#routledge!reader

and john b never got sick either.

which was why, three days ago, when he started coughing and sneezing and dramatically announcing that he was “literally on death’s door,” you’d known the universe was playing some kind of long, cruel joke.

by day four, he was fine.

you woke up that morning already annoyed.

the ceiling fan spun lazily above you, and for a split second, everything felt normal...until you swallowed.

pain shot down your throat.

you groaned, eyes squeezing shut as your head started pounding, the dull ache spreading behind your eyes like it was claiming territory. your body felt heavy, sore in a way that made even rolling onto your side feel like too much effort.

no. nope. absolutely not.

you lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, and then it hit you.

john b.

your older brother. patient zero. the man who had coughed openly in shared spaces, stolen sips from your drinks, and had the audacity to say, “relax, it’s just a cold.”

“oh, i’m going to kill him,” you muttered.

you dragged yourself out of bed, hair a mess, wearing one of jj’s hoodies because—yes—you liked being comfortable, and yes, you expected everyone around you to accommodate that.

your princess treatment wasn’t something you asked for; it was something people naturally gave you. john b cooked when you were tired. jj carried things for you without being asked. pope handed you the better chair. it wasn’t your fault you had standards.

you stormed down the hall and into john b’s room, where he was sprawled out, dead asleep, looking infuriatingly peaceful for someone who had ruined your immune system.

without hesitation, you grabbed the half-full plastic water bottle from his nightstand and hurled it at his head.

it bounced off his shoulder.

“OW—what the hell?” john b groaned, rolling onto his stomach.

“you got your dirty and NASTY germs on me,” you snapped. “and now i’m sick.”

john b didn’t even turn around.

he buried his face into his pillow, already regretting every life choice that had led to this moment. please don’t let her be actually sick, he thought. please let this just be a dramatic episode of nonsense.

“john b,” you said sharply. “i’m serious.”

“what do you want me to do?” he groaned, voice muffled.

your nose burned. your throat tightened. you sniffled and then, right on cue, your eyes filled with tears. crying on command was a skill you’d mastered years ago. Some people thought it was unhinged. you beg to differ...

the sound of your sniffles made John B sigh in defeat.

“ugh,” he muttered, pushing himself upright.

he finally looked at you.

and immediately knew he was screwed.

your eyes were glossy. your cheeks were flushed. you looked small in jj’s hoodie, arms crossed like you were holding yourself together. not dramatic. not fake.

sctually sick.

“yikes,” he said quietly. “okay… yeah. you look rough.”

“yeah,” you said, voice wobbling just enough to twist the knife. “and I don’t have medicine.”

john b rubbed his face. deep breaths. stay calm. don’t escalate.

“just go back to sleep,” he said carefully. “it’ll blow over in like three days. today’s my fourth day and i feel a hundred percent better.”

“i’m hurting right now,” you shot back. “and you’re supposed to take care of me.”

that was it.

john b groaned, already reaching for his phone. “ugh. i’m calling jj.”

“no.”

“yes.”

“no, absolutely not.”

“god, this is literally your fault,” you snapped, already turning away. “you should be the one taking care of me—what is wrong with you?”

you slammed your bedroom door shut just as you heard his muffled, resigned, “jj,” through the wall.

you screamed into your pillow.

and then, exhausted and aching, you passed out.

the front door of the chateau creaked open an hour later.

jj maybank stepped inside with a plastic grocery bag swinging from his hand, the paper rustling with every step. he smelled like saltwater and sunscreen, hair still damp, boots landing softly against the floor. he’d stolen most of the contents from the convenience store— crackers, tissues, orange juice, cold medicine he didn’t recognize but hoped worked.

he paused just inside the doorway, scanning the quiet house.

“…she asleep?” he asked.

john b appeared from the kitchen, arms crossed, already bracing himself. “yeah. for now.”

jj nodded, jaw tightening a little. okay. easy. you got this.

john b glanced down the hall toward your room. “just—uh. proceed with caution.”

jj frowned. “the fuck does that mean?”

“it means,” john b said slowly, “you know how she is.”

jj huffed a quiet laugh. “yeah. princess treatment, attitude for days, dramatic when she’s mildly inconvenienced.”

john b winced. “yeah, but....she’s actually sick this time.”

that wiped the smile off jj’s face.

“oh...,” he said. "like… sick-sick?”

john b nodded. “throat, headache, body aches. and she’s in one of those moods.”

jj exhaled, shifting the bag in his hand. great. cool. fantastic. he’d faced cops, drug dealers, and actual life-threatening situations, but a sick, stubborn you? that scared him a little more.

he knocked once on your door.

nothing.

jj hesitated, hand hovering over the doorknob. okay. be gentle. be helpful. don’t piss her off. he twisted the knob and pushed the door open slowly.

your room was dim, curtains pulled tight, the afternoon light barely sneaking through the edges. you were curled up in bed, tangled in blankets, hair spread messily across the pillow. jj’s hoodie swallowed you whole.

his chest softened instantly.

“hey,” he said quietly, stepping inside. “baby?”

you didn’t move.

jj set the bag down on the floor and leaned over, resting his hand on your shoulder. “c’mon, princess. i brought you stuff.”

you stirred just enough to shove him hard in the chest.

“don’t touch me.”

jj stumbled back, barely catching himself. “whoa—okay, damn.”

he laughed under his breath, rubbing his side. “you still got your fight in ya. that’s good, right?”

“no,” you muttered, turning away from him. “go away.”

jj crouched beside the bed, undeterred. “i brought snacks. and juice. and—”

“no.”

“and medicine.”

absolutely not.

you shot upright just long enough to glare at him. “i am not taking that.”

“you haven’t even seen it yet.”

“i don’t need to,” you snapped. “it tastes gross and pills get stuck in my throat and I’m not doing it.”

jj sighed, already reaching into the bag. “okay, but if it helps you feel better—”

you grabbed the bottle out of his hand and flung it across the room. It hit the doorframe and slid out into the hallway.

jj blinked.

then grinned, impressed despite himself. “damn, baby. got some nice aim right there.”

“i said no,” you insisted, sinking back under the blankets. “i’m fine.”

“you’re literally burning up.”

“you could've just called me hot.”

jj shook his head, trying not to smile. she’s impossible. god, i love her.

he sat on the edge of the bed, lowering his voice. “just let me help, okay? i hate seeing you like this.”

“i don’t need help,” you said stubbornly. “i need everyone to stop bothering me.”

jj looked at you for a long moment, softening. “yeah,” he murmured. “sure you do.”

he disappeared for a moment and came back with a cold water bottle, condensation already forming on the plastic.

“okay,” he said gently, twisting the cap. “no medicine. just water.”

you cracked one eye open. “i’m not dehydrated.”

“you’ve been asleep for hours, and you just woke up not feeling good,” he said. “humor me.”

you sighed dramatically but pushed yourself upright anyway— way faster than jj expected and snatched the bottle from his hand.

before he could say anything, you tilted your head back and chugged nearly half of it, water spilling down your chin and onto JJ’s hoodie.

he blinked. “jesus— slow down.”

you lowered the bottle, finally breathing, and that’s when you saw him.

john b, standing in the kitchen. watching.

your eyes narrowed.

without a second thought, you hurled the bottle across your room and right at him.

“HEY—” john b yelped, ducking just in time as it smacked against the cabinet behind him.

jj swore under his breath, grabbing your shoulders. “okay, okay— easy, tiger.”

“i told you this was his fault,” you muttered, already wilting as the adrenaline faded.

jj guided you back down onto the pillows, tucking the blankets around you like he’d done it a hundred times before. he brushed your hair back gently, pressing his palm to your forehead.

“you’re gonna pass out again if you keep doing that,” he murmured. “save the violence for later.”

you huffed, eyes fluttering shut. “it's worth it.”

jj smiled to himself, sitting back on the edge of the bed, one hand still resting on your arm— just in case... john b reappeared in the doorway two seconds later, eyes wild.

“you are actually insane,” he shouted. “you could’ve killed me!”

you shot upright again. “YOU GAVE ME THE PLAGUE.”

“I HAD A COLD.”

“AND I HAVE A HEADACHE AND A SORE THROAT AND IT’S YOUR FAULT—”

“YOU DIDN'T TELL ME I COULDN'T HAVE A SIP—”

“YOU’RE MY BROTHER—”

“THAT DOESN’T MEAN IMMUNITY—”

“IT LITERALLY DOES—”

the words started overlapping, volume climbing, neither of you stopping long enough to breathe.

jj stood there for exactly three seconds, watching it spiral.

“oh my god,” he muttered.

john b pointed accusingly at you. “she just assaulted me with a water bottle.”

“you DESERVED IT.”

“she’s crazy, JJ!”

“you got me sick!”

“I WAS SICK FIRST—”

“WHICH IS THE PROBLEM—”

“OKAY,” JJ snapped.

he stepped forward, placed both hands on John B’s chest, and physically pushed him back out of the room.

“nope. get out. go.”

“JJ—”

"out.”

he shut the door in john b’s face before he could finish the sentence.

the room went quiet except for your heavy breathing.

jj turned back to you, hands on his hips, then softened immediately when he saw your expression: flushed, glassy-eyed, exhausted, but still fired up.

he walked over and gently pressed you back down onto the mattress.

“alright,” he said firmly but sweetly, tugging the blankets back up around you. “that’s enough fighting for one day.”

“it is his fault,” you muttered.

“i know,” JJ said without hesitation.

that earned him a weak huff of satisfaction.

he brushed your hair back from your face, thumb tracing your temple lightly. “just take a nap, princess. i promise i’ll handle it.”

your eyes fluttered. “don’t let him near me.”

“wouldn’t dream of it.”

he waited until your breathing evened out, until the tension drained from your shoulders, and then slipped quietly out of the room, closing the door behind him.

john B was pacing in the living room, still fuming.

“she’s unbelievable,” he started.

jj turned on him instantly. “dude, what the hell?”

“i almost got taken out by a flying aquafina.”

“you got her sick,” JJ shot back. “and then you poked the bear.”

“she’s being dramatic.”

“she’s sick,” JJ corrected. “and stubborn. and you know how she is.”

john b sighed, rubbing his face. “okay, yeah. maybe i messed up.”

jj crossed his arms, thinking. then his expression shifted— something mischievous clicking into place.

“…i might have an idea.”

john b looked up. "yeah?”

jj nodded slowly. “but it’s gonna take all of us.”

john b followed his gaze toward the living room.

“oh,” he said. “that kind of idea.”

they shared a look.

and then jj said, “alright. let’s do this.”

pope showed up ten minutes later, breathless.

he pushed through the front door of the chateau like he’d sprinted the whole way, hands braced on his knees as he bent forward, chest heaving.

“i got here as fast as i could,” he panted. “what happened to y/n?”

silence.

jj stood near the couch, arms crossed. john b hovered by the kitchen counter, avoiding eye contact.

pope straightened slowly. “well?”

nothing.

“…guys?” he pressed. “is she okay?”

still nothing.

pope’s expression tightened. “i’m gonna go check on her.”

he took three steps down the hall and reached for your bedroom door.

“NO!”

both jj and john b shouted at the exact same time.

pope froze, hand hovering inches from the knob.

“what the hell?” he demanded, turning around. “why are you yelling at me like she’s radioactive?”

jj ran a hand through his hair. john b exhaled hard, shoulders slumping.

“…she’s sick,” john b finally said.

pope stared at them for a long moment, processing. then his face shifted.

“oh. hell no.”

he grabbed his bag from the floor. “i am not getting involved in whatever this is.”

“pope—wait,” john b said quickly, stepping in front of him.

“she’s sick, man,” pope shot back. “i like being alive.”

jj held up his hands. “okay, yeah, that’s fair. but we need help.”

pope sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “why do i need to help?”

“because,” john b said desperately, “she won’t listen to me, and she won’t take medicine, and jj’s the only reason she hasn’t murdered me yet.”

jj shrugged. “i’m the buffer.”

pope looked down the hallway, then back at them. “so what’s the plan?”

the three of them fell quiet.

jj glanced toward the kitchen.

the pizza boxes sat on the counter, steam curling faintly from beneath the lids, the smell filling the room—warm cheese, grease, comfort.

a slow grin tugged at jj’s mouth.

pope followed his gaze.

“…no,” he said immediately.

john b leaned forward. “just hear us out.”

pope crossed his arms. “i don’t like where this is going.”

jj tilted his head. “you want her to feel better, right?”

pope hesitated.

“…yes.”

jj nodded. “good. then trust us.”

pope exhaled sharply. “i hate this already.”

john b smiled for the first time in hours. “so you’re in?”

pope closed his eyes, muttering, “i’m gonna regret this.”

jj’s grin widened. “perfect.”

they leaned in closer.

and the plan was set.

the chateau went quiet on purpose.

jj clicked off the lamp in the living room, leaving only the late afternoon sun bleeding in through the windows. the pizza boxes were placed carefully on the coffee table, lids cracked just enough for the smell to escape—melted cheese, grease, comfort.

john b cleared his throat loudly. “pizzas out here,” he announced, projecting toward the door. “we’re heading out.”

kie and pope exaggerated their footsteps, moving toward the front door, shoes scuffing, keys jangling. the porch door opened, then shut with a solid thunk.

silence.

they all froze.

jj pressed his back against the wall near the hallway, heart beating a little too fast. please work. please don’t make me tackle my girlfriend.

a minute passed.

then another.

john b shifted his weight. “she’s not coming.”

jj tilted his head. “wait.”

a soft creak.

all three of them snapped to attention.

your bedroom door opened just a crack.

you stepped out slowly, hood pulled up over your head, jj’s oversized hoodie swallowing your frame. the sleeves covered your hands, the hood shadowing your vision so you could barely see anything but the floor in front of you.

you sniffed.

paused.

the smell hit you.

your stomach betrayed you immediately.

jj mouthed, now.

you took another step into the living room.

and then—

hands grabbed your shoulders.

another pair scooped up your legs.

"what—HEY—NO—”

“GOT HER!” john b shouted.

“WAIT—WAIT—GUYS—”

you were lifted clean off the ground, hoodie twisting around you as you kicked weakly.

“PUT ME DOWN,” you yelled. “I SWEAR TO GOD—”

“easy, easy,” JJ said quickly, panic and laughter mixing as he tried to keep you from flailing too hard. “nobody panic.”

“WATCH ME PANICK,” you shrieked.

they hauled you toward the couch, your hood slipping further over your eyes until you could barely see anything but dark fabric and flashes of movement.

the second you realized who it was, all hell broke loose.

“JOHN B,” you screamed. “I KNEW IT—THIS IS YOUR FAULT—”

“STOP MOVING,” pope said, struggling to keep hold of your legs. “i don’t want to drop you!”

“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU,” you shouted, squirming harder.

jj appeared in front of you, breathless, holding the medicine bottle up like a peace offering. “okay, okay—just one dose, alright? one! then pizza, I swear.”

your eyes locked onto the bottle.

“no.”

“just drink it—”

“no.”

“baby—”

“I SAID NO—”

You swung blindly, your fist connecting with Pope’s cheek.

“ow—okay, nope,” Pope yelped, instantly letting go and stumbling back. “i'm out.”

the second his grip loosened, you twisted, grabbing a fistful of john b’s hair.

“AH—HEY—HEY—”

he yelped and immediately released you.

jj took a deep breath, hands lifting slowly as if he were negotiating with a storm. “alright… enough. that’s enough.”

you spun, hood slipping further, eyes blazing. “I’M NOT DONE!”

jj crouched slightly to meet you at eye level, voice soft but firm. “hey. look at me.”

you blinked, the oversized hood limiting your vision to dark fabric and shifting shapes.

“i’ve got this,” jj said gently, holding up a small cup of liquid medicine, the kind you always hated. “just trust me. one sip, that’s it. i’ll hold it. you just drink. okay?”

your stubbornness flared for half a second, your body trembling from shivering and fever, but the calm in his tone and the patience in his eyes made you hesitate.

slowly, shakily, you tipped your head back. jj guided the cup to your lips, steady and careful. you swallowed quietly, the medicine sliding down your throat.

jj smiled softly. “good job, princess.”

he crouched lower, looping one arm under your knees and another behind your back. “now… let’s get you back to your room.”

you melted against his chest as he lifted you, hoodie sliding over your eyes. jj’s chest was warm and steady beneath you. the hallway seemed impossibly long, but his grip was solid, reassuring. you felt your muscles relax against him for the first time in hours.

“careful, please,” you whispered.

“i’ve got you,” he said, voice low, protective. “you don’t need to worry about a thing.”

he carried you past the living room, past the abandoned pizza boxes, past the kitchen where john b and pope were watching with mixed awe and relief. jj didn’t look at them; he only focused on you.

when he finally laid you down on the bed and tucked the blankets snugly around you, you let out a long, shaky sigh. your body finally began to melt into the warmth of the covers.

“see?” jj murmured, brushing a strand of hair from your forehead. “not so bad.”

you huffed softly, half-smiling despite yourself. “only because you’re doing it.”

“always, baby,” he whispered back, leaning close enough that your cheeks brushed. he let you rest your head against his shoulder, his hand gently tracing your arm as your breathing evened out.

for the first time all day, the chaos felt distant, almost like a bad dream. outside, the chateau was quiet except for the soft hum of the evening settling in. inside, it was just you and jj, wrapped up in blankets, in the calm after the storm.

authors note: this was inspired by me getting sick and wanting to fight my sibling because of it. like how are you about to disrespect me by getting ME sick? like hello? does anyone else hate getting sick this much because this fic was an understatement of how i was...

“Y’know it, Mama.” His voice was deeper and laced with want, placing you back down onto your feet after squeezing you tightly. JJ lets his hands rub up your waist as you slide down his toned body before he steps back from you, wetting his lips, finally getting a good look at you after so long of only FaceTime. You lock your hands around his neck, smiling up at him in a way that would surely get you yelled at by John B had he seen.

“What would I do without you?” You ask, your smile wide as you look up to him. Finally allowing yourself to show him everything you wanted to for so long.

“Crash and burn, of course,” He tugs you around under his arm, resting his toned bicep on your shoulder as he directs you into the Chateau for the first time since you left last fall. John B. pops his head out the door, watching you both as you approach him.

“What the hell is taking you so long?” He snaps, making you roll your eyes as you shove past him, begrudgingly letting JJ’s arm fall from your shoulders. As you finally step into your home, you’re bombarded with hugs and welcomes, making your way into the center of the group, sitting in your regular spot in rotation right across from JJ’s. Something JB ensured as soon as he caught onto your infatuation with his best friend. But after practically living on your own for an entire school year, you were tired of your older brother taking control over your life. You had a plan, and you knew it would work.

“So what are you doing your first weekend back?”Kie asks, passing the joint they had rolled for your return your way as you try and ignore JJ’s burning gaze on you. You give yourself time to work out the best response as you take your hit, puffing on the joint again to fill your lungs a little extra before passing it off. You catch the way JJ’s Adam’s apple bobs, his eyes watching you blow the smoke past your lips as though he were in a trance.

“Well, don’t get mad, but do you remember my ex, the one I broke it off with junior year?” You ask, plucking at a loose thread on your shorts, looking around at everyone but JJ’s reaction.

“That douchbag kook who was too old for you and didn’t deserve you?” John B asks sarcastically, “Yeah, how could I forget?” He rolls his eyes, puffing on the joint as you laugh at his annoyance. You let yourself steal a glimpse at JJ buying yourself time as the joint makes its rounds, catching the way his jaw clenches and his eyes darken. You smile to yourself, looking to the floor and feigning ignorance of his reaction.

“Yes, Tyler, he found out I was gonna be back for the summer and he asked me to get dinner later, I said I would but that it doesn’t necessarily mean we’re getting back together,” You shrug your shoulders as though it was nothing, watching JJ take his hit, his hard eyes remaining trained onto you with fire blazing behind them.

“Necessarily?!” Pope blurts out with a fake laugh, “Isn’t Tyler the asshole college dude me and JJ had to put in line a few years ago?” You feel yourself starting to laugh at Pope’s scoff of annoyance, remembering how he was always just as protective as your brother when it came to you starting to date.

“It doesn’t mean anything, okay, it’s just for fun.” You shrug, ignoring the smirk Sarah sends your way as JJ begins to fume in his spot. You roll your eyes playfully away from her, smiling as she clearly picks up on what you were doing.

“That’s what you say when something definitely means something.” JJ pipes up, trying to stop his teeth from gritting together as your eyes avoid him again.

“I don’t know this guy, but if he’s fun, I think you should have your fun,” Cleo states with a smile before standing and tugging Pope off with her. You shake your head, laughing as you fake a disgusted look in their direction.

“I will not be having that kind of fun.” You state, finally locking eyes with JJ, tilting your head slightly, challenging him to break eye contact first. His blown out pupils contrast against his ocean blue eyes as he holds your gaze only breaking it when John B stands up beside you.

“Yeah, right. Just don’t bring him back here, I can’t promise I’ll remain civil this time.” Your brother laughs at your dramatic eye roll, despite knowing he was only half joking. Your eyes meet Sarah’s, your eyebrows arching for a split second before she gets your request. You hold back a sigh at watching your plan fall perfectly into place, Sarah hopping off the couch she was occupying to tug at her boyfriend's wrist.

“And what were you and Sarah going to be doing? Hm lemme think…” JJ finally laughs at your words, watching the way you jokingly tap your chin as the pair retreat into the Chateau towards John B’s bedroom. Sarah giggling, winking back at you over her shoulder, fully supporting you in your endeavors, unlike your brother.

“And I think that would be my cue,” Kie says between laughs, shaking her head in mock disappointment, “I hope you two know what you’re doing.” She states in a sing-song voice before slipping out the door and out of sight. You watch JJ’s confused face, his eyebrows furrowed adorably watching her leave, his lips trying to form a question as he mutters confusedly before she’s gone.

“Wanna come hotbox the Twinkie with me, Jay?” You stretch out towards him, kicking his thigh softly, snapping his eyes back to yours. He caught the twinkle in your eyes, the slight tilt to your head, and part of him already knew.

And with one decision, he ended up getting everything he wanted.

“You don’t even gotta ask Mama.” JJ responds excitedly, immediately hopping up in front of you as he reaches his ring-clad hand down to take yours, “M’lady?”

~~~~

“Come on, he’ll never know, I swear,” JJ begged, continuing the non-stop flirting he’d started from the second he began rolling a blunt for you both. Ever since you mentioned you had a date, his “jokes” started to feel more and more serious, making your giddy excitement skyrocket as you slowly push yourself closer to him in your seat.

“John B would literally kill you if he found out,” you laugh, taking a puff off the blunt before passing it off to him again. “He doesn’t care that I’m in college now and more responsible than him; he’s overprotective.”

“Then I would die happy, Baby,” He states, shrugging his shoulders as he hits the blunt, blowing the smoke directly in your face from across him, “You know me, imma’ daredevil.”

“See you don’t even actually want me Jay, you just like the chase,” Your eyes meet his through the haze of smoke slowly filling the Twinkie, “You think it would be hot to sneak around.” You fill your voice with teasing interest, knowing he would pick up on the change in your tone immediately.

“It would be really hot, yeah but you’re also one of my best friends.” His breathless voice takes you by surprise as he leans forward to hand you the blunt, letting his fingers brush yours for too long, catching your eyes again and forcing you to maintain eye contact. He does love a chase, but the excitement of finally hearing your interest after so long of getting the cold shoulder sends him reeling more than the desperation for your attention that John B denied him ever did.

“Which should discourage you, Jay.” He watches the way your eyebrow raises with your tone, wetting his lips as his brain reminds him of the many times he watched you flirt at the Boneyard, taking charge and wrapping some poor sucker around your finger for the night. His heart started to race, a smile growing on his lips when he took note of your tell.

You were finally flirting back.

“Well, it doesn't, and I don’t care about no pogue on pogue anymore either, Sweetheart, I do genuinely want you.” JJ tugs on his bottom lip with his teeth, watching your face, and he can tell he’s finally got you, “And if John B kills me and dumps my body in the marsh, so be it.”

JJ watched your lips wrap around the blunt sucking in your hit it, blue eyes bouncing from the smoke pouring past your lips to your eyes still locked onto him. “Wanna shotgun it, Jay?” You blurt out, smiling teasingly as you push yourself impossibly closer to him on the bench in the back of the Twinkie. Loving the way his eyes found yours immediately, swallowing thickly while he nods.

“Yes, yes, I do.” His hands found your waist as though it was second nature, pulling you into his lap where you rest your weight with a sigh. Your eyes stay locked in his gaze, taking a long drag to properly fill your mouth with the warm smoke. You watch JJ’s face intently before tugging his mouth up to yours with his stubbled chin. You ghost your lips against his, letting them touch each other just slightly while you pass him your hit. You lean back in his lap to watch as his eyes flutter shut, feeling the way his fingers grip your hips as he inhales the smoke you gave him.

“Y’like that Baby?” You ask, and a moan vibrates through his body and into yours at the sound of the nickname, a smile subconsciously covering his face as his eyes stay closed. You take the opportunity to put out the smoking blunt in the ashtray behind you, letting your now free hands roam across his chest and shoulders as you pull yourself back to him.

“I think I’m dreamin’, Sweetness,” He sighs, his hands dancing up and down your waist, gripping at your flesh everywhere he stops. You giggle above him, wiggling your hips against the growing bulge in his shorts and sending a shiver down his body.

“You’re not Jay,” You whisper, resting your hands on his shoulders, as his eyes flicker open to watch you, “Do you wanna kiss me?” Your voice comes out soft despite the confidence you feel, slightly rocking your hips against him as he nods desperately.

His hand rubs its way up your back, gripping the back of your neck and smashing your lips into his. The kiss is heated as soon as you touch, years of pent-up feelings urge you both further, your lips fighting each other as you moan into his mouth. You graze your tongue against his bottom lip, asking for entrance, making him groan into you, gripping your lower waist harder, tugging you impossibly closer, and shoving his tongue past your gasping lips. You laugh into the kiss, sighing as you grind into him, feeling him entirely through his and your own shorts. The taste of his spit coating your tongue, sending a wave of excitement through you, the puddle in your panties growing as you swirl your tongue against his, coating your mouth in his saliva.

JJ pulls back suddenly, his blown-out eyes watching your face intently as you whine for him to come back. Your brows furrowing, your fingers tugging at his shirt collar, desperate to have his taste on your lips again. “Jayy, come on.” You beg, bucking against his hard bulge again desperately.

“You’re not just doin’ this because the weed, though, right?” He asks, his voice desperate and strained. You laugh, tugging him closer by his shoulders, grinding into his lap harder and tangling your fingers in his hair to tug on it hard.

“You are absolutely clueless. I have been obsessed with you for years. Why do you think JB hates us being alone together?” You drag your lips against his neck as you speak, feeling the way he twitches against you, itching to finally get you the way he needed, “You have no idea how many times I’ve thought of ridin’ you in this van.”

“I’ve thought about taking you in damn near every position, everywhere on this fucking island.” He responds, holding back a moan at the feeling of you pressing against him.

“Well, no one can stop you now because I say what you can and can’t do to me.” He growls as he smashes his lips back onto yours. Maneuvering your body so you lay under him across the bench of the van, one hand disappearing between your bodies, tugging at the button on your shorts to let his hand fall into them. He circles his finger slowly against your clothed clit, laughing as his eyes find yours again, your brows furrowing and your mouth falling open, “You’re so fucking wet.” He laughs out, his free hand drifting to wrap softly around your neck, tugging you towards him again and capturing your lips in a passionate kiss.

He moans against your tongue as your hand falls to palm him through his shorts, making him pull back quickly, the clank of his belt coming undone so quickly, sending a shiver down your spine. Your eyes follow his movements, entranced by him, watching as he tugs his shorts and boxers down together, letting himself spring free. His tip bounces against his lower abdomen, making him hiss lightly, his hand falling to stroke himself slowly, thumbing his leaking tip as his free hand springs into action. He tugs your shorts and panties down in quick, smooth motions, sighing heavily when he spreads your thighs to get a look at you. His hand speeds up at the sight of your glistening folds, groaning into his kiss bruised lip while you desperately wiggle your hips below him. His thumb moves subconsciously, pulling one of your sticky lips to the side and watching as they clap back together when he releases it, growling at the sight of how wet he can make you.

His eyes meet yours, groaning as he feels your hand replacing his on his cock. His fingertips ghost against your thighs, slowly working their way up your body, catching on the tank top you wear to slowly pull it up your chest.

“You’re so fucking beautiful Sweetheart, look at you, your nipples are all perky for me.” His tongue swipes against his lips before he dives into your chest, tugging your shirt off fully over your head and tossing it behind him before swirling his warm tongue against your hard nipple. Your fingers of your free hand get lost in his hair, tugging lightly as the other moves lower palming his tightening sack as he moves to suck your other nipple into his mouth. Groaning and moaning into your flesh, biting your nipple, and making you whine underneath him.

“Please fuck me Jay, I wanna feel you inside me already.” JJ pushes himself up, his strong arms framing your face as he watches you, spit coating his lips and making them glisten. His brows furrow in pleasure as your hand picks up speed between your bodies, “Please, Baby, I need you.” You emphasize your words with a squeeze of your fingers, slowly drifting your hand up, ghosting your fingers against his tip, and feeling him twitch in your palm before tugging your hand away. Quickly, you drift your hand up his shirt, digging your nails into his chest and dragging them down his abdomen, marking him as he shudders above you. “Take your fucking shirt off and fuck me already JJ, or I swear you won-“

JJ pushes off of you immediately, pulling his shirt off over his head in a flash before falling back onto you. Holding his weight on his arm beside your head, as his free hand falls to line himself up at your entrance. His fingers tangle in your hair at the side of your head, his lips capturing yours as his tip slowly slips into your drenched center, “You’re so fuckin’ needy, been waitin’ too long for this to not take it slow with you.” He gasps against your lips, breathing heavily as he slides into you slowly, letting his hand drift up to wrap around your neck possessively, “I want you to feel every bit of me, Baby.”

“It’s not like this is never gonna happen again Jay,” You moan, his cock stretching you out, sending your juices leaking past him and onto the blanket below you as he slowly penetrates you, “Unless you didn’t want t-“

“Shut the fuck up,” JJ growls, snapping his hips into you and cutting you off with a moan as he fills you completely, “I know you won’t be able to get enough of me after this, but don’t worry imma fuck you every chance you give me. I can feel you clenching around me already, Gorgeous, so don’t play because I’m in charge now.”

He pulls out slowly, his eyes falling to watch his glistening skin as he slips out of you. His tip rests inside you while you pucker around him, desperately trying to suck him back into you. His bright blue excited eyes bounce to yours, your brows furrowed adorably, your teeth digging into your lip. He thrusts into you, filling you back up and forcing your mouth open with a moan. His hips start to rock against you, setting a slow but rough pace as he dips his head to catch your lips in a slow, passionate kiss, matching the desperate thrusts of his hips against yours.

JJ’s thrusts speed up, dragging against your twitching walls and hitting your cervix each time. He twitches inside you as your tongue swirls around his, moaning in your mouth and letting his hand fall down your neck to your chest, stopping for only a second to squeeze at your breast before continuing his descent. You gasp into his mouth as his fingers find your clit again, circling over it and dropping his lips to kiss down your neck.

JJ speeds up his finger’s movement as his pace slows, trying to control himself. The feeling of your walls clenching around him, your slick sticking to him every time his balls slap against you, pushing him dangerously close to the edge. Your hips move desperately, trying to speed up your own release as JJ holds himself back. His teeth dig into the skin at the base of your neck, groaning as your hands dance across his muscular back. Dipping low enough to grab at his ass before drifting their way back up, dragging your nails against his shoulders and making him shudder.

"Please, Jay, faster," You gasp, clutching JJ's shoulders as he pounds into you slowly, letting your nails dig into his skin with each thrust. “Faster Jay I’m gonna cum,” You practically scream as his fingers rub into you impossibly faster, his hips digging into you deeper as he speeds up his thrusts again.

"You gotta be quiet, Gorgeous, this thing ain't soundproof." He laughs, pushing himself above you, one hand resting beside your head, taking a second to glance out the fogged windows of the Twinkie before looking back to your closed eyes and furrowed brows. His eyes glance down your body, watching your chest rise and fall rapidly as you gush around him, slowing his fingers as you come undone below him. The band in your abdomen finally snaps, forcing you to arch into him, your nails digging down his back and leaving bright red marks behind. JJ pulls his hand from between you, sucking it into his mouth and moaning before letting it fall to your cheek, pushing your hair back as he attempts to maintain a steady pace, fucking you into oblivion as he watches your face contort in pleasure.

“Look at me.” His voice is laced with dominance, breathing heavily above you as he watches your eyes flicker open, staring up at him desperately. With a groan, his mouth finds yours again, your moans mixing together while he pulls all the way out, slamming back into you and making you gasp into his mouth. Allowing his tongue to explore yours as his hips speed up even faster to a brutal pace, shaking the van with each thrust. You should be worried someone will see, but you’re too fucked out to care right now.

Your fingers tangle in his hair as his hand falls to steady himself on your hip, looking for anything to grab onto, latching onto reality. You tug at his hair aggressively as he bites your lip, locking your legs around his waste, whining out a moan into him as his cock hits deeper inside you making you pull his hair even harder subconsciously. Your whole body begins to twitch with overstimulation as JJ moans desperately above you, his hips stuttering and his breath shudders, “Do that again, now.”

You do as you're told, moaning as his hips snap against you at an erratic, random pace when you do. “You gonna cum Jay?” You ask, your voice breathless and squeaky post orgasm.

“Mhmm, tryna convince myself I wanna pull out right now though, Sweetheart.” His eyes squeeze shut, clenching his fingers onto your hip. His fingernails digging into your skin, trying to control himself.

“No, don’t, please don’t, Jay,” you whine, locking your legs around him tighter, tugging him fully against you as he groans and moans into your neck. He whines loudly, pushing into you, his tip kissing against your cervix as you feel his hot cum paint your walls. He stills completely, dropping his weight onto you, his cock twitching inside of you as he empties himself into you.

“If I get you pregnant,” JJ huffs, pushing himself up on shaky arms to watch your face, “Your brother is definitely gonna kill me.”

“No, he would never kill JJ Jr” You laugh breathlessly, JJ’s eyes following the way your chest moves before dropping to look at where he sits inside of you. The ring of the creamy mixture of your release at his base drives him absolutely insane, sending his head spinning with excitement.

“Fuck, I guess I have a breedin’ kink now,” He groans, dropping his head into the crook of your neck, leaving wet kisses against the warm flesh there, “Thanks for that Princess.”

JJ pushes off of you to watch as he pulls out, his intense eyes staring as your mixed release flows out of you and onto the seat below. You wiggle your hips teasingly with a tired smile before he snaps out of it. Shaking his head with a laugh as he bends over to tug his bandana free from his shorts, swiping it against your overstimulated clit as he cleans you of the sticky residue coating you.

You both redress in a comforting silence, both giggling together when you flip the blanket covering the bench of the Twinkie to the clean side. Your eyes meet his for a second too long, your shared laughter stopping slowly as he stares at you with soft eyes, his smile only growing as you lean into him. Your lips melt together in a soft, welcoming kiss before parting with a sigh. JJ’s hand falls to the ashtray sitting in the front of the van, relighting the half-smoked blunt before passing it off to you. You sigh contentedly, smiling up at him, happy that everything still feels so normal.

Once the Twinkie is filled with the scent of weed and not the evidence of your previous activities, you slide the door open. The smoke falls around you as you squint at the light change. JJ sits on the floor of the Twinkie with his legs hanging out the side door, looking at you as you stretch your arms and legs. You catch sight of John B as he emerges from the door of the Chateau, quickly walking his way towards you. You chuckle, thinking of how lucky you are he chose to come looking just after you and JJ both found your way out of the steaming van. You can feel John B’s suspicion seeping off of him like a palpable entity as he approaches, making you laugh and turn to JJ behind you. His eyes popping up off your ass and to your eyes quickly before noticing his best friend approaching over the yard behind you.

“What are you two doing?” Your brother snaps, eyeing you as you roll your eyes back to him.

“Jus’ smoking JB, I got bored waiting for you, so Jay took care of me.” JJ holds back a laugh at your words, poking his tongue into his cheek while his eyes fall to the ground at his feet.

“I thought I said years ago I didn’t want you two smoking alone together.” John B states, suspicion laced in his voice and eyes. A look of disgust forms on his face when he eyes the Twinkie, seemingly looking for “clues” he will never find.

“And I distinctly remember telling you I can hang out with whoever I want. I’m an adult now, just like you, so untwist your panties.” His brows furrow in suspension once again, looking back at you desperately trying to decipher what the look in your eyes means. His gaze bounced between you and his best friend, unsure if he should trust his gut or let it go.

“Is something going on with you two?” John B asks, his voice dropping to a whisper as if this were all a giant public scandal.

“Uh, yeah, we’re friends.” You state with a dramatic roll of your eyes before slipping past your brother. You turn to catch JJ’s eyes over your shoulder, sending him a wink and watching him try to hide his smirk.

“Don’t you have a date to get ready for?” JB yells after your retreating form, not noticing the way JJ’s eyes lingered on you as well, eagerly awaiting your answer.

“Nope, I’m canceling, decided you were right, Tyler is a douchebag.” You don’t miss the proud smile JJ wears as you flit into the Chateau, ignoring the look your brother gives his best friend when he notices as well.

❤️=smut 🩷=request

Bsf!JJ Maybank x Reader

Besties You and your best friend, JJ, wake up together after a blurry night of drinking way too much (or just enough) at the bonfire

Mermaid Motel❤️ You and JJ are stranded two hours away from home and have to stay the night in a motel room with one bed

Mermaid Motel Part 2 🩷

Caught in the Act❤️ You never thought that anything would happen between you and JJ, no matter how much you'd fantasized about it for years and definitely not like this

Quick, Kiss Me You and JJ are on a mission to find something in an empty classroom and need to look like you weren't when you get caught

My Girl JJ protects you from a drunk Kook at a party

His Angel You're the only person that JJ Maybank would come to for comfort after a brutal encounter with his dad

Her Angel JJ sees a Kook roofie you at a party and takes care of you

Midsummers Just a sweet little interaction when you and JJ run into each other (literally) at Midsummers before all hell breaks loose

You Don't Wanna Kiss Me? You can't stand to see JJ talking to another girl at a bonfire, so you decide to drown your sorrows a little bit more than you should

You Don't Wanna Kiss Me? Part 2

Playing Pretend A Kook won't leave you alone at a party so JJ pretends to be your boyfriend

Playing Pretend Part 2❤️

You or Yucatan JJ plans on telling you how he feels at the boneyard after years of avoiding it—mainly because John B tells him he has no balls—but ends up getting a little too drunk and jealous when he sees you talking to some Kook boy

Pretty When You Cry Y/N's dad passed away recently and her mom has slowly become somebody she doesn't recognize. JJ, having similar issues, is going to be there for his best friend in any way that he needs to be.

🍄 You and JJ take some mushrooms and after years of pining, he's finally able to admit how he really feels

Dr. Maybank JJ kisses you better when you accidentally hurt yourself exploring Poguelandia, the island that you're stranded on

Tiny T-Shaped Miracle JJ takes you to a doctor's appointment to get an iud put in and spends the rest of the day taking care of you

Poguelandia 4L You're stranded on an island with JJ and your friends (takes place during Outer Banks season 3 episode 1) and you're touch starved

Poguelandia 4L Part 2🩷

Wrong Bed❤️ JJ blacks out and falls asleep in the wrong bedroom of the Poguelandia 2.0. house and it's the best decision he didn't know he was making of his life

Nice Catch You tell Sarah exactly how you feel about JJ not knowing that he's under the dock (Sarah knows though)

Southport JJ takes you on a trip to Southport NC for your birthday

Part 2 ❤️ (smut is not detailed)

Part 3 ❤️❤️❤️

Safe Haven When a terrifying encounter at a party triggers old trauma, JJ steps in and continues to be the one person who helps you feel safe again.

Part 2 JJ goes to comfort you when he hears you having nightmares in the guest bedroom of the Chateau

Not-So-Sexy Little Stumble After JJ kisses the reader at a party, JJ pushes her away completely

Hit and Run You and the pogues watch JJ get hit on his bike

Christmas Eve Service🎄 Y/N's parents invite JJ to to come to church on Christmas eve (preachers daughter!reader)

YOU Obsessed!JJ Maybank, 5 parts, 16,000 words

Kinda My Girl ❤️🩷 Aftercare with friends with benefits JJ

Home Safe 🩷 JJ panics when you don't text him that you got home safe

Part 2

Part 3

Full Kook (Kinda) ❤️ JJ comes to hang out with you at your petsitting house and you pretend to be Kook husband and wife

Part 2❤️

The Walking Dead (50+ Parts)🧟‍♂️❤️ Walking Dead x OBX crossover

Way Too High 🩷 JJ takes care of you when an edible makes you WAY TOO HIGH

Handyman 🩷 Your Kook parents hire JJ to fix some things around the house and you've had a crush on him for forever

Snowday It snows in the OBX, hard, and JJ couldn't be more excited

Daddy Kink ❤️🩷 You and JJ have secretly had feelings for each other for years. One night, after drinking a lot of tequila, he finds out you kind of like the idea of calling somebody daddy. Later that night he does something about it.

JJ Maybank x Routledge!Reader

Mackerel JJ and John B’s sister are always roughhousing, but one playful wrestling match leaves the Pogues wondering if there’s more to their chaos than just friendship

Mackerel Part 2

Mackerel Part 3 ❤️

JJ's Playlist The party dies down for everybody but JJ and his lifelong best friend, John B's little sister. They drunkenly have some fun in the front yard of the Chateau. JJ is the DJ and they have one of those nights where the music just hits

Boo🎃 JJ loves your fairy Halloween costume a little too much

For Survival You and JJ have to sleep in the Twinkie when it breaks down in the middle of the night in the dead of winter

Masseuse Maybank ❤️ JJ gives you a massage after a long day

Enemies to Lovers

His Biggest Hater Everything changes when you stumble upon a very upset JJ Maybank, your enemy since childhood, at your secret spot in the Cut.

Oops ❤️ (3 Parts) You wake up next to JJ after blacking out at a party

Bf!JJ Maybank x gf!Reader

In Sickness🩷 JJ takes care of you after you have surgery

Dream Come true❤️ JJ catches you having a private moment with yourself, thinking about him, and decides to lend you a hand

Dream Come True Day Before Flashback❤️🩷 Boat smut

The Swell y/n beats Ruthie's ass after she runs over a baby turtle

His Little Rockstar🩷 You're a singer and when your friend comes to town and asks you to preform a song with him and his band JJ tries to be supportive but is secretly extremely jealous

Mirror, Mirror❤️ (2 Parts) You and JJ have been together for less than a month after years of friendship are addicted to each other. When your parents leave for a few days JJ finally gets to come over and loves your mirrored closet doors

Weird Brain 🩷 JJ helps pull you out of a depressive episode

Female!JJ

365 Partygirl JJ gets too drunk at the boneyard and you help her out

“Lost or something?”

“Fuck off, Rafe,” Your response was instant as you continued to walk without sparing him a look. The car shifted into a different gear, you guessed by the noise, before Rafe was hopping out to approach you.

“Are you okay?” When you didn’t answer, he moved in closer and grabbed your shoulder before turning you to face him. “Hey, hey. What’s wrong?”

You stared at him with the knowledge that you probably looked like a mess with the tear streaks across your cheeks. While Rafe had a lot of issues with your friends and brother, he usually stayed clear of you. Whether that was because you were close with Sarah, or what, you didn't know.

Twisting your fingers together, you dropped your gaze as tears started to build again. “You ever watch someone you love choose someone else over you, every single time?”

The question felt like a punch in the gut to Rafe. He had. His whole life he watched his dad choose Sarah. Watched his mom choose another family over him. Watched Wheezie choose another sibling over him.

“Get in, I’ve got somewhere to take you.”

Six months ago, you hopped in Rafe Cameron’s Range Rover and left The Cut behind. You didn’t question the decision, knowing you’d worry about everyone else before taking care of yourself, and that clearly didn’t work in the past. You felt horribly guilty about leaving John B with no indication whether you were okay or not, but you knew if one of them found out, JJ would be busting down the door to Rafe’s bedroom before you had a chance to say no. 

While you weren’t sure what the original intentions had been, Rafe was so different with you after bringing you back to his new house. One he’d bought after selling Tannyhill, free from the haunting of his father and the screams that echoed off the walls, he had turned it into a safe space for himself and anyone he invited in.

Things blossomed quickly and you realized the Rafe in front of you was not the bully, coke-head addict you’d once known. He was such a gentle person, and so much more attentive to you than JJ had ever been. Whether it was making you breakfast in bed before you left for the day, or prepping a warm (actually warm, like hot water you’d hadn’t had in forever) candle lit bath, or popping an expensive bottle of wine just for you to taste, he was there in ways nobody had been. You were his girl, his only girl, and you never once had to question that.

Rafe had even invited you to sit in on his investment meetings and he was slowly pulling your name into his business so you’d have a professional background to grow into. You were steadily becoming an educated little couple in his home, something he was so proud and grateful for. He had someone to lean on for advice and give him fresh eyes on new projects with no judgment or fear of anger. The two of you soaked up your bubble of peace for as long as you could before shit hit the fan. 

Little did you know, on the other side of the island with your brother, there had been absolutely no peace. John B and JJ barely spoke, everything ending in an argument when they did. Pope was sick of playing mediator, and Kie had more of less shut down out of guilt. Sarah was still searching for you, but you’d gone ghost. Cleo was treading lightly with the knowledge that everything would explode eventually. 

So, they did what they could, and dove into treasure hunting. When JJ pulled the amulet out of his pocket in the back of the Twinkie, John B’s emotions were mixed. Sure, he was stoked that he’d found the object the group was looking for, but he wished you were here. It was your birthday, and John B was inches away from losing his shit without you.

“Dude, are you okay?” Pope asked as the group stood in the office area of the house, trying to find more information on the amulet’s inscription.

John B tossed the heavy object on the desk in frustration. “No, I’m not okay! We can find decades old treasure like it’s the easiest thing ever, but we can’t find jack shit about my sister? That’s bullshit, Pope. And you know it.”

Pope knew things would be sensitive today. Even JJ woke up grouchy, which John B told him was deserved since he caused your absence in the first place. The lack of your presence weighed heavy on the group, so Pope suggested going to visit one of your favorite beach spots. 

Little did he know what he was getting himself into.

--

“Rafe!” The house was filled with your laughter as Rafe twirled you in the kitchen lighting, your favorite song playing from the interactive speaker on the counter. The two of you had spent the day together, visiting the country club for lunch before Rafe took you shopping for something to wear tonight.

“C’mon, sweetheart. Lemme love on you, it’s your birthday” He mumbled as he pressed soft kisses into your neck, hands squeezing your hips teasingly. The soft fabric of the dress he’d picked out covered your frame, the color matching your skin perfectly. 

You hummed in content, fingers holding his biceps tightly as if your knees would give out any second. “You loved on me a lot this morning.”

“Can’t help it.” Rafe’s thumb traced your bottom lip before he kissed you softly. “You make it so easy.”

The two of you got lost in each other for a few more moments, soaking up the quiet as the orange sunset started casting through the windows. Today had been the best day you’d had in so long and you were so grateful of Rafe for giving you so much patience and love.

It had taken time for you to adjust to this kind of life. You walked in here with three outfits to your name, a busted cell phone, and a stuffed animal John B won you at the town festival as kids. And Rafe embraced every bit of it, let you keep your Pogue pieces while building you a life around it that was filled with items you needed but would never ask for, all while loving you so gently.

You climbed out of his car (technically the one he’d bought you but you refused to acknowledge that), and stepped down into the soft sand below. This was your spot, the spot you came to whenever you needed to clear your head or take a moment alone. You’d shared it with Rafe shortly after everything changed, and now, it was a shared spot that you both considered special.

Rafe moved around the car to grab your hand and guide you toward the area he had organized for the two of you. A small white table had been set up with your favorite snacks and two glasses of wine, surrounded by the fluffiest blanket and pillows you’d seen. 

“Did you do this?” You squeezed his hand tighter, tears in your eyes at how sweet and thoughtful the gesture was. Your jaw dropped as the two of you walked closer; everything was thought out down to the tiny forks you loved so much being there to pick up the appetizers. 

“Course I did, baby.” Rafe kissed your temple softly and grabbed one of the glasses to hand to you before taking hold of his own. You clinked your glass against his, leaning up on your tiptoes to kiss him deeply in appreciation.

And then everything went to shit.

“What the fuck?”

Rafe’s hand tightened against your lower back, both of you looking over to see the handful of figures standing a few feet away. Your heart went to your throat went you made eye contact with your brother, whose hand was wrapped in Sarah’s. JJ stood behind him along with Kiara, Pope, and Cleo, all of them looking at you expectantly.

“Shit,” You whispered and took a step back from Rafe, eyes meeting his in dread. His expression had hardened at the sight of JJ, all the anger rushing back when he thought about how you’d been treated in the relationship, how unfair everything had been. You clocked the frustration in his gaze and placed your fingers on his cheek to redirect his focus back to you. “Don’t. I’ll handle it.”

Rafe’s jaw ticked but he didn’t argue as you slipped your wine glass back into his hand and left his side to approach the group standing in front of you. You weren’t even worried about JJ or Kie, you were worried about John B more than anything.

“Hi,” The greeting was so quiet you almost didn’t hear yourself. How do you talk to people you disappeared on six months ago?

John B’s only response was to pull you into the tightest hug he had ever given. You stumbled with the force of his body colliding with you before regaining your balance and returning the embrace. 

“You’re okay,” He repeated the words to himself as if convincing his mind that they were true before stepping back and holding your cheeks in his hands. The smile on his face was huge, and you were so so confused. “Holy shit.”

“Hi,” You laughed quietly, placing your hands on top of his. “I’m so sorry.”

John B shook his head, his thumb brushing the random tear from your cheek. “Don’t be sorry. I told you to take a break, yeah? And you did.”

You glanced back to where Rafe was surprisingly conversing with Sarah with no anger in sight. The pit in your stomach slowly disappeared as you took them in and turned your attention back to John B. “I um… there’s a lot to catch you up on, and I want to tell you. I wanna tell you all of it, JB, but-”

“And I wanna hear it,” He reassured softly. “But someone put a lot of effort into your night and I don’t wanna steal any of it.”

You were so goddamn grateful for your brother. Pulling John B into another hug, you spared the look over his shoulder to see Kiara stomping away from the beach. You tried to keep a smirk off your face but it definitely made its way through. 

Stepping back from John B, you shared hugs with Cleo and Pope, promising that you would see them soon before you were face to face with the reason you made it here in the first place. JJ looked rough. His hair was chaotic, arms thinner than you remembered, and he just looked tired.

“I don’t want your apology,” You spoke as he opened his mouth. “And it looks like you have a girlfriend to go find anyway.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” JJ replied quickly as he stared at you. “Not anymore.”

You pulled your lips in and shrugged. “Okay. I’ll see you around, JJ.”

He reached a hand out toward you when you moved to walk away. You paused just out of his reach and looked back. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry.”

You nodded. “I know. I should be thanking you actually, because if you had said it back to me that day, I wouldn’t have found something so much better.”

And with that, you walked away from JJ and the empty promises he had always given, walked away straight into the arms of someone who would give you the world and more, if you just so much as asked.

--

the water glistened, reflecting the afternoon sun. you dunked your feet inside, hanging from the bridge you were sitting on. it was lightly moving due to the waves beneath it.

you kept your eyes trained on the horizon, but looking at nothing in particular.

jj came running from the shore, sitting down beside you, letting his feet dangle into the water next to yours. "john b is making food"

"what could he possibly be making?" you smiled, clearly knowing that there wasn't much left in the pantry. you got through the day alright, thanks to both of you working, but you didn't buy any extraordinary things to make sure you had enough money to pay everything else.

“we’re having toast,” jj smirked, then paused for dramatic effect. “but we raided heyward’s for tomatoes, and kiara brought guac from her mom. so it’s fancy toast.”

“fancy toast! the ritz could never.” you hugged your knees to your chest, resting your chin on them, but a smile crept up on your lips.

"what are you even doing out here alone?"

"i'm thinking"

"about your dad?" jj asked carefully. "you know I’m here if you need to spill. no judgment. not even if it’s super depressing.”

"thanks, i know" you were thankful that you had such great friends. people that were like family to you and always made sure you were alright, even if they didn't have much to give themselves, apart from kiara.

"are you going to surf the surge tomorrow?" jj changed the topic, interpreting your silence as answer enough.

"heard agatha's gonna be a bitch" you shrugged. "must be nice to lose a few unnecessary limbs"

"don't be ridiculous, i'm a pro" jj took the sunglasses off his head and pushed them on your nose instead. "are you coming or not?"

"i prefer not to" you giggled, slapping his hand away as he tried to readjust the rest of your apperance. "gonna look good for cps"

"they won't even make it out here, agatha will arrive too soon for that"

"well, then i should be thanking her, right?" you looked up to the sky, the sun still breaking through the slowly arriving clouds, but the darkness of them made it evident that it wouldn't take too long for the storm to arrive. "thanks aggy! sorry for calling you a bitch"

"if that isn't nice" jj grinned. "look at you! such a polite lady"

"told you i could behave better than you" you stood up and waited for him to do the same. "i'm pretty sure they just told you to go and get me not to wait out until they had finished the food, right?"

"caught me" jj shrugged. you knew him well enough to guess that he was trying to escape more work than necessary. "but it did take some time to find you. you weren't in the tower john b locked you in"

"oh, maybe i'm not as well behaved as we thought" you shrugged, following him back to the beach. "you need those sunglasses soon?" you liked the red tinted look of them. you had worn them before and you loved that they made you look like a hippie or vanessa hudgens going to coachella in 2014.

“keep ‘em,” jj shrugged, giving you an exaggerated once-over. “you look better in them anyway.”

you raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. “how much did these cost?”

jj spun around, pretending to be offended. “whoa, whoa! don’t insult me like that. i didn’t pay for them.”

you laughed. “you stole these?”

“they were like six dollars, okay? i stole them out of principle.” he wiggled his eyebrows like that somehow made sense.

you shook your head amused. “jj, that’s still stealing.”

“nah, see, i was planning on giving them to you for a while, so really, it was a selfless act. call it proactive gift-giving.”

jj’s face lit up, the trademark smirk in place as you walked side by side back toward the beach. he kicked at the sand a little, glancing over at you every few seconds like he was waiting for you to laugh again.

you could hear the others before you saw them—john b shouting something about the toast burning, and kiara’s voice cutting through with, “how do you even burn toast?!”

“so, what’s the plan after we survive this gourmet meal?” you asked, your tone only half-teasing.

jj rubbed his hands together with a glint in his eyes. “well, after we feast on fancy toast and whatever leftovers kiara’s mom sent, i was thinking… poker.”

“poker? don’t we always lose when we play with pope?”

“yeah, but he’s working today, so we have a chance.” jj wiggled his eyebrows as if this were the best news in the world.

you laughed, shaking your head. “so, your plan is to take all my money after i generously agree to participate in poker?”

jj’s smirk deepened. “well, since you’re wearing those shades, you’re bound to win. you’ve got that poker-face-hippie thing going on.”

you shrugged, pretending to think about it. “true. i could absolutely bluff the hell out of you all.”

he nodded seriously. “exactly. so really, it’s your civic duty to play.”

“civic duty,” you repeated, laughing. “sure, sure.”

"sit down, you two" kiara ancouraged when you walked onto the patio.

"where have you been that long?" john b questioned, looking at you suspiciously. "you're always sneaking around together"

"don't be ridicilous, b" you shook your head. "we were just watching the waves"

kiara and jj exchanged glances you didn’t quite understand. it made your nerves tweak to not know what they were hinting at.

“i bet it was a sight so see” kiara said softly, a smirk on her face.

jj nodded. “as always” he shrugged, his eyes still on her.

you had to try hard not to let your face distort into jealousy. you had had a crush on jj for as long as you could remember. and the two of you were close, but nothing ever really happened with your brothers best friend.

being in love with jj was confusing. most of the time, he treated you just like anyone else, acting completely normal. but then, out of nowhere, he'd start flirting, leaving you unsure of what to think.

even though you tried your best, the crush on the boy always resurfaced when he would flirt with you once more, keeping your hopes up.

the meal continued without anything happening and you found yourselves cleaning the table to play a few rounds of poker like jj had promised.

"looks like you're in a tough spot" he grinned.

kiara had put down her cards, while you were trying hard to keep a straight face, knowing you would probably lose.

you shrugged. "i don't see you putting down anything valuable, maybank"

"ohh" kiara and your brother hollored at the same time.

"well, let's see then" kiara nudged jj's shoulder.

the blonde smirked before he revealed his cards to you, flushing a street. "you've underestimated me, guys"

john b and you sighed simultaneously, accepting defeat as you threw your own cards in the middle. while jj was busy mixing the cards, kiara took a look at her phone.

"i think i better head out" she smiled, standing up from her chair. "my mother's gonna go crazy if i'm late again"

you played a few more rounds after the girl had left, john b and you losing to jj each time. you were sure he had gotten help from pope, knowing that his time would come.

john b threw down his cards after one more uneventful round. "i'm heading to bed" he nodded, pulling his snapback down, before he highfived jj and pressed a kiss to your hair. "don't stay up too late"

"night, b" you smiled as you watched after him.

"one more round?" jj giggled.

"i'm all out" you shrugged, pointing at the pile of money on the table in front of him.

"well, if i lose you can have all of it"

"this sounds almost too good" you muttered. "okay, what if i lose then?"

"you'll take off your shirt" he shrugged.

"jj!" you pushed a hand to your mouth, draining out the scream of outrage that threatened to errupt in the air between you.

"what?" jj smirked, looking up at you with wide blue eyes. "am i making you nervous?"

"not a chance," you shot back, trying to keep your voice steady despite the way your heart was hammering in your chest. jj's smirk widened, the mischievous glint in his eyes only growing as he shuffled the cards one more time.

"alright then," he said, dealing the cards smoothly. "prove it."

you glanced at your hand, trying to keep your expression neutral. jj's eyes flickered up to meet yours, watching you intently, and you couldn't tell if he was bluffing or not.

you took a deep breath and played the first card, trying to focus on the game instead of the way jj was watching you like a hawk.

the next few minutes were tense, each of you placing cards with care. it was almost suffocating.

"you're really dragging this out, you know that?" you muttered, glancing up at him.

jj just grinned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "patience, sweetheart. good things come to those who wait," he replied, his voice low and teasing. you rolled your eyes but couldn't help the slight tug at the corners of your mouth.

finally, it came down to the last card. you had one left in your hand, and so did jj. your eyes met, the room silent except for the sound of your heartbeat in your ears. You hesitated for a split second, then threw down your card.

jj's eyes flickered to the table, his face breaking into a triumphant grin. he laid his final card down with a laugh.

"looks like i win," he drawled, his voice smug. your eyes widened as you stared at the cards, disbelief washing over you. how did he keep doing this?

"you've got to be cheating," you grumbled, pushing back from the table. jj laughed, the sound warm, filling the quiet night air around you.

"well, you agreed to do this" he shrugged, like he was completely in the right.

you looked at him without any expression on your face, before you sighed, your fingers dipping down to meet the material of your shirt, as you stood up.

jj's eyes widened at your movement, standing up at the same time. "it was a joke, y/n" he muttered quickly. "you don't have to do anything you don't want to"

you halted in your movement. "if you had won, would you have given me the money, like you promised?"

"of course" jj answered without so much as a thought.

your smile deepend, before your fingers gripped the hem of the shirt, pulling it over you head in a quick motion. revealed was your bikini top. the one jj had seen you in a million times, but still his eyes widened even further.

jj's mouth opened slightly, his usual cocky demeanor vanishing as he stared at you. he remembered seeing you in it before, but this still felt different. maybe it was the intimacy of the dimly lit patio, or the way you stood before him now, your eyes steady and unwavering. you had called his bluff, and he was utterly speechless.

"see?" you said, trying to keep your voice light despite the rapid thudding of your heart. "no big deal. just a bikini, jj."

he swallowed hard, finally snapping out of his daze. "right," he said, his voice cracking slightly. he cleared his throat, his gaze darting away before quickly finding its way back to you. "just a bikini."

you walked around the table, pushing yourself between him and the discarded chair. "this can't really be the reason you're so uneasy"

you tried to read the emotion on his face, but he just looked at you, at a loss for words. you softly pushed your hand to rest against his chest. your eyes widened in surprise. "your heart is racing" you declared with a soft whisper.

"yeah" jj finally found his words. "you're so close"

you looked up at him, surprised at what he was hinting at. "i'm sorry if i'm making you uncomfortable" you tried to step back, but his hand shot out, holding you in place by your elbow.

"jj" you muttered, your voice barely audible. you could feel your heart beat just as fast as his did.

"have i ever told you how beautiful you are?" jj's voice was soft and tender, like he was trying not to disrupt the calmness of the moment.

"no" you sighed, unsure. he came closer, your noses were almost touching. his eyes were ready to close, not far from kissing you. your voice rung out before he could do anything of that sort. "what about kie?"

"what?" jj blinked in surprise, stepping backwards.

"what about kie?" you repeated a little bit louder.

"what about her?" jj laughed, before he saw the confusion in your eyes.

"i thought there was something—“

"between me and kie?" he smiled, shaking his head. "well only that she knew about my crush on you"

"you have a crush on me?"

"i thought it was kinda obvious" he pointed a finger between the both of you. "can i please finally kiss you now, routledge?"

you smiled, your heart fluttering in your chest at his confession. "of course" you watched him step closer once more, before you grinned. "but what about—?"

You had gone down to the beach with Rafe, away from the house. The day was warm, and the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. You were sitting together against a tree at the edge of the yard you thought was out of sight, laughing about something silly that had happened earlier in the day.  

Your head rested against his shoulder as you shared stories, enjoying each other’s company in the quiet serenity of the late afternoon. You didn’t notice the figure watching you both from a distance, a figure you thought wasn’t going to be around the house until much later.

John B had been looking for you since you weren’t in the house and your phone’s location was around. He figured you had gone to the pier to watch the sunset, but hadn’t expected to find you here, especially who you were here with. When he saw you and Rafe, his stomach twisted with disbelief. The sight of you, so comfortable and happy with Rafe Cameron of all people, sent a rush of anger through him. It was clear you hadn’t seen him, and he was unsure how to approach the situation.  

Part of him wanted to storm over, pull you away from Rafe, and yell at him—at both of you. But another part of him, deep down, knew he should wait back and talk to you about it first. He felt betrayed, but he also couldn’t help feeling a strange knot in his chest when he saw you laugh, your eyes lighting up in a way he hadn’t seen in months.  

“Sarah,” he whispered to get her attention, clenching his jaw as he spotted her walking down the dock looking for him. 

“John B, what are you doing?” Sarah asked in a hushed tone, noticing his tense posture and the fact that he was hiding behind tall grass.

“I can’t believe it. She’s with him, Sarah. She’s with Rafe,” he hissed, anger bubbling in his voice. 

“What?” Sarah’s eyes widened as she got closer to John B and looked at the pair he was pointing at. “He kept denying it but I knew he was seeing someone! I had no idea it was Y/N!”

“I need to go talk to her, to make her see reason.”  John B ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath ready to storm over there.

“No, you don’t,” Sarah said firmly, standing beside him and crossing her arms. “You’re not going to do anything rash. Let’s just take a minute and think this through.”  

“I don’t need time to think. I need to fix this,” John B shot back, but his voice softened when he looked back at you and Rafe.  

Sarah sighed. “John B, listen. I get it. I really do. Shit, he’s my brother. But this isn’t the way to handle it. Maybe you should talk to her first, before you go off on Rafe.”  

“But—”  

“No,” Sarah interrupted, her voice calm but firm. “Just… give it a day. Talk to her when she’s back and you calm down a bit. Just let it be for now.”  

John B hesitated. He wanted to protect you, but he also wanted to understand what was going on. For now, he decided to take Sarah’s advice, but he wasn’t giving up. This wasn’t over.  

---

That night, John B couldn’t sleep. He lay in his bed, tossing and turning, the image of you laughing with Rafe haunting him. The joy in your eyes had shaken him to his core. He hadn’t seen you so happy in a long time—since before Dad went missing. The weight of that memory was always there, a constant reminder of how much your family had lost. He had thought that, maybe, if he kept you close, protected you from people like Rafe, you’d find some sense of stability. But now, with Rafe in the picture, everything felt off balance.

He needed to talk to you. To figure this out.

Slipping out of bed, he made his way down the hallway toward your room, but when he opened the door, his heart sank. Your bed was empty. The room was dark, but the window was cracked open, letting in the cool night air. He knew where you were.

John B headed down to the treeline, where he had seen you earlier, moving quietly through the dark. He could hear the sound of your voice, but the closer he got, the more he realized what was happening.  

He stopped, ducking behind a nearby tree to stay hidden. You and Rafe were talking softly, the dim light from the house casting long shadows on the edge of the nearest end of  the dock where you were sitting now. He could hear snippets of your conversation, but he wasn’t prepared for what happened next.

You laughed. The sound was light, genuine, carefree, something John B hadn’t heard from you in so long. Of course you still laugh, but hearing the old, heartfelt laugh again brought over a wave of emotion. He froze, watching from the shadows, his heart aching.  

He watched as Rafe leaned in, his voice low, and for a moment, he was struck by how tender Rafe was with you. The Kook who’d once seemed so cold and distant was now holding you in a way that made John B question everything he thought he knew. The way his face softened when he looked in your eyes as he so gently tucked a piece of your hair behind your ear.

He couldn’t deny it—Rafe made you happy. And, for the first time in a long while, that happiness was something John B had no control over.

John B stayed hidden, watching you and Rafe interact, the jealousy and anger in his chest slowly turning into confusion. As he eavesdropped, he realized something he hadn’t before: you were different when you were with him. You were laughing, smiling, truly happy in a way that John B had been trying to make happen for months. It was as if the burden of everything that had happened—your dad’s disappearance, the constant unknowing—was finally lifted, even if just for a moment.  

John B exhaled slowly, his anger dissolving into something softer. He wanted to protect you, to make sure you were safe, but he also realized that he couldn’t control everything. He couldn’t force you to be someone you weren’t. He didn’t have the right to take your happiness away just because he didn’t understand it.

“I want you to be happy, Y/N,” John B whispered to himself, his hand gripping the side of the tree he was peering past. “Even if I don’t get it.”

After a long moment of hesitation, he finally stepped out from the shadows, deciding not to interrupt. He watched you and Rafe for a while longer, knowing now that the only thing that mattered was your happiness. 

---

The next day, when John B saw you, he didn’t immediately confront you about Rafe. Instead, he pulled you aside quietly, his expression serious but softer than it had been.  

“I’m not happy about it, but I saw you with Rafe last night” he started, his voice low as your eyes widened and you gasped. He put up his hand before you could try to say anything. “I don’t like that you’re with him. There’s a lot that I don’t understand, but I get it now. Last night when I saw you with him,” he paused, and took a deep breath as if he was about to admit something to you and himself. “You were happy; a happiness that I haven’t seen in a long time. I’ve noticed lately you’ve been different, and now I know it’s because of Rafe. I don’t like the guy- I mean, hell Y/N, you picked the biggest asshole on the island? Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is you seem really happy and that’s all that matters. Just… be careful, okay?”  

You smiled, relieved, but still hesitant. “You’re not angry?”

John B shrugged, his gaze meeting yours. “I’m angry at myself for not seeing it sooner. But I just want you to be safe, Y/N. If Rafe’s really the one who makes you happy, then I can’t stand in the way of that.”  

Tears welled up in your eyes, and you gave him a tight hug. “Thank you, John B. I love you.” 

“I love you too,” he said softly, patting your back. “Just don’t go full Kook on me, alright?” You laughed, and John B heard that laugh again from last night, that pure, unburdened laugh. And in that moment, he knew he’d made the right decision, no matter how difficult it was.