Beyond The Outer Banks

Chapter 1

KIARA'S POV
"Where are we goiiiiing??"

"Stop whining and maybe I'll tell you."

"Come on JJ I've been wearing this stupid blindfold since we left my place and istg if you drop me off in the middle of nowhere and leave me on the side of the road I'm gonna-"

"Would you just shut up. We're here."

JJ turns the key and switches off the car, before unlocking his door and getting out. He may not be the worst driver but he's definitely not the best. This whole time I've been strapped to the passenger seat of my big, green car and all the swerving that JJ made with every turn made me feel sick. Having a blindfold on surely didn't make it any better.

"M'lady." He says in what he calls a 'British accent' which I obviously know is not the case. He helps me get out of the car, closes the door and locks it behind us, before leading me to get what I assume is his 'big surprise'. I was told to wear slippers and now I know why. As soon as we get off the road, my feet sink in the sandy beach. As we move further away from the car, the sound of the ocean gets louder.

With every step I become more aware of my surroundings, until I can feel JJ move his head slightly over my shoulder. "Okay. You can take off the blindfold now." He whispers in my ear and I untie the blindfold and slowly open my eyes. "Happy birthday, Kie."

It's the coast where we all used to come to surf. Except this time there's 2 lounge chairs and a cooler box and picnic basket that's sat next to a mat, under the magnificent glow of fairy lights strung from the lifeguard tower. "JJ, did you-". I say, not being able to complete my sentence before my mouth drops once more. "Yeah I umm .... kinda had some free time on my hands, you know with the whole not living at my old man's place and stuff." He says, smirking, his hand nervously rubbing the back of his neck. Once I'm finally able to actually get the words to come out of my mouth, i thank him and give him the biggest hug I've ever given anyone. We both stay like that for a few seconds before he takes my hand and we run to the picnic mat.

I take a look at my watch. 10:30pm. Around an hour has gone by now, with both of us just talking and laughing our heads off at absolutely nothing. Now we're completely stuffed with pizza and fries, and sitting on the lounge chairs, a bottle in each of our hands just enjoying the sound of the waves crashing and the beautiful view of the starlit night sky above us.

"I still can't believe you did all of this, JJ," I say, still awestruck by everything around me. "I mean, you don't do stuff like this. Lights and picnics. I mean you're the guy that gets into fights and has absolutely no time for gestures like this!" I laugh out. "You carry a gun with you everywhere you go for heaven's sake. You never leave that thing behind and yet, here we are." "Hey, I got it in the car-" He laughs out. "yoU WHAT?! JJ!!" I say, playfully slapping his arm. "What we need to protect ourselves okay I'm just being careful." JJ smiles. And once again we're enveloped by silence.

"Oh Kie, I got somethin' else for ya." JJ says and I turn to look at him with a wide eyed expression. "As if this wasn't enough." I laugh. He tells me to close my eyes once more and put my hands out in front of me. Something is placed in my hand, and as I feel it I instantly know what it is. Just then, my neck gets a sudden shiver as a cold metal is placed around it. "Aight, open em up." He says. It's a bracelet. "Oh my gosh, JJ. This-this is beautiful." My smile wider than ever. It's not just the bracelet and the necklace that makes me tear up. But it's whats written on them.

I look at the silver, heart shaped necklace: Pogues 4 lyfe. And the bracelet. 4 differently colored threads all linked together by tiny silver plates with our names. Kie, JJ, Pope ... and John B. "Did you make thi-" He cuts me off. "AHAHHA no way I don't have time for all that. I asked someone to customize it. Best I could do you know." He smiles. "I'm still so shocked about all this." I tell him, for the 100th time today.

"Hey, I just wanted to make you feel special on ur birthday. You know after everything that's happened, Pope going in and out of here with his college stuff, you guys moving houses and ummm .... Sarah and John B." I can see the worried look in his eyes, as I turn away trying my best to fight back the tears. I try telling myself it's been 2 years already and I have to move on. But I can't. The tears slowly make their way down my cheeks. "Oh my god I ruined it didnt I. DAMMIT!" JJ exclaims, frustratedly. "Kie, I'm sorry I didn't mean to-" "No it's okay. The topic was bound to come up some day, right?" I tell him, wiping the tears from my face.

I turn to him, and seeing the look on his face hurts me even more because my crying just ruined the whole mood. He turns away from me, sitting on the mat and looking out to the sea. "I just miss them you know." I say, my voice barely making it out of my mouth. "I mean ... One second you think "omg they're going to make it", and the next there's a cop coming and telling you that they're gone. And you don't know when you're every gonna see them again."

We both sit in silence for a few moments. "I miss em too." He says, looking at me. His eyes glossy with tears. "Thankyou, JJ. For everything." I tell him, after about a minute. "It was no problem. I gotta improve my decorating skills you know." He lets out a short laugh. "No I mean, generally. I lost 2 of my best friends and you were there for me. I hardly get to see Pope anymore but again, you were there for me. You're always there for me, JJ. Thankyou." I tell him. "Hey, I gotchu aight. That's what Pogues do. Pogues got their other Pogues' backs. And besides, you've always been there for me too, you know." He turns to look at me, both of us with a smile on our faces.

"Pogues for life right?" He asks, looking directly into my eyes. "Pogues for life." I reply with a smile on my face. A few seconds go by, the two of us not moving a muscle. JJ swallows hard and the next thing you know, his lips are on mine.