Chapter Text
Sunset. How vividly alluring it was, he mused. The rosy pinks, fluorescent oranges and fiery reds all coexisting with one another to paint a beautifully designed landscape. It was the little things like sunsets that served JJ as a reminder that things ending were just as promising as things beginning.
However, finally packing his bags and leaving his dad was an ending that certainly wasn’t expected by any means. JJ always assumed he would be thrown in foster care quicker than an abandoned puppy at the local shelter, but he hadn’t considered all of his available options. With a little help from Pope (and an ever-so-insistent Kiara) he was able to sign emancipation papers to rid him of his dad’s legal guardianship. His father signed the papers almost too willingly, something that both relieved and disheartened his son. While it was the right thing for him, JJ was sure, he wished his dad would have fought for him to stay.
It was all over and done with now. Until he could acquire a job in the Outer Banks, JJ was temporarily crashing at the Chateau. It only seemed right, he mused, to be as close to John B as he could until the real estate agents managed to sell the old house off. All of his abandoned items and belongings were still there. To JJ, it was like John B never left. Was he still in denial about the whole situation? In part, yes. But the grief was as raw as it was on the faithful night he was told the news, and daresay JJ was afraid he would forget his best friend. It felt traitorous to pretend the whole ordeal simply never had happened.
His friends weren’t coping well either. Pope, on one hand, was emotionally drained. He sacrificed his education, his scholarship, and his future for John B, only to have it all slapped back in his face. John B was now dead, and consequently Pope had to deal with the aftermath of his rash decisions. Kiara, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of Pope. She closed her emotions and feelings off to the world, even to her two closest friends. She never made time to fish and surf anymore because she was too busy drowning herself in her work. The only thing that let JJ know she was still alive was the occasional text she shot him every now and then.
All was at a quiet standstill for the three Pogues. They should have known, sooner or later, it would all come crashing down around them. Sadly, JJ had assumed it would be the latter.
He should have known better.
There was a party that night. The Kooks were throwing it, and of course, JJ wasn’t invited. Unfortunately for them, he needed an adrenaline rush. A few beers here and there, and if he was lucky, a hot chick. It had been awhile since he decided to let loose; he’d be damned if he had lost his charming edge.
So he took his dad’s van (which, yes, he conveniently stole for the evening) and drove over to pick up Pope. Poor guy, he needed to lighten up a bit. Maybe some booze would do the job.
Still no word from Kiara, though. Hopefully she’d come around eventually, because did JJ ever need guidance more than he did right now.
He arrived on the scene and drank in his surroundings hungrily. He was at the Camerons’ mansion (which still brings a bitter taste to his mouth) and Rafe was the one hosting the party. Funny that he was actually able to get away with murder. Sure, he did a horrible job at hiding what he’d done by murdering Peterkin in front of not one, but two eyewitnesses. But oh of course, daddy’s money is there to save the day. Figures.
Desperate to get that off his mind, JJ started walking until he saw a girl standing beside a keggar. Man, did she ever look attractive. Definitely not his type, he noted, but certainly looking for a good time. He gave her one of his signature smiles and strode over to where she stood.
Of course, she already knew who he was. Kook or Pogue, he had quite the reputation among the ladies in the Outer Banks. It was something he could never escape; not that he would want to, anyway. Now more then ever, he relished the freedom and excitement his emancipation brought. Freedom to dance the night away, drink away his problems, and come home to a relaxing bed instead of an awful excuse for a father.
Words were exchanged and she gave JJ a name he didn’t even try to remember. No, that wasn’t the important part. It was the after, the way she practically threw herself onto him, that was important. It would have been amazing had he actually given himself into the moment. Here he was, fulfilling his desire for the chance to get out of his own head.
Yet, it wasn’t solving his problems for him like he had hoped. Instead, he was still reminiscing and thinking and wondering and oh god, if only he could have done something different..
He stopped. For once in his goddamn life, JJ stopped. This wasn’t what he needed anymore, and he knew it. He knew it, and it terrified the absolute shit out of him. Because no matter how much he tried to downplay what had happened, the events of the past few weeks had changed him. The parties, the alcohol, none of it would help him anymore.
This was some deep psychological bullshit, which dare he say was a lot considering everything he had already been through. Had he more time to think it all through, maybe he would have done things differently. Oh fuck that, he wouldn’t have.
Because all it took was her scream (her awful, heartbreaking scream) to send him barreling straight towards that goddamn mansion.
People were shoved, drinks were spilled, he’d address that later. The only thing that mattered was that Kiara had finally chosen to grace JJ with her presence.
Too bad it was with her broken, unconscious body bleeding out on the ground.