𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 7: Loyalty

The Pogues sat around in silence waiting anxiously for John B to pop back up.

"My baby's go the bends," Grace sang quietly, "We don't have any real friends."

"Can you stop?" JJ asked, annoyed.

"Seriously JJ, what the hell is your problem?" Grace was pissed at this point. He'd been being short with her all afternoon and she had enough.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe that you're hanging around Figure Eight right after your sister's boyfriend tried to drown John B?" JJ started as he stood up and approached her. "Do you have any loyalty whatsoever?"

"You're a dumbass," Grace replied, getting up and standing basically chest to chest with him. "You know I don't like going to Tanny Hill," she shoved a finger into his chest. "Just because you're so caught up with yourself doesn't mean other people don't have their own fucking issues," Grace practically shouted.

"Please enlighten me Cameron. What issues do you have? Your dad pays for everything." JJ replied angrily.

"Fuck. You." She replied. "I can't believe-"

"Guys, I hate to interrupt but the cops are here," Kie said, glad for an excuse to stop their argument.

"You gotta be kidding me," JJ sighed as he moved away from Grace. "Yep that's the police."

"Nice observation, asshole," Grace cut in.

He ignored her, "Just act normal."

The police boat pulled up to the HMS and JJ tied their boats together.

"How you kids doing? You know the marsh is closed?" Shoupe asked.

"I didn't know that. Why...why's it closed?" Kie asked trying to sound as shocked as possible.

"We're conducting a search. Boat went down." Shoupe explained.

"That's terrible." Grace commented.

"Seen anything?" Shoupe questioned.

"No. No boats." JJ replied as he moved to stand next to Grace.

"Where's your friend you always hang out with? He here?" Shoupe asked suspiciously.

"Working." Kie answered, simply.

Grace was starting to get nervous. Either John B was going to run out of oxygen or he was going to pop up out of the water and blow their cover. She began to twiddle with her fingers and pick at her nails nervously.

"Hm," Shoupe commented while looking down at her hands. "I'm gonna check your little boat out."

JJ looked over at Grace and grabbed her hand, stilling her nervous movements. "Yeah for sure. Hop aboard," JJ replied nonchalantly. 

Shoupe held up a life jacket, "You got another one of these?" Pope went and grabbed the other one from the hold, "Yep, right here."

Shoupe moved to the bow of the boat and stared down into the water. Grace looked up at JJ fear  covering her face. He looked back at her equally as concerned.

"All righty," Shoupe spoke, making his way back onto his boat. 

Still holding Grace's hand, JJ commented, "Nice day."

"Sure is. Let us know if you see anything on your way out," Shoupe said while starting up his boat.

"For sure. We'll be gone soon, sir," JJ replied.

"Yes you will."

The second the police boat sped off, Grace dropped JJ's hand and the Pogues ran to the side of the boat.