𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 17: Midsummers

Grace immediately made eye contact with Kie and Pope when she entered through the country club doors. Sarah was by her side holding her hand. They looked like the perfect kook family. It felt so wrong. Kie was scowling at her and Pope was confused. Grace tried to ignore their looks and broke off from the Camerons as quickly as possible to head to the stage. Sarah followed after her. 

"You're going to do great," she encouraged as Grace swung her guitar strap over her shoulder.

The whole thing felt weird. She was being buddy-buddy with Sarah again, she was with her kook family and Kie and Pope were looking at her like she'd grown another head. Grace blocked out the weirdness and made her way on stage. 

Kie's jaw dropped, "She's playing? Why didn't she tell us?" She was annoyed. Grace had spent the afternoon chatting away with Sarah, Sarah knew she was doing the gig and the Pogues were none the wiser. She felt betrayed.

Grace thought she was going to be nervous. Getting up in front of a bunch of rich folks and playing her songs was no small feat but for whatever reason the second she was on stage a feeling of calm settled over her. 

"Hey, Um...I'm Gracie and I'm going to play you a couple songs," she smiled as she spoke into the mic.

Kie and Pope watched in shock as Grace started strumming her guitar. Sarah was grinning from right in front of the stage, feeling proud of her half-sister.

"We were in the backseat..." Grace began singing. (Cornelia Street: Live  From Paris - Taylor Swift)

Kie turned to Pope, "Why the hell didn't she tell us? She went running off to Ward talking about helping JJ only to do this? I wonder if JJ even knows."

Pope just shrugged and went back to helping his dad grill. 

"And I hope I never lose you..." 

"You're seriously not bothered by this?" Kie scoffed.

"Nah. I'm happy for her," he shrugged. "Hey, have you heard from JJ?"

"No. He'll be all right. He's got the survival instincts of a cockroach."

"It's all my fault," Pope sighed.

"You didn't do this, Pope. Topper almost killed you. Remember?" Kie comforted.

The sun slowly set as Grace continued playing and Kie stuck by Pope's side. Sarah was dancing around with Wheezie, laughing happily and Topper had a sour look on his face while watching her.

"So, this is gonna be my last song, I hope you enjoy."

Sarah smiled at her and gave her an encouraging thumbs up.

"Green was the colour of the grass..." (invisible string - the long pond studio sessions - Taylor Swift)

"I keep finding glasses way down the beach. Do me a favour. Try to keep 'em corralled, will ya? I thought you were security," JJ scoffed as he walked past the security guard and into the venue.

"Time, curious time, gave me no compasses gave me signs..." JJ froze and his eyes darted towards the stage. 

His breathe hitched. There she ways sitting on a stool, plucking her guitar, eyes closed and singing like an angel. Her dress fell around her like water and her hair was the perfect amount of wavy and messy.

"And isn't it just so pretty to think all along there was some, invisible string, tying to you to me?" she sang.

JJ was starstruck. He'd never heard this song before but he recognized it. It was the song from the polaroid. She had described it in such detail he thought he could almost hear it but his imagination did it no justice. The guitar was soft and her voice was softer. It dragged you in in a way akin to magic.