Perfect Storm | JJ Maybank [3]

thirteen

JJ AND JOHN B sat on the screened-in porch of the chateau, staring out at the yard. They retreated back to their small fortress after the events that occurred last night, trying their best to get some rest before they figured out how in the world they were getting to South America.

The bell in the yard caught John B's eye. Old and rusted, slightly crooked on its pole that was dug into the dirt all those years ago, but still standing strong. All those months he spent resenting his father for obsessing over treasure. Now he just wanted the man alive. He sighed, looking away and trying to think of something else.

"So," John B finally spoke, "what's up between you and Jo?"

JJ's eyes widened and he cleared his throat awkwardly. Of all the things he and John B talked about, they very rarely discussed his relationship with Jo. His mind began to spin, immediately thinking the worst. She's said something to him. Was she angry? Did she want to walk away? As much as it pained him, he wouldn't blame her. No one in his life had ever stayed.

"I'm sensing a little overprotective brother mode, okay, so just please don't pound me," JJ said nervously.

John B couldn't help but laugh lightly. "Only a little hit — if you deserve it."

"I was a dick," JJ sighed. "I'll admit it, alright? I was on edge with everything going on and I knew you and Jo were hiding something about your dad. She finally came clean, and I got mad at her."

"Ah." John B hummed. "Yeah. Don't worry. It happens."

JJ quirked a brow. "You're... surprisingly calm."

The boy grinned over at him from his chair. "You'll work it out. Just like I told Jo."

This caught JJ's attention. "She wants to work it out?"

"Of course," John B scoffed. "You guys are just being stubborn assholes at this point."

JJ shrugged. "Yeah, you got me there." There was a beat of silence before JJ spoke up again. "But she thinks there's something going on between me and Kie."

The thought made his stomach turn. He loved Kie like a sister, but no one compared to Jo. She was his whole universe. Nothing made sense without her. The fact that she thought they were sneaking around behind her back or that he'd ever cheat on her made his heart hurt.

"To be fair, you were acting kinda shady," John B sighed. "But so were we, so." He shrugged. "I told her you'd never do that. But hey, we got trust issues."

It was sometimes forgotten that the three of them were so similar. That was why JJ and Jo worked so well. They understood each other in an intimately personal way, a way no one else could. They knew each other's pain like it was their own because it was.

But that was also why they butted heads.

"Yeah." JJ smiled a little at the thought. It was comforting to know they'd been through a lot of the same things; to know he wasn't alone.