Alone Together • JJ Maybank

Thirty One.

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Sat on the cool hard floor in the porch of the Chateau, I leaned my head back in Kiara's lap as she braided my hair. I closed my eyes at the quiet moment, enjoying the soothing sensation of her playing with my hair as Pope and JJ muttered quietly between themselves. After the discovery of the well, we quickly and quietly left the Crain house to come up with the next part of the plan.

Hearing footsteps walking up the steps to the porch, I opened my eyes to see John B returning from the suspicious errand he said he had to do before he dipped suddenly earlier. I sat up straight, realizing I was right to be suspicious because I saw the blonde girl walking into the porch behind him.

"You gotta be kidding me." Kiara mumbled, not caring to keep her voice quiet. Luckily having just finished with my hair, she pushed herself off of her leaning position on the window ledge, nudging my body forward as she did, so she could move away.

"Kie, just listen for a minute, ok." John B bit back, probably already prepared and expecting her resistance. I reached for my half eaten bowl of mac n cheese, watching silently as John B gestured for Sarah to sit on the sofa opposite me, him sitting on the arm of the other end.

"No effing way." Kie voiced again, pacing around the room in annoyance. I looked up at the wrong moment, momentarily locking eyes with Sarah for the first time. I pulled a small awkward smile at her, and she smiled back at me, matching my discomfort with the whole situation. "You brought her here? So what? She's in on this now?"

John B looked towards Pope and JJ for support, surprising me when he also then looked to me. "Not getting involved anymore." I said before lifting the spoon to my mouth, feeling Kiara's glare in my direction.

"Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share." JJ pulled John B's attention away from me.

"You know, I don't remember taking a vote." Kiara carried on loudly debating the situation. "This is our thing. A Pogue thing."

"I gotta say, I'm just a tad uncomfortable with all of this." Pope chimed in from the other side of me. I sat silently eating on the floor, my eyes darting from Pope to John B, back to Pope and JJ as the group continued to bicker.

"You know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her." Kiara nodded towards Sarah.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" I heard Sarah talk for the first time.

"Then leave."

Sarah laughed quietly to herself before looking towards John B. I followed her gaze, feeling a little sorry for him, even if we hadn't spoken since our fight this morning. He was clearly on edge, fed up with all of the arguments recently. "I told you."

"Told him what, exactly?" Kiara snapped again. "That you're a liar?"

"No, that you're a shit talking bitch." I choked on my mouthful of food at Sarah's words.