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June March was laid across her bed, her eyes resting heavily on the tattered, old piece of paper she had pulled from the office at Harris tailor.  She had pinpointed that the X on the paper was somewhere in the mountains in Virginia, but finding an exact location was more exhausting, so she was mostly trying to see if there was anything else she had missed.

Her phone chimed on her pillow and she looked back at it, deciding she would leave it and continue on with  what she was doing. However it was not even a minute later before there was a chiming through the house, the doorbell having been rung. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and she looked back, seeing that it was almost 10 pm. She looked back at the map and then slowly pushed herself up, her eyebrows still pulled together as she stood from the bed. She started towards the bedroom door but felt a jolt in her stomach, her head turning to look back at the map that was on the bed. Her perpetual sense of paranoia convinced her to walk back to the bed, grabbing the piece of paper and putting it back in the bag. She searched for a good hiding place as the doorbell chimed again, her heart rate increasing as she grew a sense of fear. It was late, she was home alone...it could be anyone. An array of faces that meant to harm her flashed across her eyes and she felt a pit of fear in her stomach, the girl finally tucking the map away into a crevice between the back of her vanity mirror and the wall.

The doorbell rang a third time and June felt for a moment like her heart was going to explode, the girl hurrying towards the door and down the stairs. It was true that she was afraid, her house seemed to be commonplace for attackers and yet logically none  of them would use the doorbell. She still was nervous.

She gripped the door handle, pulling it open with a fearful look. The fear melted away when she saw who it was, a spark in her chest making her light up at the sight of him. JJ Maybanks eyes trailed over her the instant she came into view, his lips turning up into one of his infamous grins.

"What are you doing here?" June asked, the genuine overall joy in her face making him  more confident in himself. She moved to the side, suggesting with her body that he come inside. However he stayed on the porch, his face scrunching as he spoke.

"I was wondering if you had had anything to eat yet? And then you weren't answering your texts so I got worried...but you seem fine." June tilted her head at his words, wondering what exactly he was asking her. "Do you wanna go eat with me?"

"Of course I'll go eat with you." She said, her lips still holding a smile. She started to turn away from him, hoping to go get shoes but before she could fully turn he leaped forwards in a panicked way, June looking back at him.

"Wait." He said, the girl looking confused as she gave him her full attention. "A kiss?"

June chuckled at his request, grabbing him by the cheek with one hand and pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. She moved back and his hands followed her, a whine leaving his lips as she started off, attempting to grab some shoes to wear.

"Do I need to change?" She asked, pushing a pair of sandals onto her feet. She turned around and he was studying her like a painting, his eyes narrowed and a hand under his chin as he tilted his head at her. She was wearing a tank top and a pair of running shorts, his head shaking as he took a few steps back towards the door.

"I mean you could wear nothing...I'm cool with it but I don't know how others would react."June rolled her eyes at his suggestive comment, her lips parting as she looked out the front door to see that he was commandeering the Twinkie. So this entire event was secretly approved by John B...it would be impossible to keep this a secret apparently.

"Let's go." She said, shaking her head at him and walking out of the front door. He closed it behind him, rushing to catch up with her so that he could have his hands on her in some way or another. He chose to knit their fingers together, June absentmindedly accepting the gesture while it meant the world to JJ. She went the extra step, crossing their arms and pulling herself into his side, her head leaning on his shoulder for a moment. "Where are we eating?"

"It's a surprise. The location is a surprise, but I cheffed the food up myself...it's in the back." June stared at JJ for a moment, processing the words and then she slowly turned her head, eyeing a literal picnic basket and blinking a few times. The effort was cute, but she almost wondered if eating a JJ concoction would be safe for her.

"Oh so we're gonna get food poisoning?" She said with a toothy grin, her head turning back to the boy as he considered her words. There was always the possibility, he wasn't the best cook.

"Well...John ate some of it so I think it's okay."

"For some reason that doesn't make me feel better." June laughed out, her hand leaving her lap and going to grip his. He felt his heart skip a beat as their hands knitted together, the girl pulling his hand into her lap. He watched as the wind blew through her hair and she looked out the window, his eyes soon returning to road in an attempt to refocus on the task at hand.

"I followed a Martha Stewart recipe and everything dude I'm pretty sure it's gonna taste like she made it herself." He said defiantly, June nodding as she remained not fully convinced. A tiny laugh escaped her lips and she lifted her hand to cover it, JJ shaking his head as she made fun of him.

"Confidence is key." She assured him, the boy shaking his head with a hidden smile of his own. They settled into a silence, the radio playing soft music in the air between them as the wind whipped through the van. JJ could feel his fast heartbeat pounding against his ribcage, wondering if this is what normal felt like with her. Going on dates, holding hands in the car. He loved it. And he loved her. "So what'd you tell him so you could get the Twinkie?"

"I told him that I was going to your house to try and convince you to love me again and he told me I was an idiot but also to ride on. So I guess he hasn't figured it out yet. But I don't know how much longer—"

"Midsummers is in 2 weeks. I think we can hold out till then." June said, her eyes on the road. JJs head turned and he gave her a longing glance, full of yearning and a bit of sorrow at the fact she was so hellbent on hiding them. He really didn't want to, but he would do whatever she wanted as long as it meant she was happy. So he would continue on. But hiding it from John B was harder than anything really, the boy was like a JJ lie detector, and so he had to be careful when explaining himself so that he could say things as half truths. It was the only way to keep him at bay. Telling John B he was coming to woo her wasn't a lie, it was the truth. Therefore he didn't have to lie.

"You know I heard this clever saying from a really really awesome guy it goes something like 'deny, deny, deny'. Honestly the dudes a genius...I don't know, just my opinion." June chuckled a little as he parked the car, nodding her head at the boy who wanted to be patted on the back.  He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned towards her, pulling her by the hand so that she'd meet him halfway. She did, the girl putting a hand in the back of his neck and pressing a kiss to his lips. She went to pull back but he followed her, his head tilting slightly so he could  really indulge in the kiss. Finally he pulled back, an excitable smile on his face as he climbed past her and into the back, the girl pulling the door open and getting out. He busted out of the sliding door with the basket in hand, looking thrilled for what lied ahead. The sound of rushing waves and the fact that June could literally see the beach is what made her aware of where exactly they were to be eating, her lips turning up into a smile. Every time she was on the beach now it just reminded her of the island,and most of the time it would send a shudder down her spine, but it didn't this time, probably because he was here, and even on the island...he made everything bearable. "Come on Carly."

When June looked back at him she had to hold in a laugh, the boy holding way to me things for him to handle. He had a gigantic blanket, the basket, a speaker, some candles, and a grocery bag full of god only knows what. June moved to help him but he turned away, a yell emitting from his lips.

"No! You're not helping me...this is my surprise to you and I'm not going to make you do manual labor for it. Just walk. Walk before my fingers break!" June immediately started walking, her lips pursed as she looked back to check on him every few moments. He struggled when her back was turned but smiled wide when she looked back, his arms feeling like they might fall off. However he knew exactly where he wanted to have this food, the boy rushing past her on the sand and getting to the spot. He dropped most of the stuff into the sand and then laid the blanket out perfectly in the sand. He then pulled literal rocks from the grocery bag, pinning down the corners do the blanket and June wondered if there was anything he hadn't thought of. He lit the candles and hurried them halfway into the sand, the boy setting the rest of the stuff on the blanket and then  looking up at her. June was standing there in some kind of amazement, thinking how sweet it was for  JJ to put so much effort into something so little. He hurried towards her, grabbing both of her hands and pulling her attention from the picnic to his face.  "Listen...I know we're gonna have sand in our ass for days...but I did tell you a long time ago that I wanted to go stargazing with you...and it just felt right to do it from here."

Junes heart contracted at the mention of stargazing, her thoughts traveling back to when they were on the boat, the Coastal Venture. He had thought she was gone and  she didn't even know he was there, and he had told her in desperation all of his deepest desires he had for the two of them. Junes heart melted when he led her to the blanket, the girl feeling flustered over the fact that he remembered, and he was being so sweet.  She wouldn't let a bad thought ruin this night, this night would be perfect.

When they were both seated he pulled the basket open, handing her a plate. She took it happily, thinking that getting food poisoning from whatever he made would be worth the experience of being out here with him. He pulled out a few containers and she watched as he slowly revealed some actual decent looking food, her lips parting when he started to put some of it on her plate. When he finished she  gave him a look, a tiny bit of fear deep in her eyes as he shrugged his shoulders. He pulled some sodas out of the basket and handed her her favorite kind, the girl putting more and more trust into his by the second. She swirled some noodles around her fork and then took a deep breath in, his eyes on her as she prepared to taste his food. She brought the fork to her mouth and when she did she was pleasantly surprised by the flavors, it was good. She chewed and then swallowed, a shocked look on her face as she looked over at him. He looked worried, like he was worried she might punch him in the face for how disgusting it was.

"It's really good." She said in a truthful tone, his eyes widening when he realize she had pleased her. She looked back to her plate and began eating more to convince him and he looked down at his own plate, beginning to eat.

For the next twenty or so minutes they ate and and spoke about the stars. Neither of them had hardly any knowledge of constellations, June only remembered a few that Sarah had told her on a late night a long time ago. When they were finished with their entree he collected the plates, a nervous look on his face as he glanced towards the basket a few times. There was something else in there, but he was unsure how she would perceive it. His eyes went to the water that was a good 40 feet away, the boy swallowing his nervousness and just putting it off for later.

"Wait I think I found it! I found the Little Dipper!" She said, her finger pointing to the sky as she traced the  stars with her finger tip. JJ was pushing himself up, June watching as he stood. For a moment she had no idea what he was doing and then he grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling it over his head and leaving him in just his shorts. June felt a bolt of desire shoot through her and she didn't refrain from checking him out, her stomach knotting as she looked him over. He looked back at her with a smile, his eyes glistening in the moonlight as he accepted the way she was looking at him. He loved it.

"You want some of this?" He asked, holding his hands out to the sides of him as if to show himself off. June leaned forwards, tilting her head a little bit and answering him.

"Yes please." She said it so politely that he almost just gave in and dropped to his knees in front of her, but he  didn't, his ulterior motive guiding him.

"Then come get it. All yours...you just have to follow me—into the water." He started to walk away backwards, hoping to pull her with him. However Junes eyes fell from him to the ocean, the deep, dark, endless ocean that haunted her. She swallowed hard, her gaze finding its way back to him and her head shaking.

"I can watch you...from here." She pat the blanket, not expecting him to understand why she didn't want to go in the water. Those were other own personal issues, she didn't need to tell everyone. He looked disappointed, the boy walking back towards her and grabbing her by the hands. He pulled her up, his arm wrapping around her waist as he pulled their bodies together.

"Come swim with me..." He said in a low and soft tone, his eyes trying to meet hers. She was avoiding eye contact now, not wanting him to see that she was afraid. But then she remembered the mistake they had made the first time around, not being honest, and she looked at him, honesty leaking from her lips.

"I'm scared to go in." She revealed, and JJ furrowed his eyebrows. He remembered when they had went surfing and she didn't want to go in either, they all had to convince her and even then she was rigid and terrified. He wondered if he had just never noticed this, or if it was new. He didn't want to kill the light hearted mood so he wound a smile back onto his face and shook his head at her.

"If a shark tries to get you I swear to god I'll knock the shark out. I'll Mike Tyson like scorpion punch it and it'll never try and eat another person again I swear. Just come into the water with me. I swear I'll protect you." It wasn't about sharks but she knew she didn't want to correct him, the boy pulling back and using his hand to grip her wrist. He waited for her to say whether or not she was coming, his words ringing around her head. He would protect her...surely he wouldn't let her drown. This was another mistake they had made the first time around...trust. She had to trust him. So she did.

"Okay." She whispered back to him, nodding her head so he could see her decision. Although she was still afraid she reached for the bottom of her shirt and pulled it off, leaving her in her bra. JJ watched her carefully as she pushed her shorts down, leaving her in a makeshift bathing suit. He felt overdressed now, the boy unbuttoning his shorts and pulling them off, the two of them looking at each other with their hands on their hips for a moment.

"What would you do if I actually did get into a boxing match with a shark?" He asked, his hands still on his hips as he stood in his boxers. Junes eyebrows furrowed for a moment as she thought about it and then she answered.

"Probably record it." He considered her answer, his lips pursing for a moment before he moved back towards the blanket, reaching into the basket and pulling something out.

"Yeah you're right...keep the phone on the blanket just in case, you never know when jaws might strike y'know?" He threw his phone in the edge of the blanket as she laughed, shaking her head a she started towards her. His arm wrapped around her and they took off towards the water, June attempting to not feel like her lungs were going to collapse from touching it. It was warm, JJs grip moving from her hip to her hand as he clasped their fingers together.  "Carly look."

June turned her head and he splashed her, a dramatic gasp leaving her lips. She had no choice but to splash him back, the boy mumbling something about it being on. He used his arm to splash her this time, their laughter echoing over the sand and through the beach.  For the first time in a long time they reveled in the joy of being together and being 17, no gold, no treasure, just the summer fun they were supposed to have.

"Carly watch! Watch! I'm gonna do a backflip!" She watched as he attempted a flip, a gasp leaving her lips when he didn't even make it halfway. She hurried over to him and tried to hold back a smile as he groaned in pain, her stomach bubbling with laughter. "I think my heart hit my balls."

"How does that even work?" She held him like he was being baptized in the water, her arm under his neck as he let out another small groan of pain.

"I don't know but I think I need mouth to mouth, my lungs are feeling relinquished. I need air." His voice was a hoarse whisper, and she knew what he was attempting with this. She rolled her eyes and pushed some wet hair out of his face, letting do of him and making him stand.

"I think your lungs are fine. You're talking." She said, JJ reaching out and pulling her back to him as she started to swim away. His stomach pressed against her back and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pressing a wet kiss tit he side of her head as they face the ocean.

"Oh my god...cant we just make out?" June giggled at his question, his face burying in her neck as the water pushed at their waists. The ocean was pretty calm tonight, no really big waves other than the ones at the shore,the ones that were always there. She turned in his arms and grabbed him by the head, her thumb running over his cheekbone as he was forced to look at her. She pressed their foreheads together for only a moment before she pulled back and smiled, the boy feeling an itch in his heart at the sight of it. He was amazed by her, entranced...he felt like his entire body was screaming just at the slightest touch. He wanted nothing more than her, and he was glad he had finally gotten that part right. The biggest truth he had ever uncovered about himself was the fact that he was made for June March, even if she wasn't made for him. He wasn't a big believer in soulmates and stuff like that, but if it did exist he knew this his soul was tied to hers indefinitely, and he didn't know if that was something that could ever be changed. No matter every bad decision he made it would always come back to her. Always.

"Thank you for tonight...it means a lot." She said to him, pressing a kiss to his lips, just a peck. When she pulled back this time he had the second most passionate look in his blue eyes that she had ever seen, shirt stomach dropping into a  pit as she realized how much she really did love him.

"I have something else...in the basket." He said, sounding almost nervous. June let go of his head and gave him a curious look, his lips pulling to the side for a moment before he let out a huff and started towards the beach. She held his hand as they walked back to shore, fighting the water that wanted to pull them back out. JJ wasn't sure why he was so nervous, maybe it was because he didn't know how she would feel about it,  maybe it was because it was a risky gesture...he didn't know. They approached the blanket and he handed her a towel from the grocery bag, June using it to dry herself off the best she could before she sat back onto the blanket. He sat beside her, the basket sitting in front of the two of them. His heart was racing as she waited patiently for him to pull the basket open. He did, trying not to let his heart explode from how hard it was pounding. "Close your eyes."

June sighed but complied, following her eyes and covering them with her hands. She buried her face in her knees as she tried to use her ears to find out what was going on. There was rustling of the grocery bag, the sound of his lighter clicking...she wasn't entirely sure what was happening actually.

"Okay...you can open them." June opened her eyes slowly, first looking at JJ and then looking down at his hands. Her lips parted and she felt her heart stop as she looked at what he held.

In his hands was a frosted pink cake, two candles sticking out of the top of it with a 1 and a 7. She could tell it was homemade of course but that just made it even more special, the cake leaving her speechless. This was not just a cake...it was the cake.

"JJ..." She said, her heart outpouring with love as she tried to find the words to describe the fact that this meant the world to her. This was everything she had ever wanted, this was sweeter than anything she could ever imagine. This cake was almost worth everything that had happened, and he was worth it all.

"You wanted it...so I made you one. Sorry if it's not great but I just wanted you to feel special. Happy late birthday." He said, the boy holding the cake up towards her as the candles burned. Through the flickering of the candles they looked at each other, and that was when it happened. It felt like the Earth shifted, like planets aligned and every sign in the planet pointed directly to him. She loved him, she loved him, she loved him. She couldn't stop. She watched as he spoke again but she couldn't hear him, her eyes couldn't leave him as she blew out the candles but she didn't even  make a wish because it had already come true. Her wish was him, her wish was that he was different and that they would be okay...and they would be. She would make sure of it. "It's funfetti by the way...just so—"

Once he had sat the cake back down into the blanket she tackled him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he let out a short yell. She looked down at him and kissed him immediately, not even giving him time to breathe. He accepted it with a smile, glad that she liked the cake instead do the alternative option that she hated the gesture and that he was terrible for bringing it back up. She pulled back with a smile and she grabbed him by the face,  running her thumb over his bottom lip and giving him the most authentically happy look she had had in almost an entire year.

"I love you J...I really do."  They stayed in the perfect moment for a few minutes, JJ feeling like he had conquered the hardest obstacle he had ever been faced with. She said it...she loved him back.  And there was not a single thing he would ever think to do to change that again. Never again. "Now cut me a piece of cake, fat ass."

They laughed as they sat back up, the boy reaching for the cake as he moved in a trance. He was too overcome with devotion and love to really focus on anything but her, the boy pulling the candles out of the cake and cutting them both a slice. And the cake was good too...surprisingly.

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I love them.