JONES → JJ MAYBANK [hiatus]

002. incriminating evidence

Edited June 20, 2023 

𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡, 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗭𝗜𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦 under the harsh glare of someone she didn't quite care for an opinion from. Mackenzie had managed to get home and change into a yellow summer dress and white heels before Rafe Cameron barged into her room like he owned the place. He should have known better than to yell at the girl, she didn't care for his opinion and merely brushed passed him to the group waiting on the patio.

Both the Jones family and the Cameron family smiled at the appearance of the two kids. Probably assuming they had been doing a couple of things, still pushing for the two to get together.

Sarah's eyes widened at the sight of a very dark bruise on Mackenzie's collar bone, confused for a second that it was Rafe's doing before noticing the scowl across the boy's face.

"Mackenzie, Rafe, nice of you to finally join us." Ward Cameron smiled gesturing to the arrangement of food on the table, "Your Mother sure knows how to cook."

"Thank you, Ward," Melanie Jones smiled. Mackenzie and Sarah had this inside joke that their parents had slept together at some point, in all honestly, it wouldn't be a huge surprise.

Mackenzie slid into the seat Sarah had saved for her, picking up a strawberry from her plate and tossing it in her mouth. Melanie and Alexander scowled. The whole point of the Sunday brunches was to show the Camerons that Mackenzie Jones was the perfect girl for their son. So, Sarah and Mackenzie enjoyed doing the opposite.

The morning brunch turned into an evening of the two families lounging around the pool and flaunting their wealth and status back and forth. The Camerons ended up spending the whole day at the Jones' estate, not that Mackenzie and Sarah minded. It allowed them to sneak off into Mackenzie's room and talk about the previous night.

When it was time for the Camerons to head home the sun had gone completely down and a storm was starting to show in the dark sky. Mackenzie slipped into her bed, tugging the blankets over her body feeling safe from the loud banging of thunder. Soon enough she found the loud waves lulling her to sleep.

She woke the following day to the harsh sunlight coming through her windows overlooking the sea. Rolling out of bed she walked over to the large windows and glanced outside taking in the messy hurricane Agatha had left behind.

From the window, she could see her parents, the whole Cameron family, and Topper Thorton. Mackenzie noticed a woman walking alongside her father and Ward, so she slowly pushed her balcony doors open and stepped onto the patio easing dropping.

"You haven't seen him since?" her Dad asked, as Ward nodded in agreement.

"No," The woman said with a frantic voice, "not since before the storm."

"What did the police say?" Ward questioned.

"Well, they said I have to wait twenty-four hours before I can report anything, but I know something's wrong." She said, stepping into view. Mackenzie recognized her as one of the worker's wives, Lana Grubbs.

"Nothing is wrong," Ward attempted to calm her down.

Alexander nodded adding, "You know, it's Scooter. He knows how to handle himself in a storm."

"Well," Lana asked growing frustrated with the men's dismissive tone, "When was the last time that you saw him?"

"Uh, last time that I saw him, he was preparing the Druthers with Sarah," Ward explained.

At the sound of Sarah's name, Mackenzie darted back inside interested to ask Sarah about her interaction with Scooter Grubbs. She was quick to change into a white bathing suit, throwing on a white tank top and pants over it before rushing outside to find her best friend.