𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞
[𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑶𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝑲𝒐𝒐𝒌]

❧

THE GROUP TRAVELED SILENTLY IN THE VAN, pulling up outside of the old house without really saying a word. Marina lingered back as they all piled out of the van but so did Kiara. She grabs the girls arm gently to get her attention.
"Hey, um.." Kiara seemed nervous as she looked at her best friend. "You can stay back if you want." She suggests, not wanting Marina to go in if she wasn't all here.

"I'm fine, Kie." Marina responds, pulling her arm away.

"I know. You're always fine. I'm just saying if you're not up for it, you can stay in the van." Kiara mumbles the first part. Marina always said she was fine no matter what it was and Kiara knew she was lying but what could she really say?

"I really don't need to be treated any differently right now." Marina admits as she turns away from her. The others were just watching them but none of them chimed in.

They climb over the wall, heading toward the basement when a light was flashed toward them. "Shit!" John B says as they all duck quickly behind some of the bushes.

"Flashlights." Kiara calls out and JJ was the only one who didn't seem to be able to turn his off, hitting it as it flashed.

"Its on strobe!" JJ says and Kiara grabs it from him roughly, turning it off. They all stay still for a moment before Pope sighs.

"Okay, so, she has motion sensor lights." He points out.

"We could uh... move really slowly, maybe?" JJ suggests and they turn their heads to him. Marina squints her eyes as she didn't even know if he actually processed a word he had just said.

"What?" Sarah asks, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Thats not how it works." Pope denies.

"You do know what motion sensor means, right?" Marina asks him and JJ looked sheepish as he glanced to the ground.

"Oh, shit. Let's throw a rock at it." John B adds and Marina had to cover her face with her hand. How had they made it this far?

"What?"

"Thats a really good idea. Let the axe murderer know that we're here." Kiara mumbles with a scoff.

"Throw a rock at it?" Pope asks.

"You have a better idea?" John B questions back.

"Literally anything but that." Kiara retorts.

"I can now see why you two are best friends." Marina admits making both of them snap their heads toward her.

"Shes-- are you calling us dumb?" JJ asks her with a pout and she just raises an eyebrow.

"I'm not calling you Einstein."

"What about the breaker? In the circuit box on the porch." Sarah suggests and everyone looked at her.  "We used to play hide and seek here as kids and if we were brave enough, we'd go all the way up to the porch. I've seen it." She explains to them.

"No, no. You're not going in that house alone." John B denies with a scoff and Sarah just raises an eyebrow.

"Watch me."

"Crain chops people into pieces." JJ points out.

"If you believe that, but she's like what, eighty five?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Shes probably barely still kicking."

"I'll go with you." Kiara announces as she looks toward the girl who meets her gaze.

"Yeah." Sarah agrees with a small smile. Marina clenches her jaw a bit as she flickers her eyes between them.

"Okay, we'll wait for your signal." Pope tells them and they both go to stand up.

"Hey, be safe." John B tells them and Sarah nods her head.

"We will." She responds before her and Kiara head toward the house. JJ puts his hand on Pope's shoulder to get his attention before his hand moves to the boys cheek.

"Be safe."

"I'll be so safe. I'll be safe for you." Pope responds, also putting his hand on JJ's cheek.

"Can you guys stop?" John B asks them, annoyance in his tone. "Stop!" He whisper shouts at them and they meet his irritated gaze. "I'm gonna kill you." He threatens and Pope fakes confusion as he glances at JJ momentarily.

"But how would that keep us safe?" Pope questions and John B rolls his eyes, looking away from them.

As they wait for the signal, Marina was just using a marker to draw on her shoes, being bored and not wanting to think about the fact that Kiara seemed to have forgiven Sarah instantly. She knew Kiara didn't know about what happened between herself and Sarah but still, for how Kiara spoke about her, Marina thought she'd be a lot harder to forgive.

"You guys are not subtle with your staring." Marina admits, feeling their eyes on her but she had tried to ignore them. Although with the added whispers, it was kind of hard to.

"Do you think anythings gonna happen to Ryder?" Pope asks reluctantly and Marina shakes her head as she puts her marker away.

"No. Liams too scared of rafe to do shit." Marina admits and JJ seemed a bit on edge.

"You don't really trust rafe, do you?"

"Trust him? Hell no. But sometimes his psycho tendencies are useful." She says, shrugging which made them all surprised. But Rafe most likely didnt even know that he was being used since he seemed to have a weird obsession with her.

"They said when Hollis disappeared--" JJ starts to say but Pope glares at him.

"That you should shut the eff up!" Pope cuts him off and JJ closes his mouth. Suddenly the lights were shut off causing them to glance at the house.

"They did it. It's go time." John b tells them as he looks toward the group. "Three, two--" But Marina had already stood up, heading in the direction of the house. JJ instantly follows after her like a lost puppy making John B just stare after him. Pope glances toward the man who just sighs, shaking his head.

"Just go."

❧

AS THE BOYS AND MARINA HEAD DOWN INTO THE BASEMENT, JJ glances around as they set their things on the ground. "Holy crap, you know what this is? It just hit me." JJ admits and they all just look toward him. "Pople, look. This is C.H.U.D. Full C.H.U.D." He informs them and Marina just raises an eyebrow as she scans her eyes over him a bit.

"What is he talking about?" John B asks, a bit annoyed.

"Cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers? Have you guys not see that film?" JJ asks them, a small pout on his lips and John B only blankly stares back at him.

"No."

"Can't say that I have, no." Pope adds with a shake of his head.

"I'm surprised you have." Marina admits as that didn't seem like something he would enjoy watching.

"Are you kidding?" JJ asks with a small scoff and Marina shrugs her shoulders.

"It doesn't really seem like your scene." She denies and JJ steps forward, tilting his head as he gazes down at her.

"Thats because you haven't gotten to know me, Mari." He teases, poking her shoulder with his finger. Marina only plants her hands on her hips.

"I'm pretty sure that's the only film you've watched in the genre." This made him become quiet for a moment.

"No..." He trails off, embarrassed to be caught as she stares at him. JJ clears his throat, looking away from her. "Its actually a good film. It's about like cannibals that live in the sewers under new York city and it's like--"

"Shut up, shut up!" John B demands, not really wanting to hear about it right now. "All right, how deep do you think this is, Pope?" He asks as he looks toward his friend who sighs.

"I don't know." Pope admits as he peers down it for a moment. "Should we send two down? Two stay up, to go down and check it out?"  He asks curiously and JJ scoffs as he shakes his head.

"I am not hauling your heavy ass."

"I was gonna suggest Mari." Pope responds bluntly.

"No, come on, she doesn't have to do that." John B denies, knowing she'd gone through enough tonight but Marina didn't really seem to mind.

"And let you have all the fun?" Marina asks as she peers down the well momentarily before looking toward John B. "Youre the one hesitating." She points out and John B seemed a bit taken aback.

"I'm not-- im not hesitating, guys." He retorts, shaking his head instantly but the boys only snort.

"Hes totally hesitating." JJ adds and John B only slaps his arm.

"How can you boys be treasure hunters when you're all a bunch of pansies?" Marina asks them, grabbing the rope in order to begin tying it around herself. They looked offended as they shared a glance with each other.

"Youre way nicer when Kie's around." Pope mumbles, crossing his arms against his chest. JJ just looked confused.

"No, she's not."

"Maybe not to you." Pope retorts and JJ was a bit irritated as he rolled his eyes. John B started to gear up to but his eyes lingered on Marina.

"Hey, been meaning to ask... what's up with you and Sarah?" He asks, not knowing if he should because whatever it was, it seemed serious.

"If you want to wait around to chat and get axed by the murderer, be my guest." Marina only grumbles, not really looking back at him as she climbs on the ledge of the well. JJ was quick to stabilize her, not wanting her to fall in.

When they were situated, they hung in the well, ready to be eased down inside of it. "Hey boys, I have one request. Dont drop me." John B tells them and JJ instantly smirks and pretends to jolt a bit.

"Whoa!"

"Okay, you're gonna die first, for sure." He mutters as JJ only laughs go himself.

"Got ya." He says before looking toward Marina. "You good, Mari?" JJ asks, wanting to make sure she was ready and she just simply nods her head.

"I'm fine."

"Uh, wow, I'm fine too, thanks for asking." John B mutters and JJ gives him a sarcastic smile.

"Kie will kill us if she comes back up with even so much as a scratch." Pope points out. "All right, just keep payin it out nice and slow like that." He tells JJ who does what he says.

As they make their way further down the hole, it didn't really take long for John B to come plummeting. He was quickly stopped after he screamed, surely awakening the whole goddamn neighborhood. "I told you not to drop me!" John B screams up at them as Marina just laughed underneath her breath.

"You good, man?" Jj asks him curiously.

"What the hell was that?"

"Little technical difficulties." Pope tells him and John B looks toward Marina with an annoyed look on his face.

"Shut up." He mutters and she only smirks at him.

"You scream like a little girl." Matina points out and he just ignores her, holding onto the rope tightly.

"We're gonna start payin you out again, all right?" Pope calls out to them. They head more down the well, both of them trying to see how close they were but it was too dark to really tell. "Hey, we got fifteen feet left, are you close to the bottom?" He asks them curiously.

"I can't tell. Just keep going." John B responds before they see water belong them. "Woah, stop!" He calls out, stopping just above it and Marina scrunches her nose up in disgust. "I'm hanging over some sewage, water looking shit." John B mumbles.

"Thats so gross." Marina states, glancing around at the slimy cobble walls.

"You want back up?" Pope questions and  Marina was really regretting her choice of coming down the well.

"Keep going -- i guess. Nice and slow." John B seemed extremely hesitant.

"All you buddy." Marina admits as she pats his shoulder.

"So much for teamwork." John B grumbles as he glares back at her before being lowered into the water.

"Okay, I'm at bottom."

"How is it down there?" JJ asks him curiously.

"Worse than I thought." John B retorts as he glances around.

"You find any gold?"

"Nothing yet."

Marina was simply watching him before she felt a snap and she was being plunged into the filthy water. "Shit!" She gasps as she feels the water encompass her body. But it wasn't a few seconds before arms pulled her up so she was able to breathe actual air again.

"I got you." John B assures her but she looked pissed as she glances up the hole.

"What the hell?!" She screams, trying to wipe off some of the grime on her skin.

"The rope snapped!" Pope assures her, not wanting it to seem like they dropped her on purpose. Marina just scoffs as she hangs onto a small protruding rock.

"You good hanging here while I go under?" John B asks her and she just rolls her eyes a bit.

"Not like I can fly." She mutters back as she watches him go underneath the water. Marina grimaces, feeling whatever liquid fall from her hair.

"Anything down there that can help you, Mari?" JJ asks her as he and Pope both leaned over the well to try and get a better look.

"Oh, here's a grappling hook! And --- an escalator! Silly me!" Marina shouts back at them, irritated as she was surrounded by a stench that made her want to gag.

"We're about to die to the an axe wielding maniac, Mari, do you really want your last words to be sarcastic?" Pope calls out to her with a scoff and she seriously wished they could see her deadly expression right about now.

"Nooo!"

"I don't like your attitude, you know that?" Pope tells her while JJ just chuckles from beside him.

John B resurfaces from the water, pulling up the thing he was holding only for it to be a human skull. While Marina was slightly fascinated, of course he started to freak out. "Mr Crain." He gasps, dropping it into the water and instantly grabbing a hold of Marina so they could get out of there as soon as they could. "JJ! Hey, pull us up!" John B demands and they were suddenly lifted up from the water, fortunately for them.

"God, I think i inhaled that shit." She mutters as she coughs a bit. John B uses one of his hands to guide their way up when suddenly the bricks underneath his fingers start to fall.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait!" He calls up to them. Marina looks over curiously and notices the small hole that was made. "Hey, i think I found something."  John B states, pulling at more of the bricks until a entrance was discovered.

"Whatd you say?" Pope asks from up top.

"Just give me a minute, hold on." John B tells them before moving Marina closer to where the opening was. She scoffs as she glares at him.

"Yeah, fuck me then, send me into the dark hole first." She grumbles as she grabs a hold of the bricks, pulling herself inside of it.

"Unless you wanted me to drop you." John B retorts as they both crawl through the narrow space.

"God, this place reeks." Marina states, covering her nose a bit as the room starts to open up a bit more.

"I think that's us." He retorts before noticing something ahead of them. He moves to squeeze past the girl in order to get to it.

"Okay, John B there is not enough room for you to-- okay, ow!" Marina complains, slapping his back as he passes her. "Puta." She swears before following after him.

Noticing that he stopped, she notices the pile of somewhat solid blocks in front of them. Solid blocks that had an oddly familiar colour. "Is that..." She trails off as she moves beside him, the gold shining a bit underneath all the mud. "Holy shit." Marina never actually believed it was real. Sure, it would've been nice but it was a fairytale. That was until this very moment.

"No way." John B mutters as he grabs one of the bars, wiping the mud off of it.

"This isn't fucking real." Marina denies as she shakes her head, her eyes only widening more as it was clear as day what was laying right in front of them.

"We did it." His voice was barely above a whisper as he stares at the gold. A huge smile breaks out onto John B's face and he was grabbing a hold of Marina, kissing her cheek excitedly.  "Holy shit we actually did it!" He screams and Marina just raises her eyebrows as she awkwardly tenses in his arms.

"Okay, that was a bit much." She tells him and he immediately retracts his arms.

"Sorry, sorry I just--" He cuts himself off as he cant stop looking at the gold in his hand. "I can't believe it's here." John B admits. Marina knew he was probably thinking a lot, especially since this was what his dad set off to find when he went missing.

Suddenly John B was tugged back a bit making him look back at the whole. "Shit, yeah we're coming!" He shouts at them, grabbing a bar and rushing back toward the hole. Marina grabs a hold of the rope as well and they were instantly being brought back up. She could hear a commotion but didn't know what was going on.

The rope dropped them down a bit making her gasp. John B shouts a bit, looking up at the top. Luckily they could see the ledge. He wraps his arm around her, lifting her up a bit. She reaches up, trying to grab onto the brick to pull herself up. She stops when she notices the old woman in front of her, seemingly shooting at her friends.

Her eyes widen but she quietly gets out of the well, hitting the ground. John B was quick to follow her and they all race out of the house in order to get back to the twinkie. "Why are we always getting shot at?!" Pope shouts as they pile into the twinkie,  JJ getting in the drivers seat.

Since John B and Marina were a little behind, the van started to drive off without them inside of it. She groans as she speeds up, jumping inside the open door and instantly glaring at JJ. "Dude!" She sneers as she hits his arm. JJ winces but more looked disgusted cause of what she was covered in. "Why the fuck would you start driving away?" She asks as John B also jumps in, slamming the door shut.

"Holy, shit." Kiara mutters as she rests her head back against the van.

"You guys good? You get shot?" Pope asks, his eyes full of concern as he checks everybody.

"I think id know if i was shot, right?" Kiara asks them as she moves her hands across her body.

"You look disgusting." Pope mutters as he stares at the pair who were covered head to toe in whatever was in that godawful water.

"God, you smell like ass." Kiara adds, covering her nose and Marina tilts her head as she narrows her eyes a bit.

"Thanks for noticing." Marina grumbles and Kiara looks at her sheepishly.

"What the hell just happened?" Sarah asks, a bit out of breathe.

"All time pogue hall of fame, baby." JJ announces with a smirk on his face and Kiara laughs, nodding her head.

"Hell, yeah." She says before looking back out the window. "That bitch is possessed." Kiara announces.

"That bitch can't aim." Sarah adds with a scoff.

"How does she move that fast?" Pope asks.

Kiara looks toward her best friend and John B, seeing both of them just staring at something they were holding. Her eyes widen as she really couldn't  believe what it was. "What is that?" Kiara asks them.

"No, you didn't." Sarah was in shock as well as the gold bar was evident in their hands.

"We did it, baby!" John B shouts with a proud smile on his face. Marina couldn't help but smile as well, not believing they had pulled it off.

"No, you didn't!"

"We did it!"

"Oh, my god!" Jj glances back at the group, all of them barely able to process what was happening as they start screaming.

"Guys, we're gonna be rich!" Kiara announces as she looks at the group.

"Full kook, full kook!" The group cheers as they all celebrate their victory. But when is a victory ever long lasting for the pogues within the outerbanks?

❧

JJ HAD GOTTEN UP TO USE THE BATHROOM, the rest of the group as sleep scattered among John B's living room. It was only when he returned that he noticed they were missing somebody. Marina wasn't next to kiara like she had been when he had closed his eyes. He furrowed his eyebrows, becoming a bit confused as he glances around the room.

But he noticed the dim light from the porch shining through the window. Rubbing his tired eyes, he walks toward the door, slowly opening it as it creaked quite a bit. And as he peeks his head outside, he noticed the girl sitting on the couch, drawing on the page in front of her.

He glances around, wondering why she wasnt asleep like everyone else. "Hey." JJ says softly, catching her attention. She seemed a bit startled at first but calmed when she noticed it was him.

"Hi." Her voice was quiet as she looked over him briefly before returning her eyes to her drawing.

"What are you doing out here?" JJ asks her, crossing his arms against his chest and she only shrugs her shoulders. "You not tired?" He wonders as he was practically falling back asleep as he just stood outside.

"Not really."

He wasnt really expecting a full conversation. After all, he basically accused her of doing something with Rafe without knowing the full story. He had just been jealous and he let it get the best of him even though he knew that wasn't an excuse.

"Look, uh... I'm sorry about--" He starts to apologize but she only cuts him off.

"Its fine." Marina didn't hold it against him, she knew how it had looked and she wasn't exactly anxious to tell them the real reason.

"No, i was way out of line and I'm sorry." JJ tells her and she only nods her head. "I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but just know you can if you want to." He admits but he saw her jaw clench a bit.

"I'd rather not."

"I don't know what youve been through but if you need someone to maybe... understand even just a little bit, I can be that person."  JJ just didn't want her to feel like she had to deal with this alone, like she had to keep it to herself and act like she was totally fine.

"JJ, can you not try and sympathize with me right now?" Marina pleads, not needing the fake bullshit that she knew most people would give her.

"I was abused too." JJ's words felt like rocks coming up his throat. He had never really ever said the words out loud. And even though his friends knew, they never really spoke about it because he felt like it was his own issue to deal with.

Marina went a silent, her gaze shifting back to him and he could see that she was slightly surprised but he honestly didn't think it was because of what he had admitted, it looked like she was just shocked that he was telling her. "Not in the way that you were-- and I know it's not the same thing." JJ didnt want to compare their experiences, it wasnt the same. Even though both were equally bad.

They both were different in a way, living in seperate areas of their mind. JJ had to worry about his dad, the man having done this for quite a while. But he knew Marina had it different, because she didnt just have to fear one man, because it was never just one.

"My dad." He mutters as he gestures to the healing bruises on his face which she had noticed. Marina doesn't say anything, she didnt know if she was the right person to say something. "I'm just saying if you feel like there's some things you can't tell Kiara because you feel like she won't understand, you can tell me.
I won't say anything." JJ assures her.

He knew her and Kiara were super close, best friends and all. JJ was pretty sure they told each other mostly everything and Kiara always seemed to be the only one Marina would allow to touch her occasionally, although the girl never really was the first to initate it.

But JJ also knew that talking to someone about this sort of thing happening to you wasn't always easy. Especially when they hadn't gone through it themselves and couldn't truly understand the way your mind thinks or tries to protect itself.

"Pogue honour." He tells her, raising his hand up in a sort of salute. Marina presses her lips together tightly, slight amusement forming on her face as she looks at him.

"Is that a thing?"

"It can be." JJ admits with a shrug of his shoulders. He sighs as he tilts his head a bit. "I'm just saying you can talk to me." They didn't even have to have a conversation, he would just listen to her if that's what she wanted.

But she didn't say anything more, her eyes having fallen back to her paper. JJ didnt want to push her, knowing that it was hard to speak up about this sort of thing. He just wanted her to know that if she wanted to, he would be there for her. Even though he knew he wasnt exactly her favourite person.

As he turns to go back through the door, her voice stops him. "JJ." He looks back over at her, seeing what looked like a grateful expression on her face. "Thank you." Her voice was a bit shaky and it seemed like she was genuinely thankful that he had said this to her. He nods his head but glances back to the house.

"Are you sure you don't want to come inside?" JJ suggests, not liking the idea of her being outside all alone.

"I can't... I can't sleep." Marina admits. Even if she went back inside, it wasn't like she would be able to close her eyes anyways. At least out here she wasn't disturbing anyone.

"No ones gonna hurt you anymore, Mari. Not while we're here." He assures her. JJ didnt think that would really help her though, he knew things probably haunted her dreams.

"I'm not that tired anyways." She lies as she shifts in her place a bit. JJ sighs but doesnt say anything and when he walks back inside, she thought that was the end of it. Until he returned with a blanket and a pillow.

This made her confused as her eyebrows furrow, her gaze following his movements closely. "What are you doing?" Marina asks him, watching as he sat down, putting the pillow behind his head and throwing the blanket over him but it mainly landed on her own lap.

"Staying out here." JJ states obviously as he shifts to get a bit more comfortable. Marina sighs as she knew what he was doing.

"You don't have to do that." She denies. Marina didn't want to feel like a charity case or like they need to watch over her. That would only make her feel like more of a freak.

"Uh, maybe I just like the cool breeze, not everything's about you." He mutters a bit, raising an eyebrow. This made Marina let out the smallest laugh as she couldnt help herself. She wasn't used to being sassed by the man and she felt like it was because he felt more comfortable being himself around the others.

She doesn't say anything more, her eyes moving back to her page. JJ was just staring out into the yard, trying his hardest to not just look like a weirdo gazing at her. But his eyes would shift to her every so often, watching the wind flutter in her hair, her pale skin shining under the moonlight and the slight furrow in her brow appearing as she focused on her drawing.

He couldn't help but smile. Something about it, about her, made this warm feeling flutter inside of him. The way she nibbled at her bottom lip when she was concentrating. How she let out a small huff of air every time she made the tiniest mistake. And how her nose scrunched up in the slightest when she was deep in thought.

His friends would call him crazy for noticing this much, mainly cause he was never this attentive to anything. But Marina captured his attention, how could she not? She was just perfect in his eyes. Too perfect to be with someone like him.

Marina had noticed the staring but she thought it was just him trying to get a peek at her drawing because she had refused to show him before. So, letting of her ego, she just turns the notebook toward him. This catches JJ a bit off guard and he felt like he had been caught, until she started speaking.

"Its the group." She tells him, a somewhat nervous flicker through her tone that she always had when showing anyone her art. Marina didn't feel like it was good enough and was always terrified of people not liking it or thinking it was weird. She tried not to show that, to act like she didn't care, but no matter what, deep down she always would.

JJ's eyes drop down to the page, noticing that it was in fact the pogues that she had drawn. They were stood around a bonfire, all of them seemingly smiling or laughing while Marina was the one sat down on one of the logs with what seemed to be the same notepad he was looking at. The overall tone of the drawing was a bit darker, a few things morphed into her own style but it was clear who the people were.

"Thats amazing. I love it." He admits with a smile, his finger brushing along the page as he analyzed it. Marina felt like she had been holding her breath until he said that, seeing the actual interest he seemed to have in it. "Although, you can make me slightly taller than JB." JJ adds, pointing to it.

Marina only shakes her head, bringing the notebook back over to her lap. "It has to be accurate." She says in a stern tone and JJ chuckles a bit underneath his breath.

"Mm." JJ hums as he rests his head in the palm of his hand. His eyes scan over her as she yawns, rubbing her eyes but continues to draw on her paper. "If you want, you don't have to, you can try to close your eyes for a little bit. I'll stay awake and watch over you." He suggests, hoping that would give her a little incentive to get even just an hour of sleep.

Marina glances at him momentarily and a flicker of a smile forms on her face as she looks at him before her gaze returns to the page in front of her.

❧

JJ GROANS AS HE FEELS SOMETHING HITTING HIS FOREHEAD. He grumbles as he moves his hand to wack at whatever it was, moving in his spot as his eyes flutter open a bit. He notices John B standing over him which made him a bit confused. The man just flicks his forehead once more with a light chuckle. "You cozy?" He asks curiously and JJ yawns as he stretches out slightly.

"Hm?" He hums, rubbing his face as he glances beside him. Marina was sleeping in the spot next to him, only slightly leant against his body as the blanket covered them both. JJ turns a bit red as he creates a little distance, making sure he didnt wake her up. "Oh, we were just chilling out here." JJ tells him and John B looked a bit suspicious as he flickered his eyes between them.

"I can see that." John B admits as JJ gazes at the sleeping girl for a momeng. "You guys talk?" He asks, wondering if they had said anything to each other or if they had sat in silence. JJ only shrugs his shoulders.

"A bit."

"Is that why you're blushing?" John B teases the man who only turns a darker shade of red as he gets up from the couch.

"I'm not blushing." He grumbles, fixing the blanket on top of the girl as he steps a few feet away from her. "Step two is complete though." JJ admits proudly which makes John B scoff a bit.

"Really? Do you have proof?"

"Youre annoying."

"So, what's step three?" He questions and JJ contemplates it for a moment before shaking his head.

"Its a secret." JJ tells him and John B blankly stares back at him.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, can't have you ruining it." JJ tells him and John B chuckles as he rolls his eyes playfully.

"Whatever." He mumbles, rubbing his jaw as he looked toward Marina momentarily. "Hows she doing?" John B asks curiously. JJ becomes a bit more serious as he chews the inside of his cheek.

"Shes scared. Even though she tries not to show it in front of people." JJ knew Marina put on a hard shell, even with Kiara. She didn't often let down her walls. He didn't know if it was a defense mechanism or because it was just who she was, but he chipped his way through a bit last night and he did notice the genuine fear that was within her when talking about how she couldn't sleep.

"When does she ever show emotion in front of people?" John B jokes, chuckling lightly as he crosses his arms against his chest. "Personally, I think you should just tell her." He admits. Although John B knew JJ was avoidant with his own feelings and was using this whole five step plan as a diversion.

"Oh, cause you're the the love expert?" JJ retorts with a small scoff.

"Which one of us has a girlfriend?"

"I just feel like if I tell her now, it'll seem like I'm taking advantage and I don't want that." JJ admits as he glances toward Marina. She was vulnerable with him last night and he felt like if he just turned around and blurted out his feelings, it was just using the trust she gave him.

"That was actually incredibly sincere, JJ, I'm impressed." John B says, raising his eyebrows a bit. JJ groans as he rolls his eyes, looking away from his best friend.

"Youre so annoying."

"What has happened to my best friend? You've turned all warm and gooey inside." He admits, wrapping his arm around JJ's shoulders and putting his hand on the man's chest. JJ grunts as he pushes him off.

"Get off of me, I swear I'll punch you." JJ warns him, narrowing his eyes and John B smirks to himself.

"I'm sure you'll give me a nice cuddle instead." John B teases him and JJ just sends a glare his way as he stares at him. John B turns, quickly running off of the porch with JJ chasing after him.

From the couch, Marina's eyes flutter open, her gaze moving to where the two boys were fighting in the yard. A soft breath leaves her lips as her eyes land on JJ, feeling a slight flutter move through her heart.

❧

Authors note; it's starting ahhhhh. What do you guys think of this story so far?