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- song for the chapter - Take me to church - Hozier ➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵
The next morning aria was woken to the sound of the front door opening. Brushing it off aria though it was just john B leaving. Rolling over in the bed aria came face to face with a sleeping JJ.
As she stared at him her eyebrows furrowed. Last night popped up in her mind creating a smile on her face. Blinking area fell onto her back staring at the ceiling.
Why did she feel this way? She kept asking herself over and over. Why was it that when she stared at JJ all she thought of was his smile and the way his cricked front tooth always showed. The way his blue eyes always glimmered in the light or when he thought of something mischievous.
Never have aria thought that much of JJ. Why all of a sudden? Sitting up aria held the sheets to her chest as she grabbed a shirt from the floor. JJs shirt. Pulling on some underwear she pulled the shirt over her head pulling her hair into a messy bun at the top of her head.
Barefoot aria walked out of the room but froze when she spotted the sheriff in her living room. " Get decent, sweetie. We need to talk " Peterkin said just as John B woke up as well.
" Sorry to break in like this, but DCS called. They wanted me to check on you. See how you're doin' " aria furrowed her brows as she looked over at her brother who stood up pulling a shirt on.
" So, how are you, besides the... " Peterkin pointed to John bs eye that was black and swollen. Aria winced.
" Oh, no, I'm... I'm great. Yeah, fantastic. Uh..." John B grabbed a few chip bags from the table pushing his hair from his face
" Thanks for comin' by " aria smiled innocently to the sheriff who glanced at her then back at her brother.
" I'm so glad to hear you say that, John B, Arianna, but I heard a few things that worried me. Let me see if I can remember " Peterkin walked further into the house grabbing a dead smoke lifting it to her nose
" Oh, yeah. One of the things I heard was that your Uncle Teddy, your guardian, hasn't been in the state for three months " Aria swollowed as she avoided eye contact.
" False "
" You don't have to say anything. I know it's true. I called the school. They said you used to be a good student, but now you're failin' all your classes " aria went to the kitchen grabbing Ena's food bowl filling it with food
" No. No, I'm only failing one, and it's history. He's a dick. He's out for me..." John B defended himself throwing his hands up
" I heard, there was a fight on the beach yesterday, and a gun was involved " aria froze as she looked from her bedroom door to John B who was looking at aria already
" Okay. Gun? No. Did I get in a dustup? Yes, but was there a gun? No. No way. " John B defended as he sat down on the couch pushing his hair back
" That's okay. I know who it was. I'll get to him " oh shit was all aria could think of as the words left Peterkins mouth "All I'm worried about right now is makin' sure you're in a safe home "
" Yeah, super safe. Super sound, sturdy. You know? " Aria smiled as she knocked on the walls which made a hollow sound.
" Uncle T's coming, so... " John B directed the attention back on him again
" That what he told you? " Peterkin asked as she placed around the small living room of the chateau
" Yup " aria rocked on the balls of her feet as the sheriff walked past her
" If he is coming, I think you should be allowed to stay " a smile graced arias lips as she sighed in relief
" Thank you " John B smiled at Peterkin
" But if I stick my neck out for you, you have to help me. Tit for tat." Always a catch aria thought as she rolled her eyes
" What... what does tat mean? " John B stuttered as he eyes Peterkin in suspicion of what she wanted from him and his sister.
" Let me see, how can you help me? Oh, I know " Peterkin smiled as she walked to John B so they were face to face " So, a body was found in the marsh yesterday. Were you in the marsh yesterday? " aria panicky looked over at John B to find him lost at words
" Yeah, we were fishin' for some drum. " aria spoke up for John B dragging Peterkins attention to her
" You catch anything? "
" Nah, we were skunked " aria waved her off avoiding contact
" Strange. Fishing's usually good after a storm. All sorts of things get stirred up. You come across a wreck yesterday? " Peterkin then turned to John B who stared at her with a blank face
" No. "
" You skimmin' just above the surface, John B, Arianna " Peterkin held her hand up to her chest " Now, down here is foster care, juvie Pretty big drop for a smart kid like you." She moved her hand down further to her stomach area
" Up here is you and your little friends doing whatever you want. Outer Banks... or foster care on the mainland " arias brows furrowed in concern and worry of her words.
" You one inch above the surface, John B, Arianna. If I was you two, I'd start flappin' my wings. Now, you sure you didn't come across a wreck yesterday? " Peterkin asked one last time
" Yeah. Yeah, were sure. "
" It's better if you didn't, you understand? I'm gonna look the other way, as long as you stay out of the marsh " Peterkin looked around one last time with her face scrunched up
" I got dogs livin' better than this, John B " Peterkin snapped as she walked out the front door. Aria sat down with a scoff gripping the roots to her hair that was in the bun. Reaching up she pulled her hair down placing the hair tie around her wrist.
Grabbing the hair tie from her hand she pulled it out before letting it go watching as it snapped on her wrist. " That was unexpected " aria mumbled as she looked up at her brother.
" No shit " John B scoffed as he started to pace around. " Maybe we should just call all of this off? " John B suggested as he continued to pace around.
" What? No! " Aria exclaimed as she stood up
" Aria, you heard what she said. Foster care! I don't want to lose you " John B exclaimed as well as he watched aria. Soon her bedroom door was opening showing JJ standing there with messy hair.
" Johnny, you'll never lose me " aria smiled turning back to her brother who just stared at her in concern
" But if we go to foster care, they'll separate us " John B stressed as he ran a hand through his hair
" Then I'll find my way back to you " she smiled before heading over to her room. She ran her hand over JJs chest as she slipped into the room with a smirk. JJ inhaled as he was shoved before the door was slamming shut.
The two boys looked at one another in silence
Words: 1227
Probably my longest chapted yet. Kind of a filler chapter, idk. If your confused on why Peterkin was calling aria by Arianna it's because I wanted a full name for aria. Not just a small nickname like name - no offense to the other arias - but a full name that had more than one nickname.
