Storm Chaser // JJ Maybank

1

The Outer Banks, Paradise on Earth.

The place I've called home my whole life. It's the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island.

My friends and I are Pogues. Pogues, pogies, the throwaway fish. Lowest member of the food chain. There's a few downsides of Pogue life we're ignored and neglected. But the upside of Pogue life? We're ignored and neglected, which means we do whatever we want, whenever we want. My friends and I live in the cut, the southside of the island. Home of the working class who make a living busing tables, washing yachts, running charters.

Since it's summer my friends and I have one goal; to have a good time, all the time. We're hanging around doing a little trespassing at a house being built in Figure Eight. Figure Eight, the rich side of the island. Home of the Kooks. The Pogues' natural enemies.

"That's what, a three-story fall to the deck?" Pope asks. "I give you about a one-in-three chance of survival."

I look up and see John B on the roof, beer can in hand and balancing on one foot.

"Hm." John B sticks his finger in his mouth before holding it up in the wind. "Should I do it?"

"Do it!" I shout at him. "You won't."

"Yeah, you should jump." Pope holds up a drill. "I'll shoot you on the way down.

"You'll shoot me?" John B questions as he points a finger gun at Pope. "Pow."

"Yep," Pope tells him.

Kie walks out of the house. "They're gonna have Japanese toilets with towel warmers."

"Of course," I state.

"Why wouldn't they?" JJ remarks.

"This used to be a turtle habitat, but who cares about the turtles, I guess?" Kie says.

"I can't have cold towels," JJ states. I elbow him in the ribs. "Ow."

Kie looks up at John B. "Can you please not kill yourself?"

"Don't spill that beer. I'm not giving you another one," JJ warns.

As if on cue John B almost falls dropping the beer. "Oh, shit." It lands with a thud on the deck

JJ shakes his head. "Of course you did."

"Smooth, JB," I tease.

"A-plus," JJ states.

John B groans. "Nooo."

"Dumbass," Kie taunts.

"Hey, uh, security's here," Pope warns. He gestures with his hand. "Let's wrap it up."

"Boys are early today," JJ states.

"Humpty Dumpty, let's roll," Pope shouts.

"Let's go, boys," I tell them.

"Gary, is that you?" JJ taunts.

"Get down," Pope states.

"It's me. Gary, good to see you, man!" JJ shouts as he climbs down from the scaffolding before helping me do the same.

"Is it time?" John B asks, climbing down after us.

"You're asking for it," I tease JJ.

I can hear Gary shouting, "JJ!"

One after the other we all run through the unfinished house towards the steps to the garage. We all laugh and shout, not really worried about the guards. As we get to the bottom of the stairs the two security guards are already there.