Chapter Text
“why are we even here?” jj’s exasperated tone of words sent the pogue’s including sarah to eye roll.
“i would much rather be on my couch watching monster inc.” jj’s childish tone evaporated around the north carolina frightful breeze that lure them further into the land of predators.
sarah huffed not wanting to row with the blonde beauty. she frankly understood his anti’s of not wanting to prey on the sharks or even share the same air with them, but, sarah was still a kook and jj needed to accept that.
“j, we can just head in there for an hour… drink their alcohol and leave.” john b proposed letting his athletic, sternly hands fumble his way into sarah’s palm gifting her with a reassuring squeeze.
jj’s mind was like a cymbal-banging monkey toy that only worked when the indigo eye boy was frustrated and needed leverage, “we are about to attend john b’s girlfriend ex-boyfriend’s house party because sarah’s ex-boyfriend invited her, and only her.” jj dramatically paused to reminded everyone how fucked up this particular mission is.
“and, here we are, the pogues forcefully dragged by topper’s ex-girlfriend to attend this disgraceful party that could end in two possible ways..”
“enlighten us.” pope’s static tone of sarcasm intrigued jj to finish his perfectly thought out rant.
“a fight breaks out, or rafe loses his shit.” jj’s arm folded whilst a devilish smile grew onto his bruised porcelain face that everyone admired about the surfer.
“i hate to agree with scobby but he has a point.” pope’s loyalty to jj never failed him.
kie and sarah kept moving forward, dragging their danity flipflops through the frozen golden grains of the earth that held the rich side in place. being the only two girls of the group they were used to the constant complaints from the men.
“next time, i’ll just invite you kie.” sarah muttered under her minty breathe. kiara only nodded in agreement reaching for the handle to enter the shark’s den.
“best behaviour,” kie announced immediately locking eyes with jj who was infatuated with the silhouette of another human.
“can’t make any promises, kie.” he winked as his eyes were still glued to the frame of darkness that interlocked with his mind that he should be up there and not here.
“here we go…” sarah murmured under her breath. “what could possibly go wrong?” kie shot her eyes back to sarah who only swung the door opened to be slammed with harsh tones coming from the stereo.
topper was known for throwing the most extravagant house parties. the music was as loud as thunder; it made the empty beer bottle rattle. neon lights that were glued to the white walls flashed everywhere like police sirens, but with much more inviting colours.
over the roar of music, a distant, hazy chatter could be heard. topper, rafe and kelce were chatting up some ladies as there vision was blinded by a bunch of pogues roaming around like cockroaches.
“what are they doing here?” kelce mumbled against the illuminated ruby plastic cup that rafe already broke through his rage.
“topper is still whipped for my sister.” rafe truthfully announce, causing the blonde short skirted girl to loose interest in his friend.
“thanks man.” topper’s eye rolled extended further as he noticed john b clutching his arm around sarah’s frame, like he used too.
“anytime.” rafe smirked pulling kelce’s bright yellow polo shirt towards him to confront the intruders. topper soon joined, staying behind rafe as he didn’t want his perfectly structured face to be bruised.
“what are you rugrats doing here? you aren’t allow to be on our turf.” rafe spat not even making eye contact with his younger sister whose frame was hidden behind john b’s and jj.
“we got invited. we just came here to get a little drunk and we will be on our way.” jj broke the silence, squaring up to rafe’s face.
“don’t make me bust your other eye, maybank.” rafe threatened, clenching his palms ready for another battle.
“wouldn’t dream of it.” jj took kelce’s red cup from his hand drowning the stinging sensation that drew him away from the crowd.
“where you going?” pope shrieked as he didn’t feel comfortable being left with john b, he wasn’t exactly scary like jj.
“washroom. i’ll be back.” jj reassured his best friend, whose hand was tightly gripped to kiara’s whose face wasn’t enjoying the sensation sound of topper’s music taste.
jj’s curiosity always managed to get himself into trouble, whether he was looking for it or not. his mind was reverted back to the shadow of a young female who was on the roof. he knew he shouldn’t be preying around topper’s house but, he would of regretted not knowing who that girl was.
his tiny frame ran smoothly around the second floor, each creak that he created with his ripped combat boots made him squint, he noticed a slight acute door open slightly with a streak of light hitting the wooden floors.
the bedroom was furnished on a expensive budget according to the serval layers of blankets that were freshly pressed on the double bed. a messy pile of book were scattered across the white carpet that was caressed with a circular rug that was neatly combed.
he looked up at the walls, admiring the pictures that were taken on a film camera.
“whose’s this girl?” jj thought as he circled the room, slowly resting his palm on the slik sheets wishing he could have a room like this.
since jj was in a trance of what his life was like if he was kook, he was startled by a soft tune of a sneeze coming from the windowsill. his intrigue body motioned away from the bed, heading towards the half adjecent window that his mysterious girl was resident.
jj’s instincts were never wrong when he assumed the shadow of a girl on the high roof. his head turned towards you, your fully eclipsed body was tainted with a summer dress that fit well on your skin. under his brief gaze on your exposed skin, you didn’t flinch or withdraw from your book. your shape was already forming into womanhood, yet you were roughly the same age as sarah: your twin brother’s ex-girlfriend. you revert your attention out of the flood of flowing words and focused them on him, he was something out of a novel you read once.
dashing, adventurous and fearless. you were polite and offered him a seat next to you, letting the moon expose your vulnerable side which jj instantly stole as he gently brushes his shoulder against your own.
jj eccentric side was displayed out in the open and didn’t hesitate to make the first move. “what’s a pretty girl like you doing on a roof?”
you sauntered in, feeling provocative whilst you brushed your hair from your dainty shoulders, letting his kindly eager cornflower eyes follow your movement.
“i’m not really into the whole drinking vibe… my brother on the other hand is.” jj’s pupils grew larger as he pieced the puzzle together, he knew he wasn’t the smartest earthling on the island but he just couldn’t see the resemblance between you and your brother.
“how is that possible?… topper has a sister?… why didn’t sarah mention anything?”
you personally thought his reaction wouldn’t be inviting but, his reaction to the news lured you in more like he was siren calling for you. “well, when my parents had topper… they decided to conceive again, making me.”
jj nudged you chuckling at your comeback, “i know how sex works. i’m a maybank.”
“noted.” you candid staring at the apex of the deep sliver circle that brought the both of you together.
a heavy silence evaporated over them, thicker than the mucky air making the tension more uncomfortable. both of your eyes glanced unceremoniously around turning to avoid catching each other glances that happened in the space of a minute.
“what you reading?” jj noticed an earthy hued of brown colours stuck to her embrace which jj gazed forced him to stare to create a new conversation.
“charles dickens, great expectations.” he noticed your awkward zoned face shape into a curious, cheeky smile that he first noticed when he intruded.
“cool. i don’t read but charles dickens is a great man. one of the best lads out there, wonder what he is doing now?” jj wondered having no idea that he is in fact six feet under.
you burst out a giggle with a sentiment rosy colour appeared on your cheeks, “hate to break it to you but the lad is dead. he has been dead for centuries.”
jj was perplexed by your statement. he generally thought he was still alive due to pope always speaking about him as if he was a local. “i knew that. i was testing your knowledge on charlie.”
you chuckled playing along with his shenanigans but you would be lying to yourself that you weren’t intrigued in the fact that he was sitting here when he was supposed to be downstairs. “how comes you are up here? i thought pogues loved a good party, especially if there’s alcohol.”
jj shrugged darting his eyes to meet yours, “don’t take it personally but i’m not a fan of kooks, especially topper and his gang.”
and this, you thought was going to be the end of your story with the blonde boy. you weren’t shocked that he degraded your brother and his friends, you understood the reason.
“i get that. if it makes you feel better, i don’t exactly agree with their rules and how they treat you guys. you deserve the same respect we get because one day, shakesphere’s novel of romeo and juliet might come true and, i personally don’t want to kill myself…” you flirted in a way which the boy would probably take days, in fact, months to work out the metaphor.
“does that make me remi?” jj joked as he kind of liked the way your nose scrunched when he didn’t understand literature.
“it’s romeo…” you corrected him again.
“i know. i just wanted to see that little nose scrunch you do when i mess up.”
you were stunned that he paid attention to little things about you. it wasn’t every day that someone would paid attention to topper’s sister, especially a pogue. you could sense that he was actually interested in you, and even the novel you were reading.
“whatcha thinking about, juliet?” jj teased letting his hand move the strand of hair from your face, tucking it safely behind your acute ears.
you shrugged, “i just…” you paused, you didn’t want to pride your thoughts on the pogue as you didn’t want to scare him away.
“c'mon, pretty girl. what is it?” he interrogated you. he looked down at your fingertips, loosely fighting with each other as you were struggling to form words. he initially engulfed his hands into yours brushing your soft skin to ease your mind.
“you are kind of the first guy to ever notice me, or even pay attention to me… i’m just don’t want this night to end.” you stutter but with every stroke, he did made your nerves drift away.
jj instantly brought his broad arms over your waist, pulling your body against his. in seconds your bodies moulded into one. jj never let another human be so close to him like this, not even kie. you were different, you weren’t like what he thought you would be. there was a purity to you, naivety perhaps, but with a scent of innocent that jj wanted to protect from the creatures of the night.
you, on the other hand, felt something inside you ignite as his arms firmly were wrapped around your frame. his embrace was like a welcoming invitation to his life, which you would accept in a heartbeat. you didn’t really want the party to end nor wanting the moon to disappear as that meant your story was ending.
“you see those two stars that are moulded into one… that’s you and i. whether you feel lost or feel alone, look up into the starry night and call me.” jj managed to sound romantic for a slight second which only made you blush more.
“poetic… i like it maybank.” you winked whilst your hands fiddled around with his countless threaded bracelets. “i like this one the most… the colours match your eyes.”
jj immediately took the bracelet off, offering your hand. “you can have it. i’ve seen you admire it since i got here. i have plenty back at home, so this is my peace offering.”
you silently accepted the gift, watching the bracelet fit perfectly onto your bony wrist. “it’s beautiful.” you muttered to yourself.
jj curved his lips as he slowly lifted your chin up, to get a good view of your face. he admired every little detail but concentrated on your lips. his head was angled slightly to the side as his lips went closer to yours, lighting pressing a small kiss to your rosebud shaped lips. when he kissed her, her identity fell away. it was slow and soft, comforting for the both of you as your tribes rival melted away. jj’s hand rested below his ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as he kept the flow of their lips going neither of them wanting to stop but, the calls from his friends parted them away.
“i better go… they are probably worried that i’ve got into a fight or something.” jj’s face frowned watching your own do the same. “i’ll see you tomorrow night, here.”
“are you sure? i don’t want you getting into trouble…” you felt your walls began to build, each brick that layered made it harder for you to think that he would ever get into trouble for her, a heartless kook.
jj hooked his arms to your neck, “don’t worry about a thing, pretty girl.”
you nodded, letting him steal another kiss from you as you watched his frame leave yours. a gush of emptiness flooded your body, as it called for him but he was already gone, vanished into the mucky air of north carolina. you rallied back to your book, looking down at the texture smiling down as you saw him leave with his friends.
“jj, where did you go? we were looking all over for you?” sarah was the one who instigated the conversation since the rest were zoned out.
jj kept it at a minimal, he didn’t want his juliet to be known especially not to sarah, “around.”
sarah hummed not believing anything jj was saying. as they entered the van, sarah noticed a small figure exiting from the roof, “is that y/n?”
jj looked up, watching as you were clenching onto your book rather than watching your balance. “so that’s her name..” he muttered to himself giving his face a warm smile.
sarah turned hearing jj’s comment but decided to play along, “i wonder what she is holding?”
without even realising jj answered, “charles dickens. great expectations.”
sarah only smirked leaving jj to slam his palm onto his mouth, feeling the metal sting his bruised chapped lips.
“we’re you macking on with my ex-boyfriend’s sister?” sarah interrogated the blonde beauty.
“let’s just say that you need to tell me all the ways to sneak into his house.” jj blushed, letting his left foot bring his body up into the van.
sarah followed behind, looking up one more time to see you peeping, “you got it, lover boy.”