——

Emelina sat at her window, her mind replaying the argument she had with a certain blonde boy that happened a few hours prior. She couldn't believe the words that were exchanged. And she couldn't believe she opened up to him during that situation.

Standing up from her seated position, she walked over to the white dresser and on the surface laid JJ's sage green cap. She had taken it the night they all danced at The Wreck, and she never returned it.

A few taps kept clicking at her window. Confused, she got up and opened it to find no other than JJ himself at the bottom of the lawn, his hands behind his back staring up at her.

She rolled her eyes, aiming to shut the window but his voice stopped her from doing so. "Wait, stop! Come on, can't you hear me out?"

"I've heard enough of you today." she told him, anger radiating off of her.

JJ sighed, flipping his red cap to the other side so his eyes weren't covered. His other hand stayed securely behind his back, "Look, I shouldn't have said the things I've said."

"Yeah, you shouldn't have. Are you done?" Emelina kept her hands on the window, threatening to close it down. Why did he come here? Does he expect me to forgive him? Emelina thought to herself.

"Can you come down? I've got somethin'." JJ pulled out a pink rose from behind his back, the stem torn at the bottom. Emelina pursed her lips trying desperately not to let a smile crack through. "Where'd you steal that from?" she asked him.

"What makes you think I stole it?"

"Because I walk through my neighbor's garden all the time. I know what flowers she plants." Emelina told JJ and he sighed, twirling the rose with his fingers. "Just come down."

Exhaling a breath, she obliged. She made her way down the stairs and out the door where she met with the pretty blonde boy. "Just because you stole a rose for me, doesn't mean I forgive you." she stated, taking the flower from his fingertips.

He licked his lips, growing silent. He's not used to this type of thing. He felt bad, but his way of dealing with problems was not like this. JJ knew Kiara wouldn't speak to him if he hasn't resolved this but he also felt drawn here. There's something special about the girl in front of him, and he was too scared to touch her because with every waking moment, he was ruining her.

"I didn't come for forgiveness, Em." he responded softly. The name he calls her was starting to warm her heart the way it used to when Topper said it, but she would never dare to admit it. She blinked a few times, waiting for him to continue.

He took a deep breath, "From the start, Kie had always admired you. She never said one bad thing, and I... I ignored them. I created my own thoughts in my head."

"Because I'm a Kook?" she cut him off and he nodded, "Yes. Because you're a Kook," JJ repeated, "and you were right about what you said earlier. You haven't proved that you're just like them—you're nothing like them and I guess I thought it was too good to be true."

Emelina soaked in every word he said. Hearing that from him felt so surreal to her. JJ, in front of her house taking back the harsh words he said to her earlier? She wondered what happened to his pride, but she didn't want to comment on it and wanted to cherish this moment instead.

"Thank you, JJ." Her voice came out soft, almost like a whisper. She brought the rose to her nose, inhaling the pure smell it gave out. It was a sweet gesture, even though he probably didn't intentionally meant to give it to her.

"Can you tell me exactly what you did to Topper's boat?" she asked, bringing the rose down from her face.

With a sigh, he replied, "I didn't do it. Pope did, but I told him to do it."

"Pope did it?" Emelina widened her eyes, blinking for a few seconds because it was not a Pope activity.

"Look, if Topper comes up to you. Deny it at all cost." JJ put his hand on her shoulder and that forced her eyes into his. "Of course. I wouldn't say a thing."

——

"Oh, and can you promise me one thing?" JJ whispered to Emelina as he held the icebox and she held some beach chairs for movie night. "Depends on what it is." she replied back, looking at Kiara and Pope from behind.

"Don't tell anyone what happened earlier. It'll mess up my ego." JJ joked, but she knew there was some seriousness behind his words.

"What? I can't even tell Marylin?" Emelina pouted and he rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed." She motioned locking her lips with a key, but it was a struggle when she's carrying two chairs.

Kiara's voice broke them out of their small conversation, "I'm so glad that they're still doing this." she said from ahead and Emelina can picture her smile. "Keep clam. Carry on. Back to OBX life. Aren't you guys glad I made you come?"

"Ecstatic." Pope replied sarcastically and they finally found a spot, plopping everything on the ground. "I am, actually." Emelina smiled and pulled out one of the chairs.

This time last year, she was with Topper and all his friends. But here, she could finally feel blessed to be doing this with her new friends.

"My couch was pretty comfy, I'll be honest." JJ replied, earning rolled eyes from both Emelina and Kiara.

"I'm going to get some drinks. Anyone want anything?" Kiara asked, pulling out her wallet from her bag. "Just get us all Pepsi." JJ answered and Kie nodded, walking away from the their spot.

Four chairs were set out. Two in front of the other two. Emelina sat in one of the front chairs whereas JJ sat behind her, and Pope next to him. All Emelina heard was Pope panicking about being here with all the Kooks.

"We're out of the green zone, man." She heard Pope lower his voice to JJ. "Dude, tranquilo, okay?" JJ told him and Emelina smiled to herself, continuing to listen on.

"We're in the middle of Kooklandia." Pope said, "This is the last place I wanted to be."

"Relax," Emelina butt herself in, "as long as you're with me, they won't do anything." she said and JJ nodded, glancing at Pope to give him reassurance.

Pope, now with widened eyes, looked over at JJ. "You told her?!"

"No, she found out. We'll be all right, man." JJ answered and Pope sunk back into his chair and huffed.

Kiara came back with the Pepsis and handed them to everyone. "Just saw Rafe, and he said, and I quote, 'Tell your boy that we know what he did' What is that?"

Emelina turned her head to the boys, pretending to be clueless to see what excuse they can make. "Um... Where is he?" JJ asked, flipping his red cap forward this time.

"Right there." Kiara moved her body, and all three of them copied her movement. Rafe, Topper and Kelce were all there by the trees sipping on their drinks. Emelina caught a small grin from Topper's lips when they made eye contact. She inhaled a breath, immediately turning her attention back to the front.

"Great, the whole death squad. Ah!" Pope said, fear coating his voice. "Don't stare, bro." JJ used his hands to spin Pope's head back around. "Just warning you, bro. If they corner me, I'm coming out swinging, okay?" JJ looked at him, "Slice and dicin'. I'm on edge right now."

"If that doesn't work, I got this right here." JJ held up his bag and Emelina widened her eyes. "Are you serious, JJ?" she whispered harshly and he gave her a look, shrugging.

"Yeah, yeah. So, we just gotta stay in the group.They can't get us in the group." Pope nodded. "Yeah, plus Em still has that boy whipped. One look and he'll be on his knees for her." JJ stated, taking a sip of his freshly canned soda and that earned a small punch to his leg from her.

Kiara, processing what she had just listened to, looked at her friend. "I'm sorry, JJ... Please tell me that you did not bring a gun here. JJ, there are kids!"

"No! Kie, I didn't bring the gun. Everything's fine, okay?" JJ assured her, but it didn't help the current situation at all. "Wow, thank you. That's really convincing. I love that, JJ." Kie nodded her head, glaring her eyes into JJ's.

"Founding principle, you guys. No secrets amongst Pogues. What is Rafe talking about?" Kie demanded and Emelina continued to sip on her Pepsi, watching the scene unravel. She hoped the boys told her the truth. She would hate to lie to Kiara if they hadn't but it wasn't her secret to share.

"Kie, it might go down tonight." Pope told her. Kiara raised her eyebrows, "'Might go down tonight' What did y'all do?"

——

a/n i love enemies to lovers sm and i would've made them enemies a tad bit longer but there's only ten eps and the ideas i have planned don't really correspond with the current timeline so i had to speed it up sorry yall </3 but there's still slow burn yup