In the Dark ~ j.m¹

Chapter Twelve: Plotting

"Maggie, relax." MJ says, placing his mug down. Abby stays quiet. "She's a good kid, she always checks in. There's no power, no service, how was she supposed to tell us she got caught up?"

Gram stays silent, turning to the sink to rinse out her mug. Abby moves to stand next to her. "I really am sorry, Gram. We went out fishing and then we got caught up in other stuff — I lost track of time. It won't happen again, I swear."

Gram looks up at her, biting her lips. "Alright..." She grabs the sponge and begins cleaning her mug, not giving Abby a second glance. The young girl looks over at MJ, who gives her a sympathetic look, and a small smile.

Abby nods, understanding she won't get anywhere right now. She reaches into the cabinet again, pulling out two pop tart packets and a few granola bars. She walks over to her backpack, shoving them in, before pulling the bag back onto her shoulder.

"I'm going surfing with JJ." She announces. "I'll be back later tonight."

Gram turns around to say something, but MJ holds his hand up, silencing the older woman. Abigail stands awkwardly near the counter, unsure what to do next. MJ looks at the girl, and smiles. "Go on, Abigail. Have fun. Be safe."

Abigail smiles at the older man, and nods. "I'll see you guys later."

Abigail doesn't wait another second, walking towards the front door, pushing it open. She quickly makes her way down the porch steps, careful of the broken one in the middle. She walks back in the direction of the Twinkie, noticing the blonde had his eyes closed.

She pulls open the door, JJ's eyes snap open and he jumps up. "I'm not sleeping." He says quickly.

Abby sighs, closing the door after she's in the seat. JJ looks at the time on the radio. "That was really fast, was Gram home?"

Abby nods, opening her bag. "Oh yeah."

"She snap?" He asks, eyeing the girl carefully.

Abby smacks her lips together, glancing up at the boy quickly. "We should've stayed asleep at the Chateau."

JJ sighs, placing a hand on the passenger seat, shifting closer. "You okay?"

"Mmhmm." Abby says quickly, lifting her gaze up back to the house. "It's just hard to be at home these days."

She turns, locking eyes with the blonde, as she pulls the pop tart from her bag. "I promised breakfast." He glances between the pop tart and her for a moment, before taking the packet. He goes to speak again, but she shakes her head.

"It's cool, J, let's just go." She gives him a small smile, nodding.

JJ keeps his eyes on her for another moment, before shifting back in his seat to face the road, and start the van. He drives away from the house, glancing at Abby as she stares at the house.

"Still don't wanna run away?" JJ says, catching the girls attention. She moves her gaze from her house, to the blonde boy in the drivers seat.

She shakes her head, a small smile on her lips, as her fingers fiddle with the rings on her fingers. JJ doesn't say another word after that, as they drive back to John B's. She remains mostly quiet, humming to the songs playing on the radio.

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A couple hours passed, the five teens were now all gathered in the surf shack at the Chateau. Kiara was playing the bongos, while Abby sat quietly next to her. Pope was sat across from them, reading a book, of course, and JJ was sitting just outside the surf shack, tossing rocks and sticks into the distance.

John B pushed off the work bench he was leaning on, turning to his friends and shattering the silence. "Look, I'm calling it off...all right?" The four teens look up at their brunette friend. "Peterkin said if I stay out of the marsh, she'll help me with DCS."

"And you believed her?" JJ asked.

"Yes, I believe her, JJ."

"An actual cop, John B? You believed a cop!" JJ says, in disbelief, tossing another stick.

"Look, all I gotta do is stay out of the marsh for a couple days, and she'll help me out!" John B exclaims, tossing his large stick to the side. "And it doesn't help that your ass was the one who was shooting a gun!"

Abigail opens her mouth to interject, but JJ starts talking instead. "You know what I should've done, man? I should've let Topper drown your ass."

"Yeah, 'cause Topper was gonna drown me?"

"Sure looked like it!" JJ says, pushing off the table he was sitting on, walking towards John B.

"Funny."

"I mean, have you looked in the mirror recently?" JJ joked.

"Keep going — come on. Tell me some more." John B says, stepping forward to meet the boy halfway. JJ leans on the side of the shack.

"They always win, don't they, man? Kooks versus Pogues. They always, always win!" He snaps, punching the buoy ball hanging from the beams of the shack. "Goddamn!"

"Look, it's okay!" Kiara says.

"No, it's not okay!" JJ exclaims, turning back around to his friends. "It is not! They don't want us to go down in the marsh, that means there's something valuable down there — and you know it, man." He points to John B. "I know you do. And I understand why you don't wanna go..." JJ looks down at the Heyward boy, still sitting in the chair. "You're the golden boy, got way too much to risk. And you," he pauses as he gestures to Kiara. "I mean, you're already rich as fuck, anyway. Why would you bother?" Kiara scrunches up her face at his words, and his eyes land on Abby next. "But you, me, and Abby man...we got nothing to lose! We really don't, alright!

"JJ..." Abby sighs, but JJ just continues.

"And, I know, it didn't use to be that way for either of you."

"I don't wanna talk about this. I don't wanna talk about it." John B says, walking past JJ.

"So that's it?"

"Just get out of my way, bro!" John B says, pushing JJ out of his way, to walk out from under the shack.

"John B, listen to me. I have a plan." JJ calls out, following the brunette out. He tosses his arm over his shoulder. "You've got the key to Cameron's big boat, right?"

John B immediately closes his eyes, shaking his head. "No..."

"There's scuba gear inside, man. We borrow that, then we go down to the wreck this afternoon, and that's what's gonna save you, man. You don't see rich kids going into foster care, do you?"

Kiara looks over at Abigail. "This should be good."

"Never a dull moment." Abby says.