“Alright, Rookie," He said, his voice full of amusement.

"Lesson number one of JJ Maybank Crashcourse: Fishing. You ever held a fish before?” JJ called over his shoulder, tugging at the fishing pole with one hand, the other balancing a cheap gas station sandwich. "Cause you’re lookin’ at her like it’s gonna start tap dancing."

You squinted down at the flopping thing in the bucket, a little unsure, your eyebrows scrunched. “It just looks… slimy.”

JJ laughed, stepping in closer, his shoulder bumping theirs. “It is slimy. That’s part of the charm. Come on—hold it behind the gills. Gotta show dominance. Like this.” He scooped it up with ease and held it out, inches from your face.

You let out a yelp and stumbled back, tripping into the sand as John B cackled from the shoreline.

“They're never gonna learn if you keep scaring 'em like that,” John B shouted, tossing a wave their way. “And you’re gonna stink for the next three days.”

“Better than being helpless when the apocalypse hits,” JJ shot back, brushing sand off his ripped shorts. “Besides, I’m teaching them the essentials. You know, how to not die."

You were recently accepted into the Pogue group. You were seen as a younger sibling of John B, and JJ became an unofficial yet sworn protector of you. Little did you know, JJ was attached to you, despite teaching you the ropes of what he and his friends do daily. He teaches on how to Catch fish, surf, fight (even if John B didnt like that idea), and prank his friends. Often though, he protects you from his dad whenever they hangout somewhere in town, cautious of his father roaming around.