Catching the Waves~ JJ Maybank ᣵ¹&ᣵ²

Chapter Fifty Four. [S2]

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It's not true
Tell me I've been lied to
Crying isn't like you

-

Up all night
On another red-eye
I wish we never learned to fly

Maybe we should just try
To tell ourselves a good lie
I didn't mean to make you cry

-

Maybe won't you take it back?
Say you were tryna make me laugh
And nothing has to change today
You didn't mean to say "I love you"

-

The smile that you gave me
Even when you felt like dying

-

I don't want to
But I love you

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*A/N: I just couldn't choose one lyric from this song, because it relates way too for to this entire chapter. you'll know why, in a second. 
hot tip: grab tissues and be prepared.

[T/W ⚠: mentions of panic attacks and suicide]

Rory~

As the night swallowed the world around us, everything fell into silence. We had all retreated indoors, each finding a spot to crash. Kie had the pull-out couch, John B and Pope were in his room, and Carter took the porch couch, while JJ and I were in our room, tucked under the sheets. The weight of the day had finally lifted, leaving just the two of us in our own little bubble.

JJ's arm was wrapped around my waist, his warmth soothing as we laid there, talking about nothing important. We had been teasing each other about the dumb challenge we had earlier. 

JJ smirked, reminding me how he won because I kissed him at midday. "I told you, you can't resist me," he joked, his sea-blue eyes sparkling with pride.

I let out a laugh, swatting at his chest. "In your dreams, Maybank. You just got lucky."

But before we could go further with our banter, the sound of my phone vibrating shattered our little sanctuary. I frowned, reaching over to grab it from the nightstand. Seeing the name on the screen made my heart drop instantly.

Rafe Cameron.

"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath, staring at the screen in confusion. Why the hell was he calling me at this hour?

My tone must have caught JJ's attention because he sat up, looking over my shoulder. He was exhausted, his eyes heavy with sleep, but when he saw the name on my phone, he went from half-asleep to wide awake. 

"Lili, don't," he warned, voice low, but I'd already swiped to answer.

"Rafe?" I called into the phone, but all I heard were howling winds and disjointed muttering. I raised my voice. "Rafe? Can you hear me?"