𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞- 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

25.

🦋☀ 🌊 - 25

Waking up next to JJ wasn't entirely new for Olivia. His arm rested around her waist, her head nestled against his chest. The last time this had happened was at last year's Midsummer party, and the memory made her smile softly.

Her eyes fluttered open at the sight of a figure in the doorway. Kiara stood there, confusion written across her face. It wasn't too strange for her to see her best friends cuddled together in bed, but it still made for a slightly awkward moment.

Olivia gently moved JJ's arm off her. He was too exhausted to notice, his body sprawled across John B's old bed, snoring loudly after the previous night's chaos and beers.

The door eased open, and Kiara poked her head in. "We, uh... we should clean up," Kiara whispered, glancing down at the blonde. "John B should be back soon so we can head back to the Crain place."

"Yeah," Olivia muttered, rubbing her eyes with a sigh. "I'll let him sleep."

Kiara nodded, leaving Olivia alone to gather her things. She slipped into JJ's oversized shirt he had left at John B's place weeks ago.

"What are you doing?" JJ mumbled from the bed, now half-awake, one arm propping him up while the other rubbed his eyes.

Olivia pursed her lips and turned toward him. "I was hoping you'd sleep longer. You're so tired."

"Why? You don't want to see me?" he teased, voice groggy.

"Maybe," she shrugged, grabbing her backpack. "I'm helping Kiara and Pope take down the lights and stuff."

"I think they look nice. All my hard work... getting taken down," JJ frowned.

"I thought it looked nice too," Olivia said, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. "Get some sleep."

"You sound like a mom," he teased, pulling her down to press a soft kiss to her lips.

"Do I now? Then why are you kissing me?" she replied, smiling.

"Hmm... I like girlfriend more." He kissed her again, then hopped out of bed to change. "By the way, I like your shirt."

Olivia rolled her eyes but let him follow her out. The group moved quietly, each silently focused on their task. Olivia and JJ gathered the empty beer bottles while Kiara and Pope checked the lowering system.

Olivia felt a thrill of excitement over the new plan. She didn't fully understand how they would get the money if the pawn shop lied again, but it was worth a shot.

"So... you and JJ?" Pope smirked as Olivia approached. "You two have fun last night?"

"Pope, leave them alone," Kiara called from the tree.

"You guys like... a thing now?" Pope pressed, ignoring Kiara. "I mean, he looks at you like you're everything."

"Yeah, boyfriend material. Am I right?" Olivia said, grinning as she walked back toward JJ.

"Oh! She just gave it away. Haha, my ship has sailed!" Pope shouted, making Olivia laugh.

JJ trudged down the steps at that moment, his hair still messy from sleep.

"I thought it was no Pogue-on-Pogue macking." Pope then squinted, a confused expression taking over.

"Since when do you care?" JJ slipped into the hot tub, bare chested and careless.

Kiara shrugged. "Where's John B?"

"John B's pulling a Houdini," JJ remarked, lounging in the hot tub and fiddling with the floats.