‧₊˚𓆉 JJ Maybank x John B sister!Reader
‧₊˚𓆉 Summary: JJ’s been in love with you forever. So when he finds out your shitty date stood you up he decides to finally cave in and lose a game he didn’t even know he was playing.
‧₊˚𓆉 Warning : angst, yearning from JJ lil bit from reader, awkward silence lumfoh, JJ being a dick, stubborn reader, not quite “bitchy reader” not proofread 😛
‧₊˚𓆉 Word Count: 4k words
‧₊˚𓆉 A/N: so sorry that this took so long. school has been kicking my ass 😔 BUT IM BACK SO DONT YA FRET. tbh i rlly rlly rlly like this fic might be a fav😛 anyway enjoy <3
“No.” you said flatly, crossing your arms and tightening your phone in your grip.
“C’mon,” John B drawled reaching over you, his fingers brushing the air close to your hand. You slapped him away with a grin and shot up from your chair.
“Don’t be such a pussy,” he teased.
You scoffed, opting to sit on the grass a few feet away. From her spot on the cooler, Kie squinted at you, a small smirk dancing on her lips. “It’s cause he’s ugly isn’t he?”
“What?!” you said, snapping your head quickly at your phone. The boy’s profile picture he smugly took of himself illuminating on the screen. His lips were pursed together sinking his cheekbones in, like he knew the camera missed him. His jaw was turned slightly towards the camera so the bonfire light could lick his chiseled profile and catch the little slit of his brow.
Ugly was not the right word. That was for sure. But your brain rang with the insults your friends would throw at that pose.
“He is not ugly,” you muttered, shoving your phone face down on to the ground.
“Who’s not ugly?” JJ’s voice carried across the backyard sounding bored. His gray tank top practically melted off of his shoulders as he leaned lazily on the rope swing.
Pope pushed against the lawn chair, the front legs hovering above the ground. He tried to peek over your shoulder but you glared at him tucking your phone under your leg.
“Our lil poguie has a date.” Pope said, in his smug sing-song voice.
You rolled your eyes at the stupid nickname. Lil Poguie. A year younger than them yet they still branded you as the baby of the group. Pathetic pieces of shits. The name you’d give your “babysitters” every chance they pissed you off.
“A date?” JJ asked, stepping towards you and stuffed his clenched knuckles deep into his pockets. His laugh came out dry. “Impossible.”
You frowned pushing yourself up and stuffing your phone in your hoodie pocket. “We’re just going out for coffee.”
His heart picked itself up and jumped out of his chest, remnants of it currently shattered on the steps of the back porch.
JJ’s eyes found yours, steady and unreadable. “Just didn’t think you were the dating type.”
You shrugged, forcing out a small laugh. Something tightened in your chest. Hurt? Confusion? You didn’t know.
“Not everyone thinks i’m undateable, JJ.”
He scoffed, rolling his eyes and turning to the rest of the pogues for help. They all stared at him eyes narrowing trying to pick apart the flinch in his movements. “Didn’t say that.”
You brushed past him, and the porch door swung in your absence until it clicked softly.
JJ stayed there. Breath heavy like he just won a marathon. Pretending not to care suddenly became exhausting.
He never said it loud. But the little pieces of him gave it away. The way his mouth twitched whenever your nose scrunched up in the way it did when you were annoyed shitless. Every laugh he chased out of you, and the unblinking moments he had where he just stared.
And now, some douche bag gets to wriggle their way into what JJ viewed as his version of the waiting game.
“Why are you such a dick?” Kie’s voice rang out, her face scrunched in disgust as she swatted JJ’s shoulder.
“You so are.” Pope chirped from behind Kie. “You got that whole macho bravado around you man. What are you trying to prove?”
JJ popped the cover of the cooler open and grabbed a beer before taking a seat. “I’m just lookin’ out for her. What if the guy ‘s a complete psycho.” He nudged John b’s shoulder, a sprinkle of beer soaking the edge of his t-shirt. “Right JB. C’mon where’s that protective older brother crap.”
John B shrugged his shoulders, wiping off the beer. “I’m done meddling in her life. Last time I said something about a guy she punctured my case of beer. The good kind.”
Kie walked behind JJ, resting her palms on his shoulders and shook them lightly. Her voice rose an octave higher as she cooed jokingly in the blondes ear. “Ooo I smell jealousy.”
He brushed Kiara’s hand away, and stood up facing her. His jaw ticking. “Grow up.”
She laughed, unfazed. “Grow some balls dude.”
“Ew bro,” John B said, furrowing his brow and looked at JJ like he just grew another head. “Are you gooning over my sister?”
JJ’s face flushed, his neck visibly turning red with each passing second. He turned on his heel and flipped them the bird making his way towards his bike. He kicked it to life, the gravel shaking underneath and the engine drowning out the Pogue’s laugh.
“I don’t get him!” You huffed swiping at your face hard enough for your moisturize to scream for help.
Sarah chuckled softly, gathering your hair and weaving it into a loose braid.
“God!” You groaned, throwing your blush on the vanity and patted your face with the pad of your fingers. “You should’ve heard him! - ‘Impossible.’” You mocked in a deep, exaggerated drawl. Sarah coughed out another laugh. “He’s acting like I can’t pull. I can pull!”
Sarah met your reflection in the mirror and lifted a brow. “You sound way too heated for someone who swears she doesn’t care.”
“I don’t,” you snapped way too quickly. You glared at her through the mirror, pretending invisible bombs were exploding on her head. “He just - God - he gets under my skin.”
“Maybe that’s not all he gets under?” She smirked at you, winking in the reflection.
“Ew gross!” You winced, ignoring the drop in your stomach. “I’m not gonna mack on my brother’s best friend.”
Sarah shook her head, sectioning another piece of hair and pulling it in between her hands. “Just saying. You talk about him every chance you get.”
She scoffed, a chuckle escaped her lips. “Oh please. This morning you were eating cereal and then I hear, ‘JJ told me he puts the milk in first.’“
Your mouth fell open before you snapped it shut. “That was one time!”
She laughed, short and sarcastic. “He wasn’t even here yesterday and somehow you brought up that he can’t cook.”
“Cause he can’t!” You said, throwing a makeup sponge against her forehead.
“See!” She said pointing at you and shoving your head down lightly with the end of her palm. “Look, I don’t think he’s doubting you-“
She paused, crossed the room, and rummaged in your closet before tossing a top at you. “I think he’s angry ‘cause he can’t do anything bout it.”
You went quiet, staring at your reflection and fiddled with the end of your hair.
“He doesn’t care about shit,” you muttered.
“He cares,” Sarah replied, spinning you in your chair and taking a step back as you put one arm through the sleeves. “He jus-“
“Let’s forget about him okay.” You interrupted, fastening a delicate chain around your neck.
“Right. Look at me?” She blotted your lips with a paper towel and swiped her lipgloss onto your lips. “Nervous?”
You shook your head, grabbing your phone and a bag. The rain began to hit the glass quietly.
“Text me when he gets there.” Sarah warned. “And if he flakes-“
“Don’t call JJ.” You groaned, checking yourself out once more in the mirror.
Sarah laughed shaking her head as she nudged you out of your room. “Alright fine. I’ll wait an hour.”
You shook your head smiling, the nerves slowing down. The porch smelt like drenched wood and salt air. The rain fell on you, not enough to completely drench you, but enough to scatter your hair with dew drops.
The warm air greeted you as the cheerful bell from the cafe rang. The enticing scent of cocoa and coffee wafted through the air, casting a spell on every customer who entered the shop.
You sat next to the window, the hot coffee cup stinging your hands. The droplets from the rain scurried down the glass, racing each other to the end.
You told yourself that it wasn’t that bad, that he would show up, apologies spewing from his mouth. But every careless swipe and push of your on and off button no I’m running late text appeared.
But your coffee wasn’t getting any warmer and the steam began to disappear. The droplets slowed down, leaving their trail behind and the coffee shop filled with people who looked way to happy for your current situation.
You watched the clock move each second like a ticking time bomb, and you were sure that in the next few minutes you might explode out of sheer humiliation.
You flicked at the napkin holder, looking at the pull of your face in the reflection.
You didn’t know what you were going to tell the Pogues. You couldn’t bear to see the judgement sketched on their face or JJ’s smug smile that screamed I told you so.
The bell rang again and you half expected another cheery couple to waltz in, rubbing in their successful date. You placed your head down in embarrassment, the cool table a reminder of just how long you stayed.
A pair of familiar worn out boots stepped into view and you groaned again before sitting up and plastering a fake smile.
“JJ!” you said, swiping your braid to the side and leaning back onto your chair. “What are you doing here?”
He raised an eyebrow. Hoodie pulled over his head and tiny raindrops dying it a darker color. “Sarah texted.”
“My date,” you said eyes shifting to the empty chair. “He’s just in the bathroom.”
JJ scoffed, pulling the seat out and sat in front of you. “You don’t have to lie.”
“He stood you up,” he scrunched his eyebrows, voice rising.
You gaped at him and looked down at your warped reflection in your coffee before taking a sip. It was cold and his added stare caused you to shift in your seat.
“Lower your voice,” you snapped, turning your head around. You covered your mouth before you turned towards him again. “People are gonna stare.”
The chair screeched loudly as he pushed himself closer and watched you look over his shoulder towards the door even though you both knew the boy was never going to show.
“You don’t know that,” you whispered, turning your phone face down.
“Look,” his voice rose again. He raked his hands through his hair before lifting them to his face. “It’s been what an hour? Did you even get a text?”
You looked down again, snapping your bracelets against your wrist hoping all of this was just a dream.
JJ stared at you, the way that you flipped your phone and refreshed your home screen like something was going to show. Nothing.
You were getting annoyed with the way his eyes were practically drilling holes in the top of your head. Mocking you like you were stupid. You probably were.
“Can you seriously not do this right now?” you said,squinting your eyes. “I get it okay? I got played. You don’t have to narrate it.”
“I’m not narrating shit. Jesus.” He shot back, playing with the edge of the table and picked at a sticker. “Just saying, he’s a dick who couldn’t send a simple five word text.”
You noticed the couple next to you pretending like they weren’t eavesdropping. You couldn’t blame them, you were talking pretty loud and if it was under any other circumstances you’d probably laugh. But the humiliation was pushing against your eyes and you could feel the tears begin to puddle.
A brittle laugh broke out of you. “ ‘s kinda funny since you’re the one saying dating me is impossible.”
His jaw tightened. “It was a joke.”
“Yeah well,” you snapped swallowing hard. “Bet you think this is funny too.”
“Why do you have to take things so literally?”
“Your joke is what made me say yes to that asshole.”
“Don’t pin this on me,” he snapped, jabbing his finger at you, teeth clenched and knuckles turning white around the table. “I didn’t tell him to not show up.”
“C’mon,” You pushed his finger away, landing hard against the table. The tears began to push against your eyes and a strangle cry threatened to break free from your throat. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy this.”
JJ didn’t move from his seat. He just stared, and you could practically see the gears struggling to click in his mind.
His teeth were still set and nose scrunched in the same confusion he wore when he heard you had a date.
“That’s not-“ He stopped and exhaled sharply. He shoved his hands in his pocket, pulling out his lighter and flicked it on. The barista behind the corner glared at him, and he slammed it on the table with a loud thud.
“What JJ? huh?” you pushed, voice shaking. “Cause this just feels like you needed a good laugh.”
His face went slack. He leaned against the chair and pushed it back, hanging from the hind legs. JJ crossed his arms, and stared out of the window. The tension between the two of you thicker than the humid air.
“Please,” you chocked out. “Now you’re scared to prove that you’re right?” You swiped at your eyes, hating the sting and the way your voice broke.
The chair slammed forward shaking the table. JJ leaned in, elbows resting on the cool marble, his blue eyes locking on yours. A flicker of raw empathetic guilt flickered behind his tough bravado and it made you shrivel up on the spot. Rain from his hood dripped onto the table as if creating an extra barrier between you.
“Hey don’t act like this is on me just because you got stood up!” He snapped loudly. The couple next to you didn’t even bother pretending like they weren’t listening. “You sit here defending him, while I’m the one who show up and somehow I’m the bad guy?”
Heat crawled up your neck from the humiliation and anger. JJ leaned in closer, the smell of rain, musk from his cheap cologne, and the coffee grounds overwhelmed your senses.
You reached for your phone telling yourself just one more check just to see. “Stop,” JJ’s hand shot out, grabbing your phone, palm covering the screen. “Some douche who got you sittin’ in some shitty cafe for an hour is not-“
A tear slipped, hot against your cheek. You wiped at it quickly, ignoring the way your chest tightened at his words.
He froze, eyes dropping to the tear track that lingered on your flushed cheeks. “Fuck,” he muttered, his voice just above a whisper. His hand twitched hesitant by your face, fingers hovering for a second before he curled them back into a fist and set it back down. “Please don’t… don’t do that.”
Your heart rate picked up at his sudden softness, like the air was suffocating. The urge to get out clawed at you. You pushed back, the chair screeching at you in protest. “I’m going home.” you muttered. “Give me my phone.”
He shifted it to his other hand, holding it away from you.
“JJ,” you grunted, leaning over the table. Your hands grazed his wrist. “Give it.”
“No. Not until we talk.” He dragged the chair closer to the window, angling his body away, and dangled your phone from his fingers.
“Don’t be such a dick,” you said voice strained as your torso pressed against the table. JJ moved his hand up when your fingers brushed his wrist. You pushed further, the legs creaking before you lurched. You caught yourself on the table, body sprawled awkwardly on the counter.
You shot to your feet, brushing off the imaginary dirt and snagging your empty cup to have something to do. Your face was beet red and heat crawled up your neck.
“You-“ The coffee machine roared to life, cutting you off. You let out a humorless laugh and readjusted your bag on your shoulder. “Whatever. keep it.”
You stormed off into the foggy street, the light rain hitting you softly. Cursing at yourself, you tugged your cardigan tightly around you as your hair started to flatten against your scalp.
You heard the cafe door slam open followed by the patter of leather boots on the puddled sidewalk.
“Wait-“ You didn’t. You let your feet carry you farther away from him.
His hands wrapped around your shoulders, firm but careful, and spun you back towards him. “Can you just listen to me for a second? please.”
“What do you want from me JJ!” You said, tears mixing with the rain on your cheek. “You wanna play hero?”
“No!” He pulled his hoodie off in one smooth motion and held it out for you. His shoulders shivered in his thin tank top and you almost felt pity for him. You crossed your arms tighter, refusing to take it. His jaw flexed and eyes filled with something that looked too much like worry. “Please. You’re freezing. Stop being stubborn.”
“Stubborn!” You yelled and barked out a harsh laugh as he flinched back. You snatched the hoodie from him just to throw it back, emphasizing your words. “The only stubborn one here is you.”
JJ stumbled back, catching the hoodie against him and watched you walk away. His hand shot out on instinct, fingers barely grazing over your wrist.
“Don’t.” you warned, pointing your finger at him. He raised his hands in surrender, his hoodie clenched in one hand. He dragged his hands over his soaked hair and sighed.
“Can we just-“ He cut himself off, eyeing his bike parked at the curb. “C’mon I’ll drive you home. We can talk there.”
“I’m not getting on that death trap.” You muttered, hugging yourself against the rain.
You stepped away from him and the rain began to pour harder. The droplets slowly tainted your pink cardigan discoloring it from its past hue. Frankly, you didn’t care. Just as long as you were creating as much distance from the cafe, JJ, and the shear humiliation that was still lingering hard on your cheeks. Just need to go home. You thought to yourself.
You heard the bike’s engine buzz to life cutting off the rain that seemed to beat down on you mockingly.
JJ followed behind you slowly watching every sniffle of your nose and tight pull of your cardigan.
“Why are you still here JJ!” You said, turning around. Your fists were clenched by your side and your hair was practically set free from the braid. “Go home.”
“Why can’t you just leave me alone.”
You knew that was harsh. You saw it in the way he recoiled back. Eyes flashing painfully and grip tightening on the handle.
You almost felt bad. Almost.
Because right then, as if the world was punishing you for feeling an ounce of pity, a car tore past and a wall of cold water slapped against your legs and torso.
“Are you kidding me,” you gasped, staring down at your dripping clothes.
Behind you JJ killed the engine. “That’s it,” he muttered, thrusting his hoodie into your arms which you reluctantly clung too. “Get on.”
“I said no,” you snapped, trying to push the hoodie back to him but his hand kept it in place.
He ran his free hand through his soaked hair and pretended to mask the shiver from his exposed shoulders. He bent down slightly, eliminating any space between you two.
“You’re freezing,” he said, you could practically count each droplet on his eyelash. “I’m not letting you walk home like that.”
You scoffed and pushed back. “You don’t get to ‘let’ me do anything.”
He huffed and crossed his arms, stepping back so you couldn’t throw his hoodie at him. His tank clung helplessly against him. “Then do me a favor and wear the damn hoodie. I’m getting cold just watching you.”
You opened your mouth in protest but quickly closed it as another puddle splashed against you. As stubborn as you were, the fact that you were now completely soaked from head to toe and you could no longer feel the tips of your fingers, were enough for you to tug the hoodie on.
It was also wet, but it was still warmer compared to your drenched clothes. It fell past your fingertips and you were immediately met with his strong cologne that wrapped around your senses. You hated how you felt a sense of comfort wrapped around the wrangled cotton.
“You’re so annoying,” you mumbled as he placed the helmet on your head.
He chuckled softly as he adjusted the buckle under your chin. You looked up shyly catching the small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“You’ll thank me later,” he said, swinging his leg over the seat and scooting forward.
You scrunched your nose. “Just this once,” you grumbled, wrapping your arms around him but keeping a sliver of space in between your chest and his back.
“Just this once,” he repeated, even though you both knew he’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Your fists were clenched on his white tank and he could feel the warmth of your skin ghost his abdomen. With every bump and stop of his bike you squeezed harder, pressing your chest on his back. You heard the sharp inhale in his breath and the way he tensed under your touch, but he forced himself to relax.
A particular lurch of the bike made you slide down and tighten your grip. You pressed your cheek between his shoulder blades and you hated how right it felt. You could feel the way his heart rate picked up and it thumped against your ear like it was made just for you.
The scent of asphalt, rain, and his body-wash mixed together forming something sharper that you couldn’t name. This is stupid, you thought, yet you still clung onto him like he was the only thing anchoring you.
You could see the Chateau loom in the distance and a small piece of you wished it was farther. JJ drove steady, slower than usual, and you had a sneaky suspicion that maybe he wanted to stretch it out as much as you did.
The porch light flickered into view, your fingers were numb, pride dented, and there was an unspoken ping in your chest that you weren’t sure you wanted to unpack. JJ killed the engine with a sputter, and the sudden quiet rang in your ears.
You stayed there for a beat, forgetting who you were clinging onto. The only thing going through your mind was the steady rise and fall of his back. Neither of you moved. His hand was still gripped steady on the handle.
Finally, you jolted like you’d been caught. Your hands dropped from his waist and you scrambled off the bike.
You cleared your throat, yanking off the helmet and shoved it into his chest. His hand lingered by yours when he took it from you, and you had to suppress the small hum from your mouth.
You stepped back, not meeting his eyes and plucked at the frayed cuff of his hoodie.
“Uh, maybe I’ll keep it for now.” you muttered, looking at him tentatively. His blue eyes piercing you right in the chest. “We both know you won’t wash it.”
JJ kicked the stand up and leaned against the bike. A small smile formed on his face.
“Right,” he said, hugging himself and rubbed his hands down his bicep. “Don’t ruin it, ‘s my favorite.”
The silence stretched between you two. His blue eyes landed heavy on your hoodie covered frame. The dim porch light didn’t help to hide away the flush that crept on your cheek as his gaze lingered on your glossed lips and soaked hair.
You dug your toe into the dirt and swallowed, looking away. “Well, uh, night JJ. Thanks.”
“Yeah,” he said, brushing a hand against his hair. “Night.”
You turned around sharply, head beating with the amount of blood that was rushing up your neck.
“Wait-“ You could hear the gravel shift as your hand closed against the cool door knob. “Don’t rush to give it back.”
You froze. Your pulse hammering in your throat. You didn’t turn around. Couldn’t.
The door clicked closed behind you and you collapsed against it. Your breath was shaky and your hands were intertwined with the mangled string of his hoodie. Your senses were overwhelmed with his cologne that made your heart ache with something that scarily resembled hope.
Outside JJ stood frozen, looking at the spot where you’d been. His feet pulled him closer to the door, but he saw your shadow shift beneath it. His breath hitched before he made his way back to the bike. His engine roared to life, gravel spitting underneath.
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