Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

13

The five of us filled out of the Twinkie and stood in front of the gate. All of us staring up at the lighthouse as I gave a brief sigh.

"Tight staircase, my claustrophobia says no." I voice up my concern as I took a step back.

"Okay," John B looked at me with a nod. "Right. You and JJ are gonna post up and look out for bogeys, okay?"

"Wait... why me? I get Xena, but me?"

"Because you're not coming?" Pope pipped up.

"Why?" He turned to Pope who was ready to defend his reasoning.

"Look, there are independent and dependent variables. You're an independent variable-"

"Shut up, shut up." JJ pointed a finger in Pope's face as he continued.

"We don't know what you'll do." Pope finished his thought as John B butted in.

"Just, listen to me for a second. Pope, you stand look out with JJ and T, okay? If we split up, we meet back at T's house."

"Great." Kie was ready to go and get this over with.

"Don't worry, I've got it handled here. You two just try not to fall and die."

"Yes, mom." Kie taunted as they took off.

"I'm gonna work on my merit scholarship essay and I'm trying to keep felonies to a minimum."

"Nerd." I coughed getting my revenge, a smirk on my lips as Pope rolled his eyes.

"All right, would you just shut up already?" JJ pulled out his hacky sack ball and started playing with it.

"He didn't say anything." I pointed out to JJ.

"I know, I meant to say it faster, I just didn't." Pope and I sent each other a look as JJ continued to kick the hacky sack around.

I walked over to the back of the Twinkie, climbing up and sitting on the top. It was peaceful. For the first five minutes.

Pope and JJ were playing with the hacky sack together and I was taking a short nap when we heard the sirens.

"Oh, shit! Wake your ass up, Xena!" JJ called as he jumped up and hung onto the railing. His scream and the sirens woke me up plenty and I rolled off the opposite side of the Twinkie and slid into the driver seat from the window. The boys diving in as I started her up and took off.

"Well. I hope they remember how to get back." I spoke as I tore down the road. The large Volkswagen kicking up dirt as we separated from the lighthouse.

We waited for the rest of the day. Pope eventually had to get back to his dad's shop. And JJ needed to get back to the Cut. So I sent them both with the keys to the Twinkie and a text to John B letting him know that the Twinkie was back at his place.

It was radio silent for the rest of the day. My version of productivity included cleaning up my room and helping with the back yard. Our house wasn't picked apart by Agatha just a few limbs and trash here or there. We had most of it taken care of the morning after but the larger limbs we kept and made a plan to cut them into firewood. Which is exactly what Gray and I did once he got off his shift.

"So, Xena. How's tutoring with Ward's youngest?" I rose an eyebrow but answered anyway.

"She's been good. She's honestly a smart kid, she just struggles with grasping concepts." He nodded as he swung the axe down. The wood splitting in two.

"And his oldest? What's the deal with him?" I set the split wood into our rack calling over my shoulder.

"Rafe? What about him?" The thunk of axe hitting wood came again.

"Just curious to know if anything was going on." I shook my head as I went back over to grab the pieces he had just cut.

"Nothing has changed. He's still a prick with asshole tendencies and aggressive behaviors."

"But he made you dinner last night." The wood hit the pile with a hard clatter as I turned searching Gray for his motive.

"I don't think you and I are on the same page. Sure what he did yesterday was kind, but then he turned it into a way to warn me and threaten my friends." Gray stayed quiet as I picked up two more pieces. "Rafe's the guy with two faces hiding his real one, it makes it to the point no one knows what he actually looks like."

"Whoa. That was deep." I snorted as Gray set up another log to cut.

"He's got daddy issues and cocaine problems. A therapist would need a therapist." I added moving the last stack of logs closer. "But why are we taking about Rafe. Did Ward say something?"

"Yes. No. I- uh, no. I was just curious." I narrow my eyes at his state of panic. His own eyes behind me looking at the house. I followed his line of sight to see my mother duck away from the kitchen glass door.

"Right." I stepped forward and lowered my voice so my mother couldn't hear. "If you two are planning anything, save yourself the trouble. I don't like Rafe. Never have, never will. I will always choose my friends over him."

Gray's panic faded as he gave me a small smile.

"As it should be. Friends become family if you choose to let them." I grinned poking his side at how deep his sentence was.

"And sometimes they become family if you let them." I winked tapping my left ring finger. Gray gasped and narrowed his eyes at me.

"You twerp." I shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm good with waiting, but in case you needed it- I approve." I whispered the last part in case my Ma was still eavesdropping.

"Thank you, Xena. That means a lot."

"Anytime, Gray." My phone started ringing in my back pocket. "However, it appears I'm needed elsewhere. If you'll excuse me."

He shooed me away with his hands and got back to chopping the logs. My eyes catching my mother's as she drooled.

"Hey, what's going on Kie?" I asked as I answered the phone going inside the house.

"John B thinks he's on to something. Again."

"Oh, it's getting dark. Do I need to come meet y'all?"

"WE'RE OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE, WIFEY!" I yanked the phone from my ear as JJ yelled.

"Okay, okay, give me two minutes." I laughed as I hung up my eyes turning to see my mom.

"Hey, Gray may want some company. I won't be back home tonight. I'll sleep out." Her eyes widened as she looked over at me.

"I feel back to normal Ma. Also you've got drool on your cheek."

I left her frantically wiping her face as I exited the front door. The Twinkie open as JJ and Pope ushered me forth.

"Let's go, T!" John B shouted over Kie who stuck her head out the passenger window.

"Burning daylight." Kie added tapping the side of the Twinkie as I jogged down to the street.

Once I jumped in, JJ closed the side door as I sank onto the floor between him and Pope.

"Alright, so where we going?"

"Um..." I narrowed my eyes as they all went silent. "We're going to the cemetery."

"WHAT!"