After the Storm- JJ Maybank (Outer Banks)

13.

Running to John B's in the rain was the last thing I had in my mind. The rain was blinding my vision, or maybe it was my tears. Rafe had risen a hand on me. I never wouldn't imagined him to be the type to lay a hand on anyone. Let alone me, one of his best friends. All because I had been hanging around with JJ. Maybe I deserved it, because I blew Rafe off. He just wanted to kiss me and I ran. Everytime someone gets close to me, I run. John B had become one of my closest friends. I even saw him as a brother I never had. So, I knew that was where I needed to go. I had gone to him before, many times, especially when my dad left. That's when my mom became abusive.

I approached his front porch, and the door flung open from the wind. I saw him in the hallway and the look on his face changed drastically.

"Rachel? What are you doing? What's wrong?" He approached me, pulling me into the house.

"It's freezing out there. Are you crazy?"

I saw Big John sitting the living room, watching tv. He had a beer in his hand.

"Rachel. I didn't know you were stopping by. It's quite a storm out there, huh?" He chuckled, leaning back into the chair.

"I- I didn't have a place to go. Can I stay here?"

"Of course. The back room is open. Do you wanna talk about it?" John B's hand was holding my neck up right to look up at him. The look of concern in his eyes was what made my legs tremble, or maybe it was the cold.

"Yeah, do you have some clothes I can change into?"

"There should be some in the spare room. I'm going to get you something to eat and I'll be there. Okay?"

I nodded my head, mouthing the words "thank you" as he walked into the kitchen.

"That boy never shuts up about you, ya know." Big John scoffed.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he might fancy you. But, I think that JJ would kill him before that was able to happen."

"What?"

"That boy is head over heels for you, Rachel."

"No he's not."

"You're just too blind to notice."

"Yeah, whatever."

It really blew my mind that practically every boy I had been in contact with had a thing for me, or atleast I thought. Rafe proved that to me. John B was so kind and loving. JJ was just a flirt. But I did feel a little something for him when he was brought up, especially when Big John noticed. I opened the door with a creek and shut it. I ripped the cold, wet clothes from my body and searched the dresser. I saw a few cut off tank tops and some sweatpants. I just threw them on, tying up my hair into a bun so that it would dry faster. I heard a knock on the door and mumbled for them to come in.

I saw JJ stand in the door frame, not expecting me to be in the room. His eyes grew when he saw me.

"Rachel? What are you doing here?"

"I-"

"And you're wearing my clothes? How cute." He pursed his lips.

"These are yours. Shit, sorry. I can-"

"No, you're fine. JB told me you came here all wet and cold. What's wrong?" He shut the door.

I watched him walk closer to me, but slowly. His eyes stayed glued to me.