𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑, jj maybank¹ (discontinued)

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗒-𝗈𝗇𝖾

𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑    /    𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗒-𝗈𝗇𝖾
❛ i hope you guys brought your hiking
shoes. ❜

STELLA HAD NEVER been to Charleston, or really anywhere other than OBX, for that matter. She'd spent her whole life on Kildare Island and it didn't seem like that was changing. John B was lucky. Although he was chased out and presumed dead, he still got out. Stella could only imagine the stories he would have when he got back.

"Guys, I've read this thing like a thousand times. It makes no sense." Kiara says from her position crammed between Stella and Pope. "I mean, the Limbrey's own, like, half of Charleston. What do the Kook kings of Charleston know about a murder on Kildare Island?"

"Why you specifically? That's the other creepy thing." JJ voices.

"Please come alone. That's hella sus."

"I was thinkin' the same thing. I think it's because—" The truck hisses and smoke pours out from underneath the hood. "Oh, come on."

"Pull over. That's a lot of smoke, even for your dad's truck."

"Pope, I got sensitive lungs, man!" JJ coughs as he rolls the window up.

Stella coughs. "I wonder why!"

"I'm pulling over." Pope drives the car onto the grass and it rattles. The hubcap flies off the tire and the truck halts. "No, no, no, no, no." Pope opens the door to let some air in and rushes to the front.

"It's gonna blow up."

"No, it's not gonna blow up." JJ assures Kiara. "You probably unhooked the radiator, Pope."

Stella coughs as Pope pops the hood, both of them waving the smoke away. "I haven't seen this before. You knocked the whole hubcap off!" JJ applauds him. "You might want to reschedule your meeting tonight, Pope."

"Plan B?" Kiara asks. "We could, um... public transportation. We could hitchhike. We could rent bikes."

JJ peers over to take a look. "Yeah, it's the radiator."

"My dad's gonna kill me."

JJ nods. "Yeah, he might. He might."

"The world is always conspiring against us, I swear." Stella pulls out her phone and searches for car repair shops. "There's a... There's a repair shop a few miles from here. We could call and have it towed, but that probably costs a pretty penny. Unless your guys' insurance covers it, otherwise, I hope you guys brought your hiking shoes."

"Great." Pope seethes.

Hours later, they managed to get the truck towed. The sun had set and Stella was sat with her head on Kiara's shoulder in the back of a rusty, old pick up. JJ walks over to them while Pope argues with the repair man. "Middle of nowhere. Dude's in heaven right now. 'Gotta know the calibration point before you do anything with the intake valve, JJ. You do the—'"

Kiara didn't even crack a smile. He reaches and taps her leg. "Hey, you all right?"

Stella lifts her head to look at her and Kie shrugs. "My mom is so worried that I'm gonna be a Pogue that she's willing to sent me to boarding school."

"Well, I guess that's what you get for hanging out with the wrong crowd, Kie." JJ takes a swig from his flask. Stella chuckles lightly.

"I mean, I'm not gonna go." Kiara says. "It's too late anyway. I already am who I am."

JJ screws the lid back on. "Ain't all that bad. Just look at that guy over there." He points to Pope and the girls crank their heads. "He would do anything for us. That's a Pogue if I've ever seen one. Bone-deep." Kiara looks back at JJ. "That's just one man's opinion, though."

Pope looks to his friends with a tight-lipped smile as he walks into pay for the service. Kiara looks down at her hands before sliding off the truck and following him inside.

Stella sighs and leans her head back, looking up to the stars. Her eyes fight the urge to close when she hears metal rattling beside her. She sees JJ taking a seat next to her. He says nothing and hands her the flask. She cracks a smile and accepts it. "Thanks."

He nods. "You doin' okay, Stellie?"

Stella hands the metal container back to him. "I'm getting by."

JJ takes a drink from the flask and Stella leans her head on his shoulder. "Do you think he's okay?"

JJ didn't need to ask to know who she was referring to. "I know he is. He's like a damn cockroach."

Stella laughs, but it was true. Stella was convinced her brother could survive just about everything. He was like a cat with nine lives. "I really hope he's okay. Wherever the hell his is."

JJ kisses her head. "He's okay, Stella. I know he is. And we'll see him soon."

After the truck was recovered and paid for, Pope drove the group to an open field to crash for the night.

Stella was exhausted, sleeping on JJ's shoulder the whole way there. JJ didn't wake her until the truck was parked and Kiara and Pope finished spreading blankets in the back. He shooks her slightly, stirring her awake with a moan. "Come on, Stellie. Let's get to bed."

Stella groggily climbed out and into the back. Stella laid on his chest, drawing small figures on his arm while he drifted off to sleep. He let out a light snore, earning a small laugh from Stella before she kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, JJ."

Stella looks over at Kiara, seeing her lean and press a kiss to Pope's cheek. "Goodnight."

Stella smiled to herself, slumping down and curling into JJ. He shifted and his arm went around her waist loosely.