Junie - JJ Maybank

21

"Uh oh!" Pope yells to us.

"You run out of gas or something?" John B shouts.

"You need a tow?" JJ shouts after him.

Me, Kiara, and Sarah are all sitting on the edge of the boat. We watch as the boys get closer and closer on Heyward's boat.

Kiara turns to us, "don't give them the satisfaction of thinking this worked."

I shake my head and Sarah speaks, "absolutely not."

I look over when I hear JJ talking to us again, "you gotta admit it was funny."

I roll my eyes, "John B."

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Mastermind, huh?" I say to him.

He shrugs, "I'm always planning."

Kiara rolls her eyes as she gets up, "some patriarchal bullshit."

"Yeah, that sucked." Sarah says as she gets up as well.

"You still love us though, right?" JJ asks as he grabs one of the gas cans and climbs onto the HMS.

"Yeah, whatever." I tell him.

Sarah and Kiara both climb onto Heyward's boat. I stand up and stretch my legs but don't get onto the other boat.

"Hey, you still hate me?" John B asks Sarah.

"A little. We're all gonna get you back when you least expect it."

"Watch your back, boys." Kiara tells them.

I agree with them as Pope speaks, "I welcome that challenge."

"Me too." JJ says as he walks back from filling up the gas.

Pope looks at all of us, "so, did you guys... you know..."

"Reconcile our differences?" Kiara asks him.

I look at Sarah and she shakes her head, "mm-mm."

"Not even close." I tell them.

"But we're... willing to hang out together." Sarah tells them.

I turn around when I feel a hand on my back. I see JJ and he has his signature smirk on his face.

I turn around to face him and smack his arm, "don't ever do that again."

He lets out a small squeal then puts his hands up, "I was only doing what I had to... I couldn't just let you and Kie not be best friends."

I don't say anything. I just stare at him for a second until he speaks again, "I promise you I won't do it again."

I can't help the smile that slides onto my face. I step on my tiptoes and peck his lips then turn around when John B starts trying to get our attention.

"Do you guys want anyone to ride back with you?" Pope asks us.

I shrug and JJ speaks, "no," he tells them as he steps behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

He slides his hands into my hoodie pocket and rests his chin on the top of my head. "I wanna spend some time alone with my girlfriend."

Hearing him call me his girlfriend sends butterflies to my stomach. I look at my best friends and see them all looking at each other with surprised faces.

Kiara is the first to speak, "when did that happen?" She asks us.

I slide my hands on top of JJ's in my hoodie pocket and shrug, "last week."