JJ Maybank

The late afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, casting a golden hue over the water as the Pogues prepared for what seemed like an ordinary day on the water. It wasn’t, though. Not by a long shot. Tensions had been building between you and JJ for months now, and the Pogues were tired of the constant bickering. The two of you were simply incapable of seeing eye to eye—always at each others throats.

The arguments had gotten to the point where it had became increasingly difficult to work together to find the gold for the entire group. That’s when Sarah came up with the idea: force you two to be together alone, and maybe—just maybe— you’d finally start liking each other. Even if it was just a teeny, tiny bit. The plan was simple, almost too simple, but everyone agreed it was worth a shot.

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So when John B suggested a day out on the water on an abandoned boat he’d found out on the marsh, you barely had time to make an excuse before Kiara and Sarah had already dragged you onto his boat. JJ followed, oblivious to the setup too, his usual cocky grin plastered across his face as he hopped aboard, a sarcastic comment ready on his lips already.

They had taken you and JJ out to the boat out on the marsh that John B mentioned before. He had said they found it abandoned and he called ‘dibs’ on it. Once finding the large unattended boat, everyone quickly ushered both you and JJ on board first, which was.. odd? As soon as you and JJ were on board, the Pogues sprung into action. With a swift shove and a burst of laughter they climbed back onto their own boat and untied the ropes, shoving themselves away from the larger boat you stood on. Your eyes widened as the realisation had dawned on you, watching them fire up their engine.

“What the hell?” JJ shouted, his voice cutting through the air as he rushed to the edge of the boat, watching them pull away. But the Pogues were already speeding off, their laughter carrying over the water as they waved back at the two of you.

You stood there, arms crossed, watching the distance between you and the Pogues grow. “They seriously just left us here” you mutter, more to yourself than to JJ, though the frustration in your voice was clear.

JJ whipped around, running a hand through his hair as he glared at you. “This is your fault, you know. If you weren’t always picking fights-“

“My fault?” You shot back, your temper flaring in record time. “You’re the one who can’t go five minutes without making some stupid comment!”

You stood there, toe to toe, the argument escalating quickly. But this time, there was nowhere for you to go, no escape. The boat beneath you was still, it’s engine long since dead, a floating relic that would never move from where the Pogues had left it.

After what felt like an eternity, your voices finally died down, replaced by the steady lapping of the water against the hull. You were the first to break eye contact, stepping back with a huff as you plopped down on the deck, your back against the cabin wall. JJ followed suit, sitting a few feet away from you, his hands fidgeting as he pulled a crumpled joint from his pocket.

Silence settled between you like a heavy fog, awkward and tense. JJ lit the joint, taking a long drag before holding it out to you without a word. You hesitated for a moment, then took it, taking a hit yourself before passing it back.

Minutes passed, the joint slowly burning down to nothing as you sat in silence. The tension between you still lingered, but at least the edge had been taken off, dulled by the buzz of the joint. The sun had dipped lower into the sky, the light beginning to fade, casting a pinky, orange hue across the sky.

JJ exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he finally spoke up. “You know, it’s kinda funny,” he said, breaking the silence. “Out of everyone, your the only one who doesn’t put up with all my bullshit—it’s why I can’t stay away from you..”