Kie's POV:

JJ stormed off pissed at us after he stole money from Barry. It had been a few hours and he hadn't shown up yet, I got worried and went to look for him in his normal spots and he wasn't there. Days went by and no one heard from him. We all had to accept that he was gone and probably not coming back. 

I texted him every single day telling him to come home, or let me come get him, and to just let me know he was safe. Nothing.

I'm now twenty years old and in college and still haven't heard from JJ. It's been two years and I couldn't help but think the worst. I was home from college on break for Christmas and I was shopping with my mom. She was helping me pick out a dress for Christmas. We had tried a few stores and we bought one dress but it wasn't my favorite. It was cold and snowy and we were walking on the sidewalk when I saw him. JJ...

He was leaving a fancy restaurant with his famous backpack. It looked like he was working there. My mom saw him and she looked at me. 

"JJ" I yelled and he turned to look at me

I ran towards him and hugged him. I was crying and he hugged me back. Once the hug broke I asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good, Kie... Like really good. Are you okay?"

"No, asshole, I thought you were dead"

"I'm sorry about that... I can explain everything if you'll let me"

"Okay, start talking"

"Not here... Wanna come over?"

"Yeah, just let me tell my mom"

I told my mom and she was fine with it, I mean I'm an adult. It's not like she could stop me. My mom was heading back home and I was with JJ. He drove me back to his apartment and we sat on the couch. I was pissed at him but also s happy to see him.

He told me everything about how he left the island to cool off and ended up meeting the owner of the five-star restaurant he worked at. He was offered a job and he finished school online. He said how he just needed a fresh start. What he said made sense and he was doing so well.

"Why are smiling?" He asked as I had pretty much been crying the whole time

"I'm just proud of you" I replied

"I thought you we either dead, in a gang, so fucked up and on drugs, or some crazy shit but you aren't. You're here and you're safe and healthy, and happy"

JJ hugged me and I said, "Jayge, these past years without you have sucked so much... I know that I always got annoyed with your flirting with me, but you leaving made me realize that... I miss you and no other guy compares to you because I love you. I always have and I always will and I just...."

I was cut off by the door opening and a woman walked in who was about our age. 

"Hey, JJ! I'm home" The girl smiled looking over and seeing me

"Hey babe, this is Kiara, one of my friends from high school"

"Hi, it's so nice to meet you, Kiara! JJ has told me so much about his friends. I'm Ashley, JJ's girlfriend"

"Nice to meet you" I smiled back at her

She was just getting back from school, she was in college as a pre-law student I learned from her. JJ and I sat back on the couch and he just looked at me. He had this look on his face where he wanted to talk but he knew he couldn't. 

"I should get going" I said as it felt so fucking awkward

"No, please stay for dinner. I'm going to cook something quick"

Ashley started cooking and I agreed to stay. We made small talk with Ashley and I offered to help but she wouldn't let me. She was actually a really good cook. I could see how happy JJ was and how much she loved him. I buried my feelings for him deep down and enjoyed dinner with JJ and his girlfriend. 

I was getting ready to leave and I was just going to Uber to the ferry but JJ and Ashley both insisted that he take me home. I honestly didn't want to be alone with JJ because I didn't want him to bring up the whole me confessing my feelings to him thing. 

Ashley hugged me goodbye and then she kissed JJ before he walked out the door. We got in JJ's car and he headed towards the ferry. I didn't say until I asked, "Are you sure you want to go back to the Outer Banks? You don't have to drive me"

"I'll be alright, Kie... I don't want you to tell John B or Pope. I'm going to call them tomorrow and tell them"

"I won't say anything"

"Kie, about what you said earlier"

"It doesn't matter... Ashley seems amazing, she's lucky to have you in her life"

"Kie... She's great but she isn't you... Don't think for a second that I didn't miss you because I missed you like crazy, more than John B and Pope. I wanted to go back and see you, I wanted to call you but I knew if I did, I would go home to you... And I was already building this new life and I couldn't destroy it all and just go back to being Luke's son from the cut"

We were parked on the ferry now, so I leaned over and hugged him and said, "I'm not mad at you. I completely understand. I'm just so relieved you're alive and safe and happy"

"You really mean that?"

"Of course, I do... When you left after stealing that money from Barry, you weren't in a good place and now you are"

JJ dropped me off at my parent's house and I looked at him and said, "Please don't disappear anymore"

"I won't, give me your phone" He said as I handed it to him and he put his new number in

I went inside and my mom asked how things went with JJ. I looked at her and said, "He has a girlfriend"

"Come here" My mom said hugging me

I started crying and she knew how I felt about him. She hugged me and rubbed my back.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked

I told her about how he was doing and how I spilled my heart out to him and then his girlfriend walked in. The worst part is, I like her. I wish I hated her, but she's good for him.

My mom comforted me and for once she didn't give me shit about loving a pogue. I went to bed and tried to get over it. John B and Pope called the next day and told them they heard about my finding JJ. We were all getting together at the Chateau for a little pogue reunion in a few days.

I arrived and both boys had their girlfriends there and we were waiting for JJ and his girlfriend to arrive. An hour had passed by and he wasn't showing. He wasn't answering his phone. The boys were pissed at him and honestly, I wasn't surprised. 

I left the Chateau and I was driving home when I just got this feeling to drive by JJ's old house. Sure enough, his car was parked at the end of the driveway. I parked my car and I walked towards the house where I saw him.

"Jayge" I whispered

"Hey" He whispered back as I sat by him

"I'm sure they are pissed at me"

"They were but they'll get over it. Where is Ashley?"

"I lied earlier when I said she knew everything about my past. She knew about my friends and that I got into a fight with you guys. She doesn't know about the treasure hunt and she thinks my dad died in a car accident when I was a kid... She doesn't know about my past and I liked that because she saw me for the person I've become and had nothing to compare me to"

"I understand that, JJ. You don't have to explain" I said 

"No, I do... Because coming back here has thrown me into a spiral. This house is real, my dad still lives here, and the abuse happened. I can't pretend like it didn't happen because it did but I can't tell Ashley about it. Our whole relationship was based on a lie, a lie about my new life"

"You don't have to tell her about your past, but if she really loves you, it won't matter" I said trying to be supportive

"It doesn't matter because I broke up with her. You know me, Kie and you've always accepted me for exactly who I am. You know all my secrets and you've stood by my side when no one else has. I don't want to have to question if a girl is going to love me for me when I already know someone who will. You aren't my second choice, you aren't my backup, you are my everything and I love you. Not a single day went by where I didn't think of you and I don't want to let another day go by where I don't tell you that I love you"

I couldn't believe what he was saying. I looked at him and said, "I love you too"

He leaned in and kissed me and when the kiss broke he asked, "How'd you know I'd be here?"

"Because I know you"

"Oh yeah, what am I going to do next? He teased

"You're going to kiss me again" I smiled

"Damn, you're good" He said smiled as he leaned back in