The Ace of Spades

Chapter 5

Perhaps blatantly ignoring Jojo was the wrong way to handle this whole situation. Jojo is unrelenting and stubborn, and fuck, if she doesn't get what she wants.

Mea tries to sneak out while everyone's still eating breakfast, but Jojo has her eyes glued to Mea. Mea can hardly focus on eating without feeling self-conscious. Jojo's eyes never leave Mea, even while Jojo is conversing with Viv.

Mea tries to think of an escape route, but she can't focus. Not with Jojo's brown eyes trained to Mea's every little movement.

"So, Mea," Jojo says loudly as Mea slowly, slowly starts backing her chair from the table. "I was thinking you and I'd go into town today. I have made some friends and one of them has a younger sister. She's 15 but really nice."

Fuck.

Fuck no.

Mea's not meeting Jojo's friends. Fuck that.

She debates flying (not literally, of course) out of the room, all the way down to the beach and into the safety of the cave. The idea is good - the only one she's got, but good - except Mea is not a fast runner and Jojo is.

"Can we talk outside?" Mea asks, ignoring the stares from Viv and Toto.

"Of course," Jojo dares to take her eyes off Mea for a moment and smiles at Viv. "See you guys later. Be good, Toto!"

Mea and Jojo put their cereal bowls in the sink, wondering how on Earth they have still managed to have a communal, seven-in-the-morning breakfast for three days straight. This doesn't happen at home.

Jojo leads the way outside, then plunks down on the first step of the porch.

Mea stands in front of the door, nervous and apprehensive.

"Yes?" Jojo prompts.

Mea stays silent. What is she supposed to say? She just wanted to be away from Toto and Viv, in case a fight arises.

"Mea? Come sit beside me."

Mea obeys, leaving about a foot between her right leg and Jojo's left.

"What did you want to talk about?"

Unrelenting. Jojo is absolutely unrelenting.

"Um," Mea squints at the morning sun, "I don't want to go with you."

"No shit."

Mea rolls her eyes.

"I already made a friend."

Now Jojo rolls her eyes.

Mea likes the version of Jojo that's in her head a lot more than she like the Jojo that's sitting beside her, being some sort of strange sister-mother-friend to her.

"Mea, I know that you're - things are - it's okay that you're -" Jojo huffs. "Something is wrong with you, and I mean that in the nicest of ways. But that doesn't mean refusing to talk and making imaginary friends is the way to deal with it."

Mea scoffs, "he's not imaginary."

"Is he mute?"

"He's not a button on a TV remote."

"No, no. I mean, like, does he refuse to talk? Like you? Like Libby?"

Mea actually laughs a little at that. Refuse to talk? He's the complete opposite.

"More like refuse to shut up, yeah."

Jojo chuckles too, and the moment feels like something from 12 years ago. Something from a time where they were closer. Mea is maybe a little nostalgic.