The Deep End » Outer Banks [JJ Maybank] BOOK ONE

XX: Adrift

adrift
adj. afloat and unattached in any way to the shore or seabed, but not underway; when referring to a vessel, it implies that the vessel is not under control and therefore goes where the wind and current take her.

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Lee curled up on the floor next to her bed, her back against the door to her room. Arms wrapped around her knees, Lee squeezed her eyes shut and began to slow her breaths. After what must have been several minutes, her mother shouted, "I'm going over to the Morgans', but we aren't done talking about this!"

Lee exhaled, her breath hitching in her throat as she did, a sob threatening to crack through. She stood up when there was a knock at the front door, followed by a shouted, "Lee? Hey, Carter, you home?"

Recognizing JJ's voice, Lee opened her door and slowly walked downstairs. She threw open the door to see JJ standing before her, covered in dust from head-to-toe and with a facial expression that she'd never seen him wear before.

"What's up?" JJ asked, his shoulders relaxing as he saw her. That was all it took for Lee's sobs to be released from her throat. In milliseconds, JJ had his arms wrapped around her and he was backing her into the house, shutting the door behind them and then following her to the ground as her legs gave out from under her.

Lee let her head fall against JJ's sternum as she cried, her hands curling into fists against his chest. He slowly brought his legs up on either side of her, creating a barrier between her and the rest of the world for a moment. "Lee, what's wrong?" he tentatively asked as her crying slowed and her sobs turned to heaving breaths.

Lee couldn't answer, electing to merely shake her head as she pulled away from his embrace. "It's just my mom. I'll be okay," she finally replied, though her shuddering breaths gave her away. "Where are John B and them?"

JJ clenched his jaw, causing Lee to furrow her eyebrows, and replied, "The Chateau, I assume. We kind of had a fight."

"A fight?" Lee questioned.

JJ shrugged. "I'll tell you later. Can I just crash here for a little? I don't really want to talk to them but I don't really want to go home, either."

Lee nodded. He didn't even have to ask if he could, and she was sure that he knew it. There was no question with them, no hesitation. Soon, JJ was taking a quick shower as Lee rummaged in the kitchen for something to eat. Just as Lee heard the water to the shower come on, there was another knock at the door. Lee rolled her eyes. John B, she thought to herself. Of course they'd look for JJ here. Where else would he go?

"John B," she said as she opened the front door, "I don't really think JJ wants to talk to you right now—"

She cut herself off as her mouth fell open in shock at the man standing before her, a shotgun tucked neatly under his arm. "Barry—"

"Your friend here? Little blonde asshole that beat me up and stole ten grand from me?"

"I—"

"You kids never learn your fucking lesson, do you?" Barry exclaimed, taking a threatening step towards Lee and forcing her to back into her home. "You don't fuck with me, is that clear?"

Lee stuttered, frozen as her worst fear stared her down from her front porch with ice cold eyes; melting as past transgressions burned like a demon touching holy water. "I don't know what you're talking about—"

"Bullshit!" Barry shouted, causing Lee to take another frightened step backwards. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt like it might take off in flight. "Where's your friend, huh? That Maybank kid with the piece of shit father?"