After the Storm- JJ Maybank (Outer Banks)

30.

My eyes open slowly and I feel the bright sun against my skin. Was this heaven? Had I died and came back? What was this? I feel my hair on my arm stick up as I look to see I'm on a boat, a towel wrapped around my body to keep me warm as the wind blew through my hair. I sat up quickly, feeling for my phone. It was in my pocket, it was late morning- the next day.

"Hey, you're awake." Topper turns his head around as he is driving the boat.

"Topper?"

"Rachel, Rafe was going to kill you. He-"

I closed my eyes tightly, remembering my time under the water and forgetting everything after my head dunked under.

"I know. I know, what did he say to you?"

"He just snapped out of it and dropped you after I confronted him. He seemed like he was confused."

"Probably all of those drugs getting to his head. Thank you for saving me again. I don't know what I would've done if you didn't come."

"It's all good. I'm sorry this is happening."

"He's going to go to jail, I reported him to the cops. That's why he got all mad."

"He was saying some pretty crazy shit back there. He's messed up in the head."

"What was he saying?"

"He was- um, talking about you. In a, uh- sexual way." Topper didn't want to have this conversation and I didn't blame him.

"He's disgusting."

I saw that we were pulling up to a dock, and I saw a few people waiting. It was the dock right outside of John B's, which I knew that was where JJ had been staying since his dad went to jail. I saw Sarah and Kie squinting to see what they were looking at.

"Rachel? Oh my god, it's her!" I heard Sarah call out, looking behind her.

Three other people come out from behind the hill. My vision was awful and I could barely make them out, that was until we got closer. I felt my heart skip a beat when I saw John B, his face was bruised and beaten. But, he still had a smile on his face, a big one.

"Are you okay?" I heard Kie say as the boat got to the dock, she tied the boat to it as I sat there staring to John B.

"I'm fine. John B, are you okay?" I stood up, feeling my legs begin to shake.

I slowly walked over to him, running my hands down his face. The bruises were dark, they scattered his neck almost as if he had been choked. I felt tears start to fill my eyes.

"I'm okay, Rachel. You look like you're about to cry, are you okay? Why were you with Topper?"

"I'm just so glad to see you, JB. Really, really glad." I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled my body into him.

He still smelled like sea salt and sand. It was always comforting to hug him, my big brother.

"Me too. Me too." He squeezed my body really tightly before pulling out.

I looked back to Topper, who was scratching the back of his neck. I walk back over to him and give him a soft smile.

"Thank you, Top. You saved my life." I whispered quietly.

"Are you not going to tell them what happened to you?"

"No, not now. I don't want any of them to worry. I hope you can keep this to yourself for now."

"Are you serious? He almost killed you. I just can't let that go."

"Just keep Rafe away from this side of the island. I will handle it. Thank you again."

He wanted to say more but I walked off the boat, turning around to see JJ and Pope. JJ had a worried look across his face as he saw me. I walked off the dock and back over to the group. I felt like there was something wrong, maybe something I missed. I heard Topper's boat leave the dock as I finally looked up from the ground.

"Where did you disappear off to with Topper last night?" JJ stepped up infront of John B.

I noticed Pope and Kie weren't standing together and I felt an awkward pause. Sarah looked to John B and back to me, waiting to see what I said.

"It's not what you think, of course it wouldn't be. I-"

"That really worries me, Rach. Did something happen? Please just be honest with me." JJ still stood in front of me, but a few feet away.

"I ran off from Pope and Kie. I know I shouldn't have, okay? I'm sorry."

"And you did what?"

I looked over the group again, seeing all of them just waiting on an answer. An answer I really, truly didn't want to give them.

"Can we talk about this later?" I started fiddling with the ring on my finger, spinning it around.

JJ looked down to look at them, knowing that was one of my favorite things to do when I was nervous. I knew he was assuming the worst, why was it so difficult for me to talk about it?

"You can say anything that you say to me in front of everyone here. You know that." He looked back up, his hair falling over his eyes. The sun still shined right through them.

I crossed my legs, letting my right foot rest against my left. My chuck taylor's were no longer white. There was dirt, some blood, and sand all over them.

"I ran into someone when I was looking for you."

"Topper?"

"No."

"Rachel, you don't have to be difficult about this. You're really pissing me off."

"JJ." I heard Kie say beside him.

"No, I'm serious. Did you cheat on me?"

I felt my face get red at the thought. He knew I would never. It hurt me knowing he thought that.

"JJ, why would I ever cheat on you? I'm pissing you off, huh? Maybe I didn't want to rethink about it again. It's all my fault that this happened again- I'm such an idiot and I'm embarrassed. I just wanted to forget about it."

"Forget about what?"

I lifted my shirt down from my neck, showing the bruising that was occurring across it. Handprints. Black and blue, purple hand prints.

I could hear the gathered gasp coming from them all as I looked out to the ocean. I was trying to keep my thoughts under control, so many of them running through my head.

"Was this Rafe? Again? I'm going to kill him, I don't care anymore." JJ pushed past everyone, running back into the trees behind John B's house.

"JJ, please stop. I didn't want this to happen."

"You don't want me to go kill that piece of shit? After everything he's done to us? What is wrong with you?" He was running his fingers through his hair, frustrated.

"My whole house is surrounded by cops. They're looking for Rafe. Shoupe ran the gun, found his fingerprints on it. They're going to arrest Rafe for murder and attempted murder, as well as the charges you made against him. I heard it all this morning." Sarah stepped up, looking closer at my neck.

I felt tears begin to fall down my cheeks. They were going to take Rafe away. But, John B was free. I should be happy? Why was I sad?