𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥'𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

17. Rule Number Three

"Is there gonna be food?" Pope tried.

"No," JJ said. "It's not a fun meeting."

That got their attention.

JJ glanced over his shoulder, lowering his voice like someone might be listening. "Meet me at Rixon's. Just us."

John B frowned. "What do you mean just us?"

JJ rolled his eyes. "I mean not Jo and Kie."

Pope blinked. "Wait, so... a secret boys only emergency meeting with no snacks? That doesn't sound scary at all."

"Just be there," JJ muttered, speeding up.

Because he knew if he said it out loud—if he told them the real reason it mattered—it might make it all feel too real.

And he wasn't ready for that.

Not yet.

__________________

THEY SAT ON WEATHERED LOGS at Rixon's Cove that afternoon, a bag of chips between them and the scent of saltwater lingering in the air.

The tide was low. The gulls were loud. Everything felt normal—except JJ's stomach, which had been doing somersaults all week.

He cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice. "So," he began, "We need a new rule."

John B blinked. "Another one?"

"We only have two," Pope pointed out.

"Exactly," JJ nodded. "And this one's... necessary."

He hesitated, fingers tugging at a rip in his shorts like it could somehow give him something better to say. His pulse was pounding in his ears. He didn't want to look up. Didn't want them to see how serious this actually was for him.

"No Pogue-on-Pogue macking."

John B choked on a chip. "What?"

"You know," JJ muttered, shoulders tightening, "Like... making out. Kissing. Dating. Any of it."

Pope stared. "You're saying we can't date each other?"

"Exactly."

JJ felt heat creep up his neck. He hated how lame it sounded out loud—how transparent. But it was the only way he knew to stop the spiral in his brain.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Peeler and Jorge—how one kiss wrecked everything. How they went from best friends to strangers overnight.

And all JJ could think was: That cannot be me and Jo. It just can't.

John B squinted. "This isn't about Peeler and Jorge, is it?"

JJ's jaw clenched. "It totally is."

He could still hear Peeler's voice crying in the hallway. Could still picture Jorge avoiding eye contact in the cafeteria. It wasn't just middle school drama—it was a warning. One JJ didn't intend to ignore.

"I mean," Pope said slowly, "It kind of makes sense. Their friendship blew up. And then we're the ones stuck picking sides."

"Thank you!" JJ pointed at him, almost too eagerly. "That's what I'm saying. We don't need that shit. We're Pogues. We're supposed to ride or die. Not... ruin everything because of a crush."

There was a beat of silence.

John B finally nodded. "Yeah, alright. I'm in."

"Me too," Pope added with a shrug.