuff and then we all sit at the shack by his house eating tacos.

John B comes out of the shack looking serious as I stuff my face with food. Kiara playing the bongos and the other two seem to be thinking far too much. Although Pope is reading a book, which I find entertaining for some reason. "Look, I'm calling it off. All right," he comes out and says. I have no idea what he's talking about. "Peterkin said if I stay out of the marsh, she'll help me with DCS."

Oh. I wasn't that deep in their mission, so I hardly care if they do investigate anymore. But staying away from foster care is a good thing, so....

"And you believed her?"