{"Okay, enough of this sappy shit."}

The group sat on the deck as they all watched in horror as a dead body was being wheeled away on a stretcher and Miss Lana who ran over to the man and began sobbing into his chest.

"That's Scooter Grubs." A blonde girl they all knew from school spoke next to John B "Check it out, dead body." She showed the photo on her phone to the group and said as if it was the best thing ever.

Star scrunched up her nose "Eww gross. I don't wanna see that." She said to the girl as she pushed her phone away before hearing a ding from her own phone and seeing a text from her dad and spoke to the person closest to her, who just happened to be JJ.

"I gotta go. My dad wants help in the shop." She said not looking up from her phone and jumped off the barrel.

"Wait, I'll come with you." JJ said as he caught up with the girl and put an arm around her shoulder.

"No it's okay, you don't have to." She smiled at the boy.

"I know i don't have to, but i want to." The boy replied as he began dragging the girl away as they heard a shout from Pope asking where they were going.

"We'll meet you back at the Chateau!" Star shouted back at the boy.

But as the two walked away, what they didn't know is that their friends all gave each other a knowing look as they watched the pair walk away laughing with their arms wrapped around each other.

~

The duo walked along the deck as Rob's shop wasn't far from where the group sat before, and JJ for some odd reason began to feel nervous at the girls touch around his waist as they walked.

He had felt nervous around his friend many times before, but this was different. Sure he's had a crush on the girl since he was about twelve but she was still his best friend and had been around her for years and many times it was just the two of them. But he's never felt like this so strongly in a long while.

"You think John B will actually let me keep the gun?" JJ asked the first thing that came to mind.

"Like he could take it if he wanted to." The girl beside him laughed "Even if he tried, you wouldn't let him. We both know that."

"True. Cause i think it's sick!" He spoke as he took his arm off Star's shoulder and pulled the gun out of his pocket.

"Oh my god!" Star shouted at JJ causing him to jump slightly "Why the fuck do you have that here? put it away!" She slapped the boy's arm, hard.

"Ow!" JJ shouted rubbing his arm "Okay, i'm sorry!" He laughed as the girl continued to hit him and he quickly put the gun back into his pocket.

"Do you wanna get arrested?!" Star scolded the boy in a hushed tone, but JJ just laughed and it earned another hard slap on his arm "It's not funny!" She told JJ off as if she was his mum.

"Okay." JJ continued to laugh, but stopped as soon as he saw the stern look on his friend's face.

"I'm serious Jay. If you don't wanna get caught with that thing then i suggest you be careful." Star explained as they made their way up the two small steps of her dad's shop.

"Hey." JJ stopped the girl by putting both his hands on either one of her shoulders making her face him "I'm sorry okay, i'll be careful." He said with a straight face, a rare thing for the boy.

Star just smiled at the boy and rolled her eyes in a playful manner showing JJ that she wasn't mad before taking his hand and walking into the shop.

"Hi dad!" Star said as she opened the door, seeing the man behind the counter with JJ following behind like a lost puppy as his hand held tightly around hers.

"Hi Angel." Robert smiled as he made his way over to the pair and kissed the top of his daughter's head before turning to the blonde boy who seemed to be wherever his daughter was, and  the pairs interlinked fingers not going unnoticed by the man.

"How are you Maybank?" He said shaking the boys hand.

"I'm good Rob, how are you?" JJ smiled, now dropping the girls hand as Star began walking over to the hooks where her dad kept the aprons.

"I'm alright. It's nice to see you." He said ruffling his blonde locks before stopping the younger boy "Oh, JJ should you grab that crate of fish for me please." He pointed to the wooden crate not far down the deck.

"Yeah sure ." JJ smiled and made his way down the deck as Robert walked over to his daughter.

"Okay." He clapped his hands together "I need you to dress the fish Maybank's getting." He said to his daughter who was putting on an apron.

"Dad!" Star groaned "That's what you needed help with? you know how to dress fish." She shook her head and made her way behind the counter to grab the dressing.

"But you do it so much better." Robert smiled as JJ came up behind him with the crate, and Star walked into the back of the shop and laughed.

"Perfect, thank you. If you just take them through the back and give them to Star." Rob thanked the boy, but quickly stopped him just before he could walk away.

"Wait. Uhh, how are things JJ?" He asked as he watched the boy put the box on the counter beside him "You know, with your dad and everything?" Robert made sure to be careful on how her asked as he knew it could be a sensitive subject for the boy.

"Yeah, yeah it's okay." The boy replied honestly "I've not been home a lot so, manly staying at John B's so i've not really seen him." He smiled shyly.

"I'm glad. Just know your welcome at ours any time." Robert smiled at the boy who he cared for very deeply as the first day Rob had met the boy he could see a lot of himself in JJ.

He remembers the day vividly. It was the first time the boy had came round to the Owens for a play date after he had picked the chaotic duo up from school.

He could see how reckless JJ was. His confidence, but also kindness. And ever since he had loved the boy. But as the Maybank boy grew older he began getting into a lot of trouble, more than usual. But if Robert didn't know the boy so well and cared for him he would have told himself that he was a bad influence on his daughter. But he knew Star knew better. And he was very aware that the boy cared deeply for his daughter and knew he would never do anything to purposely hurt her or get them in trouble. And he trusted JJ as he seemed to be rather protective over Star. 

JJ smiled at the dark haired man who he had basically grown up with as a some sort of father figure, and appreciated everything he did for him.

"Okay. Enough of this sappy shit." Rob laughed "Get that fish into the back." He pointed at the curtains Star had just walked through. JJ just laughed and picked the crate back up and made is way over to Star.

But what JJ didn't know is that Robert smiled at the boy with an knowing look from behind him. Because what no one knew was that Robert knew about the little crush the boy had on his daughter, even if JJ hadn't told him. In fact, JJ didn't have to tell him, or anyone for that matter it was obvious. Anyone who knew the pair could see the liking JJ had for the Owens girl, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. But he definitely wasn't fooling Robert.