Big Blue Sky | JJ Maybank x Male OC

•5•

I lined up across from JJ as we lifted a keg out of the car.
Kie tossed the pump to JJ and he began to attach it.
He then proceeded to spray John B in the face with it. We all began to laugh as he jumped away and began to wipe his face.
John B soon took his place and began to fill solo cups, passing them out. It didn't take long for people to start to arrive and to get their own cups.
I sat next to JJ as we watched and took turns identifying the three different factions.
Pogues and members of the Cut, the Kooks, and the Tourons.
Every time JJ would ogle one of the Touron girls I would just scoff and roll my eyes.
Before long nearly everyone was holding a red solo cup filled with beer.
I didn't see many people worth talking to that night, I instead decided to follow Kie around and be her wingman.
I sat in the sand, back up against the log that Kie was sitting on as she talked to some guy about his star sign.
My eyes wandered over the partygoers, taking them all in and committing them to memory.
      As my eyes scraped over the people they landed on JJ as he talked to a girl. He had that smile on, the one I knew meant he was flirting.
      I unwillingly sighed wistfully.
I didn't notice Kie's friend had left until she lowered herself down next to me.
"Oh, hey, Kie," I said. "What's up?"
She gave me a pitiful look, which caused me to furrow my eyebrows.
"It's...okay," she said slowly. "You're allowed to like him, you know?"
"What?" I sputtered instantly.
She just cocked her head a little and smirked.
"JJ? What? No, I couldn't. He's my best friend, I don't like him like that. I couldn't. Why would you think I like JJ?" I said as I chuckled nervously.
"Sky, we've been friends for years," she said. "Even if the other boys are too dumb to see it, I can. Whether you realize it or not...you like him. More than just your best friend."
I sighed and decided it was fruitless to argue.
"I couldn't, Kie. He's my best friend and he's also 100% straight. There's no way that I could act on this. And even if, miraculously, he did like me back...well, you know the rule. No Pogue-on-Pogue macking."
She nodded slowly and followed my gaze to where JJ was talking to the girl.
"Sure," she said. "But, just for the record...I don't think any of us would mind. And, well...I might not be as smart as Pope or as resourceful as you and JJ, but...I know people. And when he looks at you, there's this look in his eyes, Sky. I could be wrong, but my gut says he likes you too."
I gave her a wide-eyed look and she nodded slowly.
I looked, longingly, back to JJ. I stared a few more moments, then jumped as I realized he was staring back.
Kie caught onto our staring contest and pushed herself to her feet.
"I'm gonna go mingle," she said.
I nodded absently as JJ made his way over to where I was sitting. I pretended to not be looking when he got closer.
      "Something on your mind?" he said as he lowered himself down next to me.
      I looked back over to him to see his eyes boring into mine with a longing, a passion.
      Kie was right.
      "Yeah, actually, uh...wanna take this somewhere else?"
      He took in my words a moment then nodded and got to his feet, helping me up after him.
      He led me across the party and down the beach a few yards away. I watched as he began to take off his shoes. I pulled mine off as well and let them dangle from my hand.
      We began to calmly walk through the surf.
      "So," he began. "What did you wanna talk about?"
      "Just a forewarning," I said. "If this goes badly... blame Kie."
      He cocked an eyebrow and chuckled a little.
      "O...kay?" he said.
      I took a shaky breath.
      "I...uh, I-"
      "It's okay," he said slowly. "You can trust me."
      I smiled a little at him.
      "I...I like you, JJ," I said shakily. "I like you as more than jus-"
      I was cut off as JJ quickly pulled me into him and pressed his lips against mine.
      My eyes widened in shock, as he slowly pulled away.
      "Wha...what was that?" I said.
      "I like you too, Sky," he said.
      Part of me swelled with joy, uncontainable joy. But the other part of me quickly shut it down with denial.
      "You...don't mean that," I stuttered. "You can't. You have to be drunk, this...isn't reality."
      "I've only had two cups, Sky," he said, taking my hand. "I'm not drunk. Not yet anyway. I meant what I said. I like you too."
      I chuckled a little as a huge smile spread across my lips. Tears lightly formed in my eyes.
      I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. I buried my face in his neck as his arms snaked around my waist.
      "I can't believe this is real," I said.
      "Believe it," he mumbled.
      I looked over his shoulder back to the party and saw a young girl standing atop the shored buoy.
      "Is...that Sarah Cameron?" I said.
      JJ pulled away and looked to where I was looking.
      "Yeah," he said slowly. "Kie's probably not too happy."
      I shook my head.
      "We should...probably head back."
      He nodded in agreement.
      "Yeah," he said. "Yeah."
      We walked back to the party together, although I refrained from grabbing his hand.
      "What does this mean?" I said as we got closer. "For us, that is."
      He looked down at me.
      "Whatever you want it to mean," he said. "We can see where it goes first or we can make it official right here and now...I'm okay with either."
      I met his eyes then looked back to the party.
      "Let's...see where this goes," I said. "Before we dig a hole we can't crawl out of."
      He nodded slowly.
      "Fine by me," he said. "I'm gonna go find John B."
      I nodded.
      "Okay," I said.
      I wandered back into the midst of people and found Kie standing off beside a tree, keeping her eyes on Sarah.
      "Not too happy to see her, huh?" I said.
      She scoffed.
      "No," she said. "What is she even doing here?"
      "I guess be-"
      "Never mind," she said. "I don't care, so long as she leaves me alone.
      She looked away from Sarah and turned to me.
      "How did it go with JJ?" she said, eager to hear the details.
      I smiled again.
      "Well, we kissed," I said.
      She smiled as well and punched my shoulder.
      "I told you," she said.
      "We're seeing where it goes," I said. "Then we'll decide from there."
      She nodded in approval.
      "Good," she said. "You don't wanna rush into it, but...I have a feeling things will work out."
      I chuckled and nodded slowly.
      "Now that all the drama is out of the way," she said. "Let's enjoy the party while it's here."
      I smiled in agreement and wandered back off into the party with her.
      A few hours later the sun had set and the party was just beginning to slow down.
      I was standing off with some new people I had met when I looked over to the shoreline where JJ and John B were. There seemed to be some tension between them and Topper.
      I dismissed myself from the new friends as I slowly walked over, analyzing the situation.
      I gasped a little as Topper smacked a cup of beer into JJ's face. John B quickly separated them before a fight could break out.
      I continued to get closer.
      "Dirty Pogues!" Topper snapped.
      I sighed as John B whirled around and shoved Topper.
      I gasped again as Topper slugged John B in the face, sending him to the ground.
      I broke the surrounding circle of people just as Topper kicked John B into the surf.
      He began to sling insults at John B.
      I went over to Pope and JJ as Topper punched John B again.
      "What do we do?" I said.
      "We stay incognito," Pope snapped. "Remember?"
      John B pushed himself to his feet and tackled Topper into the water.
      They locked themselves onto one another and continuously punched each other as they made their way out of the water.
      Kie, Pope, Sarah, and I all shouted and screamed for them to stop to no avail.
      John B pushed himself away from Topper and lined up across from him again.
      They began to circle each other. John B punched Topper, then Topper punched John B.
      I watched as they locked onto each other again and began to throw punches. When they separated Topper taunted John B, who fell for it and charged.
      Topper picked John B up and threw him down into the surf.
      "That's enough, Topper," I shouted as I walked out of the line and approached him from behind.
      "Don't, Sky!" Kie said.
      Topper began to approach John B's form, but I grabbed his shoulder and spun him around to me.
      He immediately swung a fist, but I ducked underneath it and jabbed forward with a fist of my own.
      It cracked into his nose causing him to stagger back, a thin line of blood coming from his nose.
      I watched his every muscle movement as he approached me.
      I ducked again as he swung one fist, but couldn't dodge the other as he slugged me in my stomach. I gasped as the air was knocked out of me.
      I had no time to react as Topper shoved me harshly to the ground. I went rolling through the sand to where JJ crouched down to meet me. He immediately scanned me for injuries.
      "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
      "I'm fine," I said.
      We both looked over to where Topper was raising and lowering John B's head into the water.
      "He's drowning him," Kie said.
      I watched, confused, as JJ stepped over me and walked over to Topper.
      My eyes wandered down to where he was holding the gun.
      "No," I said. "JJ, no!"
      Kie helped me to my feet as JJ pushed the gun up against Topper's head.
      Topper froze.
      Pope, Kie, Sarah, and I resumed shouting for JJ to stop.
      "Kie! Sky, would one of you check your psycho friend, please," Sarah said.
      "Okay, everyone, listen up!" JJ said as he rose the gun. "Get the hell off our side of the island!"
      I instinctively jumped and cowered as he fired the gun twice into the air.
      "Are you crazy? You idiot!" Kie said.
      "Stupid!" Pope scorned. "Why would you do that?"
      "I'm saving his life," JJ shouted. "Okay?"
      "Stupid! You're gonna jeopardize everything!" Pope yelled.
      JJ and Pope continued to bicker back and forth, screaming and shouting.
      My eyes were locked in terror on the gun in JJ's hand.
      I was shaken out of my shock as Kie shouted my name.
      "Sky! Do something!"
      "I-I-"
      My eyes wandered and locked back onto JJ's gun.
      "JJ! Look at him!" Kie screamed. "Look at Sky!"
      I heard Pope and JJ's shouting cease as JJ's gaze fell on me.
      I forced my eyes up to his, where they were full of regret.
      I heard a click as the safety was put on and he slowly took steps toward me.
      "Sky..." he said slowly.
      As he came within six feet of me I began to crawl backwards, my mind still in shock and terror.
      "Shit," he cursed, dropping the gun into the sand with a soft clatter.
      He began to come closer and this time I let him.
      "I'm sorry, Sky..." he said.
      He took a seat beside me in the sand and wrapped an arm around me. I leaned into him and wrapped my arm around his torso, trying to feel as much of his warmth as possible.
      My eyes drifted to where Kie and Pope were pulling John B out of the surf.
      "N-never again," I stuttered.
      "Okay," he said in compliance.
      I closed my eyes and buried my face in his chest, my fingers grasping at his shirt, holding as much as possible.
      "Sky, JJ," Kie said. "Help us get him into Sky's Jeep."
      After a brief moment we stood up and walked over to where Pope, Kie, and John B were.
      We managed to carry him up the beach and load him into the backseat of my grey Jeep.
      "You okay to drive?" Kie asked as she tossed a glance back to JJ.
      I nodded.
      "I should be fine."