everything about you •• jj maybank

forty five

"What are we doing at the police station, John B?" JJ had questioned from beside me.

He had strangely decided to cram beside me in the back of the car, even though the front seat beside Kiara was open. I didn't care to oppose.

"Somebody's gotta tell them what happened," John B spoke back, his voice still breaking slightly from all the screaming and crying he had been doing. He was a mess, to put it lightly.

After assessing that John B was okay. Physically, at least, he was able to explain to us everything that happened on the tarmac. Sheriff Peterkin had been killed. It was her blood that had been stained on John B's hands and clothes. The gunshot, the sound of her hitting the ground, and the copious amounts of blood that had exited her body were what hid behind John B's now lifeless eyes. He was traumatized, and after hearing the story, even I was sure I would never be the same.

Finding out Rafe was the person responsible, had caused a different reaction, though. For some reason, guilt was the first emotion I had felt. From my fingers to my toes, guilt crashed over me, and I wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the fact that I had considered him a friend for so long, when I shouldn't have.

Or the fact that maybe there was something I could have done to help him, to prevent it from happening.

Deep down, I knew it wasn't true. Rafe was sick. For a long time, he had been sick, and there was nothing I could do to help him, or hell, change him into who I wanted him to be. I grew up with Rafe, spent most of my childhood with him. I knew who he was.

That must have been why I wasn't shocked when John B named him as the murderer.

The car came to a stop, followed by the engine cutting off, and the only thing you could hear was the sound of Pope coughing up a lung in front of us.

He had been smoking a joint that JJ had given him, and only him. Nobody else wanted to take a hit, all of us collectively worried about other things. Pope didn't offer anyways.

"Pope, at least cover your mouth or something, jeez," I groaned, turning my head to look out the window.

JJ shuffled beside me, inhaling deeply before resting one hand on John B's shoulder, "Alright. I'm just gonna be real with you right now. You may end up in the lion's den. But you don't get there on purpose." I gave him a quick side-eye, not quite understanding what he was getting at.

"It's fundamental. Just like my old man always told me. You should never ever trust cops, no matter what the circumstance is."

Kiara scoffed, turning back to the four of us, "Your old man's an abusive liar."

"Literally. And where has that gotten him, JJ?" I added glumly, causing his face to drop and his eyebrows to furrow.

Another cough sounded from Pope, "I agree with JJ. Fuck the police."

I stifled my laughter, not because he was wrong, but because of how ridiculous this all sounded.

"You goin' to the dark side now?" Kiara questioned him, clearly annoyed.

"When have the cops ever done anything for us?"

"Peterkin looked out for me!" John B snapped, his anger and frustration taking over for a moment. With a shaky breath, his head dropped, a realization coming to mind. "Tried to. At least. They need to know."

An uncomfortable silence filled the car. We all knew he was right. Peterkin was more than respected around Kildare. She was loved. She did a lot for the community, for John B. If anyone was going to avenge her, tell the story straight, it needed to be John B.

Nothing else was said before he got out of the car. I watched him slowly make his way into the police station.

He had been here many times over the course of the summer. Getting reeled in wasn't exactly something new for him. But nobody could have guessed the next time he would be here, would be to report a murder.

I didn't realize it at first, but I guess I had been crying. A teardrop had fallen from my eye, straight onto the skin of my thigh. The cold and wet drop caught my attention, and I quickly felt under my eyes, confirming my suspicions. Tears were slowly flowing from my eyes, and though no sobs were coming out, I couldn't stop them.

My small sniffles must have caught JJ's attention, because I felt him slide closer to me, the feeling of his gaze on me undeniable. I turned to meet the now soft expression on his face.

"You okay?" he wondered softly, his blue eyes searching mine.

It took me a minute to respond, as I couldn't get over the way he was looking at me.

"I'm fine."

JJ was quick to roll his eyes, his head falling against the side of the car, "Don't give me that bullshit. None of us are fine. What's Josie thinking about?"

It felt stupid. To be upset while all of this was happening to John B felt stupid. I would more than likely be fine. But someone from our community was dead, and someone I knew was the killer. Would Sarah be okay? Was she safe? John B would be traumatized for the rest of his life over this.

"I don't know," I sighed, my hands running through my hair, "I'm worried. For John B. For Sarah. For you guys. I don't know."

I almost gasped when his hand found mine, and he rubbed the top of my hand with his thumb, soothingly. I looked down, making sure this wasn't my imagination. His hand was on top of mine; a gesture so small and delicate, but made my heart swell.

In the midst of all the chaos - what was happening with John B but also everything that happened between JJ and I- he was attempting to comfort me.

"I'm worried too. If it makes you feel any better," he shrugged lightly, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. I gave him a weak smile, wanting more than ever to fall over and let his arms wrap around me.

The moment was cut short when John B's screams could be heard from outside of the car.

"Turn the car on, Kie!" he screeched, the tone of his voice alone sending goosebumps down my spine.

"What did you do?"

"Holy shit, go, go, go!"

"Go, Kiara!"

"Turn the car on!"

Pope pulled his friend into the car, the door slamming behind him as Kiara scrambled in the front seat.

"Turn the damn car on, Kie!" I shouted, sitting up, reaching over the seat to inspect John B. "What happened?"

His eyes followed the shadows outside the door, the car finally revving up and jolting forward.

"The cops!"

My eyes widened at the sight of two officers chasing us down. Officer Plum's hands were on the door, her small frame rushing beside us.

"Open the door!" Pope ordered, and John B quickly forced his door open, pushing Plum backwards and away from the car.

Our chests heaved up and down as Kiara pressed on the gas. Eyes wide and hearts racing, everyone shared looks of disbelief and confusion.

John B began to explain what happened, his voice shaking as he spoke. I looked down, shocked to see JJ's hand was still holding mine.