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❝ don't you even dare ❞
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𝘚𝘺𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

The Outer Banks, Paradise on Earth. It's the sort of place where you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island.

As we drive through Figure Eight I have a permanent crease in between my brows from frowning. Home of the Kooks, rich douchebags who don't care about anyone but themselves and are convinced they're royalty just because they're wealthy. I've never felt like one of them, no matter who I'm related to or how much money I have, I've always felt like an outsider with the Kooks. Maybe it's because I can't stick my head that far up my own ass.

In no time at all we reach the cut and a content smile grows on my lips, my body relaxing as I start to feel at home. The cut, home to the working class citizens of the Outer Banks who are some of the kindest people I've ever met. I'm convinced I was switched at birth and I'm secretly the child of a lovely down to earth couple from the Southside.

Eyes burn into my face and I look down to see JJ watching me intently.

"What?" I ask in confusion "Do I have something on my face?"

"No. I just like watching the way you smile when we get to the cut" The Maybank boy admits and my heart skips a beat.

"Shut up, JJ" I laugh, turning his face away from me jokingly.

He smirks widely and pokes me in the ribs, causing me to grunt in pain. I slap his chest and he laughs, grabbing my face and squishing my cheeks together. I swat his hand away and poke his cheek harshly in response. He bites my finger and I yelp, holding my hand to my chest as he grins in triumph.

"What the hell are you two up to this time?" John B asks, the others now looking at us rather than conversing as they were before.

"He bit me!" I whine, showing the brunette my finger which, in my defence, was red merely seconds ago.

"She poked me!" JJ butts in.

"Only because you squished my face!" I retort.

"Then don't slap me!" He snaps sassily.

"Then don't poke me!" I snap back, equally as sassy.

"Oh, you're in for it" He mutters, jumping up and tackling me to the carpeted floor.

The van comes to a stop and I manage to escape JJ, slipping out the van. I hightail it into the chateau, John B's house, and JJ chases me inside.

I manage to lock myself in the room that JJ tends to call his own and he wiggles the door handle, trying to get in. He gives up after realising it's locked and I grin triumphantly.

"Haha! Suck on that, Maybank!" I holler cockily but get no reply, although that doesn't stop me from continuing "Whatcha gonna do now, huh?! I win! You lose! Give it up, JJ, I always win!"

I'm suddenly grabbed from behind and a loud ear piercing scream rips through my throat in fright. I spin around and immediately relax when I see JJ standing there with a smirk on his lips. My heart hammers against my chest and I groan, pushing him angrily.

"You are such a jackass!" I yell at him.

The door suddenly bursts open and Kiara is kneeled down with a bobby pin in her hand, Pope and John B behind her. JJ and I look at them in complete confusion and they look back at us sheepishly.

"We heard a scream" The girl elaborates and JJ snorts, making me punch his shoulder.

He whines and grabs his shoulder with a pout while I roll my eyes at his dramatics.

"Boat?" Pope speaks up.

"Boat" We all confirm.

I link my arm with Kiara's and we all head to the HMS Pogue, hopping on board. John B sits at the wheel with Pope and JJ at his sides while Kiara and I sit at the front of the boat on a towel.

I slip my shorts off and Kiara puts in her earphones, handing me one side. We lay side by side, listening to music as we catch a tan.

"Nice haul, dude. Look at that" JJ says as John B pours a load of fish into the boat.

"Ugh, John B" Kiara huffs, the both of us sitting up to get away from the pile of slimy sea swimmers.

"It's been all bait for, like, three weeks" JJ shrugs, picking one of them up.

"Gross" I groan.

JJ turns to me, fish in hand and my heart drops when I see the mischievous look in his eyes.

"Don't you even dare, Maybank" I warn him firmly.

"Just one kiss" He teases, moving the fish closer to me.

"Oh, hell no!" I shriek, jumping to my feet "Stay away from me, you spawn of satan!"

"He just wants a kiss" JJ laughs, chasing me with the fish.

"No!" I screech.

The boy corners me and I panic, throwing myself off the boat. My body hits the surface and I'm immediately engulfed in the cold water that sends chills up my spine.

I resurface and my friends are looking at me in disbelief.

"You did not just do that" Kiara laughs.

"You're so overdramatic" JJ adds and I gasp.

"I am not overdramatic!" I retort "When an octopus is stressed, it eats itself. Now that's overdramatic!"

They all laugh at me and I glare at them, pouting childishly.