⤜---⤛ 𝔽𝕀𝕊𝕊𝕌ℝ𝔼 ⤜---⤛ ▬▬ 𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕓𝕒𝕟𝕜𝕤 ∗ 𝕛𝕛 ▬▬

⤛ 𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕤 ⤜

"Come on and let me knooow!"

Talia watched as JJ yelled at the top of his lungs, spinning around the bonfire with a beer bottle in each hand. "Should I stay or should I go?" As he spun for the third time, he finally noticed them. "Heyyy, guys! You're late to the fiesta, mis amigos!" He cheered, taking a deep swig of one of the beers, and lifting the other to the sky.

"Unbelievable," Kiara muttered under her breath, looking on in disbelief.

The sand under Pope shifted as he slid down, the last to arrive at the beach. "That can't be good."

JJ staggered over to an opened, half-empty box of beers that lay messily not too far from the fire. Talia watched as he shoved his hand in, fumbling around for a second before pulling out a fresh bottle and holding it up for display. "Don't you worry, I saved some for you guys. No need to thank me!"

"What the fuck, JJ?" Kiara yelled, angrily gesturing to him.

John B finally broke his silence. "We've been out there all day looking for you!"

JJ shrugged and raised his arms out like the wings of a bird, smiling at them. "Well, as God is thy witness," he said, stumbling a few steps as he attempted to bow, "I doth hath been found!"

"Where the hell have you been. man?!" Pope yelled as they all began to make their way over to him.

As they approached, the flicker of a tall flame illuminated JJ's face and body. His baggy white singlet was speckled with mud and dirt, and a long streak of blood was visible across his abdomen. His feet were bare, cut and bleeding. A large black patch covered his eye, and more blood was smeared across his nose and mouth. His knotted hair was wild in the wind. Talia felt sick to her stomach at the sight of him.

JJ frowned and puckered his lips, pretending to be deep in thought. "Oh, that's a really good question, my dear friend," he slurred, lowering his voice to a mysterious whisper and draping his arm around Pope, who looked uncomfortable. "Unfortunately, the answer to it has been lost," he widened his eyes as if he had seen a ghost, gesturing towards the ocean. "Lost... at sea."

Pope shook him off, clearly annoyed. "Seriously, dude?"

"What... happened to you, Jayj?" Kiara stopped a few feet away, concern etched on her face as she scanned JJ up and down.

JJ glanced up at her, and for a moment, his carefree facade faltered. He appeared lost in thought before the massive grin returned once again. "Oh, you know me, Kie." He sauntered closer, his tone surprisingly grim. "I've got nothing to lose, right?"

Kiara's jaw dropped slowly, and a look of guilt flashed across her face. "I..."

JJ abruptly cut her off as he turned around, a smirk plastered across his face. "Anyway," he began, lifting his arm with a bottle of beer in hand, "You should see the other guys!" He let out a light chuckle as he took another swig from the bottle.

John B walked closer to him, his tone serious as he gestured towards the beer. "Hey, cut it out, man."

Despite the warning, JJ defied him and tilted the bottle even further. Clearly frustrated, John B yelled again, this time smacking the bottle out of his hand, which landed on the ground with a thud, spilling beer onto the sand.

JJ shoved him immediately. "What the fuck, bro?" He closed in on him as John B staggered back. "You got a problem with me or something?" he spat.

Kiara's voice rose, filled with anger as she yelled out JJ's name. John B, recovering from his stumble, pushed JJ back, and their eyes locked in a tense stare.

"Hands off, JJ," John B warned him.

JJ just laughed, his eyes glinting as he drunkenly swayed. "You wanna hit me, John B?"