strawberry scented surf wax | obx

s e v e n

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𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫

"No service — no power." I hear John B groan from the couch across from me. He groggily stands up, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he throws his phone onto the couch. It bounces off a pillow and lands on the wooden floors with a soft thud.

JJ stirs from beside me, nuzzling his head further into my chest. I place my hand into his hair, tangling my fingers in the soft strands. I lift my head, watching as JB flicks the loungeroom light switch. He does it about three times before groaning once again.

"Wanna flick the switch again, dick?" I joke, yawning. "The power isn't going to magically turn back on."

The boy turns around, giving me a dirty look. He lifts his hand to the switch again and flicks it back and forth many times, making me let out a laugh. "Shut up, smartass." he mumbles, walking towards the window.

He examines the damage from the hurricane last night. The beach is a mess, driftwood and trash being the only thing covering the sand. He places his hands on his hips, turning around and slapping JJ on the back. "Yo, wake up." he demands.

JJ groans and tightens the arm he has around me. "I got polio, bro. I can't walk." he mutters, sleep still evident in his voice.

I chuckle and sit up, making the boy groan once again. He turns away and hugs the pillow next to him at my absence. I stand from the couch and slowly walk to the kitchen, filling a glass of water from the sink. I internally groan at the amount of food scraps left on the counter from our little sleepover last night — adding it to my mental list of things to get done today.

I turn and lean on the the edge of the kitchen bench, looking at the rushed writing now covering the whiteboard left on the fridge. 'We both had to run home. Love you guys - Kie & Pope.'

"Kie and Pope left this morning?" I ask the boys.

"Yeah, super early, too. They woke me up at like 6." John B shrugs as JJ literally rolls off the couch, standing up with a loud yawn. "Said something about needing to go home to help their parents."

"Sounds 'bout right," JJ mutters. "When are they not helping them?"

The front door bursts open, making the three of us flinch at the sudden loud noise. Dad walks in rather angrily, running a hand through his messy hair. "Bloody hell." he curses.

"Everything alright, Mr Amor?" JJ asks, furrowing his eyebrows at the man.

"No," Dad sighs. "We have so many trees down, it's blocking the road to the shack — no entrance, no customers... and the beach is a complete mess."

"Agatha did some work, huh?" JJ responds, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. "We'll come down and help clear it up."

"A hand would be lovely." Dad looks at us, giving us a grateful smile. "That's if you don't mind?"

"No, not at all." John B waves him off. "We'll come down now."

* * *

After a good hour or so of helping Dad clear the road and tidy the beach, the three of us climbed into the Twinkie and made our way to the Chateau.