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Annabelle had peeled her body off the floor of the bathroom and made her way to her room. Her father had passed out in front of the TV like usual and Tessa spent the night at a friend's house.

Annabelle's phone had been ringing and bussing nonstop but she had ignored it as she was in no mood to leave the house. She remained in her bed as the sun set over outer banks.

She flinched at the gentle knocking on her window. Flying up to a sitting position, grabbing her eyebrow knife in motion to use it as a weapon. A relieved exhale escaped her lips when she saw his face through the window. JJ with his back turned against the window as he knocked on it.

Annabelle scurried out of bed, slipping the window open as quietly as possible.

"JJ?" She whispered, staring in confusion at the boy who remained standing with his back against the girl.

"You naked?" Was all he said.

Annabelle tilted her head to the side, staring at the boy with her brows furrowed. "What?"

"Are you naked?" He asked once again.

"No?" Annabelle huffed, still startled by the question. The girl's words made the boy turn around, finally allowing himself to face her. He grinned seeing her confused expression.

"What? I can't just walk in here. What if you were naked." He smiled, answering the look on her face before she had the chance to say anything.

"What a gentleman," Annabelle said, opening the window wider, allowing JJ to climb inside as she peaked over his shoulder, seeing both John B and Pope sticking their heads out of the Twinkie that stood parked by the road.

Annabelle shut the window and turned to JJ who had found something interesting on her bed. The boy had Stevie in his hands. Stevie was Annabelle's first and favourite stuffed animal all throughout her childhood. The blue whale with big brown eyes had been with her through everything.

"You still keep stuffed animals in your bed?" JJ chuckled to himself, staring at the animal. "I've watched you throw up on him, just so you know."

Annabelle's face scrunched up and she stepped forward, shoving Steive out of JJ's hands and back onto the bed.

"Why are you here? If Dad finds you he'll actually kill you." Annabelle whispered.

"I'm here to pick you up. And check on you." He smiled softly. Annabelle stared at him, confused as to why she would need checking on.

"You weren't answering your phone," JJ explained like he had read her thoughts. Annabelle glanced over at her phone that lay on the bed.

"I'm fine." She looked back up at him. Why are you picking me up?"

"John B found something. Some old relative. We're gonna pay her... a visit." JJ said, his tone revealing that even he was uncomfortable with the plan.

"Pay her a visit? Where?" Annabelle asked.

JJ rubbed the back of his head with his hand, biting the inside of his lips. "The graveyard."

Annabelle's mouth fell open, upon hearing about the woman's location. She shook her head

"I know how it sounds, but John B just got fired."

"John B. got fired?" Annabelle asked and JJ nodded. "Those fucking Cameron's."

"I know," JJ said. "Now let's just do this and, I don't know, maybe he'll be able to move on from all this Redfield shit."

Annabelle nodded, gazing over JJ's shoulder to the door of her bedroom. She could hear her father mumble in his sleep and she knew that he would be passed out and wouldn't wake up for hours but something inside her told her not to leave. Maybe it was the horror after today's events that made her fear that she could end up with the same punishment if he caught her sneaking out.
She took a deep breath before turning around to grab her jacket.

"Let's go." She told JJ and spun around toward the window.

"Wait," Jj whispered, gently grabbing her arm to turn her back around. Annabelle looked up at him in confusion but his eyes had permanently attached themselves on her cheek. Fuck.

Before Annabelle had any time to say anything, JJ cupped her head with his hands, turning it gently to the side. He brushed some hair away from her face, revealing the fresh cut on it.

Annabelle's teeth dug into her bottom lip as she stood there unsure what to say. She felt JJ's thumb brush over their skin just under her cut and she heard him exhale deeply.

"JJ I-"

"What happened?" He asked, the calm and soft tone had disappeared, and shifted into a much darker and harsher tone.

Annabelle's teeth dug deeper into her bottom lip. She wasn't sure what to say or if there was anything to say. She knew that there was no point in trying to lie or sway the truth. JJ knew her too well. He already knew what had happened and would easily been able to tell if she was lying.

"Annabelle, I swear to God I'll rip him to shreds," JJ said under his breath. His hand remained placed against Annabelle's cheek, his finger resting just below the cut.

The girl refused to look at him as she was too embarrassed and humiliated. She hated for him to see her face like that but luckily she was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, covering the few scattered cuts on her arms.

"JJ, it's not as bad as it looks," Annabelle whispered.

"Not as bad as it looks?" JJ's tone grew louder as he spoke. "Annabelle, he hurt you. I'm pretty sure it's exactly as bad as it looks."

"Keep it down." Annabelle sighed, turning around to grab her jacket, forcing JJ's hand off her face. "Let's go."

The girl didn't mean to sound so rude. She knew that JJ was just trying to help but there was nothing that he or anyone could do.

"Annabell-" JJ tried to calm out but the girl was already halfway out the window. The boy sighed, sending a last glance at the door while he contemplated on paying Annabelle's father a visit before he left but that would mean that Annabelle would be forced to move to foster care which was the last thing he wanted. JJ exhaled deeply before following the girl out the window and into John B.'s van.

𝟏𝟎𝟔𝟗 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
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𝐀/𝐍
awww

two short chapters I'm sorry
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