𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐲

IV. She's All Yours.

NEXT WAS the Chateau but when Jake arrived there, no one was home, he searched through the house and saw that it was empty. When he heard a dirt bike, he assumed it's most likely JJ as he grabs the note from the table, walking out. "Jake? Hey, where's John B?" He asked as he shut off the engine.

"Not home. But I found this note." He said and held it out to the blond boy who took it and nodded, reading the paper. "Shit. Well, Sarah called me, told me to get John B and said that Rafe is back, he mentioned the cross, so we're gonna get it back..." He then looked up at Jake, tapping his chest with the envelope that the note was written on.

"You in? Or you a bit rusty from your long break on Kook land?" He asked and Jake scrunched up his nose. "So you heard..." He asked and JJ nods before pointing. "Plus you'd never get those with your own money." He said and Jake looked down at the Ray-Ban sunglasses hanging off the pocket of his button up shirt before he looked up at JJ.

"What's the plan?" He asked and JJ grabbed the sunglasses, putting them on. "There's no difference between these and knock-offs, Jakey." He said and Jake rolls his eyes. "We're gonna swoop in, snatch the Cross up, buddy. Simple as that. Pope knows, Kie knows and well, now you too." He nods.

"Hey, real quick..." Jake says and JJ nods, taking off the sunglasses. "Yeah?" He says and the Lennox sighs. "Did something happen?" He then asked and JJ sort of froze, just staring straight at him. "No." He said rather quickly and Jake furrows his brows. "Okay..." He says and JJ just sighed. "Look, I don't know what Kie told you but--" "is it... did you guys--" "no, no, man. I'd never do that to you." The Maybank and the Lennox go back and forth, just cutting each other off with their words.

"JJ..." Jake says quietly and JJ sighed, rubbing his hands over his face before looking up at him. "Listen... on the island, you know, it was always Sarah and John B together, and Pope and Cleo together, so... she'd talk to me. At first she seemed upset, and not wanna talk about it, then she started sounding angry, a little petty even. And then she jumped to conclusions. But all I did was listen, I never said anything bad or made you look bad. But then she got kidnapped, and because of how close we got, I was worried for her, you know? She's my best friend. And I don't know, maybe she took it the wrong way?" The blond boy kind of grimaced as he said the last bit of his explanation.

"Oh..." Jake says and JJ nods. "Yeah. Oh. Um, because there might have been... a moment or something, on the boat, between us. Then Pope saw, and I told him it wasn't what it looked like, that I'd never do that to you, and he was telling me it better not be, and then it became a whole thing. And I felt guilty, and like a shit friend, especially because you're my best friend too and I always rooted for you both, like since forever ago--" "JJ." Jake cut him off and brought him into a little hug.

"It's fine. Alright?" He said then stepped back, gently patting JJ's shoulder. "If... if Kie has moved on and doesn't wanna be with me anymore, I'd be fine. Alright? So you'd have my... blessing. I guess." He said and JJ quickly shook his head. "No, no, man. I--I mean, I know I would call her hot and stuff, but she really is just a friend to me. You do know that, right?" He said and Jake just slowly nods.

"And, like, with the kidnapping too, it's something I'd do for any of you, you know? If it was Sarah, or Pope, or John B, or you." The Maybank said as he gestured around and Jake just softly nods again. "Okay, JJ." He chuckles and JJ nods. "I'll... need to talk to Kie about that, won't I?" He says and Jake just shrugs. "I mean, if you insist she's getting the wrong idea from it." He simply tells the blond.

"She is. She's all yours, man. Even if she's, like, super pissed at you." JJ laughs, adjusting Jake's button up and the Lennox just gave him a look so the boy pulls his hand away. "Sorry. Too soon." He says and Jake just shook his head. "Alright, I gotta head back, let my dad know and you'll hit me up?" He asked as he took out the keys, clicking the unlock button. "Shit. Alright, by the way, I like Kook Jake." JJ grinned, watching him walk off to the car. "It's my dad's." Jake reasoned, approaching the vehicle and getting in while JJ just nods, still grinning before he drove off.