Chasing Sunshine | JJ Maybank

23 // Midsummers

Dawn came too fast. I slowly opened my eyes against the unwelcome sunlight slowly enveloping the living room, cursing whoever left the blinds open. Bringing my blanket up over my head, I thought maybe if I stayed like this I could invite a few more hours of slumber and procrastinate having to start the day.

However, my ears perked instantly at the sudden shuffling sounds coming from the back rooms and my brain quickly shook off whatever half-asleep fog still lingered. I was very much aware then that I had gone to bed in a very empty house last night and that judging by the heavy footfalls coming from the hallway, it had not remained so. I swung off the couch quietly and grabbed the nearest heavy object I could find, which happened to be the lamp from the side table. Convinced I would have to bludgeon my way free from whatever gaff hook-wielding, murderous monster was lurking in the dark, I raised the makeshift weapon above my head.

I took a deep breath and crept forward to place my back against the wall, hoping to sneak-attack whoever came around the corner. My heart was pounding and my palms were sweaty as I listened to the stranger's footsteps coming closer. I timed it out, deciding to swing on the count of three. One, two-

"Hey! Woah, it's me!" John B shouted, raising his arms instinctively when I threatened to connect the heavy base of the lamp to his face. The words were enough to stop me mid-swing and my arms dropped with a relieved sigh.

"God, you scared me," I breathed, feeling my heart rate slowly return to normal. It was John B. Of course it was John B; this was his house after all. After my little chat with Peterkin yesterday, my paranoia had apparently grown ten-fold.

He huffed, taking the lamp from my hand carefully. "I scared you? You're the one that just tried to knock me out."

"Sorry," I muttered guiltily, following him out to the living room where he set the lamp back in its place, "I thought you were...never mind. More importantly, where the hell have you been? You kinda bailed on us."

"I was gone for what, a day? And I'm getting the riot act?"

"We were worried about you, you just disappeared. How, I don't know because the HMS and the van haven't moved," I countered, folding my arms across my chest.

He crossed to the kitchen and measured out coffee grounds into the machine, purposefully not looking me in the eye. "I just needed to clear my head a little."

"Okay..." I replied, following his every move, "Where did you clear your head?"

He shrugged, finally looking up with an easy-going smile while his espresso brewed. "Not really important."

"See now I'm convinced it was somewhere important," I mused, raising one eyebrow in a silent challenge. He chuckled but still neglected to elaborate on his mysterious whereabouts, instead choosing to completely turn the tide of conversation.

"Where's everyone else? I came home and it was just you here."

I scoffed. "Well Kie and Pope are probably at home and JJ is in jail," I told him bluntly, making him choke on the first sip of hot coffee he took from his mug. "Yeah, you miss a lot while you're clearing your head."

He finally cleared the liquid from his windpipe and rolled his eyes. "What did he do this time?"

"Well Topper and Rafe jumped Pope and him while they were doing deliveries the other day so in retaliation, their brilliant solution was to sink Topper's new Malibu."