duchess → outer banks

EPISODE XXXIII

[ward's secret]

In the back of her mind, Duchess wished this treasure hunt could be over. All she wanted to do for the rest of the summer was be with JJ. Kiss JJ. Hold hands with JJ. Go on corny dates with JJ. But, they were Pogues, and Pogues stick together. Plus, they had a mission. After John B got back from his fishing trip with Sarah's father, they were getting their gold.

Throughout the drive to John B's place, Duchess could feel her boyfriend's eyes buring holes into the side of her head. At a red light, she finally turned to look at JJ. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

JJ gave her a smile, one of those rare euphoric ones that only showed up when he was high or when he was surfing. "I just can't believe, after all this. I have you all to myself."

Duchess felt her cheeks heat, and she smacked JJ's arm playfully. "Don't get all soft on me now," she joked.

"I can't help it. I don't believe this morning was real."

"What will convince you otherwise?"

"Kiss me again?"

Just as Duchess leaned in to kiss him, a car behind them honked. JJ laughed and pointed at the road. "I know I'm gorgeous sweetheart, but keep your eyes on the road."

Duchess rolled her eyes. "You're so lucky I love you."

"Yeah, I really am."

They pulled up to the Routledge residence, and when they got out of the car to walk to the back to meet the rest of the Pogues, JJ seemed nervous to Duchess.

"What's wrong," she asked.

JJ shrugged trying to seem less anxious than he actually was. "Nothing."

Duchess glared at him until he finally caved. "Okay," JJ sighed,"It's not gonna be weird right. Us? The Pogues?"

"Why would it be weird," Duchess asked.

"I don't know. I'm just scared of change. I don't want the friend group to change because we're together. The no Pogue-on-Pogue macking rule was in place for a reason."

Duchess smirked at him. "Well it's a good thing I'm not a Pogue right?"

"Loophole?"

Duchess nodded, and held out her hand to the boy who held her heart in his hands. "Yes, J. Loophole."

JJ in turn laced her fingers through hers and led them to their meeting place.

Only Pope and Kie were there. And it was Pope who noticed it first. "Oh thank you God," Pope whispered, loud enough so Duchess and JJ could hear," I no longer have to watch these two stare longingly at each other."

"Hey!" Duchess yelled," I never stared longingly!"

"Oh yeah?" Kie questioned," How about the time at the Wreck when you dropped all that silverware because JJ was talking to that Touron."

JJ laughed out loud." That's what that was about? You blamed a poor bus boy!"

"Hey, you're not off the hook," Pope said to him," Remember the time you fell off the boat the first time you saw Duchess in a bathing suit?"

Now it was Duchess' turn to laugh. "You told me you slipped!"

"So I guess we were both idiots, weren't we," JJ said, pulling Duchess into a hug and kissing the top of her head.

"Yeah, you guys were insufferable," Kie laughed," But I'm really happy for you. You're made for eatch other."

❁