Sweet like Strawberry / Outer banks fanfic / JJ

'No one is prettier than you'

Charlotte was sitting at the kitchen table while John B was standing next to her chair, holding the ice to his face.

'Sorry to break in like this, but DCS called. They wanted to check on you, make sure you're okay. So how are you besides the-'

She gestured to his face. 

'OH no I'm great-yeah-fantastic. uh- thanks for coming by'

'I'm so glad to hear you say that, John, but I heard a few things that worried me'.

Charlotte stayed quiet. She had learned early that when it situations like this, the less she said the better.

John B grabbed some beers from the table and brought them to the trash.

'Let me see if I can remember' the Sheriff went on 'oh yeah, one of the things I heard was that your guardian-Uncle Teddy- hasn't been in the state for three months'

She turned to Charlotte.

'And that you, having been roaming around like a free little bird with no one to care for you'

Charlotte sat up straighter.

'You don't like to talk huh' she added.

'That's false' John B lied, shaking his head.

'You don't have to say anything. I know it's true, I called the school. They said you used to be a good student and now you're failing all your classes. You however' she pointed at Charlotte 'are apparently an outstanding student. Good for you'

She picked up a joint from the table and brought it to her nose, smelling it.

'No, no' John B denied 'i'm only failing history, and that's because the dude's a dick he has it out for me'

'And I heard there was a fight on the beach yesterday. And a gun was involved'

'Okay. Gun?' he patted the woman's shoulder 'Did i get into a dust up? Yes. But a gun? no.'

'That's okay. I know who it was' she said 'I'll get to him'. 

Charlotte's heart sunk. She stood up from the chair, hoping to make a run for it and warn JJ. 

'Oh sweetie' the Sheriff stopped her 'No need to warn your boyfriend, I'll find him no matter what, you're just gonna get yourself into more trouble'.

'He's not my boyfriend' she said quietly.

'Good' the sheriff nodded 'keep it that way. All I'm worried about right now is that you guys have a safe home.'

John B scoffed.

'Yeah, super safe. Super sound, sturdy, you know what I mean.' he knocked on the shelf 'Besides, uncle t's coming back'

'Well if he's coming back then you should be allowed to stay. But if I stick out my neck for you, you have to do something for me. Tit for Tat.'

'What does Tat mean?'

'let me see how can you help me? Oh yeah. So a body was found in the marsh yesterday. Where you in the marsh yesterday?' she asked, looking at the both of them.

'Yeah, we were fishing for some drum' John B said, taking a breath in.

'You catch anything?'

'No'

'Strange. Fishing's usually good after a storm'.

'Well we got bored quickly' Charlotte jumped in.

She fiddling with her fingers under the table, hoping that the sheriff would leave them alone soon.