ISSUES 2 II OUTERBANKS S3/S4

speak up

„JJ", I smile surprised to see him here, „Where's everyone else?" „The girls went for a walk to get more wood and the boys are looking for some machines." „Great. so we're working on the dock?" I ask immediately. I'm happy to be back and actually do something useful. 

„Sure", JJ nods and follows me, „You're dating another kook?" I haven't noticed the tension between his eyebrows before. „What are you talking about?", I reply lightly. I know he's talking about James but I don't understand why he assumes we're dating. „I wouldn't ask if it wasn't for you sneaking around with James." 

„Okay a, I'm not sneaking around with him and b, why does it matter at all? It's not like every kook is a bad person." „It matters because none of these kooks deserve you, alright?", JJ exclaims making me glance at him confused but also nervously, „You're not around the pogues. Okay, fine. I want you to be okay. But being around kooks? If that'll help you, you never fully were a pogue."

JJ knows how to me make me furious and he reaches this point quickly. „You really want to cross that line, JJ?", I hiss at him, „I am a pogue. Nothing will ever change that. Dating Rafe was a bad idea, alright, but was it better dating you? No. We've been constantly fighting, JJ. Pogue 1, kook 1. None of you really treated me better but James is. So if I decide to go out with James, you're not allowed to be angry about it. You should support me like a real pogue would do." „Iz-" „No, JJ. I won't fight with my best friends here in our home. Calm down and then help me to build the dock you stubborn child."

„Told you she'd come back today", Pope mocks JJ as soon as the boys are back. I furl my brows wondering what they've been talking about me. „JJ was kinda mad that a kook came here for you", John B explains rolling his eyes, „I had a feeling you'd come back after a quick stop at figure eight." 

„I just spent a day in figure eight. It's not like I went lost, Mr. getting lost in the sea", I snap back and stand up to hug both of them. „I know, and you said you'd needed a day off but JJ here was afraid you'd switch teams." „James is not Rafe or Topper", I state clearly looking from one of my friends to the other. 

„I enjoyed his party. He's got good friends", Pope adds making me smile, „Even Cleo got along with some of the guys who take boxing classes." JJ makes a grimace. „We don't need these on the cut." „No one claimed that, boy", John B sighs giving me a warm look, „Iz is safe with James which is all I care about." I return his soft smile. 

„We're far from dating. I just liked spending time with him. If we ever get together, I promise you he's more pogue than kook. He hates the kooks guts." „So he literally hates himself because he is a kook and looks like a kook and does-" „JJ, respectfully, shut up", Pope butts in. „I was joking! I mean not really but I'm making fun of it. That's alright isn't it?" 

„Cold ice, J, cold ice", John B replies for me so I nod. „I understand that you guys worry about me-" „Your relationship record isn't the best", Pope mumbles. „But I'm learning to be better when it comes to this. I've already told James that I wouldn't go out with him", I shrug heading towards the kitchen for a snack. 

„Excuse me? Did you just say you said no to James Holland? You had a crush on him!", Sarah exclaims as she enters the room with Cleo and Kie who look like they've immediately earned interest in this conversation. „Why is it always my love life that has to be discussed about?", I sigh rolling my eyes. „You've been dating Rafe." „Twice." „That speaks for itself." 

„I got the memo, thank you." „Seriously, why'd you say no to James?", Sarah wonders taking a few steps towards me, „He doesn't seem like an idiot." „He isn't no idiot at all. It's just.. even if it wasn't for pogues and kooks and Rafe we've still got a certain amount of time until he goes back to Charleston. This whole thing has a time stamp on it." 

„Why not use it for a fun time each time he gets back?", Cleo suggests and Pope agrees. „It's not like you'd have an issue with that and he's only got two years left in Charleston." „His first job as a doctor could be repairing your heart", John B jokes making Sarah and I act like we have to throw up when he makes a joke like that. We laugh and continue to take a look at the machines the guys got but my thoughts remain to the guy from figure eight.

Abs

Why's James asking me when you guys are working on the store?

Isa

tell me we don't need any help

this doesn't answer my question 

my dear friend

Your brother can be a pain in the ass

speak up

We might have to talk about it

this is a job for three

my house in an hour

we'll see youuu

Here I am an hour later knocking the Holland's door to tell Abs to tell James to stay away from me. I could tell him myself, I did already, but this way I can avoid telling her the reason behind it. To my surprise, none other than James opens the door. „I know you need time but I didn't expect you to come back this soon." I ignore his comment and point to the inside. 

„Are the girls in there? Abs told me to come here." James sighs and I wonder if I've annoyed him but he quickly makes clear what this is about. „What a surprise that she's also told me to be here in an hour. Mom and her went to Charleston today." „Knowing her she's sealed the windows and doors." James chuckles about my joke. Despite knowing the girls aren't here I step in and close the door behind me. 

„You don't-" „I know but this is important to me. JJ wasn't a fan of me being here but John B and Pope helped us getting along. The girls wouldn't understand why I'd need time. After all, my dating history can't be worse. I didn't mean to come here for you but if it's alright I'd like to stay." „For me?" „For you and a honest conversation about what we think this could be."