𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 58: Jimmy Portis

"Guys! Wake the hell up!" 

Grace's eyes fluttered open at Cleo's voice. She shoved her head into JJ's shoulder while groaning in annoyance. She could feel JJ grin against the crown of her head.

JJ went rigid before gently moving her off of his chest and sitting up, making Grace groan once more. "Oh shit. Gracie, Grace, get up." 

Grace forced her eyes open at his tone and immediately followed his line of sight.

A plane.

There was a plane circling overhead. They could get rescued. 

Grace pulled herself up and made her way to stand next to JJ, both of their eyes glued to the plane. 

"What if it's him?" she whispered so only he could hear. JJ peeled his eyes away from the sky to look down at her. The rest of their friends were busy shouting and waving their arms as JJ examined her face. It held nothing but fear.

JJ didn't know what to say. He couldn't lie and tell her it wasn't. He had no idea whether or not that was true. He couldn't tell her everything would be okay. He also had no idea whether or not that was true. He felt utterly useless.

On top of that, he could feel his own stomach sinking. They were going to go back to the OBX. Away from their escape and back into reality. A reality where Grace had a stepdad and a missing murderous father. A reality that had school and responsibilities. And most jarringly, a reality where he and Grace wouldn't be able to spend every minute of everyday fishing, laughing, and surfing and every night in each other's arms.

JJ grabbed her hand and held it tightly in his while looking back to the sky. He didn't have an answer. He didn't even know if she wanted an answer. The only thing he could do was squeeze her hand tighter to comfort her and himself.

"He sees us. Guys, guys, he sees us," Kie spoke, eyes tracing the plane's movements.

"He's gonna go to the pond," John B announced. "Come on. Come on!"

Grace and JJ stayed where they were for a moment, watching Kie, Sarah and John B hurry down the beach.

"We need to go with them," Grace broke their silence.

JJ nodded while biting his lip. "Yeah. I know."

He dropped her hand and followed after her friends, Grace on his tail.

They made it to the pond on top of one of the hills to see a float plane perched in the middle. Grace and JJ paused. 

"This won't change when we get back, right?" JJ asked. Grace could tell he was trying to hide it, but a hint of insecurity broke through in his tone.

"Not if we don't let it," Grace answered simply.

JJ nodded before intertwining his fingers with hers and making their way towards the plane.

The stairs dropped down and a man with a ponytail and sunglasses stepped out. "Hey there."

Cleo and Pope cheered happily while John B greeted the man.

"Hey! We're getting out of here. We're finally getting out of here." Pope ran forward and shook one of John B's shoulder in his excitement. 

"Well, what do we got here?" the man spoke.

Grace's grip subconsciously tightened on JJ's hand.

"Uh.. You know, just some castaways," John B answered.

Grace's eyes darted towards her sister who wore a similar look of unease. With one last squeeze of JJ's hand, she made her way to Sarah's side and wrapped an arm over her shoulders. She knew Sarah was wondering the exact same thing she was: could they really trust this man?