Adore You ☼ JJ Maybank

2

[ P4L BABY ]

maya sat on her back porch, joint in hand as she watched the sunrise. she hadn't been sleeping much lately and jj was still passed out in her room.

"is that a great idea?" maya heard crystal's voice, looking back to see her sister leaning in the doorway.

"thanks for the tip," maya said, squinting her eyes at her sister for a moment before turning back around.

"are you sure you're up for this?" crystal asked, genuine concern laced in her tone.

"i don't really have a choice, crys," maya says, looking over at her sister as she sat down next to her.

crystal sighed, "i know, i—i'm bad at this, okay? but i want to be here for you. anything you need, okay?"

"i need john b and sarah back," maya said, "but you can't do that, sadly, so i guess i'll just go to school and try to act normal."

"if you need me, i'm here, i promise. i'm getting clean, i'm going to meetings. i'm trying to be better for you. be better for our parents, too."

maya sighed, "thank you."

☀︎

maya had her forehead pressed against the window of kie's car as she watched the scenery go by. the last thing she wanted to do right now was go to school, but here they were pulling into the parking lot.

upon finding a spot, they all piled out of the car. maya slung her backpack over her shoulders, looking up and seeing jj throwing his flask back.

"hey, chill out," kie said to the blonde. he rolled his eyes as he turned around, sticking his hand out in maya's direction instinctively.

she intertwined her fingers with jj's as he spoke, "if i black out, just don't remind me."

"that's not funny," kie glared at him, then turned her head to maya, "and my, you reek of weed," she said, reaching in her backpack's pocket to grab her bottle of perfume and sprayed it on maya.

"hey!" maya acted shocked, "maybe i like the smell of weed, ever thought of that?"

"yeah, i'm sure you love smelling like a skunk," pope said as he took off towards the building, the other three in tow.

before they could reach the entrance, they were quickly distracted by a memorial in front of the school. in front of a rock sat pictures of john b, flowers, and even one half of a broken surfboard was propped.

"i feel like people are staring at us." kie says, looking around at all their peers with eyes on the four best friends of the assumed deceased.

"oh, yeah." jj says, his eyes scanning the congregation of students.

"it's because they are," maya's said and stomach turned as she looked at the crowd that muttered things about them and john b., then back to the memorial. the weed and alcohol couldn't even mask the familiar despair and grief in this moment. she felt so exposed, like every person in the crowd could see right through her.

"guys, i can't be late." pope says, walking away from the memorial.

"hey, hey! we gotta stick together." kie says, rushing towards pope and sticking out her hand. he hesitated lightly before picking it up.