𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 1: Paradise On Earth

The sun beamed down her face, warming her skin just right. The soft sound of waves crashing in the distance coaxed her eyes shut. These were the best days. Outside, with her best friends, comfy with her head on JJ's lap, his hands running through her hair, on the verge of falling asleep..."Gracie!" JJ exclaimed, waking her from her daze. She groaned and opened her eyes.

"What?" she grumbled, slightly annoyed. 

"Nothing, I just didn't want you to fall asleep. If John B falls off the roof I'm definitely not responsible enough to save him," he exclaimed, smirking at her annoyed expression.

"Why's he on the roof?" she asked as she rubbed the tiredness from her eyes. Sitting up, she brought a hand to her forehead, blocking the sun to stare up at her stupid friend. She failed to notice JJ's slight look of disappointment when she left his lap. 

The Pogues had been up to their regular shenanigans. Breaking into new housing developments, wandering into places they most definitely shouldn't be, the usual. How else were a bunch of broke teenagers supposed to have fun if not causing trouble?

Grace's attention was drawn down to the deck when she heard the sliding door open. "What'd you find Kie? Is the house worth investing in?"

"If you're into Japanese toilets with towel warmers," Kie answered, irritation in her tone.

"Of course they're going to. Imagine having to wipe your own ass and use a room temperature towel. The outrage! It would be barbaric!" Grace exclaimed while theatrically throwing her hand to her forehead.

"This place used to be a turtle habitat, but who cares about the turtles I guess," Kie shrugged, staring out at the calm ocean.

Grace looked up at JJ only to find him focused intently on John B. 

"You think he's gonna drop it?" he asked, gaze locked on the beer held haphazardly by his best friend.

Grace grinned. "I have faith in JB. He loves beer too much to sacrifice it."

"Ten bucks it ends up on the floor," JJ mused.

"You're on," Grace nodded while sticking out her hand for JJ to shake.

After the deal had been locked in, she turned to shout up to John B, "Please don't spill that beer. I've got money on it and I love it when JJ loses."

Just as she was about to return to her conversation with Kie her attention was drawn right back to the beer when a loud crash sounded. While trying to catch his footing John B had let the bottle slip out of his hand and onto the deck. 

"Of course. Very smooth JB, nice one," Grace chided. 

"Sorry Rae, my bad," John B replied with faux sympathy before making his way down from the roof. 

Before JJ even got a chance to gloat, Pope yelled out, "Hey! Securities here!"

JJ hopped off the scaffolding then turned and grabbed Grace's waist to help her down. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her along to the edge of the deck. "Let's wrap it up. Boys are here early today," he announced as he caught sight of the security man. 

"Awww, he must have missed us." Grace joked. 

"Too bad it's gonna be a short meeting. C'mon baby let's roll." Still holding Grace's hand, JJ dragged her throughout the house. As they rounded a corner, Gary, the security man ran towards them. "I go left, you go right." JJ instructed. 

They both broke off in opposite directions. Grace could hear JJ's teasing tone as echo through the empty house as he narrowly avoided Gary, "Not much of a hugger!"