Outer Banks (JJ Maybank x Reader) Book 1

The Drone

"Y/n, wait," JJ calls to me from the dock as we walk back up to the house. I stop, but I don't turn around, waiting for Kie, Pope, and JB to walk the rest of the way. "I thought you said there was nothing to talk about," I sigh, turning to him. He closes the space between us and kisses me again, pressing his burning lips against mine. I push him away.

"Stop! Just stop!" I yell at him, my hands firm against his chest to keep away. "You just can't keep kissing me to solve all of your problems," I say, my voice cracking. He looks at the ground. "That's what I thought," I say, turning around. He catches my wrist, pulling me back to him. "I'm sorry, y/n," He whispers. "You were right. You're different," He says, swallowing. "I was never trying to erase my problems. Not with you. I promise," He whispers, leaning in closely so I can feel his breaths tangling with mine.

As much as I know I should back away, or slap him, or run, or do something other than stand there, I don't. I can't. "Then what were you trying to do?" I whisper. "Just this," He says, his breaths hot against my lips. For the third time, he presses his lips to mine, hot and heavy, and this time, he pulls away first. "Just that," He says, so close his lips almost touch mine just by speaking. I shake my head again. "Why?" I ask. "Because... y/n, I-I," He says, backing away and running his hand through his hair. Finally, he turns back to me, to my broken form, standing still at the end of the dock. "Because you're there for me when no one else is. Because you care about me when no one else does. You understand me one no one else will. You get me. You have nothing, just like I have nothing," He says, taking quick steps back to me.

"You know me," He says, placing my hand on his heart. "We're in this together, we always will be, and I want to be the one you share your happiness with, and your sadness too. I want to be the one to protect you and comfort you. I don't want to be the one that let you go. I want to be there when we find your dad. Or when we don't. I want to know-." "JJ," I say, cutting him off. His eyes snap to mine. "Yeah?" He whispers. "I love you too," I say.

~~~~~

JJ whistles at the oncoming boat. "You guys see that?" He nods. "That's the Malibu 24-MXZ, the world's finest wake setter," He says admiringly. "Number one in luxury, quality, and performance," He grins at us. "200k, easy," JJ says, looking back at it. "We picked the wrong parents," Pope sighs. "I hate to break it to you guys, but that's Topper and his girlfriend," Kiara sighs as our boat passes theirs. Sarah lifts her sunglasses, as we pass them, floating smoothly on the water. "You don't have to act like you don't see us, bitch," Kiara says.

~~~~~

"Alright, keep a lookout. We're behind enemy lines," JJ says as John B pulls the car to a stop. "Yo, come on, man, just put it back," John B sighs as he holds up the gun. "What?" He asks smugly. "JJ," I groan. "You can never be too careful," He says. "Hey, I predict that bringing a weapon to a four-star hotel will likely cause more problems than they solve," Pope says, leaning against the car. "Thank you, Pope," JJ grins. "I swear to God, I'm gonna throw that thing in the ocean, JJ," Kiara sighs. "Put it back," I tell him. John B grabs the front of it, tossing it under the console. "There you go," Pope says. "You can't grab a gun like that," JJ sighs, getting out of the car. "Can't forget my badge," He smirks in a country accent. "Professional busboy," He grins.

Then, under his breath so only I can hear, "I'm definitely hotter than the guy in this picture," He smirks. I roll my eyes but can't help but laugh at him. "So, where are we going now?" Pope asks as we walk up to the hotel entrance. "We're getting on the internet because only rich people have electricity right now," JJ answers him.

"This way," He smiles, leading us through a back door and into a kitchen. "Andrew!" He calls, nodding to a friend. "What's up, bro," He grins before picking at some of the chef's food. "Mama L, good to see you," He nods. "Hey, no!" She says, smacking him with her wooden spoon. "JJ!" She scolds. "Mhm," He nods, leaving the kitchen. "See, they got the backup generators going? Kooks don't miss a beat," He grins sarcastically.

"Sweet lord, the internet," Pope grins when JJ leads us through a side door. "I've missed you," Pope says, sitting down in front of a computer. "Let me get in there, gotta check out my Insta models," JJ says, smirking at me.

"We don't have time for that," Kie mutters. "Go," Pope nods. "Hey, hey, hey," JB whispers, passing us the map. "I got the map," He says. "Coordinates, please?" Pope asks. "34° 57' 30" North, 75° 55' 42" West," I read for him. "Okay, boom, continental shelf right there," John B says as the map zooms into a specific point. "Well, if it's off the deep end, it's not gonna be much of a treasure hunt, is it?" Pope asks. John B sighs as Pope slowly starts to zoom in on the point.

"Come on baby, come on," JJ mutters. "Shit, it's on the high side. It's only 900 feet," John B says. "That's not too deep," JJ says. "Is that doable or something?" Kiara asks. "Yeah, totally doable," JJ nods. "Okay, will we be taking your personal submarine?" I ask sarcastically. "How do you know this Mr. Dive Master?" John B asks. "The salvage yard," JJ answers. "They got a drone that can drop 1,000. It has a 360 camera and everything," JJ says. "It's for like, deep dives and stuff, it's exactly what we need," He says.

"And can your dad get his grimy little hands on that?" John B asks. "Well, my dad's grimy little hands got his ass fired," JJ sighs. "I guessed the salvage captain frowns on showing up shitfaced, turns out," JJ says. "But the drone's there, it's in the impound yard out back," He shrugs. "How much did you say was on the Royal Merchant, again?" Kiara asks. "400 mil," We say together. "400 million dollars?" Kiara grins as Pope gets up, running to block the door. "Yep," I nod as we walk to the door. "No, nope. Absolutely not," Pope says. "Absolutely not, no!" He argues. "Pope, move," Kiara sighs.

"Guys, that's too-," He starts as we shove our way through the door. "Come on," I groan. "Can't we do anything legal for money?" He mutters as John B shuts the door behind us. "Go," JB nods.

~~~~~

"Pope we're not stealing the drone, we're... borrowing it," John B tells Pope as we drive towards the salvage yard. "Humans are the only animal that can't tell fantasy from reality," Pope quotes. "Wait, did you come up with that?" John B asks. "No, Albert Bernstein came up with that but it applies to this whole treasure-hunting thing," Pope says. "Oh," John B says stupidly. "So, which is it?" Pope asks, turning to face the front seat. "Fantasy, or reality?" He asks.

"Why are you so weird, Pope?" JJ asks, glancing down at where my head lays in his lap. "It's fantasy, but, possible reality," Kie nods. "Reality," John B decides. "Virtual reality," JJ smirks. He's about to light a cig, but Pope knocks it from his hand. "Keep the signal clear," He says. "You know what your problem is?" JJ asks him as we file out of the van. "You," Pope sighs.

"No, it's that you need to relax, man, you're always so tense," JJ sighs. "I'm not too tense!" He argues. "Hey, don't worry, you got this," John B says to Kie as the four of us leave the car. She glances at me, then at JJ and Pope who are still arguing. "It's not us I'm worried about," She says with a knowing nod. "Got it," John B smirks.