EPHEMERAL | JJ Maybank

9 • i fucked up

Melody couldn't help but to think about how strange it is that first, they found Big John's compass on Scooter's boat and then they find an envelope from him to John B hidden in a grave yard. At this point, it can't be coincidental. She doesn't understand how the group could be so hesitant on wanting to believe that Big John is still alive after this.

They haven't opened the envelope yet, for what reason, Melody wasn't sure. But one thing she did know, was that JJ's in the process of doing something very disgusting.

"That bread had mold on it three days ago." Pope told him, as JJ made him a sandwich. Melody sat on the counter and watched him with her nose crinkled up.

"I'll just pull off the bad parts. Plus, mold is good for you. It's just a natural organism." JJ responded, pulling the mold off the bread.

"I'm not kissing you if you eat that." Melody informed him with her eyebrow cocked.

JJ looked at her and pouted. "But Mel, you don't kiss me anyways!" He whined, poking his bottom lip out.

"You know why, weirdo." She replied. "It's top secret." She whispered to him so the others wouldn't hear.

"Guys!" Kie called for them.

"Yup, yup, yup!" JJ said, grabbing his sandwich and his woman and moving to the living room. "Hot damn! Let's do it."

They looked at John B about to open the envelope but Melody noticed JJ holding the sandwich to his mouth. "I'm warning you." She said, mocking him by puckering up her lips. He gave her a daring look before taking a bite, not long after he gagged and spit it out. "Gross, J."

He quickly threw the sandwich away and rushed back just in time to watch John B tear open the envelope. He pulled out a big piece of paper, his eyes widening. "Holy shit."

It was a map of the outerbanks, with writings on it showing where the hurricane hit and an 'X'.

"Oh. X marks the spot." Pope pointed out and put his finger on it.

"Longitude, latitude." John B said, following the lines on the map with his finger. "Wait, there's somethin' else in there." He said, reaching back into the envelope and pulled at a recorder.

"What's that?" JJ asked the group.

"It's a tape recorder, dumbass." Kie said, causing Melody to chuckle.

"Dear Bird." A familiar voice played through the recorder once John B pressed play. Melody smiled instantly at hearing it.

"Who's Bird?"

"That's what my dad called me."

"I hate to say, "I told you so," but I told you so. And you doubted your old man. I suspect at this moment, you're filled with guilt and self-loathing over our last fight, but don't kill yourself just yet, kid." Big John said. They could hear through the recording that he grabbed something. "I didn't expect to find the Merchant either."
Melody and John B locked eyes. Does that mean that he did find it? There was some more noise on the tape of movement. "You were probably right to call me out. Wasn't exactly Father of the Decade. What can I say, kid? I could smell the barn." He sighed through the recorder and Melody could've sworn that she heard what sounded like bullets being loaded into a gun. "And hopefully, we're listenin' to this in our brand new sugar-shack down in Costa Rica, or maybe Rio like Mel wants so bad. Livin' off passive investments and pulling on permits." He said, causing tears to prickle in Melody's eyes. "If not, and you find this for less than optimal reasons, well, that's what the map is for. There she is, the wreck of the Merchant. If somethin' happens to me,
finish what I started. Take Mel with you, you'd be lost without her. Go for the gold, kids. I love you, Bird, even if I didn't always act like it. I love you too, Mel." He went silent as the noise of a vehicle approaching was heard in the background. "I'll see you on the other side." He said and then there was nothing but static.