Princess & the Player

four: her first ride on his bike

Maggie's POV:

Queenie pulled me into the bathroom as I dodged around the corner. "Here," she thrust a small pile at me. 

"Thanks," I gratefully pulled on a pair of cotton granny panties that looked like they'd never been worn. Then some yoga pants, a sports bra and a thin Marley t-shirt that was too loose so I knotted it at my hip. 

I used her toothpaste on my finger and some facial scrub and deodorant.   I found a pocket comb in one of her drawers and did the best I could - which meant it looked like a nest. Screw it. I twisted it up in a rubber band. 

They were talking about the police investigation when I stepped back out. 

"What is it?" All three were looking at me. I patted my hair, wondering how spiked it looked.

"Shay gave you up as being there," JJ bit his lip. "They want to speak to you."

"But I'm fine." I couldn't help being afraid they'd get Jeb and Laurie because of my stupid mistake.

"I get it," JJ acknowledged, finally believing me, I guess. "But this is not about you."

"Look," Marco lifted his hands to stop us. "No offense here but I really don't want anything to do with this."

"Sorry," I flushed. "Thanks for saving me last night. I'll just keep you out of it..."

"Oh, hells no! Listen pretty boy," Queenie stood up. "You're in it. She's gonna tell the whole truth about what happened once she got to that party, that's the only way this goes down."

"But..."

"Queenie's right," JJ added. "This is a criminal investigation. You two did nothing wrong but if you lie or hide anything at this point, you'll be making yourselves targets. Just tell it like it was."

"What about Dorf?" I wondered. 

"Dorf will take care of himself. He knew what he was getting into."

"Nothing but truth," Queenie nodded. "This is long overdue, actually. I know at least 4 or 5 chicks who wish he'd never been born."

"Oh," the weight of that was sudden. Marco stared out the window like he was making a decision. 

"Maggie," JJ grabbed my shoulders. "This has nothing to do with Jeb and Laurie. I'm sure they're home with Ma and doing just fine."

"Oh yeah, definitely," I rolled my eyes. JJ was always clueless. 

"This is just about last night," Queenie added. "Whatever is happening with your father -"

"Step-father," I corrected her.

"Right. Well, these guys don't give a shit. Believe me. Just stay on topic and just the facts. I'm the daughter and granddaughter of cops and I guarantee you that if you don't go there - they don't care. They will be all about this situation; there's gonna be publicity from all over and it's gonna be a massive nightmare." 

I hadn't even thought about any of that. 

Marco shot me a strange look. "I gotta call into work, first. I'll see you down there." He marched out of Queenie's place like a guy possessed. 

Queenie pointed a bag on the table, "He found your shoes in his bathroom. And a necklace in his tub." 

I looked down at the fragile St Christopher's medal that had been my father's. It was one of the few things I had left of him and I'd carelessly forgotten it. Those drugs had been no joke. 

JJ walked me down to the other dorm and we talked first to a campus cop and then to two townie cops. He said he was my brother and I agreed for once because he's 21 and a medical student and I did not want them dragging Mom in as my 'guardian'. 

It took almost 4 hours before they had a statement for us to sign - while they were at it, they got JJ to swear he'd been nowhere near the place. I declined a medical exam. They didn't like it and brought a female officer in to pressure me. I think they thought JJ would be embarrassed or outraged for me and help.

"I'm a medical student," he shrugged. No uptight dude vibes in JJ, that was true. "If my sister says she's still a virgin then, frankly, I believe her. She has the right to say no to anyone, including you."

In the end, I let the technician take my blood. We were finally exiting the Campus Safety when we bumped right into Marco. He was leaning against a battered old Kawasaki and holding two helmets.

"You never made it into work," I squinted at the sky, the whole day was gone. 

"No. Your drugged up choice of dorm rooms cost me a full night of tips." He didn't sound SO angry. Just medium-aggravated. "And I gotta talk with you."

"Then talk," JJ stood right behind me .

"Alone," Marco offered me a helmet.

"Maggie, no," JJ shook his head.

But I wanted to go with him. Inside my chest, a rabbit was bouncing around with excitement at the idea. Not that I would admit it out loud. 

Trying to seem super-casual, I strapped on the helmet and swung myself on the seat behind Marco. "Check on Jeb and Laurie? And find your father!" I shouted to JJ over the motorcycle's revving. 

Marco reached behind and pulled my hands around his waist. With a jaunty salute to JJ, we were off. 

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a/n: So now they are actually together by choice, for the first time!!!!
I keep combing back for plot inconsistencies, grammar problems, misspellings, run-on sentences and dangling modifiers. Writing live and all original is new to me and it's like leaving the house knowing you're forgetting something but not exactly what!!! -bella