Outer Banks Imagines ~ JJ and Rafe

JJ ~ the toast from hell

The party was in full swing—music thumping, laughter echoing, and bodies swaying to the beat in a sea of carefree joy. The air was thick with celebration, but beneath the surface, your nerves buzzed with anticipation. Tonight, the truth was coming out.

Taking a deep breath, you step up onto the small stage, a fork in one hand and a glass in the other. The weight of the room settles on you as you tap them together against the microphone, the sharp clink drawing everyone's attention. The chatter fades, and all eyes turn to you.

"What a beautiful evening," you begin, your voice steady and clear. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate my best friend, Kiara."

Kiara beams at you from the front row, her smile radiant under the soft glow of the string lights. The crowd claps and cheers, their energy filling the room, but you stay composed.

"So, if everyone could raise a glass," you say, lifting yours high, prompting the room to follow suit with mismatched glasses and champagne flutes. "To Kiara, who's had her fair share of... let's call them mistakes... here on the island."

Laughter ripples through the room, and Kiara playfully rolls her eyes. But they don't know what's coming next.

Your smile falters, replaced by a steely resolve as you square your shoulders. Your voice is calm, measured, but it cuts through the room like a blade.

"...Including pretending to be my friend while she fucked my boyfriend behind my back."

The laughter dies instantly. The air shifts, heavy and suffocating, as gasps ripple through the crowd. Kiara's face goes pale, her jaw dropping in shock. Around her, the audience looks between you and her, their whispers growing louder.

You let the silence linger, savoring the weight of your words before continuing.

"And to my now ex-boyfriend," you say, the venom in your tone unmistakable, "who decided screwing my fake friend was worth throwing everything away."

JJ stares at you, frozen, his smile long gone. You glance at him once, then to Kiara, your expression a mask of cold composure.

"You two truly deserve each other," you say, your lips curving into a tight, humorless smile. "Cheers everyone."

With that, you tip your glass back, draining it in one long swallow before slamming it onto the stage. The sharp crash of shattered glass echoes in the stunned silence, fragments scattering at your feet.

The crowd erupts into murmurs, but you don't stay to listen. You step off the stage, your head held high, brushing past the sea of wide-eyed guests and leaving behind the wreckage of your perfectly timed revelation.

You make it to the edge of the room and pause by the bar. The bartender gives you a wary look, clearly unsure if this is a moment to engage or stay silent. You wave him off, grabbing an unopened bottle of champagne from the counter without asking.

Your hands tremble, adrenaline still coursing through your veins. You told yourself you wouldn't cry—not here, not now. But the sting of betrayal, of humiliation, burns hot behind your eyes.

"Y/N, wait!"

The sound of his voice freezes you mid-step. You clench your empty fist, steadying yourself before slowly turning around.

JJ stands a few feet away, his chest rising and falling as though he ran after you. His blue eyes, usually filled with mischief, now hold desperation.

"Y/N," he says again, his voice softer now, like he's afraid you'll bolt.

"Don't," you cut him off, holding up a hand. "Don't you dare say my name like that. Like you didn't just prove to everyone exactly what kind of person you are."

He winces, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I didn't mean for it to happen, okay? It wasn't supposed to—"

"You didn't mean for it to happen?" You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head. "That's your excuse? You didn't mean to sleep with my best friend? Spare me, JJ."

"I—dammit, Y/N, it's not that simple!" he yells, taking a step closer.

"Don't," you snap, stepping back. "Don't come any closer."

He freezes, his hands pulling through his messy blonde hair in frustration. "I screwed up, alright? I know I did. But I swear to God, it didn't mean anything."

You laugh again, though it's hollow and sharp. "That's supposed to make me feel better? That you threw away everything we had for something that meant nothing?"

"I wasn't thinking," he says, his voice cracking. "I—"

"No, you were thinking," you bite out, your voice rising. "You were thinking about yourself. About what you wanted. You didn't think about me at all."

JJ takes another step forward, his face twisted in anguish. "That's not true! I care about you, Y/N. I—"

"You don't get to care about me now," you interrupt, your voice breaking despite your best efforts. "You don't get to act like this was just some mistake we can move past."

He flinches like you slapped him, his lips parting as if to argue, but no words come out.

"I loved you, JJ," you say, the tears finally spilling over. "And you made me feel like I wasn't enough. Like I was so easy to replace."

His shoulders sag, and for a moment, he just stares at you, the weight of your words crushing him. "You were never not enough," he whispers. "You're everything. I just... I'm an idiot who didn't know how to handle it."

You shake your head, wiping at your cheeks. "It doesn't matter anymore. You made your choice. And now, so have I."

Turning away, you start walking, your heart shattering with every step.

"Y/N, please," he calls after you, his voice raw. "Don't go. Don't leave like this."