P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Hydroponic

Cory sat on the back of the truck, a blunt placed between her lips. She pulled it away, blowing a puff of smoke into the air up above her. She leaned her head back on the edge of the truck.

"Can I have some of that?" JJ's voice came from behind her.

Suddenly his head appeared above hers, a grin on his face.

She lifted her head, turning to hand him the blunt. He leaned forward next to her, placing it to his lips. He let out a puff of smoke.

Then, he looked over at her, a grin on his face as his eyes scanned her features.

"What?" she asked, a chuckle deep underneath her words.

"Oh nothing," he said back, shrugging nonchalantly.

She raised a brow. "Nuh-uh, Jay. I can tell."

"Oh, can you?" he asked teasingly.

"Yup," she smiled. "I can read you like a book."

"Hmm," he feigned thinking. "Well, what do you think I'm thinking about?"

Cory looked up, her eyes showing contemplation as she grinned.

"Hydroponic," she mumbled teasingly.

He nodded along. "Always."

Cory laughed, laying her head back against the rim of the truck. As her eyes scanned the stars above her, her grin slowly turned upside down.

"What?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

JJ chuckled. "My turn to know what you're thinking about."

Cory rolled her eyes, pulling herself up and adjusting so that her arms were leaning against the rim of the truck. She looked up at JJ with a teasing smirk.

"Well, you have to guess," she said.

JJ took in a breath, leaning in close. He moved forward until their noses were almost touching. His eyes were narrowed, moving frantically as he attempted to scan every inch of her eyes.

Cory faltered, nerves over taking her. Her teasing grin fell back into the frown it had been a moment earlier. She tried to remain still as he examined her eyes, but found that her heartbeat was rising.

JJ's smirk slowly fell as well. He sighed.

"You're thinking about the case, aren't you?" he asked softly.

Cory bit her lip, looking down to fidget with her fingers.

JJ reached forward, grabbing onto her hand and holding it away from the other.

Her gaze was forced back up to meet his eyes.

"You know it'll all work out, right?" JJ said. Cory sighed. "We're gonna go to Charleston, get this evidence, and clear John B's name. It's gonna be alright."

Cory scoffed, pulling her hand away from him angrily. "But we should have been able to clear his name when it happened. I was there, Jay."

"I know, I know," he sighed.

"But Shoupe doesn't believe me," Cory groaned, her hands waving around frantically as she spoke. "Rafe should be in prison, if not for murdering Petekin, then for kidnapping me!" She threw her hands up, running them down her face. "It's infuriating."

"I know," JJ sighed. "But we'll get them. And Shoupe will never be able to doubt you again."

Cory sighed, looking up at him. She reached forward, grabbing the blunt from his hands. She took a massive puff, blowing it out into JJ's face.