037
jj, the peasant boy

Just as the girls dropped their entwined pinkies, a new voice interjected, "Psst, Sarah!"

The girls whirled around to see John B behind the wooden fence, grinning like an idiot. His t-shirt appeared muddier than usual, and his bandana hung lopsided but despite this, he couldn't stifle his laughter. He rounded the fence, jogging up to Sarah, and immediately lifted her into his arms.

"Hi," Sarah giggled breathily.

"Hi," John B exhaled in relief. "Long time no see."

Sarah held the back of his neck, her features turning weary, "Hi."

Bianca took a step back, allowing them to have their moment before clearing her throat, "Well if it isn't my favorite dick-head."

John B pulled away from the blonde with a teasing smirk, "Say what you want about the size of my head," He taunted. "At least the bags under my eyes don't look like they could carry my groceries."

Bianca resisted the urge to touch the concealer covering her dark circles. She scowled, "Shut up, John B. I buy your fucking groceries."

"Yeah, fuck you too," John B mocked before diverting the topic. "Look, listen to me- JJ's keeping the HMS running-"

"What?" Bianca frowned.

"Yeah," John B didn't bother explaining. "He wanted to see you but he said something about how him and Mike got in a bit of a tiff. So, he's trying to steer clear of the party- just- just meet him there, he'll explain everything," He turned to Sarah. "But hey, I need to talk to you- come here. Come here, follow me. Come on."

Sarah's eyes widened as he took her wrist and tugged her away from the party, "What are you doing here?"

She cast a panicked glance over her shoulder toward Bianca who mouthed the words 'tell him!' as he dragged her away. Sarah gulped and followed John B who began rambling once again.

Bianca backed away, reaching for the flask in her bag again. She hadn't eaten anything since breakfast so it didn't take long for the alcohol to burn through her blood. She found a secluded spot on the wooden dock, away from the party so she could get drunk without anyone bothering her.

Bianca scanned the crowd and lifted the alcohol to her lips. Before she could take a sip, however, a hand snaked around her waist, "Is that my flask?" Her boyfriend's deep baritone whispered.

A shiver ran down Bianca's spine from his breath against her skin, "No," She swallowed, spinning the cap shut. "Why would you think that?"

JJ's hold tightened around her hip, and she could feel his warmth as he spun her around, "My name's engraved into it."

"Oh..." A sheepish smile formed on the girl's lips. "Sorry?"

JJ laughed and Bianca felt the rumble of his chest beneath her fingers. He smirked, reaching for the flask, "What are you drinking?"

"Lemonade."

"Oh yeah?" JJ arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Bianca's eyes trailed the way he spun the cap open with one hand and brought the metal to his lips. She watched his adam's apple bob as he swallowed and the way his tongue darted out to wet his lower lip.

"That's some pretty nasty lemonade," JJ mused, rubbing circles into her hip with his thumb. "How much have you had to drink?"

Wordlessly, Bianca held up two fingers together, barely touching. The boy could already pick up on the way her eyes glossed over, unfocused and dazed.

"Only a little?" He arched an eyebrow sarcastically.

"Just a smidge," She brought her fingers even closer together.

"Oh, just a smidge, huh?" JJ stifled the urge to laugh again, holding her hips so she didn't sway on her feet. While she was distracted, he hid the flask behind his back, slowly slipping it into his back pocket.

"Yeah, just a teeny, tiny bit," Bianca giggled before noticing his little maneuver. "Hey- I was drinking that-"

She tried to reach for it but JJ took her outstretched hand in his while the other wound around her waist, "No," He drawled. "You were going to ask me to dance and I was going to say yes."

Bianca glanced over her shoulder, "JJ, Kie's dad is going to kill you if he sees you here."

JJ agreed but the moment he saw the flask in his girlfriend's hand, he knew he couldn't leave her. After all, she only ever got drunk when something was bothering her.

"I don't care- come here," JJ shook his head, never breaking eye contact. He tugged her so they were slightly closer to the slowed music, "Just one dance. Please?"

Bianca hesitated before letting out a resigned sigh. Taking that as an okay, JJ wrapped his arms around her waist while hers traveled up to loop around his neck.

The two swayed to the soft melody, lost in their own little world—one where Pogues and Kooks didn't matter. A world where it was just Bianca and JJ. Together.

"You look nice," JJ's gaze trailed her face but not in a way that made her shy away. He looked at her like she was the most breathtaking girl in the room— the only, even, "Did Kie do your hair?"

"Sarah," Bianca reached for the butterfly clip keeping half her hair up. "I hate it-" JJ watched as she messed with it, some strands getting caught after unceremoniously pulling it off her head. "-Stupid fucking clip..." She mumbled before tossing it off to the side on the ground.

JJ laughed at her tangled hair, but reached his hands up to fix it for her. Bianca couldn't care less about what she looked like, but she enjoyed the feeling of her boyfriend's fingers running through her hair.

"Talk to me," JJ whispered, smoothing down the wild strands. "What's going on with you?"

Bianca's throat tightened, "It's a really long story."

JJ was quick to notice the way she shifted uncomfortably and brought her head to rest against his chest, "I have time," He tucked a sliver of hair behind her ear. "I have all the time in the world."

JJ, in fact, did not have time.

John B's father was kidnapped, enslaved, and prepared to be slaughtered in South America as they spoke but for Bianca?

JJ would make time.

Bianca remained silent, her ear against his heart. She just wanted to stay like this forever and listen. JJ could talk about anything and everything, and she would listen. Something about his mere presence soothed her better than any drug ever could.

"Did you talk to your mom yet?" JJ placed a chaste kiss on the crown of her head.

"A little," Bianca murmured against his shirt.

He glanced down at her when she pressed herself closer to his chest, "You wanna tell me about it?"

"No," She shook her head in a small voice.

"That's okay," JJ hummed, still swaying them to the beat of the music. "We can just stay like this."

A comforting silence lapsed between them, one in which Bianca could finally savor the warmth of being close to the boy. Today had been draining. All she wanted to curl up in bed with JJ but her family wanted to save face by making an appearance at this party, Sarah needed moral support after telling John B she cheated on him and the cassette tape in her bag weighed heavier than a brick.

"I don't even want to be here," Bianca buried her face further into JJ's shirt. "Abuelita wanted us to show up together so we can look like one big, happy family," She choked out. "But we're not... It's so fucked up- everything's so-" Her voice fell short.

She murdered her father. Her mother hated her. Seeing Kiara today with her parents was the final straw. Bianca should've been used to it by now, growing up a Kook but it was so exhausting, acting like she was okay.

"Baby..." JJ trailed off, unsure how he could comfort her. He had grown up in a broken home. He never knew anything different. JJ didn't know how it felt to lose something he never had in the first place.

And worst of all, Bianca's heart ached for a man who did nothing but ruin her life time, and time again. Her father was supposed to be the villain. The evil she and her friends would eventually overthrow so they could all live happily ever after.

And yet, she couldn't help but want him back. She just wanted her dad back. The one who taught her how to tie her shoelaces and color in between the lines. The man who kissed her forehead after nightmares, not the man who was the cause of them.

"JJ..." Bianca pulled away to look at him through bloodshot eyes. "I miss him. I'm sorry- I know I shouldn't but I miss my dad," She held her breath, unsure how he would take her confession. He ruined their lives after all, "I don't think I can do this. I can't be here- it's too much," She hiccuped breathlessly. "It's so much-"

"Hey, hey- hey," JJ cooed, cupping her jaw and bent his knees so he was face-to-face with her. "It's okay, I'm right here with you. It's okay. I know you miss him," He nodded. "I know. You don't need to be sorry."

"But he- he did so many horrible things," Bianca was struggling to catch her breath. "And after what I did, how do I even- how can I- I can't miss him. I don't deserve to miss him-"

"Bianca, he loved you so much, okay?" JJ ducked his head down to get her to meet his eyes. "And I know he did some shitty things but he loved you more than anything, even if he had a pretty fucked up way of showing it. He loved you the most, so if anyone deserves to miss him it's you."

And she repaid him by shooting him dead, Bianca didn't voice this thought. Instead, she held her breath to stifle her hiccups and gave her boyfriend a small smile. This wasn't something JJ could convince her of. Her mind was already made up but she loved him for trying anyway.

"Don't cry, princess," JJ's lips tilted upward, reflecting hers. His thumbs brushed beneath her eyes, carefully wiping away the tear tracks left there, "You're going to ruin your makeup."

Bianca laughed, the sound so light and airy that JJ's heart fluttered. She tilted her head to lean further into the palm of his hand and place a kiss against it. This time, the beating organ nearly burst from behind his ribs.

"There she is," JJ cooed, running a knuckle against the corner of her lip. "My pretty girl," His hands moved to entwine with hers again. "You wanna keep dancing some more or are you drunk enough that I need to bring you home?"

The question rang in Bianca's ears like an echo. Without her father and mother, could she really call her place a home? Or was it the Chateau, with John B, and Sarah and the other Pogues?

Bianca leaned her head against JJ's chest again, "Where's home?"

His answer was instant, "With me. Always with me."

"That sounds good," Bianca hummed, closing her eyes for a moment. She was already home.

A moment passed in which JJ allowed himself to slacken in her hold. After running around after John B all day, and almost getting killed for the umpteenth time, he finally felt safe. That was until a weak tugging on the back of his shirt drew him out of his thoughts.

"Yeah?" JJ glanced down at Bianca with drawn-together eyebrows. "What is it?"

His girlfriend's frown deepened, "What's what?"

He pursed his lips, "Aren't you...?"

Slowly, JJ peered over his shoulder only to see a little girl, dressed in a tulle-pink dress, with matching crocs and two blonde pigtails on either side of her head. Her lashes fluttered beneath wide-doe eyes, practically staring into the boy's soul.

Bianca followed his gaze, "Um... hi?"

JJ shifted uncomfortably and whipped his head back to face his girlfriend despite the tugging on his shirt. "Just ignore it. It'll go away."

"JJ," Bianca rolled her eyes and pushed him to the side so she could see the child better. "Oh..." She trailed off, upon noticing the tears streaming down the little girl's cheeks, "You're crying."

Her lips were reddened in an obscene pout that would've had Sarah and Kiara doubling over with adoration. The small blonde sniffled, and Bianca nudged JJ harshly, trying to get him to say something. Neither teenager was very well-versed in babysitting.

"What do you want me to do?" JJ gaped at Bianca but when she narrowed her eyes into a glare, he let out a resigned sigh. "Fine. God, I'm so gonna regret asking this..." He leaned down, his hands on his knees. "Why are you crying, kid?"

The girl's chest rose and fell quickly, "I c-can't find my," She hiccuped. "My mommy and daddy."

JJ straightened his back and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, "Well the snack table's back there but my bet is they're at the bar. Alright, good luck-"

"JJ!" Bianca scolded and grabbed his elbow when he tried to walk away. She turned back to the young girl and crouched down to her level.

A lump formed in Bianca's throat. There was no mirror in front of her, and yet it was like she was staring at her reflection. In a way, she felt the same. Just like this lost little girl, searching for her parents.

"Hey," Bianca whispered, making sure they were at the same eye level. When the little girl refused to look up, she flicked the tulle of her dress, "Hi. What's your name?"

The blonde's eyes flickered up, "Charlotte," She mumbled under her breath.

"Charlotte? Like in 'Princess and the Frog?'" Bianca's eyes widened, feigning surprise.

Charlotte gave a small smile, although her cheeks were still stained with tear tracks, "No, just Charlotte."

"Well, just Charlotte," Bianca rose to her feet again. "Let's go find your parents. I just know they're looking all over for you. Does that sound good?"

"Mhm," Charlotte gave a feeble hum. She was so small, and surrounded by all this crowd it was no wonder she was practically trembling.

Bianca turned to JJ, "I'll be back, okay?"

JJ's eyes widened. He hadn't even gotten to the part about Big John going missing, "B, no, wait-" He tried to reach for her other hand.

"JJ, I can't just leave her," Bianca whispered harshly so Charlotte didn't pick up on their heated conversation.

"Yes. Yes, you can," JJ nodded frantically, lowering his tone. "We have way more important things to worry about like Big John being kidnapped by Singh and threatened with execution in South-fucking-America!"

"What!?" Bianca's eyes widened before she raised her other hand and slapped his shoulder. "Don't swear in front of the child!"

"Ow-" JJ whined, rubbing his arm. "That's what you're worried about right now?! This is life or death, B! When I was her age, I was changing my own diapers. Trust me, she'll be fine-"

"JJ, that's mean!" Bianca glared.

"You're being mean," JJ groaned, throwing his arms up in exasperation. "Please, B. She can be someone else's problem-"

"I can hear you, you know," Charlotte piped up quietly. Although, thankfully, she was no longer crying, "I don't wear diapers- I'm not a baby. I'm smart."

"Oh, yeah?" JJ tilted his head and crouched on his haunches. "Can you read?"

Charlotte shook her head 'no'.

"Write?"

She shook her head again. This time, followed by a small pout.

A smirk formed on JJ's lips, "Then you're not so smart after all."

Suddenly, Bianca grabbed his arm and yanked him to his feet, "Yeah, you're not exactly killing it reading department either, JJ."

"Hey-" His smile dropped. "I told you- the words move around and shit, it's not my fault!"

Bianca narrowed her eyes, pointing over to the HMS docked not too far away, "That's a time out. Go sit in the boat and wait for me there."

"But I didn't even do anything!" JJ scoffed, his jaw parted in disbelief. "She started it!"

"Don't give me that look, I'm going to kill you," Bianca warned sternly at the puppy-dog look on his face. Now, she was dealing with two children, "Go sit in the boat and think about what you said."

JJ mumbled some more complaints but turned to head back to the HMS. Bianca watched his fading figure, ensuring he was actually following through before ushering Charlotte toward the party.

Bianca craned her neck, trying to see if there were any frantically searching parents nearby but came up short. The next best thing she thought to do was to get the band to make an announcement, asking if anyone was missing a kid.

Bianca felt something grab her hand and glanced down at Charlotte's clasped tightly with hers. She was tempted to shake her off but the action was so foreign, taking her completely by surprise, and she didn't totally hate it.

"He's mean," Charlotte mumbled as they began walking into the crowd.

Bianca exhaled sharply in amusement, "He's not really mean. He's very nice once you get to know him."

"So, are you guys married?" Her pigtails bounced as she tried to keep up with Bianca's larger steps. "My mommy and daddy fight and they're married and then we all go out for ice cream after."

"That's cute," Bianca glanced away, trying not to show on her face the way the words bothered her. "But no, he's just my boyfriend."

"Oh..." Charlotte trailed off, staring at the ground before looking up again. "Can I have a boyfriend?"

Bianca laughed. It was a genuine one where her eyes crinkled in the corner and JJ saw it. He watched from afar, his girlfriend with someone's daughter. His heart swelled, then did a weird little backflip and some kind of ballet spin.

"You're going to have to ask your parents about that one, Charlotte," Bianca mused, still trying to see past the crowd gathered at the party.

"Then, are you a real-life Princess?" If someone was calling the girl's name, Bianca couldn't hear it because she kept rambling.

"No," Her eyebrows drew together this time, stepping past the dancing guests and headed toward the side of the stage. "Why?"

"Because that boy- your boyfriend," Charlotte corrected herself, the word sounding jumbled on her tongue. "He called you a princess- and you're wearing pink and you're really pretty and my mommy says that all princesses are really, really pretty."

Bianca smiled down at the girl, "That's sweet, Char but I'm not a princess- you could be, though. You could be the princess of the Outer Banks!"

"No!" Charlotte's nose wrinkled as if she were just forced to kiss a frog. They neared the band who were playing the last few chords of their song, "I can't be the princess because I'm already the queen! And my daddy's the King- so you can be the princess."

Bianca laughed again, "Okay- okay, I'll be the princess. Does that mean I get a pony?"

"Only if you come to my castle for a tea party," Charlotte announced proudly, her chest puffed out.

"Okay," Bianca bent down to her level, waiting for the band to finish up before interrupting. "It's a date."

"But no boys allowed so you can't bring your stinky boyfriend," Charlotte warned sternly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"JJ? The peasant boy?" Bianca scoffed. "Trust me, I wasn't planning on it," She leaned down to whisper in her ear. "But hey, can you keep a secret?" Charlotte nodded quickly. "Between you and me, he doesn't make a very charming Prince."

The little blonde covered her mouth to stifle her giggles, no longer upset about her missing parents. Bianca's watched her with a smile. Something about it seemed to sow the broken pieces of her heart together.

"Hey, Char, wait here," Bianca told her. "I'm going to ask if anyone's seen your mommy and daddy, okay?"

"Okay," Charlotte mumbled, watching the older girl rise to her feet and step up on stage.

The band appeared a little confused at first but after she explained, they hit pause on their next song to announce into the microphone, "Hey, everyone. What's up?" The main singer raised his arm in greeting and the crowd murmured back. "Glad to see y'all are all having a good time. Happy anniversary Mike and Anna, thanks for having us. Just a quick PSA before we continue- could I have everyone's attention for a sec," He cleared his throat. "If anyone's missing a kid by the name of Charlotte- or Char, I think- could you come up to the side of the stage? Please, and thank you."

Bianca crossed her arms and scoffed at the lead singer's makeshift attempt at an amber alert. She knew she should've just taken the microphone off of him and done it herself.

It seemed to do the job, however, because by the time the band resumed playing, a woman came barrelling through the crowd. Well, as fast as her stilettos could carry her.

"Mommy!" Charlotte cried, rushing toward her and almost toppling into her outstretched arms. Immediately, the tears sprung back into her eyes, more so out of relief this time.

"Oh, Char- don't you dare run off like that again," The woman's blonde bun was slightly disheveled due to her panic. "We were so worried, why did- where did you go?"

Bianca couldn't help but notice that she didn't seem to care about her white maxi dress which was now touching the floor nor that her daughter was stepping all over it. She continued to cradle the little girl in her arms, cooing sweet nothings to reassure her. Bianca glanced away.

"I saw a butterfly," Charlotte muttered into her mother's shoulder. Although now that she said it out loud, it sounded silly even to her ears.

"You can't disappear like that, okay? I thought we went over this," The woman pointed a stern finger, although her eyebrows weren't furrowed like she was angry. "No more chasing after butterflies. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mommy," Charlotte nodded a little too hard, causing her pigtails to jump with her.

Bianca was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't even realize the mother got to her feet again and was advancing toward her. She blinked to clear her vision, shifting on her feet nervously.

"Oh my god, Bianca, thank you so, so much," Charlotte's mother took her hands and squeezed them gratefully. "I didn't even notice she disappeared till I heard that man on the microphone- where did you find her?"

Bianca's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of her name, "Oh, just off the dock- around there," She gestured to where they were standing earlier. "It was no problem, really."

Bianca glanced over the woman's shoulder where Charlotte was now wrapped in the arms of who she assumed to be her father. He smothered his daughter with kisses, and she giggled loudly, unapologetically. Bianca felt her throat tighten again, trying to return her attention to the mother.

"Well, thank you again. My name's Clara..." She introduced herself, still holding onto Bianca's hands. "Clara Darling. And that's my husband. We know your mother from the Island Club."

"Oh," Bianca nodded, that checked out. She should've known from the maxi dress and pearls dangling from almost every orifice of this woman's body that she was an Island Club Kook.

Briefly, Bianca's eyes flickered back over to where Charlotte's hand wrapped entirely around her father's pinky finger. Her heart squeezed in her chest.

"Anyway, sorry, I'll let you get back to the party," Clara laughed lightly, finally loosening her hold on Bianca's hands. "I'm sure you've got to get back to your friends. I should go find your mother and say hi, she's a hard woman to get a hold of. It was nice to finally meet you though."

"Nice meeting you too," Bianca forced a small smile.

She gave one final wave to Charlotte and her family before disappearing back toward the dock. Now that she had time to process it, everything that happened today on top of what JJ said earlier about Big John being taken to South America made her head spin. That must've been the emergency he and John B left for this morning.

She assumed the boys had a plan, or at least they were trying to come up with one. Either way, they needed to act fast especially if it was Singh they were dealing with.

Bianca's steps were quick as she headed toward the HMS, only to find Kiara standing in front of the fence and JJ at the dock. She hastened her speed, even from her distance away she could tell this conversation wasn't going to be a good one.

Kiara had been complaining about how JJ was avoiding her, and with all that happened with Big John, Bianca knew the money clip was the last thing her boyfriend was going to want to talk about.

Sure enough, by the time she neared, JJ was explaining everything that happened in the past twelve hours, "Look, long story short, we're mounting a full search and rescue mission right now because Big John got nabbed."

Kiara reared her head back, "What do you mean, 'got nabbed.'"

"Like, actually nabbed," JJ deadpanned and began listing on his fingers. "Uh, snatched, kidnapped, abducted, that kind of thing to South America by Singh- oh good, Bianca you're back. So, now, that we're all caught up- what we have to do- is we have to get down there as soon as we can."

"South America?" Kiara scoffed. "Right now?"

"Yeah, I know- i-it's a long shot," JJ's words were rushed. "But we're making a plan right now."

"JJ..." Bianca trailed off, her eyes flickering between the two. The boy met her gaze and she gave him a subtle head shake, to tell him not to push it but he didn't seem to get it.

Kiara laughed humourlessly, "I mean, you come in here after stealing from my dad like, 'Hey we're all good, like, let's- let's go to South America!'"

"So, is that a no?" JJ's eyebrows drew together. The upbeat music in the background seemed almost ironic, "Uh, you're just gonna ghost us?"

"JJ, I've been wanting to talk since we got off the island," Kiara's tone softened, stepping forward. "We need to talk. It's all I can think about- I- just can't do any of that right now."

JJ ran a hand through the hair at the nape of his neck. The setting amber sun cast shadows upon his face but even then, Bianca could make out by the clench of his jaw that he was getting antsy.

"Okay, so, you're saying that you don't wanna be a part of the plan," JJ used his hands to map out what he was saying. "When Big John is up for execution right now. Okay, cool- that- that's a no-"

"I can't!" Kiara protested. She swore to her parents she'd try to be better. This was the opposite of better.

"Cool- alright!" JJ clapped his hands together. "That's all I needed to know," He turned his back and started walking back to the HMS. "Bianca, come on- we gotta find John B."

"JJ, I..." Bianca's next words faltered, causing the boy to stop dead in his tracks and whirl back around.

"What?" His chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. "You're out too? Dude-"

"I- I don't know- JJ, I can't just disappear again. Just- let me talk to my mom first," Bianca pleaded, wringing her trembling hands together. "Just give me a little while to figure this all out-"

"Alright, fine- whatever," JJ threw his arms up in exasperation before turning to Kiara. "It's just that- actually, one last thing," He stormed back up to her. "When you see Mike, could you just let him know that uh, I don't feel bad about the money clip? Okay? Just let him know that- I actually needed it. So, thank him for me, actually. Appreciate that. Thank you," He clicked his tongue and began backing away again.

Bianca's lips parted at his words. That one stung, even for her. She knew he was only lashing out because of Kiara but it was no excuse. For a moment, she was actually disappointed in him.

The feeling sat in her gut, heavy like an anchor. She didn't like it. She didn't like this version of her boyfriend who bragged about stealing from his friend's parents.

Kiara scoffed, shaking her head, "What is wrong with you?" She narrowed her eyes when he stopped abruptly without facing them. "You're really acting like you don't care? I mean, seriously! You're like, acting like we don't care!"

JJ glanced over his shoulder and swallowed thickly, "I'm gonna go help my best friend save his father. Let me know when you 'figure it out,' B. Maybe, I'll see you guys at the break when I get back."

"Yeah, maybe," Kiara held her head high but Bianca heard the waver in her voice.

"If I get back," JJ muttered off-handedly as he strode back to the boat.

Bianca watched his figure fade into the sunset. She knew the comment wasn't directed at her, but it still felt like a knife to the heart.

Her eyes flickered between the party where her mom was mingling somewhere in the crowd to Sarah who just told John B she cheated on him to Kiara who was storming away with unshed tears in her eyes and back to her boyfriend who needed her as well.

It all felt a bit like a game of tug of war with all its constant pulling and pushing, and Bianca was already so strung out as it was.

No matter what happened, no matter who pulled harder or who won, it was always her who ended up losing.

author's note. hi everyone!!!! i missed you guyss, i've been so busy with uni and work but i love reading your comments sm <3 quick question; what's your favourite scene/moment from this series? or a scene that made u super happy or super sad or something you remember really well? im feeling nostalgic hehe, hope everyone's having/had a good day!