With The Tide (Outerbanks JJ Maybank x OC)

Prelude - Where We Belong

This will be AU for sure and diverges from the original plot ... at least for the first season first few chapters... however I kept several of the main event that occurred in the series (i.e. midsummer, sinking Toppers Boat, Rafe and Berry, etc.). I love the treasure hunt in the series but couldn't make it fit the way I liked so no treasure hunt however if you stick around hopefully, I can do this some justice. Anyway, I wanted to focus on JJ and his relationship with an OC and navigating the Cut. I know the series has them at 16 years old, but this will start when they are 17, it just fit better for the characters and relationships.

Please review and comment give me advise or suggestions I am happy as long as its constructive. I love to write and would love to just keep going with this and other works. This is unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own and I am sure there is a few, when I get going I sometimes don't catch the spelling or grammatical errors so sorry in advance.

~This is cross posted on AO3 and Fanfic (Seasons 1 and 2 are finished and 3 is almost there I just never posted it to Wattpad)~

When you ask anyone around what makes up the Outer Banks they will tell you its an island of two tribes. There is the Kooks, rich folks of the island, everything they own is new and bright and shiny and have the personality of a crab looking for anything the sparkles. And then there are the Pogues, working class who although how it may look appreciate everything they have as it is not for what it could be. Me.... I find myself with a foot in both worlds. Up until I was 13 I was a full Kook, but not necessarily proud of it. My dad was a corporate lawyer with most of his clients on the main land and my mom... well that I am not sure, she left when I was about six without a word as to why or where she was going. As long as I could remember my dad was never there, he would come by every now and then but he would never stay, and it got worse once my mom left. Once she left he became a man with two sides, it was either unemotional, didn't care, I was invisible to him or it was angry at everything and nothing I did was ever enough. It wasn't a terrible up brining as long as I kept to myself and I learned that pretty early on. As soon as I was able to I got out and got my first job, which came easier than expected.

I knew Kiara from school and we had been friends almost immediately so when I mentioned needing a job she jumped at the opportunity for me to work at her parent place, The Wreck. Starting there at 13 I got really close with her and her parents. She picked up pretty quickly when I avoided going home that it wasn't the best environment, but she never outright asked or brought it up. It was an unspoken thing that she made sure I knew she was there whenever I needed. I suppose I owe her quite a bit seeing as it was because of her I now sat 4 years later on the HMS Pogue in the middle of the marsh.

Sitting with my feet on the bow of the boat I watched as the group splashed each other and laughing. I smiled to myself as I watched them as I bathed in the sun, book in hand. I never felt... I don't know if the right term for it would whole, but it's the closest I could can come with... until I met them.

John B, the heart and soul of the group, he always seemed to have a smile and open arms for them. He had welcomed her without hesitation with a hug and a place to crash when she needed an escape, no questions asked.

Pope, it took a bit to get him to open up, he was quite at first, but really who am I to talk because I took all of 2 years to open up at all to them. She related academically to him and to be fair I would not have passed any of my science classes without him, even if I was at Kook Academy.

Then there was JJ. Mine and JJs relationship as always been different. He wasn't as quick to let me in and had a pretty good hatred for Kooks and me being one of them didn't change that. It got better over time the hateful remarks changed to snide comments which I threw back at him on a regular basis. There are two major events that I can recall that turned the tides of our relationship, we went from acquaintances and just dealing with each others presence to actual friend. Now, I think he is the one that knows me the best and the one I choose to go to when I just need ... to feel safe.