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— cold enough to chill my bones.
THE BRUNETTE SIGHED as she stared at her phone. She'd been trying to get ahold of JJ for hours, but so far hadn't had any success. She'd wandered half the island looking for him, checking Kie's, Heyward's, and even dropping by JJ's house. She knew JJ didn't like her to go there, but she couldn't help it. She was starting to worry because none of the other Pogues had heard from him.
Jo let out a shivering breath and wrapped her coat more tightly around herself. It was winter in the Outer Banks and one of the rare, extremely cold days out of the year. It was about thirty degrees, a temperature usually unseen in the area.
The girl trudged back to the chateau glumly. John B was seated in the screened-in porch, though it did little to keep to frosty chill out. He knew Jo was looking for JJ and he couldn't say he wasn't a little worried himself. It was unlike the blonde to disappear without a word. When he saw his sister return alone, that worry only increased. Jo glanced up at him and shrugged. She paused briefly and cast a reluctant look to the water by their house, where the Pogues spent countless hours surfing in the summer. She almost expected to find JJ catching a wave, though wasn't surprised when she saw nothing but icy water crashing onto the empty beach.
Just as she was about to head inside she caught the smallest movement out of the corner of her eye. Jo squinted at the beach in confusion, convinced her eyes were just playing tricks on her. But then she saw the familiar mop of blonde hair lift up from the sand before falling quickly back down. Jo gasped as realization hit and she called out to John B. She didn't wait for him while he put on his jacket and boots; she was far too worried about why JJ was even on the beach in the first place.
"JJ!" She yelled. Jo dropped to her knees beside the boy and let her eyes scan over his shivering body. Her mouth fell open in shock to see him in a wetsuit, curled into the fetal position. His face was pale and lips practically blue. "Oh my god, what the hell are you doing?"
"W-wanted t-to surf," JJ stammered between chattering teeth. Jo scoffed in disbelief as John B arrived at the scene.
"We gotta get him inside," John B said quickly. He pulled JJ to his feet, but the freezing boy was pretty much dead weight. John B grunted as the blonde leaned heavily on him. "Jo, go back to the house and get him some dry clothes," John B instructed. "Crank the heat and grab some towels too."
Jo immediately took off back to the house. She got to work gathering anything she could find that might possibly help JJ warm up. She had just finished setting a large amount of towels down when John B dragged JJ inside. He was shivering and shaking horribly and the bruise on his cheek didn't go unnoticed. The brunette pushed that thought to the back of her mind and got to work helping John B pull the freezing cold wetsuit off of JJ.
"Are you crazy?" Jo whispered as she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around JJ. He stared at her with hazy eyes; it was getting hard for him to focus.
"Y-you know I am," he chattered.
Jo sighed and shook her head. She leaned towards the boy and rubbed her hands up and down his arms, trying to generate more heat. John B helped move him to the couch so he could lay down. Jo couldn't stop herself from staring at JJ's chiseled chest.
"L-Like what you s-see?" JJ teased.
He was still shivering, but even despite his current predicament found it in him to make jokes. Jo felt her cheeks begin to burn so she busied herself folding the towels. "You wish."
° ° ° ° °
JJ had fallen asleep soon after the twins brought him inside. John B had retired to his room, but Jo couldn't find it in her to move. She planted herself in the chair nearby and just watched the boy. She watched his chest rise and fall, more slowly and shallower than she liked. She watched the way he still shivered slightly, even in his sleep. Her heart ached for him. Jo just wanted to be able to take away his pain.
He stirred then and slowly opened his eyes. After his blue orbs swept around the room, they settled on Jo. "Hey," he croaked. A loud cough rattled his body and JJ winced as he laid back down. Jo stood up and slowly moved to sit on the edge of the couch.
"Hey," she whispered. "You scared me today."
A lazy smile tugged at JJ's lips. "Sorry, princess."
"Stop it," Jo sighed. She nudged his feet gently. "You could've died."
JJ closed his eyes again and simply shrugged. "We're all gonna die sometime."
"JJ," Jo scolded with a frown.
JJ opened his eyes and locked them on Jo's. She could see the pain swimming just beneath the surface. She could see how tired he was.
"I just wanted to forget for a little bit," he whispered. "I didn't want to feel anything."
Jo's frown deepened. She inched closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. JJ pursed his lips and looked away as he was consumed by a coughing fit. Jo gripped his shoulders and pulled him into a sitting position so he could cough easier. She frowned deeply as coughs continued to wrack JJ's body. By the time he was finished, he was breathless and sucking in deep mouthfuls of air to feed his greedy lungs. His exhausted eyes locked on hers and she gave him a sad smile, pushing him back down. Jo grabbed another blanket and laid it over him, trying to help him stay warm.
"You know what would help?" JJ questioned. His voice was raspy and he had to fight against his coughs to get a full sentence out.
"What?" Jo asked reluctantly.
"If you cuddled with me," JJ hummed quietly.
A smirk played at his lips and Jo shook her head as she crawled under the blankets beside JJ. "You are so lucky I love you."
JJ smiled as he snuggled close to the girl. Despite his shivering and cough, he held her close to him and relished in the warmth she brought, but not just physically.
