Dying Summer | JJ Maybank

(15)

They stayed at the wreck for the night, hiding out and watching the sunrise the next morning, thinking about how to clear John B's name.

Val groans as he sits up from his cot, rubbing the back of this neck. He walks out towards the deck and sees JJ out by the screen door. JJ has one hand on his hip and an arm resting high on the door frame, looking out to the harbor. Val comess up behind him and stands next to him.

"It's beautiful today." Val says, morning rasp still somewhat present, he crosses his arms over his chest.

"Mhm." JJ responds, causing Val to look over at the boy with a furrowed brow. JJ has an unreliable expression covering his features as he continues to stare out at the boats.

"I would ask what's got you quiet but I'm sure I already know." Val says, leaning against the other door frame, looking at the blond.

JJ shakes his head, "He's pinched for sure V." He snaps a lighter by his side repeatedly.

"No." Val simply states, grabbing JJ's hand and continuing, "They wouldn't still be patrolling if they caught him, J, you know that."

"Let's hope." He replies, Val steps back from the blond as Kiara and Pope join them.

"You know, we were in that car." Kiara says, "They are probably looking for us too."

Val shakes his head, "Well." He crosses his arms over his chest, "If we are going to be outlaws, we might as well help out Johnny." He smirks as he watches the tension leave JJ's face.

"You know he hates it when you call him that." JJ smirks and adjusts his ball cap as he speaks.

"Of course I know." Val starts walking towards the duffle bag and grabbing the keys, "It's why I do it." He hands them to Pope saying, "Get gas for the boat."

Pope nods and starts walking off, Kiara wishes him good luck as places his hand on the door, looking back at them, "Meet me at the dock at three. Don't be late alright?" JJ mock salutes him and the door slams behind him. JJ and Val exchange a look and Kiara follows him out. They find themselves leaning on the porch railing watching the scene unfold.

Val and JJ cringe as Kiara tries to talk to Pope while he revs the engine of the bike. "Oh shit." The blond mutters as she looks back with frustrated tears in her eyes.

The attention is drawn away from her as the sound of a helicopter is heard. "Who the hell is that?" JJ says as they watch it sore closer and closer to the ground until its out of sight.

"SBI." Val mutters as he reads the side of the helicopter. He runs a hand through his hair. "Oh shit..." He mutters again.

JJ looks at him, "What? Val what is that? What?" He asks.

Val looks him in the eyes, by now Kiara has raced up the stairs and is looking at him with the same level of concern.

"This shit just got real." He sighs.

***

They are gathering food from the kitchen for John B's trip when JJ tries and fails to lighten the mood by asking Kiara, "You sure he wasn't just being regular weird Pope?"

Val scoffs and elbows the blond getting a shrug as Kiara answers with a weird tone, "It wasn't really the thing that needed interpretation." She adds burger buns to the box, "Is this going to be enough food for them?"