everything about you •• jj maybank

twenty eight

"Do you always have to be this damn annoying, dude? I swear- it's like you're a little annoying bug in my ear that I just can't shake," I huffed, walking down the dirt path, kicking rocks in front of me.

"You know, I really do try my hardest. I'm glad you noticed," JJ grinned, making me roll my eyes bump his side with my elbow. "Seriously though, I just want to know how it went. You guys talk about me? You tell them I rocked your world-"

"Dude!" I cut him off with a gasp, and his eyebrows lifted, his hands shooting up in defense. "No, we didn't talk about that! Freak. I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"Whatever. I think you're bluffing, though. There's no way the three of you didn't work it out.  I can see it on your face. You look... kinda glowy. Happier. I don't know."

My head turned to his and I watched his eyes softly scanning my features, a small smile settling onto his lips as he did so. He caught my eyes, not breaking his gaze and nodded once.

"Super glowy," he confirmed quietly.

My cheeks burned at his words and I cleared my throat, quickly looking forward and picking up my pace.

"It's sweat, JJ."

He snorted behind me and I pushed a big breath out of my mouth, blowing the hairs in front of my face in every direction. JJ was right. The three of us girls had worked it out, and the night ended with us all laughing together like no time had even passed. Apologies were made, hugs were very intensely exchanged; it was incredibly healing and long overdue to say the least.

However, I wasn't exactly keen on admitting to JJ that he was right, and that his plan worked.

"All I'm gonna say, JJ, is the blunt definitely helped the situation," I added softly, turning and winking at him.

His face scrunched up into a grin and he nodded, clearly proud of himself.

"I knew it would. I'm telling you, that hydroponic never misses."

I giggled at the boy and huffed slightly, feeling extremely tired on the walk through the Cut. After getting hardly any sleep, and now walking miles in the sweltering heat, it wasn't going over well with me.

"JJ, will you carry me on your back?" I whined, grabbing my hair and pulling it up and out of my face. "It's too hot out here."

He was quick to kiss his teeth and shake his head, "In your dreams."

I sighed softly after securing my hair with a small hair tie I had on my wrist. "You're no fun."

"What are we doing anyway? Where are we going?"

I shrugged softly and slowed down, letting him walk by my side again. Every now and then his fingers would brush against my skin as we trekked forward, and I liked the feeling.

"I was just gonna go home and chill before tonight."

I turned to see his brows pushed together, giving me a look of disappointment.

"Jo, you know you're really good at a lot of things. And being extremely boring is one of them."

My eyes quickly rolled in my head and I sighed softly, putting my hands in my pockets.

"You have better idea?"

JJ's face was turned back up into a grin before I could even finish my sentence, that familiar look of eagerness spread across his face.

"Do you even have to ask? Of course I have a better idea."

***

I swim back up for air, coughing as soon as I pop up, my hair covering every inch of my face. All I can hear is JJ's laughter from his board a few feet away. Once I move my hair from my eyes, I'm quick to send him a glare.