CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
↳ you are not alone

THE SUN DIPPED LOW ON THE HORIZON, casting the marsh in hues of gold and orange as Hazel followed JJ up the sandy path to the Maybank house. His steps were quick, almost frantic, each one pounding into the dirt like he was trying to escape the storm brewing inside him. She kept her distance, giving him space, but the weight of his silence pressed heavily on her chest.

The Maybank house loomed ahead, its warped porch steps and sagging roof a bleak reminder of the chaos that awaited them. JJ bounded up the steps without hesitation, the screen door slamming against the frame as he disappeared inside. Hazel hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, wrapping her arms around herself as the air seemed to thicken. Every instinct told her to turn back, to wait outside, but the thought of JJ facing whatever was in there alone made her stomach twist.

Taking a deep breath, she climbed the steps and pushed the door open.

The stench of beer and stale cigarettes hit her like a wave as she stepped into the dimly lit living room. Luke Maybank was slouched in his usual spot, a threadbare armchair that looked more like a throne of misery. His bloodshot eyes flicked to Hazel, and a slow, mocking grin spread across his face.

"Well, look who it is," Luke slurred, his words dripping with derision. "Your little girlfriend's back, JJ. Didn't think she had the stomach for this dump."

"Shut up, Dad," JJ snapped, his voice taut with barely contained anger.

Luke ignored him, his glassy gaze locked on Hazel. "What's the matter, sweetheart? Lost on the wrong side of the island? Or are you slumming it with my boy, hoping for a thrill?"

Hazel's jaw clenched, her nails biting into her palms. "Maybe if you weren't such a screw-up, JJ wouldn't have to pick up all the pieces you keep breaking."

Luke's grin widened, his teeth yellow in the dim light. "Feisty one, huh? You sure you can handle her, JJ? Or is she just here for the charity case?"

"That's enough!" JJ barked, stepping in front of Hazel. His voice cracked with a mix of anger and desperation. "Leave her out of it, alright?"

Luke rose slowly, his bottle swaying precariously in his grip. "She's already in it, boy. You bring someone into this house, they're fair game." He took a swig, his eyes narrowing at Hazel. "But you should know, sweetheart, people like you don't stick around. Not for trash like him."

Hazel's stomach churned, but she lifted her chin, refusing to let him see her falter. "People like you don't get to decide what's worth sticking around for."

Luke's laugh was bitter, sharp, and humorless. He staggered forward, pointing the neck of the bottle at her. "You'll learn. Just like his momma did. You'll learn he's not worth it."

JJ's voice rose, raw and furious. "Don't talk about her!"

The room fell silent for a beat, the weight of his words settling like a heavy fog. Luke sneered, sinking back into his chair. "So, what's this little visit about, huh? You bring me a present, JJ?"

JJ stepped forward, pulling the wad of cash from his pocket and thrusting it out. "It's restitution money. For the court. It's not for you."

Luke took the cash, flipping through it with a disdainful chuckle. "Restitution? Look at you, playing grown-up. You think this makes up for everything, huh?"

JJ's voice cracked as he spoke, trembling with emotion. "It's not about making up for anything. It's about fixing what you keep screwing up. Just use it for what it's meant for. Please."

Luke stood again, looming over JJ with an air of mockery. "You think you're in charge now? Bringing in cash like you're the man of the house? Newsflash, boy—you'll never be in charge of anything."

Hazel stepped forward, her voice sharp. "He's trying to fix what you won't. The least you could do is—"

Luke whirled on her, his sneer deepening. "You don't get a say here, little girl. This is family business."

Hazel didn't flinch, but her hands shook as she balled them into fists. "Family business? You don't know the first thing about family."

JJ shoved Luke, his voice breaking with fury. "You don't get to talk to her like that! You don't get to ruin everything!"

Luke staggered back, then lunged, his fist flying. JJ ducked, the punch grazing his shoulder. Hazel's scream split the air as the two collided, fists flying in a blur of chaos. Luke grabbed JJ by the shirt and slammed him into the wall, the sound of the impact reverberating through the house.

"Stop it!" Hazel cried, her voice cracking, but neither man paid her any attention.

JJ twisted free, shoving Luke back with everything he had. His voice was raw, shaking with years of pent-up pain. "You gave me nothing! Nothing but a shitty life and a million reasons to hate you!"

Luke swung again, his movements sloppy but dangerous. Hazel surged forward instinctively, grabbing at Luke's arm to pull him back. He shoved her hard, and she stumbled into the wall, her breath knocked out of her lungs.

"Stay out of it!" Luke growled, his voice venomous. "This is between me and my son."

Hazel caught her breath, her voice trembling but fierce. "You don't deserve to call him your son."

JJ's gaze snapped to her, panic flickering in his eyes. "Zel, go. Please. Just go."

"No!" Hazel shot back, her voice breaking. "I'm not leaving you!"

Luke sneered, his lips curling cruelly. "You think you're helping, girl? You're just making him weaker. He doesn't need you."

"Shut up!" JJ roared, his fists clenched, his entire body trembling. He turned to Hazel, his voice frantic. "Go, Zel. Please. You're just making it worse."

Hazel's heart shattered at the desperation in his tone, but she forced herself to nod, tears burning her eyes. "Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. 

She turned and walked out, the screen door creaking shut behind her. Outside, the night air was cool, but it did nothing to calm the fire raging in her chest. She leaned against the railing, her legs weak beneath her. JJ's words echoed in her mind, sharp and cutting, but beneath them, she could hear the pain—the fear.

* * *

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon by the time Hazel dragged herself back to the Chateau. The heavy stillness of the house greeted her, broken only by the creak of the screen door as it swung shut behind her. It was quiet—too quiet. No laughter, no faint hum of music from John B's room, no heated arguments echoing from the kitchen. Just silence.

She kicked off her shoes haphazardly, leaving them by the door, and trudged to her room. The weight of the day sat like a stone on her chest, JJ's voice still echoing in her head. You're just making it worse. Go. The rawness in his words, the bruises that painted his skin, the way his eyes had screamed don't leave me even as his mouth told her to go—it all played on a loop in her mind.

Hazel collapsed onto her bed, curling up under the thin blanket. She didn't bother changing out of her clothes. Exhaustion tugged at her, the events of the day swirling in her thoughts until she couldn't tell where one ended and the other began. She didn't dream. She didn't feel anything.

* * *

The faint hum of voices tugged her from sleep. Hazel blinked groggily, her room bathed in the soft glow of twilight filtering through the curtains. She pushed herself up, rubbing her eyes as she strained to make out the sounds drifting through the house. It wasn't until she reached the back porch that she realized where they were coming from.

Her steps faltered at the sight.

A hot tub, of all things, sat in the yard, fairy lights strung haphazardly from the porch railing casting a soft, golden glow. Champagne bottles—some half-empty, others tipped over in the grass—littered the area like confetti. And in the middle of it all was JJ, shirtless and slouched in the steaming water, his expression unreadable.

Hazel's stomach twisted at the sight of him. The bruises on his ribs and arms stood out starkly in the warm light, angry blotches of purple and blue against his tan skin. His cheek was swollen, and the cut above his eyebrow had barely scabbed over. But it wasn't just the physical marks that hurt to look at—it was the emptiness in his eyes.

"JJ, what the hell is this?" John B's voice cut through the stillness as he stepped onto the porch. Behind him were Sarah, Kiara, and Pope, their faces a mixture of shock and confusion. Hazel lingered by the door, unnoticed for now.

JJ tilted his head lazily, a forced grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Welcome to the Ritz, boys and girls. Thought I'd treat myself. Pretty sweet setup, huh?"

John B ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. "This is what you spent the money on? Are you serious?"

Pope's jaw tightened as he took in the champagne bottles and the twinkling lights. "That was supposed to be for your restitution, man. What are you thinking?"

JJ shrugged, the movement making him wince slightly. "What's the point? You think paying off some court fees is gonna fix anything? Newsflash—it won't. My life's already screwed."

"JJ..." Kiara started, but her voice faltered under the weight of his bitterness.

Hazel finally stepped forward, her presence catching Kiara's attention first. JJ's eyes flicked to her, and his grin faltered for just a moment before returning, sharper than before.

"You too, Zel?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Here to tell me how I messed up? Go on, get it over with."

Hazel ignored his jab, her gaze locked on the bruises that seemed even worse up close. "You're hurt," she said softly.

"I'm fine," he muttered, looking away.

"No, you're not," she pressed, her voice trembling. "And I can't stand here and pretend like you are."

JJ's knuckles whitened as he gripped the edge of the tub. "I said I'm fine, Zel. Drop it."

"Bullshit," Hazel shot back, her voice rising. "I saw what he did to you, JJ. I saw how you looked when I left. And now you're here, pretending that fairy lights and champagne make it all go away. You're not fooling anyone."

"Zel, stop," JJ warned, his tone low.

But she didn't. She couldn't. "You think this is what you deserve, don't you? The bruises, the shitty life, all of it. You think it's your fault."

JJ's voice cracked as he shouted, "Hazel, I said stop!"

"Why?" Hazel yelled back, tears stinging her eyes. "Why should I stop when all I want is for you to see yourself the way we see you? The way I see you?"

The air went still. JJ stared at her, his bravado crumbling, replaced by something raw and vulnerable. His lips parted as if to say something, but no words came out.

Hazel didn't wait. She climbed into the tub without hesitation, the water soaking her jeans as she knelt beside him. Her arms wrapped around him tightly, her cheek pressing against his damp hair. JJ stiffened, his body rigid, but she held on.

And then, he broke.

His shoulders shook as he buried his face against her neck, his muffled sobs breaking the tense silence. "I can't do this," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I don't know how."

"You don't have to," Hazel murmured, her fingers threading gently through his hair. "You're not alone, JJ. You've never been alone."

JJ clung to her like she was the only thing keeping him afloat, his hands fisting the back of her shirt. The others stood frozen, the tension replaced by an overwhelming sense of helplessness. Then, Kiara stepped forward.

"Screw it," she muttered, kicking off her shoes. She climbed into the tub on JJ's other side, her arm looping around his shoulder. "We're in this together."

Pope exchanged a look with John B and Sarah before shrugging. "Might as well." He climbed in next, followed by John B and Sarah.

The six of them crowded into the too-small hot tub, the water sloshing over the sides as they settled in. JJ let out a shaky laugh, wiping at his eyes. "You guys are ridiculous," he muttered, his voice thick.

"Pot, meet kettle," Kiara teased, nudging him lightly.

"She's got a point," Pope added with a smirk.

JJ glanced around at his friends, his family, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he let himself breathe. "Thanks," he said quietly, his gaze landing on Hazel.

She smiled softly, resting her head against his. "Always."

John B raised one of the half-empty champagne bottles, his grin small but genuine. "To us. The Pogues. No matter what, we stick together."

They each lifted a bottle or raised a hand, their voices echoing softly into the night. "Together."

The fairy lights glimmered above them, casting a warm glow over the scene. And as the crickets sang their quiet song and the marsh stretched endlessly around them, JJ finally let himself believe it. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't alone.

* * *

my eyes r leaking rn