𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞 || jj 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

008

I GET AWAKENED BY THE SOUND OF waves crashing onto one another, creating a calming melody as I keep my droopy and tired eyes trained on the wooden ceiling above.

To my surprise, I managed to fall asleep shortly after JJ left the room last night, but not without the struggle of pushing my thoughts about being a killer aside in order to shut my eyes.

I feel so guilty for even trying to pull the trigger that it's eating me alive. I don't want to feel guilty, though— not when Rafe has been pushing and throwing me around for the past year. I still do, however, because the intent to shoot him was a monstrous one, and that isn't excusable.

I drag my hands down my face with a frustrated groan, not looking forward to getting out of bed and facing reality— the harsh reality of having to live with myself after trying to kill someone.

I manage to plant my feet onto the hardwood floor below, which is a start. "Just get up, Marley." I urge, pushing myself up and shuffling over to the dresser tucked away in the corner. I pull the drawers open, grabbing an outfit that belongs to Kie, which I'm assuming she left the last time she stayed over.

Hastily, I change, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a granola bar before making my way outside and over to Kie, Pope, and JJ— no Sarah or John B. Weird.

"Morning." I hollowly greet, the thought of the three teenagers seeing me in such a state last night plaguing my mind, consuming my thoughts within a split second.

This is going to be a long day.

"Rise and shine, Marley." JJ raises his brows, taking a swig of his beer. "The earth was awaiting your arrival." His words are meant to be light, but I only raise my brows, forcing a weak smile.

I don't mean to be rude to the blonde, but the thought of the earth awaiting me doesn't sound so true— not when I just tried to take someone off of this earth. No matter what Rafe did to me during our relationship, it doesn't give me a reason to try and kill him.

"Good morning, Marley." Kie smiles as I tear my gaze away from a confused JJ, who can clearly see right through my fake smile.

I take a bite off of the granola bar, walking over to Kie, who's sitting in the bucket that's connected to the pulley system. "So... this is what's supposed to hold two people?" I ask, skepticism riddling my features, which I'm sure are puffy from all of the crying I did last night.

Pope only nods, glancing at me briefly. "Don't knock it till you try it." His words make me let out a genuine laugh, my immature mind immediately interpreting his words as a funny and dirty comment.

"Oh I'll knock it alright..." I joke, to which JJ snorts and Kie sends me a playful glare.

"Anyway," Pope clears his throat, taking a few steps towards me. "We're going to get the gold once John B gets back from some fishing thingy with Ward." His words cause my brows to snap together. John B's been crazy about the gold,— which I don't blame him for, since it has everything to do with his dad— so I'm surprised he would write it off to go kill fish with none other than Ward Cameron.

"Why would he brush off five hundred mil to go kill some fish?" I ask nobody in particular, finishing the rest of my granola bar as I shake my head in bewilderment.

"Exactly what I said." Kie points her finger at me, a nod following suit.

Pope walks over to the pulley contraption, lowering Kie down. "I got my scholarship interview tomorrow morning. We gotta get this done." Slight urgency is underlying his statement, which I only nod in response to.