[emmy4keri]

[johnnyjames-parks]

[johnnyjames-parks]

[flcurdelacour]

[johnnyjames-parks]

[johnnyjames-parks]

Everybody Owes, Everybody Pays || JJ & Jacqui

As JJ pulled his truck through the wrought iron gates that secured the mysterious Parks estate from the outside world, he was caught off guard by the sunlight that bounced off the shining brass letters that spelled 'Parks' across the mailbox. It had been nearly three weeks since JJ had seen the inside of the Parks estate and somehow it looked more inviting than it had when he hadn't seen it for three years. Ever since being put away and being disinherited, the idea of 'coming home' had become an extremely foreign concept. But if there was one thing JJ had learned on his three week long adventure, it was the concept that even if the idea of being part of the Parks family was completely out of the picture, the idea of being the once charming and famous JJ Parks again was not. 

While away, JJ had recovered many things that he had lost in the past few years - a means of making substantial amounts of money, his defiant nature that had been stifled from being held under lock and key, and the realization that a wrap sheet can make one all the more appealing if they use it in the correct manner - that is, with a suave attitude and money. Yes, the old JJ Parks was back, but it was version 2.0. More dangerous, more heartless, more wise and most of all, with a modestly lucrative income that had no ties to his parents. He had learned his lessons the hard way but was determined to no longer be the passive ghost that he allowed the town to spit on. No, this JJ Parks would be holding the cards now. 

As the garage door came up, he spotted the mangled mess that was Jacqui's car. He sighed and shook his head."Idiot..." he mumbled to himself, completely disregarding his own blatantly worse history with car accidents. Although JJ had designated his own mistakes to the past, it didn't mean he had let everyone else off the hook so easily. The exact opposite in fact - why was he the only one who had to pay for his mistakes? Forgiveness wasn't a word he had embraced on his trip - repentance was. Whatever progress he had allowed to be made between he and Jacqui he had tossed from his mind, It was easier for his bitterness towards her to grow while he was away. He hadn't had to see her everyday and realize how much he had missed her. No - he had built a firm wall between he and his sister, one that he had no plans of breaking down any time soon. He pressed his fist to the truck horn, the blaring noise reverberating across the grounds and signalling Jackie to hurry up and get to the garage. No way was he going to put in the effort to go looking for her - she could come to him and explain herself on what the hell had happened. 

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

Jac: No, /we're/ not fucked. I'm fucked. There's no way in hell I'm going to drag you into this.

Jac: The last time I spoke to them over the phone was about five months ago. They haven't bothered since.

JJ: Jacqui you don't understand... if they decide to come home to fix this, this house will be more of a living hell than it already is.

JJ: Dad will take any excuse to punish you Jac... you know how he is. He will do anything he can to own you again.

JJ [unsent]: Like he has me. I can't even move out if I wanted to - my trust is wrapped up in staying in this place. Parental sanctioned house arrest.

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

Jac: No, no they're /not/ finding out. I'm not going to let them. Hell, I'll even pay out of pocket for a new car if I need too.

Jac: Do you think dad will find it believable that I want to donate a large sum of money to Goodwill?

Jac: No, wait, dammit. That's just heartless.

JJ: If the person you ran into already filed to their insurance and you gave them your information we're already fucked. Dad will get a call in a few days letting him know what happened.

JJ: When was the last time you talked to them?

JJ [unsent]: It's been three years, three months, two weeks, and five days for me.

[johnnyjames-parks]

It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything || Open Para

[scarlettfletcher]

The glares from the women didn’t phase Scarlett in the slightest. She had the thickest skin out of anyone. Metaphorically, of course. Physically, her skin was, of course, silky to the touch. The touch of only the most important people. Not just anyone could touch Scarlett Fletcher. They had to earn it. And JJ did so just by looking at her with a fire in his eyes that brought her right back to high school. The blonde crossed one leg over the other and put her free hand on JJ’s leg, just in case any of the bitter single middle-aged women were looking. At least, that’s what her excuse was. The reality was that she didn’t want to go a second without touching him if she could help it. And now that he was a foot away on the barstool next to her, there was absolutely no reason not to do such a thing.

Nodding, gave JJ’s thigh a playful squeeze, a carefree laugh billowing from her lips. “Oh, a very naughty boyfriend. We might just have to break up,” she said, sipping from her drink once more before his large, strong hand gently pried the glass from her hand, the places where his fingertips brushed against her skin tingling like they’d been electrified. Her eyebrows raised both in curiosity and faux anger. He had quite some balls to take Scarlett’s liquor from her and drink it for himself. She held his gaze, her smirk widening. What an ass. “What an ass,” she said, the corners of her mouth twitching in a fruitless attempt to keep herself from smiling even more. “You’re very lucky you’re cute,” she warned him in a rather firm tone, though the smitten grin on her lips notified him that he wasn’t in any real trouble. Yet.

The bartender handed them both their drinks and Scarlett picked up her glass and held it out to JJ for him to clink his against. Once he did, her eyes lingered on him, and then his lips, and she took a sip with a quiet groan. The first taste of a freshly made drink was always the best. Better than tilting the cup all the way back for the last dregs of it. “Are you going to tell me where you went, then, or are you going to keep up this quiet and mysterious guise and drive me insane?” she asked, her toe prodding his calf underneath the bar through her flats, the small touches in no way enough to satisfy her. She wanted to be wrapped up in his arms and have her hands slip up underneath the hem of his shirt to feel the warm skin on the small of his back underneath it. She wanted to hold his face in her hands and just look at him. She wanted him to touch her in ways she had never allowed him to touch her in high school. But it was all for naught — they were simply catching up with one another over a drink. There was no way it could ever go anywhere, much to the delight of the vulturous cougars in the room behind them.

[johnnyjames-parks]

The moment Scarlett's hand touched his thigh paired with the sass that understated her words, the game had picked up once more. It was a familiar game - one he and Scarlett had played for so many years. An underhanded compliment by her, a subtle but unnecessary graze of the thigh from him, followed by sly glances between the both of them, each one filled with layers of desire paired with mistrust. Each desperate to break the other but neither wiling to take the few steps off the plank and fully jump in. Although JJ had relentlessly and unabashedly pursued her in high school, so many thing had happened that now left him closed off and cynical towards love and relationships in general.  In his high school days, it could be said that what he felt for Scarlett had been a naive version of love - one that was far too simplistic in rooted much too far in lust. 

After all, the first day they had ran into each other in the bookstore was probably the most genuine moment the two had ever shared and it had been a complete mess. No games. No performances. No one watching. And it had been a mess. Neither of them knew what to do with the other - how to act, how to speak. It had been awkward in it's genuineness and the two hadn't spoke of it since, choosing to attempt to fall back into their old familiar bantering ways.  Whatever stood between them now was something so complicated and intertwined with years of unsaid words and unsatisfied desire that JJ preferred not to think too deeply into it, choosing to play his old role of naive playboy than delve into actual emotions. 

Hoping the overwhelming amount of thoughts that had flood him didn't show on his face (for if anyone could see the smallest change of expression in JJ, it was Scarlett), he forced a smirk as he chuckled at her haughty declaration "I'm going to guess you're referring to my actual ass and certainly not commenting on my personality." He gave the bartender a subtle glance, barely recognizing her existence as he took in his hand the drink she had left. "Cute?" he lifted his eyebrows in faux-disgust "That is the last word that should come to mind when thinking of JJ fucking Parks. You're going to ruin any of the respect I mustered up in prison if anyone hears you saying that." He jokingly looked around in suspision, completely aware that he was the only person in this bar who could also say they had become well acquainted with the concrete walls of the Deering Correctional facility. He leaned forward and let his hand slide across the thin fabric covering her thigh, wisps of her hair trailing his cheek as as he whispered in her ear "I would choose to drive you crazy in other ways if I knew history wouldn't repeat itself." Confident that Scarlett would still dodge his advances, he boldly responded. 

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

JJ: Please tell me you didn't already file a claim...

Jac: No but...the other driver might have.

JJ: The moment mom or dad contact you, you better let me know.... I'll be immensely surprised if they choose to resume their parental duties and help you take care of this

JJ [unsent]: I know I have no grounds to be pissed at you for this since I disappeared for so long - you couldn't have asked me for help even if you had wanted to.

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

Jac: Do I even have a choice? My car is under HIS insurance.

Jac [unsent]: Scarlett said she'd handle it but I don't even know what that means and

Jac: This isn't going to end well, JJ.

JJ: Please tell me you didn't already file a claim...

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

Jac: Ha. It's not just you, trust me.

Jac: I was in a daze. Rear ended someone. The whole front of the car just gave out. It really looks worse than what happened, but I'm pretty sure dad is going to have my head on a silver platter either ways.

JJ: Whatever you do, DO NOT bring dad into this.

JJ [unsent]: I don't want them to have any excuse to come home. I'd be out the door at first sight of them.

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

Jac: I'm assuming you're talking about my car...

Jac: I'd say it wasn't my fault but that'd just be a big fat lie.

JJ: Is it just me, or does it seem like the Parks children should have never been issued licenses?

JJ: Want to fill me in on what happened?

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Jacqui

JJ: There's a certain car in our garage that seems to be in quite a state and for once it can't be pinned on me...

[johnnyjames-parks]

It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything || Open Para

[scarlettfletcher]

Scarlett had missed JJ. The last time she’d seen him was the day she went to the beach with him and saw him at Nina’s birthday party afterwards, a rather welcome surprise. She was in a dress that she’d literally plastered onto her body and barely covered it at all and didn’t expect him to be there at all. She wasn’t aware he knew Nina. Even still, maybe he had heard there was a party and decided to crash it. That was a rather JJ thing to do. Another JJ thing to do was to invite her to the yacht club when he was already there instead of inviting her beforehand. But she didn’t mind. As long as she was seeing JJ in person, nothing quite really mattered as much.

After pulling into the yacht club parking lot and giving her key to the valet, she smoothed out her shirt and maxi-skirt and sashayed into the place like she owned it, seeking out the bar to find the man that hadn’t once left her mind for over a decade. Scarlett heard a trill of giggles sound from the adjacent room and rolled her eyes, following the sound because it was surely JJ hamming it up with the old bitties tipsy on appletinis. Sure enough, she was right. As soon as she walked through the doorway, she spotted his familiar backside surrounded by a group of older women, giggling at whatever it was that he had said. A smirk found her red lips. This was the JJ she remembered.

She cleared her throat, making one of the ladies closest to her jump, and slithered her way through the horribly perfumed women to slip an arm around JJ’s shoulders, her free hand extending to wrap her slim fingers around the full glass on the bar in front of them to sip from it, the alcohol burning her throat in the most delicious way. “I see you’ve made friends with my boyfriend, ladies,” she said loudly, mostly to scare off the smelly cougars by acting as if JJ was actually unavailable and partly just to see what it would taste like on her tongue to call him such a thing. She’d earned herself a chorus of grumbles and whines from the women and shooed them away nonchalantly as she climbed up onto her barstool, sipping once more from her drink. Once they were alone, Scarlett looked up at JJ over the brim of her glass, eyes sparkling. “Hi,” she merely said.

[johnnyjames-parks]

The ease with which he demanded the attention of women was something he hadn't realized he even missed. It had been years since he had flexed this muscle, one that previously had been so strong and often used and then lost under awful circumstances. The man that had returned from his adventure was nearly everything he used to be - yet the past can never be fully erased and he couldn't help but feel the doubt that lingered just on the fringes of his mind. He might be be returning as the old JJ Parks, but what's the old JJ Parks without a town to adore him? He chased the thought from his mind with a shot of whiskey, the older woman with her arm draped around him held a chaser up to his lips and tipped his head back, her eyes gazing hungrily as he licked the leftover taste of whiskey off his lips. "Don't you lie to me Carol, I know that you know the size of the boat almost always matches the size of the man." Their unabashed laughter filled the bar earning a mix of curious glances and annoyed glares followed by a haughty clearing of the throat. 

Hie eyes followed the entitled throat clearing, at first searching with glared eyes before they met the owner. The corner of his lip unconsciously curved upward as he took in the intoxicating curves that somehow drove him even more crazy in the casual shirt and long skirt she was wearing. It was more modest than her usual bombshell appearance, but it radiated an insanely sexy and laid back confidence that no one could pull off better than Scar. Every woman he had ever been with always tried so hard to keep up their appearance his in front of him. Not that he hadn't found them beautiful in their styled perfection, but there was something about the effortlessness that Scarlett could pull off that always set her above the others. That and the fact she had a bite that could scare the hardest of men away. He buried his face in his hands and tried not to laugh as she caused two grown women to scuffle away with their tails in between their legs. Once it was just the two of them he met her eyes with his, the familiar devious smirk matching the wanting gaze. "Well hello there, girlfriend? Looks live I've been quite the naughty boyfriend for up and leaving without a word for weeks huh?" His eyebrow cocked in challenge as he swooped the glass from her hand and tipped the rest of the contents back, setting it down on the counter and simply holding up two fingers to signal another round of drinks from the bartender, his eyes never leaving hers. 

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Scarlett

Scar: I beat cougars any day. Are you serious? I'll rip her hand off.

Scar: I'll be right there. Don't fuck any old bitches. I'm coming

JJ: Obviously it's no competition, however, I can't say I would mind them filling the lonely void you're leaving me with at the moment.

JJ: Glad to hear you're concerned with my sexual status quo. See you soon.

[johnnyjames-parks]

JJ ➸ Scarlett

Scar: One of the many things I like about you.

Scar: I was always demanding?? Where've you been??

JJ: Then you'll give these coug's a run for there money. I've already got one subtly creeping her hand up my leg and the other demanding me to give her a private tour of the yacht. If you don't get your ass here and save me i'm going to be in the middle of quite the situation - one which i'm having a /real/ hard time resisting.