Adore You // JJ Maybank

Part 3.1

~Big John's Message~

Shaye pulled out an envelope with the words 'For Bird' on the front. She handed it to John B and proceeded to climb through with JJ's help. "That's not gold" Pope said, disappointed.

"Woah" John B muttered "This is from my dad"

Shaye looked up to him and smiled, she didn't want to let herself hope on anything. But Big John always called JB bird. Maybe he really was trying to tell them something.

"Code red. Code red. Square groupers! Square groupers!" JJ yelled

"Go!" they all yelled and ran to hide behind the huge grave. Shaye grabbed JJ's hand as they turned off the flashlights. He ran his thumb across her knuckles to calm her down as he looked over at them.

"Homies got a gun!" JJ yelled squeezing her hand

"Screw this" Kie said and ran for it.

Shaye wasted no time in following after her, pulling JJ along. They ran until they reached a fence and JJ boosted her over before he hopped over himself. She almost reached the van when Pope yelled, "Guys, I'm stuck"

"Pope, come on" JJ complained, then got out his gun.

Shaye put her hand on top and pushed it down. "What do you think that's gonna do?"

JJ just shrugged back smiling. Kie continued to help him down "You're gonna rip me!" Pope yelled.

Pope then fell of the fence, but his pants did not. Shaye choke a laugh as they ran to the van. "It's a little tootsie roll" JJ made fun as she hit his arm, laughing.

Hopping in, John B sped off to his house as Shaye leaned against JJ's side. They seemed to be back to normal, which she was very thankful for.

Back at John B's, Shaye was sat at the table staring at the envelope in front of them. Her mind was going in a million different places. But most of all she was missing Big John.

Looking up, she saw JJ spreading Peanut Butter on a moldy piece of bread. "That bread had mold on it three days ago." Pope said holding a lantern and bringing it to the table.

"I'll just pull off the bad parts" JJ shrugged "Plus mold is good for you. It's just a natural organism"

"JJ" Kie called him over as they all sat down.

"Hot dang! Let's do it" JJ responded walking up behind Shaye and putting his hand on her shoulder to help keep her steady. She sent him a grateful smile as John B opened the envelope.

Then, because JJ is an idiot, he spit out the bread he was eating in disgust. She just rolled her eyes smirking at him. John B pulled out a paper as everyone peer over to look at it. "A map?" Shaye questioned, trying to control her nerves.

"Now way" He muttered back

"X. Marks the spot" Pope said pointing to the X on the map.

They continued to look at it until John b checked for anything else. He pulled out a tape recorder and looked to Shaye. She let out a shaky breathe as he hit play.

"Dear Bird, and Shaye if she's with you. Which she probably is" Big John's voice laughed from the tape recorder.

"Who's bird?" JJ asked quietly, looking at Shaye.

"That's what my dad called me" John B answered. Shaye thought there were gonna be imprints in her hands from how hard she was digging her nails into them.

"I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so" Big John continued. "And you doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid. I didn't expect to find the Merchant either. You were probably right to call me out. I wasn't exactly father of the decade. What can I say kid? I could smell the barn. And hopefully we're listening to this in our brand new sugar shack down in Costa Rica, livin' off  passive investments and pulling on permits. If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map's for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If something happens to me, finish what I started. Go for the gold ,kid. I love you Bird, even if I didn't always act like it. Oh, and if Shaye isn't with you, tell her that I've always loved her as my own. And I can't wait for more talks with her, but hopefully it's with something better than cheap coffee. I'll see you both on the other side" He finished as the recording ended.

John B stared at it for a second before getting up and going to the door sobbing. Shaye wasted no time in running over to him, tears of her own pouring down her face. She let out a choked sob as she wrapped her arms around his back. He turned towards her fully and hugged her back.  They both sank to their knees and cried into each other's arms. She missed him so much. All the grief she was holding back rose to the surface as they held each other.

"How much was it again?" JJ asked skipping rocks as they sat by the dock. Shaye hadn't spoken once since everything happened and JJ didn't ask her to, he just stuck by her side, holding her hand reassuringly.

"400 mil" Pope answered

"Alright, let's talk the split." JJ said turning to them all. "Now before we say evenly, may I remind you that I am the only one that can properly defend us from the square groupers who were after us. Protection not cheap, Okay?" He finished waving the gun.

"You haven't even trained. You've done zero training" Pope said

"Youtube bro"

Shaye tuned out the rest of the conversation as she looked out on the water. It was like she was back at John B's house nine months ago as the police told them Big John went missing. Her heart physically ached at the memory of that day.

"What are you gonna do with your money Shaye?" Pope's voice interrupted her thoughts as she looked at all of them.

"Give it to charity." She answered instantly, "They need it more than I ever have" JJ squeezed her hand at that, smiling to her.

They talked a bit more before she stood up and said "Hey guys, I gotta head home or my mom will call my dad to come beat me up."

Everyone nodded and smiled at her. "I'll walk you to your car" JJ said

She nodded, forcing a smile to her face as she headed up the dock. The walk was mostly silent until the group was out of earshot. JJ wasted no time in spinning her around and pulling her into his arms.

Shaye relaxed into him and let out a sob she didn't know she was holding in. "I got you love" He whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair.

Continuing to cry, she grabbed his shirt. "I miss him so much, J" She sobbed

Her knees started to give out but he was there to hold her up. "I know. I know" he answered squeezing her tighter.

They stood there for a while as Shaye calmed her breathing.  She looked up at him sniffling. "I think I got tears on your shirt"

"That's alright" He answered "I'll say I fell in a puddle or something"

She smiled back at him, the warmness in her chest returning. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked

"See you tomorrow" He winked at her as she got into her car.

JJ sighed as he walked back to the group. His heart broke seeing Shaye hurt so much. But he would be there for her. He would always be there for Shaye.

No matter what.