𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 | 𝐣𝐣 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤

𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢'𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

chapter twenty, never though i'd be here

JJ found himself staring at the girl in front of him. Reese had wrapped the boy's arm around her helping him into the van and letting Kiara drive them all home. Pope rubbed the side of his face wincing each time he touched it. Reese watched the boy who had his head in his hands. She felt her face heat up with rage thinking of how the Cameron boy had thrown her to the ground and specifically the way he had hurt the boy she...loved?

JJ watched the girl's mind become furiously occupied he brought his hand to lay on top of hers. The comfort became clear on her face as she sent him a soft smile.

As they arrived at the Chateau the girls brought in the boys. Kiara sat Pope on the couch cleaning him up as Reese led the blonde back to "his" room. Reese sat the boy on the bed as he winced grabbing his ribs.

"I'll be right back," she whispered rustling his hair. She walked out of the room grabbing a washcloth and wetting it with warm water. She looked in the mirror noticing the soft bruise on her cheek and as she lifted her shirt the purpled skin across her ribs and back became apparent.

She thought of Rafe as she traced the bruises on her side. Everything felt paused all of a sudden, the only boy she'd ever let herself love had treated her this way. Reese Carmichael was in John !'s house and had kissed JJ Maybank that night. The mirror reflected her but it didn't reflect herself it reflected the person she'd always wanted to be.

She pushed away from the thoughts as she took the washcloth back to JJ. The boy had taken off his shirt as Reese caught sight of his bruises a sour taste bubbled in her mouth seeing the boy like this. She sat on the bed next to him rubbing the stained blood from his nose. As she wiped away the boy's blood-stained face a soft tear fell from her face causing JJ to notice.

"Angel," he whispered taking his thumb and wiping away the tear. She felt the warmth of his thumb seep through her skin like lightning.

"He hurt you," she said her emotions running deep as she remembered Rafe's stone face.

"It's not the first time he has hurt me, Reese."

"I know," she whispered.

"Does it hurt?" he asked looking at how her hands were still clutching her ribs.

"Not as much as yours probably." she laughed still quietly crying.

"No, I'm a tough guy remember, I'm used to this," he said. And the words struck her yet again like they had when the two were at the salvage yard.

"JJ, does your- you know, dad-"

"Reese," he interrupted her.

"JJ, please be honest with me. You trust me right?" she asked hesitantly.

"Of course, it's just the Pogues are really the only ones that know," he said looking at his feet.

"He hits you, hurts you right," she asked grabbing his hand caressing his bruised knuckles. He nodded silently a single tear rolling down her face with his actions. "We're more alike than you know JJ."

"Reese?" he asked. She hummed locking eyes with the boy. He placed his hand on her face moving his finger back and forth pulling her face towards his. He placed a soft kiss on her lips a sense of bliss running through her body. He pulled away laughing softly.

"What?" she asked joining his laughter.

"I really never thought I would be kissing Reese Carmicheal," JJ said leaning back in disbelief.

"Come here loser," she said leaning over his body and placing another kiss on his lips this one deeper, more meaningful. Something in Reese all of a sudden told her to stop, like a voice inside her brain. The truth was that it was the kook inside of her, judging her for being the way that she was.

She pulled away swiftly, turning her back to the boy.

"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching for her but hesitating as his mind flew a thousand directions.

"I should uh- really get going, it's getting late," she said grabbing her shoes and putting them on.

"Wait what just happened?" JJ asked sitting up and wincing, Reese's body going chilled hearing his pain.

"I just cant be here," Reese said her chest feeling heavy almost like a boulder laid across her body. Her breath became strained, shuddering every few seconds. She knew what was happening she just didn't want to admit it, maybe if she didn't think they were happening again they would go away.

Panic Attack.

Reese hadn't had them in awhile, other when her Dad screamed at her they would arise but recently life hadn't treated her like it had in the past, and she felt safe. And in this moment if she didn't let go of the expectations she felt she needed to uphold, her body would shut down, she would stay a vessel for a soul that wasn't her.

"Fall for him, change his life, let him change yours," it echoed in her head like a broken record, aching to be taken off the player but she didn't. She never took it off, and with the subtle touch of JJ Maybanks had on her back she broke.

A sob ached from her throat and she was no longer a vessel.

JJ stood up frantic, confused by the girls behavior, I mean it was Reese Carmichael she was supposed to be a rock, she was Kook Queen.

"Reese, hey, okay" he said wrapping a hand around her waist and pulling her into him. She sobbed until her tear ducts were dry and all that was left were the sniffles of a broken girl.

JJ sat there the whole time cradling the girl he'd been drawn to since middle school. Eventually the girls exhaustion washed over her and she dived into an ocean of sleep.

✦

first time updating
an outer banks book in forever

hope everyone is doing okay
i missed jj and reese so much

let me know what you want
with this book and i'll see what i can do

i love you a million times over

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