𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 - JJ Maybank

Chapter 108: Family Mission

The Pogues were up bright and early, ready to continue on their endless hunt. They were all slightly antsy; everyone just wanted to get a move on and get it over with.

"You feeling it too?" JJ asked, noticing John B's twiddling fingers.

"Yeah," John B answered before the question was even fully asked.

JJ nodded while tossing a couple of crowbars into the back of the Twinkie. "I am, that's for sure. All right, you ready?"

John B didn't even hear the question, and if he had, he chose to ignore it in favour of staring at Sarah with a wide, beaming grin as she made her way towards him in a billowy, short, white dress. When she looked down at her feet shyly and suppressed a giggle, John B couldn't help but think that she looked like a princess.

"Let's make this quick," said JJ as he slung an arm over Grace's shoulders. The girls had been inside helping Sarah get ready for... well, it wasn't the grave robbing, that was for sure. "All right? gotta keep my head down."

John B was drawn towards Sarah like velcro. "Hey. We're gonna get out of your hair, actually. Give you guys some space."

The couple linked hands and strolled casually past the van.

JJ looked mortally wounded. "What?"

Sarah shrugged. "Yeah. You know, it's your dad. And it's your mom's grave. You should do this with him."

JJ narrowed his eyes. "So y'all are just bailing right now?"

"No, not bailing. We're just multitasking," corrected John B as he and Sarah continued their trek away from the group.

"Running some errands. We'll be right back! We have something to do!" Sarah called over her shoulder before the lovers were out of sight.

JJ unfurled his arm from around Grace to shout after them. "An errand, right now? Are you kidding me, guys? We could save Poguelandia if we could just read-"

Grace looked to Kie while suppressing a grin. The curly-haired girl was wearing a near-identical expression.

"JJ, don't worry about it. You guys are gonna go with your dad. John B and Sarah are gonna run their errand. And I'm gonna stay here, get us packed up. We gotta get out of here," explained Kie, trying to stop JJ from interrupting Sarah and John B's impromptu wedding.

"Just not the right time to be splitting up," JJ grumbled while slamming the trunk shut.

"Hey, we're not all splitting up, I'll stick with you." Grace patted him on the cheek teasingly.

"JJ!" Groff called, marching towards the trio.

Kie couldn't hide her grimace. While being makeshift bridesmaids for Sarah that morning, Kie and Grace had confided in each other about their disdain for the Kook. She had been tying up the blonde's hair while Kie painted Sarah's nails when Grace couldn't hold it in anymore. Kie had been quick to hop on board the Groff hate train, agreeing that they had to keep an eye and an ear out.

"JJ, I know he's your dad. Just be careful," said Kie, wanting to ensure that two of her best friends made it back in one piece.

JJ's jaw ticked at the word "dad." It was so subtle that Grace only barely noticed it out of the corner of her eye. 

"If he tries anything, I'll just steal the little lens thing for myself."

Kie nodded, looking back and forth between the couple. "And stick together, yeah? Safer in numbers and all that."

Grace mock saluted. "Aye aye, captain." Although the response was sarcastic, Kie knew she was being serious. Just as they had discussed that morning, Groff couldn't be trusted, not yet at least. He had to prove that he was safe, and right now they had no reason to believe that he was.