ongoing jarah oneshots from outer banks!

that's just sarah

note: hiii long time no update! i hope everyone had an amazing christmas and happy new year! i have been super busy with work and honestly haven't had much inspiration to write lately, but i got inspired so i figured i would publish a little something! this takes place in between season two and three when the pogues were on poguelandia! i hope you all enjoy :)

The brisk wind of the evening air tickled John B's face slightly as he slept. They had been on the island for nearly a week and had worked together to create makeshift beds out of palm tree leaves, which provided them with a place to sleep. John B had fallen asleep earlier than usual because he had spent his day riding waves and catching dinner for the group. He for one was down for the count. Having been asleep for a few hours, John B stirred slightly when his body subconsciously noticed Sarah's absence in her usual place next to him.

Rubbing his eyes, trying to shake his exhaustion, John B searched the surrounding areas for any sign of Sarah amongst the group. Looking over to his left, John B saw what he thought to be the entirety of the group chatting near the bonfire. Slipping his shoes back on, he walked over to where the group sat in front of the bonfire. Approaching the group slowly, he did not see Sarah anywhere.

"Hey, sleepyhead." JJ joked as a smile began to form on his face. "Sleep good?" He asked as John B walked over.

"Where's Sarah? Is she okay-" John B started, neglecting to answer JJ's questions.

"Woah there lover boy...yes she's fine." Kie started as her glance started to turn over to the top of a nearby cliff. John B's eyes followed her glance to find Sarah atop the cliff, perched on a rock.

"Why is she up there? Alone?" John B asked the group, clearly concerned with what was going on with Sarah.

"She said she needed to take a breath, but I'm sure she wouldn't mind you going to check up on her though," Kie said looking back over at John B.

"Are we fighting again?" JJ asked, "I thought we were in a good mood today?"

"We aren't fighting." John B said confidently as he looked over longingly at Sarah.

"Don't let the makeup sex be too loud, remember y'all aren't the only ones on the island..." JJ joked as John B excused himself to go talk to Sarah, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah..." He said as he made his way to where Sarah was.

Atop the cliff, Sarah sat with her knees to her chest, silently crying as she looked out at the ocean. The sound of the waves crashing up along the shore and onto the rocks below her had worked to calm her down. She had been up there for nearly an hour, obviously losing track of time as she sat with her thoughts.

"Hi." John B whispered as he approached her tentatively, unsure if she was in the right headspace to accept another person right now. John B knew when Sarah was deep in her thoughts, it was hard for her to explain how she was feeling, and to open up right away. The last thing he wanted to do was push her after she had already been through the unthinkable as it was.

Jumping slightly at the sound of his voice, Sarah stilled as she recognized even the faintest whisper of John B's voice. Turning around slightly, she smiled, allowing him to approach her and sit down next to her.

"Hi." She said back as he adjusted himself on the ground next to her, still giving her the space she seemed as though she needed.

"How are we feeling?" John B asked, probing her, curious as to why she was up here in the first place. "Are you okay?" He asked as he noticed her tear-stained face. "Were you crying, love?"

Unable to answer with words, Sarah nodded as she moved over to sit in his lap. Letting out a quiet sob, she sat down in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly running her hands up his back and into his hair, John B whispered, "It's okay, I've got you."

Feeling her quiet sobs as he rubbed her back gently, he prayed she would tell him what was going on. "I'm sorry..." She started, unable to continue as her sobs took over, forcing her to wheeze for air.

"Hey hey...come on...breathe Sar." John B pleaded as he cradled her in his arms. Cupping her face and forcing her to look up at him, he looked deeply into her eyes. "Match my breathing. In and out." He said as he took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

Finally getting her to match his breathing, she calmed down and regained the strength to speak.

"Sor-"

"Don't apologize, Val, I've got you. You have to tell me what's going on so I can help you." John B stroked both of her cheeks as he waited for her to continue.

"Do you ever just think about it?" She blurted out. "Everything was a lie." Taking another deep breath herself, she continued slowly.

"My dad almost killed me." Saying those words aloud nearly broke her. Immediately shoving her face into her hands, she thought about how much her life had changed in the span of a few months. It was a frightening reality she wasn't sure she was even ready to face yet.

"I feel like I always have to pretend that I'm okay. I'm not really okay if I'm being honest." She admitted, even though John B could always tell when she was faking a smile, or trying to hide the way she felt about something. To most, she put on a great persona, but to John B, she couldn't hide a thing, even if she needed to.

"Sar.." He started as he wrapped his hands around her head and kissed it gently.

"I'm so sorry about everything we've gone through. I'm sorry I brought you into all of this." He told her running his arms down her back and rubbing it softly.

"No, but I don't regret anything about you. It's just..."

"I know-" he interrupted.

"No, I need you to hear this." She told him as she continued. "I just wish my dad and my brother did not become the people they did. I'm so sorry about your dad, John B." She said as her tear-filled eyes found him again.

"I'm sorry they framed you for murder. I'm just so sorry, and I feel like it's all my fault because they are my family." She cried into her hands and leaned her head against John B's chest.

Holding her tightly, John B sat with her as he pleaded for his turn to speak so that he could ensure her none of this was her fault. She had just been dragged into this because of him, and he needed to apologize.

Rubbing his fingers along her scalp and through her hair, doing his best to calm her, she finally spoke again. "I love you, thank you...for just always being here."

"Sar, baby, none of this is your fault. I promise. You do not even compare to Rafe or Ward. You are Sarah, my Sarah." John B assured her, trying to ease all of her worries, and take all of her pain and suffering away.

"Oh, and I love you so much more." He promised as he planted another soft kiss on the top of her head for added reassurance.

"It just gets to be a lot sometimes. We have experienced more than most can say they've experienced in a lifetime." She cracked a smile. "It's hard to always pretend to be okay." She told him honestly, looking into his eyes.

Looking back into her eyes, he assured her, "You never have to pretend with me. As if you could even pretend. I know you." He winked as they both smiled.

Leaning up toward his face, Sarah connected their lips softly. Immediately kissing back, John B fell over onto the grass as he pulled Sarah down with him. Laughing as they fell, they continued to kiss as they soaked in each other's presence in the only way they knew how.

"I love how well you know me," Sarah admitted, pulling away from the kiss, breathless as she spoke.

"What can I say? That's just Miss Sarah Cameron, I've spent a lot of time getting to know this girl right here." He smiled as he placed a piece of hair behind one of her ears and cupped her face.

Smiling as they looked into one another's eyes, they drank in each other's presence, nearly getting drunk off of the way they made each other feel. Forgetting that their friends could likely see them rolling around in the grass, they fell more in love with one another as the moments passed. They had been through so much together and understood each other in ways no one else could. This was it, they had each other and that was what mattered.