Ocean Eyes-Outer Banks

chapter 19

caroline woke up to the sound of the ocean waves crashing, she sat up and saw jj still laying there. she threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood up to walk out to the porch.

the breeze blew through her hair and sent chills onto her skin. she sat down on the hammock and rocked back and forth.

caroline was staring out at the water when she heard a voice behind her "it's beautiful isn't it?"

john b.

"yea...it really is." she agreed

john b walked up to the hammock and sat down on it with her.
"i could never understand why anyone would want to leave here." he said, obviously wanting to talk about what caroline had said the night before.

"yea...i wouldn't either."

"so why leave? why not stay here, with your friends, with your family? why go to some big city where you don't know anyone or anything?"

"well, john b. i've known you since 2nd grade, i could tell you anything. your like my second closest friend. so, if i knew the answer...the answer to why i want to leave, i would tell you...i swear i would. but, i don't. i don't know why want to leave this paradise. but i feel like i need to go see what else there is for me, i don't want to be held down here for the rest of my god damn life." she paused. "i mean, Jesus john b, i'm sixteen years old, i've got my whole life ahead of me. things could change though, i could stay here the rest of my life. i just don't know yet." she said, tired of trying to explain to her friends why she wanted to leave.

"yea. i guess you're right, i mean, i could leave here too. i guess you just never know."

"exactly" she smiled.

"but do me a favor. when-" john b started but she cut him off.
"if. if i leave." she said

"no, when. because i know, you know, we all know, that if caroline becker says she's gonna do something, she's gonna do it. so when you leave...let jj down easy. he loves you caroline, more then you will ever know. he always has. he's had a crush on you since the day you guys met in second grade."

"john b..." she was going to argue with him but realized he was right. "i will."

"good." he said pulling her in for a hug. the two were in the embrace until they heard a voice from behind them.

"hey! hands to your self john b!" jj said jumping in between the two. "so what are we talking about?" the boy asked.

"the water." caroline responded smiling at the boy.

"it's beautiful." he said staring out into the horizon.

"ok but seriously, let's do something fun today" caroline said.

"what would you like to do princess?" jj asked.

caroline smiled as the sun hit her face. "let's go on the boat and let's go surfing. let's go live our lives to the fullest. let's go be the main characters."

"works for me." john b said. " i'll run you by your place and you can get changed and get a suit and then we will go pick everyone up."

"ok!" caroline said with a huge smile.

the three got into the boat and headed for the rich side of the island.

"here we are my lady" jj said motioning towards caroline's house.

she jumped off the boat and ran up the dock towards her house. she got inside and ran upstairs to her room. she didn't take a shower since they were just going to go in the water so she just threw on this.