good time, all the time // outer banks

the place where i belong // jj blurb

Rain poured down the windows of your car as you slammed the driver's side door shut behind you. Arguing with your boyfriend was never fun and it weighed heavily on your shoulders when you did. JJ was upset, and you couldn't blame him. Your relationship was new, only a couple of months old, and you could already tell JJ didn't want to mess anything up.

You both needed to work on your communication, you knew that. Since you and JJ had started dating, it seemed you both were on a different page, and there was no doubt that was the reason for the new tension between you.

"What do you mean I'm suffocating?" You shouted as you glared at him from the couch. The argument came out of nowhere after you asked JJ if he wanted to go to Charleston with you and your family tomorrow. You don't know what pissed him off but he was quick to shut the idea down.

"I mean, I can't give you all the shit you want!" JJ snapped back as he threw his hat across the room. "You're so needy and overbearing, and demanding and you know what? I can't do that. I can't take care of that for you! So if you can't handle that, then I don't know what to tell you."

You blinked a few times in an attempt to clear the tears from your eyes before nodding. "Well, if that's how you feel then I guess we know this won't work." You stood up and gave him a sad smile before stepping out of John B's screened-in porch and running from the house as fast as possible with him calling your name until it faded away.

That was two days ago. You'd yet to hear from JJ, not that you expected to. Kie had sent a few messages, as well as John B and Pope to see if everything was okay since you were keeping distance. You were quick to realize this silence wasn't working and if anything, you were a mess without JJ.

You never wanted material items that a Kook could provide. All you wanted was happiness, and JJ with his chaotic personality and mild kleptomania, you had everything you wanted. You had adventure, peace, and happiness but mostly you had love. You had JJ, and he was your person no matter what. You had the Pogues, you had a family. You had everything you wanted, even though none of it was guaranteed forever.

Pulling up outside the Chateau, you could see JJ's bike in the limited view of your headlights as well as the lights on the porch. You couldn't even be nervous to confront him, you just missed him so much you didn't know what else to do. The rain splashed into the large puddles forming in the mess of John B's yard. With nothing else on your mind, you took off into the rain towards the blond boy you loved so deeply.

"J!" You gasped at the sight of his bruised face and bloody knuckles as he climbed through your balcony doors. "What the hell happened?"

He would always just shake his head and wrap himself into your embrace. You never asked questions, knowing he would tell you when he was ready. You hated seeing him hurt, helpless to stop the situation that took place beyond your walls and arms.

"I'm so sorry bubs," You whispered as you kissed his head. He just hugged you tighter in response before you shifted away to get the random medical supplies you knew your mom kept in the hall closet.

JJ had already tossed his shirt and hat to the floor, leaving him in his worn-out sweatpants as he sat on your bed. The tear streaks on his cheeks broke your heart as you kneeled in front of him with the various supplies splayed on the floor. JJ didn't move as you cleaned him up and gave him some painkillers. He was always quiet like this when something would happen with his dad.

"You okay?" You whispered as you tossed the garbage aside. He nodded and made grabby hands toward you, causing you to laugh and fall into his waiting embrace. "Love you so much, J."

"Love you more."

Thankfully, the Chateau was empty minus JJ's figure relaxed on the couch with the TV playing an old movie. He jerked up at the sound of the door creaking with your entry and was on his feet in an instant. His eyes met yours for a brief second and he took a hesitant step towards your soaking-wet form.

Your name was almost a whisper on his lips as he stood there staring. He was just in a pair of gym shorts with his hat backward on his head, but he always looked so perfect to you.

The water dripping on your face barely masked the tears that were falling steadily as you spoke. "I can't do this without you."

"I can't-"

"No!" You cut him off with a shake of your head. "I don't want anything, JJ. I just want you. Anything I could have in the world is worth nothing when it comes to you, and your personality, and our friends, and us. Together. That's what I want! I don't want Topper's boat, or-or Sarah Cameron's jewelry, or Rafe's expensive bike. All I've ever wanted is a place to belong. Somewhere to call home. And you gave me that, J, because you are my home."

JJ crossed the distance that was between the two of you before wrapping you into his arms, regardless of the water covering your skin and clothing. You cried softly into his shoulder, hands grabbing onto his worn t-shirt as tight as possible. The invisible weight was slowly disappearing from your shoulders and you felt so relieved for the first time in days.

"I'm sorry I yelled," He mumbled as he hugged you tighter. "I didn't mean it, any of it, and I was just frustrated with myself and I took it out on you."

You took a deep breath and shifted to rest your cheek on JJ's shoulder. You didn't care what was said earlier. It didn't matter now that you could feel JJ's heartbeat against your own, that you could feel his skin, his clothes on yours.  "You're everything I've ever wanted, J," You whispered as you closed your eyes and listened to the rain hitting the roof. "I just wish you could see that."

"You're my home too," He sniffled. "After everything with my dad, and-and all the Kooks and the chaos, you're always there when I need you most." JJ didn't have much, he wasn't blind to that, but somehow you always made him feel like he had everything he could ever ask for, even if nobody else saw it that way.

To anyone else, you were two teenagers who caused trouble around the island. But to you and JJ, you were the perfect balance of everything, two puzzle pieces that fit with nothing else besides each other. Nobody had to see that, you didn't care if they did. All you cared about was JJ, and the way he made you feel safe, comforted, happy. The way he made you feel like home.