#routledge reader

[lolala1414]

Hershey's Kisses

Part 1

Pairing: Bsf!JJ Maybank x Routledge Cousin!Reader

Request summary: You're John B's Cousin and you visited the OBX every summer for years as a kid, becoming especially close with JJ to the point where you jokingly became fake boyfriend and girlfriend. When you move across the world for five years, it absolutely destroys him. But suddenly you and your mom move back to NC, to the OBX, and you both realize that your feelings for each other never left.

Warnings: Small mention of JJ's abuse, alcohol consumption 

Word Count: 4k

A/N: Been working on this story forever months for one of my favorite people on here! I have almost all of it written and will be posting new parts every day/every other day. Hope ya'll like it🩷

Divider by @daggersanddressesextras

Summer was JJ's favorite time of the year, but you were JJ's favorite part of summer.

Not surfing or fishing or raising hell with the other Pogues. It was when your mom would bring you down from Durham, NC, where she taught at Duke, to stay in a little rental house near Figure Eight while she visited family. 

Sometimes she would even leave you for a while and you'd stay at the Chateau with your cousin, John B and his dad, Big John.

Every summer, the second JJ heard your mom's car or your bike tires crunching down the driveway toward the Chateau, he'd practically launch himself off the porch.

At seven years old, he was loud and reckless as always. Always down to do anything and everything.

His main goal in life was to have a good time all the time and, coincidentally, so was yours.

You matched each other perfectly.

You were the only kid who never got scared when he climbed too high into trees or jumped off the end of piers that were dangerously tall. 

The only one who'd follow him into the marsh barefoot and get mud all over your legs and scrapes on your feet. 

You'd laugh instead of tattle when he stole candy bars from the gas station. Especially when he stole them for you and called himself a provider.

So naturally, the two of you became boyfriend and girlfriend.

Not actually. Just in the silly but also very serious way seven year olds do.

Every time you arrived at Kildaire, JJ would dramatically reunite with you like he'd returned from war, usually by tackling you into the grass and yelling "BABY, YOU CAME BACK TO ME!"

"You're literally so annoying," you'd laugh while pretending to try to shove him off.

But secretly, you loved it. A lot.

"You gotta hold my hand," you informed him one afternoon while the two of you sat on a dock watching tiny crabs run around in the mud underneath.

JJ squinted at you suspiciously. "Why?"

"Because that's what boyfriends do."

"Oh." He considered this deeply before immediately grabbing your hand and intertwining your fingers in the messiest way possible. "Okay."

You nodded like this was a completely normal contractual agreement. "Alsoooo... you have to say I'm pretty."

JJ rolled his eyes, ears turning pink. "You're pretty." 

You giggled at this, batting your lashes up at him a little. "Why thank you, Jayj. You mean it?"

"Yeah, I mean it," he grumbled, shoving your shoulder while you giggled harder. But he did mean it. You were the prettiest girl in the world to him.

"Anddd…”

He groaned quietly. "Anddd what?”

"You gotta bring me flowers sometimes.”

"Flowers? Where the hell am I supposed to get you flowers?”

You shrugged. "I dunno. Pretty sure, that's a boyfriend's job to figure out.”

And he did figure it out. And whether they were stolen from some Kook's yard or weeds he picked from the side of the road, as soon as he shoved them into your chest or held them out to you aggressively without making eye contact, feeling absolutely ridiculous, the way you'd thank him and tell them how beautiful they were made his heart swell every single time.

So he kept doing it. Any time he saw something you might like. Even if it meant doing some serious trespassing.

He even almost crashed his bike as he zoomed by a particularly large peony, before nearly crashing again while trying to escape the very angry Kook lady who ran out the door the second she saw him take it.

This game between the two of you became all the Pogue's favorite source of entertainment.

JJ carried your flipflops for you because "boyfriends are supposed to."

You leaned your head on his shoulder during movies because "girlfriends can." ...Which he definitely didn't complain about.

You made him flower crowns from weeds and forced him to wear them while Pope and John B teased him nonstop. But he didn't dare take them off, especially after you called him the 'king of the marsh.'

You gave him a shark tooth necklace that you'd bought with your allowance and made him a bracelet out of white, brown and orange string and he acted like they were the best things in the world– which they really were, because they were from you. 

He never took them off, even after you'd go home.

One time, you kissed him on the cheek before running away down the beach to Kiara in a full on giggle fit, and he stood there frozen for so long John B had to wave a hand in front of his face.

"Dude," John B said slowly, "Are you ok? You still with us? I think your brain broke."

JJ didn't say anything, just took off and chased you down the shoreline afterward, tackling you into the sand while both of you shrieked with laughter.

A few days later, after a bad encounter with his dad that left him with a bruised cheekbone, he held your hand until you stopped crying for him and the two of you laid in the hammock planning your "future." 

A future mostly consisted of living on a boat, traveling the world and eating popsicles and mac n cheese for every meal.

Another day, you talked about what your wedding would be like.

"Can it be at the beach?" he asked while the two of you gathered driftwood for your fort in the woods by the boneyard. "And no shoes allowed?"

You giggled. "Duh."

"Sweeeeet. Because after we dance and whatever, I definitely wanna fish."

"You can't fish at our wedding," you told him sternly.

JJ frowned. "Why not?"

"Because you're the groom. And we have to hang out."

"What's a groom?"

You sighed dramatically. "The guy getting married."

"Oh." He thought about it for a second. "Can John B fish then?"

"No."

"That's stupid."

"You're stupid."

He smirked in that way that annoyed you and made you blush at the same time. "Mmhm, you still want me to be your groom though."

You shoved him hard enough he nearly tipped backward into the tidepool beside you, soaking his boots and socks.

It was all childish and silly and harmless, except JJ never really stopped wanting it to be real. Even when you got older and you both began to joke about it a little less seriously.

He still saved you a seat next to him on the boat. Or noticed when you put lip gloss on or wore the perfume he stole for you, or did your hair different. 

He never stopped telling you that you looked pretty even if he had to follow it up with some sort of teasing afterwards, such as calling you "Shrimp" because you were shorter than him.

He got even more weirdly protective when other boys talked to you. 

In fact, he absolutely hated when other boys talked to you. Became irrationally annoyed to the point where he'd get quiet and unable to focus on anything but watching the way you reacted to what whoever it was was saying.

And the pogues noticed every single time, because they knew JJ liked you without a doubt. 

Bad.

One night, at thirteen, it was two days before you had to go home and he was in a foul mood about it as he sat on the dock, mindlessly staring at his fishing line and wishing that you were there that night instead of out to dinner with your mom and her friends.

"Just tell her," Pope said as he baited his hook.

JJ scoffed. "I don't have a crush on her, dude."

Pope grinned. "It's so obvious."

Kiara elbowed him gently. "And she so likes you back, so it's fine. Pope's right, JJ, just tell her."

"Shut up. No it's not. And no she doesn't."

You definitely did. Just as bad.

"You have a cruuush," John B sang, reeling in his line and reaching for the bag of shrimp.

JJ shoved him right off the dock.

But he couldn't deny it, because when you smiled at him, his stomach felt weird in a way no other girl had made him feel before.

Because when you hugged him goodbye every August, he counted down the days until next summer. 

Because no matter how many girls existed in the OBX—in the WORLD—none of them were you and they never would be.

The next day, you and JJ sat crosslegged in your driftwood fort, surrounded by crumpled candy wrappers while he dug through the endless pockets of his cargo shorts.

"Dude," you laughed as he produced another handful of candy bars and threw them in front of you. "How many pockets do those shorts have?"

JJ grinned proudly. "Enough."

"You're actually insane, Jayj."

"I'm a provider," he corrected seriously, tossing you a pack of sour gummy worms. "Boyfriend duties."

You smiled automatically at that, peeling open the package. "You're the best fake boyfriend ever."

He laughed softly, but something in his chest sank a little at the word fake. Still, he covered it quickly with a grin. "Damn right."

The two of you ate quietly for a minute, both immediately thinking about the same thing: About how you had to leave tomorrow.

You sighed, leaning your head back against a piece of wood. "I don't wanna go home. I wish I lived here."

He looked over immediately. "Yeah?"

"This was seriously the best summer ever."

JJ smiled at that, heart squeezing for multiple reasons now. "It was pretty sick." He popped a piece of candy into his mouth. "And next summer'll be even better. I'll make sure next year it's the funnest one yet."

"Funnest isn't a word." You bumped your shoulder against his. "But I can't wait. Seriously."

He smiled harder. "Me neither."

The two of you went quiet again after that.

JJ handed you another chocolate. You took it, set it down and picked up another piece from your pile. 

"Want a kiss?"

He turned so fast he nearly choked. "Huh?"

You blinked at him innocently. "A kiss?"

"Wait… really?"

Your eyebrows pulled together in confusion before realization hit you, then you burst into laughter, cheeks going bright pink. "Oh my god, JJ."

He looked confused. "What??"

You held up a Hershey's Kiss. "I meant the candy!"

JJ groaned, covering his face, which was now even pinker than yours, while you laughed harder.

"You thought—"

"I know what I thought!"

"You looked so scared!"

"I was not scared."

He was scared. And a lot of other things.

"Yuh huh you were!"

He snatched the chocolate from your hand. "Shut up."

You giggled uncontrollably while he unwrapped it aggressively and shoved it into his mouth.

JJ tried not to smile too as he chewed, but he couldn't even help it.

"Have you ever actually kissed anybody?" you asked suddenly, a little quieter.

He looked over at you and shook his head. "Nah."

Which was true. Girls had tried before, but every time, something about it felt wrong, like it wasn't supposed to be them. Like he'd be cheating on you even if your relationship was "fake."

"What about you?" he asked, also nervous of the answer.

You shook your head. "No."

The corner of his lips tugged up a bit in relief.

You began balling up a tinfoil wrapper in your lap absentmindedly. "I kinda wanna know what it's like though."

"Yeah?" he said quietly, trying to sound normal.

"Mhm."

He swallowed. "Is there somebody back home you wanna kiss or something?"

You shrugged and your eyes flicked up at him for a second. "Not really."

His stomach twisted. "Not really?"

You laughed softly. "No. There's not anybody."

Relief filled him again.

You were quiet for another second, then you looked over at him, then down, then back over him again, nerves filling your belly.

"I mean… you're kinda my fake boyfriend so... maybe…" you started, then stopped yourself, shaking your head. "Nevermind."

JJ looked over, sitting up straighter instantly, wondering if you were really gonna say what he thought you were.

There was no way.

"No. What? Say it."

You laughed nervously. "Nothing, JJ!"

"What were you gonna say?"

"Nothingggguh."

"You were definitely gonna say something. Now I need to know."

"You'll make fun of me."

"No I won't."

"Yes you will."

"I swear I won't. What is it?"

You hesitated then huffed out a laugh. "I was gonna say maybe… since you're my fake boyfriend and all, that we could maybe... fake kiss?"

JJ just stared at you, heart suddenly pounding so hard he was pretty sure it was echoing in the fort.

You looked equally nervous suddenly. "But we don't have to! I was kidding. Ha ha! Gotcha!"

"You want me to be your first kiss?" he asked carefully.

"I mean… uh..." You shrugged, cheeks flushing even more. "I mean… sure. Yeah. Why not?"

You both let out soft, nervous laughs.

"You sure?"

"Well yeah." You smiled shyly. "You're one of my best friends. I don't want my first kiss to be some weirdo."

JJ grinned immediately through his nerves. "You call me a weirdo all the time."

You giggled again. "Yeah, but that's different."

He tried to play it cool even though he had never been so flustered in his entire life. He had imagined this moment a thousand times but he never thought it would actually happen.

"Okay," he said casually, voice cracking a little. "We can fake kiss."

You nodded. "Okay. Okay, sweet. Let's do it, then."

Neither of you moved at first, then awkwardly, slowly, you scooted closer together.

"Sooo... how do we do this?" you whispered.

"I dunno, I guess we just do it," JJ whispered back, eyes flicking to your lips. "You've literally never seen a movie?"

You dissolved into nervous laughter again.

JJ smiled helplessly at you for a second before finally leaning in. You followed his lead and met him halfway, lips pressing together gently.

The kiss was soft and stiff and lasted maybe three seconds, but still, butterflies exploded through both of you instantaneously.

When you pulled apart, you stared at each other wide eyed.

"That was weird," you both said at once, smiling a little stunned and lopsided before bursting into laughter immediately afterward.

"You taste like chocolate," he mumbled, smiling embarrassingly hard.

You stared at the ground, unable to look at him now. "You do too."

He scratched the back of his neck, unsure of what to do with himself now. "It was literally a Hershey's Kiss."

You snort. "Literally."

Neither of you stopped smiling.

JJ looked at you for another long second. At your pink cheeks and the way you brushed messy hair behind your ear. Then he flopped dramatically backward into the dirt when he couldn't handle looking at you anymore. "Well. Guess we're basically adults now."

You snorted, lying down beside him. "Maybe I am. You have ways to go, Maybank. Waysss."

He snorted and began the countdown to next summer in his head immediately.

You both walked back to the Chateau after a few minutes and spent the rest of the day trying not to look at each other, because if you did, it was impossible to not feel like your chests were gonna actually explode.

The pogues called you both out on it, saying that you were acting weird when you'd look at each other and burst into quiet giggles, but JJ would just say it was an inside joke and that they wouldn't get it... which made you smile even harder.

The smiles were wiped clean off your faces later that night when you saw your mom's car rolling up the driveway to take you back to the rental.

You hugged Kiara first, then Pope, then John B. Then you turned to JJ.

For once, neither of you immediately joked around like you usually would when you said goodbye. He just shoved his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts and looked at you like a kicked puppy.

"You better come back next summer," he mumbled.

You smiled softly even though your heart ached too. "I will. Why wouldn't I?"

JJ nodded once before taking his hands out of his pockets. Then he grinned crookedly. "Okay, cool, well see ya next year, Shrimp."

You rolled your eyes before stepping forward and hugging him tight.

JJ hugged you back immediately, even tighter. Way too long.

Neither of you wanted to let go.

Then your mom honked lightly from the car, smiling a little too knowingly.

You pulled away. "Bye, Jayj."

"Bye, wifey. Til next year."

You giggled and gave him a little lazy salute. "Til next year."

You climbed into the car and JJ stood in the driveway with the other pogues, watching until you disappeared down the road completely, still tasting chocolate if he thought about it hard enough.

He spent every single day until the next summer thinking about that kiss, replaying it over and over and over and over and over.

And he also listened to Thinkin Bout You by Frank Ocean over and over and over.

He hoped and prayed you weren't kissing anybody else and that you thought about it too.

You, in fact, were not kissing anybody else. And you did think about it. Every single day.

He made up endless scenarios in his mind about it happening again and finally decided that he'd stop being such a pussy and that next summer he was gonna tell you. 

He had to.

And if, by some miracle, you felt the same way he was going to make enough money to buy you both phones and you would make it work. He'd get his driver's license ASAP and a car and he'd visit you every weekend you weren't in the OBX. Then maybe, if he proved he was good enough for someone as perfect as you, one day you really would have that barefoot beach wedding.

And he wouldn't fish. Wouldn't even think about it. He'd hang out with you the entire time like a good groom is supposed to.

But the next summer, you didn't come back.

At first, JJ thought maybe you were just late. He spent the first week bugging the hell out of John B, asking if he had heard anything about you from his dad.

He tried to act normal about it, but every time a car or bike turned down the road toward the Chateau, he looked up way too fast, heart jumping before sinking again.

By the third week, John B noticed how JJ had been weirdly quiet.

"You okay, man?"

JJ shrugged from where he was sprawled across the hammock. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You've asked where Y/N is a thousand times. And then you mope around when I tell you I have no idea."

"I don't mope."

"You definately do."

"Shut up, JB. I'm fine."

Eventually, John B got the answer from Big John.

"She moved. Like... really far away," he said carefully that evening while the Pogues sat around the firepit.

JJ looked up immediately. "Moved where? How far?"

"Argentina... in South America."

JJ blinked, his heart dropping so hard it actually hurt. "What?"

"Her mom got some teaching job there or something."

Argentina. Not another town or another state... Another country.

"Oh," he said after a second. Then he took another sip of the beer his dad gave him for his birthday and leaned back in his chair like it didn't matter at all.

Everybody exchanged sad looks and nobody called him out on it. But later that night, John B found him sitting alone on the dock long after everyone else went inside.

"You good, bro?"

JJ stared out at nothing, eyes glassy. "Yeah."

"You sure?"

He shrugged again, laughing a little under his breath even though nothing was funny about how he was feeling. "She's just gone, dude."

Just gone. No goodbye. No finding out if his daydreams about her could become reality. No way of contacting her.

Gone.

After that, summers kept happening, as they do.

JJ got older. Girls started looking at him more and he quickly realized exactly what his smile could do to people.

There were plenty of girls who wanted him and of course he gave in eventually, as most teenage boys would, but none of them would ever be you. No kiss would ever feel like or mean as much as the one in the fort you built together.

They tasted like alcohol and smoke instead of chocolate.

They didn't inspire him to do something good with his life or dream about a bright future or give him hope that things could get better.

He wondered if Argentina had beaches or if you were still trying to learn how to surf.

He wondered if you ever thought about that one three second kiss you shared. Or if you even remembered it at all. Thought about him at all.

Still, he never took off that damn shark tooth necklace. Or the bracelet. Or took the old pictures of the two of you out of his nightstand. Or the drawings you gave him or the shells you found just for him.

Or the wrapper of the Hershey's kiss that he snagged off the ground before you left the fort.

Five years later, JJ is eighteen and everybody is at the Chateau other than John B and Big John, who is long gone.

JJ walks out onto the porch shirtless, towel slung over his shoulder, hair damp from the shower he just took.

He lives there now, after his dad left for Yucatan leaving him with absolutely nothing.

Everybody looks at him, suspiciously entertained by something.

"Where's John B?" he asks.

Nobody answers. They just look at each other smiling like a bunch of weirdos.

JJ narrows his eyes as he notices. "Why are you all acting weird?"

"He went to pick something up," Pope says.

Kiara presses her lips together, trying not to laugh at that.

JJ squints at him. "Pick what up?"

"It's a surprise," Kiara replies instantly, smiling way too wide now.

JJ looks between all of them. "What kind of surprise?"

Kiara shrugs. "Can't tell you."

"Why?"

"Because then it ruins it."

"What the hell is going on? ...Is it bad?"

"It's not bad," Pope says, laughing.

"You'll probably be happy about it," Kiara adds. "Honestly you might actually lose your mind."

Sarah and Cleo look between each other, extremely excited, having heard plenty of stories about the two of you.

Now JJ's even more confused. "What does that mean? Is it like... a thing? Food? I– what's going on? Come on, give me somethin'. Please."

Nobody answers, they just keep smiling smugly, throughly enjoying every bit of his torture.

"Ok. Ya'll are stressing me the hell out. But whatever." He plops down in lawn chair, closing his eyes and leaning his head back to dry his hair in the afternoon sun like he's not wracking his brain trying to figure out what this "surprise" could even possibly be.

A few minutes later, everybody perks up immediately and JJ's head whips toward the direction of the driveway as they hear the sound of the Twinkie pulling up.

JJ watches suspiciously as John B climbs out of the driver's seat grinning ear to ear.

Then the passenger door opens and a girl steps out.

JJ's brows raise without meaning to and he sits up a little bit.

She's gorgeous. She might possibly be the prettiest girl he's ever seen. And not in a fancy Kook-y way... just absolutely effortlessly beautiful. Even though he can only see her profile.

He doesn't realize that it's you, although there's something weirdly nostalgic about her that he can't quite put his finger on.

What nobody also told him is that you just moved back to NC.

To Kildaire. 

Permanently.

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[obxsummer]

just friends // ghost of you

pairing: jj maybank x routledge!reader

summary: kie drags you to midsummers, jj leaves you with all kinds of feelings, and john b's sudden decision has you both living under ward cameron's roof without a clue of what's to come.

warnings: reader wears a dress, jj lowkey breaks your heart idk, usual obx!

navigation -- series masterlist

ask me anything

--

Mike and Anna Carrera were well-respected individuals across Kildare. With their family restaurant, The Wreck, bringing in a healthy amount of Pogues, tourists, and Kooks alike, it was a small bridge on the two sides of the island. Anna Carrera had grown up on Figure Eight and intended for her daughter to do the same; she and her husband worked hard for that lifestyle for their family. 

With that being said, they were intimidating as fuck.

As much as she hated it, Kiara Carrera was physically a Kook. That spontaneous, spitfire attitude didn’t just come from a Kook playing Pogue. She had those roots and the drive to back it up. You realized as much as you sat on her bed, watching as Anna Carrera helped pin a flower crown into the girl’s hair. 

“This is disgusting,” Kie commented as she looked at herself in the mirror. The light purple color blended beautifully amongst the blooms pinned in, despite how much she detested it. 

“I know, it’s horrible. I’m asking you to relax and go to a fun party with your friend.” Anna gave you a small smile, her hands unzipping the dress bag to grab another gown out. 

“I look like a bourgeoisie pig,” Kie continued as she turned to face you with a scowl on her face. 

You shrugged slightly in response. Although Kiara was strongly against going to Midsummers, you were excited in a way. It had taken a bit of thought, because you were originally adamant about not coming. A chance to dress up in clothes you’d never afford otherwise and the opportunity to eat all you wanted with no consequence for one night? Please. You had all the time in the world to hate Kooks the rest of the year. 

“Will you please not worry about socioeconomic injustice for one night? You’re killing the mood.” Anna held out the satin gown from the bag, lightly placing it in your hands. “Kie said this should fit. I hope it’s okay.”

The shock rang in your head at the expensive material between your fingers, and you had to remind yourself to nod. “Ye-yes, wow. Thank you, Mrs. Carrera.”

“It’s Anna, sweetheart. And it’s my pleasure. I don’t think I could’ve gotten Kiara to suffer through it if you hadn’t agreed. Plus, Cassandra and I go way back. I promise she’ll take care of everything.”

You nodded in appreciation, mumbled another thanks before dipping into the bathroom to change. The silky fabric was so smooth and soft under your fingers, it almost felt like it would wash away. Not wanting to make anyone late, you quickly changed and rejoined the mother-daughter duo in the other room. 

Kiara’s mom helped with finishing touches and a flower crown of your own before you guys rushed out the door into the waiting SUV, where Mike was in the driver’s seat. The ride over was quick, with chatter and shared stories between the two adults while Kiara tried to not be so negative about the impending event.

The Island Club was pristine upon arrival, and after Mike allowed the valet to take the keys, the four of you made your way through the decorated entrance. Flowers hung off structures, music played somewhere across the lawn, and the smell of food almost made you nauseous with the thought of the options you’d have. 

“Here.” Kiara grabbed your hand, tugging you away from her parents without another word, and you swore you heard her mom sigh at the quick departure. You followed the girl without protest, nearly stumbling at the awkwardness of the heels on your feet. You hadn’t worn them in years, which was obvious to anyone watching.

You caught sight of where her destination was shortly after. Pope and his dad were manning a food station between the two of them, various seafood options being prepped. Kie nudged your shoulder. 

“Excuse me, sir. Do we have to shuck these ourselves?” She faked an English accent and you almost laughed at how bad it was. Pope turned around in annoyance before realizing who was speaking. 

“We would want that now, would we?” A smile formed across his face as he reached out to do a handshake with her. “That accent was bad.”

“I was gonna let it go.”

Pope looked at you, almost with surprise that you were dressed up like everyone else present. “Aren’t you supposed to be working this clown show?”

You nodded, glancing to where Cassandra was bartending. “Kie’s mom worked some magic. I guess Cass’ daughter owes her and is playing me for the night.”

Things with Pope were at a weird in-between. You’d never really talked about what happened at the golf course, so you weren’t sure where everything stood at this point. The air would be cleared eventually, but you didn’t want to do it here, of all places. 

“Hey, have you heard from JJ?”

Pope asked the question that didn’t seem to leave your head. Kiara hadn’t given much information regarding what happened with JJ, just that he had been arrested that morning and nobody had seen him since.  

The girl next to you shook her head. “No. He’ll be alright. He’s got the survival instincts of a cockroach.” 

She wasn’t convincing in the slightest.

“It’s all my fault,” He mumbled, hands fumbling for something on the grill. He clearly was upset about the whole thing, especially because he was the one who pulled the plug. You knew better, though. Paired with their conversation the other day, JJ was the one telling Pope it was the right move, hence the reason he would offer to take the fall. 

“Your fault that Topper and Rafe almost killed you?” You interjected the conversation, folding your arms across your chest. 

The response was interrupted by clapping behind you. Ward Cameron was entering the event, Rose Cameron on his arm, as Sarah and Topper awkwardly trailed behind the two of them.

“Here comes Lord Capital and the Exploiters,” Kie scoffed, her eyes following her ex-best friend as she crossed the porch out of view.

“She’s definitely gonna poke somebody’s eye out with that,” Pope said, referring to the massive spiked crown on Rose’s head. 

You weren’t watching the Cameron adults, though. Instead, your gaze was on Sarah and Topper, who looked like they were having another heated conversation. Whatever was going on with the two of them made you nervous, more on Sarah’s part. She clearly wasn’t fully trusting of Topper based on previous conversations. 

“I’ll be right back.” You left Kiara and Pope without more of an explanation, your course set on the blonde girl who was angrily leaving the porch to get away from Topper. Rose nearly took you out with her crown when her head turned too fast and you ducked to avoid losing an eye. “Sarah!”

She stopped in her step, a smile growing at the sight of you. “Hey! What are you doing here?” She reached forward and pulled you into an unsuspecting hug. 

You welcomed it, regardless. “Kie dragged me, I didn’t even think about you being here, too.”

Sarah smiled. “Yeah, my dad’s being crowned for something, I don’t know. I tried to bail, but it didn’t work out.”

The sun was beginning to dip over the horizon and you took a side step to keep the glare out of your eyes. “Hey, have you heard from John B at all? DCS showed up yesterday, and I haven’t seen him since.”

She opened her mouth to reply and stopped short. You gave her a suspicious look. She sighed, “Yeah, yeah. We um… we went to Chapel Hill together. He wanted to look at documents from Tannyhill, so I got him in the archives.”

You blinked, trying to wrap your mind around the fact that he had gone to the mainland and just didn’t bother to tell you or make sure you were okay first. “Oh.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know-”

You shook your head, interrupting her apology. “It’s not your fault, I just didn’t expect that he would leave without telling me, but um… no worries. Did he say where he was going?”

Sarah gave you a sad smile. “No, we separated at the ferry dock and I’ve been home since. I’m so sorry. Look, do you wanna get some food, or-or a drink?”

Glancing back, Kie was no longer near Pope and you didn’t see her anywhere close. You sighed and turned back to Sarah. “Yeah, some food would be nice.”

--

Sarah proved to be good company as the two of you survived your way through the next few hours until the sky turned dark. You’d eaten your fair share of food and even snuck a few drinks behind the adults’ backs if you were careful. 

“Going back to the Cut is really gonna suck after being here,” You joked as the two of you danced under the fairy lights that were tangled in overhead greenery. 

Sarah laughed, jumping on her feet as the song continued, “Glad you’re enjoying life in my bubble wrap.”

Her sister, Wheezie, twirled her way in between the two of you with a giggle as she nearly collided with Sarah again. You had to give credit; Sarah Cameron was a great sister, and you admired the way she treated the young girl. It made your heart ache for that kind of relationship with your brother, but it was so different for you guys. 

“Mind if I squeeze in here?”

Another figure dipped between you and the two siblings, and you stepped back in shock at the familiar blue eyes staring back at you. “JJ?”

He pressed a finger to his lips, one hand reaching out to grab your waist as the other wrapped around your palm. His fingers slid between yours with ease, like it was meant to be there the whole time, and he gently twirled you in his grasp. 

When his hand settled on your waist again, you caught sight of the bruising around his face. The worst of it was by his left eye and down his cheekbone. His lip was split and scabbed over, his whole face swollen. 

Your lips parted at the scene, right hand moving to just barely brush the injury when he winced. “Sorry,” You whispered, eyes burning at his movement. “Are… are you okay?”

JJ tried to give you a reassuring nod, but you knew better. “Looks worse than it feels, honest. One sec,” He paused to lean an arm against Sarah’s shoulder, pulling the girl’s attention. “I got a, uh, note from Vlad.” He slid a small folded paper into her hand, shushing her surprise before he turned back to you like nothing had happened. 

A small smile formed on your face as you watched him with a softness in your eyes that seemed to only be reserved for him. “I’m really glad you’re here.”

“Didn’t expect to see you here, sunshine,” He teased as the two of you swayed in time with the song. The fabric of your dress was foreign under his hold, and he swore everything around the two of you went silent as he regarded you in this light. 

Everything could be so different if you guys were born on the other side of the island. Events like these, things JJ knew you deserved to experience, would be easy. Taking care of you would be easy, and he wouldn’t feel the need to second-guess everything he did. The two of you could explore a relationship together and he’d make sure he wouldn’t mess up.

But things weren’t that easy, and the Cut held more violence, mistakes, and fuck ups in its future; JJ knew that. He didn’t want to risk that with you near. 

“Oh, if it isn’t the happy couple.” A hand clamped down on JJ’s shoulder and you hated the fear that filled his eyes just for a split second before he realized who was behind him. Rafe Cameron looked pretty smug to interrupt the small moment between you guys as he tugged JJ out of your grip. “I was wondering if you could get me a mai tai my friend?”

“Fuck off, Rafe.” You pulled JJ’s arm gently, the action landing him closer to you so you were between the two boys. “He’s not bothering anyone, so just leave us alone.”

Rafe looked at you with faux belief. “Oh, not bothering anyone? Okay, okay. Except he’s trespassing on private property and quite frankly, he’s disrupting my night. I’m sure the owners would love to know an employee allowed someone to sneak into the biggest night for the Island Club. We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

People were starting to look over at the three of you, especially at Rafe’s loud tone that carried across the space no thanks to his alcohol consumption. You glanced around, suddenly warm with the attention on you as a security guard approached. 

“Is there an issue here?”

“You can’t boot them!” Kiara’s voice ruined any shot at this being handled privately as everyone turned to watch the scene developing before them.

You cursed to yourself as JJ reached over and downed someone’s drink, definitely not helping the situation. The security guard didn’t hesitate to grab onto him, and you moved right when the action got too aggressive. “Let him go!”

“I invited them here, I’m a member of this club.”

JJ whistled, pulling your attention back to him as he reached out for your hand. You took it without question, nearly dodging Rafe’s outburst when he started yelling for security to kick JJ out. The two of you took off running, a smile on your face as you let him guide the way. 

“Rixon’s Cover, mandatory power hour. Let’s roll!” He pointed to Pope as the two of you passed by him, Kiara jumping off the porch to follow.

JJ continued to lead you away from the building chaos behind you and it was then you noticed John B waiting near the HMS Pogue that was docked in the water. He seemed unharmed, with fresh clothes and a huge smile on his face at whatever mess JJ had just caused. 

“Captain.”

“Mission accomplished, sir.”

The two boys saluted each other and you rolled your eyes. Arms crossed over your chest and a straight disappointment on your face, you waited for John B to turn to you. He winced. “Hi.”

“Hi? DCS shows up, you disappear for almost two days, and your only response is ‘hi’?” You seethed.

John B ran a hand through his hair. “Okay, listen, I promise I’ll explain everything just-”

Kiara whooped as she collided with JJ’s back, the blond boy catching her easily and spinning the two of them. Something ugly bubbled in your chest and you looked away before your face read your emotions. 

A quick ride on the HMS Pogue landed the five of you at Rixon’s Cove and the boys went to work getting a bonfire started. You and Kiara settled along the small seating area, the heat helping the evening chill that was setting in. 

“Hey guys, so like… my dad’s already gonna kill me. So what’s this mandatory meeting about?” Pope asked as he threw another log in the fire to keep it going. 

JJ looked over at your brother, who looked like he was hiding the secret of a lifetime. “Might as well tell him, man, before we’re gaffed.”

John B settled into his seat. “So, the gold never went down with the Royal Merchant.”

You rolled your eyes. “Oh, my God. Here we go again.”

“We searched the ship, there was nothing there-"

“It’s been here the whole time.” John B’s comment shut Pope’s argument down immediately and the older boy had everyone’s attention again. “It’s on the island.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’d like to voice my skepticism.”

“I’m sure you would, Pope, but can I present you with my evidence, sir?”

Pope looked unamused but waved at your brother to continue. “Proceed.”

John B shifted to unzip the backpack at his feet. “Alright, so. In my backpack, I have a letter from Denmark Tanny.”

“Who the hell’s that?”

“Denmark Tanny was a slave that survived the Royal Merchant wreck, check this out,” John B explained as he unraveled a piece of worn paper. “Okay, slaves weren’t mentioned as crew members on the ship, but my dad found the complete manifest. That was his big discovery. So Tanny used the gold from the Merchant to buy his freedom. After that, he bought his farm. Drumroll, please, because that farm is…Tannyhill Plantation.”

Kiara scowled at the name as she passed the paper off to Pope. “Tannyhill?”

John B was quick to ignore her. “Yeah, so after that, he used his money to free even more slaves and then he sold a shit-ton of rice, which pisses off all the white planters, and then, they decide to lynch him. So on the day they were coming to get him, he writes a letter to his son as a farewell, and in the last line of that letter, he leaves a coded message about where to find the gold.”

You gave John B a slightly annoyed look. “Where?” You whispered in faux suspense.

“Harvest the wheat in parcel nine, near the water.”

“Is that supposed to mean something to us?” You replied, leaning back on your hands as you stared up at your brother. 

He frowned at your question. “You know, I don’t like your attitude.”

“And I don’t like long-winded explanations, can you hurry up, bro?”

John B sighed, ignoring you for now. “You see, wheat is code for gold. Check this out.” He walked toward Pope to hold another paper side by side as proof. 

Pope stared at it a moment with his flashlight before murmuring, “Holy shit.”

“All we need is an original survey map of the property, and we’ve found the gold,” John B finally concluded as Kiara laughed in disbelief. 

“Okay, so this might have a small chance of being actually true,” Pope admitted as he scanned the two sheets in his hand. 

“I’m a genius, hey, whoa!” JJ wrapped John B in a massive hug, lifting your brother off his feet. “Hello, fire, fire. You’re near fire, you’re gonna burn.”

“I’m so proud of you right now.”

“Thank you, that’s really sweet of you.”

You shook your head at their exchange. “Okay, so what’s the plan?” 

John B pointed at you as JJ returned him to the ground. “Good question. Sarah Cameron’s coming tonight. She’ll bring an original survey map-”

“Hold on,” Kiara interrupted, “Sarah? Wh-why Sarah?”

You smirked as John B got all flustered and tried to scramble for an excuse. “Um…”

JJ took a seat next to you and pulled his hat from his head before running his fingers through his hair. “This is gonna be good.”

“Sarah, um, she… got me into the archives in Chapel Hill yesterday. That’s where I got the letter.”

“You were in Chapel Hill with Sarah Cameron?” Kiara repeated in shock as she stared up at him.

“Yeah, um-”

“He was mackin’ on her,” JJ added to no avail. You squeezed his knee warningly and he let out a soft laugh 

“I wasn’t macking.”

“You were totally macking Sarah Cameron,” You joined in with a knowing smile as JJ nudged you back.

“I wasn’t macking on her, okay? I was using her for access.”

“There was access, all right.”

Kiara glared at John B. “Did you tell her about the treasure?”

“I was trying to get into the archives?”

“Is that a yes?”

“I left out key details!”

“Yo, what?!” Kiara was yelling now, her frustration very evident as she went eye to eye with John B. “You let a Kook in on our secret? What about Pogue Lyfe, what about the t-shirt company, bro?”

John B raised his hands in defense. “I was just using her for information!”

Kie’s expression dropped. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“I’m trying to make us filthy rich here! Okay? So we can pay off the boat or, or, uh, send you to autopsy school to study dead bodies. Look, you guys know me. Do I look like the type of person to fall for Sarah Cameron?”

You looked up at John B with a sly smile. “Do you really want us to answer that, or…”

“Just, just stop.”

“Look, you don’t know her yet. I do! You can’t trust her!” Kiara argued.

“Her brother did hit me in the back with a golf club,” Pope added as he glanced over at you. 

You winced and leaned forward to place your elbows on your knees. “Rafe and Sarah are different human beings.”

“You’re helping him?” Kie nearly screamed, motioning her hand out toward John B as she looked at you in shock. 

“Oh, they’re best friends now,” Pope pointed to you. “Yeah, she went to a party with Sarah Cameron and all her Kook friends the other night.”

“What!”

You sighed, a hand covering your face. “Not helping, Pope.”

“What is wrong with you two?”

“Okay, we’re not done discussing that, but what exactly did she do to you?” JJ’s question was directed toward Kie, and you were grateful for the change of attention. 

“She’s like a spitting cobra. First, she-she blinds you, and then-”

“This is a bad analogy.”

Kie groaned loudly, “Listen to me! Whatever we get, she’s gonna try to take. You have to believe me.”

John B was looking at you, though. “You went to a party?!” 

“Dude, chill out,” You grumbled back in annoyance, frustrated that this was suddenly your fault. “I went to a party, had a few drinks, and we left, okay? Nothing happened! Sarah was nice to me, I had a good time, and I came home.”

You turned to Pope. “And I’m sorry for what happened on the course that day, but it wasn’t my fault. And I know getting involved with the Kooks is a bad idea, but she feels like a friend to me. Is that such a bad thing, for me to be included for once in someone’s life, for someone to want to spend time with me?”

An awkward, heavy silence fell over the group, and you let your head drop to your hands, mumbling to yourself that they should go back to arguing without you. 

“Look, what’s done is done.” Pope broke the silence, part of him feeling guilty for giving you such a hard time over Rafe’s comment that day at the Island Club. “We have to move forward. If she has the plat map, we need it. That’s the next step, whether we like it or not.”

“Thank you, Pope,” John B replied and set his hands on his hips. “Can we manage that?”

Kie scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

She got to her feet, brushing the back of her dress for any debris before she started toward where the Twinkie was parked a few feet up. JJ was right next to her, an arm tossed over her shoulder as they spoke. Pope shuffled a few feet behind, still trying to read through the papers John B had given him. 

“Spare me,” You sighed and crossed your arms over your chest before looking up at your brother. “I’m not going to apologize for any of that.”

John B shrugged his shoulders lightly. “Wouldn’t expect you to. Are you okay?”

The question was a loaded one, unfortunately. Your shoulders were tense, and you couldn’t help but look back over where JJ was opening the door for Kiara and holding out a hand to help her in. “Fine.”

John B followed your gaze, catching the moment for himself. “Do…”

“Doesn’t matter,” You whispered and looked down at the fabric covering your legs. The last few days had been emotionally exhausting, and you just wanted to go home. Tears burned your eyes, and you took a shaky breath to keep from falling apart completely. “I just wanna go home, John B.”

For a moment, John B didn’t know what to do. Things had certainly been rocky between the two of you for so long, and you’d made a habit of hiding any vulnerability from him in return. It’d been a while since you turned to him for comfort or were honest about the way you were feeling. He wasn’t sure whether to hug you or keep his distance.

John B wasn’t blind. He knew you and JJ had always been close in a different way than the others. He never really expected it to be anything serious. I mean, JJ flirted with practically anything that had a heartbeat.

But now that he was thinking, JJ hadn’t brought home a hookup the entire summer, which definitely wasn’t like him. And you were more attached to him than you normally were, seeking physical contact in ways you hadn’t before. 

John B pulled himself from the thoughts before he got in too deep. 

“Look, it’ll be fine.” He didn’t know if he was convincing himself or you more. 

You nearly screamed at the uncertainty and lack of comfort from him. You hoped getting more involved with this treasure hunt would slowly mend your relationship, but you were starting to doubt that. Once again, you were left to pick the pieces up by yourself. 

“Yeah.” 

John B watched as you walked away, cursing to himself that he should’ve done more, but didn’t say another word and made his way to the Twinkie. 

--

The drive to Hawk’s Nest was awkward and filled with silence, which was not normal for the van. You had tucked yourself in the passenger seat, leaving JJ, Kie, and Pope in the back as John B drove. You had nothing to say, and evidently, Kiara was too angry to engage in any conversation, so the boys tried to talk amongst themselves.

“Let’s go, boys. A little recon mission,” JJ announced as he tossed open the back door when the van came to a stop. 

John B turned the key in the ignition. “Yo, uh…so I think I’m gonna do this one by myself…” He tried to sound confident in his words, eyes meeting Kiara’s as a point. The girl just rolled hers in return and settled back against the seat cushion.

“Really?”

“What?”

“Nothin’,” JJ replied and sank back to the floor without another word. Thunder rumbled in the distance, as if mocking the group’s turmoil. 

John B didn’t like the lack of enthusiasm. “I just don’t wanna spook Sarah with the circus.”

“I just don’t understand why we’re involving her at all,” Kiara commented with irritation. 

Your brother laughed like it was obvious. “Kie, we’re not involving her, okay? It’s, it’s just uh, like a business meeting.”

You tuned out the conversation, eyes drifting to the lightning in the sky before thunder rattled the air again. Summer storms were always your favorite. The shift in the air, the way the insects and animals reacted, and it was a great soundtrack to soothe your racing thoughts. You just wished you could be curled up under the blankets of your bedroom instead.

John B’s door closed after a few minutes of arguing from his friends, and then silence resumed. You sighed, sinking deeper into the seat as you rested your feet on the dashboard, dress falling across your skin softly with the motion. Tonight felt like a fever dream and you really wished it would end soon. 

“Care to comment, princess?” 

The nickname made your mouth sour ever since Rafe started referring to you like that. You didn’t bother to open your eyes at JJ’s attempt to drag you into their conversation. “Nope.”

The next few minutes went on just like that, with JJ and Pope trying to reason with Kiara to your amusement, and the girl denying all attempts. Rain was starting to fall across the windshield as the sky shifted angrily. 

It wasn’t until a shout filtered through your ears that you opened your eyes to look around. Lightning lit the surrounding area and your body went cold. “Shut up.”

The back of the van went silent, JJ whispering a small what as thunder followed. 

“Please, somebody help!”

The passenger door flew open and you took off barefoot at Sarah’s scream, not bothering to see if the other Pogues were following. You rounded the corner from the open field to see the blonde girl kneeling over your brother, her hands cradling his head as she spoke. 

“Sarah! What happened?” You kneeled on John B’s other side, your hand grabbing his shoulder as he groaned in pain. His eyes were closed, but he was moving slightly. 

“I don’t know what to do, he needs help. Topper shoved him,” She sobbed as she looked at you.

“Where the hell is he?” JJ’s anger took over instantly as he scanned the area for the boy in question. 

“JJ!” You shouted, pulling his focus back to the issue at hand. “Go!”

The fear in your voice was enough to send him and Pope both running to get someone without another word. Your hands were shaking as you sat back on your heels. There was no blood, which was a good sign, but you were worried he could be paralyzed or bleeding somewhere you couldn’t see. 

“John B, please,” Sarah cried, leaning down to kiss him softly. 

You froze in shock but told yourself now wasn’t the time to ask. Kiara nearly choked on air, staring at the duo in either disgust or surprise, but even she stayed quiet.   

The next few hours passed in a blur as you found yourself in the back of an ambulance next to John B, soaking up every word the EMTs and doctors murmured. Sarah met you at the hospital somewhere in between, the Pogues taking the Twinkie with them as you sat in the stiff plastic chair. 

A concussion, broken wrist, and dehydration were repeating in your head as you listened to the heart rate monitor beep consistently next to John B’s bed. Sarah was by his side, her hand in his as her thumb brushed over his knuckles. 

John B had woken up a little bit in the hours between before drifting back to sleep with the help of some pretty strong painkillers. You watched, numb, as people entered and exited in a constant loop to check in on him and explain more details that you would probably forget about. 

Sarah had stayed quiet, the two of you in an understanding silence as the night turned to morning and sunlight filtered through the blinds. You had been hesitant to bring John B here, only pausing with the consideration that DCS would show up at the first notice of his name in the ER.

But this was John B, and you’d rather have him alive and DCS to fight than risk his life. 

“Hi.” Her soft voice made you look up to see John B’s head moving slightly on the pillow.  

“Hi,” He whispered in return, his voice raspy with the lack of use. “Where am I?”

“St. Olive’s,” She answered, “You fell from the Hawk’s Nest. You have a concussion and a broken wrist.”

John B blinked slowly, adjusting to the light before he held his left arm up where a navy cast had been placed. “Whoa.”

“Pretty cool,” Sarah joked with a smile. 

You watched the interaction with a slight pain in your chest. You had been a mess of fucking anxiety all night, and here your brother was, sleepily flirting with Sarah Cameron. 

“I need to get outta here.” John B shifted on the bed and finally caught sight of you. “DCS is gonna find me-”

You looked so small curled up in the chair with a ratty hospital blanket across your shoulders. The emotions had definitely taken their toll on you, with teary eyes and dark circles filling your face; John B knew you weren’t okay. 

“Hang on, there.”

Glancing over, you saw Ward Cameron enter the room in a button-up and slacks like he had an agenda. Sarah had stepped out of the room earlier to call him and update him on where she was, but you never expected him to show up. 

“Sarah told me everything,” He began, eyes looking between the two of you before he approached John B’s side. “About your little adventure, about you running from the DCS, about how you were protecting her in the tower. John, I believe I owe you an apology. You were honest with me about a small indiscretion, and I went ahead and fired you anyway. Unfortunately, from time to time, I have a bit of a…short fuse. Ask her.”

Sarah gave a small nod, slightly joking when she said, “It’s true.”

“I’d like to make up for it, if you’ll let me. I spoke with Sheriff Peterkin, and I’ve offered to be your legal guardian if you’ll both have me.”

Your heart fell to your ass as you took in the words. Ward Cameron, suddenly wanting to be your legal guardian? It felt wrong, it felt deliberate, and you weren’t going to trust it for a second. 

“What?”

“It’d mean a roof over your head and no more runnin’ from the DCS. We can get more into specifics if needed, I just wanted to offer first and foremost.”

“Mr. Cameron, no offense, but you don’t really know us,” You spoke up from your spot, pulling the attention to you. “That’s a lot to offer for some kids across the island.”

Ward nodded. “I understand your concern there, but I promise I mean this wholeheartedly. Sarah told me the two of you are becoming friends and your brother has worked for me for a decent time. Plus, I used to do business with your old man. I think he would be happy to know you two had a trusted adult taking care of you.”

Your gaze flickered to John B’s, but there was no point. He was staring at Sarah with soft eyes and you knew all he was thinking about was being closer to her. 

“John B, can we talk about this?” 

He looked back to you, almost surprised that you were hesitant to agree. “I mean, I don’t-”

“I promise you guys can still have your freedoms. We’ll have some ground rules set, but nothing too crazy. I am pretty flexible on most things, John.”

Head clouded with the sight of the girl ahead of him, John B didn’t even look at you before nodding. “Sure, yeah. Uh…that sounds good.”

“Welcome to the family.”

You wondered if anyone could hear your heart crack in your chest across the room.

--

a/n: muhahhaha this one was fun to write

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[maybebanks]

Nothing Ever Happened

JJ Maybank x Routledge!Reader

angsty ⚠️violence

It was the first time you’ve been out on the Pogue since your father had been officially pronounced lost at sea. Or in other words, dead.

Your brother, John B hadn’t taken it well. After all, you heard them fighting the day he took all of your rent money and disappeared.

“You’re a shit father!”

Your father didn’t stop packing his things, “I’m gonna have to disappear for a while, bird,” Big John spoke.

“Dad?” You said groggily from just waking up, “please don’t leave,”

He stood by the door and nodded down, “don’t worry kids, it’ll be like nothing ever happened,”

“Whatcha thinking about?” JJ nudged you back to reality.

The wind was blowing your hair in all directions, when you turned to him, your hair blew in your face.

JJ laughed and helped brush it aside.

“Nothing,” you shrugged, “just that I missed the boat,”

He nods, “and she missed you.”

You rolled your eyes. JJ always thought boats had feelings, ever since you met him in the third grade.

Kie sat next to you and JJ, “have y’all thought of what we’re going to do this summer?”

“I’m cool with anything. You know, except getting arrested,” Pope added.

JJ smirks, “if I can teach Y/n to talk her way out of a crime, I can help ya dodge the cops,”

“What crime, exactly, Y/n?” John B asked, he was steering the boat.

“Uhh well you know, the usual,” you brush off.

“Actually I don’t know. Enlighten me,” he had a little sass in his voice, Kie just laughed.

“Smoking weed, baby,” JJ chuckled, fumbling with his zippo lighter.

“JJ! You snitch!” You shouted, slapping him on the shoulder.

“I ain’t no snitch! What’s wrong with smoking weed?” JJ asked.

At this, John B tackled JJ but JJ weasels his way on top. John B laughs and Pope hops on the pile. Kie follows and finally you join the laughing group.

After the sun starts to hide it’s face, the group heads back.

Kie and Pope head home to their loving, and most likely, worried parents. And you and John B head inside the Chateau while JJ prepares a fire outside.

He would probably spent the night with you. You knew about JJ’s home life. :(

When you walked inside to grab something to eat, you noticed John B, touching his hand to a picture of Big John hanging on the wall.

You sighed, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, “I miss him too,” you said.

“No one misses him more than I do,” John B muttered. It wasn’t meant to offend you, he just knew where you stood.

He broke a promise to you. You really believed he was gone, for good.

“You know dad wouldn’t want this. I’m worried about DCS...nothing can fix this,”

“We’re fine, Y/n/n,” he said bitterly.

“What if they split us up-“

“They won’t,” John B stated.

You scoffed, “and anyway, John B? I miss him just as much as you do,” you added. You were trying to leave, maybe check on JJ, until John B ignited the argument.

John B shrugged your hand off of him, “yeah. When he comes back I’ll be sure to tell him that,”

Your mouth went dry, you knew it was hopeless to argue with John B, he didn’t want to believe the fact of it all.

“When are you going to get it in your thick skill, he’s not coming back!” You exclaimed, the subject angered you, and John B never listened.

“Shut up!” He shouted shoving your shoulders back with force, it wasn’t enough to nock you off your feet.

“John B-“

“Where’s your proof huh?! I didn’t get a body! We didn’t have a damn funeral!” he rebuked.

“He left us. He chose to leave. I don’t know how he died, but he’s that. Dead,”

John B snapped, he stood closer to you again and swung a punch towards your cheek.

You finched and couldn’t avoid the impact, your cheek stung and you stumbled back.

John B’s eyes filled with tears, he grabbed your arm harshly and pulled you closer to him, “the last time I saw that man, I told him he was a shit father,”

“Ow, Bird stop,” you pleaded, whimpers evident in your voice. You haven’t called him bird since your father was alive, you and Big John used that nick name with love. But looking into John B’s eyes you saw nothing but anger.

“Hey, whoa what’s going on?” You heard a blurred voice ask frantically from the door. But John B didn’t seem to hear as he swung again, forcing you down to the ground.

You yelped quietly. John B was about to begin another blow. But JJ rushed in and pulled John B by his shirt.

“Yo! What the fuck is your problem?!!” JJ shouted, forcing John B against the wall. JJ was angry, and confused on why John B would strike his own sister.

John B struggled against JJ, but when his eyes met JJs, they watered just enough to let tears fall, then you looked to you. Still breathing heavily on the floor.

John B saw what he had done, “oh shit,” he mumbled.

“Get out John B. Wait outside. Just-just cool off bro,” JJ suggested.

John B only nodded, giving you an apologetic look before leaving to head outside.

Once he was gone, JJ walked slowly over to you.

“Hey, you okay?” JJ began, his voice was soft and sweet.

You coughed slightly, “y-yeah. I-um..I’m okay,” you’d studdered. You attempted to get up on your own. But your legs and arms felt numb.

“Y/n, let me help you up,” JJ placed a hand on your waist and helped your hand land in his.

He picked you up slowly, when you finally looked him in the eye. Your eyes burned with tears, you fell into JJs chest and instantly, he wrapped his arms around you.

You whimpered and cried as you held onto JJ’s T-shirt. He rubbed your back, whispering, “it’s okay...you’re okay,”

“Why would be do that? I just want him to stop being so hopeful. Dad’s gone,” you cried.

“He’s grieving, Y/n. It’s not your fault, you hear me?” JJ asked.

You squeezed him tighter, “do you think he’s gone for good?” You asked.

“Who? Big John?” JJ asked.

“Yeah. Do..do you think John B is right? Or-“

“Y/n let’s not worry about that now. You’ve got some bruises coming in,” JJ points out.

You frown, “you know how to fix me?”

“Lucky for you, I am an expert,”

—

THANKS FOR READING

PART 2

MY JJ MASTERLIST

[0bsess3d]

I have chapter one of a JJ x Routledge!Reader x OC fanfic series finished and idk if i want to post it or not. im not sure if I have enough ideas to continue the series but if you guys want to see it I may post it.

[obxsummer]

Gut Feeling // The Pogues

as john b's younger sibling, it was your job to make sure he didn't do anything too stupid. when he leaves with ward to go on a fishing trip, you find out just how cruel the cameron family can be... little did you know john b was finding out the exact same thing.

john b x gn!sibling!reader, platonic!pogues

warnings: the usual shitty cameron parenting, verbal threatening, no use of y/n, tried to keep things gender-neutral but let me know if I missed something!

a/n: sorry if things are out of character, I couldn't really find a way to make this flow the way I wanted. thanks for your patience with this request anon!

navigation 

--

John B getting pushed off the Hawk’s Nest was definitely not on your bingo board for this year. Ward Cameron offering to be your legal guardian on top of that wasn’t even a thought in your mind. So what the hell was going on?

Your bond with your older brother, John B, was unshakable. Only a year separated you in age, yet your connection ran much deeper than that. You were best friends as kids, guardians of each other's secrets, and steadfast anchors in each other's lives. Everything only became more intense when your father disappeared. 

Sharing friends was expected, as well as the fact that where there was one of you, the other wasn’t far behind. Everyone in OBX knew the Routledge siblings traveled as a pack alongside their friends. 

Topper shoving John B off the ridiculously tall spot created more than just sprained joints and concussions. Sarah told her dad, and to your dismay, Ward Cameron, was suddenly in front of you, offering to be your legal guardian.

The offer hung heavy in the air as the older man dismissed himself for the two of you to take some time. The expression on your face must have said everything since John B instantly tried to assure you. "Listen, I know you're skeptical, but we're running out of options here. Ward can help us."

You stared out the window, a mix of worry and doubt tugging at your heart. "I don't trust him, John B. There's something off about him." The idea of being in Figure Eight, away from your friends, was terrifying. 

John B let out a heavy sigh, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I get that feeling too, but we need his help. We need to keep DCS off our backs. Nobody said we had to stay there all the time. It’s just a cover."

Despite your hesitation, you nodded, knowing that he had the right idea. The bond between you and John B was your anchor, and you were willing to trust him, even if the circumstances were far from comforting. “I’ll go where you go, JB. But I really have a bad feeling about this.”

--

Moving into the Cameron house was extremely awkward. The walls felt unfamiliar, and Ward's presence seemed to loom over you. The first change came when you and John B were assigned separate bedrooms, a decision that made your unease grow.

Standing hesitantly in the doorway of your new room, you looked at John B with a mixture of concern. "Why can't we share a room?"

Ward exchanged a glance with John B, and the unspoken conversation between them only fueled your anxiety. Was this John B’s decision? "It's important for both of you to have your own space," Ward said, his voice carrying a hint of finality. “Gives you time to grow in your own way. You don’t share a room at home now, do you?”

“I’d feel a lot better by him,” You replied without any regard for your ungrateful attitude. It seemed like Ward was doing a great job at driving a wedge between you and your brother. And even though you did have your own rooms at the Chateau, being separated here felt much worse. Usually, there was just a wall between you, not three hallways, a set of stairs, and locked doors. 

“We can share a room, Mr. Cameron, it’s really no-”

“You will have separate rooms. That is final. I already have a lot on my plate getting you two adjusted, please don’t make it harder.”

As night fell, the unfamiliarity of your surroundings only intensified your discomfort. Unable to bear the thought of being separated from John B, you found yourself sneaking into his room. The floor became your refuge, a makeshift bed where you sought solace in his proximity.

Your unease didn’t disappear overnight. The gold was still waiting to be pulled out of the well and when Ward interfered with the plans for that too, your anxiety resurfaced. You couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

You had been standing awkwardly on the sidewalk when Ward approached John B and Sarah to bring up the idea. He finally acknowledged your presence. "This trip is just for John B and me. Some bonding time while we talk things out, man to man about dating my daughter…"

John B leaned over, ruffling your hair affectionately even though he wasn't a major fan of this himself. "It's just fishing, Birdie. I'll be back before you know it." He could tell you didn’t like being here by yourself and he didn’t blame you. “Plus, Sarah will be here. You guys could hang out?”

Despite his attempt to reassure you, the feeling of unease clung to you like a second skin. "Promise you'll call if anything goes wrong?"

John B's eyes softened as he nodded. "I promise. Can always hang with JJ and them too, you know. Figure out some plans.”

He hinted toward what you were supposed to be doing the following morning: pulling the gold out. 

With a heavy heart, you watched them head out to the dock the next morning. It felt so silly to be worried about being alone without John B. You retreated to your room, the morning sun casting golden rays across the floor, hoping for the best.

Minutes dragged on like an eternity as you cowered in the suffocating darkness of the room. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of leaves outside, sent shivers down your spine. The air was heavy with fear, your heart beating in a frantic rhythm as the minutes ticked by.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and your heart jumped into your throat. Ward's sinister smile greeted you, his presence casting a shadow that seemed to engulf the room. 

“What are you doing here?” You asked, confused by his presence. “Where’s John B?”

He completely ignored your question and threw the light on as he stepped closer. "I think we need to have a little chat."

“Don’t touch me!” Your breath caught in your throat, and you stumbled back off the bed, your hands pressing against the closet wall as if it could shield you from the threat before you. His grip on your arm was like a vise, cold and unyielding, as he pulled you into the dimly lit room. 

"You see, I have a problem here," Ward hissed, his eyes locking onto yours with a predatory intensity, "Your father thought he could outsmart me from the gold. I killed him for it. You and your brother don’t stand a chance, especially if I take you out one by one…but just how do I go about it?"

As he spoke, his words were a twisted dance of intimidation. His threats were like icy daggers, each word digging deeper into your psyche, igniting a firestorm of panic. The room felt like a cage, and you were trapped in its suffocating grasp.

Your heart raced, your breathing shallow as your mind raced to find an escape route. The weight of his words bore down on you. The room seemed to close in on you, the walls narrowing as Ward's presence loomed over you. Your dad. Ward Cameron killed your dad.

Before you could respond, the door swung open, and another figure entered the room—Rose Cameron. Her demeanor was cold and calculating, her eyes scanning you with an unsettling intensity.

Ward's gaze flickered between you and Rose, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You remember Rose, right?"

You felt a knot of unease tighten in your stomach. Rose's presence seemed to amplify the danger, and you couldn't shake off the feeling that you were trapped in a spider's web.

Rose's voice was silky, her smile masking an undercurrent of manipulation. "Ward and I are only concerned for your well-being, sweetie. We want what's best for you. You don’t have to worry about going back to the Cut ever again, okay?"

The words felt like a strong hand tightening around your throat, and you backed away, your heart racing as you tried to maintain some semblance of control. "I don't need your concern, I need my brother."

Ward's laugh was chilling, his amusement a stark contrast to the terror that gripped you. "John B’s gone. Why do you think I took him out on the boat? Easier access to dump the body where someone won’t find it."

A wave of panic crashed over you, and you instinctively turned to flee, only to find Rose blocking your path. The realization struck you like a lightning bolt—this was a trap, and you were caught in their twisted game.

Before you could react, Ward lunged forward, his grip like a vice as he forced you into the closet. The sound of the lock clicking shut sent a shock of terror through your veins, and you pounded on the door, desperation fuelling your efforts.

"Let me out! Let me out of here!" Your voice cracked with fear, each thud against the door a desperate plea for escape. “John B!”

From the other side of the door, you heard Ward's voice, his tone taunting. "You're not going anywhere. This is where you'll learn your place. And stay quiet until we finish digging out the gold. Actually, thank you. Without your help, we wouldn’t have even gotten this far."

The reality of your situation hit you like a ton of bricks. Trapped, alone, and at the mercy of their manipulation, you felt a surge of panic rise within you. You were a pawn in their game, a helpless victim in a twisted power play. And they knew about the gold.

As you sat in the darkness, the silence was deafening, broken only by your ragged breaths. The taste of fear lingered on your tongue, and you knew that escaping this nightmare would require every ounce of strength you possessed.

You waited until silence covered the house before slamming your body against the closet door. Pain radiated through your shoulder, but you remembered JJ’s direction on kicking a door out before putting it to practice as best as you could.

The adrenaline coursing through your veins was a lifeline, propelling you forward as you lunged for the door and finally broke the lock free. Panic fed your speed, and your heart pounded in your chest as you burst into the hallway, your breath ragged and harsh.

As you fled down the corridor, the taste of freedom was tantalizingly close. You turned a corner, your pulse racing, and then… silence. Panic surged as you realized you were trapped in a dead-end hallway, the walls closing in on you like a vise.

Footsteps echoed ominously behind you, and you whirled around to see Rafe's approaching shadow—no time to spare. Your heart hammered in your chest, and desperation surged within you. With a gasp, you spotted the open doors to the upstairs balcony. Adrenaline-fueled strength carried you forward, and you sprinted toward them. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Rafe’s voice taunted as he started to round the corner. You pushed yourself over the balcony rail and tried your best to hang on as you slowly slide down the column to the ground. Until you lost grip, that is.

The world outside spun in a blur of green and blue, and your body collided with the ground, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through your limbs. Dazed and disoriented, you scrambled to your feet, your breath coming in ragged gasps. 

Rafe's voice echoed behind you, but you didn’t dare look back. 

The sound of your own breath, the rustling leaves, and the pounding of your heart filled your senses as you ran. You thanked JJ for dragging you through these paths as kids so you never got lost by yourself. 

And then, suddenly, your foot caught on a root, and you were tumbling, colliding with something solid. Pain radiated through your limbs as you groaned, disoriented and breathless. You looked up, blinking away tears, only to find yourself staring into a pair of familiar eyes.

"Birdie?" John B's voice was a mixture of disbelief and concern as he rushed to your side, his hands reaching out to steady you.

Your heart raced, emotions swirling within you as you tried to process what was happening. Your eyes widened in panic, and your hands shot up defensively, a guttural gasp escaping your lips as you stumbled back.

John B's expression shifted from surprise to a gentle concern, his voice cautious. "Hey, it's me, it’s me. You're safe. I'm here."

The flood of emotions was overwhelming, and your chest heaved as you struggled to catch your breath. Slowly, you lowered your hands, your vision clearing enough for you to see your brother's worried eyes, the deep lines of concern etched into his forehead.

"John B?" Your voice trembled, a mixture of disbelief and relief coursing through your veins. “You’re alive?”

He nodded, his voice soothing as he extended a hand toward you. "Yeah, it's me. You're okay now."

You felt your legs give way, the tension and fear of the past hours finally catching up with you. John B caught you, his arms wrapping around you protectively as he eased you to sit. He held you close, the warmth of his embrace grounding you in reality.

As the tears spilled over, you clung to him as if he were the lifeline you had desperately needed. He whispered reassurances as he held you close, reminding you that you were with him and everything was fine.

Gasping for breath, you clung to John B as if he were your anchor in the storm. Tears streaked down your face, your voice trembling as you struggled to find the words to explain the terror you had just experienced.

"John B, I… I couldn't stay there. Ward…" You choked on the words, your voice a fragile whisper. “He said you were dead.”

John B's arms tightened around you as he gently brushed a strand of hair away from your face. "Shhh, take your time. Just tell me what happened."

Taking a deep breath, you began recounting what had just happened—how Ward had cornered you, the sinister threats that were enough for you to kick a door out, and the desperate flight through the woods. As you spoke, you finally let your shoulders sag in relief. Your brother was okay.

John B's grip on you tightened even further, his voice shaky when he realized how fucked up this whole thing was. "He attacked me on the boat. Said he was the reason Dad is gone and… he-he tried to get me to share the gold with him - lashed out when I said no."

As the reality of the situation settled in when you didn’t answer, John B's protective instinct kicked into high gear. He helped you to your feet, his gaze never leaving yours. "Are you hurt? Did he… did he touch you?"

You shook your head. "I'm okay. He didn't… he didn't hurt me."

John B's features softened with relief, but his anger remained simmering beneath the surface. "We're getting out of here. Right now. Let’s go find the others."

Your friends were waiting at the Chateau when you arrived. They attempted to share their progress with the tools to remove the gold but you and your brother moved past them wordlessly

Kiara, Pope, and JJ filed into the house instantly. "Guys? What's going on?" Kiara's voice carried a note of worry. It only got worse when JJ got shoved aside by your brother. “John B!”

John B's gaze darted around the room, his eyes finally settling on yours before he looked away, his jaw clenched tightly. Without a word, he made his way past your friends, his steps determined as he headed for the door, this time with JJ’s gun in his hand.

“Where are you going?” You screamed after him in shock and ran onto the porch. This was not what you figured he would do. 

John B ignored your shouts and kicked JJ’s dirt bike to life before speeding off with no explanation.

JJ exchanged a confused glance with the others. "What's up with him?"

You groaned and flopped on the couch, the heaviness of the truth threatening to consume you. "Ward... Ward killed Big John."

The room fell into stunned silence, the weight of your words hanging heavily in the air. Kiara, Pope, and JJ stared at you in shock, their expressions a mix of disbelief and horror.

JJ's voice was barely a whisper. "What?"

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as the memories flooded back, the pain of the past resurfacing with a vengeance. "He was investigating something about the Royal Merchant, and Ward killed him when he wouldn't agree to share the gold."

Pope's voice was filled with anger and disbelief. "That son of a..."

Kiara's hand covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh, my god."

As the truth settled in, the room seemed to close in around you, suffocating you with its weight. John B's abrupt departure on the dirt bike now carried a new layer of meaning—if he killed Ward, they would turn this all on your brother.

Hours passed, each moment heavy with the weight of the revelation. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a somber glow across the Chateau. No one spoke, the tension growing with every passing minute.

Kiara eventually got up to grab you something to eat in hopes of calming your nerves. You appreciated the gesture but as you huddled together between JJ and Pope, the reality of the situation began to sink in. 

What the fuck were you going to do now?

--

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read my outer banks x the summer i turned pretty crossover

[obxsummer]

Revelations // Ghost of You

pairing: jj maybank x fem!routledge!reader

summary: obx's annual bonfire is here and for the pogues, that means throwing punches and shotgunning some beers. except, this time there's vicious arrows, sarah's back on the cut, and you're dragged back into your own personal hell.

warnings: suicidal thoughts, angst, panic attacks, cursing, the usual

a/n: i love me some angst baby WHOOP WHOOP

navigation -- series masterlist

--

Hushed whispers were hard to avoid while you moved from table to table at the Wreck. Sure, you had grown used to avoiding the negative comments as best as possible, but Ward Cameron was dead and the island was reeling over it. You knew the whole story wasn’t out yet but it was soon to come, that wasn’t hard to miss. School was the same, rushed whispers and odd looks in the hall that had you hiding behind the boys more than ever.

You were doing your best to keep everything together but it was hard to get back on your feet after being torn down for so long. You could tell the Pogues were doing their best to get you and John B back into commission. Kie was pulling you out of bed most days, especially keeping you together at work. JJ held you at night, never questioning your tears. Pope was tiptoeing a little bit, but you appreciated his simple actions like packing lunch for you to take to work, or the sudden upkeep in your favorite snacks. You friends were pulling together when you needed them and for that, you’d be forever grateful.

Pope had been given permission to see Denmark’s diary that was recovered which gave your group clues to where to go next. The warm afternoon air danced across the porch as you lounged across the couch with your feet in Kie’s lap. The beer in your hand was empty and you didn’t question where they had suddenly appeared from. 

“This diary proves that both the gold and the Cross of Santo Domingo were on the Royal Merchant,” Pope discovered as he handed the diary over to Kie.

“Why didn’t we find it in the well then?” JJ asked as he flipped his lighter between his fingers before rolling over to face you guys. “I mean, if Denmark was able to get this, like, bedazzled cross off of the merchant to shore, why didn’t he just hide it with the gold?”

“Because it was too big,” You offered as you reached up to grab the lighter from the boy’s fingers to hold on your own. 

Pope nodded in agreement. “He had to hide it someplace else. Right before he was hung, Denmark Tanny said he buried the treasure at the foot of the angel.”

John B, Kie, and Pope delved into more questions that didn’t really have answers. You zoned out, watching the silver metal in your hand move with your wishes, a bright flame flickering now and then as a distraction. 

JJ must’ve gotten bored with it before he hopped up and interrupted the conversation. “You know what always helps me figure shit out? Smoking beers and drinking weed. The ideas just pour out of me. If we just sit here, and try to figure this out, we’re gonna get nowhere. But if we get creative and go to this bonfire tonight, maybe we’ll get somewhere.”

“Well, I just got disowned by my parents, and I’m an official member of the I-have-nothing-to-lose club.”

“Pope?” The two boys had a mini staring competition before JJ was rushing to explain his idea further. “Look, look. Think about how much you could think if you just gave your brain a rest.”

Pope hesitated for a moment as the trio listened in eager anticipation. “Okay, fine.” Excited bursts followed his statement before all eyes fell on you.

With a groan, you shifted to lay on your side so you could see them. “I don’t know guys.”

Kie tapped your legs anxiously. “Come on! It’ll be fun! We can just have a few drinks, chill on the beach. It’ll be a nice, easy evening.”

“Yeah but the Kooks are gonna be there,” You whined as you pouted slightly. “That’s mood killer enough.”

“Come on babe,” JJ pleaded as he stood directly above you, finger poking your nose gently. “You know you want to.”

You kept eye contact with him for a second and truly pondered the option. You knew you wouldn’t be able to tell them no, but as hard as you tried to get yourself out of the rut you were in, it was proving difficult. You knew going into a crowd wouldn’t help that feeling go away, but you also didn’t want to disappoint them.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

--

Your stomach was in knots as you sat on your bed later that evening. Kie had helped with an outfit and you stole one of the boys’ flannels from the kitchen chair, knowing the air would get chilly. Plus, not that you would admit it, but it made you feel better about going anyway. 

“There you are.” JJ’s smile was unmissable as you walked onto the screened in porch where he was smoking with Kie. He could tell you were nervous and wanted to do his best to help as much as he could.

“Hi.” You returned the gesture before sitting next to him and snatching a drink from the cooler in front of you. “Where’s JB and Pope?”

“Bullshitting on the Pogue,” Kie explained as she waved towards the water. “I’m really glad you’re coming with us tonight. I think it’ll be a good change for you.”

You nodded, still feeling uncertain but you could feel the weight on you lift slightly. This was supposed to be fun, and if John B could pull himself out of bed to do it, you had no reason not to. You knew it would take a little more than usual but you wanted to be back to normal and leave this funk behind you.

“Come on, let’s go get them.” Kie reached down to grab a few spare drinks before leading the way down the dock towards where the two boys were lounging on the boat. Neither of them glanced up at your footsteps which led you to believe they didn’t even know you were there. 

JJ’s finger slipped into your belt loop to tug you closer before tossing a beer in the air without warning. “Hot potato, hot potato, hot potato two!”

Both John B and Pope sat up with the intrusive flying cans and attempted to catch their own. “Oh shit!”

“I need another one!”

“Hey!”

“I’ll take that.”

“Alright,” You laughed at their antics before gently throwing an unopened can to your brother. “What are you guys doing down here? Having a good cry?” You pulled yourself up to sit on the wooden railing, kicking your legs lightly as you gave them a teasing smile.

John B flipped you off and shotgunned his drink while Pope scoffed, “Cry?”

“Cry?” Your brother repeated the word again once he finished. “What are you talking about -- we don’t cry.” You rolled your eyes at his dismissive behavior but it was painfully obvious he had been crying not too long ago. 

“You know it’s not your fault, right?” Kie told him.

John B looked away from her and out towards the water. “You think she’ll come around?”

“Yeah, dude,” Kie answered instantly. “She’s one of us.”

Your brother’s frown shifted into a smirk as he messed around with his hair. “Sarah’s a Pogue. She’ll come around. Yep. You know, she’ll come back to me. Right. You know, I was just thinking about it. I’m gonna do a backflip.”

You gave him a weird look as he pointed eagerly towards the water. “You’re lying.”

“I won’t do it?”

“You won’t.”

“You got any money?”

“Hold my beer that you already dropped.”

“I wanna see you do it!”

John B didn’t wait for another comment before flipping off the side of the boat into the water below. Various cheers rang out as he rose back to the surface. You knew John B would bounce back relatively fast after the situation the other day. You were glad he could, but it wasn’t hard to miss the fact that he was putting on a brave face for everyone.

The bonfire was already massive when you guys finally got there. Kooks, Pogues, and a handful of tourons crowded the area and music was rattling your ears the second you hopped out of the van. Your eyes widened in surprise as you let JJ guide you along as he conversed with John B about Sarah.

“In the meantime, shotgun, right now. Just like the old days,” JJ interrupted whatever rant John B was on to lean down and grab three beers from the case on the ground. He handed one to you and dug for a couple more to shove into his pockets for later.

“Hey, derelicts!” The yell came before a somewhat empty cup was being tossed towards you. You winced as a few drops hit your skin and redirected your gaze to where a brunette girl was staring at the three of you intently. You recognized her as a girl from your school that literally never spoke to any of you outside of now. 

JJ took one look at your face and knew it was time to move before you let out your aggression on the girl in front of you. “There she is. That’s you. We’re out of here.” JJ pushed the can into John B’s chest before grabbing your hand and guiding you away from the two.

“Fucking hell,” You grumbled once you found a spot up on the concrete wall to sit. The bonfire burned below you where more people were crowded around. You didn’t hesitate to pop a hole in your can and shotgun it back in hopes that it would lessen some of your anxiety.

“Already pissed?” JJ raised his hands in defense when you gave him a sharp glare. “Sorry, that’s on me.”

You shook your head and leaned against his shoulder, pulling your leg up to your chest. “No, I just… will never get used to people doing shit like that with you two.”

“No,” JJ laughed but you could tell he wasn’t making fun of you. “It’s not you, but you don’t have to worry about that with me anymore.”

You couldn’t tell if you were overthinking but you looked over at him with curious eyes. JJ never scared you, and you were never afraid to show him exactly what you were thinking. “What’s that mean?”

JJ noticed his slip up and quickly downed his drink before facing you. “Look, um. I mean, shit. Come on. I know what I said, months ago. And we’ve been straight up flirting for like two weeks now, and let’s be honest. I…I, you’re everything for me, okay? I’m gonna do my best to get my shit together, and keep it together… and I’m sorry if that terrifies you but I have to tell you. I think I love you, and I know you’re going through it right now and I’m willing to hold off, if-if you’re even interested but-”

“JJ.” You took his hesitation as enough of an answer and placed your hand on his cheek to get him to look at you. His eyes were wide in anticipation, causing a small smile to form on your face. “Shut the fuck up.” 

In two seconds, you had your lips on his. In four, his hand was on your waist after the shock wore off. After eight, people noticed and broke into cheers which finally broke the two of you apart. 

You knew your cheeks were warm with the attention focused on the two of you and dug your face into JJ’s shirt sleeve. He, however, thought it was the funniest thing ever and raised his arms in the air as an expression of a win. 

“What the hell!” Kiara’s voice pulled you back into the limelight as you looked down at her. Her mouth was wide open in a jaw-shattering smile. “About time you two! Holy shit, Pope!” Her hand tugged his shirt sleeve aggressively even though he was already watching. 

You tossed back with a middle finger before ignoring her as she continued to freak out. Your eyes scanned the crowd briefly to see if John B was in sight before you landed on him. He was next to Rachel, the same girl from earlier and to your shock, Sarah Cameron was standing in the conversation. 

Deciding that could wait for later, you finally met JJ’s gaze again to see him staring at you adoringly. “What?” You laughed slightly at his awestruck expression. “Are you gonna say something?”

“Pleasebemygirlfriend.”

With a laugh, you grabbed his hand in yours, twisting your fingers together anxiously. “I’m not saving you when John B decides to kick your ass.”

“I can take him,” He fired back instantly with a scoff and puffed his chest out in dramatic effect.

Shaking your head, you faced back towards the bonfire below you and returned your head to his shoulder. Sounds of arguing had you turning to see Topper now by Sarah’s side, the three of them shouting at each other. Phones began popping up to film and that was enough to send your heart racing. 

You and JJ took off down the stairs in a split second, bumping into Kie and Pope along the way. You skidded to a stop in time to see Kelce shove himself in between Topper and John B, yelling insults as he did. “Whatcha gonna do, John B? Kill me like you killed Sheriff Peterkin? Huh? Do something!”

Your brother flipped around with such veracity that you could’ve missed it in a blink. His fist connected with Kelce’s cheek and knocked him back before Topper was suddenly in the mix. You stared with wide eyes as JJ and Pope didn’t hesitate to throw themselves into the fury of hands. 

“Move!” Your shout had people turning as you began to push your way towards the altercation with hopes that one of the boys would chill out if you intervened. 

“Bitch!” The returned call had you looking to your left in fury to see the girl who had been hitting on John B push Sarah to the ground intentionally. 

With a newfound rage, and a misplaced aggression ready to burst, you flew towards her. She barely looked towards you before your hands landed on her shoulders and shoved her back, watching as she collided with the concrete beneath her. 

“Don’t fucking touch her!” Glancing down at Sarah, you offered her your hand to help pull her up. “Are you okay?”

The question was left unanswered as the girl got up with a new attitude. “What the hell? Whose side are you on?” Her leg kicked out against your hip causing you to tumble to the ground. 

You hissed as your hands scraped against the concrete. With a small groan, you were right back on your feet. You didn’t hesitate to push yourself into her personal space, eyes glaring intently. 

“First of all, she’s my friend, so watch who you put your hands on next time. Second of all-” There was a split second between your words before you threw a nasty punch to her cheek. The crowd around gasped in shock as she stumbled back. “Stay the hell away from my brother.”

Turning sharply, you moved straight back to where the boys were still throwing a bitch fit. Your fingers latched onto the collar of Topper’s shirt before you yanked back aggressively. He choked momentarily, hands leaving John B’s throat as he was thrown off balance. He looked up, ready to get into another fight with whoever stopped him before he realized it was you. “Might wanna get out of here before you get hurt.”

“Topper, I spent months locked in the same house as Rafe,” You sneered as you stepped between him and John B. “Don’t fucking tell me what to do, and don’t talk to me about getting hurt.”

With a snide glare, Topper was brushing blood off his cheek and collecting Kelce to scramble away. Yelling continued from both sides of the island as they all argued with each other while you busied yourself with getting John B up from the floor. JJ, Kie, and Pope tumbled into the two of you before you all took off towards the van. 

—

The adrenaline was still pumping when you all finally pulled up at the Chateau where the lights lit up the yard, Pope having drove everyone back.

“Well, that was a little unexpected,” JJ commented when he came back from grabbing drinks. You were still in the passenger seat, feet up on the dash as you left the door to hang open with fresh air. John B was crumbled into the back corner of the van, a cold beer can pressed against his already bruising face. Kie was behind you with her back against the driver’s seat, eyes intently watching your brother. 

“Was it though?” She asked rhetorically as she took a drink from JJ. She looked exhausted, probably still coming down from the rush. 

Pope was in the driver’s seat with his head resting against the steering wheel. Reaching over, you gently grabbed his shoulder to shift him back before your fingers redirected his chin. His left eye was swollen pretty good. He gave you a half-assed smile as you handed over a cold beer can for him to put on it. 

“Hey, maybe she’ll come around,” JJ tried to encourage John B as best as possible. His fingers reached into the doorway for you to catch on your own. You wanted to curl up with him on the couch and just go to bed after everything. 

“It’s like everything that happened to us didn’t matter,” John B whispered quietly. You closed your eyes and let out a deep breath, trying to rid yourself of the still presenting shaking from the fight.

Fingers tapped on your thigh for you to open your eyes again. “Who got you all banged up, pretty girl?” JJ brushed a few loose pieces of gravel and dirt from your busted knee and the side of your leg. You hadn’t even noticed the injury in the chaos but the burn was starting to settle in. 

“Oh my God, you guys missed it!” You could practically hear the smile on Kie's face. “After JJ and Birdie got done making out-”

“Making out?!”

“She rocked the shit out of Rachel! Like ass on the grass and everything,” Kie finished as she looked over to you. You rolled your eyes at her explanation, ignoring your brother’s frantic questions in the background. 

“That’s a bit dramatic…”

“No, no. It was awesome. She was all ‘don’t fucking touch her’ about Sarah and then BOOM ‘stay the hell away from my brother’! Pretty badass if you ask me,” Kie recounted, mocking your voice in quotations. 

JJ’s gaze met yours as you gave him a half-smile, his hand grabbing yours as his thumb ghosted over your swollen knuckles. “Let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?” You let him pull you from the van and into the house. Your knees weren’t that bad, but they looked pretty gnarly since you hadn’t had a chance to clean the dried blood and dirt from them. A quick wipe down with a wet towel and they would be fine.

It didn’t take long to settle in the kitch, JJ humming quietly as he tried to clean the scrapes as best as possible. You were sitting on the counter, leaning against the cabinets with your hands out to support you.

“I meant all of that, back there. I love you.” He stood back up to his full height, tossing the dirty paper towel in the garbage before stepping between your legs to push his arms under yours on the counter. “Meant every bit of it.”

You shifted, hands coming up to rest on his cheeks as his arms moved to wrap around your waist. “I know you did. And I love you, too.” 

The affirmation was met with a strong kiss as he pulled you closer. JJ felt like home in every way possible. Ever since he pulled you out of the Camerons’ house that night, you associated that feeling with him. That rush of comfort, peace, warmth. It was all him. 

“Oh, so this is what Kie meant in the van.” John B’s voice interrupted the moment as you both turned to look at him. “Gross, on my counter too.”

“It’s as much your counter as mine, Booker” You contradicted as you took JJ’s hand to hop off the surface. “But yes, this is what Kie meant in the van. If that’s okay.”

John B gave you a wild look at your ask (though it was more like a statement). “Why are you asking me? I don’t give a shit.” You gave him a deadpanned look. “Okay, I do give a shit. Just please don’t end up like me and Sarah, okay?”

“Deal,” You agreed with a smile, though you really couldn’t promise shit.

The three of you grabbed more drinks before heading outside to join Pope and Kie by the fire. Plopping in a chair between your brother and JJ, you grabbed a skewer to roast a marshmallow on before leaning for the gooey snack to be warmed up. 

“I’ve had more black eyes in the last month than I’ve ever had,” Pope joked as he cracked open a new drink and took a seat in the bag chair next to JJ. 

The blond boy next to you laughed. “That was building up for years. Rumble in the jungle.” He tried to pull his marshmallow off only to grimace when he burned his finger. Shaking your head at his carelessness, you sat back and pulled your legs up on your seat once you deemed your marshmallow cooked enough. 

“Hey, did you really stick up for Sarah?” John B sat next to you, a flannel now over his t-shirt to keep the chill air off his skin. 

You gave him a side glance and continued making your s’more. “Of course I did. I know you guys are going through it but she’s not a real Kook.”

“Right.” John B didn’t want to admit it, but when you blew up on him on the beach before the cops showed up, he feared your relationship with Sarah was shattered beyond repair. That would’ve been a nightmare for him. Sure, it was hard to convince Kie in the beginning to give the Cameron girl a chance, but if you and Sarah hated each other, that was the worst case scenario to John B. “I just want one bite, that looks-”

Too focused on JJ’s battle with his marshmallow, you didn’t have time to defend yourself from your brother completely stealing your perfected s’more. “What are you doing? Bro, stop!” You smacked John B’s shoulder in retaliation as he licked the remainders off his fingers.

Turning to your boyfriend, JJ was quick to move his messy one out of reach. “You’re not having any of mine.” You gaped at him over the fact that he wouldn’t even spare you a bite when yours was just stolen in front of your eyes.

“Dude, come on!”

“Don’t dude me! This is my s’more!”

You made the move to attack the boy next to you until he caved but John B’s hand latched on your flannel and tugged you into your seat. “Hey, hey. Shh, somebody’s here.”

Silence fell across the five of you as you locked eyes with JJ. “If it’s Rafe…” You trailed off, expression dropping to one of full fear that had him climbing out of his seat. “Do you have your gun?”

“Oh, now you want the gun!”

“J!” You hissed as you grabbed his sleeve. “Seriously?”

“Shut up!” John B hushed you as he started to walk towards the source of the noise. “Hey, who’s out there?”

“You Kooks better not try anything!” Kie called out as she stepped over the log she had been sitting on to follow him. JJ grabbed the metal pole off the ground that they had sharpened to poke the fire, leaving you and Pope to bring up the end.

“How y’all doing?” A man stepped around the corner who you recognized as Limbrey’s guard dog from the other day. “Lovely evening we’re having. Look, I uh, I don’t hold a grudge with any of y’all, alright? But this can go hard or this can go easy. You know what I’m here for.” He made a show of patting himself down and spinning so you could see there were no obvious weapons. The five of you stood silently after he had finished his monologue, which was apparently annoying to him. “Let me give you a little demonstration. You see that swing right there?”

Eyes focusing, you realized he was talking about the swing directly in front of you and JJ. Your boyfriend (that was new) didn’t flinch at the rhetorical question, instead keeping silent as the man continued. “I’ve got the best bow hunters in the Army Rangers with me. Hidden.” 

JJ hummed in supposed belief and placed his hand on the right rope that held the swing up. The dude let out a whistle and there was instantly a sharp noise of an arrow that sliced through the left rope, inches from your arm before it lodged into the tree next to you. Choking on a gasp, you stepped away from the weapon that had become a little too close for comfort. 

“Now, they’re out there. They’ll stick you just as soon as I say so,” The man continued before he turned to approach Pope. You saw JJ shift in front of you, the metal bar ready to attack before another sharp whistle rang out and landed inches from his shoe. “Ah, ah, ah. We clear?” 

The tension shifted as Pope reached into his pocket where the key had been hiding. He took a second to look at it before closing his fist around it tightly. “This key belongs to my family.”

The guy turned around to face where you, JJ, Kie, and John B stood behind him. He let out a sarcastic laugh. “I’m losing my patience with you, Pope.” He put his fingers in his mouth and prepared to let out another whistle until your friend shifted to hand the object over. The man grasped it quickly before pointing in Pope’s face. “You did the right thing, kid. Knowing when you don’t have a choice is an underappreciated talent. You be safe.” 

He turned to leave, not forgetting to make a sarcastic comment at JJ that had you sending him a sharp glare as he disappeared out of view.

When the yard was clear, Pope let out a deep breath. “I am so sick of this shit.” He didn’t wait for anyone’s response before he left you all behind to go hide in the Chateau. You watched him go with a pang of sadness. 

JJ threw the metal pole down in a fit of anger before stomping towards the fire that was still burning steadily. You crossed your arms over your chest in a self-hug as you watched the scene in front of you. This rollercoaster of up and down was never easy, but you just hoped at some point here soon, there would be a win for all of you.

After giving it a minute, you moved forward to crouch in front of JJ. “Hey.” You gently pulled his hands from where they were holding his head so he would look at you. “Wanna go to bed?” Giving a silent nod, he let you pull him up from his seat. You gave John B and Kie a tight lipped smile before walking towards the house. 

Pope had already settled on the pull-out in the light of the TV. You two shuffled quietly across the wooden floor into your room before closing the door as quietly as possible. JJ pulled his shirt off and jumped on the bed as you ducked into the attached bathroom to brush your teeth and change into some comfier clothing. You couldn’t believe how much had happened in such a short time of the night, but you could tell you needed to sleep on it to process.

Having JJ in your bed wasn’t new, and you tried not to think about it too much when you walked back in to see his bare back turned towards you. After flipping the light switch off, you crawled into the open spot to face him with your fingers gliding across his smooth skin. You pressed a small kiss between his shoulder blades before tucking your left arm around his waist and curling into his form.

You could just hope when you woke up in the morning, this would still be real.

--

It was still very much real the next morning when you woke up to the sunlight in your room and JJ’s arm holding you tightly to his chest. It didn’t take long before everyone in the house was up and moving to relax on the porch, various remainders of breakfast food lingering around that you would pick up later. 

JJ had flopped on the couch first, leaving you to crawl on top of him to continue to steal his warmth despite the hoodie you were wearing. He didn’t seem to mind and let you lie on his chest while his hands clasped on the small of your back. Your eyes were heavy while he conversed with the boys, and once Kie placed a blanket over the two of you, you threatened to dive back into slumber at any second. 

The sound of the screen door opening kept you from doing so as JJ called out a greeting. You shifted to see Sarah clambering her way across the wooden deck to stand in front of you. You had to admit, you were surprised to see her on your side of the island so quickly after the bonfire.

“Shouldn’t you be on Figure Eight with your little group of polo players? Or did you break up with Topper?” John B’s attitude was obvious and it made you roll your eyes. 

“He’s just a friend.”

“Just a friend,” John B scoffed at the explanation and barely spared a look at her. “Seems like you got a lot of friends, Sarah Cameron.”

“Yeah, and it seems like you’ve got some of your own too,” She quipped right back. 

Knowing he was in a losing argument, John B sat up straight. “Alright, what are you doing here?”

“John B,” You groaned at his shitty attitude and flipped him off so he would shut up. He dismissed you with a returned middle finger.

Sarah wasn’t too phased by the negativity and ignored him. “Actually, I’m here for Pope. I think I found the Island Room.”

The room, mentioned in Denmark’s diary, was apparently a helpful key to the next step in the treasure hunt. There wasn’t much of an explanation needed before you were all climbing into the van with your destination set on Sarah’s house. As the group delved into conversation at what they had found so far, you couldn’t bring yourself to add any input. 

Going back to the Camerons’ house meant going back to Rafe and it meant putting yourself back into that headspace that you were still trying to escape. You didn’t know if you were able to do that anymore. The world had been chipping away at the foundation you had built your whole life and you wondered when it would crack under the weight of everything else. 

When John B pulled up to the back patio doors, it took everything in you not to throw up your breakfast. You could practically hear the screams echoing from the windows the second you laid eyes on them. Tugging your jacket closer, you let JJ grab your hand to lead you along, opting to close your eyes in hopes that you could just follow his guidance and not have to relive the memories.

The creeks of the house around you were chilling and you could tell by the surrounding silence that nobody else was home. Letting out a breath, you froze the second the light wasn’t visible anymore and with your luck, JJ’s hand dropped from yours. 

“Woo!” He whistled in astonishment. You stopped cold, someone running into your back as your eyes snapped open to see the old grandfather clock against the wall ahead of you and the all-too-well known door to the left of it. Your friends followed Sarah’s lead into the room across the hall, leaving you to yourself.

“This place still freaks me out,” John B’s comment wasn’t missed and based on the proximity of his voice, you could tell he was the one who had bumped into you. He came to stand in front of you, observing the wallpaper that haunted your nightmares to this day. “You okay?”

He grabbed your elbow, shattering the trance you had placed yourself in unintentionally. Blinking quickly, you tried to keep the tears from falling. You tried to center yourself and convince your mind that you were safe but it was hard when everything was so dark and crowded by the memories. Rafe’s voice was echoing in your head, Ward’s angry shouting, and just pain.

“Birdie?” John B placed both hands on your shoulders as he recognized the panic in your face. It took a split second for it to click. If he felt weird being in this house, he couldn’t imagine how you felt. He blinked and suddenly, you were kids again and you were crawling in his bed because of the tropical storm raging outside. 

John B always took care of you when you were kids and when your dad disappeared, the roles swapped and you took the lead. He got careless without the responsibility - careless and he took it out on you, which was the worst part. You didn’t blame him, rarely got mad, and all he did was leave you behind. He let you go through the worst part of your life by yourself and never once did you think he was coming to help you. 

“Hey, hey, hey, shh.” John B cradled your head into his chest as the glass walls you attempted to put up shattered to pieces. The sob you let out was heartwrenching as the two of you slid to the ground. John B pulled you closer as you clenched his shirt in your hands. He could tell you were struggling to breathe through it all and it broke his heart to see you like this. “It’s okay, I’ve got you. I gotcha.”

You knew he was talking to you, you could feel him, but everything was numb. Your ears were ringing, chest heaving but you couldn’t get a single gasp of air in your system. Everything hurt and you knew if you opened your eyes, it would just hurt worse because it was real all over again. 

“You’re okay, you’re okay. I’m sorry,” John B apologized as he held tighter. He felt horrible; what kind of big brother leaves you to fend for yourself when you need him most. 

JJ’s form came around the corner, his eyes dropping to the ground when he saw you and John B. The distraught look on his best friend’s face sent him into a fit of concern as he dropped to the ground in front of you. “Hey, hey, baby. What’s wrong?” You didn’t even know JJ was there and the fact that you weren’t responding to either of them was even scarier.

“She’s having a panic attack,” John B tried to explain around your cries. The way you were grasping his shirt threatened to rip holes through the fabric and he wished he could do something to help you. Tears of his own slipped down his cheeks. He just felt so horrible knowing you were in this much pain over a situation that he practically put you in. “I’m sorry, Birdie. I’m so sorry. I should’ve been there. I never should’ve let this happen.”

JJ didn’t say anything, instead placing a hand on the side of your neck to try and break you out of the dizzy spell. He had only seen you like this once before, when the whole island was searching for John B and you didn’t see an ending in sight. JJ didn’t know what to do then, and it lead to you passing out and a hefty concussion to follow.

“Shit, shit, um.” JJ was trying to keep himself from panicking as he met John B’s gaze. Both of them were no use if they freaked out at the same time. “You gotta get her to unclench her hands a-and then she’s gotta open her eyes and see where she’s at but-but I don’t know if that’s gonna help her, dude! Clearly it’s where we’re at that’s freaking her out.”

JJ’s voice wavered in and out of your head and you could hear bits and pieces if you tried. A few seconds later, you felt someone tugging your hands from John B’s shirt and fingers intertwined with yours to prevent you from closing your fists again. The white burning pain in your head slowly loosened up and you felt a coolness against your neck. Slowly, the words started making sense and you could hear the boys talking. 

“There ya go, we’re right here. It’s okay, it’s okay.”

A gulp of fresh air made its way into your lungs as you finally willed your eyes to open. JJ was kneeling in front of you, hands holding yours tightly. Once he saw you were coming to, he slowly let go to place a hand on your thigh. It took you a moment to recognize what had happened before you closed your eyes for a second to rub them aggressively. 

John B was still behind you, one arm holding you tightly as the other pressed a damp washcloth against your neck. You could feel his hand shaking with the rush of panic you had just caused. Letting your head fall back, your body finally relaxed, overcome with exhaustion. 

“Shit,” You mumbled as you let out a deep breath. “Sorry, that… I didn’t mean for that to happen.” 

A small drop of water hit your face and you blinked to see John B’s eyes filled with tears. The first panic attack had been bad enough when you guys were hiding with Sarah from the cops. You knew you had freaked John B out then, and this time had been much worse. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” 

“I should’ve been there,” He choked out as the tears became heavier, his hand holding your wrist tightly. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. And I wasn’t, and that’s my fault. I’ll never make it up to you, I know that, but I want… I want to help, so you’ve gotta let me help. Please.”

Seeing John B so upset over you was a weird feeling. You both were extremely protective over your friends, and of course you looked out for each other. Either way, you weren’t used to people telling you to lean on them, you were always the one they leaned on. And you were fine with that, it was bearable, but in moments like this, you realized how heavy you were on yourself.

“I’m sorry,” You whispered as you leaned against the wall behind you and pulled your knees up to your chest. Tears were light on your cheeks as you glanced around, convincing yourself to keep breathing as you observed the hallway surroundings. “It’s just… being back here makes it all real all over again. I-I didn’t think it would hurt this bad but um…” 

A small hiccup left your throat as you processed another memory. JJ’s hand slid across your shoulder blade to lightly massage your neck, his fingers brushing across your jawline in comfort. You had barely opened up about what specifically happened when you were with the Camerons, but clearly they could guess enough to piece it together. 

“I just see myself, trapped in there again and again, and I didn’t think anyone was coming to help,” You admitted as you tucked your face into your knees. “I was terrified, and I thought you were dead, and I just wanted it all to end. It felt like everyone just forgot I existed. I didn’t even get a chance to say bye. I got out once, and then it was so much worse. And then JJ comes to get me and you’re home and I felt like shit. I come home and you’re all excited and having a good time and it’s like I didn’t even matter.”

It was hard to share how you really felt, especially with the two people who mattered most to you, but you had to be honest. It hurt to come home and see everyone celebrating without you, and it felt even worse that JJ was the only one who bothered to come help you escape. You tried not to hold it against them, just glad to be back with your family but you knew if it were any of them, you’d be there front and center trying to do anything you possibly could.

Both boys collided with you at once, wrapping you into suffocatingly tight hugs once you finished your explanation. You clung to them, the three of you crying together in a hallway that had held so much of your lives in the span of a year. You knew things would never be the same, but from here, you could all focus on helping each other heal and move on.

“Okay… did we miss something?” Pope’s voice interrupted your peaceful moment causing the three of you to look up into your friends’ curious eyes. They had all piled out of the room to see your cuddle puddle on the floor. “Do we need to have a group therapy session?”

A teary laugh left your throat as you released John B and JJ. They were quick to stand up and bring you with them as you all got to your feet. You shook your head and forced a smile while you grabbed JJ’s hand and leaned into John B’s side. 

“Let’s get moving, we can’t let them get ahead.” Kie pulled the attention off you, something you were grateful for as you let them all pass before following along. 

There was an unspoken conclusion to your conversation, something you knew would come up later to be adjusted when you didn’t have ears listening in. As you walked with your hand in JJ’s and John B’s arm around your shoulder, you knew everything would work itself out eventually. In a perfect world, you guys wouldn’t be going on crazy adventures that prolonged your closure, but it’s a Pogue life and it’s always unpredictable. 

--

navigation -- series masterlist

edited dec 2025

[obxsummer]

Full Pogue // Ghost of You

summary: the cameron family can't seem to keep their hands off you, sending you and sarah on the battle to get off the coastal venture and reunite with your friends

warnings: the usual obx angst, cursing, physical violence, injuries

navigation -- series masterlist

--

Exhaustion was starting to set in harder than it had before, especially when you were tucked under JJ’s shoulder in the back seat of the Twinkie. Kie was on the floor, a joint between her fingers as she sat next to Pope. John B and Sarah occupied the front seat, your brother intent on driving back to Figure Eight in an attempt to find Rafe. What you didn’t expect was a slew of cop cars to be blocking the road up ahead, ruining your course of action.

“Oh shit. They found the truck.”

“Chill, chill, chill, chill,” Pope hushed Kie’s distress as bright blue lights filled the darkness of the van. You sat up fully once a flashlight glossed over your eyes, JJ’s hand refusing to leave your skin despite the cops now approaching. 

“Well, lookee here,” Shoupe commented sarcastically as his light illuminated John B’s face through the open window.

“Evening, officer,” Your brother responded while keeping his face emotionless.

“Sherrif.”

“Right, sheriff. Forgot,” John B corrected his error without intent behind his words. He motioned towards the totaled truck ahead. “Speed kills, huh?”

Shoupe’s light hit your face again, making you wince and hide further into JJ’s shoulder before it moved again to find Kiara. “I pulled the tags, and I know whose truck that is. Hey, Kie. Did you drop your weed pen back there?”

“Sheriff, I just wanna say that this is all my fault. She had nothing to do with this. I take 100% responsibility,” Pope explained.

“Nothing to do with it? You wanna try that again?” Shoupe repeated before shaking his head. “Your parents reported the truck missing four hours ago, and the keys were missing from the house. I’m taking you home. Or I can pull you all in for leaving the scene of an accident.”

“Okay,” Kiara finally admitted defeat. Shoupe directed Officer Plumb to open the van door to let your friend out. Kie wasn’t even phased at the action and turned towards you guys. “Hit me up later and make sure I’m still alive.”

The sound of the door closing sent everyone into silence. You waited for a moment before the blue lights started to disappear and John B followed the tow truck that had the total vehicle on the flatbed. You knew where you were going in hopes of finding the cross and the idea definitely didn’t help the events of the night settle.

“Babe,” JJ’s voice was quiet as he pressed a kiss to your temple. “You don’t have to go. We can take you home.”

You shook your head softly, fingers ghosting over the bare skin under his shirt that you had sought out for warmth. You had come this far in the whole thing; there was no way you were stopping now. Surviving the Cameron house had been accomplished before and you could do it again.

The street lights provided barely enough coverage once John B pulled up outside of Sarah’s house. The five of you climbed out and ducked below the wall per Pope’s word in an attempt to see better. 

“He’s got the truck,” JJ whispered as he glanced over the concrete structure. You could hear the hiss of the brakes as Rafe parked the vehicle and killed the engine.

“How much you wanna bet Rafe has the cross inside that truck right now?” Pope asked as you watched the eldest Cameron enter the large house, not without pausing to look over his shoulder.

“There’s only one way to find out.” Sarah started making her way towards the gated entrance before John B was running after her in concern. You could hear broken pieces of their conversation, especially the part where your brother said he wanted to talk about their relationship at that exact moment, which just pissed Sarah off. 

When John B stepped back with a smile on his face like a kid on Christmas, you rolled your eyes. You watched Sarah creep up the driveway, busying tying the piece of your brother’s bandana around her neck as she did so. At least one good thing would come out of tonight.

“Hey! Did you want me to perform your vows while you’re at it?” 

“Did you say ‘be safe’?”

JJ and Pope didn’t hesitate to poke fun at your sibling once he returned to your group. You ignored them, eyes focused on your blonde friend as she glanced inside the passenger window of the truck. She flipped around to raise her arms in confusion when she didn’t find an answer. John B motioned for her to come back, but he was ignored when she pointed inside to signal where she was going. 

“No, no! Don’t go inside!” Pope whisper-yelled as he watched her disappear into the front door. He turned towards John B. “Do the bird call!”

Your brother attempted the worst bird call in history that almost made you blow your cover by bursting into giggles. You shook your head at them as they attempted to do it the correct way. 

“Losers. I’m going over.” You pushed yourself up on the concrete wall before hopping over. John B made a move to follow you but was interrupted by the sharp honking of a horn. You took a glance back, realizing they were caught by security and started running towards the house. 

You stared at the doorknob, a rush of fear rushing through you at the idea of entering this house willingly. It took a quick second to convince yourself that you were doing this for Pope, and even for Sarah. You weren’t about to let her walk into this house with her murderous brother on a rampage. 

The door was silent as you pushed it open, thankfully stepping into a silent room as you closed the door behind you. You knew this house more than you ever wished to, and being back here was weird, but as long as you avoided that room, you hoped it would be okay. 

Walking up the stairs, you headed in the general direction of Sarah’s room in hopes that she would maybe hide there first. The dark room was empty upon your arrival. “Sarah?” You whispered as you tried to navigate around it without bumping into anything.

“Oh my God, Wheeze. We gotta make this quick, okay?”

A sharp gasp left your mouth before you slammed a hand over your lips to keep quiet. Rafe’s voice echoed around the empty space as his footsteps hit the stairs nearby. He was clearly complaining to the youngest Cameron which told you that he didn’t find your friend just yet. His voice became distant before you heard quieter footsteps. 

Turning the corner, you could see Rafe’s silhouette in Wheezie’s room through the crack in her door. Without wasting a second, you were darting down the stairs in hopes of finding Sarah. Thankfully, the blonde girl ducked out of a bedroom at the perfect second. You had just enough time to place your finger over her lips before she screamed. A moment passed before she processed it was you and tugged your arm to lead you down the stairs. 

You followed her outside to where the truck was parked in the wrap-around driveway. “You came after me?” Sarah almost yelled as she turned to you in shock. “Are you insane?”

“In my defense, everyone was going to follow me!” You told her as she shoved the keys in her hand into the lock on the back doors. “I didn’t want to leave you alone!”

She ignored you and finally got the door unlocked. Handing you the keys, she twisted the handle as the metal creaked and swung out to reveal the back of the truck to you both. You didn’t even attempt to find the cross when the first thing you noticed was a pair of eyes staring back, unblinking. The second thing you noticed was that it was the face of Limbrey’s partner, Renfield. Sarah’s fingers dug into your arm as the two of you stepped back with the realization that there was a dead body, here, in front of you, in the truck that Rafe had been driving.

An aggressive yank had a gasp falling from your lips before your back slammed against the metal of the truck. Tears sprung to your eyes as your already sore back and shoulder sparked pain down your spine. You were suddenly face to face with the person who you couldn’t seem to escape. 

Rafe’s expression broke into a devilish smirk at the idea of having you back into his hands again. “I really wish you didn’t do that.”

“Get off of me!” You spat back fingers digging into his wrists that were heavy on your shoulders. You shoved him aggressively, the two of you wrestling for a moment before Rafe’s arm was around your throat and holding you tightly against him. Sarah yanked on her brother’s hood, choking him back before he latched onto her hair, literally dragging the two of you back into the house. 

The tile floor beneath you was chilly as Rafe tossed you forward without a care for your well-being. Sarah’s body collided with yours a second later before the door slammed shut and clicked locked. 

“What the hell!” Sarah grabbed the first bottle of wine she could find and threw it into the wall where it shattered into pieces. Another bottle, this time champagne, followed as you attempted to pull yourself off the floor. Your spine was aching with each movement and you knew it was just a matter of time before the injury got worse. You couldn’t keep doing this running thing forever.

“Rafe! Let us out!” Sarah pounded on the door aggressively, her facade breaking.

“I’m not letting you out, Sarah. Not until you calm down, okay? I’m trying to be civil here.”

You were on your feet next, your hand colliding with the wood as rage filled you. No way you were about to be trapped back in this house again. Your saving grace was the form of Sarah Cameron beside you, reminding you that you weren’t alone.

Another voice joined the conversation, one that Sarah recognized right away. “Rose? Rafe locked us in!” She turned towards you, her hand grasping yours to offer any comfort possible. 

“You fail to understand that constantly, don’t you? Huh?” Rafe’s body slammed against the door causing you to jump back in shock. 

“Shut the hell up!” You snapped back, your foot connecting with the barrier. You couldn’t believe this was happening all over again. 

“Is that who I think it is? Rafe, what the hell is going on?” Rose’s voice carried through the wood, now becoming your only hope of help to get out. 

Stepping back, you sat on the couch in the room and placed your head in your hands as you tried to breathe. Sarah continued to bang on the door, ignoring Rose’s pleads to calm down. She turned to you when the answering stopped, collapsing into your side with a heavy breath. The silence of sniffles and cries continued until the lock on the door clicked and opened to reveal Rose.

The two of you clambered off the couch towards her, Sarah crying about calling the cops as she stumbled into the large arm chairs in the hallway. You sat next to her, pulling your legs up into your chest as you glanced around the room in an attempt to keep an eye out for the inevitable. 

“What happened?” Rose asked as she tried to coach Sarah through her breathing.  “What happened?”

“There’s a dead body in the truck,” You answered simply as you stared ahead emotionless, forcing a breath into your lungs. You took the teacup Rose offered, letting the liquid burn your throat without waiting. “Rafe killed Renfield.”

Rose hesitated for a second, listening as Sarah choked through more details while she waited for her tea to cool down. She eventually took the chance to sip on the warm drink, her breathing calming. “L-Last time Rafe did that… Dad took the blame, and you see where that got him.”

“Sarah, you’re absolutely right,” Rose agreed as she placed her hand on her stepdaughter’s knee. “I told your dad so many times that there was something wrong with Rafe. You just need to calm down. It’s gonna be okay.”

Taking a deep breath, your head felt light from the crying and yelling you had done. Leaning back, you crossed your arms over your chest, the exhaustion from running nonstop settling in. Glancing over at Sarah, you could see panic slowly fill her face as she looked at you. Her eyes drifted to the teacup and suddenly, your adrenaline crash made sense. You knew this feeling all too well.

“What’d you do?” You whispered, your hand reaching out to grab onto Sarah’s sleeve. This feeling of helplessness and dread was sickening. God, how did you not catch it sooner?

“What’d you do?” Sarah repeated the question as the teacup crashed to the floor so she could grab your fingers. “Rose.”

The woman in front of you dug a pill bottle out of her pocket. “I’m really sorry. Nothing bad is going to happen, I promise. I promise. I need you to rest okay? When you wake up, everything’s going to be okay. I had to do whatever it takes to keep this family together, Sarah.”

Your eyes were heavy as you tried to blink the fuzziness away but sleep… sleep sounded so so good.

Rose stared silently for a moment, her heart aching at the idea of putting you anywhere near Rafe again, but they were compromised and she couldn’t risk leaving you here and running back to your brother. Not when the feds were already on their case. It would just risk further investigation and that was the last thing she needed. After assuring you were both unconscious and conversing with her stepson about the body and where to go, she called Wheezie down to help move the final pieces. 

Wheezie stared at the sight of you and Sarah, mostly asleep against each other in the foyer. “What happened to them?” 

Rose shushed her and wrapped your arm over her shoulder, pointing for the younger girl to do the same with Sarah. “They’re fine, it’s just been a long day. She was freaking out about being back in the house and so Sarah freaked out and they wouldn’t stop crying. I gave them an anti-anxiety pill. They’ll be fine.”

Sarah and Wheezie were lugging behind, the younger girl struggling with the weight of her sister. Rose pulled the car door open, ungracefully dropping you inside before running to help get Sarah in too. She wasted no time climbing in the driver’s seat and starting the car.

Across the lawn, JJ’s heart fell out of his chest at the sight of you, unconscious, in Rose’s arms. He knew he shouldn’t have let you hop the fence, but you were stubborn and he couldn’t risk getting you caught with them in the first place. 

“What’d she do to them?” John B whispered as he watched the scene unfold. The idea of losing both of you to wherever Rose was going was not about to become true. Not after you had made it this far. When Wheezie shut the door behind her and the car started moving, the two boys took off in an attempt to stop it.

Your eyes attempted to focus with the blur of lights. You could feel Sarah’s shoe on your side, the leather seats behind your back. The clothes on your body were not your own but you didn’t have the energy to piece it all together.

Hands smacking against car windows made you jump. You could barely recognize your brother’s voice, JJ’s right behind him before they faded away. Taking a deep breath, you filtered it as a dream and fell back into a peaceful sleep once again. 

--

Waking up was nowhere near as comfortable as when you fell asleep. The ground beneath you felt wobbly unlike the smooth bumps of a car and there was nothing but the hum of machines to fill your ears. The pounding in your skull was mind-numbing and the sun shining in your eyes didn’t help either. With a deep gasp, you sat up sharply to see the small room you had been left in. Fresh clothes replaced the ones from earlier, most likely remnants of items that had been in the house from when you were trapped there.

Sarah was nowhere to be found and from the looks of it, you were alone. Glancing out the windows, your heart sank at the sight of a never-ending ocean which meant you were on a boat going who knows where away from your brother, JJ, and your friends. 

Moving to your feet, you grabbed the door handle in hopes it would be unlocked but that obviously was a long shot. You groaned, hand slamming against the wood in annoyance before sitting back in the chair you had originally been in. The sound of footsteps approached quickly before the lock clicked and the door opened. 

You didn’t know what you expected when you looked up - a miracle hopefully, but the glaring eyes of Rafe Cameron were easy to ruin that dream. You closed your eyes tightly, digging your fingers against your scalp as if it would wake you up from this real life nightmare. 

“I told you we might as well be friends at this point. Make our lives easier.”

“Leave me the fuck alone, Rafe,” You grumbled as you stared at your ruined shoes beneath you. The less you had to look at him, the better.

A harsh hand grabbed your neck, yanking your head back and you were forced to look up. “You’re so lucky I convinced Rose to bring you up here. She was going to leave you at the house, all alone.”

Your hand grabbed his forearm and squeezed it tightly until he finally let go. “Am I supposed to appreciate that? This isn’t the first time you’ve stolen me from my family, you fucking psychopath!” The harsh sting on your cheek was expected and after you got over the initial pain of the slap, you couldn’t help but laugh at the situation in front of you. “God! What is it going to take for you to learn that I’m never staying with you, I hate every part of your being, and no matter how long you think you can keep me here, JJ and John B will find me, and you are going to lose, Rafe.”

Chest to chest with the face of the person who haunted your sleep, the rush of anger and adrenaline in your veins held you still as you looked him in the eye. You refused to be scared of him, not when you were hundreds to thousands of miles from your family. 

The silence was terrifying in itself before Rafe tugged your arm and led you out of the room. You didn’t bother to ask questions and refused to let him know you were nervous. He turned a few corners, grip getting increasingly tighter before practically launching you into a room like the one you had been. 

The first person you saw was Sarah, her face exhausted and annoyed. You were thankful to see her, knowing the two of you might have a chance of getting out of here together. All of that hope disappeared the second the person sitting across from her turned to look at you. Rafe wasn’t phased in the slightest at the sight of Ward Cameron, alive and well in front of you. 

Ward ignored your presence in the room, continuing to explain to Sarah about his remorse for not calling her, for the whole lie of his death. Rafe didn’t hesitate to make a shitty comment about being the only grateful child. His fingers ran across the bare skin of your neck making you tense as you stood there, frozen.

“That’s psychopathic. Both of you,” Sarah shot back, her eyes drifting from Rafe behind you to her father.

“I promised Rafe that he wouldn't go to prison for helping me,” Ward continued, “I had to make good on that promise.”

“Not that you care.”

“Did it look like I didn’t care when I thought Dad was dead?” Your friend defended herself as she glared at her brother. 

Rafe shook his head. “It-It actually looked like you cared about running off with some asshole-”

“It looked like all you cared about was the inheritance!” Tugging your arm out of Rafe’s grasp, you shoved him away from you in favor of sitting on the couch near Sarah. 

Ward eventually got both siblings to quit screaming before turning towards her again. “I know you’re angry right now, and rightfully so. The important thing is that it’s all behind us now. It is. We’re gonna live a new life, a-and she can stay with us. All of us, together.” 

“Oh, hell no,” You mumbled under your breath, palms coming up to rub your eyes in hopes that you would blink and be back at home with JJ. You couldn’t even be surprised about the way everything went down, and of course, Rafe gets to drag you into it because Ward doesn’t care what he does. 

Sarah stared at her dad blankly as he attempted to convince her that the destination would be paradise. You kept watching as he slid a stack of tourist papers over to her. She leaned forward to catch them all in her hands before shoving them back towards Ward. “I want to call my friends, and I want to call my boyfriend. Can I at least just tell them that we are okay?”

To your shock, Ward nodded. “Yes, of course you can. As soon as we get there, you both can call John B. He knows you’re here, right?”

You let out a bitter laugh, “No. He doesn’t. Your psychopathic son kidnapped us and your crazy ass wife drugged us.” 

Ward copied your laugh and threw all the crumbled papers into the garbage. “He came by the house not long after you two fell asleep. You know the cross you’ve all been looking for? Rafe was able to get it. Turns out, that I guess historically, it belongs to the Heywards.”

“Yeah, we know.”

“Well, it turns out that the most important thing to me, is you, so I gave John B the cross for you. And I let Rafe bring her, because you need someone you can trust, and I know that’s not me right now.”

You and Sarah shared a glance, completely unbelieving of any word Ward was speaking. You crossed your arms over your chest. “Oh, and John B was okay with that?”

Ward came to crouch between the two of you. “Well, um, I had just given him a half-billion-dollar artifact, so, yeah. He seemed pretty okay. I don’t know what to tell you, girls”

You wanted nothing more than to kick him straight in the face and to watch his blood pour across his dress shirt. This family was fucked up and you weren’t staying here much longer to find out how bad. Whether you had to swim to the closest island or find a way to sneak out yourself, you were gonna do it. 

Rose and Wheezie came in a few moments later, Wheezie very much excited about the idea of going to a privately owned island. Sarah completely ignored her sibling in favor of looking up to avoid eye-contact. It didn’t take long for the awkward silence to win, with Rafe and Ward heading who knows where and Wheezie leaving in search of cards for you, Sarah, and Rose to be left. 

Sarah nudged your foot slightly, giving you a look before she groaned and stood up. You watched her carefully, not sure what exactly she had planned but giving her the space to do so. Suddenly, she stumbled across the room, catching Rose’s attention.

“Whoa, Sarah. Hey, what’s wrong, sweetie?” The magazine she was holding was discarded, her attention now fully on her stepchild.

“I just think I’m gonna be seasick,” Sarah whined as she leaned against one of the counters. 

Rose stood up from her seat, claiming she had ‘just the thing’ to cure Sarah’s faux sickness. While Rose occupied herself with digging through the closet, Sarah was waving you along out the door that Wheezie had accidentally left open. The two of you slipped out into the yellow-lit hallway and made your way through an open door to the cargo area. Glancing around, your eyes caught sight of the one object that definitely wasn’t supposed to be here: The Cross of Santo Domingo.

Tapping Sarah’s arm aggressively, you caught her attention before pointing towards the object that was resting in a large wooden crate. With a roll of her eyes and a newfound anger, she continued out of the hallway until you guys finally came to fresh air. You took a long look at the ocean, no sign of land anywhere near, before following Sarah up a flight of stairs towards the main cabin.

From the window, you could identify two crew members inside but a freehand walkie talkie close by that you could snag given a distraction. Sarah motioned to two almost empty buckets of paint that were set nearby. She grabbed one and waved you towards the doorway before tossing it across the deck. One of the crew members turned immediately at the noise as Sarah ducked to hide. 

As the crew member stepped outside, you had just enough time to grab the walkie talkie and step back out to where Sarah was hiding. Fingers shaking as you dialed 911, neither you nor Sarah even saw a crew member approaching when the radio crackled to life. 

“Dispatch 60290.”

“Hello? Hello, I’m on a boat called the Coastal Venture. I’m with Sarah Cameron, we’ve-we’ve been kidnapped. I need-” Someone grabbed the radio of your hands with a demanding shush of silence. You stared at him with wide eyes as he kept your shoulder pressed against the wall and raised the radio to his ear.

“Yeah, that’s just my teenage daughter playing pranks again. Yeah, sorry.” He ended the call and applied more pressure to keep you in your spot as Sarah watched, concerned. “You’re in deep shit, kid.”

Another crew member came to watch you and Sarah while the previous one, you assumed the captain, busied himself with calling Ward. The man was quick to come to your location, giving you and Sarah a glare as he stepped in to speak with the captain. 

Taking a deep breath, you slouched against the side of the boat and slumped down against the wall. You just wanted to get the hell off this ship and as far away from the Cameron family as you possibly could. Rafe’s weird obsession with you was becoming a little too real at this point, especially if he’s somehow convinced Ward to bring you along as if it wouldn’t just raise questions.

“Are you okay?” Sarah asked as sat down next to you. She knew it was an obvious question and that you probably didn’t want to talk to her, but she felt like she needed to ask.

You shrugged, eyes scanning the ocean around you. “I thought I would be free of this… repetitive endless loop. I don’t know why your brother is so obsessed with me, but Sarah… if it comes between staying on this boat or jumping into the ocean, I’m out,” You admitted as you looked over at her. “I don’t expect you to follow me, it’s probably a death wish, but I can’t stay here.”

“I’d come with you,” She admitted in a heartbeat. “Somehow I just know you and I would do better out there than we think.”

Your small conversation was interrupted when Ward slammed the door of the cabin shut and stomped towards both of you. He didn’t hesitate to grab the hoods of your jackets and drag you down the stairs to the main level. There was a moment of quiet, one you dreaded because you knew the screaming match was on the other side. 

“Do you want them to take you?” The question was low and heavy as it slipped from Ward’s mouth.

“We didn’t ask to be here!” Sarah defended as she tossed her hands around in frustration.

“You’re here, and you’re staying here!” Ward screamed right back, the tone of his voice enough to send you into shock as you stumbled back away from him. It had been months since you’d heard him yell that way and it still struck you in the gut the way it had before. He was terrifying, and he scared you, and worst of all, he knew it too.

Sarah smacked her dad’s hand away in order to grab yours and pull you with her as she stormed away from the scene. What the two of you missed, was the sight of your brother looking over the railing with the painful realization that Ward Cameron was alive. What you missed, was that your friends managed to sneak on the boat and were looking for you and Sarah, risking their own lives and recruiting others to help their mission. Your body felt like it was floating, no doubt your brain’s defense to keep you away from all the memories threatening to cave you in. Part of you regretted hopping over the wall to help Sarah that night, but honestly, you didn’t. You didn’t want her to go through this alone.

Turning the wrong corner, your luck ran you straight into Rafe Cameron, who had obviously been waiting for your arrival. He took your moment of distraction to grasp onto your wrist and twist your arm painfully behind your back. A sharp whimper left your mouth as he pushed you along, Sarah screaming and fighting her dad behind you. 

“You Pogues never learn your lesson, huh? Someone always has to get hurt.” His statement was venomous yet you still wanted to roll your eyes at him. Kook King Rafe Camerone wouldn’t be winning every battle, you would make sure of that. Especially once you got off this boat with Sarah, one of his biggest prizes would be swimming away before he could blink. 

Rafe pulled you into a dark red room, an alarm blaring nearby for unknown reasons, but it was enough to give you a headache. “This is what happens when we can’t trust you,” Rafe tried to reason.

You laughed and moved away from him when he dropped his grip. “Oh, yes. Because you and your dad are so trustworthy!” You shot back as Ward and Sarah stumbled in the room together. “We saw the cross. The whole ridiculous speech you gave about trading was see through. Do either of you ever tell the truth?” 

You felt like a little kid arguing with your dad as you did so often. He always took John B’s side, never yours. He never let you do anything that your brother got away with. Your whole life, you were second place, limited, weak. And here you were, back in the same scenario with Ward and Rafe screaming at you and Sarah. 

“Since you both clearly cannot make good decisions, I will make them for you! Decision one, you will not see John B again. Ever. You’re both coming with us, for good. One day, you will see. You’ll grow up and you’ll see I’m doing this for you.” He pointed at Sarah before making a move to leave.

“No, you’re not!” She clipped back. “Everything you do is for yourself. You are greedy. You are selfish. You are manipulative, you are a liar.”

“I am your father.”

“And you are a murderer.” 

The loud smack that followed made you gasp as Ward’s hand landed against Sarah’s cheek. With wide eyes, you launched yourself on Ward’s back and wrapped your arm around his neck, choking him with force. 

“You son of a bitch!” You screamed as he tried to pull you off to no avail. Rafe’s hands yanked at your jacket before Sarah launched at him with a wrench she found nearby. Ward’s fingers grasped your arms as he gasped for air, but you weren’t giving up so easily. “Oh, how’s it feel, Ward Cameron? Is this how you killed my father? Tossed him in the ocean to never be seen again. Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it?”

He moved sharply, nailing your spine into a ridge in the wall that had you crying in pain and releasing your hold on him. You didn’t hesitate to collect yourself off the ground, pulling Sarah’s arm from where she had just knocked Rafe in the back of the head so the two of you could get out of there. Sarah turned and locked the door as quickly as possible, but the heavy metal did nothing to mute the screams coming from the other side. 

A broken order to meet at the tween forward hull came over the PA but neither of you bothered to listen to it and continued to run as far as you could. Sarah turned a sharp corner, leading the two of you straight to where a decent sized lifeboat was dangling over the water. She tossed her sweatshirt inside and moved to unlock all the latches keeping everything tied up.

You followed her lead, grabbing anything that looked useful before hitting the lever to move the lifeboat further over the water so you could lower it. It hit the water shortly after, both of you sharing a smile of success before you started throwing the ladder off the side to climb down. Throwing the last rung off the side, you stood up straight. “Ready?”

When the blonde girl didn’t answer, you turned around to see her in a staring match with her father who had managed to escape the lock on the door. She took a step back into your hands, pointing a sharp finger at her dad. “You get the hell away from me! I’m not doing this shit anymore, I’m not going with you!” She shouted angrily.

Ward surprisingly nodded. “I know, I get it. I mean it took a while because I didn’t wanna believe, but… I finally understand what everybody was trying to tell me. You’re not one of us. Right? Not anymore. And you never will be. But now, the problem is this… what do I do now?”

“You let us go,” Sarah said, the nerves clear throughout her body as she stood in front of him. You could tell she was terrified and after the events of today, you didn’t blame her. 

“Let you go?” Ward repeated before laughing. “Let you go back and tell everyone that I’m alive and tell them where we are and what we’ve done? Baby, come on now. You know I can’t do that.” He placed his hands on her neck softly. “I don’t know what to do with you!” 

In a swift movement, his grip tightened and he pushed her back against the metal side. You screamed in shock, jumping forward to grab Ward’s throat and throw him off balance. He seemed to be expecting it though, and with a harsh shove, you were colliding with the other wall of the boat. 

Your body was sending big red flags with even the slightest of movements. Your shoulder ached, back scorching with pain, but you refused to watch Sarah die at the hands of her own father. Attempting to sit up, you grabbed the side of the boat but a sharp pain kept you grounded.

“Sarah! Let her go!” You screamed in hopes that someone, anyone would hear and stop Ward. You knew you were hopeful to think anyone would even come in between him and murdering someone, but you had to try.

“Get off her!”

A blur of pink flooded your vision as someone ran forward, yanking Ward off of Sarah. The man crumbled to the ground with the force of the punch before you were able to focus your vision enough to recognize your brother was standing a few feet away. He didn’t hesitate to hold Sarah in his grasp, the two of them mumbling reassurances as you managed to pull yourself into a sitting position.

“John B!” Your shout was a split second late as Ward managed to get back on his feet and tackled your brother from his spot. Sarah yelled out in shock, her hands grasping at her dad in a futile attempt to make him stop. John B managed to elbow Ward in the ribs to gain enough time to pull away and kick the older man in the stomach.

Once John B had the upper hand, Sarah took a second to run to your side. “I gotcha, here.” 

Her hands were gentle as they helped pull you from the ground, a sharp hiss leaving your lips as you did so. All the nonstop running and chaos more than likely irritated previous injuries and subjected you to new ones. There wasn’t any time to worry about it now, though.

John B managed to hit hard enough that Ward’s skull connected with the low side of the boat causing an instant formation of blood. You watched as your brother crouched down to taunt the man who had ruined so much of his life. “Is this how you did it? Is this how you killed my father? You just threw him in the ocean?”

Tears burned your eyes as you listened to John B almost repeat the exact same thing you had said to Ward not too long ago. As much as you tried to avoid it, you were just kids. Kids who were mourning their father who had been lost. There was no closure, no happy ending, and you were thrown head first into this crazy whirlwind of treasure hunting with no form of guidance. 

“I never got to say goodbye because of you. This is all your fault.” 

John B shifted to pick Ward up by the fabric of his shirt, leaning to throw the man overboard as he pictured his father in a similar position. He hesitated, taking a second to look at Sarah, who gave him a teary nod. Your brother looked to you next, taking in the exhaustion on your face and the tears on your cheeks as you held yourself in a hug. He refused to let you watch him do this, and he refused to let Sarah feel alone because of him. 

Deciding against what he really wanted to do, John B let go of Ward’s shirt. Sarah let out a visible sigh of relief but didn’t say a word. Your brother was quick to jump back into action. “Hey, we gotta go, okay? I got you, we gotta pick up the others.”

He turned to you a second later before pulling you into a bone crushing hug. A sob threatened to break free from your throat at the feeling of being held by your older brother, the realization that he actually didn’t forget about you this time was overwhelming. You couldn’t care about the pain rushing through your body with every movement, you were just glad he was here.

“You’re okay, promise,” He reassured as he let go to hold your hand instead. Turning back to Sarah, he grabbed her hand too before the three of you placed yourselves on the edge of the boat. You could see the lifeboat down below and there was no time to climb the ladder at this point. John B gave a quick countdown before you jumped into the dark ocean below. 

The water felt cool for a moment, relaxing the tension in your body as you swam to the surface. John B and Sarah were there seconds later, all of you swimming as fast as possible towards the lifeboat. Grabbing the ropes along the side, you kicked your legs as hard as you could to get some momentum to climb up the boat. Each movement caused a tingling sensation across your back, but you had come way too far to stop now.

John B climbed up next, reaching out to help Sarah before he moved to start the engine. Just as it kicked to life, you watched as two more people jumped from the deck of the boat into the water. John B quickly steered the lifeboat in their direction until you could make out Pope’s familiar face alongside a girl you hadn’t seen before.

Hands reaching out, you and Sarah grabbed onto the girl and pulled her aboard as John B hauled Pope up next to you. “Oh my God!” Sarah practically screamed as she recognized the girl you had just pulled from the water. “Cleo, holy shit!”

“Long time no see, girl,” Cleo responded as she hugged Sarah tightly. You didn’t bother with introductions, figuring it could wait until you weren’t fighting for your life in an endless ocean.

“Where’s J and Kie?” 

Your brother’s question had you turning towards him in concern. “JJ?” You repeated your boyfriend’s name in shock that the whole damn crew had managed to sneak onto the boat without getting caught. 

“We’re gonna find them,” John B assured you as he began to turn the boat towards the other side of the Coastal Venture. 

The rush of water in your ears was almost deafening but even still, you could hear a distance scream, “John B! Help!”

You could make out Kie’s head as she struggled to swim above the rocky waves. Your heart sank as you recognized the blond hair barely moving next to her. “JJ!” 

Similar screams echoed behind you as hands fought hands to grab onto your boyfriend and relieve Kie of his weight so she could climb up. You and John B managed to pull him up in between the two of you as you tried to wake him up. The sight of blood on his forehead terrified you.

“J, come on.” You were so sick of crying all the time, but nothing scared you more than the idea of JJ not being here. You tapped his cheek aggressively, trying in vain to snap him out of shock. You were so overwhelmed with trying to wake him up that you didn’t notice the lifeboat engine stalling, or the fact that Rafe had a gun aimed straight at you. 

“JJ, please!” Your voice cracked with tears that you couldn’t hold back as the reality that JJ might not be coming back from this fight hit you full force. “You can’t leave me, you promised! Wake up!”

An aggressive cough finally escaped his mouth as he let out all the water he had inhaled while unconscious. A wave of relief took over as you finally relaxed next to him with your hand still on his shoulder in fear that he would disappear if you let go. Everyone crowded him with words of concern as John B continued to steer you all away. 

JJ followed the feeling along his arm up to your worried face. You stared back at him, a small smile on your lips with ugly tears no doubt still on your cheeks. His expression was blank, probably confused from what he woke up to, but he was okay, and that was all that mattered.

“Sup?”

You collided against him, hands searching for any bare skin you could grab to just feel him, and hold him, and ground yourself. JJ shifted to sit up so he could hold you properly, letting you settle into his lap once he got his thoughts together. His arms were snug around you as he pieced together that you were okay, and you were here, with him. No more Rafe Cameron, no more kidnapping. You were safe in his arms.

“Just always looking for attention, huh?”

JJ laughed, one of his hands letting go of your waist to gently touch the side of his head. “What the hell happened?”

“Blunt end of a machete,” Kie answered simply, grabbing one of the towels you had thrown aboard to hold it against JJ’s head to stop the bleeding.

“Next time, duck.”

As the boat continued to coast away from the Coastal Venture, vows of the treasure hunt not being over were promised, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care. You were just thankful to have your family here, in one piece more or less. That was all that mattered.

Your group settled into a rather comfortable conversation, everyone catching up on what was missed. Cleo was apparently the girl who had helped Sarah and John B in Nassau, saving their lives more than once. Your friends had snuck onto the boat through one of the shipping containers, sweating it out until Pope and John B were brave enough to take the risk to look around. Sarah relayed your half of the story, letting everyone know how Ward had escaped and Rose was in on it. 

“Hi,” JJ’s voice was quiet as he looked down at you. Your sweatshirt sleeve had been ripped off in favor of wrapping the material around his head to keep the bleeding down, but if you were honest, it just made him look silly. 

“Hi,” You repeated as you leaned your head against his shoulder, not wanting to separate from him yet. Your heart was racing, the adrenaline refusing to wear off just yet until you guys found safety somewhere. This never ending battle of attempting to find some normalcy was pointless now, and all you could hope for was that your family would be able to stick together through whatever was coming.

“Are you okay?” JJ lips were gentle on your temple as he held you close. He couldn’t lie around the fear in his chest when you went missing. There was no way to tell if you were okay, if Rafe had gotten to you or if you were in a mindset he couldn’t pull you out of. JJ just wanted to make everything okay again. 

You looked up at him, placing a small kiss on his jawline before settling in the crook of his neck. “I will be.”

And so, here you were. A group of chaotic, overwhelmed teenagers who had nothing to their names. No food, no clothes, just you and the wide ocean ahead of you. You didn’t know what would happen from here, if you guys would figure it out or if you would die in this lifeboat with nothing left. But you honestly couldn’t care; as long as you had your family with you, you’d be fine.

To going full Pogue.

--

navigation -- series masterlist

[obxsummer]

Holding On // Ghost of You

pairing: jj maybank x routledge!reader

summary: relationships are being tested all around, limbrey's a witch, and an explosion has jj wondering if the routledge siblings will ever be the same again

navigation -- series masterlist

ask me anything 

--

“So, Sarah just dips and doesn’t call?”

John B, as much as you loved him, was a dumbass. In his defense, he did just get out of prison and you had no doubt that there was a lot on his mind, but sometimes you wanted to slap him. 

Sarah had dipped at some point yesterday and hadn’t been back since. Clearly, she wouldn’t have an idea that he was back and evidently, he couldn’t think far enough ahead to consider that. He just automatically assumed she was avoiding him.

“Yeah, man. She just left her bag. Didn’t tell anybody.”

“I-I really think Ward got to her. I mean, the dude tried to have me killed in jail.” As your friends flipped toward him in concern, a chill ran down your spine. “He sent somebody to the prison who yoked me up and almost killed me.”

“You serious?”

“Yes! Do you see these bruises? I didn’t get them from a massage, Kie!”

“Do we know who this dude was?”

“What? No!”

“Guys!” The word was enough to snap them out of their conversation, all eyes coming towards your direction where you hid behind your sunglasses. “He’s not lying. Ward told me it was coming a week ago, before the court session. I don’t know who it is, but obviously he paid someone. Either way, it doesn’t matter now. You’re home, that’s the biggest hitch in his plan, okay? So, it’s fine for now.”

John B sent you a death glare as he plopped onto the HMS Pogue across from Kie. “No, it’s not fine. We gotta find Sarah.”

“No, literally,” You repeated smugly as you pointed past his shoulder towards the approaching boat, having caught sight of it while they were arguing. “She’s right there.”

John B turned around to see Topper’s Malibu gliding through the water with the Kook himself accompanied by none other than Sarah Cameron. She didn’t hesitate to shout your brother’s name, relief overwhelming her features as she stood up from her seat.

“What the hell is she doing with Topper?” Kie’s distaste was hard to miss as she glanced over her shoulder to look at you, JJ, and Pope. You could only shrug in response. Your chest felt heavy as you looked towards Topper, half expecting some snarky comment, but instead you were met with sadness. Why Sarah chose to run back to him, you weren’t sure, but he got one hall pass for helping John B escape the cops. And he just used that hall pass by showing up here, so.

“Sarah, they’re coming after Rafe.”

“Good, he’s completely unhinged.” Her comment made you laugh sharply as she climbed off the boat. It’s almost like you’d been saying that for a while now. “He jumped me last night.”

Now that, you weren’t expecting. Ward had the biggest soft spot for Sarah, so you assumed that followed for Rafe too considering he was a daddy’s boy. Clearly, the eldest Cameron child had gone beyond that, especially when he shot her in the hip not too long ago.

“Yeah, man, Rafe’s lost his mind. Literally almost drowned his own sister,” Topper added, “Thankfully I got there just in time.”

The awkward tension made you want to throw up and based on JJ’s face, he felt the same way. The blond boy gave you a small wink as he rested his hand on your ankle, rough fingers brushing over your skin. You shifted towards him quietly, flipping around so you could rest your head on his thigh. The sun was warm against the thin long-sleeve shirt you had tugged from the drawer this morning, but you weren’t complaining. 

You closed your eyes and tuned out the uncomfortable conversation between your brother and his girlfriend, instead opting to listen to the small waves and seagulls up above. You had yet to let your body relax from the GoGoGo it had been experiencing for so long but you hoped you’d be able to adjust soon. 

“Hi, babe.” The yellow light from the sun disappeared from your closed eyelids before you blinked directly into JJ’s gaze. A small smile formed on your lips as you reached up and gently pushed his face away.

“Don’t babe me,” You joked as you pulled your sunglasses back down and closed your eyes again in favor of the quiet peacefulness. “Where’d everyone go?” Your voice dropped to a murmur as JJ’s fingers ghosted over your warm skin.

“Chateau,” He answered simply. “Lovers quarrels on all ends but you and me, sunshine.”

Rolling your eyes, you sat up and pulled your legs to your chest as you faced him. “Oh, is that what we are? Lovers?” You’d never seen JJ so clammed up except in that moment which sent you spiraling into laughter. “Holy shit, you’re blushing so hard.”

“Stop it, dude!” He shoved at you jokingly and ran a hand through his hair. “So not cool, fuck.”

You gaped at him. “Did you just call me dude?”

“Yeah. Dude.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Leaping forward, your hands grabbed his worn flannel and pushed him back against the wooden dock. Your thighs resting against his, your weight supported by your own muscles as you pressed your palms against his chest. “Call me dude one more time, Maybank, and it’s over.”

“Alright, alright! Damn, you’re strong.” He raised his hands in mock surrender before you climbed off of him to start up towards the house. “Dude!” With the last word seemingly in his pocket, he took off up the wooden walkway, leaving you behind with an open mouth. 

--

Life wasn’t slowing down anytime soon, and the second JJ left your side to answer Pope’s phone, it was chaos all over again. The adrenaline rush didn’t stop until your hands were ripping open bandages and gently placing them on Mr. Heyward’s broken skin, who had apparently been jumped.

“Let me know if I’m hurting you,” Your voice was quiet as you slowly pressed the adhesive band-aid into place on his forehead.

“You’re doing just fine,” Heyward responded before you stepped back. “Thank you, darlin’.”

Pope’s face was instantly in front of his father’s the second you pulled away. “Pop, what happened?”

Mr. Heyward gave a quick rendition of the altercation, which, unsurprisingly, was about the key that had mysteriously become a heavily wanted item. You weren’t focusing on his conversation very much though, and instead turned to where your brother was pouting on the bench next to you. 

“Hi,” You quietly whispered as you moved closer to him. It took one look for you to see the tension in his muscles and the stress on his face. “You okay?”

His nervous leg tapping didn’t stop as he sat up straighter. “No. Not really?” 

“What’s wrong?”

John B sniffled slightly, quickly brushing his eyes to wipe small tears so nobody else would see. “Nothing. Not here, please.” 

You muttered a small agreement, letting your brother tuck himself into your side without question. Your heart broke for him. It was unbelievable that Ward Cameron had managed to take down the entire Routledge family, one after the other, in a small amount of time. You wanted to fix it, you wanted to fix everything that had gone wrong. 

After your conversation with Pope’s dad sentenced you to another adventure, you found yourself buckled in the passenger seat of the Twinkie in search of some key. John B had practically shoved you into the seat, clearly wanting to be left alone for the ride which he knew you would comply with. You pushed your feet onto the dash and kicked the seat back as the tree shadows danced along your vision while your brother drove to who-knows-where. 

JJ’s fingers slipped beneath your tank top strap as he sat behind you, touch gentle as it danced across your skin. One thing you had noticed since you came back was the constant attention. JJ always had physical contact, one way or another. You wondered if something truly shifted between the two of you or if maybe, this was just new and you would grow used to it. Not that you were complaining either way.

“Guys, the thing that Limbrey said, I don’t think she meant to let it slip. She said the key leads to the Cross of Santo Domingo.”

“Are we supposed to know what that is?” You didn’t miss John B’s eyes constantly flickering to the backseat where Sarah was sitting. Your brother got jealous easily, but honestly, so did you. It’s hard to worry about your place in someone’s life, and you didn’t doubt that he was questioning his own spot in Sarah’s right now after the escapade with Topper.

“I’m guessing it’s some sort of historical artifact of great importance,” Pope offered. 

You tuned them out again, your brain not having the mental capacity to keep up with the wandering conversation each time. John B’s fingers suddenly pushed against your knee as the van came to a stop. His comment was somewhat quiet but you heard him loud and clear, “Get your shoes off my dash.” 

“It’s my dash too, you asshat,” You mumbled but did what he asked before JJ was pulling your door open.

“Hey, uh, actually I think I’m gonna do this one by myself,” Pope spoke up before the whole group piled out of the car. It made sense, it was his relative to see and there was no need to overwhelm her.

“Are you sure?” Kie asked as you swung your legs into the doorframe, ready to follow if he asked. “We don’t mind.”

“Yeah, I can handle it. I don’t really need you… so,” He awkwardly trailed off but you could tell the sentence was meant to sting.

JJ huffed at the still beefing couple, “Oh, we’re just all one big happy family today, aren’t we?” His sarcasm wasn’t missed as Pope walked towards the building and everyone took note to pile back in the van.

“Well, now where do we go?” You groaned in boredom as you put your feet back up on the dash, pulling the door closed as you did so.

“There’s a little strip of shops around the corner?” Kie offered as she sprawled across the bench in the back. “Kill some time there.”

It didn’t take long to go a couple blocks. JJ and John B opted to stay and hang out in the van while you, Sarah, and Kie took the time to browse and get some fresh air. The small convenience store you walked into was bubbling with customers. You quickly separated from the girls, opting to grab a can of Pringles to snack on before meeting them at the fountain soda machine.

“I just don’t understand why he’s mad at me for it,” Sarah’s conversation continued as you inserted yourself. “I mean, it’s not like I was any less excited that he was home when I saw him. It just felt awkward to be like ‘Oh hey, thanks for saving my life but by the way, I’m kind of married but not really to my boyfriend’.”

“Tell me about it,” Kie scoffed as you paid for your items and walked back outside. “All of this crazy shit’s happening and Pope’s giving me the silent treatment for not being in love with him.”

Sarah gave her a smile as she twisted her straw around in the cup. “And we’re the dramatic ones.”

The three of you piled back into the van, this time with JJ in the passenger seat and you lingering behind him. The drive back to Pope’s grandma’s was quiet with the sound of the radio playing lightly in the background. The boy in question was quick to throw the door open and plop in his seat before John B broke the silence and asked how it went.

Pope’s reply was short and simple but left you questioning everything that happened so far. “Shit just got way more personal.”

--

The entire drive back to Heyward’s dock was filled with the explanation that Denmark Tanny was a relative of Pope’s. The journey you all had been on suddenly became so real and if anything, it drove you to want to succeed even more.

“I can’t believe you’re related to Denmark Tanny,” John B said as you pulled yourself up onto the wooden railing to sit. “Are we in the presence of a royal?”

“A king?” JJ played along as both of them stared at Pope before switching to a high pitched accent, “We shall crown him! All hail the lord of Tannyhill! We are not worthy!”

Pope rolled his eyes but couldn’t help and smile at the antics. “Everybody relax, can we relax please?”

Sarah took a sip of the beer in her hand. “Relocate to Cat’s Ass, question mark?”

You raised the drink in your hand in agreement. “I’m down with that!”

“How soon can we move in?” Sarah continued to play along. “Cause I don’t have a place to stay.” 

JJ jumped in with her, the two of them going back and forth. “Me either, bunk beds?”

“Bunk beds. Cheers to that!”

You shook your head slightly as Pope cut them off to talk about the letter Limbrey sent him. JJ, calming down from his antics, came to stand between your legs and let your arms rest along his shoulders. He wouldn’t say it, but after losing you to Ward, again, he hated the thought of you leaving his reach. The comfort and relief he found in the simplest of touches with you calmed his racing nerves and he could finally feel at peace for once. He was scared - scared that one day he would reach and you would be gone and he didn’t know what he would do. JJ loved you, it took him a while to come to terms with it in the chaos of life recently, but he loved you. He just needed to tell you.

“Listen, guys. I keep thinking about the letter Limbrey sent. It had the wheat symbol on it. That must mean it has something to do with the Royal Merchant,” Pope explained as he paced back and forth across the wooden planks. “If we find that cross, then we can split it like we were gonna split the gold.”

“And live happily ever after?”

The new voice coming from behind made you jump in your spot, JJ’s hands instantly going to your knees as you both looked over to see an older woman approaching with a man by her side. John B was suddenly tense and with the way your friends reacted, you were able to conclude that this was the Limbrey woman Pope kept talking about. 

Pope’s expression dropped as he slowly stepped towards her. He was quickly pushed back by Limbrey’s bodyguard. “You assaulted my father.” 

“Oh, I didn’t assault anybody,” The woman claimed.

Kie crossed her arms, completely unamused by the situation in front of her. “He can identify the psycho from a mile away,” She countered.

“Why would my employee assault your father? That’s absurd,” Limbrey brushed off with a fake laugh. “Listen. We can keep on negotiating, but the fact is that I want the key. Until I have it, I don’t have a choice, which means you don’t either.”

Your brother shifted to the left of you, leaning against the railing you were seated on as he held the golden key in discussion up in the air. You could see the smirk itching to form on his face. “It’s Limbrey, right? Is that right?” When he got the confirmation he was looking for, the woman’s attention was on him instantly as she stared at the object in his hand. “Is this what you’re looking for?”

Like a stray dog looking for food, she practically begged, “Yes, it is.”

“Looking at the tide right now, I’d say it’s about 20 feet deep out there. So if I just threw it in the channel, the probability of you finding it again is slim to none. Wanna give it a shot?” Without waiting for a response, John B faked a throw, earning screams of protest. 

With a look of distaste towards your brother, she let out a sigh of relief when she noticed he didn’t throw it. “Please don’t do that.”

John B wasn’t phased by it and instead, motioned to the guy who was still keeping Pope pinned against the wall. “Get him to back the hell up.”

Limbrey quickly agreed and told her partner to move before she walked closer to Pope. “As I have told you from the beginning, I am willing to be reasonable.”

Pope’s eyes moved across the three of you until John B gave him a slight nod. “Okay,” He agreed, which confused Limbrey more. “I’ll give you the key, but I want the tape.”

John B moved from your left to approach him. “Pope, hey, hey, hey, hey. You don’t have to do this, okay?”

“No, it’s okay,” You could tell Pope had picked up whatever hint was between the lines, not that you understood it yourself. “It’s fine. It’s okay. It’s about your dad. That’s way more important.” He held his palm out for your brother to place the key in it before facing Limbrey. “The tape.”

“Yes, give him the tape.” The two items were exchanged simultaneously as the woman let out a sigh of relief, “You know, I wish that you’d come to this decision earlier. We could’ve avoided all this unpleasantness.”

You groaned as she began to hobble away, thinking she’d absolutely won this battle.

“How long do we think we have until she realizes she has your father’s old key?” The boy in your grasp turned to your sibling with a smirk.

“10 minutes,” John B responded without a beat.

Pope turned around in shock. “Whose idea was the fake key?”

“Shockingly, not mine.”

John B hummed for a second, his arm resting against yours across JJ’s shoulders as he tugged him closer in acknowledgement to pat his chest. “Hmm, I don’t know. Should we tell him?” 

“Wow,” You laughed from your spot and ran your fingers through his hair so he’d look up at you. “I’m impressed.”

“Did hell freeze over?” 

“I’m actually in shock.”

“Who knew JJ could actually be good for something.”

The smile didn’t leave anyone’s face, especially when John B brought up bringing the tape to Shoupe. You could see a flicker of emotion in Sarah’s expression but couldn’t bring yourself to think on it too much as JJ pulled you along in excitement.

--

While JJ, John B, Kie, and Pope were buzzing with the news of Ward’s demise, you couldn’t pull your eyes from Sarah’s sulking form. You were thrilled to see the downfall of two people you despised, knowing full well Rafe and Ward deserved what was coming. Still, your heart hurt for the girl in front of you, knowing you’d be a mess if it were your dad and John B in that position. Hell, listening to the rumors about your brother was enough to spiral, let alone watching it all be true. 

Getting up from your spot on the counter, you came to sit on the outdoor couch with Kie and Sarah. “Do you regret it?” Kie asked, sensing the negative reaction soon to come from the girl next to her.

“No,” Sarah shook her head slightly but it didn’t help the frown on her face. “He deserves all of it, and I know that.”

“But he’s still your dad,” You added as you swirled the can of beer in your hand. “I get it. I’m sure it sucks to be in the middle.”

You caught a glance at Sarah’s phone screen as it started to ring. Topper’s face was on the screen, his name in big white letters shining back before she excused herself to take the call. You could tell the conversation wasn’t going as well as she wanted and quickly got to your feet.

“Hey,” You hissed as you stepped into the kitchen, silencing the boys and their antics. “The warrant’s out. Based on the convo she’s having, they’re probably on their way.” 

A series of cheers followed your statement and you quickly looked over your shoulder to see Sarah staring. Mouthing an apology, you turned back to the boys and smack JJ lightly on the back of his head. “Seriously? Calm down. And comfort your fucking girlfriend, Booker.”

You turned sharply on your heel, John B huffing out a disagreement before the three of them were up and heading towards the van. Grabbing Kie and Sarah on your way, you all piled into the van with the star couple up front. Pinned between JJ’s legs as you sat on the floor, the elevated adrenaline was not helping the panic in your system. As much as you wanted justice for Ward, you hated that Sarah was caught in the crossfire. 

“Babe,” JJ’s voice was soft as he reached down to offer you his hands to let you hold them tightly and relieve pressure. “It’s okay, it’s gonna be fine.” 

As soon as his statement finished, the sound of police sirens drowned out your reply as you saw four cop cars speed past. 

“Oh, my God. Can you please hurry? I need to be there for Wheezie.” Sarah watched them move anxiously, her eyes scanning the road rapidly. 

“You think I wanna miss this?” John B countered. You didn’t have the energy to scold him for his shitty attitude, instead focusing on your balance as he took a corner sharply to catch up. The brakes squealed when John B finally came to a stop and everyone rushed to pile out. The concrete wall that surrounded the Cameron Estate blocked your path. 

Pushing up to your tiptoes, you struggled to see over the barrier before you got annoyed by all the shoving. “Screw it, I’m going over.” 

With a huff, you pushed your strength into your arms and hauled yourself over the wall to the grass on the other side. John B and Pope hopped over right away, JJ staying to assist Kie and Sarah before you all took off towards the dock. 

As John B took the lead, you reached back to grab Sarah’s hand. If your brother wasn’t going to be the bigger person, you were always the one picking up the slack. Sure, Sarah’s family had ruined you, but it wasn’t her fault, and you weren’t going to let her sit through the pain that you did of wondering what you would say to your dad before he was gone.

She let you guard her for a second before breaking away when she saw her sister. The comfort didn’t last though before she was shifting to head down the dock where the Druthers was out on the water. The police lined the wooden surface as they tried to talk Ward down from his scheme, but nothing really mattered until Sarah called out for him. 

“What are you doing here, Sarah?” Ward’s voice was harsh as he yelled across the water. You maneuvered through the officers surrounding you until you were front and center to the scene ahead. “Vic, you gotta get her out of here. She can’t be here right now!”

Shoupe wasn’t listening to the plea, “Just come on in, and you…you can talk to her!”

Your chest felt tight as you watched Ward lean against the railing in desperation. “Sarah, I’m so sorry, baby. I can’t!”

The crank of the anchor being pulled up was louder than you expected as other police boats arrived on the scene. Ward was quick to climb down the ladder and disappear into the cab of the boat despite Sarah yelling in protest. The moment of anticipation hung in the air like a still thread before everything shattered with an explosion. 

The dock rocked beneath your feet as you stumbled, hand reaching out to JJ before the heat of the fire was on your face. Debris flew everywhere as you ducked down in shock and realized the scene in front of you. 

Ward was gone. 

Sarah’s cries were ringing in your ears as you sank to the ground, mouth open with the realization that Ward Cameron destroyed his boat, his family, and his life all in one quick moment. You refused to look away until JJ was pulling you to your feet to leave the scene behind. More cops piled in behind you, the echo of a firetruck somewhere in the distance as you rushed up towards the van. 

You couldn’t fathom the feelings Sarah was going through, but the part of you was finally relieved. This shitty chapter of your story was finally on its way closed.

--

“Hi.”

The simple greeting had you glancing up from your spot in the hammock to see JJ shuffling towards you. His Kildare Surf zip-up faded in the glow of the sunset but regardless, he was angelic in your eyes. You pulled the sleeves of your thin sweater over your palms and forced a small smile. You’d been quiet most of the day, the weight of what had happened a day ago heavy on your mind. 

“Hi.” A small sniffle left your body as he climbed in across from you, his hand instantly going to your bare leg to comfort you in a way that only he could. 

JJ didn’t know what to do. He hated seeing you this way, so sunken in and upset. You shut down a lot easier than you used to, but that’s the price of trauma. 

“Are you okay?” The question was so silly, he felt like, but he needed some kind of response. 

You forced a small nod, knowing he could see through you without effort. “I will be.” Your gaze drifted to the dock where your brother was sitting across from Sarah, the two of them conversing. “I wish I could fix it,” You admitted. “I hate for people I love… to be in pain. It hurts me. I don’t like it, J.” Brushing over your nose with your sleeve, you couldn’t stop the tears from forming in your eyes again. “I feel horrible for her and what she’s dealing with.”

“I know, I know. But babe, you can’t fix it. As much as you want it all to go away, it’s up to the universe right now. You can’t put this on yourself.” JJ’s hand was warm on your skin, preventing you from curling into the ball he knew you wanted to be in. 

“They don’t deserve this-”

“And you don’t deserve to have the weight of everyone else’s pain on your shoulders.” You snapped your gaze back to him in shock that he had even said it. “I’m serious, don’t look at me like that. You know I’m right.”

You let out a small huff and flopped back fully against the netting on your back. You loved all the Pogues with your entire heart, but John B was your brother. He was always going to be your best friend, and as much as he pissed you off at times, you would be his biggest annoyance and his greatest supporter. Knowing he was struggling without Sarah made you sad, and even though JJ was right, you would crumble for any of them if it meant the slightest bit of relief. 

“You cannot keep doing this. Seriously.” When JJ finally got your eyes back on his, he could finally see how tired you were. You kept this family together on your own much more than you should, and holy shit, someone had to help you. He could only do his best, but they all needed to look out for each other a little more. “You’re exhausted, sweetheart.”

The nickname shattered your resolve and you finally caved into his touch, crawling across the hammock as best as possible to collapse onto his chest in a puddle of tears. “I’m sorry.” He was right. He was so right in many ways but you hated admitting you needed help. 

“Don’t you ever apologize, not to me,” He responded quietly before pressing a kiss to your forehead. JJ just wanted to hold you the way you had held all of them for so many years. He was beginning to realize how fragile everything could be if you let it wither down and he refused to let you even come close to breaking in front of him. 

Taking a deep breath, you remained in his embrace and willed yourself to stop crying. The shit your group was going through was unimaginable and you feared how long you could keep going before someone got seriously hurt. 

Your train of thought was interrupted as Sarah’s form began walking up the dock, leaving John B alone. Taking one glance at the blonde girl, you could tell their conversation was anything but happy. JJ already knew your next move and planted his foot on the ground for stabilization before you were out of his arms, rushing towards your brother. 

Converse slipping on the worn wood, John B lost it the second you collided with his side. His chest heaved with sobs as the two of you hit the floor in a puddle of tears. His life felt like it was crumbling apart with one thing after another.

“It’s okay,” You mumbled as you gripped his t-shirt tightly in your fingers, terrified that if you let go for a second he would disappear. “It’s gonna be okay.”

You could barely believe your own words at this point, but you had to try for him, for everyone, for yourself. JJ didn’t hesitate to pile himself between the two of you with the knowledge that the three of you only had each other to lean on at the end of the day. 

The blond boy held tightly to the two of you, his own chest in pain at the thought of the two strongest people he’d known his whole life unable to keep it together. JJ just hoped he could manage to keep everything together and get you back on your feet before something else tried to tear your group apart. 

--

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edited dec 2025