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Chapter 5
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The storm had come to an end at some point during the night and by morning the rain and wind had stopped all together, leaving tons of wreckage in its wake. Not by any means surprising, Elora found she was the first to wake up. The sound of her brother snoring from behind his closed door was her first clue, the sight of JJ laid out on the pull out couch on his stomach sleeping was her second.
Part of her was relieved JJ was asleep still. Elora quietly poured herself a cup of juice after realizing the power was out and coffee wouldn't be an option and headed out onto the porch. Curling up on the couch outside, she was left with her thoughts as she watched the sun fully rise.
The feeling of JJ's hand on her cheek, his lips mere seconds away from kissing her own, kept her tossing and turning all night long. It wouldn't be the first time she'd imagined what kissing JJ would be like, but she never in a million years thought it would happen for real.
JJ was her brother's best friend. They've known them basically almost their entire lives. JJ Maybank had always been like her second brother growing up, minus the two years in middle school when she'd had the biggest crush on him. She blamed it on newly found hormones.
Then Pope joined their group and there were a few years when she'd been left behind. John B didn't want his sister chasing him and his friends around and vice versa when it was suddenly obvious she was no longer a child, but now a full blown teenager with boobs.
That was when things had shifted. Kiara had joined their group and John B had created the no pogue on pogue macking rule. She was never sure if it was for their sake or for his because he knew JJ and Pope wouldn't dare break it by making a move on her or Kiara.
But things had changed since Big John had disappeared. JJ was basically living with them now. There were more awkward moments between them, more time when it was just the two of them here alone while John B was at work. Their friendship had evolved as they got time to actually talk to each other and learn more about the other.
Even when she was dating Jake, that bond had continued to grow stronger, but she'd always assumed it was their friendship growing deeper. It never occurred to her that maybe there were now feelings there between them that hadn't been there before. That is, until their game of flirting began and she realized maybe those old feelings were just buried deep down inside of her still.
Still, it never once occurred to her that anything could happen from innocent flirting. JJ was still JJ, and he definitely wasn't into her. She had Jake and JJ preferred blonde tourons who weren't looking for anything serious. At least, that's what she thought until he tried to kiss her last night.
"You look like you're thinking about something serious. It's entirely too early for that, baby sis."
Elora looked up from her spot on the couch out on the screen porch. Her gaze had been stuck on the mug held tightly between her fingers. The cup of room temperature apple juice would have to do until she can get some real coffee. "Huh? Oh, just wondering how we're gonna get all this shit cleaned up. There's a lot of debris. At least the place is still standing." She said, brushing off her brother's concern as he made his way to the doorway leading out onto the porch.
She could just barely hear JJ mutter something as John B passed him on the couch and moved toward the screen door beside her. He yawned as he headed outside to inspect the damage better.
Elora stood from her spot on the couch as she set down her cup. The sound of sheets rustling caught her attention as she shifted her gaze back inside the house. JJ had arisen, shirtless and still half asleep, and was leaning against the doorway. His hair was a bird's nest going in all kinds of different directions and she felt a heat rise to her cheeks as she remembered running her fingers through his locks.
"Mornin', Baby P." He yawned as he ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to tame it.
Elora averted her eyes, choosing the safer direction as she watched John B move around the debris outside. "You should go and help him clean up." She said, crossing her arms as she made a point to not look back in his direction again.
The awkwardness was clearly there and neither was sure how to approach the subject of how to change that. At least not so early in the morning. JJ rubbed his neck, his lips pursed as he considered what to say. What he wanted to say felt stuck in his throat. So, he decided not to say anything as he nodded and headed outside.
As the screen door shut, Elora felt herself able to release the breath she'd been holding. The last thing she wanted was to make things awkward between her and JJ and that was exactly what she'd done by putting the idea out into the universe after seeing Jake with that girl. It wasn't fair to JJ and Elora knew she needed to apologize to him.
Now just wasn't the right time.
"Hey, El, go change! We're gonna go grab the others and go fishing out in the marsh!" John B shouted out.
Elora had half the mind to make an excuse, but she knew if she avoided JJ completely it'd only make things worse. Giving them a quick thumbs up, she deserted her cup and headed back toward her room to go change. Closing her bedroom door, she went in search of her lavender bikini and a pair of jean shorts.
She had only managed to tie her top strings when there was a knock on her door. Hurrying to finish getting her bottoms on, she reached over and opened the door to find JJ standing there. Her eyes widened, fully aware that she was standing there in just her bikini.
It wasn't an odd sight for him to see, but after last night it felt different. Especially when his gaze immediately dropped and lingered on her chest a moment longer than he should have.
Clearing her throat, she hoped to get his attention back on her face. "JJ, I'm just getting ready. I-I'll be right out." She said, fully intending on just shutting the door again when his hand pressed against the other side to keep it open.
"Wait, wait, hold on. I just . . . wanted to make sure we were cool. You know, after, you know," He was starting to ramble and couldn't meet her gaze and she realized then that he was just as nervous about messing with their friendship as she was.
Clearing her throat, she brushed her hair behind her ear and gave him a small smile. "Nothing happened last night, JJ. We're good. It was a momentary lapse of judgement. It won't happen again."
Elora wanted to ignore the hurt she saw cross his face, but instead she found it hard to forget it. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him or his feelings, but with everything else going on in her life right now? Messing up their friendship wasn't something she could handle.
Clearing his throat, he lowered his gaze and rubbed his neck. "Right, yeah. Sure. You're right. I'm sorry for making it weird."
He was building back up that wall and Elora hated to feel it between them. That was the last thing she wanted to do. Opening the door just enough, she reached forward and took hold of his hand. "Hey, you didn't make anything weird. There's nothing to be sorry for." She said softly, hoping her smile was more convincing this time.
His eyes fell to their entwined fingers before slowly lifting back up to meet her gaze. Elora could feel the heat lingering from his gaze and felt her stomach flutter to life with butterflies. The temptation to pull him inside, let him act upon the hunger burning behind his gaze, was almost too much for her to resist.
Her lower lip found itself trapped between her teeth as her eyes raised to meet his own. JJ took a step forward, his head leaning down toward her, and she suddenly startled, taking a step backwards. "JJ, you should go outside with John B."
It was a warning, though she wasn't sure if it was to remind herself that her brother was only yards away or if it was a reminder to him why this was a bad idea. Deep down, she wished he wouldn't listen.
Swallowing, he cleared his throat and straightened, releasing her hand as he rubbed the back of his neck again. "You're right. Sorry,"
Elora had a feeling he was anything but sorry. He almost looked pleased with himself, like he was happy to know he wasn't imagining whatever was happening between them. It was still a horrible idea to act upon whatever it is, she knew he knew that, but there was no denying it.
JJ took a step back, just enough so she could shut the door without it hitting his face. She didn't even give him a second to process before the door clicked closed between them. Turning, she leaned back against her door and took a much needed deep breath. "Fuck," she muttered, closing her eyes as she let her body relax.
JJ was most certainly going to be the death of her.
#$#%$#$
John B was steering the boat through the water with JJ beside him, both taking in the damage left behind from hurricane Agatha. She could hear them studying the boats, waving hello over to the locals who noticed them. Elora sat up at the bow of the boat, lifting her sunglasses as she saw fallen trees and debris blown about. It was devastating to see her home like this, but it also wasn't new and the locals would be able to get their lives back in order in no time.
Still, it wasn't a pretty sight to look at and that recovering might take longer than expected for all she knew. People could have lost their homes, their businesses, friends or family. For all they knew, life as they knew it had changed forever.
"Sure hope Guffy's boat didn't sink." JJ spoke. "He doesn't have insurance."
Elora held her hand over her eyes, blocking out the sun as she squinted to see the boys. "I'm sure they made it out okay."
Turning her head, she saw the man in question cleaning up with his wife. She smiled and gave them a quick wave of her hand. "Hi, Miss Amy! You guys get through it okay? I can send the boys over to help clean up." She called over to the older couple.
"Elora," John B muttered under his breath.
The entire point of this fishing trip was to get out of doing hard labor. Yet, here she was, offering them up like little worker bees.
"We're still here, sweetheart. We'll be fine though. You two need anything?" She called back.
When Big John went missing, the people on the south side of the cut either mothered them to death or avoided making eye contact because they didn't know what to say to her or her brother. There was always some neighbor bumping into Elora at the market or at the Wreck asking if they needed anything.
It was one of the reasons she loved living on the cut. Even if most people minded their own business, you could always count on your neighbors to help out in a crisis.
"Don't worry about us, Miss Amy. We're doing okay. Thanks though." She said, waving a quick goodbye as they continued on.
JJ waited all of two seconds once they were out of earshot to speak up. "Dude, she totally looked at me."
Elora snorted, rolling her eyes. "You wish, JJ."
His jaw dropped, as if he was seriously offended. "She definitely gave me a once over. You saw it, John B. Back me up here, man."
John B looked as if he wanted no part of this conversation, but saw no other option than to side with his friend. "Yeah, I saw it, man."
Elora shook her head, fighting the smile that was curling on her lips. Sometimes these two were just too much. "Oh, she looked once and it was over, right? She's definitely hooked on those little biceps you've got over there."
"Baby, don't be jealous if other women are noticing me now. Ain't nothing little about these guns, or anything else about me." He teased, winking as he smirked while he made a show of flexing his muscles for her.
Raising her hand, Elora waved it to fan her face. She just hoped neither boy would notice her genuine blush. "Wow, JJ, you might be right. All those hours pigging out on my couch eating all my food has definitely made you suddenly hotter. I don't know if I can stand it. Just kiss me now."
A squeal left her lips when he tossed some of his water on her. "Sounds like you need to cool off, Baby P."
Elora was lucky they were in a rush to grab Pope and Kie or else she knew he would have happily tossed her ass into the water.
Before she could say anything more, John B was quick to cut her off. "Look at this place you guys."
JJ winked in her direction as he handed her a towel and helped her up onto her feet. She tried to ignore the way his hand seemed to linger around hers. This moment had been normal. The innocent flirting was typical JJ Maybank. It seemed as if the weirdness from this morning was gone finally and she wasn't about to let something as silly as how long his hand held onto hers mess that up.
JJ let out a low whistle as he turned his attention to the destruction done to their home. "Agatha, what did you do?"
"She's one crazy lady." John B added, relieved the topic had changed.
Elora took in the sights around her with a sense of sadness in her. This wasn't going to be an easy clean up, especially with no power. It was going to be a nightmare to get things back into order. "We're gonna be cleaning this up the rest of the summer." She spoke as she turned her attention back to the boys.
"That is my worst nightmare." Her brother commented as he slowed the boat.
They were approaching Pope's family's dock, and by coincidence, Pope as he was filling up a bucket with a hose. "Look what we have here." John B said with a nod of his head. JJ whooped happily, using his hands as a make believe trumpet. "We have a safety meeting. Attendance mandatory." John B continued, talking into his shoulder like he had some microphone radio there.
"I can't. My pops has me on lockdown." Pope spoke out.
"Come on, man." JJ started, mimicking John B as he spoke into his shoulder. "Your dad's a pussy. Over."
Unfortunately, he didn't notice the man in question walking up behind their friend. Elora, on the other hand, did and internally winced. "JJ," She warned, but it was too late. Heyward had definitely heard what he'd said.
"Oh, I heard that, you little bastard." Heyward called out as he came up beside his son.
Elora moved in front of JJ, smiling sweetly with a wave. "Sorry, Mr Heyward. I'm still teaching him manners. We need Pope for some assistance. I told Mrs Crane we'd come back and help clean up her yard. A woman her age can't be lifting trees and cleaning up broken glass like these guys certainly can, you know?"
It was a total bullshit story, but she was hoping he bought it, or at least would accept it as a reason to give in. Judging by his expression, he didn't seem to buy it and looked even less convinced to let them get away with it.
"Besides, don't forget the island rules. The day after a hurricane is a free day." JJ spoke up, ruining any chance they had of Pope's dad believing her story.
"Who the hell made that up?" Heyward called over.
"Uhh . . . Pentagon, I think. We have security clearance. I have a card." At least no one would say JJ didn't fully invest into whatever lie he was telling.
Elora smacked her head, rolling her eyes as JJ even went as far as to check his pockets. "Oh, my god."
"Do y'all think I'm stupid? At least her lie was more believable than that crap." Heyward said, shaking his head at the trio.
"I'll do it tomorrow. I promise. Tomorrow." Pope finally spoke up.
"You think . . . No, no! Hell, no. You doin' it right now." His father argued, but even Elora could see how this was going to go as Pope debated his next move.
"Get in the boat." John B whispered.
"Make a run for it, bro. Make a run for it." JJ encouraged.
Elora just shook her head, laughing before she motioned for Pope to come on. Without giving himself another second to debate how badly this could turn out for him, Pope dropped the hose and made an awkward run for the boat.
"Boy, if you get in that boat . . ."
Elora and JJ both cheered as Pope made the hop over onto the boat. She found herself laughing as he panically begged her brother to quickly get the boat moving again. All the while, Heyward was ordering him to return. "I promise I'll do it tomorrow, dad! I promise." He called back as they pulled away from the dock and started forward.
"When you get back, you're gonna clean shrimp. You're gonna clean fish. You'll clean your dirty ass room!" Heyward shouted after them. "And I don't like your friends!"
Elora knew Pope was in for a rude awakening when he returned home tonight and honestly felt a little bad for him. That pity was soon replaced with sadness at the reminder that there wouldn't be anyone waiting for her and her brother at home to scold them for doing this.
JJ wrapped an arm around her as he dropped down on the side of the boat beside her, kissing her head in a way that told her he knew where her head had gone because, even though he had a parent at home? He might as well didn't. Luke Maybank was nothing like Heyward.
"One pogue down, one to go." JJ commented, smiling as he saluted to Pope.
Pope took her vacated spot on the bow of the boat. He still seemed wary as he turned his attention to Elora. "We're not really going to Mrs Crane's right? That was actual bullshit?"
Elora laughed, sharing a look with JJ before she nodded. "Of course. We did promise your dad we'd bring you back in one piece."
JJ snorted, knowing good and well the story of Mrs Crane and how she murdered her husband with an axe. It was an old ghost story all the teens on the outer banks knew about. "We wouldn't want you to come back without your head." He taunted.
"That's totally not funny, you guys." Pope said, rubbing his neck.
It was a motion that didn't go unnoticed by JJ and Elora, and if anything, only made them laugh more.
It wasn't long until they pulled up to another dock, the last member of their group making her way toward them. Elora felt relief seeing her friend because now she could focus on someone else that wasn't the boys. Specifically JJ Maybank.
"Oooh, top of the mornin' to ya." John B welcomed the new addition as he pulled the boat up next to the end of the dock.
"Mornin', boys. Hey, El." Kiara greeted as she headed for the end of the docks.
"What'cha got? You got some juice boxes?" John B asked, taking in the sight of the cooler in her hand.
"You know, just some yogurt and some carrot sticks."
JJ was ready to help her aboard as he held out his hand. "How about my juice boxes?" He asked, grinning when he heard her teasing yeah.
Elora smiled, giving her friend a wave of her hand. "You are a welcomed sight. I think if I had to hear one more beltching contest I was going to jump overboard."
Elora left JJ's side as she and Kiara shifted to sit on the opposite side. She opened up the cooler and passed the cold bottles of beer around to her friends. "That's disgusting. Looks like I arrived just in time. You doing okay?" Kiara asked as she clinked glasses with Elora.
The girl in question considered the question and if now was the best time to open that can of worms with her friend. She hadn't been able to tell her about seeing the girl with Jake because the storm had knocked out the cell service. Then there was the matter of what almost happened between her and JJ and she wasn't sure she even wanted Kiara to know about that.
Then there was the matter of her brother and their other friend sitting just feet from them and the lack of privacy this boat had. "I have survived worse. I'll be okay, Kie. There are plenty of fish in the sea, right?" She said, hoping her sad smile was enough to convince her friend that she was okay.
Elora could feel a burning stare on her and refused to look across the boat to where JJ was sitting. The others seemed to accept her answer, but she knew he didn't. The last thing she needed was for him to call her out on it though.
JJ leaned forward, his arm outreached with the beer in his hand. "To finding better fish."
Caving, she finally raised her gaze to meet his and offered him a grateful smile. Nodding, she reached forward and clinked bottles with him. "To better fish."
Kiara and Pope mimicked them a moment after, John B raising up his own bottle from his spot behind the wheel. Looking around the boat, Elora realized she might not be lying when she said she'd be okay. She had survived worse. Her dad was assumed dead, lost at sea, her uncle had left them months ago, and DCS could put them in foster care at any moment. She could lose all of this, her home, her friends, her brother, all of it.
Her father was right when he said there was always somewhere lower than rock bottom a person could go. Seeing all of her friends, her family, sitting with her laughing as they joked over beers made her remember one bad break up was nowhere near rock bottom. Somehow she was still managing to keep her head above the surface.
For now anyway.