BABYDOLL // JJ Outer Banks

twenty-nine

"no effing way!"

the pogues were sitting around on the porch of the chateau. hannah, pope, and jj sat on the chairs at the far side of the room watching as kie and john b fought.

"wish i had some popcorn," hannah murmured from her spot in jj's lap.

jj chuckled at her words as he began to gently braid her hair.

"you brought her here?" kie exclaimed. "so what? she's in on this now?"

john b looked to his friends for help.

pope shook his head. "i dunno."

"sorry, you're on your own, johnny b."

"look," jj said, "all i care about is her cut comes out of your share."

"i second that," hannah raised her hand.

"third," pope added.

"you know, i don't remember taking a vote," kie growled, turning to sarah. "this is our thing. a pogue thing."

"i gotta say, i'm just a tad uncomfortable with all this," pope spoke up.

"thank you!"

john b gave him a look of disbelief. "when are you not uncomfortable."

"i dunno. i rode here on the back of jj's bike pretty comfortably."

"it's true. most relaxed i've ever seen him."

"you guys make such a cute couple," hannah teased.

"you know, we were all extremely comfortable until you brought her."

"stop talking about me like i'm not here!" sarah snapped at kie.

hannah put a hand to her ear. "did y'all hear something?"

sarah scoffed and turned to john b. "i told you."

"told him what, exactly?" kie questioned. "that you're a liar?"

"no, that you're a shit-talking bitch."

hannah lunged at sarah, but jj wrapped his arms around the girl and held her in his lap. "let me at this fucking slut! don't talk about kie like that or i'll rip your plastic nose off!"

"my money's on kie," pope mumbled as he and jj began placing bets on kie and sarah.

"everybody, shut up!" john b yelled. "kie, you are my best friend, right?"

"best friends don't get with other best friends' enemies!" hannah snapped, causing john b to sent her an icy glare.

"and sarah, you're...you're my... " he trailed off.

sarah gave him a small smile. "say it."

"you're my girlfriend."

hannah's mouth fell agape at the new information. "what the actual fuck?"

"oh, that's new," pope mumbled.

kie scoffed. "she's your girlfriend now? what was all that talk about you were just using her for information? get a map, cut her loose."

a hurt look spread across sarah's face. "you said you were using me?"

"no."

"yeah, you did," pope interjected.

hannah nodded. "you totally did."

"you said those things," jj stated.

"look, love just walked in, okay?"