TROUBLE | JJ Maybank

029. With or Without You.

AMELIA WAKES UP slowly, the quiet morning light streaming through the window. Her eyes immediately find JJ lying beside her. Her breath hitches as she sees him, the events from last night flooding back—confusion, worry, and something deeper. Last night remains a blur of emotions, but the quiet of the morning allows her to wonder what it all means—what they mean.

JJ shifts slightly, his eyes fluttering open, the bright sunlight hitting his face. For a moment, he forgets where he is, his brow furrowing in confusion. But then his gaze lands on Amelia, and his face softens slightly, recognition washing over him.

"Morning, Mils," JJ says, his voice groggy and hoarse from sleep, but a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Morning, J," Amelia replies, offering a warm smile, but there's a hesitation in her eyes, a quiet concern that lingers beneath the surface.

She hesitates, her fingers brushing the edge of the blanket, trying to find the right words to address last night. The tension hangs between them, thick and uncertain. "J, last night—"

"Don't, Mils," JJ interrupts, his voice sharper than intended. He twists his body carefully, maneuvering over Amelia. His movements are slow and deliberate, his hands braced against the mattress to avoid collapsing on her. He looks away from her, his jaw tightening as he tries to avoid meeting her eyes.

"We have to talk about it, J—" Amelia begins, her voice steady, but there's a softness in it, a plea for understanding.

"No, we don't, Mils," JJ mutters, his words a mix of frustration and fatigue. He runs a hand through his hair, his gaze flickering away from her as if he's trying to put distance between them. "I just... I can't."

"You were drunk and hurt. J. Luke—" Amelia begins, but her voice falters when she sees the way JJ tenses.

"Amelia," JJ interrupts, his tone sharper this time, a flicker of something defensive in his eyes. He turns his body away slightly, crossing his arms over his chest as if shielding himself. "Leave it alone. It's over."

"No, it's not," Amelia says, her tone firm as she tosses the blanket off her, standing up with almost mechanical precision. "You tried to do the right thing, and your dad, he—"

Amelia's voice trails off, unable to finish her sentence as she runs a hand through her hair. She pulls in a shaky breath. "It's not okay," she says, her tone soft, vulnerable.

"I didn't want you to see me like that, Mils," JJ says, his eyes finally meeting hers, but there's an ache in his gaze, a rawness to it. His voice cracks slightly as if he's struggling to hold himself together.

Amelia's gaze softens, and she steps forward, her movements deliberate, reaching out for him. Her hand brushes his, then closes around his. "I wanted to be there for you... because you matter to me," she says, her voice steady but full of sincerity.

"Last night..." JJ begins, his gaze flickering to her, a vulnerable look crossing his face as he tries to find the words. "You helped me. Mils, you didn't have to do that."

"Don't you get it? You matter to me, JJ. More than you'll ever understand," she adds, her voice firm yet caring. There's a quiet intensity in her eyes like she's trying to make him understand something he's refusing to see.

JJ stares at her, confusion mixing with something deeper—regret, maybe. His lips part, but no words come out immediately. He's fighting it, fighting the truth of her words.

Amelia steps closer, her voice quiet but filled with a certain urgency, like she's trying to break through the walls he's put up. "J, what is it?"

He exhales slowly, his gaze heavy on her. His brow furrows as he shifts his weight as if the words are physically painful to speak. "Something almost happened between us."