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obx-adventures · 4 years

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The Fall

Summary: Grace just moved from Figure Eight to the Cut. She never expected to run into her old friend, Kiara, and discover she lives next door to JJ Maybank.

Catch up on Ch 1

——

Chapter 2

“Mom, I’m home.” Grace sets down her keys and kicks off her shoes in relief. She’s been working almost every day at The Wreck since JJ asked Kiara if they were hiring.

It’s been 3 weeks and 2 days since she officially became a Pogue. Everyday has been spent with them either before or after her shifts and today is no different. JJ is supposed to pick her up in 30 minutes, giving her time to check on her mom and shower before having the rest of the day to herself.

“Mom? Are you here?” Grace walks into her mom’s room and discovers her passed out on her bed with a mostly empty bottle of vodka on her bedside table. Unfortunately, this has become a common occurrence since their move a month ago. Amanda Porter has begun searching for solace at the bottom of the bottle, leaving Grace to fend for both of them.

Grace takes the vodka bottle to the bathroom with her and empties it before climbing into the shower. As she rests her head against the tiled wall, she allows a few tears to stream down her face while she thinks about her new life. Grace has reveled in having real friends for the first time but can’t help the sorrow she feels over her mom’s depression and dad’s absence. Paul Porter has never been World’s Greatest Dad material but it doesn’t make Grace miss him any less or dull the ache in her heart over not speaking with him all this time. She has tried to call or text him every day since he kicked her and her mom out but he continues to ignore her.

Grace shakes her head to snap out of her downward spiral. While she washes her hair, she reminds herself of the positive changes in her life. First and foremost are Kiara and JJ. Kiara has welcomed her with open arms into her life - introducing her to the Pogues, getting her the waitressing job at The Wreck, and reminding her everyday that she has a new family. JJ is a horse of a different color. He constantly surprises her with his thoughtfulness and sense of humor but he doesn’t treat her differently because of her home situation. Grace catches herself watching him more often than she cares to admit and still feels tingly when he touches her. But what’s weird is how she’s pretty sure she feels him watching her too when she’s talking with someone else.

Grace towels off and gets dressed quickly when she notices that JJ will be there any minute. As if summoned by her thoughts, she hears the van pull up in front of her house. Before leaving, Grace leaves a note and glass of water for her mom but is almost certain that she’ll still be passed out when Grace gets home later.

“Hi, JJ. Thanks for picking me up.” Grace clambers into the van and smiles at JJ. He’s been watching her closely over the past couple weeks and knows this isn’t her real smile, which is bright enough to warm JJ’s heart from a mile away.

“What’s wrong?” He reaches over to clasp her hand and feels the familiar spark that he’s beginning to associate only with her.

“Just a long shift. I’m ok. What’s on the agenda for today?” JJ studies her face and decides that there is something more there but doesn’t push her. He’s growing accustomed to her reserved demeanor, which has been a bigger adjustment than he thought.

All the Pogues are really open with each other about their good, bad, and stupid thoughts and feelings. But Grace is different and JJ is trying his best to give her the space she needs to open up to him.

“Well if you want me to bring you home early tonight, just let me know. Or you can take a nap at JB’s. Or crash there tonight. Whatever you want.” JJ silently cursed himself for sounding so frazzled. What is it with this girl?!

“JJ, I told you that you don’t have to drive me home every night. I’ve gotten used to The Cut and can just walk like I do after my shifts.”

“You’re walking home after work?! Kie said she was driving you.”

“She usually does but there are days when we don’t work the same shifts. It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes it is. Let me know what days she can’t drive you home and I’ll pick you up.”

“That’s silly! I am perfectly capable of walking by myself.”

“Not the point. It’s not safe.”

“What are you talking about? You know this neighborhood better than I do and you know no one in The Cut would hurt me.” JJ finds himself backed into a corner. He doesn’t want Grace to end up running into his dad on her way home but he doesn’t want her to know that either.

“Grace, please... most of our neighbors are great and we all look out for each other but there are a couple people who I don’t want you to run into. Please trust me and let me protect you.”

Grace is taken aback by the desperation in JJ’s voice. This is the closest he’s come to explaining to her what he’s worried about and she can’t help thinking that this is personal to him. The pleading look in his cerulean eyes is enough to get her to nod in agreement.

“Thank you.” He notices that his hand is still holding hers and softly brushes his thumb over her delicate skin. She fidgets nervously and her cheeks flush pink. When he’s driving to the Chateau moments later, he can’t help thinking the pink tinge was the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.

——

Grace tumbles out of bed at 1:30am when she’s woken up by insistent knocking on her window. She immediately thinks back to JJ’s alarm earlier in the day upon discovering that she’s walked through The Cut without him and worried that he was right. She tentatively approaches her window and sighs in relief when she recognizes JJ’s blond locks. She opens the window quickly, confusion quickly replacing relief.

“JJ, what the hell are you doing here?” When he turns to look at her, she gasps at his bloodied face. “Oh my God! What happened?”

“Look, I’m really sorry to wake you up but can you please let me in? Fast?” Grace lifts up the window screen so JJ can climb through. Once he’s inside, she leads him to the bathroom to clean him up.

She begins to silently clean his wounds while JJ watches her anxiously. Grace jumps when she hears a man bellowing out in front of her house.

“You little son of a bitch! You can’t run from me for long! Get your ass back here and face me like a man!” She looks to JJ, hoping for an explanation for all of this, but is saddened to see his face drooping in defeat. Before she can second guess herself, she pulls him in for a hug and holds him close until he hugs her back. She feels tears dropping onto her exposed shoulder and holds him tighter.

“That bastard is my father...” Grace continues to hold JJ as he tries to explain. “I don’t even know what I did this time.” Grace turns her head to kiss his cheek and tries to think of how to respond.

“I’m so sorry... I’m glad you felt you could come here.”

“Please don’t tell the others. JB knows and I’m sure Pope and Kie suspect but I don’t want to get into the details and see their pity. I didn’t even want you to know... I usually go the Chateau when this happens... but I needed... it doesn’t matter.”

Grace pulls back to study his face, desperate to understand how she can help him. JJ reluctantly meets her eyes and is surprised to only find concern. They hold each other’s gazes for a minute and jump apart when Grace’s mother bursts into the bathroom.

“Who the hell are you?” Amanda slurs at JJ. The pungent smell of alcohol rolling off her.

“Uh, mom, this is my friend JJ. Remember, I told you about him. I met him through Kiara.” Grace refuses to look at JJ, despite feeling his eyes on her, while her mom tries to process the half-ass introduction.

“What is he doing here? It’s late.”

“He got hurt and didn’t have any first aid supplies at his house. We’ll get out of here so you can use the bathroom.” Grace walks out of the bathroom without even a glance at JJ. She hears him mumble hello to her mom and leads him into the kitchen to continue cleaning him up. She regrets this decision quickly when she sees the empty alcohol bottles next to the garbage can.

JJ is more than a little confused by the turn of events. He went from worry about what Grace would think of him to worry for Grace in a matter of minutes. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, he tries to talk with her.

“Grace, were you worried about your mom when I picked you up this afternoon?”

“Uh... yea... She was already passed out when I got home from work.” JJ has to inch closer to her to hear what she’s saying. He’s learned that she gets really quiet when she’s embarrassed or anxious so he tries to lighten the mood.

“And here I was planning on giving Kie’s dad a piece of my mind for working you so hard.” When Grace remains silent as she works on cleaning the last cut on his face, he catches her hand in his and lifts her chin with his other hand. “Listen, I’m here for you if you need to talk. You heard my dad, he wasn’t exactly sober. To be honest, he hasn’t been since my mom left us. But we can take care of each other, ok?”

JJ’s words cause Grace’s internal dam to break. She breaks down against his chest and, for the first time in her life, allows someone else to support her. He runs his hand up and down her back as she sobs and soon starts crying with her. When both of their tears run dry, they head back into Grace’s room, both feeling a little awkward.

“Do you want to stay here tonight? I don’t want you going home if you’ll be in danger.” Grace’s offer surprises both of them but JJ quickly accepts.

After getting settled in her bed, JJ turns to Grace and brushes her hair out of her face. He lets his hand rest tenderly on her cheek and gently slides his thumb back and forth until she falls asleep. He watches her sleep for a while and tries to figure out what is happening between them. JJ has had crushes before but this feels different and is a little disconcerting. But when Grace starts mumbling in her sleep, he can’t help but smile and feel thankful to have her in his life. Her slow, deep breaths soothe him and he eventually drifts off feeling at peace.

Ch 3

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