John B despised it whenever JJ had to return home. However, she had to do so to keep the Department of Child Services off her back. John B empathized with her situation, as he himself was facing mounting issues with DCS. His father, Big John, remained missing, and the absence of Uncle Teddy as his guardian was becoming increasingly conspicuous. John B feared that authorities would soon stop accepting his explanations for Uncle Teddy's absence or his inability to attend meetings.

He felt like he was treading on thin ice with DCS, dreading the moment when it might crack beneath him, forcing him into the foster care system.

JJ had been deceiving John B. Her visits home were not just to evade DCS, but to ensure Luke Maybanks saw enough of her to keep him from showing up at the chateau. She was determined to shield John B from harm. She had fabricated the DCS excuse, knowing they never truly cared about her situation. The Maybanks' reputation sank to depths even the cut looked down upon, yet they turned a blind eye to her, which she reluctantly accepted—mostly.

Over the past year, JJ had managed to mostly avoid Luke whenever she sneaked home, but on the occasions she didn't, she inevitably returned to the chateau where John B would patch her up and take care of her. She could see the relief in his eyes when she came back, quickly followed by horror as he noticed her bruises, and then anger when she refused to let him intervene. She hated seeing those emotions play out on his face, so she often looked away, avoiding his gaze.

Secretly, she believed she wasn't worth the trouble anyway, but she kept that thought to herself, never letting John B know.

John B and JJ had just met up with Pope and Kie, lounging around a construction site destined for new kook houses. Kie's return was a welcomed addition to the group; JJ appreciated having another girl around, even though Kie often rolled her eyes at her antics. Though Kie never delved into specifics, it was clear she had briefly embraced the kook lifestyle. After a falling out with her newfound wealthy friends, she realized she was truly a Pogue at heart, developing a newfound disdain for kooks. Following a heartfelt apology to the group, she was warmly welcomed back.

They seldom broached the topic, as it still stung that Kie wasn't there during their toughest year. However, JJ occasionally glimpsed guilt in Kie's eyes, prompting her silent forgiveness.

JJ perched on a ledge, beer in hand, while Pope stood nearby, gazing up at John B who balanced precariously on a beam, also holding a beer. Despite her anxious heart fearing he might fall, JJ couldn't help but laugh at his antics.

"That's, what, a three-story drop to the deck? I'd say you've got about a one-in-three chance of survival," Pope called up to John B, his tone dripping with dry wit as usual. Always so smart.

"Hmm," John B mused, putting a finger to his lips and testing the wind. "Should I do it?"

"Yeah, you should jump!" Pope joked. "I'll shoot you on the way down."

"Oh, you're gonna shoot me?" John B grinned, playfully pointing finger guns at Pope.

Pope chuckled, "Yep," as John B mimicked shooting sounds.

"They're going to have Japanese toilets with towel warmers," Kie announced, rounding the corner after her tour of the house.

"Of course, why wouldn't they?" JJ replied nonchalantly, as if such luxuries were a standard purchase.

"This place used to be a turtle habitat," Kie added with a hint of irritation, "but I guess who cares about the turtles now." She moved to stand beside Pope.

"I can't have cold towels," JJ remarked sarcastically.

"Can you please not kill yourself?" Kie called up to John B, her voice tinged with worry.

Secretly, JJ shared the same concern, but she opted for a different approach. "Don't spill that beer! I'm not giving you another one," she called out, taking a large swig from her own bottle.

As if on cue, John B dropped his beer, nearly losing his balance on the beam. "Whoa! Oh shit," he gasped, scrambling to regain his stability.

"Of course you did, right when I told you not to," JJ called out, her voice a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Smooth," Kie frowned slightly.

John B groaned in annoyance.

"A!" JJ laughed.

"Dumbass," Kie muttered under her breath.

Pope turned around, peered over the ledge at the road below, and spotted a security guard getting out of his car.

"Hey!" the security guard yelled up at them.

"Security's here!" Pope called out hastily to the group. "Let's wrap it up."

"Boys are here early today," John B remarked casually from his perch on the beam, as if they had all the time in the world.

"Humpty Dumpty, let's roll!" JJ called up to him, rolling off her ledge and ready to make a quick exit.

They hurriedly descended from the house, JJ spotting the security guard as they moved.

"Hey, Gary, is that you?" she called out to him.

Excited shouts and laughter erupted from the four Pogues as they dashed down the stairs and out the door toward the Twinkie.

"Hey, stop!" Gary's voice boomed behind them.

He closed in, and JJ felt his arms almost grab her, but she skillfully evaded him and kept sprinting. "Not much of a hugger, man!"

She spotted Pope running not far ahead and shouted, "Go Pope! Go go go go go go!"

They scrambled to hop the fence, with Pope tumbling over to the other side. JJ, with her shorter legs, just managed to clear it, grateful for the running start.

Pope picked himself up quickly, and they resumed their sprint.

"Hey, come back here, you little pricks!" they heard the security guard bellowing from behind them.

The horn of the Twinkie honked urgently. "Bus is leaving!" John B's voice echoed from inside.

"Come on, guys! Whoo!" Kie laughed as Pope and JJ hurled themselves into the van through the sliding door. John B floored the gas pedal.

"Hey!" they heard Gary shout as the heavyset man chased after them on foot, sweat dripping down his face.

"Look at Gary gunning for a raise!" Pope laughed from inside the Twinkie.

JJ joined in laughter while watching Gary chase after them. "Wait, slow down," she said, grabbing a beer and pulling herself to hang out the side.

"You're so close! You can do it! There you go!" JJ cheered at Gary, tossing him the beer. It nearly hit him in the face, but he managed to block it with his hands. "They don't pay you enough, bro!"

"JJ, stop!" Kie complained, but JJ just laughed as she pulled herself back into the Twinkie.

"Oh, come on. That kind of initiative is just begging to be punished," JJ chuckled, and Kie shook her head, though a smile tugged at her lips.

Gary fell behind, and the Pogues continued laughing and enjoying themselves.

JJ looked around at her friends and felt a deep sense of contentment. She watched John B laughing at something Pope had said and made a silent decision. Their mission for the summer, she decided, would be to have a good time—all the time.