ONE

❝ There is no way you don't like me. ❞

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AVA THROWS HER BROTHER'S ARM OFF HER SHOULDER before scrambling up the ladder onto the scaffolding surrounding the half built house. She plants herself on the edge, legs swinging below with her elbows resting on the fence in front. Ignoring JJ and John ab's arguing, she looks around at Tanny Hill.

It was Kiara's idea to come and scope out the houses and make sure that the Kooks are doing their part for the environment. It's fair to say they're most definitely not. All that money in their pockets and they don't have a decent enough mind to help the planet survive.

"Ava, I'll think you'll find that's my seat," JJ calls up to her, his eyes narrowed as the sun shines into his eyes.

She rolls her eyes, "JJ, I think you'll find you don't own this house, let alone this seat," She takes a sip from her beer can, "And you have a hat on your head for a reason, turn it around and wear it properly for once and it might actually do it's job."

While John B clambers onto the peak of roof with Pope grilling him, JJ blows air into his cheeks, climbing up the ladder and sliding beside Ava with a smirk as she stares at him in annoyance.

He winks, taking her beer can from her hands and downing the rest of the contents, "Thank you," He sings happily, enjoying the pissed look displayed on her face.

Taking a deep breath, Ava turns away, staring off into the distant, watching as the sun slowly creeps closer to the ocean's horizon. JJ watches her for a moment before turning his red cap around with a huff.

The pair have known each other since third grade, when John B decided to become best friend's with the blondie. Ava was left having to follow around her brother and his friend. After a few years, JJ decided she wasn't as weird as her brother painted her to be and actually let her join in on their best friend activities, much to John B's distaste.

JJ Maybank and Ava Routledge became quite the pair in twelve years; ruining Kooks and their friend's lives together, creating absolute chaos through the whole of Outer Banks and most importantly smoking a shit ton of weed together.

But, most of the time outsiders struggle with deciding whether the two actually like each other or if they're just pretending to get along because of John B. Even the rest of the Pogues get confused sometimes. Though now, most people have learned just simply not get involved in their affairs.

JJ Maybank's been denying feelings for Ava since they were about seven, and it's her favourite hobby to tease him, whereas she's always faced the same problem. Hundreds of girls have asked her if she's fucking JJ, and the answer is always the same 'That's disgusting. No. He's all yours.', and the chick will hop along happily towards the blonde.

What Ava doesn't know is that JJ will secretly tell boys who take an interest in her that they're together. He tells himself he does it just to piss her off, though everyone knows that's an utter lie.

"You're staring," Ava states.

He nods, not moving his eyes from her face, "At that massive fucking pimple on your nose. Really should get that checked out, it's been there a while."

Ava rolls her eyes, raising her hand and pressing it against his face and he falls back, laughing. She smirks, "Awh. You keeping track of my acne, playboy?"

He sits back up, snorting, "You wish. Unfortunately, I have to see your face everyday. And it's not very gentlemanly if you don't look at girl's faces when their talking."

She laughs, "JJ Maybank being a gentleman? God really is making miracles happen."

He glares at her, pressing a hand to his heart dramatically, "Ouch. I'm hurt that you think so low of me, Ava."

Sliding the balcony door shut, Kiara steps out onto the decking, her face screwed up in disgust, "They're gonna have Japanese towel warmers," She scoffs, "This used to be a turtle habitat but who cares about the turtles, I guess?" Her eyes float over to John B balancing precariously on the roof, his arms spread out wide, "Can you please not kill yourself?"

"Don't spill that beer," JJ warns, pointing up at him.

"I am not giving you another," Ava snaps, "Do not waste it."

John B completely ignores their demands, rolling his eyes as he continues to sway back and forth until eventually the beer slips from his grip, causing the alcohol to splatter all over the brand new decking below, causing everyone to glare over at him.

"Of course you did, right when I said it," JJ grumbles in disbelief, throwing his arms in the air with a huff.

Ava shakes her head, "You dipshit."

His head snaps down to his twin sister, head tilting, "It's not my fault."

Letting out a loud laugh, Ava gawks at him, "I'm sorry, what? Who else was it, hm? You were the one holding it, and then you dropped it. Therefore it's your fucking fault."

His mouth falls open, chuckling in annoyance, "Well, maybe if you didn't distract me, then it wouldn't have fucking fallen."

A loud clap from Pope causes the twins to stop their arguing, turning their attention down to him, "Hey, uh, security's here," He states, peering down the driveway at the side of the house, "Let's wrap it up."

Ava purses her lips, slipping under the scaffolding bar and jumping down onto the decking beside Kie, "They're early today."

Kiara hums, "Very."

While descending the ladder, JJ mutters, "Did she just jump?" He speaks to no one in particular, shaking his head, "She just jumped. What the hell? Ava, do you know ladders exist, right? Like, they're the safe option."

She raises an eyebrow at him, "When have you ever cared about the safe option, JJ?"

His lips press into a line while he attempts to think of a moment. He groans, "You understood my point though."

As a call from the security guard rattles through the building, the group of teenagers break off into a sprint, swiftly skidding round the corners and jumping down the stairs while shouting at one another to hurry up. They weave through columns and scaffolding poles while jumping over building tools and unused bricks.

Running away from the police isn't exactly a new activity for the Pogues. If the cops in Tanny Hill actually cared about the people from the Cut, then this group of teenagers would be the first to be thrown in jail.

JJ speeds around a corner, smashing into the security guard, who the group know as Gary. Both of them let out a grunt at the sudden thump of contact and JJ manages to squeeze quickly out of his grip, "Not much of a hugger, man!" He shouts back, sprinting after Ava.

"Go, Pope! Go, go, go!" The girl yells frantically as he climbs over a fence. She lands beside him in a fluid crouching position while his face is flat in the dirt, a long groaning escaping his lips. Ava bites back a laugh, while offering him her hand, "You good, Pope?"

"Shut up, Ava," He mutters, smacking his hand against hers with a groan, allowing her to pull him up.

JJ flies past the both of them, calling back, "Come on, guys. Fatso's coming!"

On the road outside the house, the Twinkie slows its pace, waiting for the three teenagers to jump in while Kiara and John B scream at them to be quicker.

Ava tumbles in after the two boys, landing on a cushion on the floor with a thud. She throws her head back, laughing while running her hands through her messy hair.

"Check out Gary, gunning for a raise," Pope chuckles, pointing out of the window as the security officer attempts to catch up to the vehicle by running, his hands clutching his belt while he yells incoherently.

As JJ begins to tease him, Kiara rolls her eyes, "You're gonna give him a heart attack."

"They don't pay you enough, bro!" JJ laughs, throwing a can of beer at the older man, who skids to a stop, hunching over.

Ava grabs JJ's t-shirt, dragging him roughly down beside her so Kiara is able to slide the door shut, "Leave the man alone."

He turns to her, smirking while his breathing makes his chest pump up and down, "Oh, come on, Ava. That sort of initiative is just begging to be punished."

She hums, snatching the red hat from his head and placing it over her face while she folds her arms behind her head, closing her eyes. He glares at her in annoyance but decides to leave her be, turning to tease Pope about his running skills instead.

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              THE NEXT DAY, a scrunched up empty beer can smacks into Ava's face and she's snapped awake. She groans lowly, eyes travelling to the door where her twin brother is stood, smirking.

"Get up, lazy bones," He calls.

She shoves her hands into her pillow, mumbling out, "Why do I have to get up? Let me sleep."

"You're in my room," He states, crossing his arms and leaning against the door frame.

Cinching her eyebrows together, Ava slowly sits up, looking around the cluttered room that was previously their father's. After letting a yawn pass her lips and noticing his expression, she says, "Stop looking so smug."

He snorts, "JJ is your room. Macking on some girl from a few nights ago. Don't know her name."

Ava hums, sliding off the bed and standing up, rolling her arms back in a stretch, "I don't think even JJ knows her name."  She shoves past him into the hallway. Fully aware she looks like shit; she trudges to her room, lazily throwing the door open.

The occupant's eyes fly to her instantly, and JJ lets out a groan in annoyance.

"Get out," She mutters, running her fingers through her hair while she stares at the thankfully fully clothed pair on her bed with an emotionless expression.

"Who are you?" The girl squeals.

A smirk works it's way onto Ava's face and JJ doesn't miss it, causing the same expression to appear on his. He has no idea what's coming, but whatever it is he knows it's going to be good.

"His girlfriend," Ava states, folding her arms over her chest and leaning against the back wall facing the bed.

JJ presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek as he tries to suppress a smirk, "She's not."

Ava meets his gaze with her head tilting, "You wish I was though."

His chin drops to his chest with a low grumble as he smiles, "Shut up, Ava."

Throwing her arm up to point to the door, Ava snarls roughly, "Can you both get out now?"

"Why should we?" The touron snaps, her eyes flicking up and down Ava's body, noticing her very short pyjama shorts and tight tank top.

Ava narrows her eyes, and her face pulls up into a grimace, "Because this is my fucking room, and I'd prefer it if you didn't have sex on my bed. I plan on sleeping there for a few more years."

Swallowing, the girl stands up slowly, giving JJ one last small wave before scurrying out of the Chateau. John B calls goodbye to her, but she's already disappeared and he laughs loudly from the kitchen.

Turning to her clothing drawers, Ava mutters, "Well, wasn't she a sweetheart?"

JJ groans and falls onto his back on the bed, running both his hands over his face and through his hair, ruffling it.

Bundling her chosen clothes into her arms, Ava turns, noticing his layout and she laughs, "Have fun?"

"No," He deadpans.

"I wish I could say I'm sorry to hear that," She sighs, "But I'm not."

Rolling his jaw, JJ picks up the closest cushion and throws it across the bedroom. Ava manages to catch it, causing her to laugh as she passes it back. He lets out a grunt when it smacks him in the stomach and he rolls over, standing up slowly.

"You wanna be girlfriend?" He asks, striding his way over to the girl.

Her face pulls up into a grip and she gawks at him in utter disbelief, "Repeat."

"You wanna be my girlfriend?" He says once more, smirking, "The way you say 'his girlfriend' just now seemed genuine," He rests one palm at the side of her head, the other squeezing her waist, "Do you like me?"

Ava let's out a loud snort, shoving him away gently, "Jesus fucking Christ. Someone's horny. This isn't a movie, playboy. You can't just get a girl by asking straight forward questions and cornering her."

He purses his lips while he watches her rummage around her messy room, "There is no way you don't like me."

Knowing his smiling his ass off, Ava rolls her eyes, "There is a way, because I don't like you."

"Not even a tiny bit?"

She ushers him out of her room, and begins to close the door in his face, "Not even a tiny bit." She confirms, before blocking their view of each other with a single slam.

. . .

please why is it already so much better and i've hardly changed anything yet...