Outer Banks Imagines ~ JJ and Rafe

JJ ~ you chose my best friend

POV: Y/N Routledge gets dumped by JJ and the reason why shocks the Pogues

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The room felt tense the moment you stepped inside. Everyone's laughter and easy conversation came to a halt when they noticed you standing there with a distant expression.

"Hey, Y/N," Pope started, tilting his head in confusion, "what are you doing here?"

You clenched your jaw, doing your best to hold it together. "I'm just here to grab my stuff."

"Why? Where are you going?" Sarah asked, glancing at JJ, who was looking everywhere except at you.

You looked straight at him, raising a brow. "You haven't told them?"

JJ shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh, Y/N, don't—"

"Tell us what?" Kie pressed, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

You swallowed hard, feeling the weight of JJ's silence pressing down on you. "JJ doesn't want to be with me anymore because," you turned, looking Kie directly in the eye, "he's in love with you."

The room went dead silent, and everyone turned to stare at JJ, whose face had turned a shade paler. Kie's mouth opened in shock as she tried to process what you'd just said.

"JJ," John B managed to say, his voice low and confused, "really? This is my sister."

JJ's gaze finally snapped up, pain and guilt evident in his expression. "Y/N, it's not... I never meant for it to happen like this."

You held your head high, refusing to let him see how much it hurt. "Doesn't matter now, does it?" you replied coolly. "I just came here to say goodbye."

Without another word, you walked past them, leaving the heaviness of unspoken feelings and broken hearts behind, not daring to look back.

You pushed through the door and stepped outside, feeling the evening air hit your face. Your chest felt heavy, and despite all your attempts to keep your composure, your hands trembled as you clutched your bag. It was over. The silence in the house, the weight of all those eyes on you and JJ — it was more than you could take.

But before you could reach your car, footsteps echoed behind you.

"Y/N, wait!" JJ's voice called out, desperation thick in his tone.

You stopped but didn't turn around. "What is it, JJ?" you said, your voice barely above a whisper, the hurt slipping through despite yourself.

"Please, just let me explain," he pleaded.

Slowly, you turned to face him, crossing your arms as you stared him down, determined to stay strong. "Explain what? That you chose my best friend? That you kept stringing me along until now?"

JJ sighed, running his hands through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. "Y/N, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I care about you so much, but with Kie...it just kind of happened. I didn't want to hurt you—"

"Too late," you said, your voice breaking despite your best efforts. "You did hurt me, JJ. And the worst part is, you couldn't even be honest about it."

He looked down, shame and regret etched into his features. "I'm sorry. I thought that... maybe if I kept it to myself, I'd figure it out, and no one would have to get hurt."

You shook your head, blinking back the tears. "Well, mission failed because someone got hurt. I just wish you'd been brave enough to tell me the truth."

JJ took a step closer, reaching out to touch your arm. "Y/N, you have to know... I do love you. I always will."

You took a shaky breath, pulling back out of his reach. "Not enough, JJ. If you did, you should've told me how you felt the moment you knew."

With one last look, you turned and walked toward your car, leaving him standing there alone under the night sky, the weight of the broken trust and shattered promises hanging between you like an unspoken goodbye.