𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈𝐈: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋 𝐎𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐒
જ⁀➴ JJ Maybank x Male OC (Charlie Genrette)
જ⁀➴ masterlist ➴ previous ➴ next
“Can you tell Rafe to talk to Sarah? She’s been dodging me for days now.” I noticed Topper is growing a slight layer of stubble with the way he angled his camera. The red-brick school slowly shrank behind him, giving way to the clear blue sky to come into view. Kelce came out of the glass doors and slowly appeared in the background.
“I don’t think that’s going to be fair to Rafe. Cause if you guys have a problem, he’s gonna have to choose between you and his sister.” I said through the screen just as Topper yelled multiple profanities from shock when Kelce caught up to him. “You better sort it out on your own.” I continued through my own stifled laughter.
Topper let out a pained sigh. “Well is she there? I could come over—“
“No way! We’re going to Barracuda Mike’s, remember? We’re drinkin’ cause we passed Maths, baby. We’re graduating on time, woo hoo!” Kelce interrupted, and I just about heard Topper sigh again. Topper and Sarah may not have been destined for each other, but I still saw how Topper loved her. After getting past the wall that is Rafe Cameron, who apparently cared enough about Sarah to not let his friend date his sister, he never missed an early morning pick up and her 12 AM curfew. Hell, he even has me choosing pads during emergencies because he could “never figure out wings and no wings”.
“Rafe is on the way there.” I told them. “Congratulations guys. You’re getting out of that school.”
“Thanks Charlie-Charlie. Why aren’t you coming anyhow?” Kelce came to from the side of the screen. His toothy smile told me that he definitely passed that extra credit exam.
Just as I was about to answer him, I heard a knock on the door. “Charlie?” Rose poked her head out. “There’s someone here to see you. I let them into the kitchen.”
I thanked Rose as she went back inside. I turned to Topper and Kelce again. “That’s why. See you guys, have fun!” I pressed the red button when they said goodbye too.
I wasn’t sure if JJ would actually show up today. We never exchanged socials despite having seen each other three times now. I asked Ward if I was allowed guests and he told me I had the same freedom as his kids, so I took that as a yes. Before I took the turn to the kitchen, I took a deep breath. My nerves were all worked up again at the mere thought of him.
Just as I suspected, he was sitting by the breakfast bar. His blond hair that carried the chaos of coastal storms was unmistakable in such a polished room, paired with a faded blue cargo shirt with rusted silver buttons for the pockets. He had his broad back to me, and I could almost see how his taut muscles rippled beneath. His red string still floated away into the air and out of the mansion walls.
“Hi, JJ.” I breathed, reaching for a chocolate chip cookie on the table to keep myself from blushing again or looking at his muscular back.
JJ spun around his stool to face me, a crooked grin immediately forming. “Hey there, Charlie-cookie.”
I choked on the burnt crumbs of the cookie in my mouth. Christ, he only said four words and I’m already dying here. “W-where do you get my nicknames?” I heaved for air. “Charlie-boy. Charlie-bear. Now Charlie-cookie. What’s next? Charlie-cow? Charlie-ice cream?”
JJ laughed wholeheartedly. The richness caused tornados in my stomach. “If that’s what you want, Charlie.” He swiped the cookie from my hand and chewed slowly. The look he gave me made my pulse stutter.
“Ew, that went in my mouth already.” I hopped on the stool next to him, my shoes hanging two feet away from the floor. “There’s more you could’ve chosen from.” I nudged him the plate of cookies that Rose must’ve prepared.
“Tastes better when it’s been in ya’ mouth.” JJ reached forward to thumb my lower lip, and my insides immediately flared into a whole-body trance that stopped all survival operations. The focus went to his rough fingertips on my soft lips. “Gives it a little kick.” He removed his finger and leaned back against the marble counter.
I wasn’t sure if he knew what he did or if he was just like this with everyone. His wild smirk never hinted on anything aside from the fact that he’s having fun. “I—So— What will we work on today?” I ignored the ghost of his touch on my lips, still hot enough to keep the wildfire active inside me.
“Wanna ask yo’ Granddad about the full story. Since ya’ said it was a bedtime story.” JJ shrugged. “You do the recording. I do the talkin’. That’s two pages right there.”
I opened my mouth to protest. I cannot trust JJ to talk to my Granddad. But before I could even get a word out, Granndad comes in through the back door from his garden walk. “Charlie, Mr. Maybank, Good Morning.” He greeted with his leveled voice, hands clasped behind him. The universe must hate me.
“Mr. Genrette! Good that you’re here. Wanna ask ya’ some questions.” JJ went behind Granddad and led him to the small dining booth next to a window overlooking the freshly cut greenery. Beyond some tall palm trees, I saw the Cameron’s personal dock extending to the glistening water. Their three-story white yacht floated still, the name ‘My Druthers’ written behind in blue swirls.
“JJ wants to ask you about the story of Elizabeth Teach.” I met Granddad’s eyes just as JJ collided with me. He immediately took up a lot of space with the way his legs spread, and his arms sprawled behind me. I saw a hint of curiosity on Granddad’s face, and I doubt it’s from the story proposition. “I already told him an abridged version of it. It’s for a history project of his, so all we need is the detailed story.” I clarified.
“Yeah give us the wholee story,” JJ leaned forward. “Charlie-bear? Phone please? Didn’t get to bring mine.”
My hand jerked at the nickname. I made sure to glare at JJ as I handed him my device. JJ just arched an eyebrow at me as he hit record. But not without calling my wallpaper of Homer Simpson “rad”.
Granddad cleared his throat. “Well then, Mr. Maybank. The story begins with pirate Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. And his companion Bartholomew Genrette.”
“Genrette?” JJ asked almost immediately. He looked at me with confusion and amusement in the slightest curve of his mouth.
Granddad seemed to be surprised with the interruption as well, so I turned to JJ. “I kind of forgot about that part, but yes. Try to keep the questions for later.”
JJ regarded me with a nod, thankfully. Granddad resumed, laying his fists on the table. “Edward and Bartholomew were the best of friends. Until one expedition in the East led them to meet Elizabeth Lim. Both friends fell over heels over the young maiden with porcelain skin and connections to the forces of nature. However, Elizabeth chose Edward and took his name. Driven by jealousy, Bartholomew led authorities to Edward who was then executed for his crimes. He thought Elizabeth would come to him, but instead she was filled by vengeance.”
Halfway through the story, I stole a glace at JJ. His face was illuminated by the early morning sun, bringing out specs of gold in the seas of his irises. “Later on, Bartholomew was to be wed here in Kildare. Using her connections to the elements of nature, Elizabeth arrived at the wedding and cast a curse on him—”
“Thou hast robbed me of my rightful happy ending. Mark me well—neither thou, nor any soul born of thy blood henceforth, shall ever know such fortune.” The quote was etched into my mind. Every night when I was a kid, I thought about it that I could recite it. I could feel the warmth of JJ’s smile on my skin.
“Yes,” Granddad nodded. “The curse gave the Genrette bloodline the ability to see red strings tied to someone’s finger that will someday lead them to the love of their life. And at the same time, if a Genrette falls in love with a person meant for someone else, their beloved will die.”
I closed my eyes, using all my might to not let the weight crush my breath. It was the condition that defined my entire life. Made me clench my fist and silently pray it wasn’t real.
“Woah,” The amazement sparkled in JJ’s eyes. “Is it real?”
“Bartholomew thought nothing of it at first. However, on the night of his wedding, his beloved fell off the tower of his castle.” Granddad concluded.
“No, I mean, Can you guys see red string, and can you never fall in love?” JJ looked at me and Granddad.
“Of course not,” I tried to laugh despite the pain in my chest still gnawing at my flesh. I glanced at Granddad who gave me a nod before meeting JJ’s curious look. “If we start seeing strings everywhere we’d have to be admitted to a looney bin. And if our beloved died, how is our bloodline still here giving birth to more Genrette’s? The story is just passed down to Genrette children to not grow as backstabbers. Or girl or boy stealers. That’s what should go in your paper.”
I wanted to give myself a tap on the shoulder for my quick thinking. But JJ’s smile dripping with conviction was enough victory for me. “Cool beans ya’ got in your fam history, Charlie.”
It wouldn’t have done JJ any good if he knew about the truth, anyway. Let alone the fact that I don’t think he would believe it. This curse had its way of stripping my ancestors to the bane of their humanity, questioning their existence once it takes what it promises to take. It’s the reason I don’t have a grandma and my parents are dead. Genrette’s are well capable of falling in love. And they fall in love so intensely, so deep into the soul, that they’d be willing to risk everything just to be with the love of their life.
Which is why I’m began to worry that this burning feeling I get when JJ is around will someday kill him if I don’t stop.