She was the first person he trusted with his secret. His safe place.
He was the first guy she let all the way in. He could ground her when nobody else could.
-
"𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, �...
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I pull up in front of JJ's house. I could sense the anxiety rolling off him. I take a deep breath, calming myself. I could hear Kie's shaky breaths in the back seat.
"Home sweet home." JJ mumbles.
I look over at him, putting the car in park. JJ was avoiding eye contact. Probably to avoid getting emotional. He was also very shaky, taking off his at and playing with his hair.
"JJ." He stops fidgeting. "Baby, please look at me." I plead. He looks at me. I grab his hand, pulling it into my lap. "Do want me to come with you?"
"No, I don't want you to get hurt." He says shaking his head.
"J, I'll come." I offer again.
He nods his head, moving to get out of the car. I open my own door, following him to his house.
JJ's house was a mess. There were dishes everywhere and the house was overall just dirty. The smell of rotting food filled my nose, making me cringe.
"Dad?" JJ calls out. I follow him into the living room.
Luke Maybank was passed out on the couch. He was clearly very out of it.
"Dad, I need the keys to the Phantom." JJ says.
His dad stays asleep, snoring loudly. JJ glances at me, unsure what to do.
"Dad?" He tries again.
I glance at the coffee table, looking at the beer cans and a bottle of medication. I pick it up, reading the label.
"What is it?" JJ whispers.
"Ambien."
JJ takes the pills from me, setting them on the table. He looks at his dad. I couldn't tell what he was feeling. JJ slowly reaches for the keys that were around his dads neck. JJ turns around to find a pencil and some tweezers. I watch him confused as he turns back to his dad, getting close again.
"I didn't expect to see you." Luke mumbles to his son. "You're back."
JJ backs up slowly away from his dad. "Yeah, no, I just..."
"Huh?" His dad says taking a swig from his beer.
"Just, checkin' in."
"School out already?" JJ and I glance at each other confused.
"What?" JJ asks.
"Did you ditch?" His dad chuckles. "It's all right. You can tell me."
"Yeah. I got the break, you know."
Luke laughs. "I hated school too. My boy!" JJ laughs nervously. "You're ditching with the girlfriend, huh? That's the way to do it."
"Right." JJ says.
"Hi Kat." Luke says to me. I give him a wave, uncomfortable in this situation. JJ moves in front of me.
Luke stands up, putting his hands on JJ's shoulders. "Hey, look, I know I'm hard on you sometimes. But sometimes, I see- I see your mother in you, gets me a little tweaked, you know?"
I could feel myself getting emotional. I blink back tears, trying not to cry.
"You're a good boy." Luke tells JJ.
"Mm-hm."
Luke looks at me. "Thank you for taking care of my son." I nod at him. "And I love you, son." Luke pulls JJ into a hug. "Come here, I love you, son. I love you."
JJ pulls his dad closer. He sniffles into his dad's shoulder, crying. "I love you too, Dad. I'm sorry."
"Ain't got nothing to be sorry for." JJ sets his dad down on the couch as he gets drowsy again. "You're a good boy."
JJ rips open his dads shirt, yanking the keys from his neck. He looks over to me. "Let's go."
He walks toward the door, stepping out side. I follow him. As soon as we're outside he turns around and pulls me against him, kissing me. I stumble back a step, taken off guard. He keeps me against him with his arm on the small of my back.
"Thank you for coming with me." JJ says against my lips.
"Of course."
"I love you, Kat."
A small smile breaks across my lips. "I love you too."
We get back in the car, getting ready to leave.
"How'd it go?" Kiara asks.
JJ hold up the keys showing her with a small smile. I start the car and pull out of his driveway, heading toward where the Phantom was located.
As we drive I could sense Kiara's nerves. I glance at her in the rear view mirror. A anxious expression spread across her whole face. I could see her glancing up at JJ and I.
"Kie, babe, you okay?" I ask looking back at the road.
She stays silent.
"It'll be fine." JJ tells her. "It'll be fine with the Phantom. She'll get out quick."
Sirens erupt from a distance. The police cars appear in front of me as I drive.
"Woah, woah, woah." JJ says nervously.
I pull over to the side of the road as JJ ducks his head. After they drive by I pull back onto the road.
"They're still looking. That's a good sign." Kie speaks up.
