Mutiny Below

Jayce

“Oh my god! What the fucking hell is taking so long?” Gemma groaned from the backseat. I muffled my giggle into my palm and glanced out the window. It was dark out but the parking lot was brightly lit by the apartment complex’s lights. This would be the first Thursday night since I had moved to Tempe that there would be no celebration in the old 8123 parking lot. I was excited, but also a little nervous.

John held my hand tightly from the driver’s seat, intertwining our fingers and resting it on the middle consul. Everyone else, which consisted of Gemma, Kennedy, Nick, and Jared, were squished in the backseat. Gemma was of course on Kennedy’s lap, in the middle, making that much easier for her to scream in our ears.

“Calm down Gemma! It’s only been like two minutes.” John laughed and used his other hand to start fiddling with the radio.

“Well it feels like fucking twenty!” She complained and then crossed her arms. “Why don’t we ever take our own car?” I guessed she was directing this toward Kennedy as he started to chuckle. “I hate being squished up back here. Where are Halvo and Nat going to sit anyway?”

“Car pooling is so much more fun, Gem. Lighten up.” Jared was laughing too now, along with Nick.

“Car pooling is not fun.”

“But bowling is!” Eric snapped open Nick’s door and scared nearly all of us. Apparently he’d snuck up on us and only Gemma had noticed. This was her turn to laugh hysterically as all three boys in the back screamed. Eric and Natalia were also laughing hysterically outside of the car. “You … you scream like a girl, Nick!”

I turned around to see Nick roll his eyes and send a scowl toward his sister. I smiled as his eyes connected with mine. He smirked and bit his bottom lip, making me blush from just a simple look. I turned back around, facing forward and averting my gaze to my lap as I tried to force my cheeks to cool down.

However, looking at my lap was a bad decision. As Eric and Natalia climbed into the car and more people complained about the cramped space, John moved our hands from the consul to my thigh. And as I stared at his larger hand wrapped around my small one, the guilt started to dwell again.

It was sickening to think that I was in love with John, but I was sleeping with Nick. Tears welled up in my eyes and I blinked furiously trying to get them to go away. I had the control to stop seeing Nick, but I didn’t want to. Which meant I would have to deal with the consequences.

I sniffled and a second later John picked our hands up again. He pulled mine over toward him and I glanced at him. He pressed a soft kiss to my knuckles before sending me a brief reassuring smile. It made my heart melt as I continued to watch him stare at the road. I made a vow to myself in that moment to not worry about Nick or the chaos that floated between us.

Tonight was about John and I, and having fun with friends.

When we arrived at the bowling alley, Garrett, Trey, Jared, Max, Pat, and Tim were already there and ready to bowl. Andrew and Justin were still on their way. I sat on Garrett’s lap and caught up with Trey while John went up to the counter and paid for both our sets of shoes. I couldn’t help but giggle as John insisted on putting my shoes on for me.

Then it was finally time to bowl. We took up two lanes. On one side was John, I, Trey, Natalia, Eric, Jared and Tim. On the other side was Garrett, Justin, Andrew, Max, Nick, Pat, Gemma, and Kennedy. Our lanes were side by side so we were still all sitting together. I mostly kept to the left though, sitting with John and asking all about the tiny details in Trey’s life. Nick stayed to the right.

It was a total different spin on our usual Wednesday night routine. Instead of everyone getting drunk and acting stupid, we were all laughing and actually talking. It’d been way too long since I’d seen Garrett’s little brother, and it seemed like lately I hadn’t really talked to Tim either.

“Fuck, it’s been forever since I’ve hung out with you guys.” Trey exclaimed as if he read my mind and shook his head.

“Why don’t you ever come to the parking lot anymore?” I frowned as I tried recalling the last time I’d seen him there.

Trey rolled his eyes. “Garrett things I’m too young to be around all the alcohol.”

I raised my eyebrows. “How young are you again?”

“Nineteen!”

I laughed. “He was drinking before that.”

“I know!” He threw his hands up just at the moment that Eric started yelling.

“Yes, baby! That’s a sta-rike! In your faces’ bitches!” He punched the air and then came over smirking. “That’s how it’s done Jayce.”

“Is it, now?”

“Yep. I’m the master.”

“You’re also ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously good looking.” I rolled my eyes as Natalia giggled. “I mean, we all know you ended up with John because I wasn’t interested.”

“Thanks.” I sarcastically smiled at him as I got up for my turn.

“Holy fuzz balls!” Gemma shrieked as she jumped up from her table. I glanced over questionably as she stared at me wide-eyed. “Do you hear that Jayce?”

“Hear what?” I furrowed my eyebrows and watched as she smirked. I strained my ears for a moment, and then I heard it. “Oh my god.” I covered my face with my hands and giggled uncontrollably.

“What are you guys freaking out about?” Pat switched his gaze from Gemma to me and then back. I shook my head and smiled as Gemma started to bounce her body as she walked toward me.

“It’s the Backstreet Boys!” She squealed as she finally did reach me. The boys groaned while Gemma and I easily fell into place with the song, singing and dancing along.

“This is so embarrassing. Do you two mind not acting like fan girls with other people around?” Tim threw some popcorn toward us but Gemma just stuck her tongue out while I continued singing. I smiled as my eyes landed on John. He was smiling back, slightly shaking his head as he watched my body move.

“Come up here, Kenny!” Gemma whined and stomped her foot, momentarily leaving me to be the only one dancing. Kennedy quickly shook his head. “John Franklin Trotter, we both know I taught this to you junior year and I swear if you get your ass up here, something bad will happen to your favorite body part.” She glared and I bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing.

Kennedy blushed before dragging his feet to stand up with us. Granted, by the time he was standing beside us the song was over. Gemma punched his arm and I let my giggles out and returned to John’s lap.

“I can’t believe you two know that dance.” Jared acted like he was shocked.

“Oh, please. Is it really that unbelievable? The Backstreet Boys were like, Gods back in the nineties.” I smiled and patted John’s hands around my waist. He was squeezing me tight and burying his face in my neck, planting small kisses here and there.

“Thank you universe for not letting me fall into the boy band trend.” Trey looked up to the ceiling like he was actually thanking God, which sent everyone at our table into fits of laughter.

“Stop being so over dramatic, kid, and go bowl.” Tim flicked more popcorn at him.

“But it’s still Jayce’s turn!” Trey whined and my cheeks burned as I quickly stood back up.

“We’re so never going to finish this game.” Eric shook his head and chuckled as I noticed him put his arm around Natalia’s shoulders.

“It’s going to go on for hours and hours.” John joined him in teasing me. I ignored the both of them and walked back up to the machine spitting out our bowling balls. I reached for my dark purple ball when I saw the other hand grabbing the bright yellow one next to mine. I glanced up and then mentally groaned.

It was Nick, of course. The look in his eye and the smirk on his lips clearly told me he was up to no good. I bit my bottom lip and tried ignoring him too as I bowled. I got two gutter balls and then slumped back to the table, sighing as I sat beside John instead of on top of him this time.

“Jeez, Jayce. What just happened? You’ve been getting spares for like the past five turns.” Jared scrunched his eyebrows together while Trey went up to take his turn. I shrugged and rested my head on John’s shoulder, looking over at Natalia who sat across from me.

“You okay, babe?” John whispered in my ear and I smiled a little as I craned my neck to kiss his jaw. He smiled back and reached for my hand again.

“I can’t believe there’s only one month till we leave for tour.” Eric excitedly tapped the table with his free hand. All the boys’ faces turned into goofy happy expressions. I rolled my eyes.

“Right. I got a call from Alex today. They’re already planning out prank week and wanted to know if we’re in or not.” John laughed and I frowned a little.

“Please tell me you said out.” Tim groaned and closed his eyes while John smirked.

“Kenny and I talked about it via text and we agreed we’re in.”

“Damn.”

“Hey Jayce, you coming on tour with us this summer?” Eric grinned as Trey came back and Jared went up. I simply shrugged again and then pouted a little.

“Of course, she’s coming.” John answered for me.

“What? You’re going to leave me all alone again? Jayce?” Trey whined as he took his seat on my other side and I couldn’t help but giggle at the puppy face he was giving me.

“You can hang out with Ross and Shane.” John offered with a cheesy smile while Trey rolled his eyes.

“Where are Ross and Shane?” I lifted my head and gave John a questioning look. He quickly adverted his eyes toward the lanes as he mumbled something. “What?”

He sighed. “I didn’t invite them.” I gasped while Eric, Trey, and Tim laughed.

“What? Why?” I smacked his arm and then glared at him a little.

“Trust me, Jayce. It’s not cool to have your little brother hanging out with your friends.” Tim nodded his head over towards Pat who was trying to hold one of the heavier bowling balls over his head. I gasped again.

“Tim!” I scolded and sent Pat a sympathetic look. “That is so mean guys. At least Garrett is a good older brother.” Trey snorted.

“The only reason I’m here is cause I accidently picked his phone up and opened a text with his invite. Otherwise I would have been left home again.”

I shook my head. “This is such a shame.”

“Oh, like you invite Adam to come hang out with us all the time?” Tim defended while Jared came back.

“That is so not the same thing. My brother lives in a different town where he lives and breathes school work. He’s so attached to that college. I couldn’t get him here if I dragged him. But I always invite him to big things, like tour kick off parties.”

“You know what, I’m going to stop arguing with you because I’m obviously not going to win no matter what I say.” Tim put his hands up in surrender.

“Thank you.” I smugly smirked and then eyed both Tim and John. “You two are awful brothers.”

“You tell them, Jayce!” Jared backed me up and the table laughed again.

“It’s your turn, John.” Natalia softly spoke, staring up at the TV screen with our scores on it.

“Oh,” John jumped up and I caught a glimpse of the blush starting in his cheeks. It was sort of strange. John was not one to easily blush, or be embarrassed, so it was hard to pin what exactly made him have this reaction.

The rest of the night flew by. Eric, somehow, ended up winning every game we played while Gemma smoked the boys in the other lane. As we were all piling out of the alley and saying our goodbyes, Gemma and Kennedy caught a ride with Tim. This left the car less crowded, but Natalia still had to sit on top of Eric’s lap. She blushed furiously the entire ride home, keeping her head down and her hands in her lap.

We dropped Jared off first, and then she was allowed to have her own seat, though I’m pretty sure I saw Eric with his arm around her again. Once we got to the complex, John parked in front of our building. After more hugs and goodnights, Eric and Natalia started to walk back to his apartment.

I smiled as they left hand in hand. “They’re cute.”

“Halvo’s dead if he tries anything.” Nick grunted as he watched them too, pulling out a pack of Camel Light’s.

“He says they’re just friends.” I shrugged and tried desperately not to think too much.

“She does too but, honestly, just friends never means just friends.” Nick gave me a look that made my cheeks burn. I bit my bottom lip and turned to John hurriedly.

“Eric wouldn’t do anything.” John was also staring after the two, even though they were out of eye sight now. His tone sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anything. I frowned and laced my fingers with his, ignoring the burning sensation coming from Nick’s direction.

“Come unlock the door.” It was an attempt to change the subject and put distance between Nick and I, but it didn’t work quite the way I’d hoped.

John handed me the keys. “I’m going to stay out here with Nick for a few.” He kissed my forehead and gently pushed me toward the front door.

Panic surged through my body as I looked over my shoulder at them. John had been acting slightly weird all night and this was not a good sign. My eyes widened as I looked at Nick. He couldn’t know, right?

I rushed into the apartment and to the bedroom. My chest was heaving as I leaned over my vanity. My mind was worrying about what the two boys were doing outside. I wondered if John was interrogating him. I wondered if Nick was telling him. My hands were shaky as I changed and my stomach was unsettled as I climbed into bed.

Terror was running through my veins. The suspense was killing me, but finally I heard the front door open and then close. I couldn’t make out footsteps and there were no voices. I closed my eyes and prayed things were still good.

Moments later the bedroom door creaked open and a figure slipped in. I exhaled softly as I listened to him strip from his clothes. He crawled into bed next to me and wrapped his arms around me. His body pressed against mine and as I gladly cuddled up to him, I could smell it.

Nick’s smoke was all over John. It brought back memories of his addictive, bitter tasting kisses. I imagined, for a moment, that I was in Nick’s arms, my legs tangled with his in our own little apartment. It was stupid and I cursed in my head the second I’d thought of it, but I couldn’t completely push the thought away.

“I love you, Jayce Lynn.” It was that same tone from earlier, when he was talking about Eric. It sounded like he was reassuring himself, or at least trying to.

My muscles tensed as I pretend to already be asleep. Something was wrong. I knew it. I just hoped it didn’t having anything to do with me or Nick.