the slums || jj maybank

four. paradise on earth

four. paradise on earth

John B had shown the girl the extra room he currently had (due to both his father and his uncle being missing in action) and the bathroom. Skye had decided on the shower she was so desperately craving. She brought her drawstring bag with her, peeling her socks off as soon as she entered. Skye utilized a bit more of the toiletries she had taken from the hotel after her one night stay.

 She was slightly disappointed she wouldn't be able to wash her work shirt until the next day, but it was probably the least of her worries. A dirty shirt was very low on the list of priorities.

After she showered, she changed into the same shorts and t-shirt she had worn for a few hours the night before. She also wore a sports bra and a new pair of underwear. Once she was cleaned up, she went to rejoin John B in the living room. Instead, the front door was swung open, held by a small stool. The rain had subsided.

Skye decided to go join the boy on his porch, her bare feet dancing across the wooden ground. The rain had left behind a slightly lit sky, the sun peeking through the light gray clouds. He was sitting in a plastic chair, his feet propped up.

She sat in another chair, watching the lake this boy was focused on. He didn't even turn his attention to her. "Thank you, John B, seriously." Skye wanted to express her gratitude for the boy. The boy acted like it was nothing at all.

John B nodded, "It's really not a big deal. Besides, it's been too quiet since my uncle left." He turned his face in her direction, flashing a quick smile. The sun was just beginning to set on the lake.

"Well, I really do I appreciate it," Skye tacked on. She assumed the more she expressed her gratitude for the boy's consideration, the more he would understand how much it meant to her.

The SUV belonging to Kiara then pulled up, the wet dirt crumbling under the tires. Three individuals emerging from it after a few brief moments. Two boys emerged, both with baseball caps worn backward. Kiara emerged additionally, a duffle bag in her hand.

While the boys walked across the lawn and up the porch directly to John B, Kiara headed to Skye instead. The girl had the same outfit on as earlier, only her shoes were now sandals.

"These are some old clothes that don't fit me anymore, I figured they'd fit you," Kiara explained. Skye was visibly a bit smaller than Kiara both in height and size. Kiara kept her tone low; Skye seemed like a difficult person to get to learn. She did not want to blow the chances of forming a relationship with the girl by telling too much to the masculine parties within the group. Skye automatically refused. "Kie, I can't take those-"

Kiara shook her head, pushing the bag in the direction of the girl. "Seriously, they were gonna get donated. Better you get some use out of them."

"Thank you," Skye honestly stated, as Kiara handed her the bag. She felt guilty taking it; she felt guilty taking anything from anyone. Additionally, Skye had never worn a hand-me-down in her entire life. But she supposed she was not in the same situation as she once was. She grabbed the black bag Kiara was shoving in her direction from the girl, setting it down on a dry spot on the porch (it had been protected from the roof during the rain).

"And there's another work shirt in there," Kiara explained. "John B like never has laundry detergent so I figured you wouldn't be able to wash yours." Apparently, this was common knowledge among the friend group; John B was always out of laundry detergent.

Skye was becoming more fond of this thoughtful girl; she seemed genuinely kind. While Skye wasn't completely sure of her intentions, she wasn't going to go on the defense quite yet. "Thank you," Skye said yet again.