Inside the Outer Banks || JJ

27. The Kook You Are

 "Welcome to Crackhead Wasteland." Sarah stated as we pulled up outside of the rundown trailer park trash of a house.
"I don't know about this, man." Pope shook his head, as I glanced between the three boys.
"Dude, why are we at Barry's?" I asked, meeting JJ's eyes in the rear view mirror.
"This'll only take a second." JJ avoided, getting out of the car, me opening the back door.
"Where you going?" John B asked from the passenger side.
"Yo soy justicia." He answered in a yell.
"Did you glean anything from that?" Pope asked me and I shook my head.
"You know somebody should probably..." Kie started and I nodded.
"Yeah, I got it. Com'on John B." I waved for him to follow me as I walked into the house.
"JJ!?" I called out as I walked in, hearing ruffling in the kitchen.
"I know you got a stash around here somewhere." I could hear him murmuring.
"Yeah, so what's your plan, slick?" John B asked from behind me, JJ glancing up at us before continuing to ruffle through the house.
"Well, as thou hath stealeth from us, we shall stealeth from ye." He continued.
"That kind of got lost in translation." John B retaliated as we followed him through the house.
"An eye for an eye, John B." He shook his head as I paced towards him.
"Ok that's it." I stated as I grabbed hold of his arm, making him freeze and turn his attention towards me. "JJ think about this. For one minute. This is insanely..."
"If you don't agree with me, wait outside like everyone else. Like the good little Kook you are." He snapped in a low voice, pulling his arm away from me and pushing passed me, making me stumble slightly.
"Yeah, that's great, JJ. But what happens after you rob a drug dealer, huh?" John B insisted. "He knows who we are!"
"I'm not scared of this guy." JJ replied and I shook my head, turning to John B.
"I'm going outside." I whispered as JJ walked through to a hallway, I turned my back and walked back out to the others.

"He's robbing the drug dealer." I shook my head as I reached the others.
"What?" Sarah asked, shocked.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me." Kie replied, leaning against the van as I climbed in taking a seat.
"All right, so we're looking at five grand each, for reparations for putting us through that bullshit. Sorry about that, y'all." JJ announced as he left the house.
"So that's what we're doing now? We're robbing drug dealers?" Kie asked and Sarah nodded as I stood up and walked out of the van.
"This Barry guy's gonna find out. And he's gonna come after us." Sarah denied and Pope nodded.
"Yes, he will. Okay, This is not the time to start wilin' out." Pope continued as JJ turned to him.
"How'd you like havin' a gun pulled on you?" He snapped as John B stepped towards him.
"Relax." John B ordered, JJ's finger pointing to John B's temple.
"He had it right here on you, bro." He started but John B cut him off.
"Look. We've gotta go get the gold, okay? Just give me that shit. We're putting it back." John B started, trying to grab JJ's bag which caused JJ to lunge forward, his hands pressing to John B's chest as he pushed him against the van. "Do you feel like a tough guy? Huh? What are you gonna do when he comes for us?"
"We punch him in the throat." He growled back.
"Yeah, good fuckin' idea, JJ." John B shook his head as JJ stepped away from him.
"I'm not putting it back." He insisted, climbing in the back of the van, as the rest of us stayed outside. "You guys getting in or what? What?" He asked as he came back out, looking at each of us.
"We're sick of your shit." John B started, stepping towards him.
"Oh, my shit?" JJ asked back.
"Yeah. Yeah. Your shit." John B nodded.
"Yes." Kie nodded. "Your pulling guns on people shit."
"You acting like a maniac..." Pope started but JJ cut him off.
"Okay, Pope, I took the fall for you, man! Know how much I owe because of you?" JJ asked aggressively.
"I'm gonna pay you back, and I didn't ask you to do that!" Pope countered.
"I just did!" JJ shouted, "Pay it back. Right here, right now, by myself. You know what? That's exactly what I'm gonna do. Go off by myself."
"JJ..." I started but stopped myself.
"Hey, wait, man." Pope said but John B shook his head.
"Just let him go." Kie shook her head as John B turned to me. 
"You need a ride home?" He asked and I shook my head.
"No, I, uh think I'm going to walk, it's only a few blocks." I answered and he nodded, rubbing my back softly.
"Okay, be safe." 

I watched them all climb into the van and drive off as I slowly started to walk home, JJ's words swirling around my head. like the kook you are. Is that how he really saw me? When all is said and done and the rage glasses come on, all I am is a Kook. The rich girl. The one who doesn't belong in either world. My mind raced back to the times he had told me I wasn't a Kook to him, how I was a pogue at heart, I guess that was all bullshit. Just a way to get in my pants, or to get somewhere to sleep that wasn't his house.

"Hey Allie!" A voice called out from a car that had slowed down to pass me, I glanced to my side and saw Kelce looking back at me. "You need a ride?" He asked, stopping the car completely now.
"Oh, uh, yeah sure." I replied, opening the door and climbing in on the passenger side. "Thanks." 
"No problem." He answered as he started driving, "Just going to your house?"
"Yeah, thanks." I nodded back.
"Are you okay? You look like shit." He announced and my jaw dropped as I looked at him.
"Gee thanks." I shook my head, laughing slightly.
"Hey, you know I'm kidding." He laughed back, looking at me again, "But seriously, you looked deep in thought when you were walking."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just, pogue shit I guess." I shrugged back and he nodded.
"Want to talk about it?" He asked, I shook my head back at him, before rolling my head back.
"Nah, I'll be okay." I shook my head.
"Well, you know you're always welcome to come back to our group, if you want." He offered and I laughed slightly. "I mean, I'm on my way to the country club now if you want to join."
"What a great idea, I'll go back to hanging out with you, my ex boyfriend who cheated on me and my... uh, Rafe." I shook my head.
"What? You guys seemed to be getting pretty close at Topper's party." He stated and I looked at him, getting sudden flashbacks from that night.
"Dude, don't even mention it." I shook my head, squeezing my eyes closed and biting my lip.
"Oh that bad, huh?" He asked and I nodded.
"Oh yeah, that bad." I agreed, feeling the car come to a stop as we pulled up outside of my house.
"Well I'm here. If you ever need someone who isn't a pogue." He offered and I nodded.
"Thanks Kelce. I'll see you later." I smiled back at him before climbing out of the car and walking around to the side of my house to climb into my window.