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outer-bnks · 3 years

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Two Burning Hearts Are Dared to Break (JJ x OC) Ch. 16

Movie night at the Chateau is usually a fun occasion for the Pogues, until JJ confronts Topper about his intentions with Elle.

Warning: brief mention of alcohol

A/N: this chapter is going to lead into some of the events from S2, and for the premise of this story the Pogues don’t know that Rafe killed the Sheriff.

happy reading <3

Word count: 2.5k

Elle was nervous. Shaky hands, butterflies in her stomach, mind-spinning nervous. And she could tell that Topper felt the same, with his hand tightly gripping hers as they walked down to the front door of the Chateau.

Topper wasn’t exactly thrilled when she told him their change of plans earlier that afternoon, and she couldn’t really blame him. They were both looking forward to hanging out together now that school was back, and swapping their quality time for a confrontational meeting with the Pogues wasn’t ideal. Kie was right, it needed to happen though. If Elle and Topper were going to be doing whatever they were doing, then he needed to be able to get along with the others. Elle internally cringed at how right the Spice Girls were.

The pair paused at the door, exchanging reassuring smiles. “It’ll be fine Topp. Just be yourself”. She squeezed his hand, entering before the Chateau.

Elle noticed that it looked particularly tidy. Tidier than it had earlier that afternoon. JJ had been living there ever since John B went missing and she had never seen it look like this, even when John B was made to keep it clean by Big John. Had JJ tidied up for her and Topper? Moving past these thoughts, she noticed the Pogues in the kitchen, preparing some snacks like they always did for their movie nights.

“Hey guys, we’re here”, Elle called as she dragged Topper along with her to the kitchen to greet them all.

Topper was, to put it lightly, shitting his pants. He had overheard the words exchanged between Elle and JJ at the Island Party and was very aware of JJ’s opinion of him, and was not excited for how this confrontation would unfold.

Kie greeted them with an almost exaggerated smile, moving towards the fridge. “Elle! Topper! Hey, did you want a beer?”. Pope and JJ turned their attention away from the cheese toasties they were currently pan frying, Pope offering a soft smile, calling out his hello. JJ nodded at the pair, taking in their hands still tightly grasped, before diverting his eyes to his beer resting on the kitchen counter.

“Yeah sure that’d be great Kie”, Elle responded, grateful for her welcoming hospitality that eased some awkwardness. Kie grabbed two beers, removing the bottle lids and passing them over.

Pope decided he should probably at least act welcoming, as Elle and Topper stood awkwardly in the kitchen doorway. “We’re making cheese toasties if you want some. Grown Ups is in the DVD player ready to go”. Grown Ups was one of their favourite movies and Elle couldn’t count the number of times they’ve watched it. Everyone claimed that it was because it was such an upbeat happy movie, but everyone secretly knew it was actually because they hoped that they would remain friends in that way even when everyone had their own lives. Elle ignored the pang in her heart at the reality of John B and Sarah not being there to watch it with them again.

Having not said too much since entering, Topper spoke up, “Oh I love that movie! The toasties smell great too”.

JJ rolled his eyes at his response, lifting his beer to his mouth to take a sip. He hadn’t stopped drinking since Elle had left earlier, and had downed maybe four beers in the time before she’d left and returned. He knew that he was going to need some liquid courage if he was going to watch her and Topper act like a couple all night, but four for JJ was almost childs play. He’d built his alcohol tolerance up too high for someone of his age.

Gathering their snacks, they all headed into the lounge room. Topper sat closest to the arm of the lounge, Elle sitting next to him, followed by Kie and Pope. JJ had chosen to sit in the armchair that was slightly turned towards the lounge, internally cringing at how he felt like a 5th wheel. From his seat he could clearly see Elle and Topper, and how she subtly leaned into his side as his arm was thrown across the back of the lounge. An angry heat spread through his body, forcing himself to look away from the pair and focus on the TV.

An air of tension was still present as they began the movie, but it started to dissipate as the group relaxed into their seats and made brief commentary throughout. JJ was especially quiet, which everyone knew was not like him. Usually his hyperactiveness would heighten whenever he was required to sit still for an extended period of time. He’d become fidgety and restless, needing to have something to do with his hands. Or he would talk, a lot, about anything. Facts he knew about the cast, how unrealistic a scene was, or questioning the ending of the movie before they had even reached it. His silence was unsettling to the Pogues, knowing how out of character it was for him. Elle snuck a glance over to him, watching him play with his rings, twisting them around his fingers anxiously, his knee bouncing continuously, his eyes unwavering from the TV. She felt as though she was waiting for an outburst of some kind. JJ had never been good at communicating his emotions, either; staying deadly silent, lashing out in rage, or completely crumbling, like the night in the hot tub.

Pope interrupted Elle’s memory of that night, “I love the idea of arrow roulette, I reckon we should try it one day”, he turned, raising his eyebrows suggestively as he looked first at Kie and then to Elle.

“Ahm, I don’t know about tha-”.

“Can we just cut the crap here?”, JJ spoke, cutting Elle off. This is exactly the outburst Elle was expecting. Everyone’s heads snapped towards him, surprised after remaining quiet for so long. He shook his head out of exasperation, “Why are we pretending like we’re one big happy family right now?”. His eyes darted to each figure on the couch, lingering on Elle for a split second longer.

Topper shifted in his seat, rubbing his hands along his legs, preparing himself for the conversation that would follow.

“JJ-”, Kie began.

Topper leaned forward so that his elbows rested on his knees, clasping his hands together. “No, Kie it’s okay. I deserve you guys an apology”.

He took a deep breath before continuing, his gaze remaining on the floorboards. He had felt so guilt-ridden this past Summer for everything he had done, especially after losing Sarah. This was his chance to ask for forgiveness and put their mistakes behind them. “Look guys, I know that I’ve done some pretty fucked up things to you all recently and I don't expect you to forgive me for all of that”.

JJ scoffed, raising his hands before dropping them. “So then why are you here?”.

Topper glanced over to Elle who sat close by his side. He tried to ignore the heat of her thigh pressing against his because he knew if he focused on it too much those damn butterflies in his stomach would begin fluttering around again. “Elle’s told me about how you’re trying to clear John B and Sarah’s names, and I think I can help”.

Kie’s eyebrows furrowed, her face demonstrating her confusion. Topper took their silence as his sign to continue. “I just think that I could offer a different perspective”. To say they were taken aback by his reasoning was an understatement.

“A different perspective?” Pope dragged out the question, signalling for him to expand.

“Yeah. I mean, you’re all Pogues, and I’m a Kook”, Topper answered.

JJ let out a sarcastic chuckle, “Real great detective work there Topper! You’re hired”.

Ignoring JJ, he continued. “What I mean is that you’ve been looking at this through the lens of a Pogue, but you’re dealing with Ward Cameron. If you want to bring down a Kook, you need to know how they operate, how they think. I’ve been around the Camerons’ long enough to be able to do that for you”.

JJ, Kie and Pope were suspicious, each trying to piece together what he was saying. “So what do you get out of all of this?”, Kie asked, sitting forward in her seat to get a better view of Topper’s face, trying to determine his intentions.

Topper wasn’t surprised by their apprehension, he had been expecting it. “I know you guys don’t think I treated Sarah correctly, and I agree with you. I was obsessive and controlling and jealous, but she is”- he pauses, self-correcting himself- “was, everything to me. She deserves justice too”.

The group fell into a brief silence, everyone trying to process the conversation.

Making eye contact with Topper, JJ furrowed his eyebrows. “How are we supposed to trust you though?”.

“J, he just said he’s doing it for Sarah”, Elle spoke, breaking her silence.

JJ quickly dismissed her answer, “I’m not talking about that”.

After carefully choosing his words, JJ continued, “How do we know that this thing between you and Elle, is real. You said it yourself Topper, you’re a kook. You guys couldn’t be honest even if you tried”.

So this is what he’s been worried about, Elle thought. He wasn’t actually worried about her seeing Topper, he was worried about her getting hurt. Hurt by a kook, again. Elle hadn’t been romantically involved with anyone since Archer, and boy was that a shitshow. Being forced by her parents in her third year of living in the OBX to move from Kildare County to the Kook Academy, she’d met him and fallen in- what she thought was ‘love’ very quickly- and was betrayed even faster, not only by him but by her friends as well. It still boggled her how everyone had known Archer was cheating on her, and yet she was clueless. It had taken her a long time to forgive Rafe, Topper and Kelce for not telling her, when they claimed to be some of her best friends (other than the Pogues who had taken a backseat since her move to the Academy). Sometimes Elle thinks that she was most hurt by the obvious deceitfulness of her friends instead of the heartbreak itself. She’d become really close to them during her time at the Academy, somewhat filling the space of John B, Pope and JJ when she couldn’t see them.

Elle sighed softly, finally understanding where his defensiveness was coming from, “JJ…”.

“No, Elle. Why should we trust him after he and his friends let you keep dating Archer even though they knew he was cheating on you? He let you humiliate yourself in front of everyone, did he even apologise for that Elle?”, JJ’s voice rose, becoming more agitated by the past events.

Elle cut in before anyone else could, “JJ, so much has happened since then. That feels like it happened a lifetime ago”. She was hoping that by downplaying the severity of the situation, he might realise that she’d moved on.

JJ shook his head, raising to his feet, “Yeah but you were heartbroken Elle. Like - full-blown sobbing, couldn't get out of bed, romcoms on repeat- heartbroken. You can’t honestly sit there and say that you want to go through that again”.

Matching his attitude, Elle also rose to her feet, needing to feel more in control of the conversation. “Of course I don’t J! But I can’t live my life by avoiding things that could hurt me!”. JJ’s response got lost in his throat as he felt the true meaning behind her words. She was referring to him. No matter how many times he had hurt with his words or actions over the past few months, and no matter how many times she claimed she was done with him, she had never stuck to her word. She had always come back.

She took his silence as defeat. Waving a hand over to Pope and Kie beside her, her shoulders slumped, “This is why I didn't want to do this. I knew you guys wouldn't understand!”.

Kie felt terrible. How had she let her relationship with Elle get to the point where they couldn’t communicate, about boys, of all things. She knew she’d been prioritising work and her budding romance with Pope, but she didn’t truly comprehend the effect it had on her other relationships.

JJ scoffed, turning his head to look out to the marsh for a second before returning to Elle, “Oh I’m sorry but I don't understand why you would want to date someone who not only betrayed you, but then proceeded to nearly kill Pope, get me locked away and make our lives hell!”. Pope’s phone buzzed in his pocket, Kie’s dinging at the same time. Topper sat silently, watching the scene before him unfold. He felt incredibly awkward, and unwelcomed. But a part of him enjoyed watching Elle defend him. He hadn’t had many people defend him before and actually mean it. Sure Rafe and Kelce did from time to time, but that was mostly due to their Kook status, it carrying a certain camaraderie.

Elle was getting frustrated now, “God can't you just give him a chance! I know what has happened and I'm not excusing any of that behaviour”, Elle felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket, choosing to ignore it, “But things are different now, and we've”-

“Guys”, Kie attempted to interrupt as she stared wide eyed at her phone screen.

Her voice was lost amongst Elle’s yelling, “we’ve all changed since summer. Don't you think it's possible that maybe he has as well?”, she spoked, pointing at Topper. Pope noticed Kie’s reaction, pulling his phone out.

“Yeah I’ll believe that when I see it!”, JJ began to walk towards the porch, grabbing his phone from the coffee table, becoming interested in what the others were looking at.

Elle continued on as JJ walked away, “Can’t you see it now? Do you really think Topper wanted to come? No, of course not, but he's here because he knows how important you guys are to me. He’s trying-”.

“Guys!”, Pope shouted, finally stopping the constant bickering, “look at your damn phones!”.

Elle slipped her phone out of her pocket, noticing one new WhatsApp message from an unknown number. Opening it up, she felt her heart fall out of her ass. It was a photo of John B smiling brightly at the camera, with Sarah next to him, covering her mouth to suppress her laugh. The Pogues were deadly silent, each staring at the image in complete shock. Topper stood, walking over to Elle to check her phone over her shoulder. He couldn't believe his eyes, feeling his heart beat raise at an alarming rate.

“Is this real?”, Kie asked softly, her eyes filling with tears as she looked around at the group.

JJ began typing as he curated a message to send back to the unknown number, sniffling in an attempt to hide his emotions, “There’s only one way to find out”.

----

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outer-bnks · 3 years

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Kiara and JJ in Outer Banks season 2

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outer-bnks · 3 years

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Two Burning Hearts Are Dared to Break (JJ x OC) Ch. 15

The tension amongst the Pogues is thick with Elle and Topper's budding relationship.

Warning: mentions alcohol and drinking

Word count: 2.1k

The Pogues had returned to somewhat of a normal routine. With already being 2 weeks into the new school year, their studies had become a priority (for some). Pope spent all his free time either studying or working for his Dad, Kie doing the same, trying to mend her relationship with her parents by putting in extra shifts at The Wreck. When Elle wasn’t studying, she was babysitting for working parents around The Cut, and JJ, well, he was attending school and that was really all they could ask for.

However, a thick cloud of tension hung over the group. Ever since the Island Party, JJ and Elle kept all communication to a minimum, leaving group hangouts especially awkward. Kie and Pope had discussed whether they should try and diffuse the situation by addressing it, but decided that it was probably best if they all just ‘chilled’ out for a second while they got their lives in order.

Elle couldn’t lie, not speaking to JJ had proved to be a struggle. Although they had had numerous fights over the Summer and had always managed to somehow find their way back to each other, she felt as though they had reached a tipping point. She was right in thinking this, because JJ felt the same. He would never admit this out loud, but he was hurt. Really hurt and also incredibly jealous. JJ, who was currently drowning his sorrows with his emotional support flask, couldn’t seem to stop replaying the laundry room scene in his mind. The image of Topper’s grubby hands on her waist, and the way she was caressing his face made him want to puke up the alcohol currently swirling in his stomach. He thought he may be able to cope with the idea of her being friends with him (as long as he didn’t have to be), but knowing that they were together, changed everything. Of course they hadn’t actually spoken about Elle and Topper’s relationship status, but he felt that they didn't really need to. What he saw told him everything he needed to know.

Elle didn't even think she knew the status of her and Topper’s relationship. Because honestly, she had no clue where they currently stood. They had hung out a handful of times since the party, mostly spending their time in Figure 8 as to avoid any awkward Pogue encounters, soaking up the last of the Summer sun on the boat or in their pools. They had managed to watch The Society together, twice, loving the idea of a dystopian world that was drastically different from their own. Neither of them mentioned how it felt like a nice change from the current heartbreak they were working through. Elle felt comfortable around Topper. They actually spoke about John B and Sarah, and their memories of them both and how much they missed them. It was refreshing to have someone so emotionally vulnerable to confide in.

However, throughout this time spent together, they hadn’t mentioned the kiss. Elle - too afraid of the conversation leading to a romantic place that she wasn't sure if she was ready for, and Topper - too afraid that he would lose control over his emotions the same way he had with Sarah. To say both parties would like for it to happen again though, was an understatement. Elle had enjoyed the kiss and the way it made her feel. It took her a little while to distinguish what that feeling was, coming to the realisation that it was the feeling of being wanted. Something she hadn't felt in god knows how long. She ached to feel that way again, of someone being so invested in her that instead of hiding behind emotions, they acted on them. There was something incredibly attractive about someone who knew what they wanted and had no shame in trying to get it.

Topper on the other hand craved for the feeling he got when he was around Elle. Ever since the events of the storm, his heart constantly felt heavy but she made him feel light. In the sense that nothing seemed to bog him down when they were together, he could just be. They laughed a lot when they were together and actually had fun, he couldn't remember the last time someone made him feel so genuinely happy when he was around them.

Since school started back up, they haven't managed to spend a lot of time together. With Topper at the Kook Academy and Elle at Kildare County, their paths didn't seem to cross, hence why they had organised to hang out tonight and grab dinner in Figure 8.

Sat around the garden of the Chateau, Elle observed the way Pope acted with Kie as she sat on the arm of the chair he was currently on. His attention remained on her face as she animatedly discussed something about a new eco-friendly boat product, his arm around her waist, half ensuring she didn't fall off and half ensuring he was touching her in some way. His eyes mimicked Kie’s excited expression, bringing his beer up to his lips to take a sip. She wondered what he was thinking about. Was he actually listening to what she was saying, or was he just mesmerised by her.

Pope thought he was slick about his crush on Kie, but Elle knew. She was too observant to miss something like that. Especially when Pope was so oblivious to the way his body language gave away whatever he was thinking. She remembered the exact moment in which it clicked for her. They were out on the HMS Pogue. A Saturday maybe? She wasn't sure, the warmth of the Spring days giving the illusion of Summer. It was before the Gold Game had started, a couple months before Agatha hit. The sun was setting, the alcohol had clearly hit due to the fact that they were all dancing and giggling over the stupidest moves. John B had pulled Elle by her arm into his chest before spinning her back out and into JJ’s arms, she pushed him away as he jokingly leaned in for a kiss, walking over to the esky to grab another beer. Looking up briefly, she saw it, the glimmer in Pope’s eyes as he looked longingly at Kie doing the robot to John B.

Elle didn't think love could be that recognisable, but it was at that moment. Clear as day. She hadn't mentioned it to either Pope or Kie, knowing that her nose didn't belong in their business. But she hadn't forgotten it, and often saw that look reappear on Pope’s face from time to time.

What Elle hadn't seen though, was JJ gazing at her in the exact same way, over the course of the 4 or so years they had known each other. He’d always thought she was breath-taking, even doing the most mundane of tasks, like unpacking groceries in the kitchen of the Chateau, or when she would subconsciously twirl her hair around her finger as she sat on the couch reading. He always made sure he didn’t stare at her for too long, worried that someone would catch on and discover his true feelings. He couldn't risk that. He couldn't risk losing you, no matter how much he wanted to cross that line.

JJ watched Elle curiously, as she took in Pope and Kie. They’d been avoiding each other like the plague so he took this time to really study her. He noticed the way she looked at them, eyes flitting from Pope’s face to Kie’s. He guessed that she was trying to read them, she loved doing that. Trying to read people's emotions and feelings based on the way they looked at others, and the little signs like what they were doing with their hands, or how they positioned themself in relation to the other person. Elle had told JJ once that “you can know everything you need to know about how someone's feeling by the look in their eyes, because no matter what their words or actions say, their eyes can never lie”. At the time he thought it was an insanely cheesy thing to say, but over time he could come to the conclusion that it was true.

Kie and Pope returned their attention to the group, feeling Elle’s gaze on them, “What do you guys wanna do tonight? I was thinking about a movie night?”, Kie suggested a hopeful look in her eyes. She thought that maybe one of their old-fashioned Pogue movie nights could help mend the fragile relationship between Elle and JJ.

JJ nodded, his eyes moving to focus on his beer. He had been sleeping at the Chateau since the night of the storm so it's not like he wouldn’t be here anyway.

“I’m down”, Pope replied, looking at Elle expectantly.

She bit her lip lightly, feeling guilty for the way she was about to shoot them down to hang out with a person who had caused them so much trouble. “Uh sorry guys, that sounds fun but I kinda have… plans tonight”. Shit, she had made that sound way too suspicious.

Kie’s brows furrowed, quickly glancing at Pope and JJ before continuing. “Plans, with who?”.

JJ couldn't help but think of how stupid of a question it was. Who else would she be hanging out with other than Topper. He remained quiet, waiting to see if Elle’s response confirmed his hunch.

Taking a deep breath, she spoke to herself ‘short and sweet Elle, rip it off like a bandaid’. It’s not like they didn't know she was hanging out with him as of recent, but she was still hesitant about their reactions. “With Topper”.

Kie paused, nodding her head slowly, “Oh, uh. Cool, I guess”. It wasn’t cool and Elle knew that, but she couldn't help the way she was feeling about him. She was excited to hang out with him, and truth be told, hanging out with him felt like a lot less pressure than hanging out with the Pogues.

They sat in a brief silence, the awkward tension being felt throughout the group. This made Elle’s guilt triple. It was her fault that they were acting like this.

“Would he-”, Pope paused, questioning whether he wanted to finish his sentence, “wanna come, by any chance?”.

JJ scoffed. Was Pope serious right now? He was inviting Topper, who was currently, whatever he was, with the girl he was in love with, into JJ’s sanctuary.

Elle’s surprise was visible on her face, her eyebrows rising as she responded, “To the movie night? Are you sure you guys want him there?”.

JJ raised his arm, his jaw clenching as he spoke “I don’t”.

Kie gave him a disapproving look, “JJ be nice. If he has changed the way Elle says he has, maybe we could mend some old wounds?”.

“Speak for yourself. I don't need to mend anything”, his distaste of Topper shining through in his cold tone.

Elle remained quiet, thinking it over. She would love to be able to combine her two worlds, although she didn’t want to create any more trouble for either party. She sighed, “I don't want to make you guys uncomfortable or bring him somewhere he's not welcome”.

“It’s a little too late for that”, JJ huffed.

Kie stared at JJ. Pope followed suit in order to silently convince him that he should just go along with it if he wanted the group to get back to the way it was.

Taking his red cap off his head, he raked his hand through his hair before placing it back on his head. If he had to go along with this, he wasn’t going to play mister nice guy. He plastered on a sarcastic smile, “Ok fine whatever, bring your boyfriend. We’ll have one big family movie night! Just like old times huh?”.

Elle shook her head, rising from her seat and placing her bag over her shoulder, “It's alright guys. It's probably better off if we just keep these situations...separate”.

Kie stood quickly, grabbing onto Elle’s hand before she could begin walking to her car, “No Elle. We can surely give him a chance. You’re our best friend, and if we ever want to move past this, we need to understand what you see in him”.

Elle offered a close-mouthed smile, maintaining eye contact with Kie. She could see the sincerity in her face. Her eyes moved from Kie to Pope and JJ, taking in Pope’s hopeful look and the way JJ kept his focus on his beer can. “Okay, I’ll let him know. Text me what time and we’ll meet you here”.

Kie’s smile widened, nodding along, “Will do”.

The alcohol in JJ’s stomach did a somersault at the thought of spending the night watching Elle and Topper together. One thing was for sure, tonight would be interesting.

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outer-bnks · 3 years

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Two Burning Hearts Are Dared to Break (JJ x OC) Ch. 14

JJ catches Elle and Topper in a compromising position, eliciting a fight in which some truths are exposed.

Warning: brief mention of alcohol, smoking. hella angst

Word count: 1.5k

“JJ! Wait!”, she followed him out to the side entrance of the garden that was thankfully empty, watching as he made his way over to a catering truck that stood in the carpark attached to the club.

“For what Elle?! What I just saw doesn’t need explaining!”, he huffed, as he continued walking away from her.

“What are you even doing here?”, she questioned, unaware that he was going to be attending the party. Noticing his navy shirt and slacks, she realised that he was working one of his multiple jobs in order to earn enough to pay off his restitution. He opened the back doors of the truck, beginning to unload them.

“What does it look like? I just thought I’d swing by for shits and giggles”, he sarcastically answered, his arms out wide, looking around at the crates around his feet.

“Well you could’ve told me that you were coming!”, she exclaimed.

JJ scoffed, “What difference would it have made, you looked like you were having a pretty good time in the laundry room!”. The fuzzy feeling that she was experiencing with Topper had definitely dissipated, leaving the all too familiar sinking sensation in her stomach.

“It would have made a lot of difference JJ!”. For starters, she might not have agreed to be Topper’s date in front of the boy she actually had feelings for.

Rolling his eyes, he turned away from her again, continuing to work, “I don’t even care, it's just that I didn’t think you’d move on so fast”, he shrugged, trying to make his disinterest believable by adopting an apathetic tone of voice.

Elle’s eyebrows furrowed, confused by his choice of words, “What? Move on?”. As far as she was concerned, they had nothing to move on from, he had made that very clear as of recently.

“John B’s only been gone for 2 weeks, you know I just wouldn’t have thought that you’re the type to just-”.

Elle cut him off, utterly bewildered by what he was implying, “Wait wait wait. John B?”.

“Yes John B, Elle! It’s so obvious that you’re into him”.

It was her turn to scoff, “Are you out of your mind? I do not have a thing for John B! I never have!”. He thought she was into John B? Maybe she’d thought she had a crush on him when she first moved to the OBX, but that quickly changed as soon as met JJ. She was even sure that John B was aware of her feelings for JJ, making sneaky comments that only she could hear, or winking at her whenever the pair were left alone together for more than 5 minutes. But she’d never actually had a conversation with him about that, he was the kind of friend who knew what you were feeling before you even knew it yourself.

“Could’ve fooled me”, he mumbled, locking up the back of the truck as he had now emptied the crates into numerous stacks.

Looking around the garden, puzzled by how he’d come to this conclusion, she sighed, “God JJ you really do talk out of your ass sometimes!”. Had he forgotten about how obsessed John B was with Sarah? Or the fact that Elle was actually excited when Sarah joined the Pogues?

This seemed to get a rise out of him, turning on his feet and walking over to her, “Oh please! All the times I would come over to the Chateau and you were already there, in his bed fast asleep, or answering his door basically naked?”. He knew that the way he spoke definitely portrayed his jealousy, and was uncalled for, but he hoped that masking it with confusion or anger wouldn’t give away his true feelings.

Honestly, it killed him the first time he entered the Chateau and found out Elle had decided to sleep in John B’s bed instead of the empty spare room. It was the morning after they’d been hanging out as a group, smoking, watching movies and binging on the snacks Pope had brought over. Often, on nights like that everyone would stay over, usually having already fallen asleep during the last movie. However, JJ had decided to sleep in his own bed that night, knowing that his Dad was on an overnight fishing trip with his workmates. He hadn’t even thought about whether Elle had stayed over or headed home, until he walked in the next morning, calling out for John B and banging on his bedroom door, not expecting her to answer in nothing but one of John B’s oversized t-shirts. He quickly put two and two together, knowing that she had a drawer in the spare room with some clothes in it for whenever she decided to stay over, and concluded that the scene in front of him, reeked of sex. And of an unspoken betrayal that JJ promised himself never to mention.

That wasn’t the last time he had caught her in that situation, it recurring exactly 5 more times, over the space of the past year. To ensure that he would never feel that betrayal again, JJ had pushed down his feelings for Elle, rebuilt some of the walls that he’d let come down around her, and used sarcasm to hide how he actually felt about the idea of his best friend hooking up with the girl that he thought he was falling in love with.

Shaking her head slightly out of disbelief, she rebutted, her voice rising a few decibels, “Excuse me? I have never slept with John B. So what we shared a bed, does that automatically mean we were hooking up? We couldn’t have just been friends who fell asleep in the same bed after talking for a few hours? JJ I’ve shared a bed with you, Pope and Kie tonnes of times! Was I hooking up with all of you as well?”.

Looking down at the ground briefly, he lowered his voice, becoming aware of how loud they were being. “It’s different with us and you know it”.

Following his lead, she lowered her voice, her anger showing through in her tone instead, “Do I J? I’m surprised you even noticed with all the tourons coming and going from your room”.

His eyes darted up to her face, “What's that supposed to mean?”.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she continued, “You get to have your fun, aren't I allowed to have mine?”. That’s all JJ ever referred to his one night stands or brief flings as, fun.

Pointing back at the door that they’d emerged from, he referred to Topper, “This is what you call fun Elle? Fine, have all the ‘fun’ in the world, but please spare me, I don’t wanna see it”.

She raised her eyebrows out of surprise, two could play at this game. “Oh and you thought I enjoyed watching you mack on anyone with a pulse at our keggers?”. She couldn’t count the times she had watched him sweet talk a touron at a kegger into going for a walk down to the water with him, often not returning for over an hour. Not that Elle was keeping track (although she was definitely keeping track). In that hour, she’d usually devoured way too many shots, or danced, or began chatting up a guy herself, to ease the dull heartache that seemed to consume her.

Defeated by this argument, and his blood still boiling, he resorted to his defences, “You know what, do what you want, just don't come crying to me when he turns out to be exactly who we think he is”.

“From what I can remember, you wanted nothing to do with me, so what do you care who I’m macking on?”.

“The only reason I care is because of John B and Sarah. We’re trying to find ways to clear John B’s name and get justice for Sarah, whilst you're hooking up with her goddamn ex.

When this whole thing between you two blows up like it inevitably will, just know that you have no one to blame but yourself”, he spat, turning and walking back over to crates, beginning to take them around to the kitchen entrance of the Yacht Club.

“Thanks JJ! I’ll be sure to keep that in mind”, she called out after him, watching him make his way inside. She felt as though steam was coming out of her ears and she swore that her face was beet red right now, matching the faded stain on her dress. She was expecting some sort of drama to occur tonight, but not once had she thought that it would’ve been with JJ instead of Topper.

Hearing the door to the garden close behind her, she took a deep breath before turning around to face him, “Hey, are you alright?”, he asked softly. He had definitely heard the fight, probably opting to stay inside so as to not incite any more tension.

“Yeah I’m fine”, she nodded, grabbing his hand in hers and giving it a gentle squeeze, “let’s head back inside, you might need to show me how to act like a proper Kook, I think I’m finished with being a Pogue for the night”, she winked.

Topper recognised her joking tone, hinging from the hips in a faux bow, “Why of course my lady, follow me”. If she was going to be treated like a Kook, what’s the harm in acting like one?

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