▶️ Buena Vida - Natti Natasha, Daddy Yankee

M A K E   Y O U R  M O V E

"They're  going to be okay, right?" I fiddled with my hands.

"Yeah, yeah. They're smart when they want to." Kie nodded.

"Right. Yeah."

"So...." Kie glanced at me as she drove to her house. "You and JJ."

"Can we please not?" I sighed, placing my elbow on against the door.

"Come on, Nina. It's so obvious, even strangers see that you two have chemistry." Kie stopped at a stop sign.

"I don't know what to think, Kie." I heaved a sigh. Kie started to drive again, making a right turn. "He admitted he liked me back at the kegger...but nothing has really happened after that."

"You're flirting went up a couple of notches." Kie perked a brow.

"Yeah, flirting." I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe you should start it then." Kie sheugged.

"Me?" I blinked at her. She gave me a nod. "Me? Hell to the no! Do you know how awkward that's going to be?"

"If it gets awkward, just kiss him. Simple as that."

"No, no, that's not simple at all!" I looked at her with wide eyes. "Did you forget about the rule? Not Pogue on Pogue macking."

"I honestly feel like we're not following that rule anymore." Kie bit her lip with a grimace.

"What happened?" I narrowed my eyes at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. My mouth dropped at the realization. "Something happened between you and John B. Did you kiss? Is that why it was so awkward the other day?"

"He kissed me." Kie pursed her lips together, pulling into her house.

"And?" I dragged out.

"He was confused. I-I think he misread how I care for him, I care for all of you guys obviously, and-I don't know." Kie explained, throwing a hand in frustration. "He just kissed me back at the lighthouse when we ran from the cops. His emotions were all over the place from his dad and everything."

"Do you like him?" I softly asked.

"No." Kie shook her head. "I don't. I only see him as a friend."

"Then you're fine. John B is the type of person who catches feelings easily. He loves and cares a lot. John B just has a good ole big heart." I told her.

"Yeah, he does." Kie nodded. We sat in silence, waiting for the boys to come get us. "I honestly think you should make a move on JJ."

"Ugh, Kie-I don't know." I crossed my arms and sunk in my seat.

"Just test it out. Maybe-maybe is just that...a crush or maybe it's more. But if you two don't try it out, you're not going to be able to move on or get together." Kie told me.

"Yeah...you're right." I pouted. The familiar van pulled up to the side of the road in front of Kie's. The windows were rolled down and JJ was in the passenger seat.

"Hello there pretty ladies. Were you waiting on us?" JJ grinned.

"You guys took forever."

"We thought you got arrested!"

"Totally fine." John B smiled.

"And we have the drone." Pope popped his head from the back fo the van.

"You guys got it!" I beamed.

"Hell yeah we got it." John B drummed his hands on his steering wheel in excitement.

"Now get your asses in the van." JJ patted the van door.

"Let's go celebrate, baby!" Kie pumped her fist into the air. She went to open the passenger door. JJ smacked her hand away with a frown. "I want front seat."

"But I'm already in the front seat. Go to the back." JJ shook his head and shooed her off.

"While you two fight, I'll be in the back waiting." I rolled my eyes at them and got into the back of the van. "By the way, is anyone else starving? Or is that just me?"

"Want to go to the back, now?" Kie tilted her head with a smirk.

"I'm famished." Pope nodded, patting his grumbling stomach.

"But I'm already sitting shot gun." JJ sighed, climbing to the back.

"Nice doing business with ya." Kie got into the front seat. She looked at John B. "Go to The Wreck, I'll convince my dad to get us free food. It's time to celebrate."

"You had me at free food."

John B to drove to The Wreck. Night had fallen and the stars were hidden behind a cloudy sky. The most of the ride, I was complaining about how hungry I was until I got too tired. My head was resting on JJ's shoulder. We were all exhausted. The van pulled to a stop once we arrived at the restaurant. John B turned off the van, cutting the music from playing.

"Stealing drones make you hungry." Kie commented, as we slowly started to exit the vehicle.

"And exhausted." I sighed dramatically.

"What I would do to a beer and shrimp and grits right now." JJ opened the door and hopped out of the van.

"It would not be pretty." Pope stated.

"No, it would not." I scrunched up my nose.

"Can we just go inside already?" JJ wrapped and arm around my shoulder. "I'm starving."

Kie gave us a soft nod. We made our way into the restaurant. The lights weren't working, so lit candles were placed around to give light. It was practically empty. Only a few customers were eating and the rest were workers. Kie's dad was working behind the counter.

"Hey dad." Kie greeted with a smile.

"Hey." He smiled back.

"How did we do?" Kie placed her hands on the counter before she started to walk towards the cash register.

"Didn't turn it over once." Her dad followed.

"It's probably just bad luck from the storm." Kie said.

We let Kie talk to her dad alone. I glanced back to see her hugging her dad. The rest of us walked to the tables. We passed a couple who were eating. The smell of the cooked food made my mouth water.

"So hungry." John B told us.

"I think my stomach is eating itself." I frowned, my stomach growling loudly.

The lady looked at me in disgust. I gave her a sheepish smile and took a step back. From the corner of my eye, I saw the boys waving. I looked up to see Kie and her dad staring at us. With a blush, I smiled and waved their way. It looked like her dad finally caved in.

"Sit down." Kie told us.

"Thank God." I sighed in relief.

The four of us quickly sat down at an open table. I drummed my fingers on the table, impatiently waiting for the food to come. It wasn't long until they brought out some fries to snack on before the main course came. We each had a basket of fries. I grabbed a few fries and took a bite out of them. A moan escaped my lips at the taste of the food.

"That's so unladylike, Miss Marín! Where are your manners?" JJ spoke in a high pitched voice to resemble a woman.

"I don't care." I finished chewing my food and threw a fry at him. He caught it in his mouth horizontally, the end sticking out. I rolled my eyes at him. "Attractive, really."

"Thanks, babe." JJ beamed with a wink.

"Ugh, you guys make me sick." Pope shook his head.

"Eat your damn fries, Pope." I stuck out my tongue.

He simply copied my motion and gave me the bird. Kie helped bring out more food to us and refill our drinks. Music played from a portable radio player. I started to sway to the music  in my seat as I ate.

"JJ." John B called out before throwing some fries at him.

JJ caught one of them, throwing the ones he missed at John B. Kie poured water into JJ's cup. She suddenly set the pitcher onto the table. Kie started to dance to the music. She looked at John B with a grin and curled her finger for him to join her.

John B pointed to himself with a cup of water in his other hand. Kie nodded and waved him to come toward her. He got up with his drink. John B grabbed her hand and gave her a twirl. The two started to sway to the beat.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Pope staring at them. He wore a frown. His eyes never leaving Kie. My heart tugged at the realization. Pope liked Kie. I picked up a popcorn shrimp and popped it into my mouth, a plan brewing in my mind.

"Alright, you two get your asses up." I stood up from my seat.

"What?" JJ looked up at me with a mouthful of food.

"I'm not getting up." Pope shook his head, shoveling a spoon of soup into his mouth.

"Get your asses up and come dance." I narrowed my eyes at them.

"Yes ma'am." JJ gave me a sarcastic salute.

I grinned, reaching for another popcorn shrimp. Pope shook his head. I tilted my head and took a bite out of the shrimp. With a heavy sigh, Pope stood up.

"See, that wasn't so hard was it?" I teased the two.

"Shut up and dance." JJ shook his head with a chuckle.

"I'll dance, but I won't shut up." I winked at him. JJ took a hold of my hands. We started to sway to the music. "C'mon Pope."

"Ugh, I don't want to dance. I want to eat." Pope whine.

"Come here, you party pooper." Kie walked over to him and grabbed his hand. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Pope's eyes widen before he squinted them at me. I innocently grinned. "Just relax and have fun."

"Fine." Pope sighed, dancing with Kie.

"You're sneaky." John B walked over to JJ and I. He draped an arm over our shoulders.

"Hmm? Don't know what you're taking about."  I hummed in denial.

"Yeah, right." JJ scoffed. "You're meddling."

"Am not." I pouted.

"Are, too."

"You know what JJ-"

"Can you two literally just kiss it out? God!" John B threw his hands up in frustration. Some water spilled from his drink. He gaped and looked at the small wet spot on the floor. With his shoe, he wiped away the water. "Shit."

"Good move." I grabbed a napkin from the table and bent over to clean up his mess. "I swear you're like a clumsy toddler."

"He's a six foot toddler with luscious hair." JJ said in agreement.

"Dude!" John B smacked the back of JJ's head.

"Uh, ow!" JJ sent him a glare, placing a hand at the side spot. "What the hell was that for?"

"You know why."

"Oh, is that some more shrimp?" I walked passed them to sit down at the table.

"Hey," Kie walked over to me, "my dad is making to go boxes for you and your family. I explained the situation with Lucas and he would gladly give you guys the left over food."

"Thank you." I stood up and wrapped her into a hug.

"No problem." Kie said. "JJ's giving you the lovesick eyes."

"He is not." I chuckled, pulling away from the hug.

Kie perked a brow and nodded to the boys. Every now and then, JJ would glance at me. His cheeks redden once he found out that I caught him. He let out a cough and started to join the conversation.

"Better make a move soon." Kie told me.

Biting my lip, I gave her a nod. She patted my shoulder. We joined the boys, cracking jokes and laughing. A few minutes later, we had to sit down.

"No, no, do you guys remember that one time Nina had that one tourist dude ask her out on dates?" John B brought up.

"Ugh, why did you bring that memory up? I buried that deep into my mind, thank you." I crossed my arms.

"Yeah! The poor guy had the hugest crush on her. He kept asking her out and Nina," JJ pinches my cheeks, "the sweet sweet angel that she is, told him she couldn't. But he didn't understand that she was saying no, like, every time."

"So she grabbed the closest person that was walking by her and said that was her boyfriend." Pope laughed.

"Wait, who was it?" Kie asked.

"It was Rafe." I groaned out. "So embarrassing. He denied me right then and there, and then he told the guy how I was from the Cut and how filthy Pogues are."

"But he shut up real quick when I punched him." JJ grinned.

"You broke his nose." John B quirked a brow.

"Should've known better." JJ shrugged.

"I cried for a week. It was horrible."

"Until we took you surfing at the boneyard and made s'mores on the beach." Pope pointed out.

"Surfing and s'mores, the best things in life."

🌊

Later that night, the boys dropped me off at my house. I nodded a goodnight to them. Entering the house, I saw Lucas working on a sketch. I placed the to go boxes on the kitchen table. He looked up, setting his pencil down.

"You got the food from The Wreck?" Lucas grinned, reaching for a box.

"Yeah, Kie's dad said he'll give us the leftovers." I sat down, glancing at his sketch of someone surfing. "That's turning out pretty good. You haven't drawn in a while."

"Well, I have the time now without electricity." Lucas opened the box and popped a steamed carrot into his mouth.

"Are they home?" I asked.

"They're in their rooms getting ready for bed. Papi found a job to work at the ferry." Lucas stood up to go grab a fork. He went to a drawer and grabbed the utensil. "He also said something about getting us a job at MidSummer? Or is it MidSommer? Whatever it is, we're waiting I think. I don't know, he has the deets."

"Okay, I'll go ask and tell them about the food." I ruffled his hair.

Lucas let out a hum, using his fork to cut into the grilled fish. I went to my parents bedroom and knocked. Someone called for me to come in. Opening the door, I saw my parents already sitting in bed.

"¿Que paso, mija?" Papi asked.

"Nada, just wanted to tell you I have some food from The Wreck. Kie said they're gonna give us some of the left overs they have at the end of the day." I told them.

"Oh, that's sweet of them." Mom smiled.

"Yeah, um, Papi? Lucas said you got us jobs for Midsummers?" I leaned against the door frame.

"Sí, I'll be working under security. Lucas and you will help pass out the food. It's going to be easy and some extra money." Papi explained. "We'll have to be dressed in suit. I'll ask about you though, they might have women in dresses."

"Okay." I nodded. I'm so not looking forward to waiting on Kooks, especially Topper and the Cameron's. "Good night."

Okay, but like why was it so hard to write the resultant scene?

I had this cute scene planed out and I blanked 🤦🏽‍♀️ like why?

I rewrote it three times and nada

This was such a 💩 chapter and I apologize