Stowaways [JJ Maybank]

3. Fetch

In the morning I'm playing fetch with Juno.

I hear someone walking up behind me. I glance over my shoulder. It's JJ.
"Blondie." I say turning back around to throw the stick.

"Can I throw it?" JJ asks.
"When she gets back." I say. He nods.

"So, uh, how you been?" He asks.
"JJ, I see you like almost every second of every day."
"Cause you observe me." He smirks.
"No, I don't." I say laughing.
"See, you deny that, but not you wanting to fuck me."
"I think it's the other way around."
"You wish."
"You didn't deny it." I mock.
"You've gone a long way to do anything but deny it." He says.
"You might be hot, but you're still an ass. So, no, I do not want to fuck you so bad." I say smiling.

Juno runs over dropping the stick. I hand it to JJ.
"Don't throw it too far."

He throws it and Juno goes running after it.
"Now you're stuck here." I say getting up.
"No." He says.
"I'll be back. Just keep throwing the stick." I say walking off.

I see Sarah with a coconut.
"I want one." I say. She hands me one.

"You and JJ finally good?" She asks.
"Dunno. He's convinced I wanna fuck him." I say laughing at how absurd it sounds.
"What?" She laughs.
"Exactly. It's so weird."
"I think it's the other way."
"That's what I told him."
"And what did he say?"
"He said 'you wish' but that's the same thing I said because it was so random."
"It might be going both ways." She smirks.
"One sided." I correct.

"What are we talking about?" Kie asks walking over.
"JJ and Naomi." Sarah answers.
"Yeah, what's up with that? You guys have been acting different lately." She asks.
"He said he thinks I wanna fuck him." I say taking a sip of my coconut milk.
"Well, do you?"
"No." I say quickly.
"Then what gave him that impression?"
"The fact that he's a weirdo?" I say trying to figure out how it could be any other reason. They both laugh.
"I think the feeling goes both ways." Sarah says.
"Agreed." Kie laughs. I roll my eyes.

"You're both delusional." I say.
"Nah." Kie says.
"Why don't we talk about something actually obvious." I say.
"What?"
"Pope and Cleo." I say pointing at them walking together.
"Yeah, I noticed that too."
"They're not actually thing right?" Kie asks.
"Not that I know of." I say.
"Yet."

"Whatever, they'd be cute." I say.
"What about you and JJ?"
"Not happening. We're stranded on a deserted island for gods sake. This isn't love island." I laugh.
"Might be." Kie laughs.

"Well, JJ's with Juno right now, so I gotta get back before he kills her." I say.
"Now that's smart."

I walk back over and see JJ throw the stick. I sit next to him.
"Can I get a sip of that?" He asks. I hand it to him.
"You know when we get out of here, I'm never touching a coconut again." I say.
"Literally. Except I don't ever want to leave."
"I know. I think that's stupid."
"You never told me how it's stupid." He says.
"Because, there's nothing here. At least back in where you guys lived.."
"The OBX."
"Well, back in the OBX, you have houses, beds, showers, beer."
"We have weed too. I miss weed." He says. I laugh.
"That too."

"But here. I'm with everyone I actually care about. I don't need a bed if I can just stay here, problem free."
"It won't be problem free forever. Nothing is." I say. He presses his eyebrows together.
"This is better than what you had before though."
"That's because I had nothing. At least now, I have friends."
"Pretty big step up."
"I'd say so." I say smiling.

Our eyes lock and I catch his eyes glance down to my lips.

I hear Juno run over. I turn around and grab the stick.
"You wanna do it?" I ask JJ.
"No, thanks." He says getting up and walking off. I look at him confused.