Outer Banks Imagines ~ JJ and Rafe

JJ ~ old, drunk and going nowhere

POV: JJ is trying to warn you about loving Rafe and how he is going to break your heart and leave you all alone

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The night was tense, the air crackling with unspoken words and bottled emotions. You stood on the edge of the porch, arms crossed as JJ paced back and forth in front of you, his frustration radiating like heat off his skin.

"You're making a mistake, Y/N," he said, his voice sharp and cutting through the humid night air. "Rafe Cameron? Are you serious? He's going to ruin you."

You scoffed, rolling your eyes as you leaned against the railing. "Here we go again. JJ Maybank, the king of unsolicited advice, handing out warnings like he knows everything. Newsflash: you don't."

"I'm just trying to protect you," he shot back, his blue eyes blazing with intensity. "That guy—he doesn't care about you. He's going to hurt you and leave you like he does with everyone else."

"I know what I'm doing."

"Then don't blame me when you wake up in ten years just like your dad; old, drunk, and going nowhere."

The words hit you like a slap across the face, the sting spreading through your chest. Your mouth fell open in shock, your pulse pounding in your ears. "You're one to talk," you snapped, your voice trembling with fury. "You don't exactly have father of the year either."

JJ froze, his face falling as regret flickered in his eyes. "Wait, Y/N—"

"That's fucked up, JJ, and you know it," you cut him off, your voice breaking under the weight of his words. Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. "How dare you bring my dad into this? You know how hard it's been."

"I didn't mean it like that," he said, stepping closer, his hands raised as if to calm you. "I just— I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Well, congratulations," you snapped, stepping back to put distance between you. "Mission accomplished. Because you just hurt me more than Rafe ever has."

JJ's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides as he looked at you with desperation. "Y/N, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean it."

You shook your head, laughing bitterly as you wiped at your eyes. "Of course you didn't. But you still said it."

The silence that followed was heavy, both of you staring at each other across the porch like there was an ocean between you. JJ's shoulders slumped as he exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"I just... I care about you, Y/N," he said softly, his voice breaking the tension. "I don't want you to end up like me, okay? I don't want you to get stuck."

You wanted to stay mad, to hold onto the anger that burned in your chest, but his words disarmed you. "You think I don't know what I'm doing?" you asked, your voice quieter now. "You think I don't see the risk? But Rafe... he's not what you think he is. Not with me."

JJ shook his head, his expression a mix of frustration and something deeper—something that looked an awful lot like jealousy. "Just be careful, Y/N," he said finally, his voice heavy with defeat. "That's all I'm saying."

As he turned and walked away, the weight of his words settled over you. You didn't know if JJ was right about Rafe, but one thing was clear: this argument had changed something between you and JJ. And you weren't sure if things would ever go back to the way they were.