Big Blue Sky | JJ Maybank x Male OC

•10•

      I held JJ's arm tight around me as John B pulled the van to a stop.
      "Stealing drones makes you hungry," Kie said.
      "What I would do to a beer and a shrimp and grits right now," JJ said as I followed him out of the van.
      "It would not be pretty," Pope said.
      We walked into the diner, Kie greeted her father and made idle small talk.
      We wandered around looking for a table as Kie talked to her dad. I laughed a little as JJ stared at the food on another table. I waved a little to Kie's father as I caught him staring.
      "Sit down," Kie said, as we all sighed and collapsed around a table.
      A few minutes later Kie's father brought the food out and we dug in, enjoying the good food and having fun with each other. Music played over the radio.
      As John B got up to dance with Kie I smiled and dragged JJ out of his seat. He shot me a look to which I shrugged in response.
      We began to dance with each other, just across from the other's. The rest of the night was a blur of dancing, laughing, talking, and lots of eating.

      I watched over Pope's shoulder as John B tapped on the drone's camera underneath the water. JJ continuously tried to mess with the buttons as Pope smacked his hands away.
      "God bless geeks, Pope. Truly, man," JJ said. What would we do without you to control the drones?"
      "Technically, it's not a drone. It's an-"
      "Shut up, shut up, shut up," JJ interrupted. "It's too early for that right now."
      "Hey, look, once we get footage of the wreck, we'll bring it to a lawyer in town and file a formal claim," John B said.
      "It's such bullshit," JJ said. "Why do we have to do that?"
      "That's the way it works, JJ," I said.
      "Well, there is maritime salvage law," Pope said. "You can't just go to the ocean floor and scoop a bunch of stuff up."
      "I know, I know," JJ said. "It's just lawyers aren't cheap, bro."
      "Well, as soon as they see the footage, they'll work for a comp," John B said.
      I ran a hand through my hair as my eyes wandered over the clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
      "So now, we just gotta wait around for the right weather," Pope said. "And today is not that day."

      I sat against the edge of the boat as Pope and JJ loaded groceries onto the boat, preparing to take them up to Figure Eight.
      I sighed as Heyward continued on his rant about our laziness. A few minutes later we were moving and headed through the water.
      "Doesn't even look like the storm hit there," Pope said as he looked at Figure Eight.
      My eyes watched nervously as JJ spun a knife around between his fingers.
      "That's because they got generators, bro. Get used to it," JJ said. "And then they say the juice will be out all summer at the cut."
      "It's nice to be a Kook," Pope said.
      "Lucy bastards..." JJ muttered.
      I looked away from the two of them as they talked like I wasn't even there.
      After a short ride we were docked at Figure Eight and ready to deliver groceries. JJ and I took half and Pope took the other.
      I walked next to JJ as we walked up towards the large house.
      "We need to go on date," JJ said.
      "What?" I said.
      "A date. Just me and you. No Pogues."
I hummed a little and looked up at him.
"That sounds nice," I said.
He chuckled a little as he knocked on the door of the large house. A few moments later the door opened and a woman with a silk robe on and a towel around her head opened the door.
"Ah, JJ...and friend," she said. "You can just leave them on the porch, Jim will be out to get them in a moment."
She handed out a stack of bills.
"Sure thing, Mrs. Beighley," JJ said as he took the cash.
She walked away and we began to set the bags down.
After we were done we turned back to the sand path and began to make our way towards the boat.
As we approached we saw Pope waiting for us, JJ called out to him, excited about the money he had just made. I laughed and shook my head, jogging after him.
We stepped aboard and began to pull the boat away from the dock.
"When I say count me in on all these grocery deliveries, Pope, I mean it," JJ said.
JJ and I sat down in the seats next to Pope.
"What's up with you? Bro, you good?" JJ said to Pope.
I narrowed my eyes at his silent, moody composure.
JJ leaned a little closer.
"Yo, what happened to your face, dude?" JJ said as he stood up.
JJ peeled his hat back a little and revealed a large, bruised and bloody wound.
He turned back to me with wide eyes.
"Jesus!" he said. "What happened?"
Pope sniffled without taking his eyes off the water.
"Rafe and Topper jumped me. They said no Pogues on their side of the island."
"So what are you gonna do?"
Pope looked at JJ with a dark look in his eyes.
A few minutes later we were pulled up to a dock near Figure Eight. We were looking out at a fancy black boat, Topper's.
"2020 Malibu, 24-MXC. The world's finest wakesetter. Number one in quality, luxury, and performance," Pope said.
"This is war, Pope. They hit us, we hit them," JJ said.
"Wait, wait, wait," I said to the two of them as JJ pulled a bandana over his face.
They looked at me.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" I said.
"I know that being a Kook basically puts you above all problems like this, but we don't expect you to understand, Sky. This needs to be done."
The words hit me like a bullet, causing me to flinch and take a step backwards.
"JJ..." I said.
"Let's do it," JJ said turning back to the boat.
Pope dived into the water and swam across to the boat, pulling the plug. I sat back as JJ set up the ladder for him to climb back up.
Pope swam back a moment later and handed the plug to JJ.
"Holy shit, you did it. I'm so proud of you right now," JJ said.
I sighed quietly and looked away from the two boys as I slid a pair of sunglasses on.
"Don't come crying to me when this bites you in the ass..." I said.
I saw JJ look at me on the corner of my eye, but they chose to ignore me.
"JJ, you can't tell anybody," Pope said.
"Oh, no, yeah. Totally, dude," JJ said.
"No, I'm serious, dude. Not Kie, Not John B, nobody."
"Yup, my lips are sealed. Give me that. Give me that," JJ said, taking the plug and chucking it into the water.
"Okay, let's get outta here," JJ said as Pope pulled the boat away.