IT TOOK A THIRTY MINUTE OF GROUP CRY SESSION AND A FUNNY MOVIE TO CALM JJ DOWN. Pope and Kie decided to go to their homes for the night, but Karolina didn't want to leave JJ alone, so she agreed to stay. JJ's stuff was already in there, because apparently he'd been staying there since Midsummers, so Karolina figured she'd just let him have the John B's room and she'd take the sleeper sofa. But her jeans were still heavy with hot tub water, so she needed to grab the spare change of clothes she kept in the dresser.

JJ was tugging on a t-shirt when she poked her head in, the bruises on his back rippling with the movement. "Hey, sorry," Karolina announced, blinking rapidly when a hot blush crossed her cheeks, "I just... I needed some clothes, from the dresser." JJ nodded quietly, understanding, and sat on the bed, watching as she moved to grab her clothes. "Thank you," he said, catching her off guard. Karolina raised an eyebrow, and he cleared his throat. "For, uh... staying."

Offering a tight lipped smile, she nodded. "No problem." A tense silence fell over them and Karolina shut the dresser drawer with a loud snap, pressing her lips into a thin line. The air was thick and so terribly awkward as she turned to nod at him again. "Uh... night?" It came out as a question, though she hadn't intended it. "Night," JJ replied, his eyes following her as she walked to the door. Karolina shook her head, a nagging feeling prickling at her brain. She had begun her search for him with the full intent of telling him how she felt, but now that she had the chance, Karolina was about to chicken out. Her hand was on the doorknob, but she stopped in the doorway. "Um... JJ?"

The boy glanced up from his hands. "I know this might not be the best time," she started, turning to face his watchful gaze, "But..." Her throat tightened, heart pounding. "The other night, we..." His eyes flashed with realization, but he didn't give her the solace of finishing her sentence. "We kissed," Karolina finally mustered out, her voice clipped. The big t-shirt she had balled in her hand was starting to wrinkle. "And, I guess I just... wanted to know how you felt? A-about that."

JJ scratched the back of his neck, gaze flicking to the floor. "Uh... yeah." His eyebrows lifted, but he didn't continue.

Karolina blinked, her face paling. She felt ridiculous. "That's... it?" JJ sighed, standing to rub his forehead with both hands. Embarrassment flamed up her sides, and she felt her palms get even sweatier.

"I don't know what you want me to say, Lina," JJ muttered, letting his hands drop from his face. Karolina felt tears starting to brim her lash-line. "Did it... Did it mean anything to you?"

JJ raised his eyebrows again: "Did it to you?"

Taking a deep breath and setting her jaw firmly, Karolina nodded. "Yeah. It did," she said, her voice holding even. JJ kept his eyes trained on the bed, running a hand through his hair. He didn't answer, and her heart sank. Of course, of course he wouldn't feel the same way. He was JJ. Laid back, weed smoking, rule breaking, different girl every night JJ. Karolina was a hopeless romantic; she set herself up for failure by expecting him to get down on one knee the moment she professed her feelings. She was everything he hated. Why would he ever want a girl like her?

"Look, I-I'm sorry... I didn't- I thought you..." Karolina shook her head rapidly, hair falling from her loose ponytail, pausing to take a deep breath, one that fought against the anxiety building in her chest. "I'm sorry if I overstepped, I mean, you obviously don't feel the same way, it was just a heat of the moment thing-" She rambled on, refusing to meet his eyes, "-I'll just... let myself out."

She turned, reaching for the door to close behind her, but JJ called out, "Karolina, wait." He grappled onto her wrist, tugging her back around to face him. She caught a glimpse of his eyes and they shimmered, making her fall in love with them even more. Only JJ could reject someone with such grace.

"I never said that I didn't feel anything," he said, taking her by surprise. She finally met his gaze again. "You drive me crazy, Karolina Scott." Butterflies turned somersaults in her stomach. "But it... it can't work."

He... He wasn't rejecting her? But he was? Karolina frowned down at their intwined hands. "What?" she asked, squeezing his hand when she finally comprehended the fact that he had feelings for her too, and she started to make her case, "If it's because of the no Pogue on Pogue rule, n-no one even follows that anymore-"

He chuckled, bringing her fingers to his face, like he was going to kiss them, but thought better of it. "Its not that, Lina," JJ told her, his voice grave. "We just won't work." Letting her hand drop from his, he turned away, taking a few steps from her. Karolina blinked, struggling to piece it together in her mind. She liked him and he liked her, but they "wouldn't work?" Of course, she knew their were so many reasons no one could see them together- they argued so often- but she was prepared to sacrifice a few won arguments, if that meant she could be with him.

"Excuse me, what?" Karolina scoffed, watching as he sat on the bed facing away from her. Her voice had an edge to it now. "You can't just say we 'won't work' and then not explain why." A disbelieving laugh bubbled from her lips. "I've spent the past month coming up with reasons why this won't work, but- I don't care anymore, JJ." She waited for him to say something, anything, but JJ was as silent and as motionless as the trees on the strangely still night outside. Something else was bothering him; it wasn't the stupid rules their friends made up, nor the fact that they argued every waking moment. There was something else. "JJ, what is it?" Nothing. She approached him from behind, reaching to touch his shoulder. "JJ-"

"I'm not good enough for you!" he shouted suddenly, jerking from her touch. Pain swam in the blue eyes that peered at her sadly, languishingly.

Karolina jumped at his volume, recoiling instantly. She didn't know what to say, shocked by his sudden outburst. "Everyone knows it. I know it, my dad knows it, your sister knows it, and you know it, Lina. Deep down, you do," he said when she shook her head, scowl growing deeper on her lips.

"That's not true-"

"But it is," JJ laughed comically, shaking his head, "I mean, you have straight A's, you took AP Calculus- like, what even is that?" JJ's temper simmered a little, and he shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "And what are all these fancy college recruiters going to think if I'm your boyfriend?"

Karolina's frown eased, and she kind of wanted to smile at how cute the question was. "JJ, what do you think college interviews are like?" she asked with an amused shake of the head.

JJ threw his arms up, pointing at her. "That's my point! W-we're too different." Sighing heavily, he took a step closer, so close if she moved her head an inch, their lips would touch. "You're gonna be President one day, and you'll forget all about the Outer Banks, but me... I'm going to be stuck here the rest of my life, just like my dad."

Karolina was speechless, her mind whirling. Was that really what he thought of her? That she was bound to be something great, someone successful? That she was going to be someone that wouldn't even bother with him ten years down the road? It made her all the more in love with him, but all the more upset that he thought she was so shallow to forget him. She slid a hand along his jaw, holding his face, making her entire body tingle. "I could never forget you." And she had never been sure of anything else in the world.

JJ unwillingly leaned into her touch and he held the hand against his face, running his thumb across the back of it, eyes fluttering shut, almost succumbing, but the second his eyes closed blissfully, they snapped open again and he pushed away. His hands fisted in his blonde hair, bunching it tightly in his grasp. It was like he couldn't stand to see her time wasted on him, but she disagreed so adamantly; any time with him wasn't a waste. "Why me? We fight, all the time. W-why not Pope, or John B? Why me?" he demanded frustratedly. Karolina scoffed, shrugging. "I don't know, JJ! I just..." She closed her eyes, sighing.

"You make me so crazy sometimes t-that I just want to grab you by your stupid face and kiss you!" she rambled, her voice now a shaky mess. JJ's frown slid off, and a small smile was starting to form as she continued on. "A-and I hate when people touch me, but when you hold my hand to help me jump onto the boat, I don't want you to let go, ever. And sometimes you just look at me like-" His eyebrows raised, and a smirk slid across his lips. "Like that!" She snapped her fingers, pointing at him. Her mind went blank, expression melting away. "I... I just forget everything," she whispered, her voice so soft she wasn't even sure he understood what she had said. "And I want to be around you, all the time." Karolina closed her eyes again, feeling defeated. Here she was, spilling her heart, all of the things she loved about him coming to surface, when there he was, telling her things would never work.

"Wow, so, you're like totally whipped, huh?" JJ laughed, his smug look growing. Karolina clenched her fists, exclaiming, "Stop it! I'm trying to be serious!" But the ghost of a smile danced across her face.

The boy held his hands up in mock surrender, stepping towards her again, though his cocky smile remained. "Face it, Princess," JJ smiled sadly, "Who do you see standing next to you at your inaugural address- someone like me, or someone like Pope?"

"I don't want Pope!" she exclaimed, just noticing how close they had gotten, and she dropped the volume of her voice, but not its force. Karolina set her jaw sternly, peering up at him with a fierce determinedness.

"I want you."

Neither of them moved at first, face to face, their breaths mixing in the middle. JJ's gaze flicked from her eyes to settle on her lips, so, so close, and the silence between them was deafening. Her heart thundered wildly in her chest, she was sure he could hear it, some kind of gravitational pull threatening to knock her into him, but she resisted. Not a piece of their bodies touched, drawing the tension gathering in the air thicker and tauter, and all it would take is an inch of movement to break it.

The movement soon came in the form of a sharp inhale of breath, and the cord snapped. A switch had flipped, sending them both into a wild, fervent frenzy, connecting their lips in a kiss so passionate and longed for that it made Karolina dizzy. JJ's lips were soft and warm against hers, sending little flares throughout her body, just as they had the night before; Karolina dropped the t-shirt she had balled into her fist. She squeezed her eyes shut, hands grappling onto every inch of his body she could reach, frantic to connect them in any way she could- his jaw, his neck, his shoulders, his arms. Karolina could've kissed him without ceasing for the next five years, but her lungs screamed for air and she broke their kiss, gulping down a breath of air. JJ's hands shifted from her hair to her ribcage, sending shivers up her spine as he pressed their lips together again. Euphoria sent her mind into such a whirl that she hardly realized they were moving, her legs voluntarily walking until the back of her knees hit the bed. She felt the wet denim rubbing painfully on her thighs, but she could hardly care anymore. All she knew was JJ, and all she could think was finally.

They fell onto the bed as a breathless knot of arms and legs, of passion and desire and relief. His lips moved from her feverish lips to litter kisses along her jaw, then her neck and collarbone. Karolina's fingers slid into his hair, tugging on the blonde strands involuntarily when his mouth pressed onto her neck in just the right way. "JJ..." she breathed. He grinned at her through his eyelashes, sitting up to pull his shirt off in a graceful swoop over his head, tossing it onto the floor. Dizzyingly, she kissed him again, propping herself onto her elbows enough to slide her own unbuttoned shirt off of her shoulders. JJ hot breath tickled against her throat, his hands sliding slowly to the waistband of her jeans.

Karolina involuntarily jumped, pushing his shoulder back slightly. "Wait, wait..." She said, wrenching her lips from his and her eyes open. JJ frowned slightly, concerned he had done something wrong. "I... I've never... done this before," she said slowly, cheeks burning a flamboyant red. Swallowing thickly, JJ blinked, his own blush flaring up. "Oh... Oh," he replied, finally understanding, "I'm sorry, I didn't..." Karolina sighed, closing her eyes and leaning back onto the pillows again, embarrassed. "Is this okay?" JJ asked cautiously, looking at her through gentle eyes. "Do you want to do this?"

Taking a deep breath, Karolina nodded sternly, pressing another quick kiss to his lips just because she could. "More than anything. You?"

JJ grinned, his hands sliding down her waist again, until they settled just above the hem of her jeans. "I have wanted this for so long, you don't even know," he whispered to her, pressing his lips to her's intensely. Karolina laughed against them, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

The rest of the world faded away- John B, the gold, Amy, JJ's father- all of it melted into an irrelevant blur in her mind. All she cared about was right here, wrapped in her arms, with his lips on hers, and she could think of nothing she wanted more than that. Karolina didn't realize it then, but her blissful night was soon to be rare. They were in the eye of the hurricane, and worse was to come. But for the night- for one simple, euphoric night- they were allowed to be happy and selfish and free.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★ ｡･:*:･ﾟ

The sun woke her up the next morning, the bright rays burning against her eyelids. She let them flutter open, squinting into the warm light, horribly wishing they had remembered to draw the curtains last night. JJ still snored softly below her, his arms wrapped around the one of hers that had slid underneath him while they slept, her chest pressed against his bare shoulders. The off-white blanket swaddled them with warmth, and Karolina would have fallen back to sleep, if not for that stupid sun. They were right to be tired, they deserved a rest. But instead, she leaned down, pressing her lips to the fading bruises on JJ's shoulders, trailing a path of soft kisses up his neck to his face to wake him up.

Blinking awake slowly, JJ stirred in her arms, his clear blue eyes opening sleepily. He rolled over onto his back, groaning, but a soft smile slipped across his lips. "Morning, Princess," he said, voice crackling with sleep. Karolina smiled in response as he lifted his lips to hers, pressing them together sweetly. "Morning."

JJ slid his arms under her body, splaying his hands across her back as he pulled her flush against him again, this time with his face pressed against her neck. "You know, I never would have guessed you would like being the little spoon," Karolina commented lightly, running her fingers through his hair softly. JJ snickered against her skin. "And it's oddly characteristic of you to want to be big spoon."

Chuckling, Karolina didn't argue because he was completely correct. She simply hummed, "Mmm... We should probably get up soon. Pope and Kie will be here to set up the pulley thing any second now..." JJ moaned, snuggling his face into the crook of her neck, shaking his head with his eyes closed peacefully. "Five more minutes," he said, kissing her throat softly. Karolina's eyelids fluttered to a close once more, his arms wrapped completely around her, and she let her chin settle at the top of his head again, raising her eyebrows blissfully. "Maybe ten?"

JJ chuckled against her throat, making her skin tingle with the deep vibrations. "I told you you'd be less annoying after you got laid."

Karolina's eyes snapped open and she immediately started pushing him away, struggling to straighten her elbows between them while he held on desperately, laughing. "Okay," she drawled out, "That's it." JJ laughed, pleading with her as she tried to shove him away. Karolina wasn't actually angry, but it was funny watching JJ plead for her to stay. "Wait, no, no, no, you said ten more minutes!" he cried when she finally sat up against the headboard.

"That was before you offended me," Karolina said, starting to slide from the bed, but his leg hooked around hers suddenly, tugging her flat against the mattress again. JJ slid over her, his eyes pleading, lips poised mere centimeters above hers. "Stay, please, I'm sorry," he grinned cheekily, "Let me make it up to you?" His voice was thick and teasing, his eyes hinting.

Karolina pretended to think, pursing her lips with a smile tugging at them. "Hmm, and how are you going do that?"

JJ leaned closer, the tip of his nose brushing hers, and he whispered, "Well-"

Just as her eyes were sliding closed and their lips were about to meet, the door opened suddenly, and in came Pope. JJ jumped, and Karolina gasped, clutching the blankets closer around them to hide them. Pope had frozen in the doorway, eyes as wide as dinner plates. No one moved. Pope took a breath and opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but promptly turned and exited, slamming the door behind him. Once his footsteps had retreated down the hall, JJ collapsed against her and they laughed, foreheads knocking. "C'mon," Karolina chuckled finally, drawing them both to sit up in the bed, "If he's here, Kie's here, and she won't be so nice to close the door on the way out."

After she managed to drag JJ from the bed for a hasty shower, they got dressed and met their friends outside. The pulley system was hooked up to a tree for testing, Kiara perched inside of it, while Pope manned the controls. "Woo!" whistled Kiara animatedly when Karolina and JJ walked out, hand in hand. "Walk of shame! Walk of shame!" she chanted, making fun of them.

Karolina rolled her eyes, grinning bashfully. Her gaze caught Pope's, and he gave them an apologetic look. "Sorry, I had to tell someone," admitted the boy. Karolina nodded, understanding.

Pressing a lingering kiss to her cheek, JJ captured her attention. "I'm gonna deflate some of the pool floats, okay?" he told her. Karolina smiled, nodding; JJ squeezed her hand as they departed, and she made her way over to Pope and Kie.

Kiara immediately hopped from the basket, grappling onto Karolina's hand. "Okay, okay, tell me everything," she demanded, peering at her expectantly. Blushing, Karolina shifted her gaze to Pope watching them nearby. "Later, okay. I think Pope has heard enough..." 

Pope shuddered, turning his face away hastily. Kiara just laughed, when JJ drew their attention again. "John B, pullin' a Houdini..." he muttered, tossing a half-deflated flamingo float back into the water. 

"Yeah, where is he?" Pope wondered aloud, "I got my scholarship interview tomorrow morning, we gotta get this done-"

Just as the words left his mouth, here came John B through the trees with a look on his face that Karolina couldn't place. "Speak of the devil- hey!" JJ called upon seeing him, hopping out of the hot tub and shoving his flip flops back onto his feet. "Dude, I set up the entire winch and everything-"

"No he did not, I did that-"

John B ignored their bickering, stalking past them with his brow furrowed, up the stairs into the house. "Uh, what's that all about?" Pope muttered, glancing between his friends. 

Karolina caught JJ's gaze, before she marched into the house after John B. They found him rummaging around in the drawers of the house, ignoring their every attempt to talk to him. "You all right, man?" Pope asked, "What's up?"

It was obvious something was terribly, terribly wrong. He stunk of saltwater and seaweed and sweat, his hair a disheveled mess on the top of his head. "What are you looking for?" Kie demanded, angered by his adamant attempt at ignoring them. Karolina stayed back next to JJ, frowning heavily; the last time she'd seen JB they were so angry at each other she wanted to punch him in the face. John B was one of her best friends, and even though she was still a little angry at him, there was definitely something off and she was concerned. 

From the look on his face when his gaze settled on her, he was still angry, but she had a feeling this wasn't her doing. His face was stoic, but his eyes were alight. "Where is it?" he demanded. 

Karolina's scowl deepened: "Where is what?"

"The gun, Karolina."

The room swelled with intensity. Her gray eyes scanned his face in silence, her neck craned to look at him head on. "Why do you need it?" she asked slowly, her hand unwillingly inching towards the fold out sofa, which hid the gun under its cushions. John B seemed to notice this, for he pushed past her, yanking the cushions off and grabbing the black pistol. 

"Woah, John B, what do you need the gun for?" JJ scoffed, his face suddenly growing very concerned. John B ignored him again, turning to go right back out the door he came in, but they weren't going to let him go that easy. "John B, wait a second-" Karolina tried, but he shoved her away without a second thought. JJ jumped between him and the door, a flash of anger striking his features. "Dude, chill-"

John B was much harsher with JJ than he was with Karolina, knocking him completely off his feet and onto the pull out sofa. "John B!" exclaimed Kie, as she watched Pope wrestle to keep him inside. He merely was slammed back into the table, causing a horrific scrape against the floor when John B sent him flying. 

"You okay?" Karolina asked JJ, offering him a hand; he rubbed his elbow angrily, but nodded nonetheless. Hurriedly, the four Pogues ran outside to where John B was perched on JJ's motorbike, revving the engine. "John B!" Kiara called, darting out after him. Karolina was about to follow, but she stopped, noticing the tears rolling down John B's face. Oh no...

"Ward knows about the gold!" he cried out, a vein in his neck looking like it was about to explode with emotion. Karolina's heart leapt into her throat.

"He killed my Dad."

A/N:

so it finally happened...... what did y'all think? too much?

hope u enjoyed! only a few more chapters until the end of season one 

:(