ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

construction/destruction

„Stop it, JJ! We don't need any more chaos", I laugh as he runs towards me with a can of color to paint the walls of the house in a lighter color. „Oh yes we do. We're rich pogues now", he returns with a cocky grin, „We can buy another jacuzzi for out backyard." „She's right, J. No more chaos and no more jacuzzis", John B supports me. „Leave these decisions to the girls", Sarah adds and claps in with me.

The bell rings but we ignore it. Usually, the postman stops by around this time and we've told him to place our letters or packages in front of the door. As I turn around to take another piece of wood, I realize it's not been the postman. James slowly enters our backyard. He looks a bit uncomfortable when he finds us all here so I gesture the others to go on with their work and step towards him. „Looks good what you've created here."

„You're not a pogue, James. What do you want here?" „I remembered that you work on a shop and I need a new board and lessons after I crashed the one years ago." „You see, we're not even halfway finished with the dock let alone the shop. So what brings you here?"

James scratches the back of his neck slowly looking around. „Thought you might need some help. Thought I could help with the chaos." „We don't need any-"

„Actually, we do", Sarah chips in making me sigh because I can sense what's coming next, „You just complained about having no one to help you with the dock." James grins at me sufficiently. I roll my eyes at Sarah and turn back to James. „Don't you have other stuff to do?" James shrugs grinning at me. „Maybe kook life's not as exciting." I sigh shaking my head as I can tell that he won't give me an explanation.

„Come on, Iz. We need any help that we can get. Give him the woods and the varnish and show our kook how pogues work." John B winks at me so I show him my middle finger and pull James with me by his arm. I don't want them to watch us closely while working so we get to a calm spot.

„Wait, no kooks allowed!", JJ calls from the barn making me roll my eyes but Kie smacks his head. „It takes ages to get done with this work. Two is better than one."

I roll my eyes but don't argue them so they wouldn't notice that I've got no idea what's happening. They still might think this is only him helping us but indeed, James looks like he's trying to get close to me and I try my best to make it not working. I've been confused when he's been approaching the other days but I appreciated his interest. I just didn't want to go further and have a real conversation just with him. The other times, all the other kooks have been around and gave me a feeling like they were watching us. What I don't get is why James is stepping into my life right now that I'm fine with being single around three couples.

„We'll start with painting the pieces of wood", I announce and pull him with me to the backyard where I've prepared everything. „I've already laid out the pieces and prepared the varnish. You probably know what to do." James nods and takes a a brush in his hand, begins to paint it without complaining. As I watch him do what I've told him, I can tell that he's relaxed as if he needed it. I furl my brows.

„What do you want here, James?" My question comes out too harshly but I need to know an answer. I can't let him be here around me and my friends if I don't trust him. „Learning how-"

„For real", I sigh and stop painting to take a look at him. „You wouldn't have agreed to a date." „Exactly." James lips form to a cheesy grin making me roll my eyes.

„Why would you want to go on a date with me? We barely know each other. We've talked a few times that's it." „I liked the way you were talking to me", James tells me as if that's all. So? I like the way Pope talks to me but I don't go on a date with him. How could James want to take me out after having a few basic conversations?

„I'm sorry. I wanted to ask you out later on when we're done with this." James points to the wood beside us. „It takes a few days to finish all of this", I state cooly raising my right eyebrow, „Why are you even so persistent?" „You're worth it."

„Oh", I chuckle ironically, „Stop being cheesy and quit the bullshit." „Stop being so anxious about what could happen", James splurts out halfway hiding the actual fact behind his smile. I decide not to play hurt but to actually stand for what I feel.

„I'm not playing, Ja-"

„I know, I didn't mean it like that, Isa. I-"

„No, I mean you're halfway right. Of course I'm afraid what could happen now that we're back. Everything feels too good to be true. Of course I'm confused in general plus why you would talk to me all of the sudden."

„I never meant to rush it since the girls and you didn't hang out a lot. I thought if I'd see you again I might ask you out on a date but then Rafe came in between and since you've been lost two times, I've realized that each time that I'd talk to you could be too late."

„But why, James? What's so special about me? You're in college in Charleston. Go find a girl there. It's not like you didn't have chances." Given his athletic body and charming smiles, he'd find a date within seconds. Plus, he's always been a nice guy inside so it's easy to open up to him. It's easy when your life hasn't been a rollercoaster for two years straight.

I feel James watching me and before I can continue arguing, his smile grows wider to a mischievous one. He reaches for the color that we used to paint the house with. The next second, my white shirt got a yellow paint on it. I gasp and reach for my own pot to return this favor making a white dot all across his black shirt. We continue this until we're both covered in paint and James reaches for my hand to stop me. „Game over." „God, look at us", I chuckle shaking my head.

„What the hell's going on outside?", Sarah calls and steps towards the backyard to open her mouth widely. We've managed to get the paint all over the wall of one side of the house and the trees. „Pogue style?", I squeak but can't hide my laugh. „Wait are you-" „No, no", I quickly chip in releasing myself from James' arms, „Just joking around. I'll repaint the wall tomorrow." „No, it looks good actually."