Junie - JJ Maybank

12

I am so worried about JJ... he should be home by now.

I am sitting on the screen covered porch at the chateau, listening to the pouring rain and thunder.

It is late and everyone else is asleep but I can't go to sleep until JJ is home.

I am sitting with my book in my lap and a flashlight shining on it and I am covered with two blankets.

I would go inside, but Pope and Kiara are asleep in the living room and I can't go in my room in case I don't hear JJ coming, so I stay out here.

I glance up for the slightest second and see that there is someone walking towards the house. I quickly glance up again and realize it is JJ.

"Oh my god," I say as I jump off of the couch and run to him as fast as I can.

When I get to him, I jump into his arms and hug him like it is the last time I will ever seen him again.

"Hi, Junie," he mumbles to me.

When we pull away, I grin at him, "hi, Jay," I tell him then I pull him into a hug again.

When we pull away a final time, he leaves his hands on my waist and I leave mine around his neck.

"I was so scared." I tell him and he frowns.

"You shouldn't have been. You know me." He smiles.

I nod, "I know."

We stare at each other for a second then lightning cracks, lighting up the sky.

Not only does it light up the sky, but it gives me a good look at JJ's face, and I notice he has bruises and cuts all over it.

I don't even have to ask who did this to him...

"Oh my god, JJ, your face," I say as I cup his cheeks. "I'm so sorry."

He shrugs, "I'm fine."

I sigh, then everything that happens hits me and I step away from JJ. He tries to pull me back but I shove his arm off me.

"What's going on, Junie?" He asks me.

I sigh, "why'd you do it, JJ?" I ask him, "why did you take the fall for Pope?"

He stutters before finally answering, "I couldn't let Pope ruin his future when I don't even have one."

I break and start yelling, "that's not true, JJ!"

He shakes his head, "but it is, Emery, I'm barely gonna get anywhere with my family's reputation! The farthest I could've gotten is not getting arrested, but I did that!"

I feel my eyes start to water as I speak, "you need to stop thinking about yourself like that, JJ! You have so much promise and I constantly see our future and you are always doing amazing in it!" I yell at him.

I watch as a smirk sneaks onto his face and he takes a step towards me.

"You think about our future together?" He asks, the smirk being very obvious now.

Shit...

I shrug and shake my head, "I think about all of our futures, Jay," I tell him, my lying being very obvious.

JJ lets out a laugh then speaks up, "I think about our future too."

I feel my cheeks start to burn up b it I ignore it, "stop trying to change the subject, JJ."

He nods and takes another step towards me, "go ahead, Junie."

"You can't ruin your future for your friends," I am being such a hypocrite, "I care too much about you to just sit and watch you do this to yourself."

JJ steps closer and closer to me as I am speaking, and by the time I'm finished, he is so close that I have to crane my neck to look up at him.

"Are you listening to me?" I ask him.

He nods, "I'll do better for you."

I nod with him, "okay," I say to him.

I open my mouth to speak again but I stop when I feel JJ's hand on my neck, "what?" I ask.

He looks at my eyes then glances at my lips for a second, then he looks back at my eyes.

"Can I kiss you?"

What is going on...

I stutter, "w-what?"

He asks again, "can I kiss you?0 he leans in until our faces are only centimeters apart.

I glance down at JJ's lips for a long second, then I look back at his eyes.

He is waiting for me to answer so I nod and he doesn't wait to press his lips against mine.

We kiss in the rain for what feels like seconds until I get a shiver.

He pulls away slowly, "do you wanna go inside?" He asks me.

I nod and we walk into the chateau.

We walk into the living room to see that Pope is sprawled out on the couch. JJ sighs and tries to make him move, but he doesn't budge. Kiara is asleep on the chair, so he can't sleep there either.

I look at him and he slowly looks back at me.

I can't believe I am going to ask him this...

"You can sleep in my room... if you want." I tell him.

He gives me a surprised look, "are you sure?" He asks me and I nod, "okay," he says and we walk down the hall together.

JJ goes into John B's room to get a change of clothes because his are soaked. He then goes into the bathroom and I quickly change in my room.

JJ knocks on my door a few seconds later then he walks in.

We don't say anything, we just get under the covers in my bed and go to sleep, a few inches between us.

I wake up in the middle of the night, intertwines with JJ. I consider moving, but I am far too comfortable and I have never felt safer so instead I snuggle into him more.

He lets out a small groan and squeezes me tighter then I fall back asleep...