UNTOLD | JJ Maybank

Chapter 19

"Wow, you look terrible.", JJ commented, when Malou dropped her bag and took off her shoes, before she stepped further into the house. Malou muttered something under her breath, that the boy couldn't understand. JJ frowned. Locking his phone and setting it onto the small coffee table, he sat up straight on the couch.

"What's wrong?", he asked and turned his head, when his eyes followed Malou walking through the house. The girl walked up to the fridge, grabbed a cold bottle of water and walked back to the living room in silence. While she sipped on the water, she sat on the couch and made sure to leave as much space between JJ and herself as possible.

"I'm just tired.", Malou eventually mumbled, after JJ had stared at her silently for a moment. It wasn't really a lie. She was tired. Tired of life. Of the chaos, the loss, the setbacks and above all, she was tired of overthinking. Of course, the gun hadn't been enough to arrest Ward and Rafe right away and the pogues had yet to face another disappointment. Above all, Malou couldn't stop thinking about JJ and what Pope had said about love at the kegger. Sighing, Malou put the water bottle down and laid down. Throwing her arms over her face dramatically, she pulled up her knees, so she wouldn't touch JJ in any way.

"I'm a mess. I dropped a whole tray of drinks today and messed up 3 different orders. It's a wonder Mr. and Mrs. Carrera didn't fire me today. I just can't focus; my mind is going in circles constantly. When I'm not thinking on how to clear John Bs name, I'm worrying about them. And when I'm not worrying about them, then I'm worrying about...", Malou suddenly ranted and quickly stopped herself. Either way, JJ had already caught up.

"About what?", he asked and Malou sighed again, before she put her arms back down again to reveal her face that stared up at the ceiling.

"Nothing.", she lied and even if she couldn't see his face, she knew, that JJ had probably rolled his eyes at her. Malou heard him sigh, before she heard him shuffle around on the couch. Suddenly, she felt his hands on her knees. Gently but determined, JJ pushed her legs aside. When he bent over her, Malou eventually lowered her head a little to look at him.

"Are you gonna tell me, or do I have to make you?", he asked and Malou rolled her eyes.

"It's nothing.", she repeated and looked away quickly, not seeing how JJ raised his eyebrows at her.

"Fine.", JJ eventually sighed and pretended to sit up again, when his hands were suddenly on her sides. Malou frowned, when she looked at him to see him smirk kind of cheekily. Before she could figure out his intentions, JJ shoved the white t-shirt up her stomach and started to tickle her sides.

"No! JJ, no!", Malou said strictly and tried to break away from him. While she tried to grab his hands, his hands moved further up, knowing that she would lose it there. At her weakest point, Malou couldn't help but laugh. Her body wiggled around weirdly as she tried to avoid his hands, that didn't seem to stop. Her tries to beg him to stop were drowned in giggles and laughs and JJ couldn't help but to laugh at her.

"JJ! Please! Stop, I can't breathe!", Malou eventually hiccupped, when tears were already streaming down her face and her belly hurt from laughing too hard.

"Will you tell me, then?", JJ asked and Malou eagerly nodded her head. JJ let go off her and sat up straight. As the girl tried to catch her breath, JJ looked down on her. Exhaling deeply, Malou eventually sat up and turned her head to look at JJ.

"So?", he asked with raised eyebrows and noticed how the corner of Malous lips moved a little.

"So... it's nothing.", Malou said and broke into a wide grin, before she jumped off the couch to run away from JJ. JJ was quick to follow. He nearly stumbled over his own feet, but made it to her room, before she could close the door. Once his hand stopped the door from closing, Malou squealed and run to her bed to jump on it.

"You know, you can't win.", JJ said as he stood right across from the bed that Malou stood on. Malou smirked at him and stayed quiet, waiting for him to come closer.

"I'm stronger and faster.", he said, taking a step closer with every word he spoke. Just when his knees were about to touch the bed, he stopped and looked up at the girl with a cheeky smile and fierce eyes.

"But I'm smarter.", Malou stated as she quickly bent down, grabbed the blanket and threw it over his head. She heard JJ laugh, but quickly jumped off the bed to run away from him again. She made it back to the living room and quickly reached for the water bottle she had placed on the coffee table just a few minutes ago. Waiting for the perfect moment, Malou waited for JJ. Once he left her bedroom and spotted her across the big room, he raised his eyebrows and started to run towards her. Instead of running away, Malou stayed in her spot. When he was halfway across the room, Malou poured some of the water in his direction. JJ was too fast to slow down, so his bare feet touched the suddenly wet ground and he slipped. With a groan and a loud thud, JJ landed on his back.

"Who won, now?", Malou said and smiled down on him proudly, after she had walked up to him.

"You cheated.", JJ complained and Malou chuckled.

"There weren't even any rules.", Malou laughed and reached her hand out to help him stand back up. Taking her hand, JJ looked up at her with a light smirk.

"I'm so glad you said that.", JJ mumbled, when he pulled on her hand with all of his strength. Malou lost her balance and fell face forward. With JJs hand around her wrist and the water bottle in her other hand, Malou didn't have any chance to break the fall. She dropped the open water bottle, but before her hand could reach the ground, JJ had already caught her, so she wouldn't crash into him with full force. JJ wrapped an arm around her hips swiftly turned around, so Malou was underneath him. She laid in the puddle of water and squealed, when she felt the cold water soaking up her t-shirt and shorts.

"Told you I would win.", JJ said in a deep voice, when he let his body slowly down on hers.

"I think we're even.", Malou said back, knowing, that she couldn't get away now, but not wanting to accept her defeat. JJ hummed with a smile and Malou watched how his eyes travelled back and forth between her lips and her eyes. She was torn between telling him how she really felt about him and to just pull him down on her. As she evaluated the both options, JJ lowered his head slowly. And just when Malou had decided to turn off her thoughts and let her heart decide, she suddenly heard the front door being opened.

"Guys! You won't fucking belie..." JJ quickly lifted his head and turned around to look at the door. From underneath him, Malou wasn't able to see everything, but she did get a glance of Pope standing in the doorway.

"Did I interrupt something?", Pope asked and JJ shook his head no, before he got back onto his feet and helped Malou back up.

"No. Just had a small wrestle fight.", JJ answered and suddenly, Malous mind was back to the same chaos it had left earlier. Malou stayed behind JJ so he couldn't see her hurt expression and Malou hoped, that Pope wouldn't see right through her. Pope cleared his throat, before he held up an envelope.

"Maybe we have one last chance to clear John Bs name."