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ellolovely-fics · 4 months ago

Text

| closeout // iii. the wreck

pairing | jj maybank x childhood best friend! oc

warnings | cursing, negative self-talk, accidental bodily injury (aka JJ being his usual clumsy self)

word count | 5.1k

author's note | Again... this isn't proofread. My bestie is still in Italy rn so sorry for any mistakes or typos! I also... wrote a shit ton :') sorry for the essay lol. LMK what y'all think so I can gauge if what I'm writing is good or not LOL.

P.S. I don't know how to format texts so I'm so sorry if they read horribly :') i did my best.

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Hell. Literal hell. Nadine landed feet first, burning alive with secondhand embarrassment.

Everything was hot—her cheeks, her neck, the air. And her uncle just stood there, grinning like the goddamn devil.

She gawked at Mike, horrified, mentally begging the lord to strike her down where she stood.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Why would he do this to me? Where is the door? WHERE IS THE DOOR?

But her body betrayed her. She froze in her spot, her voice coming out in a weak, apologetic little squeak.

"Guilty."

Mike's jaw dropped.

"Holy shit! I can't believe it's you!"

He came around the podium with a megawatt smile, his eyes bright, looking at her like she was a display at Ripley's Believe it or Not. Nadine's face continued to burn. "You look so different! Where's that little girl who got stuck in our fishing tackle trying to find baby mermaids?"

I did what?!

Nadine wanted to die. Right then and there. She felt like that kid in Sky High who melted into the floor in an orange puddle.

Oh my god. I'm going to murder Uncle Mar. Then, I'm swimming my ass to the mainland and calling it a day.

Mike must have clocked the look of abject horror on her face because his grin faltered. The over-the-top enthusiasm in his eyes dimmed. For a split second his brows furrowed, then his expression softened with understanding.

"Ah," he said, his voice dropping just a notch. "You... probably don't remember me. I'm Mike. Mike Carrera. I used to work on your uncle's boats when you were little."

"I—hi, Mike," she managed, her throat tight. The white-hot embarrassment faded just enough to make room for guilt. She hadn't meant to make him feel bad. "It's nice to see you again."

Mike's smile softened, still stunned. "Wow. What a crazy surprise! Where are your parents? Your sister? Are they on the island too?"

Uncle Mar swooped in before she could answer.

"Just our girl here," he said with a chuckle. "Rest of the crew's scattered all over—busy with work and such. You know how it is."

He shot Mike an easy grin—too easy—and she caught a guarded flicker in his eyes before he pivoted the conversation.

What the...?

"But hey, is Kie around? I want her to come out and meet little Nadi here. Then we're gonna order takeout from y'all, if that's cool."

"Hell yeah, man!" Mike said, already half-turning to head back. He didn't seem to catch whatever the heck Nadine saw and hurried around the bar towards the kitchen. He narrowly dodged a server coming in the opposite way. "I'll go get her now—and don't worry about the food. I'll throw in your usual and make something special for Nadine too. On the house." He winked at her. "Call it a homecoming gift. From my family to yours."

Nadine's heart warmed at Mike's words, and she watched him disappear through a door underneath a wooden ship's wheel.

Left alone with her uncle, Nadine brushed her sneakers against the hard, concrete floor, and nearly stubbed her toe. She tried to distract herself by counting the soda bottles in the fridge by the bar and admiring the giant ass fish hanging from the ceiling in the dining room. But it was no use.

The flicker in Uncle Mar's eyes played in her mind on repeat.

But what was the use in bringing it up? It happened so fast, he could very easily say she imagined the whole thing. Gaslight and gatekeep, much like her parents did. She decided to bookmark it and put it in her mind's drawer for evidence.

He was safe from questioning... for now.

Instead, Nadine asked, "Uncle Mar, who's Kie?"

Her uncle offered her a reassuring smile. "Kie, short for Kiara. She's Mike's daughter. Same age as you. She just finished her first year at UNC down in Wilmington."

Her eyes widened. "No way! What's she studying?"

"Marine biology."

Nadine gasped. Marine biology? Ever since the fifth grade Nadine dreamed of becoming a marine biologist. All it took was one dolphin show at the Baltimore Aquarium, and she was hooked. But said dream fizzled out and died the second she took a high school chemistry class, but the thought of someone else pursuing the field made her heart sing.

"Okay, she's cool. Like - really, really cool," Nadine smiled. "How long have you known her dad for?"

Uncle Mar snorted, his response nearly getting lost in the cacophony of the restaurant. "Ah shit, probably twenty, twenty-five years? Known him since he was a kid. He grew up in the Cut and did work for us during the summer. Got promoted to full-time after he left school."

Nadine furrowed her brows. "The Cut?"

Uncle Mar quirked his lips. "South side of the island, where me and your pops grew up. It's where you and Bea are from too."

Holy shit.

Nadine's mouth flew open.

"Really?" she choked out.

He nodded. "Really."

The Cut. That's where we're from.

It was like finding a missing puzzle piece off the floor and fitting it perfectly into the picture. All those drawings Bea made, all those photos she picked apart and studied for weeks—all of them were from their life on the Cut.

Her mind jumped to one of Bea's drawings—the brown house with dark blue shingles.

She opened her mouth to ask Uncle Mar more questions—was that house in the Cut? Did Uncle Mar still live there? —but from the corner of her eye, she caught Mike emerging from the kitchen with an excited grin.

Behind him was a tall girl with wild curls pulled back in a low ponytail, two perfectly coiled strands framing her face. She was effortlessly pretty—with a sun-kissed glow, an easy-going smile, and toned arms that peeked out from her cropped tank.

"Hey, Mar!" she beamed, not hesitating to throw her arms around him in a warm hug.

Then her eyes landed on Nadine.

Kie's smile didn't vanish, but it shifted. Her eyes narrowed, but not in a way that made Nadine shrink. Instead, it made her feel like a specimen under a microscope.

She arched a perfectly waxed brow at her. "Uhm... hi?"

Nadine froze, brain short-circuiting. She managed a warm smile and an awkward, breathless, "Hi."

Uncle Mar, ever her savior, jumped in and introduced her on her behalf. "This here's my niece, Nadine. Nadine, this is Kiara, Mike's daughter."

Nadine kept her smile steady, despite the fraying nerves simmering underneath. "Nice to meet you, Kiara."

Oh my gosh - not me being socially competent. Mom would be so proud.

"Likewise." Kiara's brows furrowed as she tilted her head, eyes flicking between her and Uncle Mar in confusion. "I'm actually kind of thrown," she admitted. "I had no idea you had a niece."

"Well, believe it, kid."

Nadine quirked an eyebrow at her uncle's teasing. She looked back at Kie to further clarify. "My dad is his younger brother."

"Wait, seriously?" Kiara's eyes widened in shock. "You have a younger brother?"

"Uh-huh." Uncle Mar confirmed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Thought you knew, kid?"

"No!" She sputtered. She looked between Nadine and Mar again in complete disbelief. "I thought you were one of those lonely-hermits-on-the-marsh types. I thought it was just you and the fish!"

Nadine couldn't help but giggle. Her Uncle, on the other hand, gave Kiara a deadpanned look. "Well, surprise, surprise. I got a sister-in-law and another niece too—that about rounds it out. Promise I don't have any other family members out there... I think."

"Insane," Kiara murmured to herself. She caught Nadine's eye, and they smiled warmly at each other.

Okay, okay. New friend on Kildare? You're doing amazing, sweetie.

"Nadine and her folks actually lived here a long time ago," Mike interjected, snapping Nadine out of her thoughts. "They moved to the mainland when you were about seven. Some sort of family emergency or something. Right, Mar?"

"Right."

Family emergency? Where did he get that from? Mom and dad were always adamant that the move was strictly due to economic opportunity. Did the locals know more about her family's departure than she did?

Nadine opened her mouth to ask Mike to elaborate more, but her Uncle beat her to the punch. Again.

"You got my favorite fish tacos in there, Kie?" Uncle Mar cried out.

Kiara blinked, but then she looked down at the paper bag she was holding in her hands and held it up for him to take. "Oh yeah! I totally forgot. We got packed you fish tacos and some crab dip. Hope you like it."

Oh my god. Crab dip. Nadine's stomach rumbled.

"I love crab dip," a voice moaned.

All eyes were on her. Mike and Kiara raised their eyebrows, then chuckled. Uncle Mar snorted.

Nadine blanched, horror washing over her: she was the one who moaned.

She moaned... in front of... strangers.

"Sorry," she choked out.

'I love crab dip,' she thought to herself bitterly. Nadine - you're so freaking stupid. Let's cease the talking. Indefinitely.

Thankfully, everyone else took her little flub in stride. "Best on the island," Mike claimed, his pearly whites gleaming perfectly. "And speaking of good eats, I wanted to invite you both to the cookout we're hosting at our house tomorrow! My wife, Anna, isn't in today, but she'd love to see you after all these years. We're throwing a little shindig at our place for members of the Island Club's Midsummers Committee. If y'all want, you can stop by and have dinner with us. If you want to, that is!"

Nadine instantly caught Kiara rolling her eyes, watching her smile morph turning into a disgusted sneer.

"Why the hell would she want to hang out with a bunch of bourgeoisie pigs on her vacation?" Kie muttered.

Nadine snorted before she could stop herself.

Based on Kiara's beaded necklaces, countless friendship bracelets, and her cropped tank with distressed shorts, she was probably the last person on this island to vibe with snooty Island Club patrons. But by the look of Mike's dark scowl, it was most likely a sore subject between the two.

Nadine grimaced and did her best to mask her previous laughter. She waited for Uncle Mar to swoop in and answer on her behalf again.

But he didn't.

He turned to look at her with a quirked brow, his eyes motioning over to Mike like he expected her to answer.

You're joking.

Nadine sputtered, glancing nervously between, Mike, Uncle Mar, and Kie. "Oh! Uhm..." Think Nadine, Think. "That, uh, sounds really nice! But I wouldn't want to intrude, especially if it's only for Island Club members only."

Mike shook his head. "Don't worry! It's not an official event, just a dinner after their planning session at the Club. Please stop by if you can. We'd love to have you!"

Nadine felt the walls closing in on her. She got lost in the glare of Mike's pearly white teeth and his expectant, hopeful eyes.

Oh sweet baby Jesus.

"Uhm, okay," Nadine cautiously agreed.

"Great!" Mike grinned.

Nadine's eyes darted to her Uncle Mar, who had a cautious look on his face. Oh shit. She probably gave Mike the wrong answer. But if her uncle was wary, he didn't say anything of it. Instead, all he asked was, "Who's gonna be there, Mike?"

Kie's dad took a second to think. "Let's see... we've got the Browns, the Porters, the Smiths, and the Dunleavys. Oh! And Bolton Marsh, the club manager. Only folks who can't make it are the O'Haras and the Camerons. The O'Haras are down in St Croix, and Ward and Rose are in Charleston for a gala this weekend. Why'd you want to know?"

Her uncle shot Mike an easy smirk. "Just wanted to know if Sam was gonna be there. He still owes me a fifty for our last poker game. Looks like I'm gonna be ambushing him at your place tomorrow night."

He's lying.

Uncle Mar's voice was too cheery, too amenable—especially for a man who hated spending time with more than five people at once. But why?

She would have to ask him about it later... if she remembered.

"Sounds good, man," Mike responded. "Stop by any time after six. I'll go ahead and tell Anna the news. She's gonna be excited to see you, Nadine! It's gonna be great."

Kie looked at her dad and rolled her eyes. She stepped closer to Nadine and whispered, "Don't listen to him. Bring your airpods and avoid eye contact, or risk certain death by boredom."

Nadine nodded her head conspiratorially. She whispered back. "Heard. But if it gets too boring, I can bring my copy of Das Kapital so we can preach it to the masses."

Kie whipped her head to look at her with stunned eyes. Her mouth dropped open in a breathless laugh. Then, she grinned like a madman.

"I knew it! No niece of Mar's would be a snob. Thank God you're coming tomorrow."

Nadine watched Kiara's grin fade into something more mischievous, and for the first time since arriving on Kildare, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she was starting to get the hang of all this.

But as she and her uncle said their goodbyes to Mike and Kie and left the restaurant, a knot of unease twisted in her stomach. Nadine had made it through that entire interaction without completely embarrassing herself. But there was still something... off.

Uncle Mar's forced cheerfulness. Those guarded flickers in his eyes. His masked looks of unease. There was something else going on.

Nadine glanced back at the restaurant as they got closer to the truck, her thoughts swirling.

Less than an hour on the island, she managed to avoid making a complete fool out of herself and uncover signs of her uncle's conspiracy. What else was in store for her today?

Uncle Mar's voice cut through her thoughts. "You good, Nadi?"

She forced a smiled. "Yeah. I'm good. Just—uh—can't believe that I willingly said yes to a party."

Uncle Mar smirked at her, his top lip nearly disappearing. "Yeah. And to swanky, uppity party no less. Better not be moaning to them too! If ya do, lord help us all."

Nadine grimaced. Lord help us was right.

IMessage

Today 4:02 PM

You guys aren't gonna believe who I just saw

John B(eef)

If you say my dad I'm coming over

WTF no!!! MAR'S NIECE

John B(eef)

Holy shit

No effing way

She and Mar stopped by the wreck for lunch She's really pretty. LIKE supermodel pretty And she's super sweet too But can you believe that Mar has a niece???

John B(eef)

Oh god...

Yeah no definitely a shocker

I just found out about her like half an hour ago

JJ told me he's gonna have dinner with her an Mar later tonight

RIP

If she's as pretty as you say he's gonna be on her like a horny dog

Wtf EW

John B(eef)

Just saying it like it is 🤷

Ugh... I hate that ur right Poor Nadine JJ pls leave this innocent girl alone I like her Also why the hell didn't you mention her before??? Had me out here lookin DUMB AS HELL

John B(eef)

it's okay kie im sure it wasn't too bad

Also Pope hurry the fuck up

Ive been waiting for your dumb ass for ages

Yeah Pope how rude 😒

Pope 🤓

Sorry bro

Just finished cleaning

Coming

John B(eef)

slow poke 🖕

If Nadine needed a sign that she was leaving the north side of the island, she couldn't have asked for a better one than the 'No Fishing' sign defaced with 'Pogue Zone' in thick black spray paint.

After driving over the bridge, she traded in the sight of perfectly manicured lawns and sprawling emerald-green golf courses for dilapidated fish shacks, weathered mobile homes, and roads with potholes big enough to total a sedan.

The landscape reminded her of Virginia's tidewater region—quiet, borderline eerie, with endless marshes and looming pine forests. Some houses stood abandoned or condemned. Others looked one big hurricane away from crumbling down. For a while, there wasn't another soul in sight.

It was a ghost town.

Then, life reappeared.

A break in the trees revealed a group of fishermen along the water's edge, clutching onto their poles and nets. One of them looked up, spotted the truck, and cheered. Uncle Mar rolled his window down.

"Marlon! Get yer ass out here!" one of them hollered. "We're havin' ourselves a little friendly competition! Loser buys a round down at Guffy's!"

"Can't today, Rick!" Uncle Mar yelled back. "I'm booked the rest of the week! 'Sides, ain't no damn competition! We all know ya can't fish for shit!"

Laughter rippled through the group. Rick flipped her uncle off with a grin. Uncle Mar returned the favor and kept on driving.

Nadine blinked. Signs of life were suddenly everywhere. Barefoot kids played soccer on the grass. An older man waved from his garden, his fist full of weeds. But Nadine's favorite was the elderly couple on their porch, holding hands. When Uncle Mar honked his horn, they smiled and waved, their hands still joined.

Uncle Mar's voice was thick with pride. "This here's the south side of the island. The Cut. This is home."

Her throat tightened.

Home.

After twelve long years, she was finally home.

But after all this time, did she really have the right to call it that?

The thought lodged itself in her throat. She didn't know the answer.

The concrete road turned to gravel. Then, the truck approached a fork, and Uncle Mar veered left.

Then she saw it.

A towering oak tree stood at the end of the lane. It stretched so wide that it swallowed the sky whole, and the leaves twinkled in shades of green and yellow, capturing the sunlight like stained-glass.

Her heart seized.

She and Jethy sat high up on the branches, their dirt-covered hands intertwined. They swung their feet back and forth in the air in tandem.

"Please don't leave, Nadi. Stay with me. You're my best friend. What am I going to do without you?"

A chill ran down her spine.

Before Nadine could process any of it, the truck veered left again—this time, down a hidden gravel path between two flowering bushes.

Then she saw it.

Brown wooden planks. A screened-in front porch. Dark blue shingles on the roof.

The house.

Uncle Mar's house.

Exactly as Bea had drawn it.

"No fucking way," Nadine muttered.

The truck rolled to a stop in front of a gleaming white carport. Dust from the gravel swirled in the air. But when Uncle Mar cut the engine and hopped out of the truck, Nadine couldn't move.

Fuck. It's been so long...

The fact seared through her heart like a sudden stab to the chest.

Her eyes stung. She wiped the tears from her eyes before they fell.

Get it together, girl. You've got this.

After gathering her bearings, Nadine climbed out of the truck, shielding her face from Uncle Mar. Then, she scanned the familiar yard.

To her amazement, the demented ceramic frog Bea made in fifth grade was still nestled in the crooked flower bed. The glass firefly wind chime hung beneath the porch light, glinting in the sun. And there were still lopsided step stones that led up to the porch.

Uncle Mar didn't change a thing.

Then, there was a growl—a threatening, horrifying growl.

From behind the screen door, a large brown dog bared its teeth menacingly from the shadows. Its dark eyes narrowed into slits.

Oh shit.

Nadine nearly pissed herself.

Uncle Mar came around the truck with her things and frowned. He pursed his lips to the side and let out a sharp whistle.

"Pan, heel! It's me! Calm yer ass down, boy!"

In an instant, the dog sat on its hind legs and went quiet, sheathing its sharp teeth and cocking its head curiously. At the sight of Uncle Mar, he let out a pleased whine, panting excitedly from behind the door.

Uncle Mar shook his head. "Sometimes I swear this damn dog's bipolar."

When he opened the screen door, Pan ran around his legs, his tail wagging furiously. He looked up at her uncle with starry eyes.

Uncle Mar paused, ushering her inside and putting her things aside. He sank to the floor and pet the dog behind his alert ears.

"This here's Pan," Uncle Mar said, scratching behind his ears. "He's three, and he's a Chessie. He won't do ya no harm, but he don't like surprises. Whenever ya come into the house, ya gotta announce yourself, or else he'll bark up somethin' fierce 'till he can figure out who you are." To prove his point, Pan yipped excitedly with a few barks. Uncle Mar rolled his eyes. "Once he gets used to ya he'll follow you 'round the house, but most of the time he'll be outside hunting birds and fish in the marsh. He won't bother ya 'less ya want him to. All bark and no bite, really."

Pan eyed her with curious golden eyes. Nadine knelt, holding out her hand. He sniffed it once, then allowed her to stroke his wavy coat.

"Hi, Pan," she whispered with a grin. "Thanks for not killing me."

The dog bared his teeth again—this time, like a smile.

What a dapper little lad.

Uncle Mar straightened.

"Ah shit—you take your allergy pill this morning?"

She blinked. "Yeah. Why?"

He didn't reply. He just nodded toward the door. Nadine hesitated for a second before stepping inside.

Uncle Mar certainly was a creature of habit—because nothing about the house had changed over the past twelve years. Salty, humid air still permeated everything. Colorful paintings of the island hung off the pine-panel walls, a familiar red rug covered the wooden floor, and the same entertainment center she stuck her nose into as a kid was still front and center along the wall.

Then, there was movement.

To the left, a small, cream-colored form shifted under the golden light on the windowsill.

Nadine froze.

A kitty cat—the most perfect, angelic kitty cat she'd ever laid eyes on— was taking a nap.

"Oh my gosh," Nadine cooed.

Thank God I remembered to take my pill.

Uncle Mar followed her inside, shutting the door after Pan.

"That's Stelmaria," he told her. He quietly shut the door behind him as Nadine stepped closer to the little fur ball. "Twelve years old. Sweet as can be. Found her alone by the docks when she was a kitten. Think some crazy kook dumped her and took off." If her uncle wasn't inside, he definitely would have spit on the floor in disgust. "If you get closer, you'll see dark gray spots in her fur. 'Minds me of a leopard, thus the name."

She peered down and cooed again, jolting the little kitty awake. She blinked blearily, her head flitting back and forth, eyes a startling, cloudy blue—beautiful, but unseeing

She's blind.

Uncle Mar read her mind. "Lost her sight about a year ago," he explained. "Vet said it was a degenerative disease—ain't nothin' we could've done. But she hears just fine, and she loves cuddling. If you put your face close to hers and say her name, she'll nuzzle ya."

Nadine gently caressed Stelmaria's silky soft fur and brought her face close, saying her name like a prayer.

Instantly, Stelmaria's wet nose grazed her skin, quickly followed by her little whiskers. Before she knew it, the little angel nuzzled her neck along the edge of her jawline, purring gently.

Nadine's heart burst.

"You are the most precious little thing," she whimpered.

Pan whined jealously and padded over, nudging her hand until she pet him too. Then he plopped his head onto her lap with a content sigh.

She laughed with misty eyes.

"Uncle Mar... I'm never leaving your house."

Her Uncle let out a raspy chuckle. "I'll go ahead and put your stuff in your room. Door's right over there. You hang out with these two all you want. Just keep 'em outta the kitchen—I'm startin' dinner soon."

Nadine smiled blissfully. "Say less, Uncle Mar."

He paused at the door. "Ah shit, almost forgot. We've got a guest comin' 'round for dinner tonight. Don't ask who—it's a surprise. They might show, might not. Depends on their schedule."

Nadine waved him off. "Tentative dinner guest, got it."

He left her alone in the living room, and all thoughts about their potential guest flew right out of her mind. The rest of the world fell away. It was just her, Pan, and Stelmaria, and unlimited cuddles and kisses.

With John B and Pope still out of the house by the time he woke up, JJ walked a mile through the Cut in the dark. He had busted sneakers on his feet, an empty red fuel canister in his hand, a heart about to bust right out of his chest. It was disgustingly hot, and the fucking bugs were so bloodthirsty that his arm nearly fell off from all the swatting. But he didn't stop. He just focused on putting one foot in front of the other, choking down the urge to book it for the hills.

But when he made it to his destination, he froze.

JJ didn't know how long he'd been standing there. Thirty seconds? A minute? An eternity?

Ah, fuck it. He didn't fucking know.

He stared at Mar's house, taking a nervous hit from his blunt. The lights were still on, and the faint voice of Otis Redding played from the speaker Mar had out back. At least—he thought it was Otis Redding. He could barely hear it over the screaming cicadas.

We're at the house. I'm making dinner now. Stop by whenever you can.

JJ clenched his jaw so tight his teeth nearly shattered. He was sweating so goddamn much his shirt clung to his skin like glue.

Last time he was this nervous, he was standing in front of a judge with his hands cuffed behind his back. But this? It was just Mar. It was just dinner. It was just... Nadine.

His face twisted into a grimace.

Fuck. He'd rather be in the damn court room.

Twelve years. Twelve goddamn years, and he was finally going to see her again.

JJ took another drag—but it did jack shit. His heart still raced. His lungs still felt tight. He tossed the joint to the ground and crushed it under his shoe.

"Stop being a fuckin' pussy, man," he muttered to himself. "Can't run away from this shit now. Do it for Mar. Man up and tough it out."

He took one step. Then another.

Suddenly, he was halfway up the driveway.

His stomach flipped.

She was strapped in the backseat of her dad's car, tears streaming down her face. He was racing down the driveway, pounding on the window, screaming for them to stop.

"Stop! Stop! Please don't go! You can't leave!"

Her hand pressed against the window. He put his on top.

"Mommy, please don't make me go!" Nadine cried as the car gained speed. JJ started to lag behind. "No!"

But he couldn't keep up. The car kept going, leaving him behind in the dust.

Then, she was gone.

JJ spun on his heel like he'd been bitch slapped. Adrenaline flooded through his veins.

Fuck this shit.

He couldn't fucking do this. Nope, nope. No.

He could just walk back down the drive, hit the Chateau, text Mar some bullshit excuse, and drown himself in a six pack of beer. Sounded a hell of a lot better than... this.

But then Mar's face flashed in his mind—disappointed, frowning. He knew Mar wouldn't say anything but damn it all. He was counting on him.

JJ couldn't let him down. Not again.

And besides, what was it that people said? About ripping shit off like a band-aid?

Fuck.

JJ shut his eyes. He took a breath. Then, he turned around.

One step in front of the other, he walked up the gravel driveway toward the porch, getting close enough to see the black moths flying around the porch light.

Damn it, you can do this. Go in there, look her right in the eye, and pretend like you don't even fucking know her. Deny, deny, deny.

He finally made it. He tiptoed up the stairs, avoiding the places where he knew they creaked. He was reaching for the screen door with his heart beating out of his ears when he heard it.

A laugh. Light and airy. Unrestrained.

He dry-heaved. His brain short-circuited.

Holy shit. She's here. She's here. She's freaking here.

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. He jolted back.

C-r-e-e-e-k!

Ice ran through JJ's body.

Click. Click. Click.

Paws on hardwood, mixed with the tinkling of a collar.

JJ's breath caught.

In an instant, Pan walked through the open front door, stepping onto the pitch-black porch with a snarl. A growl rumbled deep in his throat as he approached him.

Oh shit. Oh shit, oh shit, oh SHIT!

JJ dropped everything. He knelt by the screen door, shushing Pan as quietly as he could. "Pan, Pan! It's me, man! It's JJ!"

It didn't work. A ferocious bark ripped through the air.

He flinched like he was in the trenches.

Fuck. It's too dark. He can't even see me.

"Damn it, Pan! Shhh!" JJ begged him. His eyes darted to the open door in a panic. For the love of God don't leave the backyard. "Do me a solid, okay? I swear to God, it's me. So please, shut up!"

Pan didn't listen. He barked again and again, each one more piercing than the last.

"What 'cha got there, boy?" Mar's voice sounded from the back.

Mother fucker.

JJ didn't wait. He bolted. Grass whipped his ankles as he tore across the front yard, Pan's frenzied barks calling after him. He scanned his surroundings—a bush, a hole, anything.

The oak tree! Thank fuck. He locked in, sprinting so hard he could taste blood in his mouth.

The closer he got to the giant oak, the more relieved he became. I'm gonna make it. I'm gonna make it!

Then, his foot got caught on a root.

JJ went flying.

He landed on the roots with a sickening thud, and the wind got knocked right out of him. He heaved for air, but he didn't stop moving. He clawed into the dirt and scrambled to get to the other side, ignoring the sharp scratches that scraped across his bare legs.

His back hit the other side of the trunk by the time Pan went quiet.

JJ held his breath.

One second. Two. JJ's heart raced. He shut his eyes and carefully peered around the tree to see what was going on.

Under the dim yellow light, Mar stood on the porch stairs, scanning the yard. Something in his hands caught his eye.

An empty, red fuel canister.

JJ jerked himself back. Even from here, he could hear the wooden stairs groan under Mar's weight.

Fuck. He was the biggest fucking idiot in the world. Mar knew he was here. Damn it! There was no running now.

JJ waited for him to call out his name, for the guillotine to fall on his head.

But there was nothing.

"It's all right, Pan," Mar said. "Ain't nothin' to be scared of. You just get on inside now."

The screen door shut, then the front door. JJ refused to look back. He wiped the sweat from his face with a dirt-covered hand before hightailing it out of there.

He didn't see Mar's text until he got back to John B's. He quickly read it over before tossing his phone aside. He threw himself onto the pull-out couch with a frustrated groan.

Thanks for trying, son. You did your best. Your food's in the fridge, and your gas is outside by your truck. Come get it tomorrow morning when Nadine and I are out of the house.

You can meet her when you're ready. I got you, kid.

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#jj maybank #jj maybank x oc #outer banks #angst #angst comfort #friends to lovers #jj maybank angst #jj maybank season 1 #obx #outer banks x oc

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ellolovely-fics · 4 months ago

Text

| closeout // ii. kildare

pairing | jj maybank x childhood best friend! oc

warnings | cursing, negative self-talk

word count | 3.7k (I LOWKEY POPPED OFF I'M SO PROUD)

author's note | This... isn't proofread. My bestie is currently living her best life in Italy rn so sorry for any mistakes or typos! I just couldn't wait to get this out lmao.

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Kildare Island, NC

Sunday

July 2nd, 2019

The ferry's horn bellowed in her ears. Nadine jolted awake.

For a horrifying second, she forgot where she was. Then a salty breeze misted against her cheeks, and the warm rays of the afternoon sun beat down on her shoulders. She blinked away the sleep from her eyes and squinted toward the horizon, trying to see past the radiant light of the summer sun reflecting off the water.

Her mouth fell open.

There's no freaking way.

The gray smudge on the horizon sharpened into a familiar stretch of land, lined with green trees and wooden docks. She blinked twice — half-expecting the island to vanish like a mirage — but it didn't.

She was actually here.

Kildare Island.

Oh my god.

Weeks of craning over old albums, questioning what it'd be like to be back here, all led up to this moment. Surely something would click — some flood of memories that would knock her flat on her back, like the transformation scene in Penelope. But to Nadine's dismay, there was no vivid flashback, no overwhelming sense of clarity—just a faint, familiar feeling, one that was comforting, but left her feeling… wanting.

She tugged nervously at the hem of her hoodie and bit her bottom lip. The longer she stared at her destination, the stronger her disappointment became.

An anxious knot twisted in her belly.

Oh God. She was nervous. Goddamn it — she was shaking-in-her-boots nervous!

She zeroed in on the idle chatter of the other passengers on the ferry, her heart stuttering when she realized how alone she was. Her parents were probably halfway to the airport by now, and Bea was timezones away in Rome for her study abroad program. They were the only ones who could possibly understand what she was feeling, but they weren’t here.

She was all alone in this.

Anxious thoughts swirled in Nadine’s mind.

Was coming here a mistake? Can I do this? Am I really going to accomplish what I set out to do?

A nervous shiver ran down her spine, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

Ugh. She could drown herself with all the negative self-talk that flooded her mind. But she refused to let her brain get the best of her — not this time.

In the words of Shaggy Rogers, she would cease to be loser-ific, lametastic, or suck-tacular. On this trip, she was going to unlock her past with well-timed questions, honest conversation, and good ol' fashioned snooping. She was going to be an awesome detective.

She did not watch three seasons of Murder, She Wrote to embody Jessica Fletcher for nothing!

It didn't matter if the thought of meeting strangers scared the shit out of her, or if her parents would rain hellfire on her for digging up the past they spent half of her life trying to bury. She was a History Major, for God's sake—if she couldn't reconstruct her own past, what was the point?

Nadine took a deep breath and let all the tension in her body out with a giant exhale.

Come what may, she thought to herself. I'm ready.

Once the ferry docked at the terminal, Nadine found herself in a sea of anxious travelers flooding the starboard side of the ship. Everyone around her babbled with excitement, nearly drowning out the bustling sounds of the port. But when the crew unlocked the gate, the floodgates burst open.

She followed the rushing stream of people down the ramp and onto the dock, her palms slick with sweat and the nervous hum in her chest tightening. She kept moving forward, her neck craning over the crowd, trying to find her uncle's familiar, thick build.

And then—there he was.

By the entrance of the port, tall and burly, arms crossed over his chest. His bald head glinted in the sunlight.

"Uncle Mar!" Nadine's grin stretched wide as she waved her hand high in the air. "I'm over here!"

Before she knew it, her favorite uncle in the whole wide world was striding toward her. For a split second, Nadine feared he'd see her face and clock all the anxious thoughts plaguing her mind, but to her relief, his hooded blue eyes gleamed with nothing but excitement.

Uncle Mar was her dad's older brother — not that one could guess at first glance. Where her dad was refined and poised, Uncle Mar was pure bulk and grit. With sun-burnt skin and calloused hands — he was a fisherman born and bred. The only things he shared with her dad were his blue eyes, his incredible work ethic, and his unparalleled sense of integrity.

Besides that, it was a crapshoot.

Uncle Mar looked a lot different from when she'd last seen him at Christmas. Gone were the itchy wool sweaters, stiff jeans, and the Santa hat with his name embroidered on the hem. Now, he wore a white tank that clung to his broad chest, an unbuttoned work shirt that billowed slightly in the breeze, and well-worn cargo shorts that had likely seen their fair share of saltwater and grease. Seeing him now, it was like seeing her uncle in his natural habitat. Here, he just... fit.

"There ya are, little Nadi!" he boomed, his deep, gravelly voice cutting through the hum of the waves and the bustle of the port. "Come 'ere!"

God—she missed him! Nadine couldn't help herself. She ran to him and jumped into his arms, laughing as he picked her up and spun her around.

"I can't believe it! I'm here! I'm actually here!"

A strange yet familiar scent of motor oil, fish, and sweat instantly hit her.

Nadine pulled back from her uncle with wide eyes.

"Oh my God! Your smell!"

Uncle Mar gave her a look like she had three heads, then lifted his arm to sniff his armpit. He wrinkled his nose and cursed. "Shit, Nadi. I didn't have time to get cleaned up! I came right off the boat to come get ya."

Nadine shook her head wildly. "No, no, no, it's not bad!" She stepped closer, taking another deep breath through her nose, her eyes fluttering shut.

Suddenly, she was a little girl again—swinging her feet off the edge of a boat while Uncle Mar worked on the engine with oil-stained hands. The sky was blue, the boat was wet, and the irresistible urge to jump off the edge was at the forefront of her mind.

'Bet you won't do it,' Jethy whispered in her ear. His smirk widened when she glared at him.

Her eyes snapped open, and a gleeful smile spread across her face. Warmth bloomed in her chest.

"Oh my God, you smell exactly the same! I actually remembered something!"

Uncle Mar ruffled her hair and pinched her cheek with one of his rough hands. "I've got a feeling you're gonna be saying a lot of stuff like that while you're here, Nadi."

Nadine could have cried right then and there. Leave it to Uncle Mar to say exactly what she needed to hear.

See? You remembered something and you've got Uncle Mar with you to help you through it all. You’re not alone. You've got nothing to worry about.

Her uncle's eyes flicked down to her backpack and suitcase—and in true Uncle Mar fashion, he was already moving to take them from her before she could protest. "Here, let me take that for ya."

Once she handed him her bags, they walked side by side the rest of the way toward the road, his free arm slung over her shoulder. He pulled her in close, squeezing her gently.

"Can't believe you're finally here, little Nadi. Never thought I'd see the day. How was the trip?"

"Not too bad, not too bad," she replied, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face. It probably wasn't a good idea to tell him about her little freakout on the ferry, so she opted to focus on some other truths. "I slept through most of it. Dad had me up at the crack of dawn to beat traffic. I think I was out for a few hours in the car... and for about a third of the ferry ride."

His chest rumbled with laughter.

"Some things never change. You were never a morning person, even when you were a kid. I remember all those hissy fits you used to throw whenever we tried to wake you up in the morning."

"Hey!" Nadine cried out, a wide smile tugging at her lips. "I promise I've matured since those dark ages. I only grumble and glare now, thank you very much."

Her uncle rudely snorted in disbelief.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll believe it when I see it."

Once they made it to the parking lot, Uncle Mar led her to his familiar, beat-up truck parked in the shade. Forest green with silver accents and a patch of copper rust on the bumper, Uncle Mar's truck had it all — it was rough, mismatched, and full of character.

The seats and floors were almost always covered in sand, and little fish flies Uncle Mar tied himself dangled from the rear-view mirror like feathered, mismatched ornaments. But the real kicker? There were two battery-powered fans attached to the car with fraying duct tape, buzzing away like little hard-working bees.

Nadine smiled at the sight of it. It always stuck out like a sore thumb whenever he parked it on their street in Georgetown. But here, it fit right in.

Nadine helped him load her things into the back, then climbed into the front seat of the truck.

Uncle Mar buckled himself in. "You hungry?"

On cue, Nadine's stomach grumbled.

"... Yes." she said sheepishly.

He smirked. "Figured. I know just the place. You're in for a real treat."

Nadine didn't get a chance to ask him what he meant, but the mischievous smirk on his face unnerved her. With a turn of his key, the engine sputtered to life, coughing and rattling before settling into a low hum.

Uncle Mar pulled away from the dock and toward whatever the hell came next.

Sweet baby Jesus. I’m here. Let the games begin

"I don't think I can feel my ass, man. I've got scoliosis."

"Do you even know what that word means?"

JJ threw a pillow at John B's head and instantly groaned out in pain, a sharp pain stabbing through his arm like a motherfucker.

He was dying. Like - he was really, really fucking dying. He re-positioned himself on the pull-out couch and flinched. Every muscle in his body felt like they were on fire.

After an early shift at Guffy’s, JJ hauled ass to the Island Club to make the post-church brunch rush. It wasn’t a shift he cared too much about in the past (mostly because he was almost always hungover on Sunday mornings), but after covering for another server the other week, he had Pope do the math when he noticed his check for the week was significantly larger than the weeks before.

Turns out, those pretentious kook assholes always left bigger tips on Sundays. The spirit of the Lord probably compelled them to be more charitable to the less fortunate. But whatever the fuck it was, the Lord giveth, and JJ receive-eth.

He praised big-G for having his back and made sure to underline the tip line on every check he handed out. He also took it upon himself to volunteer for the shift the rest of the summer.

But making both shifts meant that he'd been on his feet for twelve hours, running around the docks or serving bottomless mimosas to old couples with spoiled grandkids. By the time he made it back to the Chateau at three in the afternoon, his bike and his body were out of fuel. He crashed out on his bed in the living room, haggard and exhausted.

Fuck. This adulting shit was ass.

John B. opened their fridge. JJ could hear the glass from their beer bottles clank. Then, he groaned when a bottle landed on his stomach and clipped his rib.

"Jesus H. Christ!"

"Sorry bro!"

JJ felt around for the cool bottle and moaned. He sputtered when he pressed the glass onto his sore thigh and started rolling it across his muscle like dough underneath a rolling pin. "Oh my god - this shit feels so good."

John B's voice sounded over the electric fan blowing at full blast in the corner. "Well, hurry up and get your ass together. Time to get back on your feet. You, me, and Pope need to get shit for the kegger tomorrow."

"Can't tonight, bro." JJ choked out. Thank God he actually had a valid reason to skip out on stupid errands. "I've gotta go eat dinner with Mar."

"Dude, what?" John B. said incredulously. "We still have a ton of shit to get. Can't you just reschedule or something?"

"Nah, man. Not this time."

He shut his eyes—and there she was, smiling. Warm brown eyes and all.

Fuck.

He grimaced and forced the image out of his brain. Immediately.

"His niece is coming over from the mainland today,” he explained.

John B’s eyes widened.

"Holy shit - Mar has a niece?"

JJ paused, taking a deep breath before answering.

"Yeah."

His best friend sputtered. "Why the hell didn't I know that?"

JJ's eyes rolled into the back of his head. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about her, so he tried to keep his explanation brief.

"Mar's bro and his family left the island like twelve years ago. It was him, his wife, and their two daughters. Kind of a sore subject. Mar doesn't like talking about it."

"Damn. Did something crazy go down? Did Mar start macking on his bro's wife or some shit?"

JJ's eyes shot open to glare at his nosy, dumb ass friend.

"Yo, what? No!" He sputtered. John B. was coming for his brand; coming up with the most out of pocket explanations known to man was his thing. "You know Mar wouldn't do stupid shit like that. I don't know the details. One minute they were here, the next they weren't. That’s all there is to it. Comprendé?"

He must have sounded a little harsher than he intended, because John B. held his hands up in surrender.

Jesus. He was going insane. He'd been counting down the days until she arrived - not out of pure joy or excitement, but out of batshit crazy terror.

Ever since Mar dropped the news on him, JJ went day by day in complete denial. A part of him still couldn't believe she was still coming. But against his will, the necklace around his neck felt more like a tightening noose.

And now that D-Day was here? He was losing his goddamn mind.

He didn’t know what to do. He could’ve mentioned something to the gang about it earlier, but what the fuck did they know? John B., Pope, and Kie - none of them even knew Nadine when she lived on the island. They didn't need to get roped into any of his crap.

But fuck - it was eating JJ alive.

And he couldn't bring himself to talk about it. Not to them. They wouldn't understand.

So even now, he kept his fucking mouth shut.

Like always.

JJ could still see the curious spark in John B's eyes, but thank god he didn't push it.

"Well, all right then. I guess I can go to Shaun's tomorrow morning if me and Pope don't get everything tonight."

"You can't get Kie to help y'all out?"

John B. shook his head. "Nope. Her pop roped her into a shift at The Wreck. She's gonna be there all day."

"Eh, that's all right." It didn't matter. JJ knew John B. and Pope could figure it out - with or without him or Kie. "We've thrown shit like this a million times, y'all know what to get. Just make a list and divide and conquer."

"Wait - was that actually a good idea coming out of your mouth? Don't tell me you thought of that on the spot."

JJ flipped him off.

John B. chuckled, taking the last swig of his beer and tossing it in the bin. He snatched the keys to the Twinkie off the kitchen table. "I'm gonna go get Pope. Want me to give you a ride to Mar's? What time are you supposed to be over there?"

Ugh. JJ shut his eyes and let out a pained groan. "I got no thoughts right now, man. I can't even fucking think anymore. I'm just gonna take a little power nap and walk over there if you're not back by the time I wake up."

"Whatever floats your boat, dude." John B. patted his shoulder on his way out the door. "Good luck with your dinner thing. I'll see you later."

“See ya, dude.”

The screen-door slammed shut, and JJ listened to the Twinkie’s engine roar to life and drive away over the gravel. He pressed the power button on his phone, his heart sinking when there were no new notifications on his lock screen.

Mar said he was going to text him when he and Nadine were back at the house. He was supposed to show up whenever he could right after.

Looks like I’ve gotta wait a little longer for my death sentence.

JJ tossed his phone aside and nestled into the thin mattress of the pull-out couch. Fuck this shit. He was going to pass out, dream of sweet swells and dank nugs, and completely and totally forget about her and his fucked up feelings for a few more hours.

He could deal with it all later… right?

Wrong.

Million-dollar coastal mansions towered over the endless green marshes, flaunting sports cars and golf carts in their driveways like trophies.

It wasn’t what Nadine was expecting when her uncle drove through Downtown Pelican. The houses were massive — eating up the natural landscape with matching gray shingles, wraparound porches, and too many windows to count. They all looked like palaces — if palaces came straight out of the newest copy of Architectural Digest. Each one was a carbon copy of the next, almost like they’d been ordered from the same development catalog.

My God - it’s like driving through Great Falls on Georgetown Pike!

Cookie-cutter opulence, mass-produced for the ultra-rich. Nadine pursed her lips. Even in the Outer Banks, for all their money, rich people didn’t have an ounce of originality.

Her uncle seemed to agree.

“I know,” he tsked, casting a glare at the nearest monstrosity. “These houses are so damn ugly.”

Nadine smirked. Her uncle always called it like it was.

Things didn’t start feeling familiar until they reached the business district—a single stretch of road lined with old-school brick buildings and large glass display windows. There were small cafés, clothing boutiques, and even a bookstore. But the most familiar thing was the little ice cream shop on the corner, its yellow and green sign still proudly reading Pelican Fudge and Ice Cream Company, guarded by the same tall pelican statue near the front door.

Nadine took in the clean sidewalks, the soft purple and pink blooms of crepe myrtles, and the young family posing in front of the statue with dripping cones in hand for a photo.

“It looks the same,” she said softly.

She recalled a woman’s voice and posing in the exact same spot for her own picture.

“Okay, Nadi. Give me a big smile! No, Jethy! Don’t you dare smear your ice cream on the pelican’s beak!”

Uncle Marlon rolled the car to a stop, waiting for pedestrians to cross the road.

He nodded toward the scene outside. “Yeah. Not much has changed here, I’m happy to say. Same folks, same little shops. But ta be frank, you’ll probably want to do most of your shopping over the bridge on the south side of the island. Most of these places sell at a mark-up to get the most out of the kooks and tourists, but you didn’t hear that from me.”

She eyed the mix of beach-chic dressed tourists and the peppy, nautical inspired outfits bustling down the sidewalks.

“Aye, aye,” Nadine noted.

It’s good to see America’s socioeconomic classes alive and well.

Before she knew it, Uncle Mar pulled into an empty spot in a shaded parking lot. A small, one-story building with windows lined with green awnings and a long wooden ramp stood just a few feet away. Lining the roof was a huge dark blue sign with pale yellow letters spelling The Wreck on its surface.

Nadine's stomach grumbled violently at the fragrant smell of fish, crabs, and spices that wafted through the air. She clicked her seatbelt free, exited the truck, and quickly followed her uncle inside the building.

The restaurant was packed to the brim and bustling with activity. Servers weaved their way through the maze of tables, the clank of dishes echoed through the air, and most importantly, that mouthwatering smell from outside intensified until it was all she could breathe.

A tall man with dark hair and a graying beard stood behind the podium meant for the host. He glanced up from his work and did a double take when he saw her uncle.

"Mar! How's it goin', man?" he greeted with a wide grin.

"Can't complain, Mike," her uncle replied, his gravelly voice warm and familiar. To Nadine’s surprise, he placed his hands on her shoulders and gently guided her forward. "Just wanted to see if you could guess what the cat dragged in."

Nadine's eyes widened, an embarrassed flush warming her cheeks. Jesus. Not even an hour in and she was already being introduced to strangers.

All she could do was offer the man an awkward smile. "Uhm... hi."

Mike looked at her with curious eyes, but not a single spark of recognition lit up behind them. He quirked an eyebrow, eyes flitting between her and her uncle. "I'm lost. Have... have we met before? Can I get a hint?"

Uncle Mar tsked. "Does the nickname 'Naughty Nadi' ring any bells?"

Nadine’s jaw dropped when her old nickname left her uncle's mouth. Mike’s did too.

No. He didn't.

Mike’s voice went soft. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He leaned in, squinting at her like she was one of those weird looking bug-eyed goldfish in a tank. “Nadine? Is that really you?”

Oh God. Welcome to Kildare, Nadine.

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#jj maybank #outer banks #jj maybank x oc #jj maybank season 1 #jj maybank friends to lovers #friends to lovers #angst #outer banks x oc #obx #angst comfort #jj maybank angst

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ellolovely-fics · 5 months ago

Text

| closeout // i. the beginning

pairing | jj maybank x childhood best friend! oc

warnings | cursing lol

word count | 2.2k

author's note | shout out to my bestie jazmine and my little sis alexa for proofreading this... again :') btw, wanted y'all to know that Nadine is pronounced like nuh-deen, and her nickname Nadi is pronounced like nah-dee. Bea is pronounced as bay-ah :)

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Thu 9:42 PM

Nadi 💖 BEA BEA BEAAAAAA OMFG MOM AND DAD SAID YESSS I'M GOING TO ✨KILDARE ✨ *CUE THE SHOWTIME AIR HORN NOISES*

Fri 1:17 AM

Bea 🌼 Oh my GOD There's absolutely no way 😭 NADI HOW?!

Nadi 💖 It was all Uncle Mar 😭 He called mom and dad and they talked it out They're letting me go stay with him while they go to Scotland~ This is TRULY a miracle

Bea 🌼 Oh my gosh Nadi, I don't think you understand This is UNHEARD OF!! I never thought in a million years that they'd ever let us step foot on that island again

Nadi 💖 I know 😭 The stars are aligning It's ✨ fate ✨

Bea 🌼 😭 So what's your gameplan now? Are you going to interrogate Uncle Mar when he takes you fly fishing or something? 😭

Nadi 💖 😭 omg not the FLY fishing B how could you ever say that into existence~ I think I'll just ask a million and one questions when I get there And thennn I'll snoop around Uncle Mar's house for pictures, diaries, artifacts... the works. we'll see what I can find 👀 But the main goal is to figure out why mom and dad left Kildare AND dig into what happened to Jethy. What ever happened to this bald-headed, buck-toothed boy 🤓 🎵 I need to knOWWWW theeese answers, I need to FIIIIINDDDD MYYY WAYYYY 🎵

Bea 🌼 😭😭 Girl I'm gonna have to stop you right there ✋ Anymore and you'll get that cursed elephant stuck in my head 😷

Nadi 💖 . . . 😭 not TIKA

Bea 🌼 UGH don't you dare get me started She said:

Nadi 💖 PLEASE

Bea 🌼 😭😭 anyways I'm glad you get to go on a summer adventure of your own, Nadi!! Hopefully it'll be... a lot less stressful than mine 😭 What I'd GIVE to be at the beach right now

Nadi 💖 girl what Says the girl in ITALY rn You're out there eating gelato for breakfast. I don't want to hear it!!

Bea 🌼 ... you right LOL But in my defense, it's to soften the blow of all my critiques and deadlines 😭 BTW how are mom and dad?? Are they okay?

Nadi 💖 I mean for the most part... You know how they are 😭 It took them a while, but they're back to normal now. When I first told them I wanted to go, dad sort of had a moment. I'll never forget the look on his face - it looked like he'd seen a ghost. He and mom went up to their room and I heard him rambling through the walls for an hour. Mom had to calm him down. Then he called Uncle Mar. I overheard him talking to him in his office. Dad mentioned how he was scared and how he wouldn't know if I'd be safe... but he also felt bad because he knew how important going to Kildare is to me. I honestly felt like SHIT. Like - I knew something bad must have happened, but I didn't know it was THAT bad. I've never seen dad so upset. But it just fuels my fire even more, you know? Like - what the hell happened that was so bad that made us move away and never go back? What made them never even want to talk about Kildare to us over the years? I have so many questions 😭

Bea 🌼 I get it, Nadi. Neither of them have been the most forthcoming about Kildare over the years. I remember when we were kids and we used to ask to go back and visit all the time. They said no so many times that we just stopped bothering to ask. I'm glad that they let you go. Whatever it is, I'm sure Uncle Mar's going to look after you. If he wasn't there, there's no way mom or dad would have let you go.

Nadi 💖 Literally. I'll be staying at his place for a few weeks!! I called him right after they told me I could go and thanked him about a hundred times. He's so excited to have me over 🥹 I love that man.

Bea 🌼 UGH I miss him. Make sure to give him the biggest hug EVER from me!! Also - you're still coming to visit me, right? Are you going to Kildare before or after?

Nadi 💖 Of COURSE I'm still coming to see you!! I'm going to Kildare before :) I should be back in DC a few days before my flight, and then I'll be running around Italy pretending to be Ezio Auditore 🦅🗡️ You have to be my cinematographer in between your classes, remember?

Bea 🌼 Haha yes I do. You better be camera ready 🎥 Speaking of classes - one of them is about to start!! And YOU need to go to bed I'll talk to you later!! 💖 Love you!!

Nadi 💖 Bold of you to assume that I'll listen to you 😭 But I love you tooooo 💖 GOOD LUCK

Kildare Island, NC Late June 2019

"Who's coming down on Sunday?" JJ Maybank gawked.

Marlon Marshall, Captain of The Mommucked and JJ's boss, skimmed a calloused hand across his greying beard and sighed. "Need me ta come clean out your ears, son? I said my niece. Little Nadine's coming down here from DC ta spend some time with us. You remember Nadine, right?"

There's no fucking way.

JJ bit down on his lip - hard - to keep his jaw from dropping. "Uh... no. Not really."

Liar.

JJ rubbed the back of his neck and turned back to face the open hood of his truck, away from Marlon's piercing eyes. He could barely breathe. It was like his chest took a hit from a baseball bat at full swing. His jaw slacked as he mouthed the words, 'What the fuck!' from under the hood before clearing his throat with a cough.

"I, uh, haven't heard that name in a long time," he admitted. He paused, before letting another lie fall off his tongue. "Can't even put a face to the name anymore."

Honey brown eyes. Flushed cheeks sprinkled with freckles. A smile so bright it felt like staring into sunshine.

JJ cringed.

Mar's hoarse voice bounced off the metal roof of the car port. "Yeah, I'd expected as much," he said. "I'd have been surprised if ya remembered her at all. She and her folks haven't been 'round these parts for quite some time. You were still little pogies when they left the island. What's it been? Eleven, twelve years?"

Twelve years?

He couldn't keep the memories at bay. Late nights watching movies. Quiet giggles in the dark. Pinky-promises in a treehouse that overlooked the marsh. Memories flashed through his brain before vanishing as quick as they came.

"Son? You all right?"

JJ blinked. "Yeah, I'm good," he coughed awkwardly. His grip tightened around his wrench until he felt his nails press into his palm. "Can't believe it's been that long is all."

Marlon hummed in agreement. "You and me both. A lot's changed since then, huh?"

"Yeah," JJ agreed. He shut his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck again, feeling a headache coming in. "They sure have."

He tried to keep himself together, but his body felt like he'd just been wiped out by a wave, and he was tumbling around underwater struggling for air. His throat burned and his lungs squeezed. Panic coursed through his veins. But Jesus - he couldn't let Mar see. He'd be damned before he let him know about any of this shit.

Keep it together, man.

JJ wiped the sweat off his head with the greasy towel he had on hand and pursed his lips in thought. There was no use in pretending to keep busy with his engine now. He quickly turned back around to face Mar, leaning back against the truck with crossed arms. "Is there, uh, anything you wanted me to do for when she gets here?"

Marlon nodded his head. "Yeah. Figured it'd be good for ya ta spend time with each other, seeing as you're both 'round the same age and used to be friends and all. You can show her 'round the island, introduce her to your friends, cause a ruckus like y'all did when you were kids. Sure beats having ta spend the entire summer 'round an ol' man like me, I think."

JJ furrowed his eyebrows. "Hey Mar, don't talk like that."

Mar shrugged. "It's true," he said. "So, what do you think?"

Shit - what did he think?

An instantaneous 'Hell no' was on the tip of JJ's tongue, but he took one look at Mar and felt himself crack.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

JJ's throat went dry, his mind racing a million miles a minute. He tore his eyes away from Mar's and looked down at the gravel under his feet and kicked at it, watching the dust lift up into the air.

It almost felt like one big fucking joke. A part of him was hoping that Mar would let out one of his infamous laughs and tell him he was just messing with him, but there was nothing. Mar just stood there, waiting expectantly. He was actually serious.

Nadine Marshall was coming back to Kildare.

JJ's head started spinning.

"All right," he started. He rubbed the back of his neck, the words scratching at his throat like sandpaper. "She... She can hang out with us."

Mar shot him a toothy grin, moving towards him to pat him on the shoulder. "Thanks, son. I really appreciate it. I think that y'all will have a good time. Really."

JJ nodded his head, but deep down he felt he just handed his soul over to the devil. "Yeah, no problem, Mar."

"Come down here on Sunday and join us for dinner - if you're free, that is," Mar suggested. "That way y'all can meet each other and get reacquainted. If ya got any qualms, just know I'm making your favorite that night: shrimp, grits, and hushpuppies."

JJ whistled, his stomach grumbling at the thought. He could taste it on his tongue already; the grilled shrimp, the cheesy, soft grits, those tiny little addictive jalapeno hushpuppies...

"God damn, Mar. You don't play fair," JJ groaned. "I should be free, but I've gotta double-check. I'll let you know."

Mar nodded. "All right."

JJ sighed, rolling his shoulders back from exhaustion. "Do you know how long she's gonna be here for?"

"Two weeks."

Two weeks? JJ's eyebrows shot up on his forehead.

"No shit! That's a while! There any reason why?"

Marlon narrowed his eyes. "Is spending time with her favorite uncle not enough?"

JJ snorted. "Hell no."

Mar rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Since you're so damn curious, her parents are going away on a trip out of the country; she doesn't want to be cooped up at their house all alone. Think she wants to find out more about our family history too. I've got all sorts of stuff packed away that she wants to take a look at."

"So... she's staying... here?"

"Uh-huh," Marlon confirmed.

"Damn," JJ murmured under his breath.

How the fuck was he going to make it through two weeks? Why was she coming back now? Why, after all this time? She could come back on a whim to learn more about her family, but she couldn't pluck up the balls to come back and visit him over the years?

JJ felt something ugly twist in his stomach.

"Shit, that's another thing I wanted ta bring up with ya," Mar said. "Do ya mind if she stays in your old room? I know ya cleared out most of your stuff out when moved to John B's, but I wanted to see if it was all right with ya before I set her up in there, especially since ya crash here from time to time."

JJ shut his eyes and sighed. This was just the gift that kept on giving.

"Okay," he said despondently.

Marlon shot him another smile before glancing down at his watch. He cursed. "Ah shit, I've gotta head down to the marina for an inspection. You let me know about Sunday, and thanks again for bein' willing to show Nadi around. I think it'll be good!"

JJ gave him a half-hearted nod. "No problem, Mar."

Marlon started making his way towards his green truck, which was parked at the end of the car port. He called out behind him, "Remember! Ya got an early morning shift on Wednesday. Don't make me drive down to John B's to wake your sorry ass up again!"

JJ groaned. "That was one time!"

Marlon shook his head and waved goodbye before hopping into his truck to start the engine. JJ watched him drive down the gravel driveway, waiting until the truck turned right at the giant oak tree at the end of the lane and drove out of view.

A whimper sounded through the screen door to the house. JJ looked up towards the front porch and spotted Marlon's retriever standing on the other side of the door.

"Pan, what the fuck just happened?" he asked.

The dog blinked, tilting his head to the side curiously, before letting out an annoyed bark.

JJ sighed, "You're right, man. Definitely bullshit."

previous // next

#jj maybank #outer banks #jj maybank x oc #jj maybank season 1 #friends to lovers #jj maybank friends to lovers #outer banks x oc #obx #angst #angst comfort #jj maybank angst

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ellolovely-fics · 5 months ago

Text

thank you!! I used this for my blog :)

— minimalist pastel rainbow dividers

[Free] Masterlist Headers & Dividers!

Please consider liking or reblogging if you use 💕

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ellolovely-fics · 5 months ago

Text

| closeout // o. prologue

pairing | jj maybank x childhood best friend! oc

warnings | mentions of mice

word count | 2k

author's note | shout out to my bestie jazmine for proofreading this :')

closeout masterlist

Georgetown, MD

May 2019

Nadine Marshall swung open the door to the basement and wrinkled her nose at the stale, musty scent that wafted through the air. The wooden stairs led down into a dark abyss that was quiet—and cold. Her skin prickled as she peered below.

Lord give me the strength.

With a flip of the switch, she flooded the stairs with soft yellow light, just enough to light the path forward. It did little to stop her pulse from racing.

In her mind, she could already hear little chirps and squeaks, alongside the pitter-pattering of tiny feet scurrying across the floor. She shuddered.

Please no mice. Please no mice. Please no mice.

With a deep breath, Nadine turned back to the kitchen table and hefted the box she left there into her arms, feeling her muscles strain under the weight. She took careful steps down, the wooden stairs groaning underneath her. When she made it to the bottom, she flipped another switch and watched with bated breath as the lights flickered on.

Her family never liked to throw things away. Granted, they were all pretty practical—never ones for getting things just for the sake of having them. But if something had any sort of sentimental value, no matter how large or small, it was guaranteed a safe space in their home. Whether it was on display on the walls or nestled on the shelves of their many bookcases, or here—stuffed in a box and stored in the basement.

Boxes and boxes were stacked in chest-high towers, each one labeled with her dad's cursive scrawl. There were dozens of them: some were cardboard, some were purple plastic, and others were huge black tubs. Around each cluster, there was just enough space to shuffle around and find a good spot for her box of dorm décor.

It wasn't until her foot touched the cool concrete floor that she realized—she was barefoot. She froze.

Shit. Her slippers! She forgot them in her room! Nadine eyed the dimly lit floor and cursed.

Oh my god. Against her will, the sudden thought of stepping on a furry rodent spawned in her mind. She blanched. The box in her arms suddenly felt heavier and heavier.

Nadine had half a mind to turn back upstairs and get her shoes, but then she eyed the tall, narrow steps and reconsidered.

I am not climbing up three flights of stairs for something that'll take five seconds.

She had to make this quick.

Not bothering to make her way towards the back, Nadine quickly turned to the right to where there weren't as many boxes and walked as quickly as possible.

Kitchen supplies. Nadine's clothes. Bea's clothes. Ev's books. She read each box in passing.

When she reached a box labeled Paul's Shoes, she stacked her container on top of it and turned to make a break for it.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it—a frayed cardboard box folded shut at the top of a stack, her dad's handwriting clear as day in the yellow light.

Kildare.

A jolt of lightning ran through her body.

She stared at the box, wide-eyed, mouth agape. The name bounced around in her mind like a game of Pong.

Kildare. Kildare. Kildare.

She couldn't believe it.

A scoff of disbelief bubbled up in her throat as she reached for the box on her tiptoes. What was this doing here? Knowing her parents, this box was supposed to be buried deep in the back, somewhere her snooping ass wasn't supposed to find it. What was it doing out here near the front, sitting on top of a stack like it was being served to her on a silver platter?

Impatiently, she pulled the box into her arms and instantly regretted her decision.

Her back twanged, her knees buckled, and her arms betrayed her as they threatened to pop out of their sockets. She yelped, jumping back just in time as the box slipped and boomed onto the concrete floor.

Above her head, hurried steps raced across the living room floor. Dust sprinkled from underneath the floorboards. Instantly, her mom's worried voice called out from the top of the stairs.

"Nadine? Langaa? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Nadine called out sheepishly.

Holy shit—please don't come down! Nadine snapped her head toward the stairs and prayed.

Thankfully, her mom didn't linger.

"Okay. Let me know if you need any help, all right? I know that some of the tubs from your dorm are pretty heavy."

"I will!"

She held her breath. A moment later, her mom walked away from the basement door. Nadine's shoulders sagged with relief.

Thank God.

Nadine sank to her knees and eyed the box carefully. The box was folded shut—the original tape that lined the folds cut along the seam.

Someone else opened this. Was it her mom? Her dad? Nadine pursed her lips.

For as long as Nadine could remember, Kildare Island was an enigma—a puzzle her parents did nothing to help her solve. Over the years, any question she or Bea asked about it was met with calculated answers. To the point, succinct. Just enough to satisfy their curiosity but end the line of questioning before they could ask more.

There was a wall, too, erected whenever they brought up the past. Her mom and dad would both go stiff, shoulders tense, eyes betraying nothing.

It was so bizarre.

So why was this box here? Who the hell had opened it? Why were they so determined to hide the past, yet had also opened this box and revisited it without her or Bea knowing?

Nadine's fingers slid underneath the flaps and gently pulled them apart. She opened the box—and her heart instantly melted.

At the top of the box was a picture - a hand-drawn picture. It was a scene of a beach colored in with crayon. Nadine instantly recognized it as her sister's.

There were two stick figures standing together on the sand, their names written in black crayon above their heads. Her finger instinctively traced her name. Her figure wore a dark blue dress and yellow flip flops, her black hair tumbling down her shoulders, a wide grin and two brown dots for eyes.

Next to her was a figure sporting a blue baseball cap and a smirk, with two blue dots for eyes. He wore a white tank, cargo shorts, and carried a green bucket.

She read the name above his head.

Jethy.

Nadine gasped.

"You found it, Jethy! This should be yours!"

"I want you to keep it, Nadi! Stop arguing!"

She blinked at the picture, her heart racing.

The sound of ocean waves. Sticky, salty air. The warm sun beating down on her shoulders. Blue eyes staring at her earnestly.

"I don't want to lose it like I lose everything else. It's better off with you. You'll keep it safe."

The grumble of the A/C Unit brought her back.

She suddenly felt cold.

Nadine instantly grabbed hold of the rest of the papers in the stack and curled into herself.

There were dozens of drawings, each one done by Bea's talented hand, and they all were scenes of their life back on Kildare. There was a 3-D drawing of a house made of wood with dark blue shingles, coupled with a screened-in front porch. A tall, burly figure stood next to it, alongside a woman with dark brown curls. Nadine didn't need to read the names to know who they were. Uncle Marlon and Auntie Holly.

There were other scenes too, each one more detailed and technical than the last, almost like they were drawn over the years. A garden full of flowers. A treehouse by the marsh. A fishing boat out on the water. And featured in all the pictures were her and Jethy, standing side by side, never one without the other.

Nadine felt her heart sink.

She raked her mind, but it was no use. Memories of her childhood best friend evaded her. Boyish raucous laughter. The huge gap between his buck teeth when he smiled. Besides that, there was nothing. Just broken figments, non-descriptive blobs. A blank void.

Damn it - there had to be something else.

She peered back into the box, spotting thick photo albums stacked at the bottom. She gingerly pulled the first one out, careful to support the spine since it was already torn at the seams. Then, she flipped through page after page, eyes taking in the snapshots of her childhood that were frozen in time forever.

First, there were pictures of her and her sister on the beach, laughing over a half-made sandcastle. Then, there were photos of them running around on a wooden pier, racing towards the end of it. She must have been six or seven in these if the pink Camp Rock t-shirt she wore was any indication.

Then, there were scenes from a birthday party. Red and black balloons were tied to the chairs, and a huge hand-drawn poster of a Graboid from Tremors was taped to the wall; a grotesque monster with three heads for a tongue and all. The main focus of these pictures were her and a bald-headed, buck-toothed boy with a crooked grin and bright blue eyes. Jethy. There was no doubt about it. They must have been playing tag or something because in some of the pictures they were just streaks of color racing around the table.

She flipped to the next page - and her heart stopped.

Folded between the pages was a loose-leaf paper with her name scrawled onto it with black marker. Her heart raced.

Nadine carefully picked up the letter and opened it.

Dear Nadi,

Thank you for your wondurful presant. I love it! It is so black and shiney and cool and I wear it all the time and do not take it off. It is not your berth day but I have a presant for you to! It is a picture of us together so you can always remembir we are best frends. I am sad you are leveing. I want to go with you but they said no. But dont worry! i wished for us to bee together again when I made my berth day wish, so we will be together again some day. We have to! I thought about it hard when I blowed out the candles! I dont want you to go. i will miss you very much But always remember that you are my best frend and I love you lots.

Good luck shit head!!

Love,

Jethy

She read over the letter again and again, feeling her heart break into a million pieces. Hot tears pooled at the corners of her eyes.

I will miss you very much. Always remember that you are my best friend and I love you lots.

Her chest ached. The letter trembled in her hands.

She didn't keep her promise. She forgot all about him.

To drive the knife further into her heart, she looked underneath the letter and saw a picture - the only one secured onto the page. It was of her and Jethy sitting together on the stairs of a wooden porch, her little arms wrapped around his waist while his arm slung lazily over her shoulders. Both of them smiled at the camera with toothy grins. Their eyes were bright and full of mischief, wonder, and glee.

This was her person. Her best friend. And she left him behind.

Tears fell down her flushed cheeks.

God. It hurt. It hurt a lot. Questions bounced around in her head, pounding against her skull like a drum.

Why did they leave this all behind? What made her parents uproot their family and drag them to Maryland to start a new life? What happened to Jethy? Did Uncle Mar still know him? What was her life like on this island? And why were her parents so determined to keep this all away from them?

Nadine took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her cheeks. There was only one place she was going to find answers, and it wasn't here.

Her eyes lingered on the photo one last time, committing their toothy grins and bright, mischievous eyes to memory. Then, she slipped the photo out of its sleeve and tucked it into her pocket. The letter soon followed suit.

Nadine gathered the photo albums in her arms and began the long march back up to her room, a newfound resolve burning in her chest.

She didn't care how it happened. She would grovel and beg, kick and scream. One way or another, she was going to make it happen.

She was going to Kildare.

#jj maybank #outer banks #jj maybank x oc #jj maybank season 1 #friends to lovers #jj maybank friends to lovers #outer banks x oc #obx #angst #angst comfort #jj maybank angst

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