Outerbanks Imagine

No pogue on pogue macking - JJ Maybank

"So, what are we doing tonight?" You ask the group. You all have been doing absolutely nothing today and you feel like going on an adventure.

"We can always throw a party?" JJ suggests.

"After what happened last time, no thank you," Kie says. You nod in agreement. You don't feel like going head on head with the kooks again.

"We can take the boat our?" John B says.

"Late night swims, sounds good to me," you say.

"So, who's in?" John B asks.

"I have to be home in half an hour. Got that scholarship interview tomorrow," Pope says. Kie looks at her watch.

"Shit, I have to get home too," she says.

"JJ?" You look at him and see that he's not listening at all. "Time to go home?" You ask him once he looks up to you.

"Yeah, I think so," he mumbles. Wait what? JJ actually wants to go home? What is up with him? You look at John B. "Guess we'll see you tomorrow." You all say your goodbyes. John B drives Pope and Kie home while you and JJ start walking.

"What's up with you?" you ask JJ.

"Nothing, it's just..." he doesn't say anything more.

"It's just what?" You stop walking and stand across from him. He sighs.

"I..."

"You can talk to me," you say and grab his hand. You always had the closest connection to JJ. You always felt safe around him, but there was something more that you kept pushing away because of the rule you had: no pogue on pogue macking.

"But that's just it. I can't. We have that stupid rule and I hate it." You let go of JJ his hand. He's not saying he's...

"JJ, are you saying what I think you're saying?" He looks you in the eye.

"I think so?"

"Please say it. I need to hear it," you beg him. This can't be true. He takes a step forward, gently places his hands on your cheek and another one on your hip. He pulls you closer and plants his lips on yours. You're not sure what to do for a second, but then you feel the sparks going around, the fire that has been lit and you completely lose yourself in his kiss.

You pull back, trying to catch your breath, while you smile at JJ.

"I have liked you for a while now," he confesses.

"Me too," you say and smile at him even more.

"How about we don't go home just yet. I want to show you something." JJ grabs your hand and you start walking through the cut.

You talk about anything and when you arrive at the beach, you're silent for a moment. There is no one here and you only hear the sounds of the waves.

"I like to come here at night, when I can't sleep or feel like going here. It's nice." JJ sits down on the sand. You sit down next to him.

"So, what do you do here?"

"Think. Listen to the waves."

"Think about what?"

"How life can be without being with my dad. How life can be somewhere else. How I would say how I feel to you. What would you think of when you needed to clear your head?"

"Why people don't do the same as I do for them. Why I can't figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. How my life would be in ten years and honestly, I don't see myself anywhere. Not that I would be dead, I just don't know where I would be, with who and what I would be doing. Because I have no idea and that scares the shit out of me."

"Tell me about it. I want a life better for my kids than how I had it and I don't know if that will be on the cut on somewhere else."

"You want kids?" You ask surprised.

"One day, yeah. Maybe two. I would own a big house where the kids would both have their own room. There would be a big garden right near the water. I have my own boat and we would make so many memories on the boat, have so many laughs. A house filled with... love." You smile and lean your head against JJ his shoulder.

"That is beautiful," you smile and you can't help but picture it. It would be a lovely future.