everything about you •• jj maybank

eighteen

JJ Maybank

"Come on, JJ. We've got to get out of here," Kiara spoke, grabbing my shoulder and pulling me towards her and Pope.

I shrugged her hand off of me and picked my backpack up off of the ground, glancing at the fire that was burning beside me.

"So we're just gonna let Josie go with them?" I questioned, watching as Topper lifted her into the Jeep and onto Rafe's lap. I shook my head, spitting on the ground while I stared at them.

How could we let her go with them as if Rafe wasn't the reason she was in pain? Like he didn't throw her to the ground minutes ago.

"We have to go, Josie will be okay," she assured me, grabbing my hand again and dragging me away from the mess we created.

The Jeep revved off into the distance and I cursed under my breath as I followed Kiara.

"Did you see her? Did you see how hard she hit her head on the ground? She fucking puked everywhere, and we're just gonna let those guys take her home?"

I kicked a rock across the road, not bothering to look either of them in the eye as I spoke.

"JJ, I know this is going to sound crazy, but she's going to be fine going home. You have to trust me on this one."

"Did you see the way he threw her-"

The next thing I knew, Kiara was stopping me in my tracks, her hands on both of my shoulders. She stared deeply into my eyes and took in a big breath before speaking.

"Yes, JJ. I saw it, and I'm worried about her too. But she's going to be fine. If I thought otherwise,  I would be freaking out too."

I stared blankly at her for a few moments, trying to wrap my head around her words. If I was to trust anyone, it was Kie.

But all I wanted to do in that moment was turn around and run after them.

I just felt like I had to make sure she was okay.

"JJ, trust me, okay?"

She shook my shoulders slightly with her hands and I nod my head once, walking backwards slowly. Her grip on me released and I chewed on my bottom lip as we trekked on.

The rest of the walk was silent; the only noise being the sound of our feet hitting the concrete simultaneously. The silence was comfortable, but it felt like there was so much that needed to be said.

Kiara had set the projector screen on fire; consequently ruining everyone else's night, but completely saving ours. It was funny how things worked like that. I almost laughed audibly as I kept replaying the moment in my head. Immediately, feeling the warmth of the fire igniting, and the way Kelce's grip loosened within seconds. I felt like I could finally breathe again.

I remembered how my heart dropped when I saw Rafe throw Josie to the ground. I felt helpless watching her in pain, knowing there was nothing I could do.

I fought hard to get to her, but the harder I pulled, the tighter Kelce's grip became; the harder Rafe hit.

I knew that when I woke up in the morning, I would find bruises scattered all over my body.

What would happen to Josie when she woke up?

By the way her head hit the ground, I didn't doubt that she was concussed. I heard her skull smack the grass, and I winced at the memory.

She was just trying to help.

"God, I'm such a fucking idiot," I mutter to myself, spitting on the ground.