𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓵𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓶𝓮||𝖩𝖩 𝖬𝖺𝗒𝖻𝖺𝗇𝗄

Boys will be boys

"That's what, a three-story fall to the ground?" asks Pope as he looks up at John B standing on the roof of the house we were hanging out at, which is being renovated for the Kooks. Josie stands next to him, hands on her hips, already unimpressed.

"I give you about a one-in-three chance of survival," Pope continues, smirking at Josie.

Josie snickers, nudging Pope. "More like zero chance. This idiot's gonna break something. Again."

John B, pretending to ignore her, licks his finger and puts it in the air, testing the wind. "Should I do it?"

"Yeah, jump," Pope says, pointing the driller at John B. "I'll shoot you on the way down."

"You'll shoot me?" John B retorts, forming a gun with his fingers and aiming back at Pope. "Pow!"

John B then turns to Josie, mimicking the same gesture. "And you better watch out too, Jo! Pow!"

Josie gasps dramatically, clutching her chest as if wounded. "Oh no! I'm hit! Where's my hero to save me?" she exclaims, sinking to her knees.

JJ, lounging on the roof, smirks down at her. "Well, if you need a hero, I might just be the guy for the job, princess."

Josie grins up at him, playing along. "Really? What makes you think you're up to the task?"

Before JJ can respond, Kiara comes out of the house. "They're gonna have Japanese toilets with towel warmers!"

"Of course. Why wouldn't they?" JJ replies, glancing back at Josie.

Kiara sighs, looking up at JJ. "This used to be a turtle habitat, but who cares about the turtles, I guess?"

"I can't have cold towels," JJ says.

Kiara then turns to John B. "Can you please not kill yourself?" she asks, and JJ shoots a look at John B, backing her up.

"Yea listen to kie" Josie says

"Don't spill that beer. I'm not giving you another one," JJ says, taking a sip from his drink.

"Woah," John B struggles to hold onto the beer, but it slips from his fingers and crashes onto the deck beneath him. "Oh shit."

"Of course you did,"

"Dude you spilled it on me"

"Smooth,"

John B groans, holding his hands up to the fallen beer. "Noo!"

Pope claps his hands. "A-plus!"

"Hey, uh, security's here," Pope calls out. "Let's wrap it up!"

Kiara smirks. "Let's go, boys!"

"Gary, is that you? Gary! Good to see you, man!" JJ calls out while he and John B climb down from the roof.

"Yeah, you're just asking for it," Kiara laughs.

The teens start running through the house, laughing and shouting excitedly as they head down the stairs. Josie glances back, spotting Gary trying to catch up to them.

"Get 'em! They're coming your way!" Gary yells, trying to catch JJ.

"Not much of a hugger, man!" JJ yells, following after Pope.

Josie shouts back, "What's the matter, Gary? Are you tired? Maybe you should try a treadmill instead of chasing after us!"

"Go, Pope! Go, go, go!"

Pope gets over the fence but lands on his face.

:

"Get up, Pope! Fatso's coming!" JJ calls out, jumping over the fence just in time for John B and Kiara to arrive with the van.

"Come here, you little pricks!" John B yells, honking the horn.

"Bus is leaving!" Kiara shouts.

Josie races toward the fence, but as she jumps, she stumbles. JJ sees her and rushes back to grab her hand. "I've got you, Jo!" he says, pulling her up and helping her over the fence effortlessly.

"Thanks, hero!" she laughs

"Come on, boys! Whooo!" Kiara cheers, encouraging everyone as JJ and Pope jump into the van.

John B starts driving, glancing back at them. "Are we all in?"

"Check out Gary, gunnin' for a raise," Pope says, pointing at Gary, who's still chasing after them.

"Wait. Slow down!" JJ yells, sticking his head out of the van with a beer in his hand. He holds it out to Gary. "Come on!" he encourages.

Kiara looks at them, shaking her head. "Come on, guys! You're gonna give him a heart attack."

"You're so close!" JJ yells, shaking the beer at Gary, who is still running after the van. "You can do it. There you go!" he adds, throwing the beer to Gary, who stops running as he groans, "They don't pay you enough, bro."

"JJ, stop! Stop!" Kiara says, pulling him back into the van from his shirt.

"Oh, come on. That sort of initiative is just begging to be punished," JJ laughs as they drive off.

As they cruise along, JJ turns to Josie, a playful glint in his eyes. "You know, if you ever need another hero, I'm just a jump away. I think I'm pretty good at saving the day," he teases, flashing her a charming grin.

Josie rolls her eyes, smirking back. "Yeah? Well, maybe I'll keep you on speed dial, just in case."

"Good idea," JJ replies, leaning a little closer. "Because you never know when you might need a dashing hero to help you over a fence-or anywhere else."

Josie shakes her head, laughing. "You really think you're that charming, huh?"

JJ raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Charming? I'm not just charming, I'm practically irresistible. You're lucky to have me around."

From the driver's seat, John B cuts in, his tone exasperated. "JJ, can you stop flirting with my sister for five minutes?"

Josie raises an eyebrow at John B, a playful smile on her face. "Oh, come on, John. It's just harmless fun."

"Harmless until it isn't," John B replies, casting a wary glance at JJ.

JJ holds up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, just trying to help."

Josie laughs, her eyes sparkling. "See? I can handle trouble just fine."

As they all share a laugh, the camaraderie and chemistry buzz in the air, but John B remains protective, not fully convinced.