𝐒𝐓𝐘𝐋𝐄 || 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊

𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐄

       THE PORCH OF THE CHATEAU had always felt like a second home—a place where Avery Street could breathe. The wood was weathered and creaked underfoot, the kind of imperfections that gave the place character. Tonight, it was just her and JJ, the way it used to be before everything became complicated. Before the gold, before the chaos. Just two people who had known each other for as long as they could remember, sitting under a canopy of stars and sharing a six-pack.

Avery was curled up in one of the old chairs, her legs tucked beneath her, a cold beer balanced on the armrest. She absently ran her thumb along the edge of the bottle, the familiar motion grounding her. JJ sat on the railing a few feet away, his beer dangling from his fingers as he leaned back against a post, his face turned up toward the sky.

"You ever think about how much we've been through?" Avery asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, like she wasn't sure she wanted an answer.

JJ turned his head to look at her, his blue eyes catching the faint glow of the kitchen light. "All the time," he said, his voice steady. "You kidding? Feels like we've lived a hundred lives already."

She huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, but... don't you ever wonder if maybe we're doing it wrong? Like, maybe there's a simpler way to live than... whatever this is?"

He smirked, taking a swig of his beer before answering. "This is us, Ave. You think we're cut out for the simple life?"

Avery shot him a look, her lips twitching into a smile despite herself. "Fair point."

JJ grinned, leaning forward slightly. "Come on, Street. What's really going on in that head of yours?"

She hesitated, her gaze drifting out toward the dark expanse of trees. "I don't know. Just... thinking about how easy it is to lose people. To lose things. Feels like everything we've built could fall apart any second."

JJ's smile faded, his expression turning serious. He set his beer down on the railing and slid closer, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked at her. "Hey. None of this is falling apart, okay? Not while I'm around."

Avery scoffed lightly, though there was no real bite to it. "You can't fix everything, JJ."

"Maybe not," he admitted. "But I can sure as hell try. Especially when it comes to you."

His words hung in the air, heavier than either of them expected. Avery glanced at him, her brow furrowing slightly. "You don't have to—"

"Stop," he cut her off, his tone gentle but firm. "I know you, Ave. I know you think you've got to carry the weight of the world by yourself, but you don't. Not with me. You've never had to."

She opened her mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped her. He wasn't just saying it; he meant it. Every word.

"I'm serious," JJ continued, leaning closer. "I've known you my whole life, and I've never met anyone who gives as much as you do. You take care of everyone else, but who's taking care of you?"

Avery blinked, his words hitting her harder than she expected. She tried to laugh it off, but it came out weak. "You're too good at this, you know that?"

"Good at what?" he asked, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"Getting in my head," she said, shaking her head.

He chuckled, his gaze softening. "That's because I live there, Street. Always have."

Her laugh was real this time, warm and genuine. "You're impossible."

"And you love it," he shot back, his grin widening.

The easy banter fell away after a moment, replaced by a quiet that felt different this time. JJ's eyes lingered on her, taking in the way her hair framed her face, the way the light from the kitchen made her eyes shine. He knew every version of Avery—the loud, confident girl who could hold her own in any fight, the quiet dreamer who stayed up late sketching in her notebook, the friend who never let anyone see her cry but always had a shoulder for someone else.

"You know," JJ said, his voice lower now, "I've been thinking about something."

Avery raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of her beer. "Uh-oh. That's dangerous."

He laughed softly, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that made her stomach flip. "I've been thinking about how... lucky I am. To have you. All these years, through everything. You've always been there, and I don't think I've ever told you how much that means to me."

Her breath caught in her throat. JJ wasn't the type to get sentimental, at least not like this. She tried to find the right words, but all she managed was a soft, "JJ..."

"I'm serious, Ave," he said, cutting her off. "I don't say it enough, but you're... everything to me. You always have been."

The weight of his words settled between them, heavy and electric. Avery stared at him, her chest tight, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

"Why now?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Because I'm tired of pretending," he said simply.

And then he moved closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. His touch was light, almost hesitant, as if he was giving her the chance to stop him. But she didn't. She couldn't.

When he kissed her, it wasn't tentative or rushed. It was slow, deliberate, like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment. His lips were warm and soft, tasting faintly of beer and salt, and the way he cradled her face made her feel like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.

Avery responded instinctively, her hands finding their way to his chest, curling into the fabric of his shirt as she pulled him closer. The kiss deepened, and she felt herself melting into him, the rest of the world fading away until it was just them, wrapped up in each other.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, both of them breathless. JJ's hand was still on her face, his thumb brushing lightly against her cheek.

"Well," Avery said after a moment, her voice shaky but laced with humor, "that took you long enough."

JJ laughed, his grin lighting up his entire face. "Worth the wait, though."

She smiled, her heart still racing. "Yeah. It was."