Alone Together • JJ Maybank

Six.

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My heart rate instantly went through the roof as John B rushed to peak out of the front window. "What is it?"

"Cops." Shit. I looked around the room in a panic, unsure whether I was looking for something to grab or for somewhere to hide as I heard the voices just the other side of the door. John B rushed to the back window, grabbing my wrist and dragging me with him as he went when there was a heavy knock at the door.

"Kildare County Sheriff's Department." The deep voice announced as we lifted the window up. John B climbed out first, holding his hand out for me to take. I looked down at the small platform before looking back at John B as he nodded reassuringly at me. Another knock came from the door. Shit. There was no other way out.

I felt JJ's hands on either side of my waist, steadying me as I began to climb out of the window. I placed one foot down on the edge, before reaching for the drain pipe to one side, taking small steady steps as quickly as I could so that JJ could get out too. He shuffled beside me, looking back into the room and closing the window with John B stood at the other side of it.

Holding my breath for the hundredth time that day, JJ turned his head to look at me, holding one finger up to his lips while his other hand pushed against my back, pressing me as close to the wall as possible. My heart was beating fast as I heard the muffled sounds of the cops opening the door. JJ squeezed my hip slightly as if to get my attention. I looked up into his eyes, realizing just how close we were. So close that I could feel his breath on my face as he mouthed you ok? Minty, from the Juul he was smoking earlier. I nodded, unable to break away from his gaze.

Muffled voices came from inside the room again, catching JJ's attention as he turned his head to peek through the window. "What the F..." JJ whispered towards John B. He let go of my back as he reached for something in his shorts when I saw something black drop from his pocket at the corner of my eye. I closed my eyes at the loud crash on the metal roof below us as it echoed out, tightening my grip on the drain pipe I was holding and feeling JJ's body tense up beside me. His hand found my back again, pulling me tightly to his side as we all froze in our spots.

The longest minute dragged on before I heard the door to the room open and close again, my body relaxing instantly at the sound of footsteps growing quieter as they walked away. John B nodded before turning around to shimmy down the roof to a lower spot and jumping to the ground below.

"I'll help you down." JJ held onto my arm as I turned around to follow. I sat down, shuffling to the edge to dangle my feet over, suddenly regretting my choice of a dress today. But it's not like I knew we would be escaping from a crime scene when I picked it!

"Come on, I'll catch you." John B stood below me, arms outstretched as I pushed myself off. JJ jumped down with a thud beside me as if it wasn't a big deal before we crouched down through the bushes to run back to Pope and Kie on the boat.

"That was fun!" JJ joked as we jumped back on and made our quick escape, nudging my side with a smile.

"You're insane." I shook my head with a small laugh as I repeated what I said to him earlier that day.

"I thought you 'loved this shit'."

"Yeah, I love finding out who graffiti-ed the movie theater or who ate my last brownie. Not breaking into a safe with stacks of money and a gun, JJ."

"A gun?" Kie repeated, sounding shocked.

"The cops took everything like it was a crime scene." John B ignored Kie's concern as he looked at me confused.