thatbloodymuggle - Tumblr blog

thatbloodymuggle · 1 month

Text

READY TO RUN (vii)

SEVEN - STACCATO

SUMMARY: in a world where everyone has a predetermined match, JJ Maybank and Y/N Montgomery want nothing to do with theirs. it has to be a cruel joke; the universe forcing two people to love each other when they don’t know how.

PAIRING: jj maybank x reader / soulmate au

WORD COUNT: 7.8k

SERIES MASTERLIST

WARNINGS: smut, mirror sex, choking, oral (m receiving), p in v, unprotected sex, choking, slight humiliation kink

✰✰✰

“What a great match, Georgie! That last cross-court shot was just picture perfect,” Clyde Montgomery praised his youngest daughter as he swirled the celery stick around his bloody mary.

You feigned a smile beside your mother, resisting the urge to slump over in your seat and nod off. You hadn’t slept more than 4 hours the previous night, and Georgia’s post-tournament club dinner was the last place you wanted to be on the island. But you knew you had to uphold your end of the deal with your father, and that meant pretending to be invested in the 13-year-old brat’s success. Still, you struggled to keep your eyes open. You hadn’t been able to sleep for the past few nights; ever since JJ’s visit.

Your gut twisted at the thought of that night, and despite the time passed over the past few days, the sensation hadn’t subsided. You had seen a side of JJ you never imagined existed. His vulnerability, and the ease with which you provided him comfort, terrified you. It scared you shitless, and each night since then, you found yourself restless thinking about it. His radio silence certainly contributed to your anxiety, as he had left before you woke up and hadn’t texted you since.

Needless to say, you were not in the mood to hear your family drone on and on about frivolous things. You found yourself subconsciously passing the time by watching the condensation drip down your glass of water and peering around the restaurant, a small part of you hoping to catch sight of his tousled blond hair. You knew he picked up shifts on Saturdays, and you hated that you knew that.

“Y/N,” your father’s stern voice snapped you from your train of thought and you jolted in your seat. His eyebrow was raised expectantly and all eyes were trained on you.

“Yes, sir?," you stumbled.

He sighed, exasperated, and ran a hand down his face, “I asked what you’ll be having. You need to be more aware of your surroundings.”

You flushed and your eyes jumped to the menu which you had yet to look over, “Oh, um, I guess I’ll get a club sandwich.”

“Why don’t you get the fig salad?” Margaret Montgomery’s voice cut through the air like a knife, “The dress you picked out for Midsummers was a tight squeeze when you tried it on, and I’m not getting you another one.”

You flushed as your sisters snickered at your mother’s pointed insult. You pursed your lips and slumped in your seat with a nod, trying your best to swallow down the lump in your throat. It was at that moment that you caught sight of the dirty blond hair you’d been keeping an eye out for all day. His eyes shot to yours and you held his gaze for a fleeting moment before looking back down at the condensation on your water glass.

The sharp stabbing pain of embarrassment from your mother’s comment muddled with the influx of emotions his presence brought was overwhelming. Your hands were clammy, and your leg shook with anxiety. You jumped abruptly from your seat and barely excused yourself before walking as fast as you could to the nearest bathroom. Your heart pounded and you released a breath you didn’t know you were holding as you made it inside the single stall bathroom, slamming the door shut behind you.

You turned on the faucet and ran your hands underneath the water. Your shoulders relaxed as you drank in the relaxing sensation and focused on the coolness of the water.

You leaned your elbows against the counter and shut off the flow of water after a minute or so. Your dripping hands lay limp over the sink as you stared at your reflection in the mirror. You frowned as you studied the bags under your eyes and the pimple erupting on your chin.

A sharp knock sounded on the door.

"Occupied," you called as you continued your self-scrutiny.

The knock sounded again, and your brows furrowed in annoyance, "I said occupied!"

The sharp knock turned into a banging, shaking the door at its hinges. You gritted your teeth and clenched your fists against the counter. With a huff of frustration, you swung the door open, ready to give the nuisance a piece of your mind. Your glaring eyes narrowed as they met a familiar set of devilish blues.

"What the hell are you doing?" you hissed. You stumbled back as you were met with a soft, but forceful shove inside.

JJ swung the door shut behind him and locked it in one swift motion.

"Someone's gonna see you, you can't just--" he cut off your rambling by pulling you flush against him and crashing his lips onto yours.

You tensed in shock at his brazenness. He pushed your back against the wall, and you let your eyes flutter shut, melting into the kiss. His lips were rough against yours, and you found yourself drunk on the feeling as they moved in sync. Your eyes shot open as he abruptly pulled away and began trailing kisses down the side of your neck. You gasped as he pushed the strap of your tank top aside and sucked harshly on the junction of your collarbone.

"We can't do this here," you squeaked.

He ignored you and wrapped his arms around your thighs, roughly picking you up and sitting you on the counter of the sink. He nudged his thigh between your knees, forcing them apart.

"We're gonna get caught," you weakly protested.

JJ let out a groan of irritation against your skin. He dug his blunt nails into the soft skin of your inner thigh, and you jumped.

"Do you ever shut up?" his nose trailed up behind your ear, and the tickle of his voice made you shiver. Your breath hitched as he moved his hand underneath your skirt and toyed with the edge of your panties, "The only way we're getting caught is if you keep running your mouth."

You bristled at his condescending tone, but couldn't stop yourself from lurching forward and closing the gap between them, reconnecting your lips once more. He curled his fingers underneath the band of your panties and pulled it back before letting it snap back against your skin. You gasped at the stinging sensation, and he used the opportunity to slide his tongue inside your mouth, deepening the kiss.

Desperate to take back control, you shoved at his chest, and JJ stumbled back in surprise. You swiftly flipped him so he was leaning against the counter as you reattached your lips to his. JJ groaned as you reached between down and unbuttoned his khaki shorts. He reached down to release his cock straining against his boxers, but you swatted his hands away.

"You had your fun last time. It's my turn now," you mumbled against him before biting down on his bottom lip, eliciting a hiss from him.

JJ relented and allowed you to take control, at least for the time being.

You shoved his shorts down so they pooled around his ankles. You trailed kisses down his neck as you ran your fingers along the hem of his boxers teasingly. He groaned as you palmed him through the thin material.

"My patience is running thin, sweetheart," he grunted, sliding one hand underneath your skirt and groping the curve of your ass harshly.

Before he had a chance to flip you back around, you sank to your knees in front of him. JJ bit back a moan at the sight of your doe eyes staring up at him through your long lashes. He watched, jaw slack, as you slowly pulled down his boxers, releasing his throbbing length. He sucked in a breath as you dribbled spit on the head. You wrapped your hand around his cock and stroked up and down the shaft, twisting your wrist at the bottom. His eyes rolled back as you licked a slow strip from the base to the head before taking him into your mouth.

"Fuck," JJ moaned as you moved at a steady pace, up and down his cock, using one hand to massage his balls. You rolled your tongue around his length as you moved, paying particular attention to the head of his cock each time you pulled back. He wrapped one hand in your hair, guiding your movements. He couldn't help himself from bucking his hips, groaning as you gagged around his length. Spit dribbled down your chin as he began fucking your mouth. You looked up at him through teary, hooded eyes, and he nearly came at the sight. JJ jerked you off of him in one swift movement, pulling you to your feet.

"You had your fun," he roughly turned your body so you faced the mirror and he stood behind you, "Now it's my turn."

You gasped as he bunched your skirt up around your waist and shoved your panties to the side. He ran a finger through your folds and you flushed as he chuckled into your ear, "You're dripping, princess."

You tried to turn in JJ's hold, but his grip around your waist was firm, forcing you to face the mirror. Your eyes fluttered shut and you lulled your head back onto his shoulder as he sunk one finger into your heat. Your lips parted as he curled it inside you, hitting a spot you didn't even know existed.

Your eyes shot open as JJ wrapped his other hand around your neck and forced your head forward.

"Don't hide, baby. I want you to watch yourself, see how pretty you are," his rasp sent a shiver up your spine. He added another finger and you let out a strangled moan. Your cheeks burned and you tried to turn your head away, but his grip was firm, "You want me to stop?" his movements slowed.

You whined and shook your head, "Uh uh."

"Then be a good girl and watch yourself fall apart on my fingers," he nipped at your skin.

His pace increased as he massaged your walls, curling his fingers in just the right spot. Your eyes watered as you watched yourself in the mirror. You were embarrassed by the vulgarity of the image, but even more so by how aroused it made you. You whimpered as JJ unwrapped his hand from your throat and moved it down to rub your clit. Your knees buckled at the doubled stimulation, and you grasped at JJ's biceps, desperate for something to stabilize yourself. You gnawed on your bottom lip, trying your best to suppress your cries of pleasure.

"JJ, I'm--" you blabbered, unable to think straight.

He curled his fingers even faster, creating an obscene squelching sound. You shuddered and your eyes rolled back as you felt yourself approaching your high. You cried out and nearly crumpled to the ground when he abruptly removed his fingers. Your lips parted in shock and tears pricked at your eyes at the cruel smirk on his face.

"Oh, sorry, princess. Were you close?" his mocking tone made your bottom lip wobble.

"I hate you," your voice trembled.

JJ chuckled at this and flipped you around, lifting you onto the counter. He pressed his lips against yours and you melted into the sloppy kiss. "Well you sure have a funny way of showing it," he mumbled against your mouth.

Before you had a chance to retaliate, JJ yanked your panties down your legs, tossing them aside carelessly. He pulled you forward so you sat on the very edge of the sink. You instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist. You snaked one arm around him and sunk your nails into the soft skin behind his neck, "Shut up and fuck me into tomorrow."

He didn't need to be told twice. JJ hastily lined up against your entrance, and pushed in slowly, his jaw slack as he watched his cock disappear into your body. You stifled a moan as he bottomed out, drunk on the feeling of him buried so deep inside of you. He pulled his hips back slowly until just the tip of him remained inside you. You whined at the loss and clawed at his back. JJ rested his forehead against yours before swiftly crashing his lips against yours and snapping his hips, plunging back inside of you.

You yelped against his mouth as he set a punishing pace pounding into you. You felt stuffed to the brim and held onto him for dear life, sinking your teeth into his collarbone to muffle your cries. The sound of smacking flesh filled the marbled bathroom.

"Touch yourself for me," he grunted against your ear.

You reached a shaky hand in-between your bodies and rubbed your clit as he rutted into you. The added pleasure made your toes curl.

JJ pressed his lips against your neck, "You're taking me so well, baby. Can't get enough of this tight little cunt."

You fluttered against him at his sinful words. His unrelenting tempo made your gut tighten, and you couldn't tell if it was his or your own high rapidly approaching.

"I'm so close, J," you mewled, trying your best to keep quiet.

His hips stuttered at the sound of your desperate plea, "I know, baby. Let go."

Your vision blurred and your jaw dropped as shockwaves gripped your body. JJ released a guttural groan as your climax sent him over the edge. He rolled his hips against yours as he spilled himself inside of you, your fluttering walls milking every last drop of his seed.

Dazed from the euphoria of their climaxes, you slumped against each other trying to catch your breaths. JJ inched out of you slowly, and your breath hitched at the loss. You flushed as you became abruptly aware of the mess between your thighs.

"Can you--" you started but were cut off by JJ handing you a roll of toilet paper, as if he had read your mind.

An awkward silence enveloped the two of you as you cleaned yourselves and tried your best to hide any evidence of the fleeting interaction.

Your eyes widened at the sight of your reflection in the mirror. Your hair was a mess and your mascara had smeared, not to mention the blush which just wouldn't budge from your cheeks. JJ watched you from the corner of his eye as he pulled on his boxers.

"You know," you rasped, breaking the tension-filled air, "I was thinking about your situation."

JJ paused his movements and you noticed his whole body tense, but opted to continue as he hadn't stopped you.

"I could help you with reporting him, getting out of that house. I can only imagine how impossible it must feel without the right resources and support, so if you--"

"And then what?" JJ snapped. His cold tone made the hair on your arms prickle.

"What do you mean?" your brows furrowed.

He scoffed, "What happens when I turn him in? CPS comes in and uproots my life, throws me in the system. Maybe even throws me into a worse situation?"

"That's not necessarily true, they could actually help more than you think--"

JJ whipped around to face you with menacing eyes, "He might be a piece of shit, but that's my dad. He's the only family I've got," you shrunk in on yourself at his tone, "You don't get it, Montgomery, and you never will..”

You frowned. You gently rested a hand on his back while he bucked his belt, “I know it’s not my place," you spoke softly, “But I just can’t stand to see you suffering–”

“You’re right, it’s not your place,” he threw your hand off, “You've got a silver spoon shoved so far down your throat you can’t see straight. You’re so fucking sheltered from hardship. When will you get it through your thick skull that I don’t wanna be part of your perfect little family in your perfect little house?”

JJ’s words cut you deep. Your voice trembled as you spoke, “I know hardship. Maybe not in the way you do, but just because my pain is invisible doesn’t mean it's any less real.”

“Invisible pain,” he scoffed, “What? Like Daddy didn’t buy you the Prada shoes you wanted?”

Tears of frustration welled in your eyes, which only egged him on.

“I don’t want your help, and I sure as hell don’t want your pity. But most of all, I don’t want you, Montgomery. We made an agreement that this,” he gestured between you, “Is purely physical. Don’t delude yourself into thinking it’s anything more.”

Your bottom lip wobbled as a tear trailed down your face. His words were vicious. You sucked in a deep breath, trying to collect yourself. You looked into his eyes, the once bright blue now a stormy gray; a deathless shield.

“You’re right," you spoke quietly in an effort to keep your voice even, “It’s nothing more. I should get back to my perfect little family.”

You didn’t spare him a second glance as you turned on your heel and fled the suffocating bathroom. You didn’t care that tears were now rolling freely down your hot cheeks. You didn’t care that he could feel your nails digging into your palms, or that your mascara was probably ruined. You didn’t care, because no one else did; no one cared for you, so why should you?

As you approached the table to rejoin your family, you wiped your eyes and straightened your skirt. You covered the mark on your neck with your hair, and put on your best plastic smile. You sat back down next to your mother, your back straight and your hands resting in your lap, ready to smile politely and say nothing. No one spared you a second glance. But this time, you hadn’t deluded yourself into thinking they would. They hadn’t noticed you'd been missing for the better part of an hour, let alone that your eyes were swollen red. Because they didn’t care.

So, with a heavy heart and a hollowness inside, you stared down at the fig salad, which looked back up at you mockingly. You clenched your fist around your fork and shoved the food fit for a rabbit around the plate. You glared down at the bits of pecan and crumbled goat cheese, which seemed to symbolize every bit of rage you felt towards your mother. Your jaw clenched as you fumed quietly. Why were you so spineless? Why were you so concerned with maintaining your fragile reputation as a perfect little Montgomery child, when your parents cared so little for you? Why couldn't you, just once in your life, stand up for yourself? And why the fuck were you letting JJ Maybank’s words dictate your entire being?

The sight of his ruffled blond hair bussing the table across from your family was the trigger–you had had enough.

“You know, I met my soulmate the other day,” your uncharacteristically cold voice sliced through the air. The whole Montgomery family paused their conversation and stared at you in shock. Margaret dropped her fork, Clyde choked on his drink, and Dixie and Georgia’s jaws fell slack.

You stared at your mother, and at the boy who had sent your life into upheaval behind her. JJ had his back turned away from your table, but you could see he had stopped his movements, frozen in place. Good, you thought to yourself.

“Yeah," you sighed. Your next words were calculated and you spoke in a sickly sweet tone, molasses dripping from your lips, “Your biggest fear came true, Mother: he’s a Pogue. The Montgomery family name has a big, fat stain on it now! Wonder how you’re gonna cover that one up.”

You could hear a pin drop a mile away.

Margaret shook with rage, whereas Clyde’s face had turned the shade of a tomato. You looked just past your mother to see that JJ had turned around, his eyes wide with shock at the scene unfolding before him. A smug grin took over your face at the chaos you had created.

“You..,” your mother seethed, “you ungrateful little brat. You’re a miserable excuse for a daughter, and if you think for one minute that I’m about to let you ruin–”

“Get out,” Clyde’s eerily deep and even tone cut off his wife. His menacing eyes bore into yours. “Get the hell out of here. Now.”

You gulped in fear, but maintained your stone cold mask, determined not to show weakness.

“Gladly," you bit back, throwing your napkin on top of the fig salad before not so quietly storming away, effectively capturing the attention of bystanders.

You could hear your parents bickering behind you as you made your exit, but you didn’t care. You couldn’t care less about the impending consequences of your outburst. All you cared about was getting as far away from there as possible.

You trembled with pent up anger as you finally escaped the suffocating air of the country club. Your nails dug into your palms as you stomped down the road, desperately searching for an outlet. You felt like screaming until your throat hurt, or punching something until your knuckles bled.

A shiver crept up your spine at the feeling of a feather-light touch stroking your forearm. Your blood boiled at JJ’s pathetic attempt to comfort you. This was all his fault. If it hadn’t been for him, you wouldn’t have been in this mess in the first place.

“Fuck!”

You cried out as you felt the bark of the nearby tree splinter underneath your knuckles. You cradled your fist in your arms and squinted your eyes shut, as if doing so would block out the pain.

At least he got the message, you thought to yourself as the feeling of his touch on your arm abruptly left.

You fumbled through your bag in search of your phone. You blinked back tears as you pulled it out and stared blankly at your home screen. The picture of you grinning alongside Anna only sent you deeper into your hurricane of emotions.

You frantically searched for Topper’s phone number, but paused as a text notification populated your screen.

8:06 PM Sarah: what are u up to tonight? i heard there’s gonna be a kegger on the cut

Your fingers moved to respond before your mind could catch up.

to Sarah:

i’m in delivered 8:07 PM

✰✰✰

The pungent smell of weed and stale beer invaded your senses the second you stepped out of John B’s van.

The nearby beach was flooded with Tourons and Pouges alike, chattering over the blasting bass of some rock song. In the center of it all was a blazing fire pit, complete with beer pong tables and spike ball nets.

“I know it’s not your typical party scene,” John B hopped out of the van, “But I think you’ll find that Pogues do it better.”

You laughed, “This is perfect. Thanks for inviting me guys.”

Kie grinned at you and looped an arm through yours, “Welcome to the dark side. We don’t have any cookies, but we got a lot of beer.”

You giggled as the two of you set off towards the crowded beach, followed closely by John B and Sarah.

While this technically wasn’t the first time you had made an appearance at a kegger, it was certainly the first time you’d shown up with a group of Pogues. A small part of you felt bad for leaving Topper and Kate in the dark, but the thought of entering a mansion, let alone attending a Kook party, made your stomach churn. This was the perfect escape from your suffocating life on the Figure Eight; even if just for a night.

“Soo, I was promised beer," you teased Kie with a nudge as you arrived at the center of the crowd.

“Coming right up, m’lady!” John B grinned as he filled a red solo cup to the brim with alcohol.

You smiled as you took the plastic cup from him with a courtesy, “Thank you, kind sir.”

“Who the fuck invited her?” a familiar voice sent a shiver up your spine.

You whipped around and swallowed down a gasp as you came face to face with the boy who had sent your life into complete upheaval. The sight of him was an acrid reminder of events earlier in the evening. You trembled as you were reminded of the touch of his skin against yours. Your face fell as you remembered the seething look on your father's face after your outburst at the dinner table.

Despite the fiery rage bubbling in the pit of your stomach at the sight of JJ, you couldn't help but swoon at the sight of his windswept hair dusted with sand. You studied the slight downward curve of his lips, and the cinch between his brows. Pope lingered behind him with an awkward grin which looked more like a grimace.

JJ’s jaw ticked with irritation, and you only narrowed your eyes in response. You threw your head back as you chugged the contents of your cup, ignoring the burning sensation of stale beer down your throat.

“Oooh, Kook can drink!” Pope cheered you on.

You resisted the urge to gag as you crumpled up the empty plastic cup in your hand, beer dribbling down your chin. You burped loudly, sending Kie into a fit of giggles.

“Last I checked you don’t own this beach, Pogue," you quipped.

JJ grinded his teeth with a snarl.

“Cool it, JJ. And Y/N, if you’re gonna hang out with us then no derogatory usage of ‘Pogue’,” Kie intervened before a fight could erupt.

“Force of habit. I digress,” you averted your gaze from JJ and turned to the others with a smile, “So am I the only one drinking?”

Pope and Sarah grinned before raising their cups in unison, following your lead and chugging their drinks.

“Refill?” John B nudged you.

“Please," you laughed as he filled another cup to the brim.

You didn’t need to look at JJ to know he was seething; but frankly, you didn’t care.

“Who wants to play pong?” Kie shouted with a grin.

“You’re so on!” you snatched Sarah’s hand and dragged her to the nearby table before the Cameron girl had a chance to respond. Kie and Pope swiftly followed, taking position at the other end of the wooden table.

“I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Kie. I have a long standing winning streak," you teased from across the table as the teenagers arranged plastic cups on either end.

Kie snorted, “Well good luck ‘cause Sarah’s a notoriously awful shot.”

“Hey,” Sarah shouted back with a frown, “Don’t forget I won last time!”

“Only ‘cause I was on your team,” the sound of JJ’s gravelly voice right behind you made you tense. Nevertheless, you ignored him and continued setting up the game, pouring a liberal amount of beer into each cup.

“How about losers have to do a keg stand?” Pope called out as he tossed you a ping pong ball.

A devilish grin crept onto your face, “You’re so on.”

The teenagers set to work playing the game. You could feel JJ’s eyes burning through you, but you avoided his gaze and instead focused on shooting the plastic ball into the beer-filled cups, tipping back drinks all the while.

“Looks like Little Miss Montgomery is about to lose that winning streak,” Pope teased from across the table as they prepared to throw the balls yet again. You frowned at the sight of a single cup on your end of the table in comparison to the three remaining cups on the other end.

“Don’t get cocky now, you still have to make the shot," you slurred, the alcohol catching up to you.

Your words were almost instantly drowned out by Pope and Kie’s cheering as he sank the ping pong ball into their final cup, effectively ending your long-standing winning streak.

You groaned as Sarah pulled the ball out of the cup and chugged the beer inside.

“They were right. You really do suck at pong," you grumbled as Sarah threw down the cup and wiped her mouth.

“Hey!” she pouted, “It’s not all about winning.”

“Uh, yeah it is,” Kie snorted, “And I’m pretty sure there’s a keg stand waiting for you two, if I remember correctly.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at your lips. You threw your hands up and relented, “Okay, okay. But Sarah’s going first since I carried that game.”

Sarah huffed but marched towards the keg. John B followed closely behind, and held her legs up as she positioned herself in a handstand on top of the large container of beer. A small crowd gathered, cheering as she took the tap head into her mouth and began chugging. You whooped alongside them as your friend chugged until she couldn’t take anymore. Sarah came down from the keg with a loud belch, sending the group of Pogues into a fit of laughter.

“Alright, Montgomery, your turn!” Pope nudged you towards the keg.

You stumbled towards the silver container, already feeling dazed from the alcohol. Still, you braced your arms on either end of the keg and kicked your legs up. Pope helped stabilize you as you took the tap head and followed Sarah’s lead, letting the bitter taste flood your mouth. Your head pounded from your upside down position and you were vaguely aware of the cheering crowd as you chugged. You continued until you felt your arms begin to wobble and the urge to vomit. Finally, Pope released his hold and you flipped back onto the ground, stumbling as you regained your footing.

You laughed and gave a dramatic bow to the onlooking crowd, ignoring JJ’s hawk eyes on you.

Your phone buzzed in your pocket, and you clumsily dug it out.

11:56 PM Topper: why the fuck is your find my at the Cut?

You squinted through blurred vision as you sloppily typed out a reply.

to Topper:

kgr on th cut!!! come or ur a bitchff delivered 11:58 PM

“Hey Y/N! What are the odds you skinny dip in the ocean right now?” Sarah’s shrill voice pulled you from your phone.

You glanced up at your drunk friend through hooded eyes. Sarah’s infectious smile made your own lips curve upwards.

“1 in 10, but only if you do it with me," you giggled.

Sarah’s eyes widened as she doubled over in laughter, “Okay, who’s counting?”

John B frowned and grabbed Sarah’s hand, but she slipped away and wrapped her arms around you instead.

“I’ll do it,” Pope raised his hand before burping loudly, sending you into another fit of laughter.

“Hold on–” John B tried to interject, but was drowned out by Pope’s dramatic countdown.

“1…2…3!”

“7!”

You and Sarah shrieked as you shouted the same number in unison.

“Look what you’ve done!” you cried and gave Sarah a playful shove.

Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she doubled over in laughter, “Well rules are rules, come on!”

“Come on, Sarah, don’t be dumb,” John B interjected with a sour face.

Sarah ignored her soulmate’s protests as she grabbed your hand and dragged you towards the ocean. You avoided JJ’s burning gaze and followed your friend.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist, John B! I’ll keep mine on,” Sarah shouted over her shoulder as you sprinted together towards the crashing waves.

You and Sarah ignored John B’s protests as you clumsily got rid of your clothes. You giggled as you tripped while stepping out of your jean shorts, nearly falling down onto the sand below. Sarah peeled off her top and yelped at the feeling of the cool breeze, wrapping her arms around her chest. You continued until you left only in your underwear. You ignored the wolf whistles erupting from the crowd of Pogues and Tourons that had gathered around.

You felt a rush of hot anger which wasn’t your own bubbling in the pit of your stomach. You glanced over your shoulder and caught sight of JJ and John B standing side by side, arms crossed and jaws taut with irritation. You were too far away, and frankly too drunk, to decipher the look in his eyes; but his rage coursing through your veins spoke louder than words, and it only egged you on.

A devious smirk crept onto your beer-stained lips. You grabbed Sarah’s hand and set off into a clumsy run towards the water. You shrieked with laughter as you crashed into the waves. Goosebumps erupted along your body, but the numbing effect of alcohol fueled you on.

“Oh my god it’s fucking freezing!” Sarah’s shrill cry brought you back to reality.

“It feels so good," you laughed as a wave came over your shivering friend

You bobbed up and down in the water, reveling in the cheers of the crowd from the beach. You threw your head back into the ocean, letting the eerie sound fill your ears. You fluttered your eyes shut and grinned blindly up at the winking moon. The combination of alcohol and the freezing cold of the ocean flooded your brain, and for once you felt completely and utterly free.

You abruptly pulled your head back with a gasp as a splash of water came over you. You didn’t hesitate to retaliate, splashing Sarah back with all of the strength you could muster. You went back and forth splashing each other for what felt like hours, but was in reality mere minutes.

“Come on, Sarah, that’s enough,” John B’s muffled shout sounded from the beach.

Sarah rolled her eyes but relented, “We better get back before he actually loses his mind.”

“Nah, I’m not done yet. And I don’t answer to men,” you quipped as you spun in the water.

Sarah grabbed your hand, “Come on, Y/N. I’m actually freezing now and I’m not leaving you behind.”

You refused to budge and pulled your arm back with a drunken grin, “You can go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

Sarah frowned and glanced between the intoxicated Montgomery girl and her angry boyfriend in the distance.

“Seriously, Sarah, go ahead. I promise I’m right behind you. Just a few more minutes.”

Sarah sighed, but with alcohol clouding her judgment, she relented, “Okay. But no more than 5 minutes or I’m sending John B to get you.”

You mockingly saluted your fellow Kook, “Yes ma’am!”

You watched as Sarah swam back to shore and hastily ran over to her clothes discarded on the sand. You could see John B approach from the distance, blocking the dissipating crowd’s view of his girlfriend’s nearly naked body. You could see him chewing Sarah out as she got dressed, and you rolled your eyes.

“Come on, Y/N, you’re way too drunk for this,” Kie’s concerned voice shouted from a distance.

“I’m so sober right now," you shouted back, lying through your teeth, “I bet I could hold my breath for a minute!”

“Don’t–”

You didn’t hear the rest of Kie’s protests as you sucked in a deep breath before submerging yourself completely in the cold, dark abyss. Your head spun as the iciness engulfed you. You squinted your eyes shut and embraced the feeling as a welcome escape. As you counted down the seconds, you reveled in the sanctuary of silence. Through the pounding in your head and the burning in your lungs, your mind was completely void; no stuck-up parents, no fake friends, and most importantly, no JJ.

You remained underneath the water until you felt faint and you were forced to resurface, gasping for air. You panted as you wiped your eyes and turned to the group of Pogues on the beach.

“How long was it?” you shouted.

But you only heard a scream before a wave crashed over you.

The brutal force swept your body back under water as a sharp pain erupted on the back of your head. You flailed your arms, desperately trying to make your way back up to the surface, but to no avail. Your chest burned from the lack of oxygen as panic and fatigue simultaneously set in. The once peaceful escape was now a vicious cage, and the adrenaline fueling you slipped away. You let your eyes flutter shut.

Just as your tired limbs started to slow, you felt the electrifying touch of an arm wrap around your waist.

Your eyes shot open as you were pulled back to the surface.

You coughed violently and gasped for air. You subconsciously wrapped your arms around the shoulders of your savior as you fought to catch your breath. The once calming sensation of water against your skin was suddenly scorching, and you wanted nothing more than to escape. Slowly, your blurred vision began to regain focus as you were dragged through the water. As the shore approached, an arm snaked underneath your legs and you were lifted from the water. Finally lucid, you averted your gaze to face your savior.

JJ’s stormy eyes stared down at you as he carried your shivering body to shore.

The look of panic on his face made you abruptly aware of the pain in the back of your head. And just as suddenly, you became aware of your tight grip around his neck, and the unwanted comfort his touch rained down over you.

You fought every instinct to tighten your grip around him, and instead flailed your legs and pushed at his heaving chest.

“Let me go, you fucker!”

You squirmed out of his grip and cried out in pain as your body hit the sand below. JJ scoffed and unceremoniously tossed your discarded clothes from the sand on top of you.

“Oh my god, Y/N, are you okay?” Sarah’s voice was frantic as she kneeled beside you.

“Can you breathe?” Kie followed suit, gripping your shoulders.

You winced and nudged Kie off of you, “I’m fine," you grumbled.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

The pounding in your head amplified at the booming sound of a furious Topper.

“Y/N, what happened?” Kate arrived at the scene, kneeling between Kie and Sarah.

“I don’t–” you tried to respond but were drowned out by the sound of Topper and the Pogues bickering.

You lazily tried to pull on your clothes, but Kate, Kie, and Sarah’s grabbing hands shooed your own away as they helped you get dressed. The touch of the three girls and the bickering of the boys was suffocating, and you felt yourself gasping for breath again as if another wave had crashed over you.

“Would everyone just leave me the fuck alone?” you cried.

You sucked in a breath as the grabbing hands and arguing voices subsided.

You weakly pulled your shirt over your head. You ignored the burning gaze of the Pogues and your friends as you slowly hauled yourself up from the ground, stumbling over your trembling legs. They waited with bated breath as you dusted the sand from your body and turned to face them.

“I’m fine," you rasped, your voice hoarse.

“Y/N, I really think we should take you to an urgent care or something. What if–”

“I said I’m fine, Kate. Would you drop it?” you snapped at your friend.

Kate frowned and glanced towards Topper, urging her boyfriend to step in.

“I’m getting another drink," you grumbled. You ignored the throbbing pain in your head and set off towards the keg, but were stopped in your tracks by Topper’s strong grip around your bicep.

“No the fuck you’re not. You’ve had enough,” he forcefully pulled you back, and you fought against his iron grip.

“Last I checked I have free will," you slurred, finally yanking your arm away, “And I plan on exercising it.”

“Please, Y/N, you’re not thinking straight. At least let us drive you home,” Kate pleaded, her eyes wide with concern.

You scoffed and let out a manic laugh at the suggestion.

“I’d rather end up in a ditch then go back to that hell hole,” your voice cracked as you spoke.

You stomped away before Topper or Kate could stop you. You grabbed a plastic cup and filled it until the cheap beer sloshed over the edges. But just as you raised it to your lips, it was snatched away.

Your jaw fell slack and your body shook with rage as your eyes met JJ’s. The softness of the ocean water dripping from his blond hair was a stark contrast to the sharpness of his clenched jaw. You grabbed at the cup he had stolen, but he threw it aside before you could retrieve your drink. You stomped with frustration as the contents spilled onto the fine sand below.

“You trying to kill yourself or something?” he seethed.

You ignored the Pogue and reached for another cup, but he knocked your arm away. Your anger only intensified at this.

“Would you stop trying to take care of me? I don’t need your help, and I sure as hell don’t need you," you hissed and shoved at his chest with all the strength you could muster.

His dry laugh made your skin crawl, “If I didn’t jump in and save your drunk ass you’d be at the bottom of the ocean right now. Cut the shit, Montgomery.”

“I’d rather be at the bottom of the ocean than anywhere near you," you spit.

You lunged forward towards the keg, but he wrapped his hands around your forearms.

A tear of frustration slipped from the corner of your eye as you screamed profanities at him and fought against his grip, but to no avail.

“You can’t just pick and choose when you give a shit about me, Maybank," you finally twisted out of his hold, “You made your feelings perfectly clear. Stop pretending to care,” your voice cracked as another tear escaped.

You made one last attempt towards the keg, but JJ wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling your back flush against his bare chest.

“I’m not pretending,” he rasped into your ear.

The floodgate broke.

Tears rolled down your face as sobs wracked your body. You weakly flailed your arms but JJ only tightened his grip around you.

“Leave me alone," you sobbed, “just leave me alone.”

“No,” his voice was stern.

You weren't sure how long you struggled in his grip. But the pounding in your head began to take over, and you couldn’t see straight with tears clouding your vision. Finally you relented, crumpling against him. You fell limp as sobs continued to wrack your body. JJ eased you to the ground, all the while holding you flush against him, afraid to let go.

“I’m so tired of all of this," you cried as you wrapped your hands around his arms, finally giving into his hold, “I’m tired of crying. I’m tired of living my life for everyone but me. I’m tired of being perfect. I’m tired of my parents, and I’m tired of you.”

You couldn’t stop the stream of words and tears. You were vaguely aware of the crowd of your friends watching your breakdown, but you couldn’t stop it; no matter how hard you tried. You gasped for breath through your sobs, and JJ buried his face into the crook of your shoulder.

“Can you count to 10 for me?” his mouthed against your skin.

You shook your head violently.

“I’m just so tired,” your voice cracked as you cried.

“I know, baby, I know,” he whispered, “Can you feel my heartbeat?” he pulled you impossibly closer.

You shut your eyes tight and tried to focus on the pounding of his heart against your back. You nodded weakly.

“Focus on my heartbeat,” he whispered. He tapped his hand in rhythm against your forearm, “Can you tap with me?”

You trembled as you weakly tapped your hand against his. You put all your energy towards focusing on the heavy pounding of his heart. Your sobs slowly subsided.

“Good. Now can you breathe with me?” JJ’s raspy voice soothed you.

You nodded and mimicked his deep breaths, focusing on the feeling of his chest expanding and shrinking in over and over again.

Your chest heaved as the tears finally stopped rushing down your face. Your whole body ached and your head felt like it could explode. But the feeling of JJ’s bated breath against your skin and his arms wrapped around you was a safe haven you had never felt before.

“How’s your head?” he mumbled against you, rocking your body in a soothing manner.

“Hurts," you whispered back.

“I know,” he sighed.

Guilt tugged at your heartstrings. You had momentarily forgotten that JJ could feel every bit of physical and emotional pain you were in.

“Please let me get you out here, Y/N. We can go back to my house,” Kate’s soft tone snapped you back to reality.

Your puffy eyes fluttered open to meet your friend’s concerned gaze. Kate was knelt beside you and JJ on the sand, cautious not to get too close in fear of upsetting you again. Topper stood behind her, his lips pulled taut at the scene before him.

You averted your gaze to the ground and you subconsciously gnawed on your bottom lip. Your predicament with JJ was painfully obvious, and you knew you had a lot of explaining to do. But that would have to wait for another day.

“Y/N?” Kate questioned softly.

You gave your friend a weak nod.

JJ moved to unwrap his arms from you, but you tightened your grip, unwilling to lose his touch just yet. He sighed and looked up at the two Kooks. His gaze hardened at the sight of Topper, but he knew it wasn’t the time or place to pick a fight.

“I’ll carry her to your car,” JJ’s voice was gruff.

Kate and Topper shared a look, but nodded.

You wrapped your arms around JJ’s neck as he released one arm from your tight grip to slide underneath your legs, carefully lifting you from the ground. You closed your tired eyes to avoid the watchful glances of the rest of the Pogues. You rested your head against his chest as he carried you through the sand away from the crowd of the party.

“I’m sorry," you whispered so quietly you were surprised JJ heard you.

His grip tightened slightly, “I’m sorry.”

His shaky voice made you shrink further into his hold.

You reluctantly peeled your eyes open as he approached Topper’s Range Rover. Kate swung the backseat door open and JJ carefully lowered you inside the vehicle. You flinched at the feeling of the cool leather seat against your skin. Your watery eyes met JJ’s, which were swimming with an emotion you couldn’t quite decipher. He reluctantly unwrapped his arms from around you, and you fought the urge to pull him back.

“Get back safe, okay?” he whispered.

You nodded, and your heart dropped as he moved away. You watched longingly as he averted his gaze to the ground. You sucked in a breath as he shut the door, and your vision was flooded with the darkness of the tinted window. As Topper started the engine and pulled the car out of the parking lot, you could feel the distance between you and JJ grow with each passing second.

The urge to jump out and run after him was strong. But your fatigue was even stronger. You fluttered your eyes shut and relented to your tired body, letting yourself slip from consciousness.

#jj maybank x reader #jj maybank #jj maybank smut #outer banks #jj maybank imagine #jj x reader #jj maybank fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction

190 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Text

updates!

hey friends!

sorry for being a bit mia...

the next chapter of RTR is in the works and almost done, so hoping to get it out in the next couple of days :)

#ready to run

7 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Text

down bad + RTR update

hey lovies!

I am currently going through a break up after a 2 year relationship so I have kind of been a wreck lol. if anyone has any song recs/tv or movie recs/just general advice for getting through it I would love to hear so please message me! :)

because of said issue ^ the next chapter of Ready to Run is delayed, but in the works. should be up by this weekend at the latest!

stay strong beauty queens <3

7 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Text

READY TO RUN (vi)

SIX - PIANISSIMO

PAIRING: jj maybank x reader / soulmate au

WORD COUNT: 7.8k

SERIES MASTERLIST

WARNINGS: implied abuse

✰✰✰

"Bravo, Y/N! Much, much improved!" Madame Mercier applauded enthusiastically as you removed your hands from the keys and returned them to your lap.

You exhaled in relief and a proud grin tugged at your lips.

"Did you do something different during your practices this week? At this rate we may be able to sneak in another piece for your exposition," the old woman praised you.

I got dicked down by JJ Maybank, you thought.

"I did a lot of chunked repetitions," you said.

Madame placed her wrinkled hands on your shoulders, "Well keep doing that, chérie. My only criticism is measures--"

"64-68. I know," you finished your teacher's sentence. The woman nodded once sharply before placing your notebook down, silently dismissing you from your lesson.

Just as you rose from the bench, the front doorbell rang followed by a sharp knock. Madame Mercier's brows cinched and she mumbled under her breath, "Qui est là?"

You continued your work packing up your things as Madame went to answer the door. You nearly dropped your books when you heard your father's distinct voice sound through the house.

"It's nice to see you, Madame. I'm not interrupting, am I?"

You scrambled to finish packing your bag and rushed out of the room, nearly tripping over your clumsy feet. You slid into the front room with a frazzled look as you stared wide-eyed at Clyde Montgomery. He stood with his hands on his hips as he spoke with your teacher with a polite smile that didn't quite reach his stern eyes. His gaze shifted to you and he cocked his head, beckoning you over.

"I apologize for showing up unannounced," he addressed Madame, "I simply wanted to check in on Y/N’s progress. I trust she communicated with you our deal?"

Madame pushed her wire-framed glasses onto her head as she squinted up at the tall man in confusion. Clyde shot you a hard look as it was evident the older woman had no idea what he was talking about.

"Y/N, go wait outside in the car. I'll be there shortly," he sighed, running a hand over his face.

Your lips dipped and you shrank in on herself at his tone. You felt like a child. Nevertheless, you nodded obediently and scurried out of the house, avoiding Madame's watchful eye. You clambered into the front seat of the Rolls-Royce and slammed the door shut behind you with a groan. You shouldn't have been surprised by your father's lack of trust. He had actually been giving you more freedom than expected. But it still frustrated you, nonetheless. You leaned your head against the window and shut your eyes with a sigh. While you waited, you drummed measures 64-68 on your thigh, hoping to imprint the problem area in your muscle memory.

You were jolted from your ghost playing by the opening of the driver's side door as Clyde climbed into the expensive car beside you. You tensed at your father's presence, subconsciously sitting up a little bit straighter.

"Well, I'm disappointed that you didn't inform your teacher of our arrangement," your father spoke gruffly as he turned the keys in the ignition. You shrunk in on yourself. "But she had nothing but praises to sing of you," he continued while pulling the car from the curb.

Your shoulders slumped with relief.

"We briefly spoke about the Juilliard scout's visit. I'll arrange to have the clubhouse reserved for the event, as well as catering," he added as he drove down the street.

You nodded, "Thank you, Dad. I really appreciate it."

While you truly did appreciate the support, it was a double-edged sword; now Clyde had put a stake in your success at the showcase. If God forbid, something went wrong, you would never be allowed to forget all that your father did to make it possible only for you to screw it up.

You stared out of the window and diverted your focus toward the passing white houses to prevent your thoughts from spiraling. You jolted as your phone buzzed in your lap.

4:17 PM Kate: what time for movie night?

You gnawed on your bottom lip as you were reminded of the friends you had been avoiding for over a week now. You couldn't possibly push this off any longer.

"Hey, Dad?" you looked at your father. His eyes remained trained on the road ahead, but he grunted, signaling you to continue, "Is it okay if I sleep over at Kate's tonight?"

Clyde mulled over your question for a moment before replying, "Considering you've been on top of your responsibilities I suppose that would be alright. But I expect you to be back in time for Georgia's tennis tournament. We'll be leaving the house at 10 A.M."

You nodded, "Yes, Sir,” and quickly typed a response to Kate.

to Kate:

how about 8? delivered 4:19 PM

You sighed and rested your head back against the window. Now you just had to figure out what the hell you were going to say to Kate; surely easier said than done. You wondered if JJ could feel the anxiety bubbling in the pit of your stomach. He surely felt the aching of your hands from your grueling practice session. Your lips quirked as you thought of Madame's remark about your drastic improvement. If JJ ever found out that fucking your senseless had such an effect on your piano performance, you would never live it down.

Before you could stop yourself, your mind drifted to him. You pictured yourself on the back of his dirt bike again, the wind tickling your skin. It almost felt sinful, indulging in the memory of it. And as you wondered when you would see him next, you savored the impurity of it all.

✰✰✰

"You're such a freak," Dixie's grating voice jostled you from your ghost practicing.

You huffed at the disturbance and narrowed your eyes at your older sister. Convincing Dixie to drive you to Kate's house, although only 10 minutes away, was like pulling teeth. You weren't in the mood to argue with her in the car, but it seemed nearly impossible as you felt the annoyance seeping from Dixie at your incessant finger drumming.

You rolled your eyes, "At least I have career aspirations beyond whacking a ball around with a stick."

"Career aspirations, my ass," your older sister scoffed at your insult as she sped down the state road, "You forget that I already have a job lined up at Fox after graduation," she added smugly.

You snorted at this, "Yeah, 'cause the world needs another Banana Republican to tell them all about everything wrong with the snowflake liberals."

Dixie gripped the steering wheel and seethed, "Watch your mouth, Y/N. If you're not careful, I might just accidentally slip up in front of Mom and share all about your little display at Topper's birthday."

Your face paled and you snapped your head toward your older sister, "How the hell did you find out about that?"

"You weren't exactly subtle, little sis," Dixie quipped with an eye roll.

You huffed but relented and slumped back into the passenger seat. You knew nearly every Kook on the island was at Topper's party, but you foolishly never considered the possibility that Dixie and her friends were there. You remained silent for the rest of the drive and nearly leaped out of the car when Dixie finally stopped in front of Kate's house. You didn't so much as wave Dixie goodbye as your older sister zipped away.

You shuddered as you shook off your annoyance and turned to face the walkway to the front door. With each step closer, your heart beat a little bit faster. You rang the doorbell before you could talk yourself out of it, and your breathing hitched as your head pounded in anticipation. You took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Just as you exhaled, the door swung open and you were enveloped in a hug. You stumbled backward as you were suffocated by the smell of Kate's vanilla shampoo. You wrapped your arms around your friend once you had recovered from the initial shock, and a small weight was lifted from your shoulders at the sign of affection.

"I missed you so much," Kate cried, tightening her hold.

"Me too," you gasped, "But I can't breathe."

Kate quickly unraveled herself and opted to place her hands on your shoulders instead, as you struggled to catch your breath. Kate stared at you with wide eyes, "Are you okay?"

You nodded with a soft smile. You leaned forward and wrapped her in a hug once more, and Kate made sure to be more gentle with her grip this time.

"You done suffocating her?"

Kate released you once again at the sound of Topper's voice.

You grinned up at your best guy friend, "You jealous?" youquipped.

Topper grunted and placed his hand on top of your head, rustling your around. You squealed, pulling away from him with a glare.

"Missed you, Montgomery," he smiled, satisfied at the mess he'd made of your hair, "Life was getting kind of boring without someone to bully."

"I'm so glad you see me as more than a punching bag," you retorted, sarcasm dripping from your lips.

Kate rolled her eyes at the interaction and grabbed your hand, dragging you to the living room. You smiled softly as you saw that the couple had laid out a huge bowl of popcorn alongside a variety of candy. The sight tugged at your heartstrings, as you realized how much you had missed your friends.

"As much as I've missed you, you do have some explaining to do," Kate spoke tenderly as she settled onto the couch and draped a throw blanket over her legs. Topper sat beside his girlfriend and stretched his legs out onto an ottoman. He remained silent but quirked his eyebrows in question.

You sighed but nodded. The anxiety you had felt before entering the house had returned with a vengeance. "I assume Anna hasn't said anything?"

Kate and Topper shook their heads.

"She hasn't even mentioned your name, but we've barely seen her. She’s been hanging around Charlie and Will's crowd," Kate replied.

You frowned, and you felt a sharp pang in your heart. Anna was one of your oldest friends. Surely she couldn’t just be moving on like nothing happened.

"Well," you started, but paused, unsure of how to continue. You wet your lips and took a deep breath before continuing. "I met my soulmate a couple of weeks ago," you ripped off the bandaid.

Kate's eyes bulged and she choked on her popcorn.

"You what?" she shrieked, and you winced at her volume. "How come you didn't tell us sooner? Who is it? When did you meet? What was it like-" Kate rambled out question after question but stopped herself as Topper squeezed her thigh, kindly telling her to shut up.

You laughed dryly, "It's complicated," Kate's lips dipped into a frown, but allowed you to continue, "And to be honest, I'm not ready to share who it is yet."

Kate couldn't stop herself from protesting, "Seriously, Y/N? So Anna can know but not me? She’s literally not speaking to you, and you still won't tell me?"

Guilt flooded you as you heard the hurt in her tone.

"I didn't tell Anna," you tried to defend herself, "Anna figured it out herself. And I promise I'll tell you as soon as I'm ready, but I'm still processing it myself."

You looked at Topper, who was yet to contribute to the conversation. His brows were cinched together in thought, and an indiscernible look clouded his eyes. Kate sighed, and reluctantly nodded in acceptance of your answer, "Okay. But please don't be scared to confide in me. I promise I won't just ditch you like Anna, no matter who it is."

Your lips quirked into a hesitant smile at Kate's promise. You could only hope that she would stay true to her word.

"But just don't go all MIA on us again, okay?" Kate added.

You didn't hesitate to nod in agreement, "I promise I won't."

Kate seemed satisfied enough with your response as she tackled you with one more hug, "We forgive you, you. Right, Top?"

Your eyes met Topper's. He was still clearly deep in thought, but even so, he gave you a sincere nod. You could’ve cried in relief at how well your talk had gone. You knew that this was all temporary and you would have to share the identity of your soulmate eventually; still, you relished the feeling.

Kate retreated to her position underneath the blanket and grabbed the TV remote, "So what are we watching?"

The trio ended up settling on Clueless, despite Topper's groans of protest. You relaxed on the couch and made your way through a bag of M&M's as you watched the story of Cher Horowitz and drooled over young Paul Rudd.

Your attention was diverted from the movie as your phone buzzed in your lap. You furrowed your brows as you set your candy aside to check it.

9:26 PM Unknown: wyd

Your nose scrunched in confusion. Who the hell was texting you at 9 PM on a Thursday? Shivers danced up your arms and your jaw fell slack as realization dawned on you. You had hastily given JJ your number for the purposes of your arrangement when he dropped you off at your house the other night. It had to have been him. Your face paled and your thumbs hovered over the keyboard, your mind drawing a blank as you tried to respond. You weren’t sure why you were so surprised by his text; you had willingly given him your number.

A minute or so passed before the shock settled, and you frowned as you read over his short message again. 'wyd'? Seriously? You scoffed at the douchiest text you’d ever received from a man.

You started typing out a response, before deleting it. You typed again, deleted, and typed again before giving up completely and shutting off your phone for the time being. You were not about to let JJ ruin movie night, you decided.

You felt blunt nails dig harshly into the side of your thigh, and you winced. You rolled your eyes as if JJ could see you. He must have seen that you had begun to type a response but never sent it. You tried to ignore him, but he was relentless. No more than a minute would pass before you would feel the sinking of his nails into your thigh. You ground your teeth and jumped out of your seat, sick of his antics. Topper and Kate both glanced at you curiously.

"Gonna get some water," you mumbled, quickly making your exit.

You gave yourself a harsh slap in the same spot on your thigh as you entered the kitchen, hopefully keeping JJ at bay at least for a little bit while you collected yourself. You pulled your phone out and opened his message once again, biting the inside of your cheek as your fingers once again hovered blankly over the keyboard. Finally, you formulated a lame response.

to Unknown:

can't tonight delivered 9:43 PM

You could literally feel his irritation at your response. Before you could finish pouring yourself a glass of water, your phone buzzed yet again. Just as you finished filling the glass and reached for your phone from the counter, a voice startled you.

"It's a Pogue, isn't it?"

You squeaked and clutched your chest, nearly dropping the water glass. You whipped around and looked at Topper, wide-eyed.

"Jesus, Topper, don't sneak up on me like that!"

He merely cocked a brow in response, waiting patiently for a response. You frowned at the look on his face and set your glass down with a sigh.

"How'd you figure?"

He shrugged, "Wasn't all that hard. You've been acting weird ever since the kegger. And that would explain what I heard from your argument with Anna. I'm surprised Kate didn't put two and two together, but you know how she can be gullible."

You looked down at your feet and slumped against the counter. There was no use denying it. Topper leaned on the counter beside you before continuing, "You don't have to tell me who it is yet. But can you just promise me you won't ditch us?"

You diverted your gaze up to meet his. His eyes were wide with sincerity, and your lips twitched downwards in confusion, "Of course, I would never ditch you guys, why on Earth would you think that?"

Topper shrugged, crossing his arms, "Well I never thought Sarah would completely cut me out of her life."

Your face fell at his response. He had been deeply hurt by her disappearance, and even though he had Kate, he surely missed her as a friend. You immediately felt bad that you hadn't thought of this, and you looped your arm through his, resting your head on his shoulder with a sigh.

"I'm sorry, Top. I know it may be hard for you to trust me when I say this, but I promise I will never leave you guys behind like that," you paused before continuing, "You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."

He chuckled at that, and wrapped an arm around your side, squeezing you softly before releasing you. "I think you're, like, in love with me or something," he teased.

You snorted, "I'd rather kiss a frog."

"You better get back in there, Kate may be gullible but she's not dumb," Topper cocked his head towards the living room while he grabbed his own drink.

You nodded and swiped your phone and water glass from the kitchen counter before striding back into the living room. Kate was completely immersed in the movie, oblivious to your disappearance. You smiled to yourself at the sight and returned to your position on the couch.

You couldn't even put into words the comfort the short chat with Topper bestowed upon you. You knew he wouldn't be thrilled when he found out the identity of your Pogue soulmate. But at least you knew you wouldn't lose him as a friend.

As the thought of the blond Pogue crossed your mind, you pulled out your phone once more and opened your messages.

9:44 PM Unknown: don't be a tease

You quickly typed out a simple, yet effective response and sent it before you could think twice about it. You turned your phone off and settled back into your seat, intent on paying attention to the rest of the movie. You tried your best to ignore the giddy feeling creeping up on you in anticipation of his response.

to Unknown:

tomorrow delivered 9:58 PM

✰✰✰

Your heart pounded as you placed your room. You double-checked that you had locked your door for the 6th time. You smoothed out the nonexistent wrinkles on your throw blanket. You fluffed your pillows, checked your makeup, and picked at your hair, all the while unable to take your eyes off of the ticking clock.

11:44 P.M.

He was supposed to be here by now.

You groaned as you desperately tried to find something to busy yourself with and calm your nerves, but to no avail. Why wasn't he here yet?

You checked your phone again. His lack of communication was not surprising, but that didn't stop your heart from dropping yet again at the sight of your empty lock screen. You read through the texts you’d exchanged for the dozenth time with a frown. With each minute that passed, you could feel yourself drifting closer to the conclusion you desperately hoped to avoid: JJ had stood you up.

You trudged towards the windows of the French doors leading to your balcony. You pulled back the curtains and just as you peered outside to the dark yard below, you felt a searing, blinding pain across your cheek.

It happened so fast, you could barely process it.

You stumbled backward as a violent force shoved you. You crumpled onto the ground in a heap. The first kick to your gut took you by surprise, and you cried out in pain. You grabbed a knocked-over pillow just in time to muffle your scream as the second kick came. You wheezed through muffled sobs but were given no reprieve. Kick after kick, you felt like someone was trying to rearrange your insides. You lay in a fetal position, clenching your fists so hard you were sure you were drawing blood. You waited for the familiar feeling of bone crunching underneath your knuckles, but it never came.

Finally, and suddenly it stopped.

You cautiously removed the tear-stained pillow from your mouth. Your gut throbbed so violently that you felt nauseous, and the stinging, invisible cut on your face sent waves of shooting pain to your head each time you blinked. But just when you thought it was over, an unrelenting force squeezed you by the throat.

Your tearful eyes shot wide open. You clawed desperately at your neck, but there was nothing there.

It's not real, it's not real, it's not real, you repeated to yourself in your head like a mantra.

But it was real. It just wasn't yours.

Just when you were beginning to see stars, the pressure constricting your throat disappeared. You spluttered and coughed violently as you gasped for breath, unable to contain the vicious sobs from escaping you.

But worse than the blinding pain plaguing your body was the visceral image of JJ lying crumpled on the ground somewhere, unable to fight back.

You used every ounce of will you had to shut your eyes tight and force yourself to breathe.

In, and out. Do it for him. He needs you.

You unfurled yourself from your position on the ground, fighting against your protesting body.

In, and out.

Your trembling hands reached for the water bottle on your bedside table. You forced the liquid down your aching throat, soothing the burning.

Do it for him.

You forced herself to your feet, continuing with your deep breathing. You slowly stumbled, one foot in front of the next, towards your door. You used the wall to support your weight as you wobbled down the stairs at an agonizingly slow pace.

He needs you.

You felt light headed by the time you had reached the kitchen. You swung open the freezer and blindly grabbed a handful of ice packs. Halfway there, you told yourself. You willed your mind to another place and focused on your breathing as you once again stumbled up the stairs and back to your room. Your hand fumbled with the lock behind you, and you used the last bit of adrenaline coursing through your to collapse onto your bed. Carefully, you laid on your left side, draped one ice pack over your right, and held another against your burning abdomen.

Your eyes fluttered shut and your lips parted at the relief of the cooling sensation. You could only hope it was enough for him to find the strength to get to safety. Your head spun as the adrenaline fueling you had run out. You couldn't find the strength to keep your eyes open, let alone reach for your phone. Your world went black as you gave into the exhaustion, despite your protesting mind.

✰✰✰

TAP TAP

You were shaken awake by a sudden noise.

Your groggy eyes blinked open, and you were instantly reminded of the now dull, throbbing pain in your gut.

TAP TAP

Despite your protesting body, you pushed yourself up. You nearly jumped out of your skin as you looked out the window and found a pair of familiar ocean blues staring back at you. You scrambled to your feet, flinging the now melted ice packs from your body. You moved as quickly as your body allowed to the French doors, swiftly unlocking and swinging them wide open.

your breath caught in your throat as you took in the sight before you.

JJ was leaning against the balcony railing, masking the pain you knew was searing his side. Dried blood was smeared across the right side of his face, covering the cut you knew was underneath. The skin surrounding his neck was red, in the early stages of bruising.

But what pained you most was the clash between the boyish, lopsided grin painted on his lips and the agony swimming in his puffy eyes.

"Sorry I'm late, princess," he rasped.

Your bottom lip wobbled, and you launched herself towards him.

JJ stumbled as you buried your tear-stained face in his shoulder and wrapped your shaky arms around his neck. The two teenagers ignored the dull pain in their bodies, as the feeling of being wrapped up in each other provided a cure that rivaled even the strongest of painkillers. He snaked his arms around your waist and held onto your for dear life as you stumbled into your room.

"I'm gonna get blood all over your pretty little silk robe," his gasping breath tickled your ear.

"Shut up," you mumbled into the crook of his neck.

You threaded your trembling fingers through his blond locks, and JJ melted into your healing touch. You stood tangled together for what felt like hours, but were, in reality, mere minutes, each afraid to be the one to pull away.

You shifted in his hold, and pressed your lips against the side of his neck as you barely spoke above a whisper, "Please, let me help you."

He shivered at the feeling of your shaky breath on his bruised skin. JJ swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing, before nodding once. You reluctantly untangled yourself from him and threaded your fingers between his, gently tugging him towards your ensuite bathroom. He avoided his reflection in the mirror as you guided him, pushing his shoulders so he sat on the closed toilet.

JJ watched as you crouched down and grabbed a first-aid kit from underneath the sink, alongside a container of cotton balls. You pulled out a small stepping stool and maneuvered it so it sat right in front of him. With all of your tools in place, you sat down on the small stool and assessed the damage. Your hands were gentle as you brushed his hair back. You felt a sharp pang in your heart as you looked closely at the injury on his face.

You bit back the question on the tip of your tongue: Who the hell did this to you?

"Do I still look pretty?" JJ half-heartedly quipped with a grin that didn't reach his tormented eyes.

You gave him a soft, sullen smile as you gently dabbed a wet washcloth around the cut on his face, "You'll be the belle of the ball when I'm done with you."

JJ couldn't help but stare at the way your brows cinched and the tip of your tongue poked out of your mouth as you cleaned the area, careful not to press too hard against his open wound.

"You're really beautiful, you know?" he whispered.

You flushed and you shook your head, "Even at your worst you're still pulling all the stops," you tried to joke off his compliment.

"No stops, just stating the truth."

You tried your best to ignore his beating stare and willed away the blush creeping up your neck. You sighed in relief as you saw that the cut on his cheek, while long, was not deep. You grabbed a cotton ball from your side and doused it with isopropyl.

"This might hurt," you mumbled before dabbing the soaked cotton ball along the site of the wound.

JJ hissed at the burning sensation and jerked away from your touch. You gritted your teeth and squinted as you shared the feeling. You gently intertwined your free hand with his and pulled him back wordlessly. He sucked in a breath as you went back to cleaning the area, forcing himself to remain steady.

You tossed the used cotton ball into the bin beside you. Your eyes trailed down from his cheek to his bruising neck. You pursed your lips at the developing bruises, and he squirmed under your scrutiny. JJ flinched as you delicately brushed the back of your hand over the affected area with a featherlike touch.

"I don't think I can do anything about these, but I can show you how to cover them up," you tried your best to speak in a steady, even tone, but the quiver of your voice at the horrific sight was undeniable. JJ gulped and nodded.

You stood from your seat and rummaged through your makeup drawer. You returned with a tube of concealer in hand. You held it out for him, and JJ cautiously grabbed it from you, examining its contents.

"Start with a little, and blend it out with your fingers until it looks like part of your skin. You can then keep adding more until it's completely covered," you explained softly. He pocketed the makeup, which he would likely be using the next day.

JJ watched as your hands trailed down to the hem of his shirt. He nearly melted when your eyes flicked up to meet his.

"Can I take this off?" you whispered.

His mouth was parched, unable to reply. He nodded again.

You swallowed down a gasp as you inched the material up, revealing a mess of purple and blue painted across his torso. Your heart shattered at the sight and you gulped, willing yourself to maintain composure. He raised his arms with a wince and pulled his shirt over his head, giving you a full view of the damage. You pressed softly against his abdomen and felt the sharp pain in your own.

JJ cleared his throat, "I don't think there's much you can do about that," he referred to the bruises.

You gnawed your lip in thought, and your heart skipped a beat as JJ pressed his thumb against your bottom lip, pulling it out from between your teeth, "That's a really awful habit you have, you know."

You sucked in a breath as he ran his thumb along your lip, speechless.

"Compression can help with the swelling," you whispered, "If you'll let me wrap you up."

He nodded once.

You rummaged through your supply kit once more, pulling out a roll of elastic bandage. You worked slowly to not impose any unwanted pressure and ensure the bandage was wrapped with the proper amount of tension. JJ glanced down at the mess of bruises, instantly regretting his decision. He diverted his gaze to the white wall behind you.

"You can ask me," he broke the silence.

You paused your work, before slowly continuing, "Ask you what?"

He quickly replied, "What you've been dying to ask me since I showed up at your window."

You slowed as we neared the end of the area you needed to cover. You gently attached the velcro, careful not to press too hard against his side. Finally, your eyes flicked up to meet his, which were still trained on the wall behind.

"Who did this to you?" you rasped, your voice strained.

Unshed tears glossed over the ocean blues you were quickly growing to love. His lips curled into an eerie grin, "My old man's always been a mean drunk."

Your heart dropped to the pit of your stomach and the roll of bandage fell from your hand.

For years, you’d felt the consequences of JJ's lifestyle. You were no stranger to the feeling of broken noses, bruised ribs, and black eyes. But you’d always chopped it up to your soulmate's reckless lifestyle. They were constantly getting themselves into trouble, and you were the poor bystander. You'd built up this image of them, an image of a soldier fresh out of war, battered but victorious. Never had you considered that they may be victim to a wickedness like no other.

A flood of emotions engulfed you. Shame, for assuming the worst of your other half. Anger, that a father could inflict such pain on his son. But most of all, heartache.

Your jaw fell slack and you watched as a single tear escaped the corner of JJ's right eye, trailing down the crevices of his face before finding refuge in the wrinkle of his sinister smile.

With a trembling hand, you caressed his jaw and delicately wiped the tear from his face. He shook his head violently as he buried his face in his hands.

You clambered onto his lap and snaked your arms around him. You tried with all your might to maintain composure as he buried his face into the crook of your neck. His body trembled as you wrapped your legs around him. You used one hand to rub soothing circles into his back, while the other gently threaded through his hair.

"Please, don't pity me," he choked out, his breath tickling the nape of your neck.

You shook your head as you felt tears pricking at your eyes, "I don't pity you, JJ," you whispered into his ear, "You're so strong. Stronger than I ever really knew." His grip around your waist tightened.

You propped your chin on top of his head as he fell limp against you, relinquishing control and giving in to your embrace. You sat entangled on the porcelain toilet, unmoving. The two of you remained wrapped around each other until you lost feeling in your legs. You reluctantly unraveled your legs from around him so they dangled off his lap. You loosened your grip enough so you could rest your forehead against his.

You sat there, nose to nose, bloodshot eyes trained on one another, lips parted with bated breaths. You ran your fingers through his hair as you spoke softly, "Will you stay here tonight?"

JJ's puffy eyes shot down and he lurched forward in one swift motion. You gasped as he molded his lips against yours. The kiss was languid, but intoxicating all the same. The salty taste of his tears made it all the more electrifying as your lips moved together in sync. Your elegant fingers were gentle against the roughness of his jaw as you held him impossibly closer. And as your lips moved against JJ's, you realized that his pain had vanished, even if just for a moment. The fractured teenagers remained like this, glued together until their lips were swollen and they could no longer breathe.

"As much as I'd love to stay like this all night," JJ gasped, blue eyes swimming with desire, "I think I lost feeling in my legs 10 minutes ago."

His lips quirked into a smile as he watched you scramble from your seat on his lap, muttering apologies along the way. He couldn't help but indulge in the sight of you like this: wide-eyed, tousled hair, and robe askew, revealing a lacy bralette underneath. JJ pulled himself to his feet with a wince, now towering over you.

He ran the back of his fingers down the curve of your breast against the exposed lace, "You put on this pretty little number for me?"

You flushed and hastily readjusted your robe. You rolled your eyes in a pitiful attempt to conceal the effect he had on you.

"You know women don't always dress for men," you spoke with little conviction. But you certainly had.

As you cleaned up your discarded supplies, JJ finally looked at his reflection in the mirror. His breath hitched as he took in your handiwork; aside from the thin cut along his cheek and his puffy eyes, his face looked normal. His neck, on the other hand, was another case entirely. He gulped at the sight of the developing bruises and diverted his gaze elsewhere. While you continued with your tidying, he wandered towards the bedroom.

His jaw clicked as he took in his surroundings for the first time. Your bedroom was obscenely large. A fluffy, white carpet covered the polished wooden floors, and a king-sized bed stood proudly in the middle of the area. The dozens of pillows against the elaborate headboard elicited a scoff from JJ. Two pillows were a luxury for him, let alone 12. He kicked off his mud-caked boots and walked towards the bed, running his hand along the silk sheets peeking out from underneath the duvet. It looked like something straight out of The Princess and the Pea. He snorted at the thought; with all your pillows and silk sheets, you probably did sleep like the princess from the old fairy tale.

JJ found himself drawn to the upright piano. He ran his fingers across the pristine, white keys of the instrument, and pressed one finger down slowly onto an F. He felt the tension of the hammer hitting the string inside the instrument and listened in awe to the crisp tone that filled the room. His eyes wandered to the book propped open on the stand, battered and bent so that the pages wouldn't flip. His brows furrowed at the mess of tiny little notes and narrow measures, filled with pencil scribbles here and there.

JJ felt your presence creep up behind him. He glanced at you briefly, before returning to the piece of sheet music, "How the hell do you make sense of this shit? I think I'd have better luck reading in Chinese."

Your lips quirked and you hummed in amusement, "I never really thought of it that way, but I guess it kind of is like a different language."

He pressed down on another key.

"That's middle C," you commented.

"Middle who?" JJ questioned.

You couldn't help but giggle softly, "Each key has a name. They go from A to F, and middle C is the 4th C from the left," you explained.

JJ sat down on the bench as he pressed the same note again, "So how do you find the other C's?"

You sat beside him, "You can think of the whole piano in chunks, and each chunk is this thing called an octave," youplayed C5, "This is the next C key, so from middle C to here is an octave," youplayed C6, "And from where I just was to here is another octave."

He nodded, still perplexed by the instrument. "What about all the keys in between?"

You gracefully placed your hand on middle C, and made your way up the keyboard, naming each note as you played it, "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and then back to C."

"What about the black keys?" JJ questioned, now playing an E.

"Don't worry about those, for now," you laughed airily.

You gently grabbed his right hand and guided it onto the keyboard. You positioned his thumb on middle C, his middle finger on E, and his pinky on G. You then placed your hand over his, and gently pushed down on these three fingers, indicating to him which ones to play. JJ watched in awe as the aurally pleasing combination of keys rang through the air.

"That's a C major chord," you explained, and he played it again. You guided his hand down an octave, and positioned his fingers in the same manner, instructing him to push down again, "And you can play it on any octave."

JJ was mesmerized by the instrument as you continued to show up the basics. You taught him how to play an arpeggio, albeit slowly, and after his unrelenting questioning about the mysterious black keys, you explained sharps and flats. He was so entranced by your knowledge of the instrument that the pain in his gut merely felt like a distant ache.

"Can you play something for me?" he asked, watching as the left corner of your pink lips twitched upwards.

You hummed in thought and shifted closer towards him so you sat on the center of the bench. JJ watched intently as you took a deep breath, shut your eyes, and let your hands fall onto the keys as you exhaled. Your eyes flicked open, and your fingers moved on their own accord as you played the opening sequence of Chopin's Nocturne in E flat major, a piece you had memorized for years now. JJ's ears perked at the familiar melody he must have heard in a movie before.

The sound your nimble fingers produced was captivating, and he found himself drunk off of the gentle, soothing melody. What captivated him most was not the nocturne itself, but rather, the ease with which you played. He watched, awestruck, as your hands glided across the keys with a fluidity he didn't know the human body possessed. your elbows never dipped and your back remained straight, but you still moved with the melody in a way that both unsettled and mesmerized him. your eyes fluttered shut as you played the last note. you waited until the tone had completely dissipated before opening them and removing your hands from the instrument.

You turned to JJ to find his eyes already trained on you. His lips parted and he rasped, "Do it again."

You released an airy laugh and shook your head, "Maybe another time," your eyes flit up to the clock hanging on the wall above, "It's almost 2 AM."

JJ shrugged, "The night's still young."

"And you're still injured," you retorted.

He huffed but relented as he knew he was on the losing end of this battle. You stood from the bench and pad towards your walk-in closet. Your cheeks flushed as you untied the front of your robe, and looked down at your lingerie. You hadn't known what a turn the night would take, but you still couldn't help but feel silly in your outfit. You didn't dare glance at JJ as you kept your back turned and dropped the robe, leaving you in a matching bralette and panties. you reached behind your to undo the clasp but jumped as JJ's hands covered yours and his breath tickled your neck. You opened your mouth to protest, but he cut you off.

"Let me do it."

You relented and dropped your arms. You shivered at the feeling of his fingers on your back. He swiftly unclasped the bra and guided it down your arms. He groaned at the sight of your bare breasts, and you shivered at the sound. His rough hands snaked around your waist and roamed up your body as he pressed his lips against your collarbone. You gasped as he flicked your nipples with his thumbs, and they pebbled under his touch. You whined as he thrust his hips against your ass. You could feel his arousal both in the pit of your own stomach and poking behind you.

"You're so sexy when you play," he rasped against your neck, "I'd do anything to have you play one more song for me like this."

It took everything in you not to melt under his electrifying touch. Despite your protesting body, you pulled herself forward from his gasp and turned to face him, forcing his gaze upwards to meet your eyes.

"You're hurt and you need sleep," you spoke sternly.

You reached behind him to grab an oversized t-shirt, but he swiftly took it from your hands. "I'm all better now. Please," he pleaded, dipping his head back down towards you.

You stepped back and snatched the shirt back from his hands, pulling it over your head before he could protest. "No, you're not. Don't try to bullshit me; you forget that I can literally feel that you're lying."

JJ groaned, but yet again relented, as he knew you were right; as much as it irritated him.

He followed you to the bed and watched as you tossed aside the majority of the pillow mountain and pulled back the covers. He followed your lead and removed his shorts, leaving him in his boxers. JJ crawled underneath the covers as you turned off the lights, leaving only your bedside lamp. He nearly moaned at the soothing feeling of your plush mattress. He felt like he was being enveloped by a cloud, completely weightless. JJ slowly turned himself onto his good side and waited patiently for his other half.

You fought back a smile at the sight of JJ wrapped up in the fluffy confines of your bed. You crawled in beside him and turned to face him, your noses just inches apart. You lay there studying each other, neither of you wanting to be the first to break the comfortable silence.

Finally, JJ cleared his throat, "Thank you."

A sad smile graced your lips, "Don't thank me."

JJ's mind screamed at him to run. He barely knew you, and frankly, didn't like you. He had let you in on the darkest, most vulnerable piece of himself, and the thought alone terrified him. But his body relished in the comfort of you--the comfort of your healing touch and soothing words. There was something so captivating about you that made him want to open himself up completely, and let you read every page of his book.

You also had a million thoughts racing through your mind. You wanted so badly to plead with him to stay--stay in the safety of your arms, and never return to his broken home. But you couldn't find the words to say this, and you were terrified of overstepping and pushing him away.

You let out a shaky sigh, and spoke slowly, "If this ever happens again," you both knew the 'if' was a 'when', but you didn't want to admit that, "Or if you just need an escape, please come back here."

JJ knew that wasn't what you really wanted to say, but he feigned ignorance. Instead, he nodded and wrapped an arm around your waist, tugging your closer. JJ pressed his lips against yours softly in a fleeting kiss.

"You're too good to me, Montgomery," he mumbled against you, sending a shiver up your spine.

You pressed your lips firmly against his once more before turning your body and shutting off the light, leaving you in darkness. You leaned back against him and pressed your back against his front as he wrapped an arm around your waist and rested his chin in the crook of your shoulder. You fluttered your eyes as you relished in the undeniable comfort of his arms. The rhythmic sound of his breathing and the beat of his heart lulled you into a calmness like none you had ever experienced before.

And while you knew that this was the calm before the storm, you gave yourself to naivety, and slipped from consciousness completely.

#jj maybank x reader #jj maybank #jj maybank smut #outer banks #jj mayback imagine #jj x reader #jj maybank fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction #soulmate au

140 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Text

Ready to Run upload schedule

Hellooo lovies! I've gotten some requests from you all to be added to the taglist for Ready to Run, but I've been having issues with tagging in my posts :/

While I'm working on getting this sorted out, you can find my upload schedule on my blog in the sidebar!

#asks #ready to run

1 note · View note

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Text

READY TO RUN (v)

FIVE - ACCELERANDO

PAIRING: jj maybank x reader / soulmate au

WORD COUNT: 8k

SERIES MASTERLIST

WARNINGS: smut, language, dom!jj, sub!reader, hair pulling, oral (f receiving), p in v, unprotected sex, choking, slight humiliation kink, public sex

✰✰✰

A week had passed since the annual tennis tournament. 7 days since you had last spoken to Anna. 7 days since you had last seen JJ Maybank.

Each day passed by even more slowly than the next. You only left the Montgomery estate to go to Madame Mercier's house. You only left your room for meals. You hadn't even used the grand piano in the ballroom for your daily practices and had instead confined yourself to the small, upright Yamaha in your bedroom.

But you weren’t depressed. Rather, you found that confining yourself to such a routine eliminated any possible distraction. If you didn't hang out with your friends, you wouldn't be sucked into parties. And if you didn't frequent the streets of Kildare County, there was no chance you would run into your soulmate.

You knew Kate and Topper were concerned about your well-being. It was evident from their daily texts, and phone call attempts. You responded to them but made clear that you needed space alone. Anna had not divulged the reason behind your argument, which you were grateful for. You felt particularly bad for being so distant with Topper, as he had been there for you at one of your lowest points the previous week.

To top it all off, your mother had been even more scrutinizing than usual after you had showed up to the estate escorted by Topper, puffy-eyed and soaking wet from head to toe. It now seemed that every dinner was filled with some kind of thinly veiled insult.

Is that a new shirt? You know cool tones wash you out.

Are you sure you need another brownie? You're not getting the exercise you used to since you quit sports.

Worst of all had been dress shopping with your mother and sisters with Midsummers rapidly approaching. Margaret found something wrong with every dress you tried: too short, too long, too much cleavage, unflattering on your figure. Meanwhile, Georgia and Dixie had no trouble finding the dress of their dreams.

But you would take the cruel remarks from your mother any day over confronting your greatest problem of all.

You thought that by physically distancing yourself from JJ, maybe the bond would grow weaker. Maybe you could revert to before you met when your soulmate's pain was merely an afterthought. But to your dismay, the effect had been the opposite.

With each passing day, the bond seemed to grow stronger. It had become so sensitive, that you could feel the flick of a lighter against your thumb; the tickling of uncut grass between your toes. You worried about what would happen if you continued to resist it. How much stronger could the bond grow? Would the longing in your chest become so painful, you won't be able to function?

It was a battle between your head and your heart. You thought JJ was an impolite, abrasive asshole whom you shared absolutely no common ground with. But your body burned with desire at the mere thought of him.

Since you had entered your self-imposed isolation, you found yourself practicing the Chopin piece until your fingers were numb, and your back ached from sitting up straight. When you were unable to sleep, you played. When Georgia's incessant shrieks sounded through your walls, you played. When you found yourself entertaining the possibility of giving in to the inevitable connection, you played.

The silver lining? You had the entire piece nearly memorized.

You were in the middle of yet another torturous practice session when you were interrupted by a sharp knock on your door.

"Mom says we're leaving for dinner with the Camerons in an hour so you better be ready," Dixie's grating voice was threaded with annoyance, as you figured your mother must have sent her.

"'K," your shoulders slumped as you reluctantly pulled yourself from your piano.

You did not want to have dinner with the Camerons. You knew the whole thing was an excuse for the adults to get wine drunk together, brag about their children, and complain about their first-world problems. Sarah Cameron used to be your savior at these get-togethers. But you couldn't remember the last time she had come to one of these dinners, as Sarah seemed to always be busy with her new life on the Cut.

After dinner, Dixie would stick around with the adults, while Georgia would run off with Wheezie. This would leave you with Rafe, who was a hit-or-miss. Sometimes, like the night of Topper's birthday, he was pleasant, more or less. Other times, his demeanor matched that of a cranky, old, drugged-up alcoholic.

Despite the impending dread of the evening, you trudged over to your ensuite bathroom and turned on the shower, allowing the room to fill with steam before actually getting in. The water was scalding against your skin, but you welcomed the numbing feeling. Nowadays, you welcomed any feeling you had control over; any feeling that would drown out JJ's. You took your time lathering your body, washing your hair, and shaving your legs. You stayed in the steaming shower until your fingers began to prune. You reluctantly shut the shower off and wrapped a towel around your body. You went through your meticulous skincare and hair routine, all the while humming along to whatever piano melody floated aimlessly in your mind. Your phone buzzed, and you paused your work curling your eyelashes.

6:36 PM Kate: what are you up to tonight? we'd love to see you

You sighed as you read over your friend's message. You knew that you could only avoid them for so long, and the expiration date of your isolation was rapidly approaching.

to Kate:

stuck going to the Cameron's for dinner. how about move night thursday? delivered 6:38 PM

You set your phone down after typing out a quick reply. A minute hadn't even passed when your phone buzzed again. You glanced at it from the corner of your eye, as you were mid-mascara application.

6:39 PM Kate: it's a date

You smiled softly at her response. You really had missed your friends; you just dreaded having to explain your argument with Anna, as well as your disappearance.

You rushed through the rest of your routine, before making your way to your walk-in closet to pick out an outfit for the evening. Just as you had slipped on a satin skirt which you knew your mother would approve of, you felt the sharp, burning sensation of walking barefoot on gravel in the balls of your feet. A shiver ran up your spine, and you wiggled your toes as if doing so would shake off the uncomfortable feeling.

"Get a move on, you. We're leaving in five minutes!" your father’s booming voice startled you. You tried your best to ignore the sensation in your feet as you hastily slipped on a pair of kitten heels, and rushed down the grand staircase and into the foyer. As you caught sight of the rest of your family waiting by the car, you sighed. Still, you swallowed down the dread, put on an obedient smile, and walked outside to join the rest of the Montgomery clan. You only hoped that playing along would make the time pass faster.

✰✰✰

"You wouldn't believe the audacity of these teenagers, nowadays. They must have never been properly taught manners, let alone customer service skills!"

You bit your tongue at your mother’s dramatic retelling of the story of the staff member at the club who delivered her a lukewarm towel rather than a hot one. You feigned a smile as the adults at the table laughed. You caught Sarah Cameron's eye from across the table, who rolled your eyes dramatically at Margaret Montgomery, eliciting a quiet giggle from you.

As miserable as the dinner had been, you had been pleasantly surprised to see Sarah at the table. At least after the meal, you would have someone your age to make small talk with, saving you from lingering beside the adults or engaging with Rafe. This was particularly relieving considering the last time you saw Rafe he had his tongue down your throat at Topper's birthday party.

Just as you shuddered at the memory, Ward Cameron's booming voice diverted your attention, "Well why don't we head inside and try out some of those liqueurs I mentioned earlier?"

Margaret and Clyde folded up their used napkins and followed him inside the house, with Dixie trailing behind. Just as you had predicted, you were left alone with Rafe and Sarah, as Georgia had run off with Wheezie earlier in the evening.

"And then there were three," you sighed awkwardly. Sarah sent you a soft smile which you returned, while Rafe stared you down in a manner that made you feel uneasy. You shifted under his gaze and cleared your throat, "I'm just gonna head to the restroom."

You folded your napkin and stood up, pushing your chair in behind you. You head towards the house with a bounce in your step, eager to escape Rafe's leering eyes. You hurried into the bathroom near the front entrance of the Camerons’ house and huffed in relief as you locked the door behind you.

You turned to the mirror and sighed as you looked yourself in the eyes. You frowned as you noticed that the bags under your eyes were visible even under layers of concealer, and your mascara had smudged slightly in the crinkle of your right eye. Your self-scrutiny was put on pause as you felt a familiar hot pressure on your thumb, followed by a burning sensation in your throat. You cleared your throat as if it would expel the sensation. Instead, the burning returned. Smoking kills, you thought to yourself but gulped in acceptance. You gave yourself one last once over before pushing the door open, intent on finding someplace quiet where you could escape for the rest of the night.

"So you're avoiding me now?" a gruff voice tickled your ear as you turned to close the door behind you. You jumped in surprise and whipped around to face Rafe, who loomed over you like a predator would with its prey. His eyes were dark, and his grin unsettling as he leaned one hand on the door beside your head.

"No," you squeaked, "Just needed to pee."

Rafe scoffed and leaned even closer to you, "Well now that you've gotten that out of the way," his head ducked down to the crook of your neck, "why don't we continue where we left off last time, huh?" his lips grazed your collarbone. Your entire body tensed, frozen in shock. Rafe sunk his teeth into the soft skin of your neck, nipping harshly and shaking you out of your state of surprise.

"That was a one-time thing," you shoved at him, but he placed his other arm on the other side of your body, effectively trapping you between his body and the wall. He trailed sloppy kisses up the side of your neck and jutted his hips against yours, keeping you from squirming away. His breath reeked of alcohol and you scrunched your nose up at the smell. "Knock it off, Rafe," you cried, shoving at his chest again, but to no avail.

"Get off of her, you perv!"

Sarah's shrieking voice startled Rafe away from you. You gasped in relief as his body was removed from yours. Your heartbeat was erratic, and you shivered as the shock of Rafe's advance towards you settled. You didn't hesitate to scramble over to Sarah's side.

Rafe, on the other hand, let out a guttural groan at his sister's interruption, "God, Sarah, can you fuck off for once?"

Sarah narrowed her eyes at her brother, "She said 'no', you dickhead. And you reek. Go take a shower or something."

Rafe rolled his eyes but trudged away, nevertheless, all the while grumbling profanities under his breath. You felt a weight lift off your shoulders when he exited the foyer, and you turned to Sarah with sincerity, "Thank you."

"Don't even mention it," Sarah spoke in a soothing tone with apologetic eyes, "I'm so sorry about him. He can really be awful sometimes."

"That's an understatement," you scoffed, and Sarah giggled in response.

"Seriously though, are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Sarah questioned, her brows cinched together in concern.

You shook your head and sent her a reassuring smile, "I'm fine, really. Just grossed out."

Sarah nodded, satisfied with your response. A beat of awkward silence passed between you before she broke it again, "Well I was gonna go have some of the Rosé my dad opened during dinner if you wanna join? I could use your help killing the bottle."

"Sure," you replied with a closed-mouth grin, "I could definitely use a glass of wine after tonight. If I hear one more golfing story I think I'll lose my mind."

"Tell me about it," Sarah laughed heartily and led you back outside to the table you had eaten on, snatching the opened, but nearly full bottle of Rosé along with two wine glasses. The two of you sat on the steps of the patio, and Sarah poured you each a generous amount of wine.

"Cheers," you grinned as you clinked your glass against Sarah's before taking a sip, relishing in the bittersweet flavor.

"Are you still playing piano?" Sarah chirped, filling the once awkward, but now slightly more comfortable, silence.

"Yeah," you nodded, "I've actually been thinking about applying to some music programs for next year."

Sarah grinned at your response, "That's amazing! It's nice to see you stepping outside of the Montgomery mold," she teased.

You chuckled softly. "How's your life been? How are things with John B?" you questioned in response, taking another sip of your Rosé.

The longer the two of you chatted, the more you felt yourself relax. You had missed Sarah, and feeling connected with someone outside of your inner circle felt like a breath of fresh air. For once, you didn't feel the need to impress anyone or present yourself in a particular way. That freedom was a much-needed relief.

"You know it's nice seeing you at one of these things," you sighed, "You're like, my only saving grace at these dinners."

Sarah gently swirled the wine in her glass, and shot you a guilty smile, "Yeah. I'm sorry for leaving you high and dry all those times."

You shrugged, and took another sip of wine, "It is what it is. I mean, you've got a whole new group of friends now."

Sarah frowned at this but didn't object as she knew it was true. She had ditched a number of people, but in her defense, it was hard to have the best of both worlds with so much animosity on both sides.

"I guess. But I do miss you, though. It just feels impossible to have friends on both sides with this raging class war. I mean, can you imagine a world where Topper and JJ play beer pong and sing campfire songs together?" Sarah laughed at the image of the well-established enemies being friends.

Your heart skipped a beat at the joke. You couldn't imagine a world in which Topper and JJ got along. You couldn't even picture Topper's reaction when he would inevitably find out that JJ was your soulmate. The thought terrified you; still, you forced a laugh and raised your glass of wine to your lips, effectively concealing your phony smile.

"Seriously though, I think you would actually like my friends, Y/N," Sarah said with a smile, "I think you'd get along well."

You shrugged and looked out at the twinkling string lights covering the backyard, "I don't know about that. I do like Pope. He seems to be the tamest of them all."

"He definitely is," Sarah affirmed. She waited a beat, before continuing, "You know, I'm supposed to be meeting them at the beach for a small bonfire soon. I would love it if you could come."

You nearly dropped the glass in your hand.

"Uh," you blubbered, "I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Oh come on, I promise it'll be fun. You'll have me, and I really think you all would get along," Sarah stared at you with pleading eyes, her eyebrows raised with hope.

You shifted in your seat in discomfort. You had been doing so well, this past week, avoiding any possible run-ins with JJ. Why would you subject yourself to the possibility of seeing him? At the same time, you were really enjoying spending time with Sarah, and it would be nice to get out of the house for something other than piano practice or a family obligation.

"Who all is going to be there?" you questioned.

"Just John B and Pope, I'm pretty sure," Sarah responded.

You gnawed on your bottom lip as you mulled over the invitation. JJ wouldn't be there, at least. But was hanging around with his friends any better? In the end, the pleading look in Sarah's puppy dog eyes was unrelenting.

"Okay," you reluctantly agreed, eliciting a squeal of excitement from Sarah.

With a giddy Sarah on your tail, you set your glass of wine down to find your parents and ask for permission to go to the beach with Sarah. You were careful to exclude any mention of other people, let alone Pogues. In their tipsy-bordering-drunken state, Clyde and Margaret waved you off with a nonchalant seal of approval.

"John B should be here any minute," Sarah proclaimed as you waited at the driveway of the Camerons' mansion. You felt the nerves beginning to creep in. You knew that Pope didn't hate you, but you still worried John B would given that you had never interacted with him beyond nods of acknowledgment or passing insults from Topper. Before you could spiral into your whirlwind of thoughts, a beat-up Volkswagen van pulled into the driveway. The vehicle looked like it was on its last legs, but the rustic exterior was oddly charming.

Just after it screeched to a halt, Sarah yanked the side door open and clambered inside.

"Hey guys, Y/N’s gonna join us if that's okay," she chirped, beckoning you to join her inside the van.

You cautiously climbed inside and were met with a surprised John B and Pope in the driver and passenger seats. You flushed as you realized how out of place you were. Before you could excuse yourself, Pope interjected your train of thought.

"Yeah, of course! It's good to see you again," he sent a toothy grin your way, which you hesitantly returned.

"The more the merrier," John B stuttered with an awkward, but still kind, smile.

Your anxiety settled but still bubbled quietly in the pit of your stomach. You were completely out of your comfort zone. But it was too late to turn back now, as John B started up the van and pulled out of the Cameron's estate.

"How was your dinner?" John B called from the driver's seat, glancing at the two girls through the rearview mirror.

Sarah scoffed, "Pretty fucking awful."

You snorted and turned to your friend with a grin, "I think if I heard one more person complain about how the Club's hor d'œurves have gone downhill this season, I'd gouge my eyeballs out with one of your stepmom's fine china teaspoons."

Sarah burst out into a fit of giggles, and the two boys in the front chuckled at your quick-wittedness. You relaxed into your seat, as you grew slightly more comfortable with the unfamiliar crowd.

The drive to the beach was short from the Camerons' house, and it wasn't long until the four of you climbed out of the Twinkie in a nearby parking lot. You noticed a dirt bike parked next to the van, but you didn't think much of it as the group made their way towards the water.

"I definitely didn't pick the right shoes for the occasion," you grumbled as you fiddled with the straps of your heels and pulled them off before stepping onto the sand of the beach.

"Hey, they're cute though. Where’d you get them?" Sarah nudged you with a grin as the two Kook girls walked side by side in the sand.

You shrugged, "They were Dixie's. But she wore them twice before deciding they were too last season."

Sarah snorted, "Classic Montgomery behavior."

"Tell me about it," you mumbled with an exaggerated eye roll.

Loud chattering ahead of you diverted your attention from your feet to the flickering flame of a small campfire surrounded by four long logs. You smiled softly at the scene, but the grin was instantly wiped from your face as you caught sight of the familiar blond locks you'd been avoiding all week.

JJ Maybank's eyes shot to yours, and you froze in your place.

Sarah noticed how you had tensed suddenly and turned to you with furrowed brows.

"I thought you said it was just Pope and John B," you rasped.

Sarah followed your gaze and finally noticed JJ staring back with an unreadable expression. A guilty blush crept up her cheeks as she turned to you and grabbed your arm gently, forcing your eyes back on her.

"Please don't be mad," Sarah whispered, "But I may have stretched the truth. I just didn't think you'd come if I told you anyone else was coming and selfishly, I really wanted to spend some more time with you."

You internally groaned at Sarah's confession. You should have known better. Since when did the Pogues hang out in separate groups? Your shoulders slumped and you sighed, composing yourself. You knew Sarah didn't mean any harm by it. It's not like you knew about everything between you and JJ.

"You're right, but it's fine," you relented, "I'm already here so might as well make the most of it."

Sarah's shoulders slumped in relief and she grinned, "Well let's go then!"

She grabbed your hand and dragged you towards the small fire to join the rest of the group.

"Hey guys! Y/N did my a solid saving me from a miserable dinner tonight so I invited her to join us," Sarah announced with a cheery tone. "Please be nice, she’s really cool," Sarah spoke pointedly at JJ with a cocked eyebrow.

He grunted and restored himself to poking at the fire with a stick, trying to look as disinterested in your presence as possible.

"Yeah, of course," Kie smiled cautiously at you, which you shyly returned.

Sarah beckoned you over to join her on one of the logs beside the fire. You sat with Sarah to your right and Pope to your left, much to your relief. At least you were surrounded by the two members of the group you felt least ostracized by.

The group of friends passed around beers and erupted into conversation. You listened intently, smiling along but silently sipping your beer otherwise. You learned that so far this summer, Pope had been busy studying for the SAT, John B had landed a job in a mechanic shop, and Kie was taking a creative writing class off the island at a nearby university. You admired the ease with which the group of friends spoke, and found yourself feeling glum as you thought of your friends. You worried that you may never be able to sit around like this with Topper, Kate, and Anna again. Anna certainly hated you, and you were sure Topper would when he inevitably found out the truth.

"Why don't we play a game?" Kie's voice pulled you from your thoughts.

"What do you have in mind?" Pope quirked a brow as he took a sip from his beer.

Sarah interjected, "How about Never Have I Ever?"

The Pogues in the group groaned at your suggestion.

"We already know everything we've done," John B complained.

"Well, you've never played with me! And we have a new friend with us, so we don't know everything," Sarah argued pointedly. You flushed as all eyes turned towards you.

Kie shrugged, "I'm convinced. Who starts?" she propped her elbows on her knees and held up five fingers on each hand.

"You start since you think it's such a good idea," JJ grumbled. You avoided his gaze across the fire.

Kie hummed in thought, "Alright. Never have I ever given or had a happy ending massage."

Sarah and John B sheepishly put down a finger, and everyone else erupted into disgusted cries.

"I didn't need to know that," Pope shook his head, before collecting himself and continuing the game. "Never have I ever gone skinny dipping," he exclaimed.

All three girls put a finger down, and the three of you giggled as you realized you were the only ones who had done so. You could feel yourself warming up to Kie, albeit slowly.

All eyes turned to you, "Never have I ever..," you trailed off, thinking of a statement, "shoplifted."

You watched as John B, Kie, and JJ all put down a finger. JJ scoffed, and grumbled under his breath, "Well of course you haven't, you don't need to."

Kie elbowed him in the side to shut him up, but you had already heard his comment. You frowned and diverted your gaze to your bare feet in the sand. He really detested you, didn't he?

"Never have I ever pulled an all-nighter," Sarah's lilting voice brought you back to the game. Pope and Kie both put down a finger.

As the group of teenagers continued going around the circle, their questions became more and more targeted.

Never have I ever had a boner.

Never have I ever lived on Figure Eight.

Never have I ever had a brother named Rafe.

Kie was the first to drop out, and Pope, John B, and Sarah each had one measly finger left in the game. In a last-ditch attempt to save himself and kill two birds with one stone, Pope cleared his throat and boomed, "Never have I ever met my soulmate."

Sarah and John B immediately erupted into cries of protest.

You, on the other hand, felt your entire body stiffen and your heart skip a beat. You sucked in a breath, and your gaze cautiously crept towards the blond sitting across from you. Your pink lips parted as your eyes met his, already trained on yours. His jaw was taut, and the expression painted on his face was indiscernible. His three fingers remained in the air, unmoving. And so you mimicked him, keeping your remaining fingers raised.

Pope softly nudged you and you jumped in your seat, diverting your gaze from JJ. "Oh, um," you stumbled, "Never have I ever been arrested."

Pope sighed as he put his last finger down, "Well it was fun while it lasted."

JJ put a finger down, leaving him with two remaining and you with three. You shifted in your seat, as all eyes were trained on you. You cautiously met his eyes and watched as the tip of his tongue poked out in thought, wetting his lips.

"Never have I ever had my own household staff to wait on me," JJ taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.

Your lips curved into a frown and your cheeks flushed at his insinuation that you were spoiled. You put one finger down, leaving you with two remaining.

You ground your teeth, and quickly retorted, "Never have I gotten into a fight for no good reason."

JJ's left eye twitched, and he put down yet another finger, leaving him with one left. The rest of the Pogues were silent while they watched the pair, heads whipping back and forth as if watching a tennis match.

"Never have I ever spread my legs for a Kook," JJ sneered, his face stoic and eyes swimming with malice.

You could barely hear the groans and shouts of the Pogues around your reprimanding their friend. Your body felt hot, and you couldn't tell if it was because of the crackling fire or your blazing fury. You leaned forward just enough so JJ had a full view of your cleavage through the flickering flames. You propped your elbows on your knees, pushing your breasts together. You lifted your beer and wrapped your lips around the mouth of the bottle slowly, never taking your eyes off of him. You blindly set the bottle down and licked your lips slowly. You relished in the bitter flavor and the bob of JJ's Adam's apple as he gulped, revealing a crack in his stoic demeanor.

Finally, you put down one finger, leaving only your middle finger trained towards him.

"Never have I ever hurt my soulmate on purpose," you spoke with a sense of finality.

Because you knew you had won.

JJ was fuming as his composure shattered. And you found yourself captivated by the shift of his jaw, the vein bulging from his neck, the baring of his teeth. A cruel smile crept onto your lips as you reveled in the darkened hue of his blue eyes.

"I think that's enough of Never Have I Ever," John B coughed, cutting through the rapidly escalating tension.

You leaned back in your seat with a satisfied smirk tugging at your lips. You finally pulled your eyes off JJ.

The Pogues attempted to move past the awkwardness caused by the seemingly innocent game. Sarah and Kie sparked up a conversation about their plan to buy supplies from Home Depot for a pong table. John B and Pope joined in, offering design suggestions. But JJ's anger and your smugness lingered in the air; impossible to avoid.

"Well I'm getting pretty tired," Sarah forced a yawn and dramatic stretch.

"You spending the night at the Chateau?" John B was quick to add, eager to escape the lingering hostility.

"Sure," Sarah responded before looking at you, "We can still swing by your place if you want a ride home?"

You shook your head and politely declined the offer, "I think I'm gonna walk home. I could use the fresh air."

And you didn't want to risk any of your family members seeing the beaten-down van pull into the driveway.

You shot Sarah a smile that seemed to be convincing enough.

"You coming, Pope?" John B asked as the couple rose from their seats.

"Yep," Pope didn't hesitate to jump from his place.

"Me too," Kie mimicked his actions. They all cautiously looked toward JJ in anticipation. After a few beats of silence, the group began their work dismantling the small campfire. While Pope, Kie, and John B collected the littered bottles, you followed Sarah to collect buckets of ocean water.

As you walked towards the waves, Sarah wrapped her arms around you in a tight hug, "Thanks for coming. I hope we can hang out again soon," she smiled as she pulled away which you gladly returned.

"We will, don't worry," you reassured the Cameron girl.

The two fo you filled your buckets with water and returned to the fire. You each doused the flames, causing a dwindling of smoke to rise into the air. John B kicked sand over the logs for good measure, until the last ember dimmed. Satisfied, the group turned to begin their trek to the Twinkie. Sarah gave you one last smile and wave before looping her arm through John B's and turning away.

You watched as they walked away, ignoring the presence of the boy still seated on a log who hadn't moved since the end of the game.

Silence enveloped the two of you, filled only with the crashing of soft waves nearby. You grabbed your heels from your previous spot and wandered away from your soulmate, seemingly oblivious of his presence. You ambled towards the moonlit waves and plopped down in the sand just behind where the water crept up at its highest point. You wiggled your toes in the fine sand and stared up at the crescent moon illuminating the dark earth below. You fluttered your eyes shut and breathed in the salty air, shivering slightly at the sea breeze.

Even with your eyes closed and the ocean clouding your senses, you could feel JJ's presence.

The blond Pogue took a seat beside you. You waited with bated breath, refusing to be the one to break the silence.

Your wish was granted as JJ finally spoke, "You'll be the end of me, Montgomery."

You couldn't fight the triumphant grin from stretching across your face.

Your eyes flicked towards him. His anger had dissipated into something else entirely; something You couldn't quite put your finger on.

"JJ Maybank's demise," you hummed in thought, toying with a loose strand of your hair, "The Pogue Prince at the mercy of the Kook Princess. The duality is almost poetic, isn't it?"

You felt a scorching desire brewing in the pit of your stomach; one which wasn't your own.

You had him wrapped around your dainty finger, and you both knew it. Still, he took the bait.

"You're the devil, you know," he rasped, inching closer to his other half.

"Well you know what they say," you quirked a brow, reeling him in. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

Hook, line, and sinker.

JJ released a guttural groan as he crashed his lips against yours. His hand snaked around your neck, entangling itself in your windswept hair and firmly holding you in place. The callouses of his fingers were rough against your smooth skin, sending an earth-shattering shiver up your spine. You melted into his touch and balled the fabric of his t-shirt in your first, yanking him even closer. His blunt nails dug into the dip of your waist, eliciting a gasp. He took advantage of your open mouth and slipped his tongue inside before running it along your bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth.

JJ swiftly swung his body over yours and nudged a knee between your legs, forcing them apart. Your skirt slid up your thighs and bunched around your hips. His lips never left yours, as if he was afraid you would slip away if they parted. You wrapped your arms around his neck as you laid back on the sand. You rolled your tongue against his and tugged on the hair at the nape of his neck, earning a moan from JJ. He returned the favor by grinding his knee between your thighs where you needed him most. You jolted with a moan and bucked your hips against him desperately.

Just as your hands, trembling with desire, slid underneath his shirt, JJ grabbed both of your wrists with one hand and pinned them above your head. He abruptly detached his lips from yours, and you gasped at the loss. Your eyes fluttered open as JJ trailed kisses along your neck.

You cried out when he took your earlobe in his mouth before whispering, "It's cute that you think you've got me wrapped around your finger," he gripped your chin in his free hand, "But you seem to have forgotten who you're messing with, Montgomery," he slipped his thumb into your mouth, "You need me to remind you?"

You stared up at him with pleading eyes. Any semblance of dignity was swept away in the ocean breeze when you nodded once.

JJ's eyes twinkled with desire as he moved his hand back down to wrap around your neck. He leaned down so their lips just barely brushed. You lurched forward to connect your lips to his, but he jerked back and pushed his hips into yours. He leaned down again, before pulling back in the same cruel manner. You cried out in frustration and jerked your arms but to no avail against his iron grip.

"Use your words," he teased, ghosting his lips over yours again, "Or I'll go like this all night."

"Please, J," you whined, thrusting your hips. You wanted so badly to wipe the cocky smirk off his face, but you had relented control.

"Come on, sweetheart, you can do better than that," he squeezed your neck, "Tell me what you want me to do to you."

Tears of frustration pricked at your eyes. He wanted to see you embarrassed.

"I wanna feel your lips on my skin," a tear trailed down your face, "I wanna taste you, I want you between my thighs. I want you all over and I need you inside of me, please--"

JJ cut off your blubbering by crashing his lips against yours once more and releasing your arms. You slid them back under his shirt, and this time he didn't protest as they trailed up his toned abdomen to his flexed shoulders. He parted from you once more to discard the material, and you nearly drooled at the sight of his bare chest.

JJ scrunched your skirt up around your waist, revealing your lacy panties. You squirmed as he simply pressed the pad of his thumb against the very obvious wet spot in the middle. He watched in awe at the effect he had over you, and a blush crept up your neck.

"Please, stop teasing," you whined.

He didn't hesitate to yank the material down your thighs and toss it aside. JJ trailed kisses up the soft skin of your inner thigh, and you waited with bated breath as he inched closer to where you needed him most. Finally, his tongue dragged up your slit and circled your clit, before sucking it into his mouth with a vulgar slurp.

You cried at the sensation and threaded your fingers into his dirty blond locks. Your eyes fluttered shut and your jaw went slack in pure bliss as JJ ate you out like a man starved. The alternating flicking of his tongue against your nub and sucking into his mouth made your head spin. You felt your high approaching, and you knew JJ could feel it too which made the sensation all the more intoxicating. As his skilled tongue continued to circle your clit, he ran a finger through your folds before sinking it deep inside. You mewled as he massaged your walls. Feeling your orgasm rapidly approaching, JJ wrapped his lips around your nub and inserted anotyour finger, curling them both as fast as he could. You wailed and shockwaves rolled through your body as you felt your release. JJ groaned against he as he felt the ecstasy of your high in his own body. He continued lapping up your juices as you rode through your release until your thighs twitched violently and you jerked away from him.

You panted in the afterglow of your mind splintering orgasm. You barely had a moment to recover before JJ's lips were back on yours. His tongue swiped along your bottom lip, forcing you to taste your own release.

"You taste so fucking good, baby," he moaned against you, and your heart skipped a beat.

He reached behind you and swiftly untied your top, throwing it aside. He groaned as he saw you weren’t wearing a bra. Your nipples were hard from the sea breeze, and he eagerly took one into his mouth while massaging your other breast. He flicked his thumb against your nipple, and you trembled at the sensation. You reached down and fumbled with the button and zipper of his shorts. You shoved at JJ's shoulder in an attempt to flip him so you were on top, but he wouldn't budge.

"Uh uh," he shoved his shorts off and nipped at your neck, "As much as I'd love to see those pretty lips wrapped around my cock, that'll have to wait. I need to feel your tight cunt stretched around me right now."

You shuddered at the filthy words leaving his lips and watched in awe as he helped you nudge his boxers off. His cock sprang up, rock hard and dripping with pre cum. You wrapped your legs around his waist as he slid the tip of it between your soaking folds. Your opening fluttered as the head of his cock poked through, before retreating over and over again, leaving you a blubbering mess.

"Beg for it," JJ rasped against your lips as he continued his teasing.

You cried out in frustration. He wrapped his hand around your neck, squeezing slightly; a warning.

"Please, fuck me J, fuck me until I see stars, I need you inside me," you whimpered pathetically.

He rested his forehead against yours and stared deep into your eyes. Your noses pressed harshly against each other and you could feel the heat of his breath at his proximity. And in one swift movement, he thrust himself inside of you.

A guttural groan escaped him at the sinful feeling of your velvety walls fluttering around him. Your jaw fell slack as you sucked him in. You could feel every indentation, every ridge, every vein of his cock inside you; it was a sensation unlike any you had ever felt before. Your bodies melded together like a lock and key, the last two pieces of a puzzle, two halves of a whole. It rivaled any past fleeting pleasure. You lost all inhibitions as you gave into the bond you had fought against for so long.

JJ pulled his hips back slowly, before slamming them back against you at an unforgiving speed. You wailed at the sensation and dragged your nails down his bare back. You felt your nails dragging along your own back and resliehd in the intimacy of it. He buried his face into the crook of your neck as he set an unrelenting pace. With each snap of his hips, you felt waves of pleasure which resembled that of the ocean water not even 10 feet away.

"You feel like fucking heaven," JJ gasped against your.

He raised one of your legs so it rested over his shoulder. You cried at the sensation, a tear trailing down your face. The new angle allowed him to reach you even deeper, hitting places you had never felt before. He kept thrusting at a splintering speed, but the snapping of his hips was beginning to falter.

"You feel that, baby? You feel what this cunt does to me?" JJ growled into your ear. He pressed one hand against your abdomen, knowing you could feel his rapidly approaching orgasm. He moved his hand down and rubbed his finger against your sensitive clit at a rapid pace.

You nodded, unable to speak.

"You want me to fill this tight little pussy with my cum?" his voice cracked as he got dangerously closer.

"Yes," you sobbed, "Please, fill me up!"

JJ let out a guttural groan as he thrust into you one last time before spilling his load inside of you. Shockwaves rippled through your body as the coiled spring releasing in his abdomen sent you over the edge as well. Your vision blurred and your head spun as you found yourself unable to breathe, unable to think, unable to see. You could only feel. You could finally feel.

JJ rested his nose against the side of your cheek, panting as he recovered from his high. He was unable to move as he reveled in the feeling of you. He laid, strung out, on top of you until his dick had begun to soften, and he had to pull it out. JJ reluctantly propped himself up on his elbows and eased out of your, causing you to tremble at the sensation. You blinked and slowly regained focus on the stars above.

You were vaguely aware that you were lying naked on a public beach--but it was too late to care at that point.

JJ collapsed beside you with a huff. He mimicked your position and stared at the stars twinkling above. He turned on his side and swung an arm over your waist with a sigh. He nudged his nose against your cheek again and barely spoke above a whisper, "We just complicated things, didn't we."

You nodded before you replied, vocal cords scratchy, "That's the understatement of the century."

JJ watched the rise and fall of your bare chest, using it to count the passage of time until a minute passed.

"So what do we do now?" he asked.

"I don't know," you shrugged.

Your chest rose and fell. Another minute passed.

"I don't think we can keep on avoiding each other," he broke the silence.

You sighed, "Clearly not."

The acceptance of your predicament was sobering. Acceptance. What a terrifying word.

You cleared your throat, "Well, clearly we can't ignore the bond. But that doesn't mean we have to uproot our lives."

His brows furrowed, "What do you mean?"

You sighed and tilted your head so it faced his. You stared into his ocean blues, nose to nose, "I mean so long as we satisfy the bond we can continue our normal lives."

His eyes never left yours as he mulled over your suggestion. "So, you're saying that if we keep fucking then we can go back to before."

You nodded.

JJ turned his head from yours and stared up at the sky again. He watched the crescent moon, which when he tilted his head resembled a frown.

"Okay," he finally replied.

Before you could say any more, a booming voice made you freeze in terror.

"Hey, who's out there?"

You and JJ scrambled to your feet and frantically searched for your clothes. Your heartbeat was erratic as you caught sight of a man on the other end of the beach. His shining light and the silhouette of his vest were a dead giveaway that he was a cop patrolling the public beach.

You only had time to slip on your skirt before JJ yanked your wrist, pulling you from the scene.

"Come on, Montgomery!" he ran, dragging you behind him. You held your top up to cover your bare chest as you stumbled behind the Pogue, who managed to get all of his clothes on in time. You sprinted through the sand and towards the parking lot where the dirt bike you noticed earlier was parked. JJ found a set of keys in his pocket and looked up, finally catching sight of you. Despite the gravity of the situation, he couldn't help but laugh at the wide-eyed Kook, clutching a top against her naked chest and trembling in fear.

"Fuck off," you hissed, hands shaking as you attempted to lace up the back of the top behind your neck.

JJ spun your around and swiftly tied it into a knot, saving you time. He shoved a helmet into your hands, and your mouth gaped as you realized he wanted you to get onto his bike.

"You want me to get on that...that death contraption?" you shrieked as he put his own helmet on. He rolled his eyes and grabbed the spare helmet from you, placing it onto your head unwillingly.

"You wanna get booked for public indecency?" he retorted.

You remained silent but huffed to show your displeasure.

JJ guided you onto the vehicle and revved the engine. Just as he kicked off the brake, your face dropped with realization.

"Wait! My shoes, I left them on the beach!"

"Tough luck, sweetheart. You're gonna have to get a new pair."

"But they're Louis Vuitton," you cried in despair, earning a scoff and exaggerated eye roll, which although you couldn't see you could feel.

Your vintage heels were forgotten as you heard the police officer getting closer, "Stop right there, or I'll call for backup!"

JJ merely revved the engine in response and guided your arms around his waist. You gripped onto him for dear life as he sped out of the parking lot and onto the road, leaving the poor man a blubbering mess.

You clutched the fabric of JJ's shirt tightly as he weaved in and out of lines like a maniac. You feared for your life, but the adrenaline coursing through your veins was insatiable. You leaned your head back and shut your eyes, relishing in the feeling of the beating wind blowing your hair back. You laughed at the sensation and your situation.

Never would you have guessed that a Montgomery-Cameron family gathering would end with you on the back of the Pogue Prince's humble steed running from the police.

And you couldn't help but revel in the incredulity of it all.

#jj maybank x reader #jj maybank #jj maybank smut #outer banks #jj maybank imagine #jj x reader #jj maybank fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction

164 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Note

Hi! I just found your story “READY TO RUN” and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. Please please please don’t stop writing it! The idea is so original and sweet and you are sooo good at writing. Both things are so hard to find in one person 😹

English is not my first language so I probably Made some mistakes 😊

aw thank you love!! new chapter is coming either today or tomorrow (depending on how productive I am) :)

#jj maybank x reader #asks #ready to run #soulmate au #jj maybank

3 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 months

Text

READY TO RUN (iv)

FOUR - DIMINUENDO

PAIRING: jj maybank x reader / soulmate au

WORD COUNT: 4k

SERIES MASTERLIST

SONG: CHOPIN’S 24 PRELUDES, OP.28: NO.4 IN E MINOR

✰✰✰

You never liked tennis, despite being forced into lessons since the ripe age of 6. You greatly preferred more physical sports, like lacrosse or soccer, as opposed to prim and proper tennis.

Yet, here you were, at the annual mid-summer Outer Banks amateur tennis tournament. Any other year, you would have been in bed with an unfortunate "cold". But due to recent events, you didn't dare protest when the entire Montgomery family hiked their tennis bags onto their shoulders and drove to the country club.

Georgia was the most excited of the Montgomery clan, as she never failed to remind everyone that she was the reigning North Carolina 13U tennis champion. Of course, daddy's favorite would be playing with Clyde.

Dixie would be playing with your mother, as her boyfriend Brad was still away on business. Margaret knew Dixie was only participating for the open bar, but of course, so was she.

Much to your relief, you partnered up with Anna. You thanked God that Anna's dad was out of town; otherwise you would be stuck with your own father's creepy college roommate, Carl.

"I hate this sport," you grumbled while readjusting your ponytail, "Why can't we play, like, soccer or something? I feel like kicking something. Or someone."

"Come on, it won't be that bad," Anna chimed while double-knotting her shoes, "Topper and Kate will beat us first round and then we're off the hook for the day."

You scoffed, "Even if we lose there's no way in hell I'm getting out of here. My mom's got me on a short leash. She’s not letting me out of her sight."

"Well you had quite the night without her around on Saturday," Anna grumbled, jumping up from the bench. She didn't bother waiting for you as she sauntered over to the court to stretch and get the game started.

Your cheeks flushed red as your mind was infiltrated with flashbacks from the night at the Kegger, which in turn, reminded you of the other day in JJ's beat-up pickup truck. You could almost smell the rain pouring down, feel the warmth of his flannel, taste his-

"Let's get a move on, Y/N!"

Topper's booming voice startled you, shaking you from the unwanted thoughts. You jumped from the bench and ran to the court, willing the blush covering your face to go away. You'd gone all morning without thinking about your other half, and you weren't about to let him ruin your already horrible day.

"Let's get this show on the road," you feigned a grin.

Kate shot you a weird look from across the net--everyone knew how much you didn't want to be there. But regardless, you tossed a ball across the net for Topper and Kate to serve.

To no one's surprise, the loving couple immediately took the lead. You found yourself actually putting effort into the game in an attempt to distract yourself from all the chaos plaguing your mind. But still, you sucked.

Kate and Topper cheered as they shot yet another ball across the net that neither Anna nor you could track down. You huffed, and trudged back to your position on the court. Sweat beaded on your forehead, and you tried to wipe it away with your arm in vain. A squeal sounded from the court opposite you, and you glanced over to see Georgia cheering and your father spinning her around in a celebratory manner. You fought the urge to roll your eyes.

You instantly regretted letting your eyes wander away from the court as a tennis ball came flying at your face and a sharp pain exploded in your nose.

"Shit!" you screeched, cupping your nose.

You glared across the net at Topper who was in a fit of laughter.

"What the hell?" you yelped.

"That's 30-15, losers!" he laughed back, high-fiving Kate.

"You're an ass," you grumbled back, just loud enough for Topper to hear. You turned expectantly to Anna, waiting for your best friend since 3rd grade to back you up. Your frown deepened as you found Anna staring in the opposite direction, oblivious to Topper's antics.

You followed Anna's gaze to find her staring at the Pogue you were desperately trying to avoid; JJ Maybank.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," you fought the urge to snap your racket in half.

JJ's nose scrunched up in discomfort, and his fingers pressed against the bridge of it. Your eyes widened as you realized you were holding your throbbing nose in the same manner. You ripped your hand away from your face and cleared your throat, "Anna!"

Your counterpart ripped her gaze away from the Pogue and shot Topper a tight-lipped smile.

"Nice one, Top," Anna called to the pair across the net.

"Anna--" you hissed at your friend, trying to pull her attention away from the game.

"30 serving 15, right?" Anna ignored you, getting in her ready stance for the next point.

Your lips parted, but you shut your mouth as you realized there was nothing to say. What would you say? You had no idea what was going through Anna's mind, and you were in the middle of Kook central.

You could feel JJ's gaze burning into you, but you didn't dare turn to face him. Instead, you mimicked Anna's ready stance, and pretended to give a shit about the game, internally praying it would be over soon.

The first set ended without a hitch, and then the second. By the end of the game, you were sweating profusely despite losing miserably.

With one last serve, you tossed the ball in the air and swung the racket with the little energy you had left. You sighed in relief as your serve flew about two feet out of bounds. Topper and Kate cheered across the court.

"At least it's over," you sighed, your arms falling limp by your sides.

You didn't even bother walking up to the net to shake hands with your opponents. It was Topper and Kate; they wouldn't be offended. Instead, you trudged over to the bench. You didn't hesitate to lay down on the bench with a sigh of relief. You threw an arm over your face to shield yourself from the sun and blindly reached for your water bottle.

"You suck at tennis," a grating voice disturbed your moment of recovery.

You lifted your arm and squinted one eye open. You groaned when you caught sight of the striking blue eyes that seemed to follow you everywhere you went.

"Go away," you spit, closing your eyes again.

"No can do, sweetheart," JJ quipped.

"You're interrupting my peace and quiet."

"And you're interrupting my job," he shot back, "Go get your peace and quiet somewhere else."

You grunted, hauling yourself up from the bench. your legs felt weak, but you forced yourself to stand. You turned to face JJ with your arms crossed.

His signature mud-caked boots were replaced with a slightly cleaner pair of sneakers. His uniform khaki shorts were a far cry from his usual attire; not to mention the white polo shirt with a shiny name tag clipped to it. Despite the Kook-ish uniform, his messy blond hair was a dead giveaway that he did not belong in the Outer Banks Country Club. Not to mention he was very hard at work folding dainty white towels.

"Nice polo," you snorted.

JJ diverted his attention back to his towel folding. You rolled your eyes, ready to walk away when a sweaty, used towel was flung in your direction. You screeched as it landed on your face, and flung it back at the culprit.

JJ laughed at your overreaction and dodged your retaliatory attack.

"You're a pig," you scowled.

"You're one to talk, Miss Bourgeoisie."

Your lips curled into a sneer, "I despise-"

"Y/N Montgomery!" a cold voice shut you up immediately.

Your cheeks flushed and you subconsciously cowered as you turned to face your mother.

"Come watch your father and sister play," Margaret Montgomery ordered. "And stop associating with scum," she lowered her voice, but kept it just loud enough so the Pogue could hear.

You were swept with embarrassment and guilt. As much as you didn't want JJ around, he didn't deserve to be equated to scum by your mother for merely doing his job. Nevertheless, you hung your head and followed your mother obediently. Your body screamed at you to turn around and apologize, but you didn't dare spare JJ another glance.

The Pogue scoffed, and flung the towel he was holding onto the bench in frustration. He fought the urge to curse the evil witch out, and instead searched for Pope, who was on catering duty. He caught a glimpse of his friend a couple of courts away. JJ abandoned his towels and strode towards the other Pogue. What was the worst that could happen, he'd get fired? He was ready to get out of there anyways.

Just as he was a few strides from stealing Pope away from his work, a freshly manicured hand dug into his arm, yanking him into the doorway of the club entrance.

"What the hell-"

"Stay away from her."

JJ let out a dry laugh as he stood face to face with a very pissed off Anna Kim. Her arms were crossed and her eyes narrowed with malice.

"Well shit, I'm popular today. I'm like a Kook chick magnet," he smirked, "This has been a great ego boost, but I'm not interested, Kim."

JJ tried to brush past her, but you caught his arm yet again, turning him back to face her.

"I mean it," Anna hissed, "Leave her the hell alone, Pogue. She doesn't need you fucking up her life; she deserves better than that."

JJ's jaw ticked, and he yanked his arm out of her piercing grip, "I know you Kooks like to think that you run this island and all of us lowly peasants are just dying to infiltrate your perfect little lives, but you'll be shocked to hear that silver spoons and high teas are my own personal hell. I have absolutely no interest in your friend."

Anna's glare only deepened at the thinly veiled insult, "Glad we're on the same page."

She pulled a dollar bill from the back of her phone and passed it alongside her dirty towel from the tennis match to the Pogue. "For your troubles, towel boy," she sneered, venom dripping from her lips. She swiftly turned on her heels, and sauntered back over to her friends.

JJ shook with rage as he crumpled up the dollar bill in his fist and carelessly threw the used towel aside. He had never wanted to clock a girl so badly. "Entitled bitch," he grumbled while ripping off the shiny name tag pinned to his chest, and tossed it alongside the dirty towel. JJ marched swiftly towards Pope, who was manning the grill.

"Hey man, you wanna dip early?" JJ's words caused Pope to jump, nearly sending a patty flying through the air.

"Shit dude, don't sneak up on me like that!" Pope cried, turning to face his friend. He frowned as he took in the sour expression painted across JJ's face, "What happened to you?"

"If I have to serve one more of these pigs I'm gonna lose it," the blond snapped, "you coming?"

Pope cocked a brow at his friend's nonresponse, but decided against pushing him any further as he really did seem ready to burst. "I can't dude, you know my dad will kill me. Why don't you just stick it out for another hour?"

JJ huffed, "No way, I'm out of here." He turned on his heels and weaved his way through the mass of polo shirts and tennis skirts, leaving a very confused Pope behind.

For as long as he could remember, JJ had been certain that the soulmate thing wasn't for him. Still, he used to feel bad for whoever his other half was. He felt guilty for the pain he constantly put them through. He routinely laid awake at night, mulling over the impending disappointment his soulmate would feel when they inevitably found out who he was, and the life he led.

But now, any trace of guilt he previously felt was gone; crushed by the pristine, designer shoe of Y/N Montgomery.

As he stomped aimlessly along the side the road and spat at the gaudy white houses (both figuratively and literally), JJ tried with all of his might to take his mind off of his soulmate. But, much to his frustration, every train of thought led back to you.

You were an enigma; the object of his unwavering hatred, and of his deepest desire.

✰✰✰

After a long day under the beating sun, Georgia and Clyde Montgomery were crowned the Kildare County Annual Tennis Tournament doubles champions, to absolutely no one's surprise.

You, on the other hand, were left with a blistering sunburn and an equally scorching feeling of resentment in the pit of your, or should you say JJ's, stomach.

With your family caught up celebrating the youngest Montgomery child's win, you were able to slip away from the post-tournament award dinner to accompany your friends to the neighboring docks. The sun had set, and you welcomed the soothing touch of the ocean breeze against your skin as you sat with your feet dangling over the water. You let your eyes flutter shut, and just for a minute, tuned out the voices around your and your own thoughts.

"Are you alright, Y/N? You're quiet today," Kate's voice jerked you away from the temporary relief. Your eyes fluttered open, and you turned to your three friends staring at you; Topper and Kate's brows furrowed in concern, whereas Anna remained stoic.

"'M fine, just exhausted from the tournament, I guess," you sighed with a soft smile which didn't quite reach your eyes, "Are you implying that I'm a bore?"

Kate rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I actually can't stand you," she nudged you jokingly.

"I second that," Topper interjected, earning a glare from you.

"You're one to talk, you grouch," you flicked your foot to kick up a splash of water towards him.

Topper shrieked at your assault, and reached over the dock to send a splash of water right back, "Don't test me, Montgomery. I will throw you in. You know I'm--"

Topper was cut off by another splash of water, this time from a giggling Kate. His jaw dropped at his girlfriend's betrayal, and you seized the moment to send and your spray of water towards him. His eyes narrowed, and you bolted up before he could lunge towards you. You ran away giggling as Topper scrambled up to chase after you, all the while continuously getting splashed by water from both Kate and Anna now, who had joined in on the action.

"You are so dead!" Topper shouted after you, as you tried your best to outrun him. It wasn't long until he caught up to you and grabbed you, throwing you over his shoulder.

"Owww, Topper put me down!" you squealed. You kicked your legs blindly and tried to squirm out of his grip, but to no avail.

"You made your bed, Montgomery, now lie in it," Topper quipped. Although you were unable to see his face, you could hear the smug grin in his tone. Kate and Anna were cackling.

Your eyes widened as Topper neared the edge of the dock, "Topper don't you dare throw me in, I will not hesitate to kick you in the balls!"

You pleaded with your friend, but he had already made his mind up. You screeched as he dumped your rather ungracefully over the edge of the dock. You squinted your eyes shut and braced yourself for the impact milliseconds before you was submerged under the cool water. You swam back up and gasped as your head broke the surface. Kate and Anna were now laughing so hard, tears were streaming down their cheeks. You wiped the water from your eyes, and glared up at a smirking Topper.

However, a devilish grin took over your face as you noticed Kate's legs were dangling over the edge of the dock in your fit of laughter. Before Topper could stop you, you lurched forward and tugged your friend down into the water with you. Kate screamed as she fell over the edge and into the water. She coughed violently as she came up from underneath the water, "What the hell was that for?"

You sent a splash of water towards Kate, "For enabling your boyfriend!"

Before Kate could splash you back, a wave of water engulfed both of you as Topper cannon-balled between you. You both cried out, and assaulted him with splashes as soon as his head peeked out from underneath the surface.

You giggled as you fought with your friends in the moonlit water. This was the first time in days that your mind wasn't plagued with thoughts of piano, or college applications, or your soulmate. Even if for just a few minutes, you felt an unwavering bliss like no other.

But just as quickly as it engulfed you, bliss slipped away.

The feeling of sharp nails dragging down your back wiped the wide grin off of your face instantly. In an instant, you became acutely aware of your whole body. You felt teeth nipping harshly at your neck, and a familiar feeling bubbling in the pit of your stomach. You felt your gut twist and wrench; but this feeling was your own.

You had felt your soulmate getting it on many times in the past. Sure, it annoyed your; but only because it would interrupt your own activities. You had never thought of it as anything more than a nuisance.

But things were different now. You had felt the electrifying touch of his skin on yours; of his lips on yours. You had stared into his ocean eyes. He was no longer some faceless, nameless agitation. He was JJ Maybank.

"You're feeling him, aren't you?" Anna's icy tone sent a shiver up your spine.

Anna frowned down at you from your seat on the dock. You were suddenly aware of your surroundings and whipped around to find that Topper and Kate had drifted off on their own. You diverted your attention towards Anna again, feeling small under her punitive gaze. You felt the invisible nails clawing at your back again, and clambered out of the water as if you could escape the feeling.

"I don't know what you want me to do about it, Ann," you barely spoke above a whisper, "It's not like I can break the bond." you hugged yourself as the combination of your dripping wet clothes and the soft sea breeze made you shiver.

"No, but you're entertaining the idea of it," Anna coolly replied, "I saw how you looked at him today."

You frowned and clenched your fists as the feeling of pleasure in your gut returned. You sunk your nails into your arms with the hope that JJ would receive your message.

You composed yourself before you bit back, "I don't know what you're talking about, Anna. I barely looked at him. But even if I did, then so what?"

"I'm just looking out for you here, Y/N. He's bad news, and you're above that. You don't need that kind of chaos in your life," Anna replied in a condescending tone, eliciting a scoff from you.

"Do you think I'm fucking dense? I am fully aware of who he is and where he comes from, and frankly, I don't have a rat's ass what side of the island he lives on," you seethed, "I won't be associating with him because I don't want a soulmate, not because he's beneath me. And my decision to do so will not be to satisfy you, or my family. That decision will be made for myself, and myself only."

As you ranted, your voice raised and captured the attention of Kate and Topper.

"Well someone has to look out for you if you won't look out for yourself," Anna sniped back, matching your volume.

You groaned, and stomped your foot in frustration, "Get your head out of your ass, Anna. You and I both know that you're only looking out for yourself and your reputation."

Anna opened her mouth to reply, but you cut her off, "I'm out of here."

You spun on your heels, and marched away from your angry friend. You ignored Kate and Topper's confused shouts asking you what happened, and where you were going.

As you walked further from the scene, your composure cracked with each step. It wasn't until you were completely out of earshot that you allowed it to shatter completely. Just as the first tear trailed down your face, the first sob wracked your trembling body. Your bottom lip wobbled as you willed yourself to calm down, but to no avail. Your legs felt like jelly as you stumbled along the side of the road, tears streaming down your face. Your vision blurred, and you couldn't contain the wails escaping you. It was as if your body was dispelling all of the events from the past week. The fight with your parents, the stress from Madame, and the unavoidable, mind splitting confusion you felt over JJ Maybank.

JJ.

You were doing just fine until he came into the picture. You had a handle over things. But the small semblance of control you had felt over your own life had cruelly slipped between your fingers, as you sobbed over a boy you barely knew. You cried over the image of him with another girl. And you cried over the prospect of accepting him as a part of your life. Above all, you cried because you felt helplessly alone. No matter how suffocating your secret became, you couldn't talk about it with anyone, as Anna had proven to you that evening.

You stumbled over your feet, but before you could collapse a pair of wet arms caught you, wrapping around you from behind.

Your cries only escalated as Topper held your frail body against his chest, "Shhh, Y/N. It'll be okay. You're okay. You're safe."

Despite his soothing tone, you shook your head violently, unable to respond through your wheezing sobs. He delicately turned your body to face him and wrapped his arms around you once again. Topper held you firmly against his chest and rubbed circles in your back, all the while whispering affirmations in your ear. Breathe, Y/N. You can do this. You're strong. You buried your face in the fabric of his soaking shirt, muffling your cries.

You weren't sure how long you stood there crying into Topper's arms, but his hold on you did not waver until your sobs subsided into hiccups, and your breathing slowed to a normal rate. Eventually, you were able to unravel yourself from his limbs. Your red, puffy eyes trained on his, and you opened your mouth to speak. But your voice was hoarse, and you didn't know what to say.

"You don't have to say anything," Topper read your mind, "But at least let me walk you home."

Your shoulders sagged in relief, and you nodded gratefully. You began the mile long trek to the Montgomery estate in a silence filled only with the sound of your hiccups and chirping cicadas. Your eyes remained trained on the ground below, but true to his word, Topper did not ask you any questions. You felt his concerned gaze trained on you, but didn't dare to meet his eyes. As you walked side by side, you felt a fogginess overcome your mind. A haze brought on by crying until you had no tears left. For just a moment, you allowed yourself to dissociate from the chaos. You felt a temporary relief; one you knew wouldn't last long, but that you welcomed all the same. Because you knew that tomorrow it would pass, and you would have to confront the mess you had the misfortune of calling your life.

And boy, what a mess you were in.

...so it's been a minute, but I felt inspired to pick this back up again. taglist is super old, so please message me if you would like to be added or taken off! (repost)

#jj maybank x reader #jj maybank #outer banks #jj maybank imagine #jj x reader #jj maybank fanfiction #outer banks fanfiction

79 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 years

Note

When is the next chapter 17 going to be up. No rush just was wondering. I love your writing. Thank you for blessing the world with your words.

hehe 10 months late but just posted go check it out!

4 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 years

Note

Hey hon you GOOD AND ALIVE?

yes ma’am meds do wonders

2 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 3 years

Text

The One with Vienna

Tongue Tied (jj maybank) 16/?

masterlist

word count: 5.9k

warnings: smutty smut smut badly written smut don’t get too excited

playlist

"I can't believe we found it!"

The giddy group of teenagers stumbled out of the basement and back towards the van. Amidst the excitment, they'd forgotten JJ's dramatic retelling of the horrors of the Crain house. Exhiliration flooded the air, and nothing could stop it.

"So what's the plan, then?" Rosie bumped shoulders with John B.

JJ, Kie, and Pope all looked to John B for an answer. In the past week or so, he'd become the unspoken leader of their group.

"Well, we need supplies. Rope, flashlights, a harness, stuff like that. Pope, can you get some stuff from your dad's shop?" John B cocked his head towards his friend.

"Yeah, only if we return it though," Pope affirmed.

"Great. So you'll get what you can, and I've got some business to take care of. Let's meet up at the Chateau in a few hours, maybe around 3:00?"

The Pogues all nodded in confirmation of John B's tentative plan.

"Give me a ride?" Rosie chirped, tapping him with her elbow.

"You got it," he nudged her back, "Anyone else need one?"

Kie shook her head, "Nah, I gotta cover Rosie's shift. The Wreck's not too far from here, I'll just walk."

A smug look graced Rosie's features as she was reminded of the deal she'd made with her friend. Kie shot her a dirty look, but the shorter girl ignored it.

"I'll walk too," Pope added.

John B furrowed his brows, "Heyward's is kinda far from here, you sure--"

"I'll walk," Pope interjected, shuffling closer to Kie.

John B and JJ stared cluelessly at their friend, but Rosie narrowed her eyes in thought. She studied Pope's nervous shifting and anxious eyes, and realization dawned over her. Her eyes brightened and her lips twitched. How had she missed it before? Pope was so into Kie.

"Okay, so Kie and Pope are walking. Let's get a move on!" Rosie interjected before John B or JJ could ruin Pope's moment.

Rosie cocked a brow at the boy standing next to Kie. He shifted underneath her gaze, knowing she'd caught onto him. Nevertheless, Pope spun on his heels and escaped the scene with Kie close behind.

"What was that about?" JJ nudged John B who shrugged stupidly.

Rosie rolled her eyes at their dull-wittedness, "Don't worry about it. Let's get a move on."

She swung open the passenger-side door of the van. John B followed her to the driver's seat, but JJ remained shuffling on the sidewalk. Rosie nodded her head expectantly, waiting for the blond to follow. He shot her a hard gaze.

"I gotta stop by my place," JJ coughed casually.

Rosie had begun to close the door, but swung it back open at his words. JJ's normally vibrant eyes were glazed over, shielding what was hidden behind.

"Need to get some stuff," he continued, raising his brows at Rosie.

Rosie remembered that JJ needed to pack some clothes to bring to her house. The tension in her shoulders released, but was replaced with a gross, twisting sensation in her stomach instead. She swallowed the string of words itching to escape and nodded sharply instead.

"3:00."

"Okay."

The van rumbled to life beneath her and Rosie slammed the door shut. She tore her eyes away from JJ's messy blond hair and blue eyes. She urgently twisted the ring around her middle finger in an attempt to surpress the image of JJ's dad mercilessly beating his son outside of the police station.

"You good?"

Rosie jumped at the sound of John B's voice.

"Yeah," she sighed and forced a grim smile.

Rosie watched John B's casted hand maneuver the steering wheel with difficulty.

"Are you even allowed to drive right now? Your right hand is virtually useless."

John B shot her a cheeky grin, "Good thing I use my left."

Rosie stared at him blankly for a moment. Realization crossed over her and she scrunched her nose up in disgust at his innuendo.

"Oh my God, you're disgusting!" Rosie shrieked.

She slapped his arm, but he couldn't care less through his laughter. Rosie shook her head and stretched her arm out the window. The wind tickled her hand and her elbow rested lazily against edge of the open window.

"I'm not stupid, you know," John B's eyes flicked over to the girl next to him.

"Really? Would've fooled me," Rosie hummed.

"Spill the beans, Rose-Ann. Don't think I haven't noticed your sex eyes for Maybank," John B replied smugly without sparing her a glance.

Rosie's eyes widened and she involuntarily gasped. Before she could protest, John B cut in again.

"Come on, don't act like a prude," he teased.

Rosie narrowed her eyes at her friend. She slapped his broken arm, causing him to squeal.

"Come on, don't act like you didn't deserve that," Rosie quipped with a glare.

"Fine, don't share. But don't think that'll stop me from figuring it out myself. Maybe I'll ask Pope and Kie for help too," John B hummed nonchalantly.

Rosie ground her teeth together in frustration, "You're a dick, you know that?"

John B slowed the van as he neared a stop sign and turned to her with a shit-eating grin, "Speaking of dicks--"

"Oh my god, fine! I'll talk to you, just no more sex jokes," Rosie screeched.

John B grinned smugly and glanced at her with expectant eyes. She rolled her eyes with a sour look on her face, annoyed that she'd given into his pressure.

"Well?" John B hummed while taking a left turn.

Rosie glared at him, but huffed in defeat, "It's complicated."

"Complicated?!" John B shrieked, causing Rosie to jolt in her seat, "All of that, just for complicated?"

"I don't know!" Rosie yelled in defense, slumping back into her seat, "I don't know," she repeated in defeat.

An uncomfortable silence flooded the car, and Rosie refused to meet John B's eyes which shot back in forth between her and the road.

Seconds passed, but it felt like hours before she spoke up again in a feeble voice, "It's like one minute we hate each other and the next--"

Rosie abruptly cut herself off, her face flushing as she realized what she was about to say next. The suffocating silence filled the van yet again, but was broken seconds later by John B.

"Well, you haven't done the dirty yet, have you?"

"No, you perv!" Rosie cried, slapping John B's broken arm harder than before.

She ignored the whine that escaped him, and lulled her head against the window. "That's all you're getting out of me, JB."

"Fine," the broken boy grumbled in defeat, "You'll talk eventually."

"Enough about my love life. How about Sarah?" Rosie abruptly changed the subject in a teasing tone.

John B cocked a brow and the corner of his lips twitched, "So you're not gonna hate me for macking on a Kook?"

Rosie rolled her hazel eyes, "We're not kids anymore, JB. Besides, Kie's only mad because you lied about it."

"So if I told her I was macking on Sarah then she wouldn't have gotten mad," he shot back defensively.

Rosie opened her mouth to respond, but hesitated. She and John B both knew that Kie would have been mad regardless. "Well she would've been a little mad, but you definitely made it worse by lying."

John B grunted, but knew his childhood friend had a point, "Whatever," he grumbled.

Rosie sighed and rested her head against the window, letting the conversation die out. She watched the rumbling dirt road beneath them for a few minute before the van pulled into the familiar gravel driveway of the Chateau.

Rosie didn't hesitate to hop out of the infamous van, slightly stumbling over the uneven ground. She steadied herself and sauntered towards the porch. As she stepped onto the creaking wood, she glanced over her shoulder to see John B still seated in the van.

Rosie cocked an eyebrow at him, "You comin'?"

With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he revved the engine and called back, "Gotta take care of some business first before we meet up."

Rosie narrowed her eyebrows in contemplation before it dawned on her. Her eyes widened and she turned to face John B, "If you bring Sarah here Kie's gonna flip! Don't be a dumbass."

He merely shrugged, "I've never been the sharpest tool in the shed."

Before Rosie could protest, John B pulled out of the driveway with a wink. She rolled her eyes, and a sour taste filled her mouth in anticipation of the disaster he was unfurling by bringing Kie's worst enemy into their group.

Nevertheless, Rosie shrugged him off and stomped lazily inside the house, swinging the door shut behind her. She didn't hesitate to fall onto the couch. Rosie sighed in relief as she finally had some peace and quiet amidst of the chaos of her friends. Her eyes fluttered shut, and her breathing slowed as she drifted from consciousness in a matter of seconds.

"No effing way! You brought her here? So what, she's in on this now?" Kie fumed, glaring daggers at Sarah Cameron who sat with her arms crossed beside John B.

Rosie wrapped her arms around her legs, nervously glancing between the two indignant girls. Kie stared incredulously at all of her friends, who avoided her gaze.

John B had tried to explain that Sarah had access to old plantation maps and could help them in their treasure hunt, but Kie wasn't having it.

"I dunno," Pope broke the silence.

"Look, all I care about is her cut comes out of your share," JJ interjected, glancing pointedly at John B.

Kie threw her arms up in exasperation, "I don't remember a vote! Rosie?"

Rosie sunk into her seat and shifted underneath her friend's hard, expectant stare. She could feel Sarah staring at her in anticipation as well. "I dunno, Kie. I don't wanna get involved."

Kie glared at Rosie in frustration before continuing, "This is our thing! A Pogue thing."

Kie and Sarah locked eyes, waiting for the other to stand down, but to no avail.

Tension enveloped the group of teenagers who all sat scattered on the porch of the Chateau.

"I gotta say, I'm just a tad uncomfortable with this," Pope spoke up.

Rosie nodded along, but didn't speak up for fear of angering Kie again.

John B, who had instigated the tension by bringing his not-girlfriend-girlfriend into their treasure hunt, shot back, "When are you not uncomfortable?"

"I ride the back of JJ's bike pretty comfortably," Pope quipped.

"That's true. Most relaxed I've ever seen him," JJ clapped Pope's shoulder.

At any other time, Rosie would've chuckled. But she still felt Kie's looming, vicious gaze.

Kie ignored Pope and JJ's banter, "You know we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her!"

Rosie cringed as she watched Sarah sit up in her seat with a glare, finally ready to speak up.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here!" the Kook shot back at Kie.

"Then leave!"

Sarah scoffed and turned to John B with a sneer, "I told you."

"Told him what, exactly?" Kie diverted Sarah's attention away from John B and back to her, "That I'm a liar?"

"No, that you're a shit-talking bitch," Sarah bit back.

All hell broke loose. The two girls argued back and forth, trying to yell over each other. John B tried to stop them, but no avail. JJ and Pope pulled cash from their pockets as they placed bets over who would kick who's ass. Rosie picked at the old stitches in her hand.

"Everybody shut up!" John B screamed.

Suddenly, the arguing stopped.

"Kie," he continued, "you are my best friend. And Sarah, you're--"

He chuckled awkwardly, unsure of how to finish his sentence.

"Say it," Sarah smiled.

"You're my girlfriend."

Where there goes the not-girlfriend-girlfriend status, Rosie thought to herself. JJ and Pope exchanged amused glances.

Kie, on the other hand, was not amused.

"She's your girlfriend now? What was all that talk about how you were just using her for information? Get a map, cut her loose," Kie sneered.

Sarah's demeanor changed as she turned to John B with hurt in her eyes, "You said you were using me?"

"No," John B tried to deny Kie's accusation, but was immediately shut down by the rest of the Pogues.

"Yeah."

"You did."

"Affirmative."

"Look--love just walked in, okay?" John B cut off his friends, turning his focus to Sarah, "It just happened. I'm not gonna deny it. Right?"

Sarah glared back at him.

Rosie internally groaned in exasperation, ready for all of it to be over.

"Look, cut the bullshit, John B," Kie cut in, "If she's in, I'm out. Me or her?"

John B responded without hesitation, "Both."

To no one's surprise, Kie scoffed and stormed away. She slammed the door behind her, leaving the rest of the teenagers swimming in a pool of tension. Seconds later, Sarah stood from her seat.

"I'm gonna leave," the Kook sighed.

John B tried to stop her, but to no avail. Sarah left the porch of the Chateau to find her bike and, presumably, get out of the Cut as soon as possible.

"Looks like it's time for Plan B," John B clapped his hands as soon as Kie and Sarah were out of hearing distance.

"Plan B?" Rosie scrunched her nose in confusion.

"Plan B," he affirmed.

Rosie eyed him skeptically but nodded her head, signaling him to continue.

"Ok, so I'm gonna take Sarah out on my dad's boat. You, JJ, and Pope are gonna get Kie to come with us on the HMS Pogue--"

"And how the hell are we supposed to get her to come?" Pope cut him off.

"You'll tell her that I'm stranded and we need her help," John B continued, "Just say the engine's down or something. So you get out on the water and meet us, but I'll lock Sarah down in the bottom of the boat."

Rosie rolled her eyes, but remained silent.

"Finally, we get Kie to come on Pope's boat and check out the engine which is when we jump and swim back to the Pogue, leaving Kie and Sarah to have some quality bonding time," John B finished with a proud grin.

Pope and JJ shrugged, but nodded along. John B stared at Rosie in anticipation of her answer. She rose her brows in disbelief and scoffed, "Do what you will, but I am not a part of this."

John B began to protest, but Rosie cut him off, "Girl code! I'm not setting Kie up. I won't say anything, but don't expect any help from me."

She ignored the disappointment gracing his features and stood from her seat on the couch.

"Well, I'm gonna head home. Make a sandwich or something. Better than being with you fools," Rosie sang smugly, "Good luck boys!"

She winked at the three disgruntled boys over her shoulder before skipping down the stairs of the porch. Rosie could hear them chattering behind her, but she didn't bother turning around. Instead, she continued her trek across the gravel driveway in the direction of her house.

The humid Carolina breeze made sweat gather at the back of Rosie's neck. She groaned in discomfort, but continued trudging through the Cut. Her face was hot, and her clothes were sticking to her skin. Each step made her feel warmer, and she longed for a glass of ice cold water. Rosie abruptly stopped walking along the sidewalk. She flipped her head downwards, and gathered her hair with one hand. She formed a messy bun with the hair tie on her wrist before continuing her walk home.

Rosie's legs grew tired as she approached the small settlement she called home. She swung the rickety front door of her house open. The messy living room was comforting and the sofa was inviting. Rosie flopped onto the large piece of furniture with a sigh of relief. Her head lulled onto one of the pillows, and she groggily kicked her shoes off.

Rosie stretched her tired limbs. Her eyes landed on the TV remote on the coffee table. She snatched up the small device and pointed it toward the old TV she hadn't used in months. She instantly regretted pressing the power button as white noise filled the quiet room and the blank screen turned to static. The teenager scrambled to shut the TV back off. She huffed and tossed the remote aside.

What was she expecting? The cable bill hadn't been paid since before her mother had died.

Rosie rolled off the couch and trudged over to her boombox on the kitchen counter instead. She picked a random CD from a pile nearby and popped it into the digital player. The intro to Lola by The Kinks sounded through the small house and Rosie clapped her hand against her thigh to the beat.

She grabbed a bottle of water from her fridge, along with bread from the cupboard. Rosie grabbed jars of peanut butter and jelly, and swayed to the beat of the music as she spread the condiments onto two pieces of bread.

The teenager hastily put away the ingredients before digging into her PB&J. Rosie leaned against the kitchen counter and stared out the window while munching on her sandwich. The sun was setting and the sky was rapidly turning a soft orange.

After finishing her sandwich, Rosie absentmindedly searched for the pack of cigarettes she'd left lying around a few days earlier. Her fingertips grazed the cool kitchen counter and she snatched up the silver lighter that once belonged to her father.

A chill danced up her spine as she wrapped her fingers around the cold metal. An unwanted reminder of her breakdown a week ago clouded her mind. Her chest tightened and her heart rate quickened. She remembered sobbing in the living room. She felt the flickering flame of fire as she let the lighter slip through her fingers.

Rosie clenched the lighter and snatched a cigarette from the half-empty pack by the sink. She flicked her thumb against the silver device and glared at the small flame. With a huff of determination, she placed the cigarette between her lips and held the flame to it. Rosie was quick to shut off the lighter and slide it far away from her across the counter.

She delicately rested the stick of tobacco between her fingers and inhaled. She'd grown so accustomed to the burn in the back of her throat that it barely even tickled. Rosie's shoulders slumped as she exhaled.

The 17-year-old relinquished control of her body and moved to the beat of her mother's old mixtape. The jean shorts she'd been wearing all day clung to her, and she was suddenly aware of how constricting they were. With an unbothered grunt, she unbuttoned the material and slipped them down her legs. Rosie carelessly kicked the shorts aside towards the bathroom. She knew JJ would be back soon, but her t-shirt fell down to the middle of her thighs; and frankly, she didn't care.

Moving her hips to the beat of You Really Got Me, Rosie sauntered to the fridge. She placed the cigarette between her teeth and swung the door open, grabbing the first can of Budlight she could spot. Rosie pulled the cig away from her mouth to exhale, pop open the beer, and take a swig. The combination of nicotine and cheap beer left a bitter taste in her mouth. She eyed the cigarette hanging loosely between her fingers.

"Fuck this," Rosie grumbled to herself.

She carelessly tossed the cigarette out of the open window. Cigarettes and beer weren't a good combination, but weed would certainly do the trick.

If JJ had already brought his things over, he surely had a stash of weed hidden somewhere in the house.

Rosie wandered down the hallway towards JJ's temporary room, her hips still swinging to the beat of the Kinks. Dust dragged between her bare toes from the hardwood floors that desperately needed to be cleaned.

She swung the door of JJ's room open and scrunched her nose up at the sight before her.

Clothes were strewn about, three empty cans of beer laid carelessly on the bedside table, and the familiar scent of musky grass, mint, and weed infiltrated the air.

JJ had just dropped his things off and the room was already a mess.

"Pig," Rosie muttered under her breath.

She haphazardly dug through discarded laundry in search of JJ's weed. Rosie squealed as her hand came in contact with a dirty pair of boxers. She huffed and stood from the mess of clothes on the ground.

"If I were an emotionally unstable teenage boy, where would I hide my drugs," Rosie wondered aloud.

She paused in contemplation before cautiously stepping towards the bed. She slid her uninjured hand underneath the pillow and wrapped it around a metal object. Rosie pulled her hand out to reveal an Altoid box that smelled suspiciously of weed.

Rosie grinned in victory, "Under the pillow? Really?"

The teenager danced out of the room and back to the living room where The Temptation's My Girl was now blasting through the speakers. Rosie hummed along to the familiar tune and leaned against the kitchen counter. She flipped open the Altoid box to reveal a small plastic bag of cannabis, rolling papers, and tiny cardboard crutches.

Rosie continued to hum to herself as she set to work rolling a joint. Her fingers were quick and nimble--this wasn't her first go-around. Within seconds, she was lifting the contraption to her lips to lick the edge and seal it. She loosely held the joint between her fingers with a grin, admiring her own work.

Rosie closed JJ's Altoid box, not bothering to put it back under his pillow. Instead, the teenager cranked up the music and grabbed her dad's silver lighter to set fire to her joint.

Rosie raised the freshly rolled stick to her lips and deeply inhaled. The pungent smell filled her nostrils and tickled the back of her throat. The teenager slowly exhaled, watching a cloud of smoke form above her. She rolled her head back in bliss and grinned to herself.

"I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way," Rosie sang along, lazily swinging her hips.

She switched the joint over to her injured hand, and reached for her can of beer. Rosie poured the bitter remains down her throat. She crunched the empty can in her fist and let out a loud burp. The teenager giggled to herself, and carelessly tossed the crushed can aside. She sauntered back to the fridge to grab another can while simultaneously taking another drag.

As Rosie sipped her second beer, she felt her high approaching. Her mind fogged, and her limbs loosened. It was a freeing feeling--physically letting go of all of her worries and stress for a little while.

Rosie spun around on her bare toes, laughing to herself as beer sloshed over the edge of the can. Her bare legs moved rather ungracefully as she stumbled along the hardwood floor.

"Really? You stole my weed?" a familiar voice disrupted her dancing.

Rosie shrieked in surprise. Her half empty beer can clattered to the floor and she spun around with a whine.

"JJ," she cried, "you made me spill my beer!"

Rosie pouted for a moment before breaking into a fit of laughter.

JJ stood in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and an amused gleam in his eyes.

"You steal my weed, I spill your beer. An eye for an eye, sweetheart," he mused, swiftly picking up the can from the floor.

Rosie giggled and twirled around in excitement as the song changed to Redbone's Come and Get Your Love.

"JJ! I love this song, dance with me!"

She threw her arms in the air, moving along to the music.

JJ watched Rosie's shirt ride up, revealing her bare legs and the trim of her panties. His eyebrows twitched and his lips parted. An unwanted warmth pooled in his stomach, and his skin felt hotter than usual. He couldn't help but stare, but he was quickly shaken back to reality.

Rosie curled a finger through the belt loop of his pants, pulling his body flush against hers. She stood on her tiptoes and stared playfully into his eyes, "Take a picture, it'll last long longer."

JJ merely laughed in response and snatched the joint from her other hand, eliciting a whine from Rosie. He placed the joint between his chapped lips with one hand and used his other to twirl Rosie around. She laughed blissfully as JJ's hand guided her. He yanked Rosie back towards him, her chest against his.

JJ waved the joint between his fingers. Rosie grinned, knowing exactly what he was doing. She parted her lips and bumped her nose against his. JJ mimicked her, parting his lips against hers and blowing smoke into her mouth.

Rosie abruptly pulled away, inhaling JJ's second-hand smoke. She stood on her toes and blew it out into the air above with a blissful smile.

"You, Sir, need a beer," the short girl teased, turning to the fridge.

"Don't mind if I do," he grinned, gracefully grabbing a can from Rosie's hand.

JJ gracefully popped open the can. He raised it to his lips, not hesitating to tip the liquid down his mouth. Rosie subconsciously bit her lip as she watched his Adam's apple bop while he chugged the drink in a matter of seconds. JJ threw the now empty can onto the counter with a grin before letting out a loud belch.

Rosie giggled hysterically, "You're so gross."

JJ elbowed her in the side, and Rosie screeched loudly. He ignored her dramatics and brushed past her towards the fridge to grab himself another can. Rosie resumed her ungraceful dancing while he rummaged through the fridge.

"You gotta get some more beers soon," he called from the opposite side of the room.

"No, you gotta get some more beers. Consider it rent for the week," Rosie quipped back.

She twirled around blindly to the Temptations song, her bare feet gliding clumsily along the wooden floor. Rosie stumbled with a squeak, but found herself in JJ's arms before she could fall onto the floor below. She gasped in surprise, but sunk into his hold with a drunken giggle.

"C'mon, Klutz. It's only 9, you can't be that drunk," JJ mockingly whispered into her ear, tickling her skin.

"Well you can't be that sober. Drink up!" she shot back, freeing herself of his grip.

Rosie cocked an eyebrow at JJ in a challenging manner. A smirk graced his rosy lips, and he popped open a second beer.

And so the pair of drunken teenagers continued. Can after can between drags of JJ's joint. They stumbled around the living room awkwardly to the sound of Rosie's boombox, and for a little while, their troubles fled their minds in favor of bliss. No dead mother, no abusive father. No bills to pay, no job to get to. But above all, no unspoken tension infiltrating their fragile minds.

Within an hour, a multitude of aluminum cans littered the floor of Rosie's modest home. Rosie's arms were draped across JJ's shoulders as the pair swayed lazily to the sound of music.

"I'm tired," Rosie mumbled into the taller boy's chest.

"C'mon," JJ pulled her towards the couch. The two teenagers fell onto the plush cushions in a tangled heap. Rosie wrapped a leg around JJ, settling against him with a sigh as if he were a teddy bear.

The opening chords of Vienna by Billy Joel filled the room, and Rosie grinned into the crook of JJ's neck.

"I love this song," she hummed while absentmindedly running her fingers through JJ's messy locks.

JJ grunted back in agreement. He drummed his fingers on her thigh to the beat of the song, sending a shiver up Rosie's spine.

"Slow down you crazy child, you're so ambitious for a juvenile," JJ groggily sang against Rosie's skin. She giggled and felt him grin against her.

JJ shifted his head sideways so his nose bumped against Rosie's cheek. He continued to hum along to the Billy Joel song while pressing a soft kiss against Rosie's jawline. Her breathing hitched, but the combination of weed and beer and JJ's rough hand tracing her thigh helped her relax. He lazily trailed his lips along her jawline and up to her ear. Rosie giggled as his breath tickled her ear. JJ placed another kiss underneath her ear, and she felt him smile against her skin.

JJ propped himself up on his elbows so his body hovered above hers. A dazed look clouded his blue eyes as he stared into Rosie's. She bumped her nose against his and let her eyes flutter shut. His lips grazed against hers, and her heart pounded.

"Stop teasing," she mumbled.

JJ released a raspy chuckle which made Rosie's hair stand on end. He abruptly pulled away and Rosie's eyes fluttered open in surprise. She gazed up at JJ who who stared back with an impish grin. His eyes bore through hers as he shifted down her body. JJ placed an open-mouthed kiss against her neck, sending a shiver up Rosie's spine. She threw her head back, exposing her neck to JJ. Rosie tangled her hand in JJ's hair, pulling him closer. He nipped her skin, and she whined in response.

Calloused fingers gripped her leg, slowly trailing up her thigh. Rosie's eyes fluttered shut at the feeling of JJ's lips against her neck and his hand pushing up her shirt. Goosebumps erupted along Rosie's bare legs as JJ bunched her oversized shirt around her waist.

JJ nipped particularly hard in one spot along Rosie's collarbone. She whined and tugged at his hair, eliciting a groan from him. She pulled his face from her neck, and smashed her lips against his. Their mouths crashed together in a drug-induced haze. JJ's hand resumed its work along Rosie's thigh. He slipped his tongue past her lips while simultaneously hooking a finger in the band of Rosie's panties, snapping them back against her skin.

Rosie jolted in surprise, "JJ," she whined.

He smiled lazily against her lips before lifting his head so his nose pressed against hers. Rosie gazed longingly into his bloodshot baby blues.

"You're fuckin' perfect," he grumbled, nipping at her nose playfully.

Rosie giggled, jolting forward and sloppily licking his cheek in response. JJ grinned and placed one more sloppy kiss on her lips before lifting himself up on his forearms. He lowered himself down her body and scrunched her shirt up around her waist, pressing his lips against her bare stomach in an intimate kiss. Rosie's playful eyes darkened as she realized what the boy above her was doing.

JJ trailed his lips from her belly button, down to her lower abdomen, stopping at the line of her panties. Rosie's heartbeat quickened, her chest moving quicker in anticipation. Her heart leaped into her throat as his eyes flicked upwards to meet hers.

He raised an eyebrow as if to ask, 'Can I?'

She nodded once, 'Please.'

Rosie shivered as JJ looped his fingers underneath the waistband of her panties, dragging them down her legs, his eyes never leaving hers. Goosebumps erupted along Rosie's bare legs, and she didn't dare let out the breath she was holding in. She simply watched as his head lowered between her legs.

JJ's lips pressed against her clit and Rosie's cracked lips parted into a gasp . Her eyes fluttered shut as he dragged his tongue along her core. His initially tentative touch grew bolder as he licked his lips before diving in again, flicking his tongue against her sensitive clit.

Rosie bit down against her finger to muffle the sounds threatening to escape. Her eyes shot open again as she felt JJ's hand drag her own away from her mouth. His ocean blues met hers, the sight alone nearly sending her over the edge. He intertwined his right hand with hers, holding it flush against her thigh.

JJ's left hand wandered between her legs. Rosie cried in delight as she felt his fingers teasing her entrance before slipping in. With two fingers curling against her g spot and his lips wrapped around her clit, the stimulation made Rosie's head spin.

"J," she whined.

He curled his fingers harder in response. Rosie's hips jolted and she cried out, squeezing his hand tighter. Her free hand tangled itself in his blond locks.

"I'm--"

"I know," he mumbled against her core.

The vibration sent her over the edge. Rosie pulled his hair as she let out one final moan. Her whole body jerked as she dissolved into blissful pleasure. Her vision spotted, and she no longer cared what noises escaped her.

JJ carefully pulled his fingers from her core. He placed one last kiss to her clit before sucking his fingers into his mouth, cleaning them from her juices. He glanced up at Rosie, whose eyes were shut and her lips parted as she came down from her high. JJ moved up her body and released his hand from hers, instead using it to brush back the hair from her face.

Rosie's eyes lazily fluttered open to meet his. She said nothing as his thumb stroked her jawline softly.

"You're pretty, you know," he mumbled, pressing his nose against hers.

"I know," she whispered back with a grin.

JJ matched her smile, playfully nipping at her nose. Rosie giggled in response. She guided his lips down to hers, capturing them in another short kiss. She nudged the larger boy over, signaling him to flip over so she was on top. Their lips briefly parted as Rosie swung her legs around so they straddled JJ.

Rosie slipped her hand underneath JJ's shirt, tracing the lines and creases of his chiseled abdomen. Growing bolder, she trailed kisses down his jawline and towards his neck. She toyed with the band of his boxers, but he stopped her with a grunt.

"Don't worry 'bout me," JJ mumbled against her.

Rosie cocked a brow, "JJ Maybank saying no to a blowjob?" she feined shock.

His lips lifted into a smirk, "We got all the time in the world, baby."

She shrugged, but removed her hand from underneath his shirt nevertheless, "Whatever you say, lover boy."

JJ merely grunted in response and wrapped an arm around Rosie, pulling her flush against his chest. She nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck and sighed in content. They lay tangled peacefully. Rosie felt her eyes droop from the steady rise and fall of JJ's chest and the Bob Dylan song which now filled the room.

Just as she felt herself slipping from consciousness, she whispered into JJ's neck, "You're my best friend, you know."

He pressed his lips to her forehead before responding, "I know."

With that, the two fractured teenagers drifted from consciousness tangled together, as one.

taglist:

@tangledinsparkles @lovelymaybankk @my--heroine @thelonelyumbrella @floretsoleil @flick24 @books-netflix-and-pizza @dad-ee-drea @dolanfivsosxx @anahgiedd @love-bean @maleriefay @mrs-maybank @shawnssongs @downbytheouterbanks @lostwnoah @2410slb @daygiowvibe @thesailbells @outrbank @kaelyn-lobrutto24 @wicked-laugh @dr3am07 @family-buisnes @mortilangdon @no-pouge-on-pouge-macking @brilliantbecca94 @secretmoonphantom @roselialia @dankpogue @incredibletragedies @hvfflepvfff @orangutangua @wellthathappened2 @obxmxybxnk @asapkyndall

...i'm so sorry...just a cheeky little 10 month hiatus I guess...anyways.

#jj maybank #rudy pankow #jj Maybank x reader #jj maybank smut #jj maybank fanfic #jj maybank series #outer banks #outer banks fanfic #obx #jj maybank imagine #outer banks smut #John B #pope heyward #rafe cameron #topper thornton #Sarah cameron

220 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 4 years

Note

hey, just to tell you I absolutely loved the last part, you are one of my favorite writers for jj and I can’t wait for your next one to be up :)

OMG u are too sweet thank you!! 💖

8 notes · View notes

thatbloodymuggle · 4 years

Note

hii just wanted to let you know that i am absolutely in love with ready to run! this serie is just so good. last chapter was amazing and can’t wait for the next part x

ahh thank you!! hopefully i can get the next chapter up soon!

1 note · View note

thatbloodymuggle · 4 years

Text

READY TO RUN (iii)

THREE - CRESCENDO

PAIRING: jj maybank x reader / soulmate au

WORD COUNT: 6.4k

MASTERLIST

SONG: CHOPIN’S MAZURKA NO. 19 IN B MINOR, OP. 30, NO. 2

https://open.spotify.com/track/0hGDs64YOGdwvWzMMMM8vg?si=IEoruq6LR2yxlrWGckAozA

✰✰✰

The rest of the night was a blur.

You couldn't feel Anna's firm arm around your shoulder guiding your calculated steps towards the car. You couldn't see Kate drag her boyfriend away from an impending fight. You couldn't taste the metallic bitterness flooding your mouth from biting your tongue. You couldn't hear the Range Rover door slam shut behind you.

You could only feel the bitter churn of your stomach. You could only see a mesmerizing ocean blue. You could only taste a burning desire. You could only hear the erratic thump of your heart—or was it his?

You desperately tried to pull yourself back to reality. You counted your steps. Left foot, right foot. You drummed Beethoven against your thigh. Op. 41 No. 2. You took deep breaths. In 4 seconds, out 8 seconds.

You paid no mind to Topper's erratic driving that nearly sent you flying out of your seat. The thundering argument amongst your friends was just white noise. You weren't sure how you'd managed to climb back into your room in your vexed state. Or how you'd gotten into bed. You weren't sure how long you stared at the ceiling above in a state of complete shock. You weren't sure whether you'd slept at all, or how much time had passed.

Was it all just a fever dream?

Because it sure felt like one as you awoke from your restless sleep the next morning.

Your unceasing mind made your head pound. Dark circles graced the underneath of your eyes from a severe lack of sleep. You felt dirty again, like you had to wash away the filth and grime of your own thoughts.

A sharp knock and piercing shout forced your stinging eyes wide open.

"Y/N! Dad wants you in his office!"

You couldn't muster a reply. Your eyes remained trained on the white plaster above as Georgia noisily bounded away from your door and down the hall. You allowed yourself to stare into the off-white abyss until your vision blurred and your younger sister's words finally sunk in.

Your dad finally wanted to speak to you.

You had nearly forgotten about the blowout with your parents. But in your defense, the past 48 hours felt like an entire week.

You rolled out of bed, peeling your eyes away from the dull ceiling. You ran your fingers through your hair in a lazy attempt to brush the knots out. You sluggishly slid your feet into a pair of slippers and grabbed a silk robe to cover up your pajamas. With sleep still clouding your judgment, you didn't bother to brush your teeth or make yourself look a little more presentable. Instead, you haphazardly grabbed the information packets Madame had given you the other day off of your desk and headed towards your father's office.

Your slipper-clad feet shuffled against the polished floor, and as you walked down the hall, the nerves began to set in. You were reminded of what deep-shit you were in with your parents. Through the events of last night and your grogginess, you'd forgotten the severity of the situation.

Your father’s office door loomed dreadfully before you. Your heartbeat was erratic, and you felt sweat building up on your palms. You suddenly regretted not taking a few extra minutes to fix your disgruntled appearance. But you knew if you kept your father waiting too long, you would've been in even more trouble. So, with a long sigh and shaky hand, you twisted the brass handle of the mahogany door.

The moment the door swung open, you blurted out, "I'm sorry."

Clyde Montgomery let out a low sigh and glanced up from the paperwork spread across his desk. He pushed his glasses from the bridge of his nose to rest on the top of his head and ran his aging hands over his face. He waved one hand in your direction, signaling you to take a seat.

You shuffled into the plush seat across from his desk. Your heart beat violently in your chest and you subconsciously clutched the information packets tighter. Your leg shook while you watched your father jot down a few last notes before looking up at you. His hard gaze made your shudder.

"What brought this on, Y/N?"

His calm, calculated tone made your throat dry as you racked your brain for the perfect response. You carefully set the packets down onto his desk so they didn't touch any of his work. You watched your father furrow his brows and pick up the Berklee College of Music packet before flipping through the others.

"I want to study music in college," you barely spoke above a whisper while he rifled through the papers, "Madame Mercier gave me these information packets a couple of days ago. They're some of the best music programs in the country. She thinks I have a good chance of getting into at least one of these schools, but only if I drop sports to solely focus on piano."

Clyde Montgomery clicked his tongue, and you felt like disappearing. His hard face made it difficult to decipher his thoughts, but you were sure he wasn't very impressed.

"And what do you plan on doing with a music degree?"

You could sense the distaste lacing his even tone.

"Wherever it takes me. I could go into composition, accompaniment, perform professionally. Maybe I could go on and get a Master's in another area," you bit the inside of your cheek.

Your father hummed at your response but still didn't give much away.

"So, you plan to apply on your own and just hope you get in? No connections, no pull, no likely letter?"

You flushed. The way your father spoke about your plan made it sound a lot riskier than you had previously thought.

"Well," you cleared your throat, "Madame knows of a Juilliard scout who will be vacationing in the Outer Banks in a few weeks. you'll be setting up a showcase for him to watch. Madame told me that if I'm able to impress him, it will be a huge boost in my application and get the conversation started with Juilliard early."

Clyde's ears perked up at the mention of Juilliard.

Clyde and Margaret had never approved of careers in the arts or anything else they deemed useless. But they loved name dropping even more than they hated 'frilly liberal arts degrees', and Juilliard was a much bigger name drop than any Carolina university.

"Juilliard," Clyde hummed to himself while flipping open the packet of the New York school. Behind his stern features hid a greedy glint in his eyes.

You popped your knuckles out of habit while you waited for your father's reply. You could see the gears turning in his head, but didn't dare say a word. Instead, you observed the wrinkles gracing his forehead, the dusted graying of his hair, and the wire-rimmed glasses resting on top.

"I need to talk to your mother first, but if you can get a pull from the scout, we can reconsider your extracurriculars."

You straightened in your seat and relief flooded your body. You opened your mouth to reply, but your father beat you to it.

"If you don't impress the scout, you're going right back on the field. Your mother didn't put so much effort into connecting you to the South Carolina coach for nothing," he continued, "Until then, you are expected to continue your tutoring and test prep. You will attend all of your piano lessons. And if you step one foot out of line, you can consider this deal off."

His folded arms and harsh tone made your skin crawl.

"You will behave. You will have poise. And you will represent the Montgomery family name as it should be represented. Understood?"

You nodded vigorously despite the underlying threat lacing his tone.

"Yes Sir."

"And please, be easy on your mother. She works too hard and she has enough on her shoulders. She doesn't need any more added stress."

You felt your neck and face heat up. vou nodded again with wide eyes.

"Yes Sir."

Clyde leaned back in his desk chair with a sigh, rubbing his temple.

"Dixie has agreed to drive you to your lessons this week and give your mother a break. I trust you'll communicate your lesson times with her and be prompt."

"I will," you forced down a groan at the thought of Dixie driving you. You knew it would be a pain in the ass getting your older sister to drop you off and pick you up on time without complaint, but you knew better than to protest.

"Good. Our talk here is done, then. Go clean yourself up and get ready for the day. I have a meeting in 10 minutes," your father's attention shifted from you to the work on his desk.

"Yes Sir," you stood from the chair, "Thank you, Dad. I won't disappoint you."

Your father shot you a dismissive nod, which you took as your cue to scurry out of his office and shut the daunting door behind you. A huge weight lifted from your shoulders and you felt like you could breathe a little easier. But despite the temporary relief, you knew you still had a lot of work to do.

You rushed back to your room to get ready for the day with a newfound bounce in your step. Your only worry for the time-being was getting Dixie to drive you to piano practice at 3:00. No thinking about how you were going to explain the events of the night before to your friends, or making up with your mother. But best of all, no JJ, and no soulmate.

✰✰✰

"You haven't practiced."

You slumped over the keys with a groan, "I'm sorry—"

You yelped as Madame Mercier stabbed her pen into your lower back, "And you're slouching! Do you want to do this or not? Because I will not teach you if you don't take this seriously, pas du tout!"

You sighed and ran your fingers through your hair, gripping slightly at the roots.

"I want it. I just didn't get a chance to practice yesterday or today."

You could feel your teacher's temper rising, so you quickly added, "I had to deal with my parents and, uh," you coughed before unintelligibly mumbling, "my soulmmmnn."

Madame Mercier's glare sharpened, "Your what?"

You gazed up at her through hooded, guilty eyes. Realization dawned over your teacher. The old woman sighed and raised her wrinkled hand to rub the temple of her forehead.

"Merde," Madame Mercier mumbled.

"He won't be a problem, Madame. I'll take care of it," you sighed.

"You say that now," the old woman matched your exasperated tone, "It will be far more difficult than you think. You mustn't forget your priorities."

You turned to completely face your teacher. You looked the older woman directly in the eye and spoke with confidence, "Please, believe me, Madame, I have my priorities straight. No more sports, no parties, and no soulmate. I want this more than anything."

Madame Mercier gave you a reluctant stare. You shifted underneath her intimidating gaze. The woman clicked her tongue before finally replying.

"Put away the Nocturne. You'll prepare Fantaisie Impromptu for the showcase."

Your eyes nearly bulged out of your head. Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu Op. 66 was the most difficult piece you'd ever learned, and while you had a grasp of the notes, you were far from mastering it. The six straight minutes were torture for your hands, and the sixteenth notes layered on triplets were a nightmare.

"But Madame, I'm nowhere near ready with it—"

"If you want this so badly, then you will be ready."

Your shoulders slumped in defeat, but you nodded, knowing your teacher was right. You packed up the sheet music spread out across the piano and dug through your bag for the dreaded piece of music. Madame spoke while you placed the difficult Chopin piece on the music stand.

"You won't have much time to impress him. You need something short but effective. If you can master a piece that professional pianists only dream of playing, then you are a shoe-in."

You nodded and straightened your posture with a newfound determination. You wanted this more than anything. And you were going to prove it to Madame, yourself, and your parents.

The last 30 minutes of the lesson were torturous. The notes blurred together and the abnormal rhythm made your head pound. Madame had even stuck a marker underneath your right hand so that each time you lowered it too much, a red dot appeared.

You were mentally exhausted and your wrist was littered with marker dots by the time you stood from the bench and packed up your bag.

"Practice, practice, practice," Madame Mercier clapped her hands fervently.

You nodded, "Yes, Madame."

"You are only as good as the hours you put in! N'oublies pas!"

Madame Mercier called behind you, but you were already halfway out the door. The older woman knew you were appreciative, but sometimes lessons could just be so exhausting.

As you stepped out of the air-conditioned home, you braced yourself for the blistering Carolina heat but were enveloped in a wave of humidity instead. The sky was canopied in an ominous, stormy gray, and you could smell the oncoming rain. A soft breeze billowed through the neighborhood, but not enough to mask the wet heat of the Outer Banks.

You hurried down the pathway to wait on the sidewalk for Dixie, whom you prayed hadn't forgotten to pick you up.

"Need a ride?"

Your heart skipped and you jumped in surprise. You whipped around to the source of the voice but immediately regretted doing so.

A shirtless JJ Maybank leaned against a lawnmower in the neighboring yard. The lopsided grin dancing on his lips and the devious glint in his eyes made your blood boil. You let your eyes briefly wander down his toned chest and abs which were glimmering with a sheer layer of sweat. Your gaze flicked back upwards, hoping he hadn't noticed your wandering eye. The growing smirk on his tanned face told you otherwise.

You tried to swallow down your heart which seemed to have leaped up into your throat.

"I have one," you squeaked and internally cringed at your tone. you cleared your throat before continuing, "Thanks, but no thanks."

"I wasn't offering."

You could almost taste the smugness rolling off his tongue. You narrowed your eyes, but he only grinned wider.

With a huff of annoyance, you turned sharply on your heels to face the road. You could feel JJ's eyes burning into you and you shifted underneath his gaze but fought the urge to look back.

"You know," JJ's voice sent a shiver up your spine, "I just saw a Benz E-Class pull up around 10 minutes ago. Seemed pretty eager to leave."

Your body heated with frustration. Dixie must have left you. How long had you been in Madame Mercier's house? You ignored JJ's watchful eye and dug your phone out of your bag to check the time.

4:07 P.M.

You scoffed. You were only seven minutes late. Would it have killed Dixie to wait a little bit longer?

"Bitch," you grumbled to yourself while shoving your phone back in your bag.

"Problem?" JJ hummed.

You rolled your eyes even though you knew JJ couldn't see you.

"Nope. Perfect day for a walk," you quipped.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, countering your statement. You could feel the boy smirking behind you and you forced down a groan. Instead, you hiked your bag higher on your shoulder and began your 30-minute walk down the sidewalk.

"Walk fast," JJ yelled, "I don't really feel like getting drenched. Or struck by lightning."

You quickened your pace and blindly flipped him a freshly manicured middle finger. JJ's hearty laugh made your knees buckle. You yearned to spin around and march over to the sweaty boy to finish what you’d started last night.

But, for once, you let logic trump desire.

You all but ran away from your piano teacher's house and your soulmate. The last thing you needed was another reminder of the night before, let alone a run-in with JJ.

Another wave of thunder rumbled in the distance, and you clutched your bag tighter. The feelings you'd been suppressing now crashed over you alongside the oncoming storm.

You still didn't know how to make sense of the night before. You didn't understand the almost magnetic urge to run back to your soulmate, and why you couldn't just will it away. You let your mind slip back to the feeling of JJ's lips brushing against your bare shoulder. Just imagining it sent a jolt of electricity up your spine. You would never have guessed the stupid book in your library was right. Touching your soulmate for the first time truly was a feeling like no other, and you longed to graze your skin against his one more time.

As your thoughts escalated, the storm grew closer. The sky was getting darker, and your mind worked even harder.

You couldn't deal with a soulmate right now, even if you wanted to. You had priorities. You hadn't worked so hard for the past 13 years only to fuck it up because of some boy from the other side of town. Your sinful thoughts of his chapped lips and messy hair were fueled by greed. You only desired JJ. You loved piano.

"You're fucking kidding me!"

The clouds broke and water poured down all at once. The drops were violent and unceasing, soaking you instantly. It felt like someone was dumping bucket after bucket of water over your head. You stomped into a puddle on the sidewalk in frustration.

Screw Dixie, and screw JJ.

You moved to dig your phone out of your bag, but decided against it. It was pouring so hard, you weren't sure if you'd even be able to use it without getting serious water damage. Instead, you broke into the quickest jog you could manage through the storm.

The roaring thunder and weeping sky made it nearly impossible to hear anything else. But you could just barely make out a loud honk from behind you. You whipped around and squinted through the water running down your face

Through the pelting rain, you could make out the silhouette of a beat-down pickup truck identical to the one Pope picked you up in the day before. It slowed to a stop right beside you. The window rolled down a few inches; just enough so a familiar pair of mischievous eyes could peek out.

"Need a ride?"

If looks could kill, JJ Maybank would be 10 feet under.

"I thought you weren't offering," you scowled, setting off on a brisk walk again.

The truck lurched forward to keep up.

"Well, you feel pretty fuckin' miserable. Which means I feel miserable. So do us both a favor and get in."

You stopped abruptly and JJ slammed on the brake. You spun around to face the truck. Your arms were crossed and your glare was menacing. You weren't sure whether JJ could make out your less-than-friendly features, but he certainly felt the annoyance bubbling in the pit of your stomach.

"Don't be fuckin' stubborn," he groaned.

You ignored the voice in the back of your head urging you to keep walking. You knew you'd regret it, but you marched towards the other side of the truck nevertheless. You yanked open the passenger door and hopped inside in one quick motion. You sighed in subpar relief as the door shut behind you. The inside of the truck was nice and dry, but you were still completely soaked.

"Better?" JJ snickered.

Refusing to give him the satisfaction, you disregarded the Pogue and leaned over in your seat to wring your hair out. Water dripped all over the floor of the truck, creating a large puddle.

You felt JJ move closer to you and you stiffened. You glanced at your soulmate out of the corner of your eye.

JJ had twisted his body and leaned over the backseat to rummage around a large duffel bag. You gave in to your curiosity and shifted to face him.

"What are you—"

You were cut off by a large piece of fabric hitting you in the face. You spluttered in shock and pulled the bundled clothing away from your face.

JJ didn't spare you a glance and leaned back into his seat, "It's clean, use it to dry off. Unless you enjoy looking like a sewer rat."

You sent him a scowl, but JJ had busied himself with starting up the truck. You unraveled the balled-up fabric to reveal a dark green flannel. You cocked a brow at the boy next to you, but he was revving the engine of the truck. You held the flannel away from your body in contemplation.

JJ must have noticed your hesitation.

"I know you're used to Prada, Montgomery, but you're gonna have to settle for that."

Your cheeks flushed as you realized how distasteful your actions must have come across. You shot the boy a challenging glare while simultaneously pulling on the worn flannel. It was much too large for you and you felt like you were swimming in the material, but it was oddly comforting. You immersed yourself in the lingering smell of spearmint, weed, and grass.

"You're welcome," JJ grumbled rhetorically while pulling the truck out onto the road.

You grunted but didn't respond. You opted to rest your head against the window instead.

JJ rolled his eyes at your silence, "What, you mute or something?"

You clenched your jaw, "You are such an energy sucker, Maybank."

The boy only laughed. You watched him flick on the windshield wipers. They moved fast in an attempt to create more visibility and squeaked violently while doing so. It seemed the rain was coming down harder by the second, and the windshield wipers were virtually useless against the torrential downpour. You squinted your eyes to try and get a good view out of the window, but the road was just a wet blur. you weren’t sure how the hell JJ was managing to stay on the road.

Just as the thought crossed your mind, a pair of rapidly approaching bright lights appeared in the window followed by a long honk.

"Shit!"

You screeched as JJ swerved out of the way of the oncoming vehicle. The boy tried to redirect the car into the right lane, but with little to no visibility, the task proved to be quite difficult.

"Are you trying to kill us?" you hissed at him.

His jaw clenched and just when he thought he'd made it back in the right lane, another pair of blinding lights raced towards them. Another loud honk, another terrified scream from you, and another swerve to the side.

"Oh my God, do you even know how to drive? Pull over," you yelled, gripping onto the handlebar above.

JJ sharply jerked the car to the right until he felt dirt and gravel underneath the wheels. He killed the engine and whipped around to face you with a glare.

"If I'm such a bad driver, then you do it."

The Pogue unbuckled his seatbelt and moved to climb over the console.

Your eyes widened, "I can't!"

"What do you mean you can't?" he deadpanned.

A red tint crawled up your neck.

You mumbled back, "I don't have a license."

JJ narrowed his eyes with an incredulous expression, "So you're gonna sit there and bitch about my driving when you don't even know how?"

"You nearly killed us. Twice," you bit back with malice.

"I can't see shit!" JJ waved his arms aggressively.

You redirected your glare from your soulmate to the window ahead which was covered in a cloudy gray from the unceasing downpour. The hard pelts of water and rolling thunder had forced you to subconsciously amplify your voice.

JJ huffed and moved to restart the car, but was stopped by your shrieking voice, "Do you have a death wish? You can't drive in this!"

He jerked the keys out of the ignition and leaned back in his seat with a groan, "What do you wanna do then? Just sit here?"

You rolled your eyes. You moved to open the car door so you could leave, but JJ's grumbling voice stopped you.

"If I can't drive then you can't walk."

You huffed but reluctantly leaned back into your seat with an exasperated sigh.

"So, we're stuck," JJ deadpanned.

"Astute observation," you quipped.

The boy muttered something under his breath, but you couldn't catch it over the roaring storm outside. You stared out of the window hopelessly. Your leg subconsciously shook, and you began to pop your knuckles.

JJ jumped slightly beside your and cradled his right hand, "Can you stop fuckin' doing that?"

You cocked a brow. Your eyes bore through his. "What, this?" you waved your hand in front of his face mockingly before cracking all of the knuckles on your left hand in one swift motion.

"Damn it," JJ hissed, shaking his hand.

You leaned back in your seat with a satisfied grin. You gazed out of the window to see if the rain had slowed yet, but it only seemed to rage on harder. In an attempt to drown out the incessant storm, you leaned forward to fiddle around with the radio.

JJ watched lazily as you poked around until you found the ON button. You instantly regretted pressing it, though. The volume was loud and with the storm disrupting the connection, ear-piercing white noise filled the car. You yelped and JJ cringed as you scrambled to turn it back off.

You huffed in defeat and leaned back against the seat.

"I'll sing for you," JJ smirked.

"Shut up."

Just as you were about to give up and take a nap, you remembered the CDs inside all of your music books. You hauled your drenched backpack from the ground and unzipped it. You let out a sigh of relief once you saw none of your books were damaged from the water.

JJ watched with curious eyes as you rummaged through the bag. It didn't take long for you to pull out a CD from the depths of your books. You flipped open the case and gingerly held the disk between your thumb and forefinger. You popped it into the CD player of the old truck and smiled softly as the introduction to Sonata no. 26 in E-flat Major sounded through the speakers. It was muffled by the rain but made the situation slightly more tolerable.

JJ wrinkled his nose and snatched the case from your hands (careful not to accidentally touch them). He held it up to his face and his brows stitched together.

"Beeth Oven? What kind of shit do you listen to?"

You whipped around to face him. Your jaw dropped and your eyes widened in disbelief.

"Don't tell me you've never heard of Beethoven?" you screeched.

The dumb look on his face spoke for him.

"Oh my God, how uncultured are you? It's Beethoven, for Christ's sake. Everyone has heard of Beethoven. He's, like, the father of music!"

JJ's nose twitched and his lips tugged into a frown. His face contorted with concentration while he turned the volume up. He listened in silence to the arpeggios layered with triplets. You knew you shouldn't stare, but couldn't help but indulge yourself for just a minute. You studied his features as the music played. His eyes were trained on the misty windshield, but you could tell he was listening by the way his lips twitched when there was a crescendo and his eyes squinted slightly when there was a ritardando. The two of you relished in the sounds of rain and piano for the next few minutes. A few seconds after the sonata had ended and another began, the silence was broken.

"Not my usual style, but it's different, I guess. You ever seen him in concert? Beefoven?"

You went to roll your eyes again, but couldn't fight the smile tugging at the corners of your lips and the giggle in your throat. He was clueless.

"Beethoven," you emphasized the correct pronunciation, "is dead. He died in, like, the 1800s."

"And you still listen to him?"

This time, you did roll your eyes.

"JJ, he's one of the greatest composers of all time. He's played all over the world. He wrote some of the most extraordinary orchestra pieces while he was going deaf. He revolutionized the transition from the Classical Era to the Romantic Era—"

You blabbered, but trailed off once realizing you were losing him. His face was twisted with confusion.

"What's the—"

"Don't worry about it," you sighed.

JJ nodded and listened to the muffled music for a minute or so before speaking again.

"So, you play the piano then? That's why your hands get so achy."

You gazed lazily at him, "Yeah. That's why they're achy."

JJ nodded. He closed his mouth but reopened it as more questions came flooding in.

"Do I ever fuck up your playing then? You know, when I beat people up and shit."

You raised a freshly plucked brow at him, "More like when people beat you up. And yeah," your voice dripped with annoyance at the reminder of all the times your practices had been interrupted, "You know that incessant swatting that always comes right after? Like someone's beating you with a book?"

JJ nodded.

"That's Madame. My teacher. She hates you, by the way."

The Pogue chuckled softly. Your lips twitched at the comforting noise.

"She thinks you're un connard," you giggled.

JJ's brows pinched together in perplexity.

"What's a—"

"You don't wanna know."

JJ laughed and leaned his head against the window. You watched as his eyes drifted shut for a moment, relishing in the soothing combination of rain and classical music. You mimicked his actions, and let your mind wander off.

The silence between them was comfortable, and you hadn't even realized how easily the tense situation had defused. You'd barely ever spoken to JJ before, apart from passing insults in years past. But even one conversation with him felt like you'd known him forever. As much as JJ had a way of winding you up, you had begun to realize he just as easily put you at ease.

And that realization was unsettling.

You chewed your bottom lip. You were sure JJ could feel it, but didn't say anything; he must have been deep in thought as well. You stared out at the pelting rain for who-knows-how-long. Each time a song ended, you opened your mouth to speak, only to shut it again. Finally, after Sonata No. 21 in C Major, you mustered up the courage.

"You know I still mean what I said last night."

JJ hummed, “I know."

Annoyance pooled in your belly at his unbothered answer.

"You remember what I said, right?"

"Yep."

It spread from your belly to your chest.

"I don't do this soulmate thing."

"Good."

It traveled up your body and to your head. Your short-temper was getting the better of you.

"God, can you stop doing that?" your voice was gruff with irritation.

"Doing what?" JJ sounded nonchalant as ever as if he was trying to egg you on.

Your voice rose, "Giving me one-word answers! I'm trying to make sure we're on the same page. I don't want a soulmate, and I don't know if you get that."

JJ's seemingly calm composure snapped. He lifted his head from the window to narrow his eyes at you.

"How dense do you think I am? You made your point loud and clear. Did you not hear me agree with you every time?"

You rolled your eyes, "One-word affirmations while you're simultaneously making a move on me cancel eachother out."

Now you were egging him on. And it was working.

JJ let out a dry laugh and inched closer with a vicious fire blazing in his eyes, "This might come as quite the shocker, but the world doesn't actually revolve around you, Montgomery. It might in your little Kook mansion with your pathetic friends, but this is real life, baby, and no one gives a shit."

You were fuming. Your lips curled into a sneer, but JJ continued.

"You don't want a soulmate, and neither do I, princess. And if you did, I'd still dump you on your ass. I don't want you," he jabbed a finger towards you, "Clear enough?"

The lingering reminder of the soulmate bond was out the window. In one quick motion, you raised your arm in the air. You moved to shove him, but his own arm shot out. He caught your wrist in his hand.

The fire burning in your eyes extended to the rest of your body as a pulse of electricity shot through you like the night before. You tried to jerk your arm away, but JJ's grip only tightened.

Your knees buckled and your body slumped. You tried to hold onto your anger, but the current of euphoria infiltrating you was too much. You stared into the eyes that had been plaguing your thoughts all day. Last night, they were a calm, ocean blue. Now they were stormy, much like the rain outside, but just as mesmerizing. You were completely helpless, vulnerable to the bond you so detested.

You could only watch as the raging blue inched closer. Were you moving too? As the distance between you decreased, the grip on your wrist tightened, sending even more electrifying shocks through your body.

Your gaze shifted from the dark blue of his eyes to the freckles on his nose. And slowly to the pink of his lips.

The hand around your wrist was almost painful at this point. Couldn't he feel it too? But you were too focused on the taunting millimeters between your lips. And so was he.

They brushed. Just barely. But the bliss was like no other.

Your wrist cried for relief, but you didn't care.

You knew you'd regret it, but you didn't care.

In one swift motion, You lurched forward.

Your lips were finally against his. They were chapped and your teeth crashed together and it was messy, but it was perfect. Serotonin pumped through your veins, and for a split second, you didn't care about the storm, or your parents, or the Juilliard scout.

But just as the exhilaration kicked in, so did the screaming pain in your wrist.

You parted your lips to cry out, but JJ had already released you. Youjolted away from each other, each of you rubbing your right wrist. You didn't dare look at JJ and he didn't dare look at you.

You felt guilt and embarrassment bubble in the pit of your stomach. Mostly your own for trying to hit him, but you also felt JJ's. His guilt was a sharper pain that tugged hard at your heart.

You pulled your legs to your chest and sunk into JJ's flannel. His guilt on top of yours was overwhelming, but you were too scared to say anything. Instead, you shifted your body so you were facing the side window. You watched droplets that resembled tears rolling down, one after another. You realized your Beethoven CD was still playing, but the beautiful sound now left a bitter taste in your mouth. You let your eyes flutter closed in an attempt to shut out your own embarrassment and JJ's painful guilt.

Neither of you uttered a word. You felt yourself slowly slipping from consciousness, but before you were completely out, you softly pressed your lips against your wrist. The action alleviated both JJ's pain and your own, and with that, your eyes shut completely.

The feeling of your lips against your wrist sent a shiver up JJ's spine, but it was comforting. A small weight lifted off his shoulders, but he was still left with a twisting in his gut.

This was not how it was supposed to go.

He was just being decent. Giving the girl a ride home so you wouldn't have to walk in the rain. JJ was supposed to keep his distance. You were better off without each other. He was not supposed to kiss you back.

The Pogue didn't dare glance over at his soulmate. He only watched and listened. He listened to the sound of Beethoven begin to drown out the pouring rain. And he watched as the stormy gray of his windshield turned to a blurry, but visible road.

JJ sighed and shifted in his seat. Soft snores sounded beside him, indicating you had fallen asleep. With the rain ceasing and you sleeping, it was his perfect escape.

JJ lazily revved the engine of the truck. It roared to life, but not enough to wake the sleeping girl. He maneuvered the vehicle back onto the deserted road and accelerated until he was almost 20 miles over the speed limit. JJ needed to get out of the truck as fast as he could. Drop you off, go to John B's, down a couple of bottles, find someone to share a bed with.

He needed to forget.

JJ's eyes remained trained on the road ahead for the entirety of the 7-minute drive. Beside him, you had begun to stir, but through his tunnel vision, he didn't notice.

You squinted your eyes groggily. The rumbling underneath and the bumping of your shoulder against the window told you that the rain had stopped and JJ was driving again. You were awake, but your eyes remained closed. You didn't dare open them until the truck pulled to a jerky stop just minutes later.

Your dull, tired eyes fluttered open. You glanced out the window to catch sight of the mansion you knew so well up ahead. You shifted in your seat so you were sitting upright and reached for your bag. Silently, you swung the bag over your shoulder and popped open the creaking door of the red truck.

JJ didn't spare you a glance. But you were avoiding his gaze anyways.

There was no goodbye exchanged, no thank you, no see you later. You blindly slammed the door shut behind your and within seconds, the truck had zoomed off.

You were alone. Alone with your frizzy hair and JJ's flannel. Alone with the impending doom of calling Topper and coming home an hour late.

But worst of all, you were alone with a bitter reminder of why you weren't meant to be with the one person your heart longed for most.

taglist:

@obxlife @ilovedogs1989 @a-golden-sunflower-vol-6 @justsomegirlontheinternet @iamaunicorn4704 @lopineapples @http-cherries @k-k0129 @oopsiedoopsie23 @ponyboys-sunsets @obxmxybxnk @coloradogirl07 @thelonelyumbrella @danicarosaline @ethereallust @kahnacademyforfun @bxmaaa @deathcompass @planetsarenice-love @duskangxl @arianawills @sweetlysilent @thestorysofargone @stargazingstarkey @yesp0ny @rudyypankow @agirlwholovescoffee @onlygetaway @mitchloveswriting @asapkyndall @hausenfluck @hood-and-horan @outrbanks @velvetxvignette @hariosborn @kt219567

so sorry for the wait! i was out of town for 5 days and got super behind! hoping to get the next chapter out sooner! let me know what you think so far, i’m basically winging this whole series, so feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

256 notes · View notes