The Floozy • JJ MAYBANK • Outerbanks

•punching bag•

okay, so i know i like him, but do i like like him? but if i do, do i want anything? but i don't, because i don't do relationships, i don't do love or even liking people shit. fuck, but what if i do? but i don't so it's fine. but look at him, stop lying to yourself. i like jj. oh shit i like-
A pair of strong arms snakes around Paris' waist.
"Paris," JJ hissed, "cops, come on, out the window."
She nodded, and followed him out.
"JJ? I- it's too high."
"It's okay, I've got you. You aren't gonna fall."
The girl wrapped her hands round his chest, while he gently pressed her against the wall.
Paris rested her head on his shoulder, her chest rising and falling far quicker than normal.
"Paris, I know your angry at me, but I need you to breathe. It's gonna be okay, just copy my breathing."
Nodding into his neck, she cautiously moved a hand so it was pressed against his chest, and started following his breathing. Just as she was starting to calm down, the gun dropped.
"Fuck, don't let go of me JJ."
He could feel her shaking in his arms.
"I've got you, okay?"
As the cop was by the window, Paris' head was buried in his shirt, and he could hear her softly whimpering.
It had never occurred to him that she didn't like heights, or maybe cops. He didn't actually know. The boy made a mental note to ask her.
"Okay, we're all clear."
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Paris sat at the pogue, separated from the others and their conversations.
She hated cops, with a passion. The girl turned her back to the others, not wanting to let on how panicked she was.
"So, what's the story."
Shaking her head, she leaned against him for support, "there's no story."
The boy wrapped his arm around her, happy they were finally good again.
"Why were you so scared then?"
She didn't speak, while trying to stop herself from shaking.
"Are you cold, you can have my-"
"I'm not, JJ, please just-"
"What's scared you so much you're still shaking?"
Running her hands through her hair, she sighed, "I don't like cops."
"Huh, okay. Um, why?"
"I don't wanna- you aren't gonna like it."
He shrugged. "You can tell me anything."
"You know, the man from my first time?"
Jaw tense, JJ nodded.
"Well, he was, um, he was the police chief or whatever, and he handcuffed me to the bed, and when I wouldn't stop yelling he, um, tazed me. I lost my memory for hours after that. It was horrible. So now, um, I guess I don't like cops?"
The boy lay down and pulled Paris onto his chest. "I'm not gonna let anyone hurt you okay?"
She laughed as he wriggled his fingers in her waist, "you can't promise that, but I like the thought."
He sighed, "get some sleep, you had none last night. Goodness knows why the bathroom floor was your go to spot but whatever."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have hit you. You can hit me if you want."
He pressed a kiss on her forehead, "just go to sleep okay?"
As soon as Paris was asleep, the pogues cleared their throats.
"JJ man, that was beautiful. So sappy."
"Yeah that was quite something."
"You boys shut up and let me talk. I have no clue if Paris knows we heard that, but we're gonna pretend we didn't, got it shitheads?"
"Woah Kie's taking the defence. But yes I agree."
JJ looked back at them, "well now we're trying extra hard to avoid cops, got it?"
Pope chuckled, "finally, I've been waiting for that for ages."
"JJ, we might have a bit of a problem with the avoiding cops thing-"
They all looked to see the place swarming with sheriff cars.
"My pops can't see me here anyway, I'll drive her back to the chateau, you guys see what's going on."
JJ looked unsure, but gently pushed the girl off of him.
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"Paris? Paris, we're home."
"Everyone heard didn't they?"
"Erm, yeah. Yeah, we did."
"Fuck." The girl climbed out of the boat and ran at the house. "Pope, where's their punch bag?"
"What?" The boy was struggling to keep up as Paris rummaged through John B's room.
"The punch bag. John B and JJ are basically built up anger, completely dripping in testosterone and you're telling me they don't have a punch bag?"
"Oh yeah, um yeah. I'll set it up for you."
Running into her room, the girl changed into a sports bra and some athletic shorts, before rummaging through JJ's draws. Her hand landed on some bandages.
"Perfect."
Pope looked up at her with concern etched across his face, as Paris pulled her hair into a low bun.
"I've got boxing gloves, you don't need to wrap you're hands-"
"Just shut up Pope I wanna feel the burn, I wanna feel the feeling, so unless you wanna have sex, let me do what I wanna do."
"Duly noted. Forgive me for the stereotyping, but don't girls usually dye their hair?"
She shrugged, and started wrapping her hand in the shape of a glove.
"I feel like I'm not meant to be letting you do this."
"Well think of it this way, I'm not shooting the gun I swiped off JJ, so this is a pretty responsible choice."
"Got it."
He grabbed hold of the bag as she started throwing punches.
"Okay, yeah, let it all out. Go on."
With every punch, she started to vent to Pope, and finally taking the weight off her shoulders.
"I, know, I, have, feelings, for, JJ, I, just, don't, know, what, type, or, if, I, want, anything, cause, that, crap, scares, the, shit, out, of, me, and, I, don't, wanna, hurt, him, but, I, don't, know, if, I, can, commit, but, I want, that, shit, from, the, movies, but, it, scares, me. I, wanna, do, dumb, shot, without, an, extra, parent, holding, me, back."
A mixture of sweat and tears were dripping down her face, and her knuckles were bleeding through the bandages.
"Maybe you should-"
"No it's just starting to feel good."
"Paris."
She hit the bag harder, and faster, each time bringing more tears to her eyes.
"Paris that's enough-"
"No it's not-"
"Paris this isn't healthy, this is like equivalent to self harm-"
"If you don't like it, stop fucking watching."
Paris was wincing every time she hit the bag, and Pope slid himself in front of her.
"Paris-"
"I swear to fucking god Pope, as much as I love you man, if you don't move right now, I'm not gonna hesitate to beat the crap out of you, so move."
He did as he was told, but deep down he knew the girl would beat herself up about talking to him like that after she had calmed down.
Paris was still hitting the bag as hard as she could, blood dripping down her hands and onto the floor.
"Paris- what the hell? Pope wha-" JJ grabbed her hand and tried to move her. Shaking him off, the girl pushed him with all her force.
"Come on JJ, I'll fight you, I swear to god I will."
"What the fuck Paris?"
"Pope what happened?"
Paris went back to punching the bag, making JJ and herself flinch each time her fist made contact.
"I don't know, she woke up and just kinda, well, just look," he said, exasperated.
"Okay that's it, I'm not watching this."

😌✌️