Dying Summer | JJ Maybank

(12)

It's the morning after they discovered the lost gold. Val had just gotten back to the chateau that morning since he had to show his face at home. Kiara and Sarah are laughing at Pope's bad diagram of the well, JJ is looking for a torch and Pope, Val and John B are talking about how to get the rest of the gold out of its hiding spot.

"Run me through the plan one more time?" John B asks, leaning against a tree.

Val gestures to the object in front of him as he explains him and Pope's plan, "So we get this boat winch out, bring it down to the basement, drill it to the floor and we can lower you down and get as much gold as we can." Val wipes his hands off with a rag, "And, uh, this time, we just won't drop you."

John B gives a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes, "That would be great."

Val watches JJ walk out of the house and over to the van with a butane torch. Val looks at John B, "What the hell is he planning to do with that."

John B looks up from the winch in front of him and chuckles when he sees what JJ's carrying, "I think him and Kie are going to melt down the gold."

Val sighs, "Oh great."

He watches Kiara follow JJ towards the shed and set up a portable burner. He decides to walk over when he sees JJ playing with the fire.

"Hey, might want to save fuel for the melting?"

"Possibly, but why stop when I can look hella cool bending flames?" JJ asks, lifting his eyebrow up and smirking. JJ cuts the heat and walks closer to Val, waving the torch in his direction, "You know what I think V?"

Val smirks and walks closer, crossing his arms, "Do tell."

"I think you think it's hot," Val scoffs at the blond's words, "And I don't think that you–"

"Hey! We doin' this thing or what?" Kiara shouts, putting a pair of safety glasses on her face.

JJ grinds his jaw, "Comin', we'll finish this later." He winks at him, turns and walks over to Kiara, whistling a tune, and turns back on the torch, playing with the fire.

Everyone gathers to watch Kiara start melting the gold. She keeps the heat on for about 10 minutes until the torch runs out of gas, leaving a big chunk of gold for JJ to pawn off.

"Hey at least we got the symbol off." Pope says, trying to stay on the brightside.

They pile into the van and start their way to the pawn shop downtown.

Once John B puts the van in park JJ gets out and starts complaining to Kiara, "Hell of a job melting it down, Dr. Frankenstein."

"Like you could've done better." She answers as everyone else gets out of the twinkie.

"I could've done much better, I took a welding class."

"Bro, when–"

John B gets in the middle of them before they start actually arguing in public, "Hey, chill out okay?"

JJ looks over at him, "Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to pawn this piece of shit off." Kiara rolls her eyes. "How did I get this job anyway?"

Val answers from next to Sarah, "Cause you're the best lair."

JJ scoffs and heads into the shop, while the group slightly trails behind him.

Val walks into the store and immediately becomes interested in all the knicknacks on the shelfs, only slightly paying attention to what JJ is saying to the lady working behind the cash register.