The afternoon sun cast long shadows as you strolled down the Street, Then, you saw them. JJ and his father, Luke, exited the police station.

JJ looked… diminished. His shoulders slumped, and his usually bright eyes were clouded with a dull, heavy sadness. Luke barked an order, gesturing towards a sleek, black sedan. JJ, without a word, obeyed, his movements slow and defeated, slid into the passenger seat.

You instinctively raised a hand, ready to call out a greeting, but something in his posture stopped you. Your heart clenched.

You knew JJ. You’d been inseparable since toddlerhood, your backyards merging into a shared playground, your lives intertwined. You'd always loved him, a fierce, unwavering love that he, in his frustrating self-doubt, never quite seemed to grasp. And you'd always been his refuge, the place he ran to when Luke’s temper flared.

So, you're watching them through the car window. Luke's waving his hands around, looking super ticked off. JJ's just staring straight ahead. Then, WHAM! Luke punches him. Like, hard. JJ's head smacks the window, and there's blood. Everywhere. On the glass. It's nasty

"JJ!" You practically scream, and you're sprinting towards the car before you even realize it. You yank the door open, eyes wide. You grab his hand, and you're so mad you're shaking.

"Don't you ever hit my boy again!" You're pointing a finger in Luke's face, all fierce. "Your boy? He's my son-" Luke's looking at you like you've grown a second head. He knows you, the meddling neighbor kid.

“Never. Again!” you spat, pulling JJ from the car. He looked dazed, confused, his eyes wide and unfocused. Luke grumbled and cursed, his words a blur of angry noise. You flipped him off, slamming the car door shut as he roared off, tires screeching.

JJ turns to you, wiping blood off his face. His eyes are all messed up, but you can see a ton of stuff in them. "I love you, princess," he mumbles, voice all rough.

And yeah, it's kinda a mess, but it's JJ, and it's real.