After the Storm- JJ Maybank (Outer Banks)

4.

School was back in session and I was most definitely not ready to return. I had just returned to normal life a few days prior and was still reeling from the events that had occurred over the summer. I wasn't sure what everyone else thought happened. Was I a fugitive just as John B was? Did they think I murdered my mother? I had a lot of unknowns running through my head. Kie had offered to drive all of us. Pope and her sat in the front seat. I noticed that Popes hand was on Kie's thigh and I looked to JJ across the car from me. He just shook his head. I squinted my eyes.

"I'll tell you later." He worded with his lips.

I nodded and grabbed my bag. I looked into my phones camera to see what I looked like. My eye was healing up nicely but it wasn't fully healed. I knew I was going to get weird looks. We parked and saw everyone looking to the car.

"Great. We're all going to be the talk of the day." Kie sighed, throwing her bag over her shoulder.

"We've just gotta stick together alright?" I said, slinging my bag over my shoulder as well.

I exited the car and saw everyone's eyes go straight to me. JJ stepped out of the car and I felt his hand wrap into mine. I leaned into his shoulder, looking up to him. He gave me a half smile. Pope and Kie walked besides us with their hands in each others too. I must've missed something.

"Stick together." Kie looked over to us.

We all walked on to campus and watched as everyone stared. I saw a memorial for John B, pictures of him scattered across the rock. I looked over to see another one, that had my name across it. Pictures of me and John B together and another of me and JJ.

"Everyone really thought I was dead, huh?" I couldn't help but chuckle under my breath.

"Yeah. The news announced the whole thing with your mom and they said the same with you. No body." Pope exclaimed, looking down.

"Great. They all probably think I'm a ghost back from the dead then. "

I felt JJ's grip get stronger on me as people walked past us.

"I thought she was dead."
"They've got a lot of nerve coming back to school."
"I thought they were arrested."
"John B got what he deserved."
"Maybe she murdered her mom and ran away to get away from the cops."
"Should we turn her in?"
"JJ Maybank has a girlfriend? Crazy. Doesn't seen the type."
"It's Rachel McDaniels. What do you expect?"

"Shut the fuck up, you piece of shit." JJ growled.

"J, it's not worth it."

"How's it feel to come back from the dead?" Another person said as we walked by.

"I swear to god-"

I pulled JJ into me, our shoulders touching.

"Not worth it. Just keep walking."

-

Walking into class and sitting down was the weirdest thing ever. The stares and whispers. Everyone has their conspiracy theories about me. None of them being true. I was wondering what I should do.

"Alright, class. Quiet down. Let's start talking about the history of-"

I stopped listening, I just stared out the window. More memories flooding back into my mind.

"Shut the fuck up! You're a whore! A dirty fucking pogue! I would never love you. No one has and no one ever will." Rafe spit into my face, his hands on my thighs. He was pushing down really hard, causing me to scream out in pain.