siren songs and stolen kisses, dead calm
ssask masterlist main masterlist
cant take school anymore, i hate boys and im getting my hair highlighted😍😍
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*
The warm glow of the setting sun filtered through the overgrown trees surrounding the Chateau as we gathered around the weathered picnic table. Kie, Sarah, and I huddled over Pope’s latest diagram, his attempt at outlining the plan to lower John B into the well.
“It’s... um,” Sarah started, cocking her head at the page.
Kie interrupted, grinning. “It’s something, for sure.”
I laughed, holding up the paper and pointing to a wobbly figure in the middle. “Pope, is this supposed to be John B? Because if it is, he’s looking a little worse for wear.”
“It’s a diagram,” Pope defended, snatching the paper back and holding it protectively. “Not a work of art. You’re lucky I even did this, I’ve got so much revision to do.”
“Did you draw this with your eyes closed?” Sarah teased, leaning in to get a closer look.
Kie was still chuckling when JJ sauntered over, a lopsided grin on his face and that signature confident bounce in his step. “What’s so funny?” he asked, dropping down onto the bench next to me and propping his elbows on the table.
“Pope’s artistic skills,” I answered, still giggling as I motioned to the paper.
JJ took one look at it and let out a dramatic gasp. “Pope, man, this is tragic. This isn’t a diagram; it’s a crime against humanity.”
“You’re a crime against humanity,” Pope muttered, glaring at him.
“Alright, alright,” JJ said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. Then, leaning back and crossing his arms, he smirked. “Hate to ruin the fun, but we’ve got a problem.”
“Of course we do,” Kie muttered.
JJ ignored her, looking directly at John B. “Bro, those gold bars you’re all giggling about? They’ve got wheat symbols on them, no one’s gonna touch ’em. Too traceable. Even the sketchiest buyers will ask questions.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Of course, you’d be the expert in criminal logistics.”
“Thank you, it’s a gift,” JJ shot back, throwing up his hands in mock modesty.
“Okay,” Kie said, crossing her arms and grinning. “I have an idea.”
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
The sound of the furnace roared in the background as Pope’s dad’s workshop turned into a makeshift forge. The gold bars sat in the center of the flames, glowing brighter by the second. The heat was stifling, and sweat clung to everyone’s skin as we watched the transformation take place.
Kie and Pope monitored the melting process while JJ and I slipped outside for some fresh air.
JJ grabbed my hand, tugging me toward the roof of the Chateau. “C’mon, Princess. Best view in the Outer Banks.”
We climbed up, the cool evening breeze instantly relieving the sticky heat of the workshop. From the roof, the world stretched out before us, the ocean glittering in the fading light and the stars beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky.
I sighed, letting the peacefulness of the moment wash over me. JJ, however, couldn’t stay still for long. He leaned back on his elbows, his gaze fixed on me rather than the view.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked, noticing his lingering stare.
“You,” he said simply, his voice soft.
I rolled my eyes, smiling. “Smooth.”
He laughed, leaning closer. “What can I say? I’m a natural.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking the moment. I pulled it out and frowned when I saw the name on the screen: Gray.
“Who’s that?” JJ asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
I hesitated before answering. “Gray.”
JJ’s relaxed expression shifted immediately. “Why’s he texting you?”
I opened the message, reading aloud. “I don’t know. He said, ‘Hey, you free tomorrow?’”
JJ’s jaw tightened, and I could see the gears turning in his head. “Why’s he asking you that?”
“I don’t know, J,” I said honestly. “I haven’t talked to him in like forever. Not since we broke up like almost a year ago anyway”
JJ raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” I insisted, my voice firm. “It’s probably just a stupid joke or something. Trust me, JJ.”
He studied me for a moment before nodding, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t fully disappear. “Alright, but if he tries anything—”
“You’ll punch him in the throat?” I finished for him, a teasing smile on my lips.
JJ smirked. “Damn right.”
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
JJ was grumbling as we approached the counter, Pope’s plan weighing heavily on his shoulders. “Why do I have to sell this piece of shit? Can’t someone else deal with this?”
“Because you’re the best liar,” Pope said matter-of-factly.
“Flattered,” JJ muttered sarcastically as he offered me his arm to hold.
JJ and I stepped into the dimly lit pawn shop, the bell above the door jingling like an ominous warning. The air inside was stale, carrying the faint scent of cigarette smoke and something metallic. The walls were lined with dusty shelves holding everything from old typewriters to outdated TVs. Behind the counter, a woman in her late 50s, wearing a stained T-shirt and glasses perched on the end of her nose, glanced up from her newspaper.
“Can I help you?” she asked, her tone flat and uninterested.
JJ strode confidently to the counter, pulling the gold nugget out of his pocket and placing it down with a dramatic flourish. “Got something you’re gonna wanna see.”
The woman leaned over, squinting at the piece. She picked it up, turning it under the light, then snorted. “Looks like spray-painted tungsten.”
JJ’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t lose his cool. “Spray -painted tungsten? Oh, come on now. Test it. You know, science and all that.”
The woman rolled her eyes but grabbed a small testing kit from under the counter. As she worked, JJ leaned back on his elbows, looking far too smug for someone in our precarious situation.
I nudged him with my elbow. “Could you act a little less cocky for once?” I whispered.
“Relax,” he whispered back, his lips twitching into a smirk. “I’ve got this under control.”
The woman ran the tests in silence, her frown deepening with each result. When she finally looked up, there was a glint of interest in her eyes. “Where’d you get this?”
JJ didn’t miss a beat. “My mom. It’s all her old jewellry.”
“That’s a lot of earrings,” the woman said skeptically, crossing her arms.
Before JJ could answer, I stepped in, putting on my best look of heartbreak. “It’s been really hard watching my fiance’s mom fall apart with Alzheimer’s,” I said, my voice trembling just enough to sell the lie. “She doesn’t even remember where it came from anymore.”
JJ shot me a sideways glance, his eyebrows raising slightly, but he quickly masked his surprise. The woman seemed to kind of buy it, though. She softened, her gaze flickering between the two of us.
She disappeared into the back, presumably to speak with her boss or prepare an offer. The second she was out of sight, JJ turned to me, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
“Fiancé?” he teased, leaning closer.
I shrugged nonchalantly, hiding my own grin. “Seemed believable.”
JJ chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable. Maybe even a better liar than I am.”
I felt his lips brush against my cheek, a feather-light kiss that made my heart skip a beat. “Looks like I’m a bad influence on you princess,” he murmured.
Before I could respond, the woman returned, holding a clipboard. “Alright,” she said, placing it down on the counter. “Talked to my boss. Let’s talk numbers.”
What followed was a tense back-and-forth negotiation. JJ, ever the smooth talker, leaned into his natural charm and wit, throwing out lines like, “Come on, you’re not gonna find gold like this anywhere else,” and, “You’re practically robbing me at that price.”
Eventually, they settled on a number that was just shy of what we’d hoped for.
“There’s just one problem,” the woman said, her tone turning serious. “I don’t have the cash here. You’ll need to head to the warehouse to finalize the deal.”
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
The Twinkie rattled along the uneven road, the faint hum of its engine the only sound cutting through the night. John B had one hand on the wheel, the other drumming absentmindedly against the dashboard. The rest of us sat in varying states of exhaustion and tension, the adrenaline from the pawnshop still buzzing faintly in the air.
"Alright," John B muttered, leaning back in his seat. "Next stop, the warehouse. We trade this hunk of melted gold for cash, and then we’re golden—pun intended."
Pope groaned from the backseat. "That was terrible, John B."
"You’re terrible," he shot back with a grin, turning around briefly to shoot Pope a look before everyone drifted into meaningless conversations.
The mood was light, for once. Too light. My stomach twisted with a sense of foreboding, like the calm before the storm.
“Hey, is that—” Kie started from the back, leaning forward to peer out the windshield.
“What the hell?” John B muttered, slowing the Twinkie to a crawl.
Before we could process what was happening, bright lights flared behind us. I twisted around to see another car screech to a stop, pulling us over.
“Shit,” JJ hissed, straightening up in his seat. His hands frantically wrapping the gold in a microfibre cloth before shoving it in the under seat as everyone panicked.
The driver of the car in front of us stepped out, his face partially obscured by a skull mask covering the lower half. He was mediu, height, broad-shouldered, and moved with a casual menace that made my skin crawl.
“I don’t like this,” Pope muttered under his breath.
The masked man approached the driver’s side window, tapping the glass with the barrel of a pistol. “Out of the car,” he ordered, his voice muffled but firm.
John B hesitated, gripping the steering wheel tightly. “Look, man, we don’t want any trouble—”
“Did I ask for a fucking speech?” the man snapped, slamming his palm against the window. “Out. Now.”
“Just do it John B,” JJ said, his voice low and urgent. He glanced at me, his jaw tight. “Stay close to me.”
JJ stepped out the car first, his chest puffed out and shoulders squared, a reckless fire blazing in his eyes. "You really think you can just take our shit and walk away?"
Barry stopped mid-step, turning back toward JJ with a slow, mocking chuckle. "Kid, I’ve got a gun, and you’ve got a mouth. Wanna see which one wins?"
“Don’t,” I whispered urgently, grabbing JJ’s arm. His muscles were taut beneath my fingers, trembling with barely-contained rage.
“Listen to the girl,” Barry sneered. “Wouldn’t want pretty boy over here getting hurt.”
JJ’s jaw clenched, his lips pressing into a tight line. For a second, I thought he might actually lunge at Barry.
Barry raised his pistol, aiming it squarely at JJ’s chest. My heart leapt into my throat, a wave of cold panic crashing over me.
“Lie down,” Barry ordered, his voice low and menacing. “All of you. Face down in the ditch. Now.”
We hesitated, glancing at each other.
“Do it!” he barked, firing a warning shot into the air.
The crack of the gunshot made me flinch. JJ’s hand found mine again, squeezing tightly as we moved to lie down in the dirt.
As I pressed my face against the cold gravel, I felt JJ shift closer to me, his body positioned protectively between me and Barry.
Barry’s eyes landed on me and Sarah next to each other, and his smirk returned. “And who do we have here? The little princesses slumming it with the Pogues? You really are scraping the bottom of the barrel, Maybank. You too Routledge.”
“Shut the fuck up,” John B snapped, his voice like a whip.
“Hey, asshole!” JJ suddenly yelled, his voice cutting through the tension. “Say one more thing about her, and I swear—”
“JJ,” I hissed, my heart hammering in my chest with anxiety “Please stop.”
Barry laughed, a cruel sound that made my skin crawl. “Cute. Real cute. Maybe I should take her with me, huh? Teach you a lesson.”
That was the breaking point. JJ surged upward, his fists clenched, but before he could fully rise, Barry kicked him back down.
“Stay down, hero,” Barry growled, pressing the barrel of his gun to JJ’s temple.
JJ froze, his entire body trembling with suppressed fury.
I couldn’t take it anymore. Nor could Kie. “Stop it!” she shouted from her place next to Sarah, her voice cracking. “You’ve got what you want! Just leave us alone!”
Barry glanced at her, his expression unreadable behind the mask. For a moment, I thought he might actually listen.
The ground was cold and damp against my stomach as I lay down, the grass scratching at my skin. JJ was beside me, his hand never letting go of mine. “I’ve got you,” he whispered, so softly I almost didn’t hear it.
Barry turned around and crouched down, inspecting the van. “Now, let’s see what we’ve got here.”
He opened the back doors, rummaging through our stuff with the efficiency of someone who’d done this a hundred times before.
Barry’s grin widened as he took the bag, holding it up like a trophy. “See? Was that so hard?”
JJ’s grip on my hand tightened, and I could feel the anger rolling off him in waves.
As Barry turned back to his car, John B shifted slightly, his eyes darting to the gun Barry had left carelessly on the passenger seat. I knew that look.
“John B,” Sarah and I whispered, our voices barely audible.
But John B was already moving.
He sprang up, diving into Barry’s car and grabbing the gun. Barry spun around, cursing loudly as John B wrestled with him for control.
“Go!” JJ shouted, pulling me to my feet as chaos erupted around us.
John B managed to shove Barry out of the car, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Pope and Kie joined the fray, their fists flying as Barry’s goons tried to intervene.
JJ kept me in his arms the entire time, ready to pull me back from my kicks if Barry tried to hit back whilst JJ’s eyes dart between the fight and the road, calculating our next move.
When Barry finally sat up, his face bloody and his expression furious, he started to speak, but JJ didn’t give him the chance as he let me go and grabbed the gun fron John B.
The crack of the gun’s butt against Barry’s jaw was deafening, silencing everyone for a split second.
“JJ!” Kie yelled, her voice a mix of shock and fear.
But JJ didn’t flinch. He reached down, grabbing Barry’s wallet and pulling out his driver’s license.
“Let’s get out of here guys.” Pope said, flexing his hands from punching Barry.
“One last stop,” he said, his voice cold and unyielding. “Let’s go see where this son of a bitch lives.”
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
The Twinkie rolled to a stop outside Barry’s grimy trailer, the headlights cutting through the shadowy junkyard. The air felt heavy, charged with tension as we stared at the dilapidated house. Scrap metal and rusted car parts were strewn across the yard, and a broken porch light flickered ominously. It was like something out of a bad horror movie.
“Great,” Pope muttered, his voice thick with sarcasm. “Barry lives in a horror movie set.”
JJ ignored him, already halfway out of the van. He held up the wallet he’d snatched during the fight, flipping it open to reveal Barry’s driver’s license. “This is the address.”
“JJ, seriously,” Pope said, following him. “What are you planning to do? You’re gonna knock on the door and ask nicely for our gold back?”
“Not exactly,” JJ replied, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
“Okay, so, what’s the plan?” Sarah asked, her voice a little shaky.
No one answered immediately. JJ was already halfway out of the van, his jaw set in determination.
“Uh, someone should probably…” Kie started, trailing off as she gestured toward JJ’s retreating figure.
“Yeah, got it,” John B and I said in unison, exchanging a quick glance before we scrambled out of the van to follow him.
The air felt thick and stifling as we entered the dark, grimy interior of Barry’s trailer. The smell hit me first—an acrid mix of stale beer, cigarettes, and something rotten. The place was a disaster: empty cans and bottles covered every surface, and the furniture looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years.
JJ didn’t hesitate. He was already rifling through a drawer in the kitchenette, tossing junk aside as he searched.
“JJ, stop,” John B said firmly. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” JJ snapped, pulling out a duffle bag filled with wads of cash.
“This is insane!” John B said, his voice rising. “Stealing money from a drug dealer? You think that’s a good idea?”
JJ slammed the drawer shut and turned to face him. “He stole from us first. Or did you forget that part?”
“This isn’t the way to fix it JJ!” I said, stepping forward. “You’re just making the whole situation worse.”
JJ’s gaze shifted to me, and his jaw tightened. “You wouldn’t understand, Y/n. You’ve never had to worry about this stuff. Everything’s handed to you on a gold platter.” His voice cracked slightly as his frustration boiled over. “You don’t know what it feels like to have the one thing you have slip right through your hands.”
His words hit me like a punch, but I forced myself to stay calm. “No, JJ, I don’t know what that’s like with money. I’ve never had to worry about that.” I stepped closer, my voice softening but firm. “But I’ve had you—all of you—almost slip through my hands way too many times, and I think that’s pretty damn close.”
For a second, his face faltered, and something unspoken flickered in his eyes. But then he turned away, focusing on the next drawer as if he hadn’t heard me.
My heart twisted painfully. I couldn’t stand there and watch him spiral anymore. “Fine, JJ. Do whatever you want,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Then I turned and walked out of the house.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
The night air felt cooler as I stepped outside, but it did nothing to ease the weight on my chest. The rest of the Pogues were waiting near the van, their faces etched with worry.
“What’s going on?” Pope asked as I approached.
I shook my head, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. “He’s not listening. He’s just—he’s so angry.”
“What’s he even doing in there?” Sarah asked.
“Stealing,” I said bitterly. “Because apparently that’s the solution to all our problems now.”
Pope’s jaw clenched, and Sarah exchanged a nervous glance with him.
“Do you think he’s okay?” Sarah asked, her voice hesitant.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But whatever he’s going through, he won’t let me—or anyone—help him.”
The sound of raised voices from inside the house made us all flinch. I could hear John B yelling something about Barry finding out and JJ snapping back something that probably shouldn’t be repeated.
“God,” I muttered, rubbing my temples.
“They’re gonna kill each other in there,” Pope said grimly.
I glanced at the house, torn between wanting to go back in and knowing it wouldn’t do any good. JJ’s words replayed in my head, sharp and cutting: You wouldn’t understand, Y/n. Everything’s handed to you on a gold platter.
I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, willing the sting of tears to go away. He didn’t mean it—I knew that—but it didn’t make it hurt any less.
“Maybe we should just leave him,” Pope said, his voice laced with frustration. “Let him figure it out on his own.”
“No,” Kie said firmly, shaking her head. “We don’t leave each other. Not like this.”
Sarah gave me a supportive smile and rested her head on my shoulder, but the tension in the air remained heavy. We all stayed quiet, waiting for whatever was about to happen next.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
When they got back outside, the rest of the Pogues were waiting by the Twinkie, their faces a mix of confusion and concern.
“What the hell is this?” Pope asked, eyeing the bag JJ was carrying.
“It’s called payback,” JJ said, tossing the bag into the van.
“This isn’t what we signed up for,” Pope said, crossing his arms.
JJ whirled on him, his expression hard. “No, Pope, you didn’t sign up for anything. You just sit around and wait for the rest of us to handle it.”
“JJ, what?” Pope shot back.
“You’re acting like a psycho!” Kie shouted.
“No, I’m doing what has to be done,” JJ said, his voice rising.
John B groaned, running a hand through his hair. “What are you gonna do when Barry finds out? Huh? You think he’s just gonna let this slide?”
JJ shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips as he repeats my joke from before but he meant it now. “We punch him in the throat.”
“Yeah, great fucking idea, JJ,” John B said sarcastically, throwing his arms up. “Really solid plan.”
JJ glared at him and after a beat, “I’ll handle it.”
“Yeah, sure,” Pope said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Because you’re so good at thinking things through.”
JJ turned to me after asking everyone else if they’d join him, his eyes blazing. “What about you? You with me or not?”
I hesitated, my chest tightening. “No JJ, this isn’t a good idea. You’re just making it worse for yourself—for all of us.”
His expression darkened, and his voice dropped to a cold, sharp tone. “You know what? I don’t even want to talk to you right now.”
The words hit me like a slap, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Everyone else was quiet, the tension crackling in the air like static.
JJ’s eyes locked onto mine, his jaw tightening as he exclaimed, “Are you even with me? Or are you fucking Gray behind my back?”
My mouth fell open in shock. “What the fuck? JJ, that’s insane!”
“Oh, is it?” he snapped, his voice dripping with bitterness as he nodded.
“JJ, shut the fuck up,” John B said, stepping between us.
“Seriously, dude,” Kie added. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”
JJ’s gaze didn’t waver from mine, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
“Keep talking like that,” Sarah said, her voice firm, “and you’ll end up all by yourself, JJ.”
JJ’s eyes flickered, something soft and vulnerable breaking through for just a moment. But then the anger returned, and he stepped back, shaking his head. “Fine. I’ll go by myself.”
He grabbed the bag and turned away, pausing just long enough to glance at me. His eyes softened for the briefest second, and I saw something that looked like regret. But then it was gone, replaced by the same stubborn defiance.
I felt tears prick my eyes as he walked away, the weight of his words pressing down on me like a stone.
The rest of us stood in silence, watching him disappear into the night. The sound of the Twinkie’s door slamming echoed in the stillness, and I couldn’t shake the feeling.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
After the chaos at Barry’s house, we all regrouped at The Wreck, needing a neutral place to calm down and figure out our next move. The dimly lit diner felt oddly comforting as we slid into a booth at the back, away from prying eyes.
John B sat at the head of the table, his arms crossed and his face a mix of frustration and exhaustion. Pope fidgeted with the salt shaker, Sarah twirled her straw in her drink, and Kiara leaned back, her arms crossed as she shot annoyed glances toward the door.
JJ, of course, was absent.
“He’s not coming,” Pope said flatly, breaking the silence.
“How do you know?” Kiara asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Because it’s JJ,” Pope replied, his tone edged with annoyance. “He’s probably off somewhere, getting drunk or into more trouble.”
I stayed quiet, sipping my water and staring at the tabletop. I could still hear JJ’s voice in my head, accusing me, doubting me.
“He’ll show up,” John B said, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced.
Sarah nudged me gently. “You okay?”
I forced a small smile. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” she said quietly. “What happened back there?”
Before I could answer, Kiara chimed in. “He’s been like this for weeks. It’s like he’s on some self-destructive mission.”
“It’s not just him, though,” Pope said, slamming the salt shaker down. “We’re all risking everything, and for what? Gold we might never see?”
John B rubbed his face. “We’re not quitting now, Pope.”
“No one said anything about quitting,” Kiara said sharply. “But JJ’s spiraling, and if we don’t do something, he’s going to get himself killed or arrested or something.”
The conversation shifted into an argument, voices overlapping as everyone tried to make their point. I stayed silent, my thoughts focused solely on JJ.
“He doesn’t trust me,” I blurted out, cutting through the noise.
Everyone turned to look at me.
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked.
I hesitated, unsure how much to share. “He thinks I’m not with him. That I don’t understand what he’s going through.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Kiara said, frowning.
“Is it, though?” I said quietly. “I don’t know what it’s like to struggle like he does. I don’t know what it’s like to not have a safety net.”
“But you’re here,” Sarah said firmly. “You’ve always been here for him. Even when you weren’t like together together, I’d always see him getting water or a snack or something in our kitchen at night before going back up to your room after his dad…”
I nodded, but the weight in my chest didn’t lessen. “I know, I just… I don’t know if he believes that anymore.”
The table fell silent, the tension thick and suffocating.
“Look, we all love JJ,” John B said finally. “But he needs to work through this himself. We can’t fix him.”
“Maybe not,” I said softly. “But we can still be there for him.”
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
The Twinkie bounced along the dirt road, rattling with every bump, as Y/N, Kie, and Pope returned to the Chateau. The supplies they had packed tightly in the back rattled along with them, preparations for their next trip to the well. Their conversation had been lighthearted, filled with plans and jokes, but as they pulled into the driveway, all chatter came to an abrupt halt.
String lights dangled lazily from the trees, casting a warm glow against the deepening twilight. And in the middle of the yard, a hot tub stood bubbling and lit up like a Christmas tree, steam rising into the cool evening air. The sight was absurd—almost comical—except for the figure lounging in the steaming water with a beer in hand.
“Who the hell is that?” Pope asked, squinting through the windshield as the Twinkie rolled to a stop.
“Better question,” Kie added, her tone sharp, “where did that come from?”
Y/N stepped out first, cautious but curious. The others followed as they moved closer, their pace hesitant. The figure in the hot tub turned toward them, his unsteady grin illuminated by the string lights.
“Guys!” JJ slurred, throwing his arms wide as though greeting long-lost friends. “You’re here! Perfect timing.”
“JJ?” Y/n’s voice was incredulous. “What is this?”
“Are you kidding me?” Pope exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
“Welcome to paradise!” JJ called out, grinning widely.
“JJ, what the actual hell?” Kiara demanded, storming up to the hot tub. “Where did you even get this?”
“Spent some of Barry’s cash,” JJ said nonchalantly, taking a sip of his beer.
“Relax,” JJ said, waving him off. “I didn’t spend all of it. Actually no I did.”
“You bought a hot tub?” Pope’s voice rose in disbelief. “You could’ve paid off your restitution with that money!”
“Or given it to, I don’t know, literally any charity,” Kie added, her arms crossing as she shot JJ a withering glare.
JJ’s grin faltered, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. He waved a dismissive hand, the motion unsteady. “Oh, come on. Why are you guys always so serious? I didn’t do that because I got this for you. For our family.”
“JJ, be serious,” Kie pushed, her tone softening only slightly. “You could’ve gotten out from under Barry, from—”
“From what Kie?” JJ’s voice rose sharply. His expression twisted as he stumbled slightly, his grin fully gone now. “From my crap life? From Luke? What, you want me to donate it well I didn’t do that, alright?” JJ shouted, his voice cracking. “I didn’t pay off my restitution, and I didn’t donate it to some fucking charity. I got a hot tub for my friends—no, fuck that, I got a hot tub for my family! I didn’t get this for me! I got it for us! I got it for us because we deserve to have something good! Just one damn thing that’s ours!”
“JJ,” Y/N’s voice was quiet but insistent. She stepped forward, her heart racing as her eyes caught something beneath the glow of the lights. The bruises were stark against his skin, dark and angry splotches decorating his ribs and stomach. A lump formed in her throat as her mind pieced it together. “What happened?”
“Don’t.” JJ’s voice cracked, his hand shooting up in a defensive gesture. He pointed a trembling finger at her, his eyes glassy and defiant. “Don’t look at me like that. Don’t start with the pity, Y/n. I can’t take it. Not from you.”
Pope and Kie’s eyes followed Y/N’s, their own indignation morphing into concern as they registered the injuries.
“JJ,” Pope started, his voice unusually soft. “What happened? Did he…?”
“Shut up Pope,” JJ snapped, his voice rising. He ran a hand through his damp hair, the motion frantic. “It doesn’t matter, okay? I’m fine. I don’t need a lecture or… or your stupid looks. I need you guys to… to just get in the damn hot tub and be happy for once. Can you do that?”
Y/n’s heart broke as she watched him unravel. Without hesitation, she kicked off her shoes and climbed into the hot tub, the warm water soaking through her clothes instantly. She ignored the discomfort, her focus solely on JJ. She reached out and wrapped her arms around him, her touch gentle but firm.
For a moment, he resisted, his body stiff and unyielding. Then, as if a dam had broken, he collapsed into her embrace. His sobs were muffled against her shoulder, raw and unrestrained. “I can’t do it anymore,” he choked out, “I can’t go back there. I was about to… I was gonna kill him, Y/n. I swear to God, I can’t…”
“It’s okay,” Y/n murmured, running her fingers through his damp hair. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
Kie and Pope exchanged a look, their earlier irritation fully replaced with empathy. Without a word, they climbed into the hot tub, their clothes soaking immediately. They joined the embrace, their arms wrapping around JJ and Y/N. The bubbling water swirled around them as they clung to one another, a cocoon of warmth and solidarity in the cool night air.
JJ’s sobs eventually subsided, his breathing evening out as the comfort of his friends enveloped him. For a long time, none of them spoke, their shared grief and love filling the silence. The string lights swayed gently in the breeze, casting their soft glow over the four figures huddled together, holding on as if the world depended on it.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
Later that night, the Chateau was eerily quiet. Kie and Pope had gone home to give us some space, and John B was at Tannyhill with Sarah. I was sitting cross-legged on JJ's bed, finishing up some homework. The soft scratch of the pen on paper was the only sound until the bathroom door creaked open. I glanced up to see JJ shuffling in, wearing a loose T-shirt and sweats, but the bruises on his ribs were still visible beneath the fabric and his hair a wet, tangled mess.
“C’mere,” I said, setting her notebook aside and patting the edge of the bed and grabbing a hairdryer.
He groaned. “Do we have to?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sit down, Maybank.”
He sighed in defeat and sat down with a slight wince. I plugged the hairdryer in, her movements calm and methodical. I raked my fingers gently through his hair as I dried it, the strands puffing up under the warm air. When I pulled back to look, I couldn’t help but laugh at the golden halo.
“Don’t worry,” I teased. “It’ll calm down by morning.”
He tilted his head back to look at me, his blue eyes soft and filled with something I couldn’t quite name. “Thank you.”
I grinned. “For what? Fixing your hair?” I replied lightly, unplugging the dryer and setting it aside. But when I moved to stand, he reached out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist softly.
“No,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. “For always being there for me. Even when I treat you like that.”
I turned to face him fully, holding his face in my hands as he leaned in, closing his eyes. “Of course, JJ. I’ll always be here. But you’ve got to make it easier by trusting me. There’s nothing going on between me and Gray. You don’t need to doubt that.”
He nodded, guilt flashing across his face. “I know. I’m sorry, baby. I won’t doubt you again.”
“Good.” I kissed his forehead. “Now, let’s get some sleep.”
We curled up together on the bed, his arms tight around me. As his breathing slowed, he whispered, “I don’t want to go back to that house.” His voice cracked, and I felt my heart break all over again.
“You don’t have to, J,” I promised. “You can stay with me at Tannyhill or here with John B. Wherever you want.”
He pressed a kiss to my temple. “What would I do without you?”
I smiled, brushing my fingers through his hair. “Probably punching people in their throats.”
JJ let out a quiet laugh, the sound warm and genuine despite everything. He pulled back slightly, just enough to press a soft kiss to my lips. It was gentle, a silent thank you that words couldn’t fully express. When we broke apart, he nestled into the crook of my neck, his breath warm against my skin.
Y/n ran her fingers through his now fluffy hair, the scent of coconut and vanilla from her shampoo still lingering. As his breathing slowed and evened out, signalling that he’d fallen asleep, she gazed at him with all the love in her heart. Gently, she kissed the top of his head and whispered into the stillness of the room, “I love you, J.”
Her words hung in the air, unacknowledged but deeply true. She tightened her hold on him, determined to shield him from the world, if only for a little while longer.
𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔: 𓆉°❀⋆.ೃ࿔
and friday is taking so long to come, ive got a shit ton of homework and my philosophy teacher hasnt been in or set work online for 2 months so im defo failing mocks in february💖💖
taglist: @harryssideboobz @onelonelybitch @jeyramarie @snowtargaryen
