𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥'𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

17. Rule Number Three

JJ exhaled, shoulders sinking slightly.

It worked.

__________________

THEY PITCHED IT TO THE GIRLS later that weekend like it was some top secret government initiative.

All three boys stood awkwardly at the edge of the dock—JJ with his hands stuffed in his pockets, Pope holding a crumpled chip bag like it was a peace offering, and John B doing that thing where he tried to look casual but ended up just looking guilty.

Josephine and Kiara sat sprawled on the dock, halfway through painting their toenails.

JJ cleared his throat. "So... there's a new rule."

Kiara glanced up, suspicious. "Did you idiots blow something up again?"

"No," Pope said quickly. "This is... social."

"Social?" Josephine repeated, raising an eyebrow.

John B nudged JJ. "Just tell them."

JJ shifted his weight. "Okay, look. It's called No Pogue-on-Pogue Macking."

Kiara blinked. "Pogue-on-Pogue macking?"

"Like, making out," Pope clarified, helpfully.

"We know what it means," Josephine deadpanned. "We're just trying to figure out why you think you need to say it out loud."

JJ opened his mouth, then closed it. "It's a rule now."

Kiara leaned back on her hands. "So... you're saying we're not allowed to like each other? Is that what this is?"

"I mean, technically," Pope started, "It's just a suggestion—"

"No—it's a rule," JJ cut in, voice firmer this time.

Josephine tilted her head, visibly trying not to laugh. "And you three got together in secret to decide this?"

John B shrugged. "Kinda dramatic when you say it like that."

Kiara squinted. "Why is this so important to you guys?"

"It's about group stability," Pope offered. "Friendship preservation. Emotional containment protocols."

"Emotional what?" Josephine laughed.

"It's so nothing gets weird," JJ said quickly. "So no one ruins anything. Like what happened with Peeler and Jorge."

Josephine and Kiara exchanged a look.

"Okay," Kiara snorted, glancing back up at the boys. "But it's not like we were gonna fall in love with any of you weirdos."

"Yeah," Josephine added, trying not to smile. "Not in a million years."

JJ caught the smallest flicker in her expression—something too quick to name. A twitch at the corner of her mouth. A glance that lasted a second too long. And then it was gone.

"But sure," she continued, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "No macking. Got it. Glad we had a formal meeting."

"Very official," Kiara added, raising her nail polish bottle like it was a judge's gavel. "Motion passed. Meeting adjourned."

JJ forced a grin, the kind he wore like armor. He acted like he hadn't been holding his breath. Like her words hadn't lodged themselves somewhere beneath his ribs.

Not in a million years.

He'd never hated a sentence more.

They didn't get it. Not really.

Not the way he did.

Because what he really meant—the thing he couldn't say—was that he'd rather lock every single feeling he had in a vault than lose Josephine.

She was too important.

Too everything.

And if it took a rule to protect what they had?

Then fine.

He'd follow it forever.

*author's note*

Hate to break it to you, JJ, but that philosophy doesn't last very long.

—Ash

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