Chapter Text
No one understood why he did it. Hell, JJ didn't even understand why he did it.
Throughout his life, everyone had always called him stupid. Everything he did, everything he said, was stupid. He could hear Pope and John B´s voices in his head as if they were right there. However, they were not and JJ cursed his friends for influencing his subconscious. Out of all the times he's been called stupid, this was the first time he believed he actually was.
He just wanted to meet up with his friends and have a good smoke. That was it. Whoever up there, apparently had other plans. He walked down the path leading to the pier, glasses on and cap pulled back. It was a calm day. No storm in sight for a while. Not the weather kind at least. He'd run into some Kooks earlier this morning. Nothing out of the ordinary, some unusually lame insults responded to by JJ's middle finger. He didn't want to ruin the first day of summer break with a broken nose.
Sweet, sweet summer break. No teachers, no stupid rules and no homework. Not that JJ ever did it, but it was nice to know there was none to ignore. All day every day spent with the Pogues having nothing but fun. Except for the times he had to work at the Country Club. He really didn't like to associate so often with the Kooks, but he definitely needed the money. Even he knew that Kook jobs pay the best and believe it or not he was able to be nice when he needed to.
JJ being JJ was so caught up in his summer activity planning that he hadn't noticed that he had walked straight through the yellow tape squaring off a part of the beach. He hadn't seen the blood spread out on the path. He definitely hadn´t seen the five police cars parked close by.
“Hey kid!”, a voice called from the beach, successfully managing to snap JJ back to reality. There he stood. In a puddle of blood. What the fuck! Is he bleeding. Was he shot? Where was he bleeding? Except he wasn´t. But if he wasn't, whose blood was it he's standing in? He looked up. Surrounding him were very confused cops and some very pissed off forensics. Shit! This is bad, this is really really bad! Maybe the cops will understand once he explained that he didn't realize where he was going. Yeah probably not.
He saw a female cop walking up to him. She looked mad. Of course she was fucking mad! He was standing in the middle of a crime scene! Just relax. Take it chill and they´ll let him go and he will be with his friends on the pier. Yeah, just relax. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath… The Weed. Fuck fuck fuck! He had a bag filled with weed in his pocket. Jesus stupid fuck! If they search him he´d be fucked. Why would they search him though? He didn't do anything suspicious. Who is he kidding? He is standing in a puddle of blood in the middle of a fucking crime scene. Of course they will search him!
The cop came slowly closer, hands held out in front of her. And JJ did the only logical thing he knew. He bolted. Down the path, vouching between people. He could hear the cops calling from behind. Fuck fuck fuck! This got so much worse than it was, but he can't stop now. He could outrun them. He definitely could. It's not like this is his first time being chased by cops.
Running was one of the few things he was good at. He had to, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten out of trouble the three hundred forty eleven times he had. However, it was very hard to outrun someone that was chasing you from two fronts. These cops really weren't playing fair. JJ turned left out on the pier realizing too late it was a dead end. The wooden planks. Creaked under his feet as he ran, almost tripping over a fishing box. He needed a place to hide. A good one. The bar could work. But Barracuda Mike was usually there, and Barracuda Mike really didn't like him.
He looked left and right, but there was nothing. Okay, not nothing. There was one thing. Man, was this a stupid idea. Even stupid for JJ. It was either that or getting caught. It really wasn't much of a choice though.
Quickly, he untied the rope from the Sheriff's boat and climbed onboard. Clumsily he made his way into the cabin. He fell face first onto the wheel just barely managing to not knock out his teeth, sending his sunglasses flying. To his surprise and great joy, the keys were still in the key lock. One could think the sheriff would be smarter than that. Luckily she was not.
Just as he heard the cops reaching the boat, he started the ignition. If a boat could fly, this would be the feeling. “Whooo!”, he called. He had made it! He had actually made it. Looking back he saw how they called for backup. Well it´s too fucking late for that ain´t it. For being so stupid JJ could be damn smart.
Rounding the pier he spotted Kie waiting for the rest of the Pogues, feet dangling off the edge sun warming her face. What it was that made him do what he did next, he wouldn't know. It was probably the best decision he has ever made though. Without thinking he reached in his pocket and grabbed the bag. To this day he would claim that to be his best throw ever. The bag flew through the air and landed just a little way from Kie´s lap. She looked up with a startled expression on her face. An expression that soon turned into shock and confusion.
JJ flashed her cheeky grin. Oh how he knew he would never hear the end of this.
He steered the boat out towards the swamp. That was his best way of getting away. Just reach the swamp and they won't find him. Simple and easy. It was at this moment everything sank in. He ran from a crime scene. He ran from a fucking crime scene. Then he stole the sheriff´s boat. How stupid could he be? Because this right here would most likely be the definition of stupid.
Where did he think he could leave the boat? Anyone would be able to see it from miles away. He should have just watched where he was going. Nothing of this would have happened if he hadn't ended up in that puddle of blood. It was a good thing he got rid of the bag. Probably the best decision of his life.
When he saw the blue lights and heard the sirens from all his sides, he groaned in defeat. At least he won't be guilty of drug possession. You got to look at the small victories in life. “Hands above your head!”, they yelled through the megaphones. “Hands above your head!” Reluctantly he put them up.
The ride to the station was silent. JJ really didn't like the silence, but something told him that a fuming Sheriff Perterkin was not up for a chit chat. Sure enough after arresting him they had searched him for any weapons or drugs, only finding his pocket knife. Guess he needed a new one now.
He smiled to himself. This must´ve been the most epic event in his life. Damn, he felt like the fucking main character. His pulse was still pumping with adrenaline after the chase. It was a stupid thing to do, that much is true. However it would be a lie if he claimed that he didn't enjoy the thrill of it all.
Knowing he once again managed to outrun the police gave him more pride that was probably healthy. Not only that. He had successfully stolen the sheriff´s boat. He couldn't think of a single person that had ever accomplished that. This little stunt of his would for sure be the talk of the island for at least a week. Until someone did something even more reckless. That someone probably being JJ though.
To be honest though. Are you really living if you won´t be remembered? JJ wouldn't think so. There were probably better ways to be remembered, but hey! He had to work with what he got. And what JJ got was a whole load of trouble.
He was led out of the car after what felt like a minimum of three eternities. The sun was still warm as it touched his face. He had always appreciated the sun the most out of all nature's wonders. It was always there to light up his day. Literally. Still, whenever school got too much or he had a fight with John B or his dad had too much, he'd go out to sit where the sun was clearest.
Sometimes he would sit there until the sun made it all feel better or it had gone to sleep in the sea. Others, he would stay sitting until it would awake again. Maybe, just maybe the rays would be able to disperse the clouds in his mind. If he was lucky, the jail cell might even have a window to let the last rays of the day in.
The station looked as nice as always. By all honestly it was the most luxurious building JJ had ever stepped his foot in. And probably the most luxurious building he ever will step his foot in. As sad as it sounds.
He tried to look as nonchalant as possible when he walked inside. He couldn´t let any possible cellmate think he was soft. No he'd make them believe he was here because of some real hardcore shit. He rolled back his shoulders and raised his chin ready to face his cellmate with a smirk. Except when he did, his smirk quickly disappeared. This really wasn't his day. Out of all people it had to be him.
Rafe motherfucking Cameron.