Someone to stay || JJ Maybank

30

"When it falls apart"

"Welcome to Crackhead Wasteland", Sarah states when we arrive to a house. Or I wouldn't even call it a house, more like a box with windows and a door. I'm not judging, it's not that. We're all just trying to make it to the next day after all. Some with honest work and some by selling drugs.

"I don't know about this, man", Pope says to JJ who's driving. He hasn't said a word since we left, just stared forward at the road with his mouth set.

I haven't said a word either. I haven't been able to pay attention to anything other than JJ and his determinded expression. He's gripping the wheel so hard his knuckles are turning white, and when we arrive to the driveway of the house I'm starting to get seriously worried. I don't know how he's planning to "get revenge" in him but I'm guessing it'll be nothing good and will just dig a deeper hole for all of us.

"Dude, why are we at Barry's?" John B asks from the passenger's seat when JJ stops the car. Right, Barry, the name of the guy who sells drugs and pointed at us with a gun just like ten minutes ago.

I sit with my arms crossed over my chest, leaning to my seat more than usually as I keep my eyes on JJ, waiting for his answer.

"This'll only take a second", He just informs us before getting out of the car, slamming the door after himself. Kie rolls her eyes and I let my head fall against the seat, closing my eyes in stress. We should have our money now, money from the pawnshop. Instead we're possibly robbing a drug dealer.

"Where are you going?" John B shouts after him.

"Yo soy justicia."

I am justice? Yeah, sure.

I open my eyes to see Pope and Kie looking after JJ from the door, John B following him from the passenger's window. I can't bring myself to join them by the door. Honestly, I don't want to see what happens.

"Did you glean anything from that?" Pope asks after a while.

"You know somebody should probably-" Kie starts, but John B is already going without her needing to finish her sentence.

"Yeah, I got it", he says as he leaves the car.

I wanted to go after JJ too, I really did. Or then I just wanted to be there for him. But my stupid feelings wouldn't let me. I knew JJ wasn't himself right now and everything he was going to say was meant as a dragger. Everything he was going to say if you didn't agree with him. And I don't think anyone does.

"Why does he always have to be so- so.." Pope starts to complain but can't quite finish his sentence.

"It's not his fault, okay?" I find myself defending him, my words coming out sharper than I expected.

Kie turns to look at me with an expression mixed with worry and sympathy. I'm still sitting there with my arms crossed, probably looking like a child that's mad at her parents for not getting the toy from the store, but I wasn't in a state in where I was eager to fix it.

Pope turns his head towards me and scoffs, but doesn't say anything else, even though his mouth was already open, ready to disagree with me. He just shakes his head slightly before climbing out of the car frustrated.

"Is this how you spend a normal Friday or why are you guys so calm?" Sarah asks from next to me. I turn to look at her from the side but say nothing. Again, I wasn't in the mood.

But now that I looked at her, she did look a bit confused. Not even shaken or freaked out, just genually confused.

"It's JJ", Kie just shrugs and I'm already preparing myself to defend him again. I don't even know why anymore, there's nothing I support in his actions. Yet still I stand behind them like it was my own idea. "No one really is surprised when something like this happens."