𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

3.

🦋☀ 🌊 - 3

The last place the group thought the key belonged to was a run-down, rusty motel. For someone who owned a Grady White, this place looked like a one-out-of-ten-star disaster.

Trees had fallen across the lot, branches clawing at broken windows. Maybe it was the hurricane that made it look like such a shithole, but the whole area looked more like something someone struggling for rent money would live in. The neon sign flickered weakly, buzzing like a dying fly.

Olivia stared in disbelief as the boat approached the shore. "You sure this is the right place?" she asked, taking the key from John B's hand.

"Yup." John B wasn't even fazed when she snatched it-he looked just as shocked as everyone else.

"I thought the Chateau looked bad," JJ said, speaking for the group.

"This place is a shit show," John B added, shaking his head.

"Is this a motel or a meth lab?" Kiara asked, narrowing her eyes.

"You be the judge," Pope muttered.

"Doesn't look like a place someone with a Grady White would stay," John B said, stepping off the boat slowly.

"Looks like somewhere we'd be crashing," Olivia said, standing at the front of the boat next to the blond boy readying the rope. "Why would anyone even stay here?"

"Good question," JJ agreed, eyes scanning the cracked concrete lot.

"Looks like somewhere with a Grady White would be killed," Pope joked, trying to lighten the mood. Even he wasn't too sure how this was going to go.

Once the boat reached land, JJ jumped off and tied it up with his usual cocky grin. Everyone agreed that John B and JJ would go up and check out the room while Olivia, Kiara, and Pope stayed behind as lookouts.

"Hey, don't let him do anything stupid," Pope said, pointing at JJ, who already had that familiar mischievous glint in his eye.

"Oh, we will," JJ replied, ignoring the warning.

"JJ, for once, don't be yourself," Olivia teased, fluffing up his blond hair before sitting back down next to Kiara.

"I'm not making promises," John B said, causing Pope to groan under his breath and plop back down in defeat.

"Be careful," Kiara said, walking up to John B and handing him the key she'd taken from Olivia. "I mean it."

John B chuckled, knowing full well that something was bound to go wrong. The two boys started their walk up to the motel, leaving the others down by the boat.

The air was thick and sticky, the sound of creaking metal echoing through the hollow hallways. JJ and John B climbed the cracked stairs to the second floor, where the number on the key matched a faded door with peeling paint. Of course, JJ couldn't resist teasing.

"Just be so careful, John B," JJ said in a mocking voice.

John B shoved his friend lightly, grumbling, "Stop."

"Dude, what the heck was that about?" JJ followed close behind.

"I don't know-maybe she wants us to be careful," John B shrugged.

"Ever since you've been threatened for exile, she's been like, be so careful, John B," JJ exaggerated dramatically. "Just give me that John D already! When are you gonna swoop on that?" He moaned jokingly, rubbing his friend's shoulders.

"Not until you swoop on Olivia," John B shot back, smirking. "Besides, you know the rules-no Pogue-on-Pogue macking."

The two finally found the door and stopped in front of it. Neither of them was careful enough to care if someone might be inside.