smooth seas//john b

thirty two

In the morning we wait by the docks for Kie and Pope to come back. We need the pogue if we're going to get away for a while. We rush towards them as we see them pull up to the dock.

"Finally. Hey!" I shout.

"Guys, don't tie up. Stop it!" JJ tells them.

"What?" Kie asks.

"We're dipping," JJ tells them.

"Wait, why?" Pope asks.

"What? What are you talking about?" Kie asks.

"Where'd you guys go? What happened last night?" John B asks.

"We slept on the break," Pope tells him. "What's up?"

"Slept, right. Yeah," JJ teases.

"We were up all night," I tell them.

"We gotta get the hell out of here," John B states.

"Rafe knows we're here, so we have to leave, like, now," Sarah explains.

"Okay," Kie says.

"Come on," Pope says.

We take the boat to a little clearing on the marsh. You wouldn't know we were here unless you really tried to find us.

"Look, if Rafe and Barry know, it's only a matter of time," Kie says.

"Before everyone knows," Pope adds.

JJ scoffs. "I told you. We should've gone south, man."

"Just stop it," John B tells him.

"Why does no one ever listen?" JJ remarks.

"I get it. I get it. I understand," John B tells him.

"I have an idea," I state. "With me back, my dad's going to have to choose between me and Rafe."

"Maisie, Mai..." John B starts.

"He's gonna choose me," I insist.

"Just please listen. Ward keeps lying to you, Maisie," John B tells her.

"Mai, he's not gonna agree after all that's happened," Kie insists.

"No. I... I know it sounds crazy," I say.

Kie nods her head. "Yeah, it does."

"I know!" I assure. "But he's my dad. And I know him, and I know he loves me. I'm just asking for two hours."

I start to walk away but stop when I hear John B, "MC." I turn to face him. "Are you sure?"

"Mm-hmm." I nod my head. "Yeah."

"Okay." John B sighs as he rests his forehead on mine. "Okay."

I take the pogue to Tannyhill. It feels strange being back home. I stand on the dock for a moment and take a deep breath. I want to just jump back on and sail back to my friends forgetting about talking to my dad.

"Maisie?"

I see my dad getting out of his suv. He starts to walk towards me. "Maisie? Maisie! Oh my God, sweetheart. Oh my God!"

I hold my hand out. "Stay back. Stay back. Stay back!"

Dad stops in his tracks. "Okay. I'm just..."

"Don't," I tell him.

"I'm just..." Dad starts to back up with his hands in the air. "I'm back. I'm back. I just..."

"I swear to God," I warn.

"I'm so happy. I'm sorry," Dad tells me.

"Where's Rafe?" I ask.

"Uh, I... I don't... I don't know. He's not home. He's not home," Dad tells me. He gestures to my still bandaged stomach. "You okay?"