JOHN B
I've always wondered if things would've been different if I hadn't met JJ Maybank in third grade. I like to think that maybe, just maybe, life would've been a little less chaotic, but then again, who the hell would want that? We were like gasoline and fire from the start—a match made in heaven or hell, depending on who you ask.
I remember that first day like it was yesterday. New kid in school, sitting alone during recess, just minding my own business. Then, out of nowhere, this wild blond kid with a chipped tooth comes barreling at me, launching into a tackle like we're in the NFL. "You're it!" he shouts, and just like that, I'm roped into the most intense game of tag I've ever played.
From that day on, JJ and I were inseparable. He was the brother I never had, filling the void after Big John started spending more time out on the boat, chasing treasure and leaving me to fend for myself. JJ's dad, Luke Maybank, wasn't much of a parent either, but at least we had each other. That was enough.
We grew up fast on the island, learning the ropes the hard way. By the time we hit high school, we were pros at sneaking out, dodging cops, and getting into all sorts of trouble. It was us against the world, or at least that's how it felt.
But then, everything started to change. First, there was Sarah Cameron, the girl who seemed to float into my life like some kind of angel, all blonde hair and bright eyes. She was from a different world—the Kooks' world—but that didn't stop me from falling head over heels for her. JJ tried to warn me, but I didn't listen. I couldn't. Sarah was different, and I was too deep in by the time I realized what that meant for us, for me and JJ.
JJ, though... JJ had his own demons. Luke Maybank wasn't just a shitty dad; he was a monster, plain and simple. I'd heard the stories, seen the bruises JJ tried to hide. I wanted to help, but JJ was too proud, too damn stubborn to let anyone in. He dealt with it in his own way, and more often than not, that meant picking fights he couldn't win and pushing everyone away. But I couldn't walk away from him, even when things got bad. Especially then.
That summer, the one before everything went to hell, was supposed to be the best of our lives. Just me, JJ, Pope, and Kie, doing what we do best—hitting the water, partying until dawn, and forgetting about the real world. But then Big John disappeared, and everything changed.
It was like the ground had been ripped out from under me. I was lost, more than I'd ever been, and the only thing that kept me sane was the thought of finding him, of proving he wasn't just another casualty of the island. JJ was right there with me, swearing he'd help me find the truth, no matter what it took. We didn't have much, but we had each other, and that was enough.
Or at least, it used to be.
Now, with Sarah in my life and the search for Big John taking over everything, I can feel the distance growing between me and JJ. He doesn't say it, but I know he feels it too. It's like we're on two different paths, and I'm not sure how to bridge the gap.
But I have to try. I owe him that much. After everything we've been through, I can't let JJ slip away. Not when I know how much he's hurting, even if he won't admit it. We've been through hell together, and I'm not about to let him face his demons alone.
As I sit on the dock, staring out at the water, I can't help but wonder where we go from here. The island, the treasure, Sarah... they've all become a part of me, but so has JJ. He's my brother, and I won't give up on him. Not now, not ever.
The sun starts to set, casting an orange glow over the water, and I hear footsteps behind me. I don't have to turn around to know it's JJ. He's always been there, just like I've always been there for him.
"Hey, man," he says, plopping down next to me. He doesn't say anything else, just sits there, the silence between us comfortable, familiar.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. We don't need words, not right now. We just need each other, and that's enough.
For now.