Junie - JJ Maybank

29

"How crazy is this? Tomorrow we are gonna be on a boat going to Barbados to find your dad." Sarah asks me and Kiara.

I let out a heavy sigh, "it is crazy."

Me, Sarah, and Kiara are all sitting on Sarah's bed. John B, JJ, and Pope are working their last shifts before we leave and I hate to say it but I actually can't wait.

"Do you have any doubts?" Kiara asks me.

I shrug, "I have a few," I look at them and see that they are waiting for me to tell them my doubts, so I do.

"When my dad went missing, I felt like a lost a part of me. Then when authorities presumed him dead, I believed them. I mean, the only reason I didn't sign the witness papers was because I couldn't do it without John B... and the look on his face when they told us our dad was dead was heartbreaking... I just- I don't want to see that look on John B's face if we get to Barbados and our dad isn't there."

"You just have to believe the best but not expect the best." Sarah tells me.

I nod then think about what she said, a few seconds later I speak, "Sarah, that makes no sense," I tell her as I laugh.

She shakes her head and starts to laugh, "no, it did not."

The three of us laugh for a second then my phone starts vibrating. I look at my phone and a smile comes onto my face when I see JJ's name on the screen.

"Is that JJ?" Kiara asks and when I look at her she has a smirk on her face.

I nod as I answer the call and hold it to my ear, "Hi, Jay."

"Hey Junie. I just got off work and I'm gonna head to my dads to get the keys." He tells me.

"Oh can you stop by Tanneyhill? I want to come with you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

I hear him let out a heavy sigh on the other side of the phone then he speaks, "Emery, if my dad hits me then I don't want you to have to watch." He tells me.

I feel my heart break as I speak, "he won't do that if I'm there."

"Okay, I'll be there in ten." He tells me.

We exchange I love you's then we hang up the phone and I head down to my room to get ready.

"Are you ready for this?" I ask JJ.

We are walking towards his dads house when he stops.

"What is it, Jay?" I ask him.

He stutters his words and I squeeze his hands three times then put my free hand on his cheek, "it's gonna be okay. I won't leave your side."

He sighs then leads me into his dad's house. When we get inside, I see JJ's dad asleep on the couch.

I lean towards JJ and whisper into his ear, "it can't be too hard if he's asleep."

Right as the door closes behind us, JJ's dad jumps awake.

JJ cusses under his breath and I squeeze his hand three times again.

When Luke sees us, a smile comes onto his face.

"Hey JJ, who's your friend?" He asks as he stands up.

JJ looks at me with the same face as mine, confusion.

He looks back at his dad with a smile, "dad, this is Emery, my girlfriend." He tells him.

His dad raises his eyes, "girlfriend?" JJ nods, "it's nice to meet you, Emery." He tells me as he shakes my hand. He turns back to JJ, "school out already?" He asks him.

"What?" JJ says, confused.

"Did you ditch?" Luke asks then chuckles, "it's all right, you can tell me." He tells him, glancing at me every few seconds.

JJ puts on a smile, "yeah... I hit the break, you know."

His dad laughs, "I hated school too. My boy... hey, listen hey," he says as he grabs JJ's shoulder, "I know I'm hard on you sometimes. But sometimes, I see your mother in you, and it gets me a little... tweaked, you know?"

JJ agrees with him with an uncomfortable laugh.

"You're a good boy," his dad tells him, "and I love you, son." He tells him as he pulls him into a hug.

I hear JJ sniffle as his dad hugs him and after a few seconds, JJ lets go of my hand and hugs him back.

"Love you too, dad... I'm sorry." JJ tells him.

JJ's dad falls back onto the couch, his eyes are hardly open as he speaks, "you're a good boy."

JJ has tears running down his cheeks as he waits for his dad to fall asleep then he takes the key off his dad's necklace.

"Let's go," he mutters to me as he walks out of the house.

I rush out the door behind him but he walks so fast that I have to run a little bit.

"JJ!" I slightly shout to him but he keeps walking.

I rush to get in front of him and I stop him in his tracks, "JJ, talk to me," I tell him as I cup his cheeks and wipe his tears off his face, "are you okay?"

He nods but doesn't look at me, "yeah."

I give him a look that tells him to tell me the truth.

He finally looks at me then speaks, "he was so drunk that he was nice to his kid... usually he is just drunk enough to beat him."

I feel a tear run down my cheek as I pull JJ into my arms. I give him a tight hug. I hear him choke out a cry into my shoulder as he squeezes me back.

We don't speak for a while, we just hug each other and silently cry together.

After about ten minutes, we finally pull away.

JJ lets out a breathy laugh, "it'll all be fine when we're hanging out in Barbados."

I laugh then squeeze his hand, "let's get going."

When we are walking down the sidewalk on our way to the chateau, I see Rafe walking in our direction ahead of us.

I let out a sigh when I see that he realizes that it is us.

When we get closer, I see him open his mouth and start to speak, "hey, Emery. How's it going?" He asks.

I don't try to say anything but I am caught surprised when JJ lets go of my hand and steps in front of me, blocking me from Rafe.

"Listen to me, Cameron." He tells him, "you will never get closer to Emery ever again. If I find out that you do, which I will, then I will beat your ass."

"Calm down, JJ. I was just saying hello." Rafe tells him as he walks past us.

When he crosses paths with me, he gives me a smirk.

I roll my eyes and grab JJ's hand then we continue walking to the chateau.