Sarah's POV:

After we graduated high school, JJ and Kie got into a big fight and never went on their surf trip. They went their separate ways. JJ stayed in the Outer Banks working at the Marina and living in his dad's old house. Kiara wanted adventure, she ended up going to college in Florida and studying abroad in Australia and France while traveling around Europe on the weekends.

We were twenty-four and still navigating life. The pogues were all still in touch but not like it used to be. Cleo and Pope were in Connecticut while Pope finished his schooling and Cleo worked. John B still talked to JJ daily and apparently, he's been on so many dates and hates all of them. He has some funny stories.

Kie had recently told me that she ended things with her boyfriend she traveled through Europe with. They were together for about a year and then Kie dumped him.

She's been going on dates lately but she calls me after every single one almost crying because of how bad they went. I told her that I'd set her up on a few dates that way at least they wouldn't be awful. I was laying in bed with John B telling him about Kie's awful date last night.

"I promised her I'd set her up on some good dates. I'm thinking about setting her up with Henry"

"Henry, the guy who stuck a pencil up his nose in second grade?"

"Yes, he's a lawyer now and would be perfect for Kie" I said and John B made a face

"We both know that Kie wouldn't be interested in Henry... The only person she really wants is JJ" I said hesitant to bring up their past

Here's the thing, JJ has been in love with Kie since they first met as children. Kie never could admit that she felt the same way, I knew she loved him back in the lifeboat. Then all the shit happened and they almost kissed a few times and JJ rescued her from Kitty Hawk, but then the two being as stubborn as they are tried to pretend like nothing happened. They got into a huge fight and went their separate ways.

"Funny you should mention that... JJ's been trying to date" John B said laughing

"OMG! We should set them up on a blind date. It would force them to talk things out and see each other"

"The second they see each other, they'll both leave and be pissed at us"

"Okay, so you remember how you guys left me and Kie on the boat overnight and we were forced to figure out shit out?"

"Yeah"

"We have the boat that Kie took from Rafe and rescued us on. How about you invite JJ over and I'll invite Kie over. Kie and I will be below deck and you and JJ will come and hang out up top and get us out to sea. Once we're at sea, you and me will take off on the one jet ski we bring with, leaving the two of them alone at sea"

"I love your evil plans" John B kissed me

We worked out all the logistics and set the plan in place. We both did our parts to make this successful. Next weekend, Kie came over early and we went out to the boat below deck and talked and watched Tiktoks. I told her John B would be out in a minute. Everything was going according to plan.

"I'm gonna run up and go check on John B, I'll be back in a second" I lied

"Okay, I'm going to pee quick" She said going into the bathroom

I went above deck and saw John B and JJ. I talked to JJ while John B got the jet ski in the water. I turned the boat off and grabbed the keys as I ran to the jet ski and got on the back. John B drove away from the boat and JJ yelled, "What's going on?"

Kie came to the deck and saw JJ and yelled, "What the hell, Sarah!"

John B said, "Have fun on your date... We'll be back in the morning"

We drove off and headed back home talking about JJ and Kie. I just hope the two of them don't murder each other.

Kie's POV:

I walked upstairs and saw John B and Sarah leaving and JJ was there. Once they were gone, I looked at him and said, "Guess it's just you and me"

"Guess so" He said putting the anchor down so we didn't drift too far

I sat down and thought about the first time we were on this boat together. How we almost kissed and then Pope interrupted us. JJ was being the same idiot he was and was swinging around the bars above us like a child on the monkey bars.

"I see you still haven't grown up"

"Nope, don't plan on it either... So why'd they set us up on this date?"

"I don't know, ask them" I said bitchy

"Damn, someone's in a bad mood"

"Fuck off" I rolled my eyes

JJ and I went below deck to get food as we were both starving. JJ walked into the kitchen and I followed him and on the counter was a piece of paper that read 'JJ and Kie'

Surrounding the paper were condoms. The paper read:

Please don't hate us! You both have been telling us about your shitty dates so we thought maybeeee it might work out this time. We know you guys really never got a chance after El Dorado. You guys just need to talk and figure your shit out so we can all be friends again.

We love you guys!

- Val and Vlad

I looked at JJ and he asked, "So you've been on some shitty dates too?"

"Don't even get me started" I said really not wanting to tell JJ about my embarrassing dating life

"We're stuck here all night, gotta find something to talk about"

"We don't have to talk. We can just be silent"

"Whatever" JJ said grabbing some food from the fridge

He went back up to the deck and I stayed below deck. I can't believe they left condoms. There was no way I'd hook up with JJ. I was super pissed at them for trapping me on this boat with JJ. I followed JJ to the deck where he was eating a fruit bowl. I stole some too as I was starving.

We didn't talk much, we just sat there. He'll occasionally make some comment and we'd talk but then silence would strike again. It was getting somewhat late so I told him I was tired and heading to bed.

I went and laid down in bed and started crying. I wanted JJ to follow me into this room, lay beside me, and tell me everything I needed to hear. So we could both apologize and figure things out. But he never showed up. I eventually fell asleep and was woke up to my door opening. It was JJ.

"Kie.. Kie, are you awake?" He asked in a loud whisper

"I am now, what do you want?"

"To say that I'm sorry for everything, specifically the fight we had when we got back to the OBX. I freaked out because it was real. You loved me and I loved you... I've wanted that for so long and then it happened and I panicked because I fucked everything up and I didn't want you hurt you and fuck you up with all my trauma... I couldn't destroy you" He said with his voice trembling

"Jayge..." I whispered

"What?"

"Come here"

He came and sat on my bed and I looked at him and said, "You can't destroy me. When I told you that I loved you in that Kitty Hawk cabin, I meant it. I love you, all of you, your trauma included. I knew exactly what I was getting into when I kissed you"

"You did?"

"Yeah, I did... I wanted us to figure shit out together. I wanted to go through life with you. I wanted to travel with you. I wanted to be with you"

"I wanted all that too... I still do" He said looking at me

I leaned in and kissed him. We were making out and yeah, we had sex. We woke up the next day and we knew we needed to get John B and Sarah back.

We took all the condoms they left and mixed up water and flour solutions and put a little in each condom. There were probably 20 condoms. We scattered them all across the boat. We were laughing so hard because they were going to be pissed. It looked so real, they looked like used condoms.

"Ready to go home?" JJ asked

"Yeah, but we don't have the keys"

JJ held up a pair of keys and smirked.

"Found these last night, most people keep a secret key on the boat just in case one goes overboard"

"You're telling me you found the key last night and didn't say anything?"

"I wanted to spend the night with you" He said starting the engine and heading back

We docked the boat at Sarah's old house and we saw them. JJ held up the keys and said, "Gotta hide them better next time"

"Whatever, but did you guys at least figure your shit out?"

"Yeah" JJ said kissing me

John B and Sarah went on the boat and he noticed a condom right away.

"Gross! You did not leave a used condom on the seat" John B yelled

"You left us condoms, we used them" I laughed as we left

That night, John B and Sarah came over and said, "Okay, we deserved the condom prank.. But you guys didn't actually leave real used condoms all over the place, did you?"

"Gross, no water and flour" I confirmed

"Thank god" She said

"Sarah, thank you.." I hugged my best friend

"You're welcome" She replied as she knew I'd never get him back on my own because that's one of the things JJ and I have in common, we're both too stubborn