JJ loved Halloween. She loved everything about it. The movies, the costumes, the pumpkins and the candy. Buck usually worked the Halloween shift, so the two would spend the 30th curled up on the couch with way too much candy and binge-watch their favourite movies.
But he was working tonight, and Halloween night. And because they were his first shifts back, he couldn't ask for them off. Thanks a lot, Captain Nash.
Anyway, she was currently in the kitchen as she listened to Chris, Harry and Denny laughing loudly as they played a Halloween-themed game on the PlayStation.
Karen, Athena and Carla had dropped the boys off earlier this morning, as the 118, plus Athena, all had to work the Halloween shifts. All the children were upset, but they'd never decline their 'JJ time' as they called it.
So here she was, watching three-way to energetic pre-teens until their parents picked them up at 8 pm.
Today was a better day. It wasn't a good day, as the first thing she did when she woke up was throw a pill into her mouth. But she wasn't as tense as she normally was. It was probably due to the presence of her three favourite boys, but she'd take the win for now.
She was supposed to be watching them all day with Sophia, but when Carla had dropped Chris off, she had told her that Sophia wasn't feeling well so she was spending the day in bed.
JJ knew it was bullshit, she knew it was due to the other night. But she was to blame, not Sophia. She knew she had to apologise to her best friend, but JJ knew that she wasn't in the right mind to do so at the moment.
After finishing the four sandwiches she was making, she placed them on the dining table before grabbing a glass of Athena's lemonade she had dropped off this morning for each of them.
"Boys! Lunch!" She called, wiping her hands on her jeans as she waited for them to come and sit down.
"Thanks, JJ!" Harry and Denny exclaimed with smiles as they took their seats.
"Thank you, June!" Chris beamed, resting his crutches on the side of the table as he sat down.
"You're very welcome." She teased, a small, but real smile on her face as she watched them.
"Hey! Why do you get to call her a cool name? We knew her first!" Denny whined.
"Because she likes me more." Chris stuck his tongue out, a sly grin on his face.
"Now, now." She rolled her eyes playfully. "If you and Harry want a nickname for me, then make one up. No need to be sour about it." She laughed after swallowing a bite of food.
Harry and Denny thought about it for a moment, their food being ignored as they stared at each other. "Okay.. What's your full name?" Harry asked, bringing his glass to his lips.
"Juniper Jade Buckley." She responded, a bit of pride filling her whenever she got to say her last name was Buckley.
"Buckette?" Denny said, getting a grimace from the three people he sat beside. "Hell no," JJ replied, getting a laugh from the boys.
"So Jade is your middle name?" JJ nodded. "Cool! Can we call you that? A girl in my class goes by her middle name."
"Of course you can." She smiled, a laugh leaving her lips when the two boys cheered.
"Now I'm not the only one with a cool name for you." Chris tried to hide his pout, but JJ saw it.
"True, but you're my favourite." She winked, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And you're the only one I share my secret candy stash with."

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