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Kiara hadn’t been in the Outer Banks for over three years. After college, Kiara decided to travel the world, like she always wanted, helping people and animals, and taking some pictures here and there.
Photography was one of Kie’s biggest passions.
On her tenth birthday she asked her parents for a Polaroid camera so she could take pictures. Ever since she’s been taking pictures.
Going back home was not in her plans. But when Sarah called her nine months ago, saying she was getting married and wanted Kiara to be her bridesmaid, she couldn’t tell her no. Sarah was her best friend since they were nine. She loved her, and would do anything for her.
The thing is, Sarah’s brother, JJ was her ex boyfriend, who she had been avoiding since he broke up with her.
Not really healthy, she knows it. But she can’t help it. She never really got over JJ, because all the things in her life he thought he would be with her.
He promised her .
But he broke the promise.
Was the first time Kiara had her pictures exhibited for important people. She was nervous. JJ had been there with her, but he was acting weird all day, barely saying anything, only nodding when people asked him something.
“There you are.” She tells him, when she finds him outside the building, looking at the city in front of him. He was looking at the sky when she opened the door.
“Hey.” He said softly, and smiled at the moment he saw her.
“Everything okay?” She wraps her arms around his, so she can be closer to him to warm her, it was a cold night after all.
“Yeah.” He nods. JJ kisses the top of her head and rests his head on her.
They stayed quiet for a few minutes, just looking at the sky and enjoying their company. It was nice. Ever since she went to college they had barely seen each other because he stayed in Outer Banks and she went to Pennsylvania. It was really far from each other, so they texted all the time and face timed every night. It was actually the first time he went to visit her.
“Kie,” his voice breaks the silence. She looks up at him, his expression was serious. “I think I should go.” He doesn’t meet her eyes, keeping them in the sky.
“What?” Why?” She asked worriedly. Did something happen?
“I don’t think this is my place.” He takes a step back from her, unwrapping his arms from her. She hates the cold feeling she gets instantly.
“Jage, what are you talking about?” Her voice was trembling. She could feel the tears coming into her eyes.
He finally meets her eyes “I just- I’m not the kind of guy to drink wine, make small talk with kooks and wear a suit.” He says, gesturing his hands in the air
“JJ, I’m not asking you to. It was just for tonight. I promise-“
“You can’t promise that Kie. You know that’s how your life's going to be. I don't fit in anymore.” He shakes his head and looks away from her. She felt all the tears running through her cheeks
“Jage,” she tried to grab his hands, but he didn’t let her. He walked past her and entered the building. Not giving her any more explanation. Not letting her say anything.
He just left.
That was the last time she saw JJ.
Sarah insisted on getting her from the airport. Kiara was glad, she really missed her best friend. It’s been about two years since they last saw each other. Sarah insisted on going to see her when she was in Italy.
After twenty hours of flight, she was finally home. Well almost. She still had to get the ferry and drive a little bit, but after that she would be home.
She got her bags and walked through the airport, until she found a big plate with her name on it and pink balloons, behind them there was Sarah. She smiled as soon as she saw her friend. “Kie!” She yells, running to the brunette and jumping on her, wrapping her arms around her.
Some people looked at the two girls with judging expressions. They couldn’t care less.
“Hey Sare!” Kiara wraps her arms around her.
“God I’ve missed you.” She breaks the hug to see her face. “You look pretty.”
Kiara chuckles “Please, I’ve been in an airplane for twenty hours.”
Sarah interweaves her arms with Kie’s, and they start to walk to the car. “You look great Kie. Especially for someone that was in a plane for twenty hours.” Kiara only rolled her eyes and laughed
The drive back home was nice. They talked about all the places Kie went and the plans for the wedding.
“We’ll come to pick you up later.” Sarah tells her when they stopped in front of the Carrera house.
Kiara was staying with her parents for one night, tomorrow she will be going to the hotel where the wedding was happening. Sarah wanted her wedding in the biggest hotel in Outer Banks, so her dad made some calls and got it for his little girl . Didn’t even matter they were mid summer and the island was full of tourists.
“You really are not telling me where we are going?” Kie insisted. She knew they were going to have drinks at night, but Sarah wasn’t telling her where.
“No.” She shakes her head. “You’ll have to wait.” She smiles
“Fine. See you at eight.” Kiara tells her leaving the car
“See you.” Sarah waves at her.
Kiara was barely in the front yard of her parents house, when her mother’s arm wrapped her in a tight hug. “Kiara honey!”
“Hey mom.” Kiara says chuckling, letting her bag drop on the floor
“Anna, let the girl breathe.” Her dad voice comes from behind her mother
Anna broke the hug, placing her hands on Kiara’s face to look at her. “You can’t stay that long way from home.” The girl chuckles
“Hey kiddo.” Her dad says, making Kiara change her attention to him
“Hey dad.” She smiles, hugging her dad
“C’mon, let’s get inside.” Anna told her, as soon as the hug was over, wrapping her arm around Kiara’s. “Your dad made your favorite food.”
“Pasta with seafood?” Kiara asks excitedly.
After having lunch and catching up with her parents, Kiara went to her bedroom to sleep a little and then get ready for the night.
She wasn’t sure where they were going, so she chose a black jeans pants, a red cropped top and black sneakers.
Kiara was out of the house when she saw the Twinkie. Sarah was leaning on it, John B was in the driver seat and Pope and Cleo were sitting on the back seat. Is like a flashback from high school. She smiles at them.
“Who’s alive always shows up huh.” Pope said
“Didn’t actually think she was gonna show up.” Cleo added
“Shut up guys. You're gonna scare our new friend.” John B says laugh.
Kiara rolled her eyes. “Well, hello to you too.” She says walking towards her friends.
After greeting her friends and talking for a little bit, they were finally out of her parents driveway and driving to the unknown location.
“Finally I’m gonna see your bar huh.” Kiara tells John B, placing her hand on his shoulder, when they stopped in front of a little building (that looked a lot like a fishing shack) that had a big marquee written The Chateau. She smiles at their choice of name.
“I did invent you when we opened. But the monkeys in Brazil were more important.” She smacks his shoulder
“I’m here now.”
John B and JJ had been talking about opening a bar since they were fifteenth. After eight years they finally did it. Kiara didn’t come to the opening.
Yeah, it had to do with JJ being there, but she wasn’t (isn’t) really over him, so she didn’t come.
The place screamed JJ and John B. It had surf boards, and car stuff everywhere. Kiara did see a little painting of a turtle on some corner, but it was dark, she couldn’t know for sure if it was what she was thinking.
John B led them to a booth and went to grab the drinks. Kiara saw with the corner of her eye the brunette talking to JJ. She could recognize the blonde mop of hair everywhere. He looked good, too good. His muscles were a little bigger, his hair shorter and he was wearing a button dark blue shirt that hugged his torso.
Get yourself together, Kiara. She told herself, shaking her head and focusing back on her friends.
“So Kie, how was Australia?” Pope asked, making her turn to see him.
The night had been nice. Until her friends decided it would be a great idea to get super drunk. Well they did. Kiara wasn’t going to go back to her parents home drunk on the first day back, so she controlled herself. There would be two nights for her to drink and not care.
“Kie, please tell Pope that purple is the best color of the rainbow.” Sarah told her drunk. Kiara chuckled, she loved drunk Sarah. But the next day was her rehearsal dinner, so she couldn’t be hungover.
“Hey, what about I’ll go get you some water?” Kiara didn’t let her answer, only got up and went to the balcony. “Hey,” she told the girl on the balcony, she was preparing a drink for someone else.
“Yeah.” She tells her
“Can I get a water?”
“Sure.” She nods and turns to get her water.
“Hey Liz, I get this.” Kiara turns to where the voice was coming. It was JJ. The girl nodded and got back to her drink.
“Hey.” He said softly. She didn’t miss his eyes quickly traveling through her.
“Hey.” She tried to hide her grin from seeing him.
“You finally come back.” He turns to get her water
“Yeah. Wouldn’t miss Sarah’s wedding for nothing.” She tells him, trying to ignore looking at his eyes.
JJ turns around to give her water. “You look good.” He handed her the bottle, smirking at her.
“I know.” She gets the water from him and leaves, not waiting for an answer. If she keeps talking to him much she won’t be able to control herself. Or she’s going to cry, or yell, or kiss him. She really has no idea which one.
“Here, drink this.” She told Sarah, as soon as she was back in the booth
“No, you're trying to sober me up.” Sarah turns her head, trying to push her best friend away.
“Yeah I am. I’m sure you don’t want to be hungover tomorrow.” Kiara tilts her head. She knew she won when Sarah rolled her eyes and got the bottle from her hands
“I saw you talking to JJ.”
“I- I wasn’t.” She shakes her head
“Don’t lie to me Kie.” She places her hand on the curly haired girl “He asked me if you were bringing someone.” Sarah whispers
“He did?” Kiara turned to look at the blonde in question, but quickly shook her head and looked back at her friend. Don’t Kiara.
“Yeah.” Sarah smiles, nodding her head. She caught Kie looking at him “Don’t worry.” She gets closer to Kie “He’s not bringing anyone.” Sarah whispers in he ears and leans back at the booth, drinking more water.
Kiara shouldn’t still be in love with her ex boyfriend from high school, right? But she couldn’t stop. Being away from him helped her bury those feelings, but being back and seeing him so close it was already messing with her head. That is why she stayed away all these years.
The Lighthouse is the biggest and most expensive hotel in OBX, and of course, with the wedding of Ward Cameron’s daughter there would bring a lot of publicity.
Kiara never understood the need for a big and fancy wedding. Her wedding would be on the beach, with only her close friends and family. If she ever has one.
She thought about it more than she liked to admit. (She is not going to admit that the only person she sees herself marrying is JJ).
“Miss Cameron.” A woman called Sarah, as soon as they enter the building.
“Ava!” Sarah says. “Ava this is Kiara, my best friend. Kiara, this is Ava, she’s helping with the wedding planning.”
“Hi.” Kiara says shaking the woman’s hand
“Can I talk to you,” The older woman turned to Sarah.
“I’ll go do my check in.” Kiara says
“Kie, wait-“
Kiara doesn’t hear her and goes to the balcony to do the check in.
“Good morning, I’m here to check in.”
“Good morning. What’s your name?”
“Kiara Carrera.” He nods and types something in the computer, looks at her documents and makes her sign something.
“Here’s your key.” He hands her one card key. Kiara had stayed in many hotels this past few years, usually they gave two keys.
“What about the other key?” She asks
“It’s already with your boyfriend.”
“My what?”
“Kie.” Sarah calls her.
“Sarah, what 's happening?” She asks her blonde friend, who pulls her into a corner.
“My cousin only told us some days ago that she was bringing her boyfriend too. So she needed a separate room from my aunt.”
“So?” Kiara asked annoyed
“So, I gave her your room. And now you're sharing a room-” Sarah wasn’t making eye contact with her, Kiara knew she was hiding something.
“Spit it out.” Kiara places her hands on her waist.
“With JJ.” Kiara moves her head up. Somehow she knew that was coming. “He was the only other person who doesn’t have a date and is staying in the hotel. I’m sorry, I know you’re not talking, but it’s just for two nights. Please don’t be mad at me.” Sarah pouts
Kiara rolls her eyes. “Fine.” She gives up. What she doesn't do for her friend. It was only two nights. She could manage that.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She blond jumps and wraps her arms around her friend.
“Lucky it’s your wedding.” Kiara wraps her arms around her torso
“I know. Promise it won’t happen again.” She breaks the hug. Ava was calling her again, so Sarah was leavin again, “Unless you want it.” She tells her and leaves. Deep down Kiara knew what Sarah was doing. But she decided to ignore it, just for now.
She got to her room. Well, hers and JJ. And as soon as she opened the door she saw the blonde on the balcony. His back was turned to her, and he was talking to someone on the phone. She closes the door when she’s fully in the room, and travels her eyes through it. It had only one bed.
One bed . Sarah is good. She easily fooled Kiara.
The brunette rolled her eyes at that thought.
“Hey.” JJ’s voice interrupts her thoughts. She didn’t even see him entering the room.
“Hey.” She gives him a small smile
“Look, I didn’t know this was gonna happen okay?! John B only told me when I got here and-“ he tries to explain, rumbling words. It was cute, she knows he usually does that when he’s nervous.
She tries to hold her smirk, by biting both her lips. “It’s okay JJ.” She says
“It is?” He tilts his head in confusion, and runs his fingers through his hair, the one she loves so much.
“Yeah. It’s only for two nights.” She puts her bag on the couch of the room, turning with her back to him
“Oh. Okay.” He nods. She turns to leave the room. “Where are you going?” He asks curiously
“I have bridesmaid duty.” She says leaving the room, not waiting for an answer.
“It’s your wedding weekend and you still got time to play Cupid?” Wheezie asks her big Sister. They were in Sarah’s room, putting on her bikinis. She would enjoy the pool a little, before the dinner, after that she would only rest the day after the wedding.
“I’m not playing Cupid. It’s not my fault Julie forgot to mention she was bringing someone.” She shrugs
“Right. And it just so happened that JJ and Kie were the only ones not sharing a room with someone else.” She raised her eyebrows
“Yeah.” Sarah smirks “Coincidence right?!” she turns her head to her sister, with an “innocent” expression.
“You know they are not that dumb right?”
“Well, they’ve been avoiding each other for five years. I say they are.” Sarah gets her sunglasses and puts them in her face, leaving the room, knowing Whezzie would follow her.
“Kiara I need to use the bathroom too.” JJ yells to the bathroom door, where Kiara had been getting ready for almost an hour.
The moment John B told him he would share a room with Kie, JJ knew his sister was involved in this. She’s been trying to make them talk for years now.
But it’s not like Jj was avoiding Kie.
Okay, maybe he was, but he knew her life would be better off without him. She wanted to travel, see the world, but JJ knew he was going to be stuck in the Outer Banks for the rest of his life.
He didn’t have the opportunities she had. Or the money.
He wasn’t Ward's son, and he didn’t let him forget it. Not that JJ cared. He had one crappy father for a lifetime, he doesn’t need another one. But at least he has his sisters - and Rafe, but he doesn’t count as a family member, JJ still hates him.
Back to Kiara.
He knew she didn’t want to stay in obx. All she ever talked about was traveling and JJ couldn’t stop her from doing that. So he broke up with her before she realized she was unhappy and broke up with him herself.
He hadn’t talked to her ever since. Not text or calls on her birthday. He only heard from her through his friends, since they were still in touch with her.
“Alright. I’m done.” She opened the door. He couldn’t help but look at her body. She was wearing a light green dress that JJ didn’t know how to describe, but she was beautiful.
He stayed silent. Kinda shocked by the sight of her in front of him. But she usually has that effect on him.
She must have seen his expression, because she chuckles a little. “Sorry.” He says, shaking his head.
“It’s okay. Good to know I still have this effect on you.” She says laughing.
“Please. I was just surprised that you finally opened the door.” He shakes his head
“Sure.” She says sarcastically, nodding her head and tapping her hand on his shoulder, then she goes back to the room.
When she passed next to him, he could smell her coconut shampoo and her peach lotion.
He smiles at the familiar scent.
Kiara never really understood why people - well, rich people - did rehearsal dinners one night before the wedding, it seemed like a waste of money. I mean, it’s two parties. Not that Kie would ever tell Sarah that. She knew her best friend would rip her head off. So she just ignored her thoughts and focused on the party.
“Look who we have here.” Kiara recognizes that voice everywhere. It made her shiver. Not in a good way.
“Rafe. What do you want?” She asks inpatient
“Easy there. Can’t a guy come say hi to his friend?” He approaches her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t see Toper or Kelce here, so I think you can go find them.” She says, pushing his hand away from her shoulder.
“C’mon Kie. It’s been some time since I last saw you.” He puts his hands on his pocket “What is it? Two? Three years?” He takes a step closer to her.
Some years ago, Kiara and Rafe slept together. One time, a big mistake. She never told Sarah, because, what would she think of her, for sleeping with both her brothers. Kiara tried not to care what other people thought of her, but Sarah is her best friend, of course she cares what she thinks.
“Rafe,” Kiara warns him, taking a step back.
“Last time you weren’t complaining about me close to you.” He whispers
“Kie.” JJ called her, making her turn her face to look at him. He steps closer, unconscious she takes a step closer to JJ. “Everything okay here?” He looks between her and his brother.
“Hey there, baby brother.” Rafe places his hand on JJ’s shoulder, but JJ pushes it away.
“I'm going.” Kiara's voice makes the two blondes look at her “I don’t want to be in the middle of,” she gestures between them, “Whatever this is.” She steps away from them, walking to the bar.
“People should study you.” Whezzie tells her, making Kiara jump at the sudden voice behind her.
“Why?” She tilts her head in confusion.
“You have something on you that attracted both my brothers.” Kira feels her cheeks warm. She takes a sip of her wine to hide it from Whezzie. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell.” She left her. Kiara chuckles a little, after the girl leave.
It was almost three am when Kiara decided it was time to go to her bed. It was a little early, but Kie hadn’t gone to many parties in the last three years, so she wasn't used to it anymore. Also, she was jet-lagged.
She felt a little old, but didn’t really care.
“Hold the elevator.” Someone yells. So she does, and his arms come through the door, opening it. It was JJ. Of course. She should’ve recognized his voice, but she was too tired and a little drunk. “Hi.” He smiles at her.
“Hi,” she yawned
“Someone’s tired.” He said
“Should I be worried you’re following me?” She turns to him.
He chuckles. “Well, I just wanna go to bed.”
“At three am?”
“I should ask you the same thing.” He turns to her. She chuckles. The elevator door opens and they go to their room. Kiara opens her purse, trying to find the key. “I got it.” He waves the card to her, and then passes to open the door. They both entered at the same time, but they bumped into each other. “You go first,” JJ says gesturing his hand for her to go .
“Okay.” She entered the room “I’m using the bathroom first.” She says, going to her stuff
He scoffs “Fine, but don’t take too long.” He jumps in the bed
“Can’t promise I won’t.” She says entering the bathroom and closing the door behind her.
Kiara missed JJ.
A lot actually.
She hasn’t talked to him in five years, and yet, they were acting like they never stopped talking. She wished he could be in her life, but Kie couldn’t have that. Her feelings for JJ were very much alive, she didn’t want to be just friends with him. She couldn’t. So she had to cut him off.
For two days she (thinks) can do it. It is hard, but she is doing it. But for more time she can’t.
She remembers how JJ was in high school. He was a different girl every week, and at the time she was jealous, but kept pretending like it didn’t bother her. It did.
She couldn’t do that again. She wasn’t sixteen anymore.
The girl opens the door of the bathroom after taking her dress and make up off. JJ was laying on the bed, with his hands behind his head and leaning on the headboard watching tv, some doctors show. She never saw him watching those. He was wearing a shirt she knew too well where it was from.
It was from the first trip they did it together.
It was the summer before her senior year, JJ had just graduated and they had been dating for nine months. Her parents wanted to spend a week in Cancun and told her she could bring him if he wanted. And of course she did. It took some days to convince JJ, but he finally said yes and they went. It was a perfect week. And she bought him a souvenir shirt for him to never forget it.
“I can’t believe you still have that.” She says, putting her dress inside the closet.
He looks down at his shirt and smiles. “Of course. It’s one of my favorites.” He sits up, looking at her. She hums sarcastically. “I’m serious.”
“Sure you are.” She finishes putting her things away.
JJ got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. Kiara sat on the bed and put her cell phone to charge in the bedside next to her. She looked around and decided to make a pillow wall between her and JJ. She knows how JJ sleeps, he loves to cuddle and she can’t do that, without meaning anything.
“Really? A pillow wall?” He said leaning in the bathroom door
“Yes.” She nods, placing the last pillow on the wall. “I know you love to cuddle.”
He chuckles, “If I remember right,” he gets close to her “You love too.” Kie turned around to answer but he was closer than she thought, so her words got stuck in her tongue. She could smell the paper mint of the toothpaste and his hair was a mess and falling on his eyes. It made her want to travel her hands through, like she loved(s) to do. He chuckles again. “Nice to know I still have that effect on you.” He jokes, she only rolled her eyes, and remembers when she told him that earlier.
The blonde jumps back on the bed and Kie lays on her side too. JJ turns the tv on again. “Didn’t know you liked doctor's shows.” She said, placing her arm on one of the pillows and resting her head on her hand, looking at the screen.
“Well, it’s a spin off from another tv show I like.” He looks at the screen and then at her. She hums
They stayed silent for some time, only focused on the tv. At some point, on the screen, the two people that were a couple were finally getting together. Inconsistently Kiara looked at JJ. He was really focused on the screen. She knows he is trying really hard not to look at her too.
“Jage,” She can see his shoulder tense a little at the nickname. No one ever calls him that, only her.
He turned his head slowly to her. “Yeah?” He looks into her eyes.
“Did you-“ she stops herself “Forget it.” She looks back at the screen
“No. Tell me.” He places his hand on her shoulder, making her look at him again.
“It’s nothing.” She shrugs “Just-I’ve just missed you. That 's all.” She says softly. Kiara didn’t know why she had to tell him that, but she did.
“I’ve missed you too.” He said.
The sound of Kiara's cell phone wasn’t what woke her up the next morning. It was JJ’s voice. “Make it stop,” he said, tapping on her face.
Kiara jumps from the bed and looks at her phone. It was Sarah. “Hey Sarah.” She says yawning
“ Kiara where are you?” Sarah seems annoyed
“I’m in my room. Where else would I be?” She says sarcastically. Kiara hates waking up early, but she hates it more when she wakes up with a scare.
“Can’t you take this outside?” JJ says, turning around in the bed and going back to sleep.
She rolls her eyes, but she goes. JJ was the only other person who hated waking up like that. “ It’s almost eleven. You should be in my room to get ready for the wedding. And take pictures.”
Kiara looks at the time on her phone and places her hand on her forehead. “Oh god. Okay I’m going. Give me five minutes.”
“ Do you know where JJ is? John B is looking for him.” Kie turns to bed, where the blonde in question was softly snoring. She always thought he looked adorable when he was asleep. “ Kie?” Sarah’s voice broke her out of her thoughts.
“Yeah I know.”
“ You two have five minutes.” Sarah says and turns her phone off.
Kiara enters the room again and goes to get her stuff. “JJ.” She yelled a little, so he would wake up. He didn’t answer. Kiara rolled her eyes while she got her dress and shoes, going to the bed to wake him. “JJ” she shakes his shoulder. “It’s almost eleven. We have to go.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He moves his hand, his eyes still close
“I’m only leaving when you get up.” She places her hands on her waist, still looking at the sleeping man on the bed. “JJ, I’m serious.” No response “Okay, I’m changing right here okay?” That got him to open one eye, she rolls her eyes. She gets close to his face “So predictable, Jage.”
“Finally.” Wheezie says, when Kiara enters the room.
“Where were you?” Sarah asks, turning from her makeup chair to see her.
“Sleeping.” Kiara places her things on the bed
“But you went to sleep really early.” Cleo said.
Wheezie quickly turns her face to the curly haired and gives her a smirk. “So did JJ.”
Sarah’s lips tugs into a big smirk and jumps to her best friend. “Don’t Sarah.” Kiara warns her
“C’mon, you two have been miserable since you broke up.”
“I’m not miserable.” Kie crosses her arms
The three girls give her a look. “Then why have you been avoiding coming back here?” Sarah asks, mirroring Kie, and crossing her arms too. Kiara was silent. Yeah, Sarah had a point. But she wasn’t going to let her know that.
“I’m not.” She affirms
The blonde opened her mouth to speak, but someone knocked on the door, not letting her speak. Thank God.
“JJ. Finally.” John B said when JJ entered the room. “I thought you were setting an alarm.” JJ enters the room, rubbing his eyes. He was still pretty tired. He only brushed his teeth, got his clothes and ran to his friend's room.
“I did. But I slept through it.” He sits on the couch
“What about Kie?” The brunette asks
“What about her?” He shrugs
“How have you two been?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because we know you’re still in love with her.”
JJ rolls his eyes and leans further on the couch. “Again this?!”
“C’mon J.” Pope sits next to him. “You know this is your chance. After today she won’t be coming back anytime soon.”
“Exactly why I’m not doing it.”
“So you do admit you’re still in love with her?” John B says, sitting in the chair in front of the blonde.
JJ shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter. She’s leaving tomorrow.”
“You should go with her. Get out of this island.”
“I can’t go.”
“JJ you think you have some kind of curse to make you stay here, but you don’t.” Pope said
“Guys-“
“At least try JJ.” John B added
Thankfully, for the rest of the afternoon neither one of the boys brought it up Kiara. They probably wanted him to think about it. And JJ was doing that. He loves Kie, always did and he always will. It’s just not that simple. It should be. Sarah and John B did it. They’ve been together for almost ten years, and still are madly in love with each other.
A knock on the door brings him out of his thoughts.
“Hey,” Kiara opens the door and her head pops in “You need to come with me.” She fully enters the room, and JJ turns around to face her.
She is beautiful.
“Careful, a fly might come through your mouth.” Pope whispers to him.
“Did you listen to me?” She said firmly, looking at the boy, crossing her arms.
“Sorry, can you repeat?” JJ got up from the couch.
She rolls her eyes. “Wheezie wants pictures before the wedding.” Pope and John B nodded and walked out of the room. JJ was standing in the middle of the room looking at her. She was wearing a green dress, darker than the other one, her hair was down with her curls prettier than ever. “See something you like?” She teases him.
“Maybe.” He steps closer to her. She blushes, making JJ smile. He missed making her blush.
They stayed silent, only looking at each other in the middle of the room. JJ was studying her face, she hadn’t changed anything since the last time he saw her, only her hair was shorter.
“You two are coming or what?” Pope puts his head inside the room, making them take a step back from each other.
“Yeah.” They said at the same time, not taking their eyes from each other.
After one hour the ceremony started. Pope and Cleo entered first and then JJ and Kiara. Whezzie was the one doing the ceremony. She got her license online as soon as John B had proposed to Sarah.
“We’ve spent our lives dogging the fate and beating the odds.” Unconsciously JJ looks at Kiara. She was on the right side of Sarah, looking at her two friends in the center. She was smiling, and JJ couldn’t imagine a more beautiful image.
He used to tell her they would be together forever. Nothing would separate them, and at the end, he was the one breaking things up. And he regrets it deeply.
But he also knows Kiara.
She doesn’t want to be with him anymore, she moved on. One of the first things she told him was that it was only two days.
Tomorrow night she will be back to her life taking pictures everywhere in the world. And he will be back taking care of his bar.
“Everyone told us it would be just a high school relationship.” John B gestures his hands to the people in the room. “Look where we are now.” Everyone laughs. “Sarah,” he got the blonde hands “You’ve shown me that happiness is actually something I can have in my life.”
Quickly memories of him and Kie came through his mind. She was the one who made the first move, because he was too scared that she would push him away. It felt so right, like they were made for each other.
And all the times he made her laugh. Her laugh was the best thing in the world. JJ would spend days only watching the brunette girl laughing. And he would kill anyone that would hurt him.
Thinking about it, he was the one who hurt her. He would go back in time and change it, but he can’t. But he would. He would gladly went back on time and change his mind.
So he can’t blame her for putting the chain on her door again, it’s his fault.
JJ’s blue eyes met Kiara’s brown’s eyes. She was smiling at him this time. He smiled back.
“And so, I promise to be with you and love you forever.”
If she gave him another chance, he would love her right.
And he’s asking for another chance. He’s swallowing his pride and is going to stand in front of her and say sorry about that night.
Because he wants another chance. He needs another chance
“We’ve spent our lives dogging the fate and beating the odds.” Kiara had tears in her eyes. It was her best friend’s wedding after all. She knew how much Sarah wanted that.
Kiara wasn’t sure if she wanted to get married. Actually, she did, she used to at least.
She didn’t believe in soulmates, but she knew JJ was hers. The only one she ever thought about getting married with.
She remembers when she realized she was in love with him.
One night, JJ came back to the chateau full of bruises and blacks around his body. She was the only one in the house. As soon as she laid eyes on him she wrapped her arms around her. She had no idea what to do, the only thing she could think was a hug.
During the years, Kiara had some boyfriends and girlfriends, but none of them was like JJ. The way he looked at her, what he said, what he did.
She always went back to him. The memories would come through her mind at least some times a day. He promised her they would be together forever.
He didn’t keep the promise.
“Everyone told us it would be just a high school relationship.” John B gestures his hands to the people in the room. “Look where we are now.” Everyone laughs.
Yeah, look where we are now Kiara though. Tomorrow she was going to be back in Australia, and JJ would stay in obx, because he refuses to leave. It took her some time to understand why JJ broke up with her, but after some time thinking and therapy sessions, she did it.
JJ always let what other people think of him affect his judgment, especially during their relationship. In his mind he wasn’t good enough for her and it was just a matter of time until she broke up with him. And he didn’t want that, so he was the one who did, to hurt him less.
The thing is, he didn’t care about what she thought or how she felt. She gave all her love and all he gave her was goodbye.
She spent years mad at him, but now she wasn’t anymore. She kinda understood his motives, but not his actions. He could have talked to her.
Maybe this was the last chance she would have to tell him how she felt. She needed to do that tonight.
“Sarah,” he got the blonde hands “You’ve shown me that happiness is actually something I can have in my life.”
Quickly she remembers summers in Outer Banks. Her favorite season. And JJ’s too. All the beautiful times they spent together, surfing, swimming, staying in bed or when they would go out to dinner in his truck. She loved to watch him laughing on the passenger side.
Kiara met JJ’s eyes. He had been watching her during the ceremony, she could feel him looking at her. It made her more confident to talk to him. She knows he still had feelings for her. He just wouldn’t admit it. “And so, I promise to be with you and love you forever.”
She looks at JJ. The blonde is looking away, trying to hide his tears. She smirks. It was adorable. She really missed him, and she needs to do this. She is going to do it. She’s telling him she still loves him.
“Jage,” Kiara approaches him. He was in the balcony of the hall, he was leaning on it, looking at the beach in front of him.
“Hey.” He turns to her, smiling. He didn’t seem surprised to see her.
“Can we talk?” She steps closer to him.
He fully turns his body to look at her and crosses his arms. “Sure.” He nods
“But you have to let me finish.” She takes one more step to him. He nods laughing. “So, I-“ she looks around, trying to avoid his eyes. Trying to think of words. “I just,-“ she scoffs. Why can’t she do this? It’s simple. I still love you. How hard can it be? JJ opened his mouth, but she cut him off. She can do this, she needs to. Kiara is not losing him again. “I’m still in love with you, okay?! I never stopped.”
“Kie,” he lightly touches her arms
“No.” She shakes her head. “You broke up with me because you thought you weren’t good enough for me or whatever was going through your mind at the time. But you’re wrong.” She crosses her arms and looks at his eyes again. “You're the only person for me. And I can’t leave tomorrow and not at least try to fix things between us.” She’s breathless when she finishes her speech. The blonde was looking at her carefully.
“Can I talk now?” He raises an eyebrow at her. She nods. “I’m sorry for that night, okay. I was stupid and let what other people thought of get between our relationship. The truth is, I never stopped loving you either. And I never will.”
She smiles at him. A big grin, the one that only he could make it happen. “Good.” He smirks.
She wraps her arms around his neck, he quickly places his hand on her waist and they both leaned, meeting each other’s lips.
It's like they never broke up. They were in complete sync. She could taste the champagne in his lips and her hands were traveling through his hair, she missed it so much. His hands stayed on her waist at the beginning, then they traveled through her body and stopped on her back.
“Kie,” Sarah opens the door of the hall that leads to the balcony. JJ and Kiara jumped and broke the kiss. Both breathless and lips swollen. “I knew it.” The blonde screams.
JJ and Kie share a smirk, both his cheeks burning. His hands quickly were around her waist, like he wanted to protect her from something. God, she missed his touch.
“What’s happening here?” John B appears behind her, looking worried at his (now) wife. Followed by Pope, Cleo and Whezzie.
“JJ and Kie are back together.” She points to the two of them. The couple in question was quiet, only catching their breath. The rest of the group looks at them.
“We haven’t discussed that further.” JJ said. She could see he was still a little insecure. She grabs his hand and squeezes to reassure him that she really means what she said.
Their friends laugh. “Yeah, you seemed really busy when I got here.” Sarah added
“So you guys actually want something?” JJ says, rubbing his forehead. He was trying to get rid of his friends. She chuckles, putting her face further in the crock of his neck. His hand quickly find the back of her neck.
“They are back.” Pope said, gesturing his hands to them.
“Shut up.” JJ says and everyone laughs. Kie smiles, and gives him a light kiss in his clavícule.
FOUR YEARS LATER
“John B, help me please.” Sarah called for her husband.
“What’s wrong babe?” He enters the run with a worried expression.
“You think this is good?” She points to the table that she’s been setting for twenty minutes now.
“It’s perfect. That’s why you called me?” He crosses his arms. “You know they don’t care about this.”
“They haven’t been here in four years. This dinner has to be perfect.” She tells him.
“It is going to be, babe.” He kisses the top of her head.
“Daddy,” the toddler calls her dad.
“That’s me.” John B says and runs to the other room.
The doorbell rings and Sarah goes to the door as fast as she can, but being seven months pregnant made it hard to run. “Hey!” She smiles as soon as she opens the door.
“Hey Sare!” Kiara smiles and hugs her friend.
“I’ve missed you.” She tells the brunette
“Me too.” She answers in the crock of her neck
“I’m feeling a little left out here.” JJ says, with a fake pout in his face. Kiara breaks the hug and looks at him
“Hey JJ.” Sarah hugs him. “I’ve missed you too.” She tells
“But not as much as kie, huh?!” He said breaking the hug, and looking at his girlfriend.
“Sorry big brother.” She taps his arm, making Kiara laugh. “Come on in.” She steps inside the house, giving room for them to enter after her.
“Where’s John B?” JJ asks, looking around the house
“Babe?” Sarah calls. Quickly, Aurora, their daughter, comes from her room running. John B was right behind her.
“Rory, look who’s here.” She points to JJ and Kie, who are waving at the girl. The girl smiled and ran to Kie’s arms.
“Hi sweetie.” Kiara hugs her, lifting her up.
“I think no one missed me.” JJ says
“Well, I did. The Chateau-“ John B says
“Bree, please.” JJ gets close to his friend and places his hand on his shoulder. “Let’s not talk about work right now.”
“Fine.”
Sarah turned to watch her daughter and Kiara interaction, when she saw a ring on Kiara’s finger. One that was never there before. A silver one with a big diamond on it. “Oh my god.” She says out loud, making John B and JJ look at her.
“You’re okay?” He said, searching for something that could be hurting her. Kiara got up from her spot, and quickly JJ was next to her again.
“When were you two gonna tell us?” JJ tilts his head, then Sarah points to Kiara's finger.
They share a look, and chuckle. “Well,” the brunette starts. JJ grabs her hand. “We were going to wait until dinner, but since you already saw it-“
“I told she would see.” JJ adds, getting closer to his fiancé.
“Jage. Not the time.” She turns to him.
Sarah gives them a big smile and goes to hug them. “Please tell me the wedding is in at least a year. After the baby is born.” JJ and Kiara chuckles.
“Actually, we were hoping to get married in the courthouse tomorrow.” JJ says.
“But-“ Sarah starts, but Kie interrupts her
“You know I don’t want a party.” She tilts her head to her friend.
She sighs. “Fine. But we are having a big dinner. And we are buying you a dress...” She wraps her arms on Kie’s and pulls her through the house, still telling her about the wedding plans. Kiara only nodded and smiles.