P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

The Kiss

JJ had had one of the worst days of his life.

His best friend had been taken to jail, and his attempt at helping him had ended horrendously, with John B still locked behind bars.

And to top it all off, when he had returned to the Chateau, he had found Cory's unconscious body collapsed on the hallway floor.

He had rushed over, calling out her name as he fell to his knees. He had immediately checked her pulse and sighed in relief when he felt it beating strongly underneath the pads of his fingertips.

JJ had pressed his forehead to her, taking in a deep breath.

He noticed the blunt on the floor neck to her head. He picked it up, throwing it across the hall, where it fell beside the trash can.

Then he reached down, pulling her body into his arms. He lifted her carefully and turned into the first door he could find, which was John B's room.

He placed her down on the bed and looked down at her for a moment.

She looked at peace.

It was an emotion he didn't see from her often anymore. Not since that day.

And he was sure that was the very reason for her passing out.

She had been left completely and utterly alone in the one house that was covered in reminders of their lives before the previous month.

He knew her well enough to know that that had caused a spiral.

He grabbed a blanket, pulling it over her gently.

And there he sat for the next thirty minutes, watching her until soft noises were sounding from her throat, and her eyes had begun fluttering open.

The first thing she saw was JJ looking down at her, a gentle smile on his face.

Her brows furrowed and she attempted to push herself up into a seated position.

"Hey, Jay," she grumbled, looking around the room. "Where is everyone?"

"Not back yet," JJ said. "We're the only ones here."

Cory thought for a moment.

Then, "so you didn't break John B out of prison?"

JJ shook his head. "No."

Cory nodded for a moment as the information pushed through the jelly brain she had.

"Damn."

He sighed.

"Yeah."
Silence fell over them.

But then Cory's head was falling forward, nudging itself into the crook of JJ's neck. He could feel her hot breath on his collarbones.

JJ lifted a hand reluctantly, placing it on her shoulder and beginning to rub gently.

"You okay, Core?" he asked softly.

"Mmm," she grunted into his skin. He felt the vibration cross his chest, turning into a ripple of goosebumps across his whole body.

He sighed. "You sure?"

She didn't answer.

After a few moments of complete silence, JJ reached down, his hand beginning to cradle her cheek. He lifted her up so they were making eye contact.

"What happened?" he asked.

Cory didn't say anything, and she didn't plan on saying anything. She didn't wanna tell him a single thought that had crossed through her mind during her spiral earlier that day. She didn't want to admit that she wanted him.