𝚂𝙾𝙱𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚃𝚈 𝚆𝙾𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷 𝙺𝙸𝙳𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙳𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴 ,, j. b routledge

4I i know what you're thinking and the secrets that you keep

Gossip (Sleeping With Sirens)

"I know what you're thinking and the secrets that you keep"

Kie and I showed up at John B's just after four, true to my word. JJ was already there, smoking a Juul, like expected.

JJ was a perpetual stoner, mild kleptomaniac and one of my best friends in the entire outer banks. He was doing deliveries with Pope the day we were moving in. I caught him looking at my ass when I was helping my mom move boxes out of the UHaul trailer. In his defence, those shorts were too small. Did I mention that he also taught me how to surf? JJ was my closest confidante, and gig buddy. The number of concerts we conned our way into was the stuff of legends. The very first was Beartooth in Raleigh. We snuck in through the back, and JJ is a real smooth talker, so he managed to convince security that we spoke little English and we members of the road crew. I was very impressed. When I broke up with Rafe, JJ was the first person I went to.

I met John B later that same afternoon- Nonna and mom were arguing, and I needed to get away. John B is more level-headed and logical, but he has an adventurous streak in him. When I got better at surfing, I started surfing storm surges with John. When I started dating Rafe, John B was literally the only supportive member of the group, at least at the beginning. Sooner or later, they all learned to deal with it. After the breakup, I realised that I think I always felt something for John B, but the rule he made when we were thirteen about "no pogue on pogue making" kinda got in the way of that, so I supressed it and eventually we slept together in a cheap wine flavoured trance.

Kiara is my closet girl friend. I can trust her with literally anything, and it is so good to have her around to remind JJ and John B that they're acting like idiots. Time that I didn't spend with the group was usually spent with Kiara on the beach or at the Wreck helping out her parents. I spent more time at her house on Figure 8 that I did at my own. Losing her to the Kooks for a year was difficult, because now JJ's antics were my problem, but soon enough I started dating Rafe and that was whole new drama I had caused. I was so glad to have Pope around during that weird time frame.

That brings us to Pope. I love having him around. He matches my intellect, and he's the only person I can't watch Criminal Minds with because he is always talking about his theories over the actual content of the show. Ninety percent of the time, he's right. He wants to be a coroner, so he knows a lot about death. And I mean a lot.

"Hey, boys!" Kie shouted, hefting the cooler above her head "We brought juice boxes!" Our idea of juice boxes was cheap beer, but who's keeping track, right?

JJ gave John B a sideways smirk that I almost didn't catch. Usually, when a Maybank has a look like that, it means he's hiding something. I speak from personal experience with his father. I used to work for Luke Maybank's garage, but a lot of shady things happened there, and I couldn't afford to get in trouble with the cops. Not with Vittoria on the inside. I took an oath never to leave my mother on her own if I could help it.

"Right, where's Pope?" I asked "If he spoils this week's Criminal Minds, I'm throwing him overboard."

"I don't think he's seen it yet. He didn't watch it last night. Went straight to sleep." JJ said

"He would have solved it halfway through anyways."

"Give him a break, he's stressed with of this scholarship stuff." Kiara said, reaching over the railing on the deck to steal JJ's sunglasses off his head

"Ig they don't give Pope the scholarship, I have some choice words prepared. They'd better be ready to call Peterkin." I laughed, sending Pope a quick text.

Me: hey, we're at the dock. just waiting for you. no rush, jj and his juul are pretty content.

"He's gonna get the scholarship." John B confirmed "He's the only person in the OBX who's qualified for it."