TROUBLE | JJ Maybank

008. Blinded By The Search

THE NEXT DAY, Amelia is brushing her teeth when she receives a text from Kiara.

Kiara (message) "Morning M. The boys and I were wondering if you wanted to hang out today.

Amelia (message): "Morning, Kie, of course. I'll be ready in 10!"

Amelia quickly finished brushing her teeth and got changed into a fitted grey henley and a pair of denim shorts before tying a red flannel around her waist.

"Bye guys, I love you!" Amelia declares as she runs out the door. Sarah and Wheezie breathe out a chuckle as they continue eating.

"Sarah, honey. Should I be concerned about her hanging out with those kids every day?" Ward asked

"No, Dad. It's Millie; she wouldn't do anything remotely bad," Sarah promised, vouching for her sister.

AS THE DOOR to the Twinkie slid open, she felt all eyes on her.

'Hey, M." Kiara said with a soft smile.

"Hey, Kie", Amelia replied with a soft smile that tugged at her lips.

"Morning, JB" Amelia greeted

"Morning Millie", John B smiled

"Morning, Pope" Amelia greeted as she walked towards the back of the van,

"Morning, J", Amelia greeted as she sat next to JJ.

"Morning, Princess Mellie" JJ smiled.

As John B started the engine of the Twinkie, the four pogues and Amelia settled in for their adventure.

A LITTLE WHILE into the drive, John B. broke the silence.

"I mean, it's obvious, right? A family heirloom. What better place to hide a message? He had to know it would get back to me, right?" John B asked

"Yeah, it's possible", Kiara responded.

"Definitely", Amelia concord

"It could also be possible that you're concocting wild theories to help you deal with your sad feelings," Pope bluntly responded as Kiara glanced at him.

"Pope." John B said flatly. He didn't want to believe he was in denial.

"Bro, you know how I process my sad feelings? Dank nugs and the stickiest of ickies. That's how I do it," JJ added.

"I just eat a shit ton of ice cream and do skincare" Amelia shrugged. Kiara hummed in agreement.

"I'm not concocting, okay?" John B refuted. "My dad's trying to give me a message", John B stated in confidence.

"If it helps you believe, John B," Amelia said sympathetically.

"Look, I-I don't need a therapy session, okay?" John B said, frustrated, "Look, I'm not trippin' out"

"It's okay to trip, bro, but--" JJ began.

"Look, my--my dad is missing, okay?" John B stated. His tone was as firm as his denial. "Missing", John B clarified. "You don't know what it's like to have the person closest to you vanish and then have no idea what happened. You just wake up every morning wondering"

As those words fell out of John B's mouth, Amelia felt her heart sink. Because she did know. One day, when she was five, she never saw her mother again. She didn't fully understand what happened due to how young she was. Now, she struggles to bring it up because every time someone mentions her mother, her father falters a little. It's subtle, but she notices the way his posture becomes tense, she notices the way his eyes soften ever so slightly at the mention of her name or when he's reminded of her by the decorations placed ever so gracefully throughout the house. And she notices the way he spends a little too much time in his office.