PSYCHO ― John B. Routledge ✓

23. The Beginning

"Speaking of plans, what the fuck is going on with you two?" JJ asked, his eyes drifting towards where John B and Norman were sitting in the back of the boat. Norman was sitting on the edge with his legs sprawled out in front of him while John B was sitting horizontally on the seat with his legs on Norman's lap. He hadn't even realized they were in such a position until JJ pointed it out.

Norman shrugged, "What do you mean?"

JJ laughed, scoffing as he asked, "What do I mean? You stormed off, you guys "talked" in your car and then all of a sudden you both come out all peaceful and we start conspiring against the girls."

"Don't put "talked" in air quotes, that's what we did!" John B exclaimed in defense of the boys, "I just apologized, sheesh. Is that so hard to believe?"

"Yes," Pope and JJ remarked at the same time while Norman snickered off to the side.

"What do you want us to say, JJ?" Norman said with a laugh, "We had an intense makeout session in my car and now we're both totally dick-whipped for each other? Because that would be lying."

JJ still didn't look impressed, "Hmm... yeah, totally lying. I don't believe you two. There's something fishy going on here."

"Well, we don't have another boat to trap them on, so new plan," Pope added with a small laugh while John B rolled his eyes.

"You guys are being ridiculous, there's nothing going on. We're friends, we're allowed to be. It's not our fault that making up was easier than it was for the girls. We're just mature like that," Norman shrugged, nodding towards John B as the two bent forward to high-five before returning to their relaxed positions, "Really, you're making a mountain out of a molehill here, dude."

"I don't know," Pope contributed, "I agree with JJ. You two are either pretending to have it all figured out or are totally lying to yourselves."

Norman sighed. Was he lying to himself? It was entirely possible. He wanted to settle things with John B, but he wasn't sure he even knew how at this point. When they arrived at the docks, JJ and Pope hopped out, but stopped John B and Norman before they could.

"Dude, what's up?" John B asked as JJ crossed his arms and stood tall on the dock with a small smile.

"We're pulling a Kie and Sarah except we're not stranding you guys in the middle of the marsh because we don't have any more boats. You guys clearly got some shit going on, I don't believe that you guys can be all happy-go-lucky with each other just like that. Anyway, feel free to stay, but Pope and I are fucking off and we're not seeing you guys until we go to pick up the girls in the morning," JJ explained with a playful grin on his face, "All right, see ya!"

Before they could even argue, the two boys were gone. All Norman could do was laugh, really. Of course, JJ and Pope would pull some shit like this. No one was safe from them and their plotting, apparently.

"So, wanna just dip?" Norman asked now that the boys were gone.

John B shrugged, "I mean, we could, but they're kind of right. There is some shit we need to talk about."

"Oh, come on, like what?" Norman offered with a small scoff.

"Like the fact that we have feelings for each other and I don't want to deny it anymore?" the boy suggested with a matter-of-fact tone as he sat back down on the boat with his arms crossed. "I wanna talk this shit out, like genuinely."

Norman sighed, he didn't know if he could have a conversation like this. He didn't even know what he felt. However, some clarity would be nice to have considering how weird and confusing everything had gotten with John B and the Pogues. He missed when life was simple and stuff like this wasn't something he had to worry about. Oh, to be a stupid, careless rich boy once again. That really was the dream, wasn't it? But no, he was here on a boat debating his goddamn relationship status with John Booker Routledge. How the mighty have fallen.