This story is all about Jiara! I'll be focusing mostly on JJ and Kiara's story, diving deeper into their connection and where things might go for them.
Just to clarify, these characters aren't mine, they belong to Outer Banks! But I'll be bringing i...
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JJ stormed into his house, letting the door slam behind him. The sight of Kiara and John B hanging out had rattled him in ways he didn't want to admit. He'd been wrestling with the mess of feelings for days now, telling himself he could handle it, that he could just let it go—but every time he saw her laugh at one of John B's jokes, or casually lean against him, he felt his stomach twist with a jealousy he couldn't shake. He knew Kiara didn't owe him anything, but still, it stung.
He kicked off his shoes and went to the fridge, needing something—anything—to take the edge off. He pulled out a beer, cracking it open, and took a long drink, letting the cold bitterness ground him.
As he leaned back against the counter, he heard the creak of the couch springs, followed by a familiar groggy voice.
"JJ, you're back," Luke said, slurring as he sat up from where he'd been passed out.
"Yeah," JJ muttered, taking another sip of his beer and trying to avoid eye contact. He wasn't in the mood for his dad tonight. All he wanted was silence and maybe to sit outside where he could actually breathe.
Luke glanced at the beer in JJ's hand and narrowed his eyes. "Mind telling me where you've been all day?"
JJ clenched his jaw. "Out with my friends," he answered shortly.
"With your friends, huh?" Luke's voice had that edge to it, the one that usually meant things were about to go south. "Seems like you got time to mess around with your friends but no time to pick up around here, do the things that actually matter, huh?"
JJ's grip on the bottle tightened. "I already did everything you asked me to do," he shot back, irritation leaking into his voice. "I'm just trying to live my life."
Luke's eyes darkened, and he slowly got up from the couch, taking a staggering step toward JJ. "Your life, huh? What, you think you're too good to help out around here? You're living in my house, off my money. I don't owe you shit."
JJ bit back the urge to argue, knowing it would only make things worse. "I didn't say that."
Luke snorted. "Yeah, sure. You think you can just walk in here with that attitude, drink my beer, act like you're better than me? Just like your mom, thinking you're too good for this family."
JJ's jaw tightened. He took a slow breath, focusing on keeping his voice steady. "I'm just trying to live my life, alright? I didn't do anything."
Luke's gaze turned colder, his voice laced with bitterness. "Little punk, walking around like you're hot shit. You wouldn't last a day if I wasn't here. You think those friends of yours would give a damn about you if you were in real trouble?"
JJ knew he should stay quiet, but he was too tired to play this game tonight. "Honestly, they probably care more than you do."
The words were out before he could stop them, and he immediately regretted it. Luke's eyes flared with anger, and in a flash, he closed the distance between them, grabbing JJ by the front of his shirt.
