As John B drove through the familiar streets of The Cut, Anessa leaned back in her seat, enjoying the cool breeze flowing in through the open windows. The warmth of the sun and the lingering buzz of adrenaline made her feel more alive than ever. These wild escapes, the thrill of just narrowly avoiding trouble, it was all part of what made their lives so exhilarating. The Twinkie hummed beneath them as it trundled down the road, carrying the five friends away from their latest adventure back to the Chateau, their sanctuary.

It was where John B lived and grew up and despite his father gone, he still stayed there. He claimed that he had a family member checking in on him often and visiting him so child services wouldn't get involved. But in reality, no there was no family. And unlike many people he still believed his dad was still out there. While everyone else thought he was dead, he believed otherwise. And Anessa had always believed him, despite some people in the group doubting it. She had grown up alongside him and knew how his dad was. She had hope that he wasn't dead, but there was a small part, the tiniest bit, that doubted it. But she always held onto the belief that he was alive, especially for John B's sake.

The rest of the group didn't live there, but the Chateau was the unofficial home base for all of them. They spent more time there than they did at their actual homes, and it had become a safe haven for all of them. It was a place where they could let their guard down, a place where they could truly be themselves without worrying about what other people might think. They had shared memories, both good and bad, and the Chateau was the physical representation of those memories. The weathered wooden walls and the creaky floors told the story of the years they had spent together, growing up and finding their place in the world. They had made the Chateau their own, decorating the walls with their artwork and adding their personal touches wherever they could. 

The place was a little run-down, but it was theirs, and it would always be their home.

Anessa's gaze fell on the photo booth picture strips that were taped to the dashboard, a fond smile appearing on her face. The pictures were of the whole group, a few from a long time ago, and some more recent ones. She had always liked looking at them, remembering all the times they had together. John B caught her looking at the pictures, and a fond smile appeared on his face too. He knew how much she liked those pictures and the memories associated with them.

She had been the one to tape the photo strips to the dashboard, claiming that they should always remember the memories. It had become a tradition to put new ones up whenever they took new ones. The dashboard may also be covered in random stickers too and once again-because of Anessa. She loved stickers so much that she couldn't resist buying them whenever she saw a cute one. And John B loved the way her face would light up whenever she would decorate whatever she thought needed a sticker.

John B glances at her again, his grin never fading as he drove. "You're thinking about the stickers again, aren't you?" He teased, eyes flicking from the road to her face.

Anessa chuckles and nods, twirling the lollipop in her mouth. "Of course I am. You know me and my love for stickers."

"You mean obsession." JJ teased from the back, letting out a dramatic 'ow' when Anessa had tossed something she grabbed from her bag at him. She had grabbed the closest thing in her bag-a pack of gum-and tossed it in JJ's direction.

"It's called being creative, JJ. You wouldn't understand." Anessa said with a playful smirk, earning a chuckle from everyone in the van. "Besides, you guys would be lost without 'em!" She added, glancing back at John B as a grin replaced her smirk.

"Without you." John B corrected her, his tone light, but the sincerity in his words wasn't lost on her. They shared a quick glance, a wordless understanding passing between them. John B's gaze turned soft and affectionate as he looked at her, a gentle warmth spreading through his chest. Anessa wasn't sure why but the way the sun shone through the window and hit John B's face in that moment made her pause. There was something peaceful about it, like time slowed down for just a second.

Her heart beat a little faster as she stared at him, drinking in the sight of his tanned skin and sun-bleached hair. The warm sunlight made his skin glow, and the gentle breeze ruffled his hair, causing strands of it to fall into his face. She resisted the sudden urge to brush them away, not wanting to disturb the moment. Her cheeks were flushed, and she could feel her stomach fluttering with butterflies. She didn't know why she was suddenly feeling this way. 

She had always thought John B was attractive, but now the feelings seemed to run deeper, more intense than before. She found herself captivated by him in a way she hadn't realized until just now. Maybe it was the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline from their latest adventure, or the intimacy of the van filled with her closest friends. Whatever it was, something had shifted. John B noticed her staring and gave her a small, teasing smile, the corner of his lips quirking up in that signature way that always made her heart skip. 

"What's that look for?" He asked, his voice light but curious.

Anessa blinks, shaking herself out of her thoughts. "Nothing," She said quickly, hoping her cheeks weren't as red as they felt. She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing her eyes to stay on the road ahead. She was grateful that the others were talking, keeping their attention off of her and John B. "Just thinking about where we're going next."

John B didn't seem convinced, but he didn't push her any further. He glances at the road ahead, his mind running wild with different ideas of what their next adventure would be. "Any suggestions?"

Anessa pondered for a moment, chewing on the end of the lollipop before popping the sweet out of her mouth. "Might be time for a little fishing, don't you think?"

"Oh yeah. We're way past due for some fishing." John B agreed, nodding his head with a grin.

Words of agreement are heard from their friends and Anessa turned her gaze to look out the window, though he couldn't help but steal a glance at her again before looking back at the road. He couldn't quite shake the feeling that something was different. Anessa had always been one of his closest friends, someone he could rely on, but lately, there was something more between them-something unspoken. As much as he tried to play it cool, he couldn't deny the way his heart raced whenever their eyes met or the warm comfort he felt just being around her.

And in that moment, as the afternoon sun shone through the window, creating a golden halo around her dark curls and making his breath catch in his throat, he realized he was in deeper than he thought. John B had always felt close to Anessa, like she was an essential part of his life. But now, sitting next to her in the van, her laughter filling the small space, it felt different. There was a new tension in the air-an unspoken connection that went beyond friendship. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the way his heart reacted whenever she was near made it clear something was changing.

Anessa seemed oblivious to the shift, or maybe she was just hiding it better than he was. She continued to gaze out the window, her lips forming a soft smile as the trees blurred by. Her fingers absentmindedly traced one of the stickers she'd placed on the dashboard months ago. He wanted to say something, to test the waters, but the moment felt too delicate, too precious to break with words. So he let it sit between them, hoping that whatever this was would last longer than just a moment and that maybe she was feeling the same way.

****

After a successful day of fishing and being out on the water, the gang hung out and did their own thing. They all ended up staying the night, some having hangovers in the morning and some not. John B wasn't surprised to find JJ hooking up with a touron that morning. A touron is a tourist that visits the Outer Banks, and the word is used commonly to describe them.

John B greeted a half awake Kiara on the pull out couch before stepping outside and greeting a somewhat awake Pope on the couch out on the porch. He didn't have to go looking to know where Anessa was. His lips curved up at seeing her on a hammock out front, still asleep. The brunette-haired girl had an arm resting behind her head, a leg sticking out and the other tucked up. Her dark curly hair was splayed around her head and her lips were slightly parted. Her brows were relaxed, and her expression was peaceful. She had a blanket on her, but it looked like it was about to fall off. John B's smile grew, and he quietly stepped over to the hammock and gently moved her leg back in the hammock.

Anessa stirred a little, and her brows furrowed a bit before relaxing again. John B let out a chuckle, scooting her gently so there's enough room for him to join. She stirred again, but only to scoot closer to him when he got comfortable. She now was on her side, head on her chest and arms tucked under her. John B pulled the blanket over them, making sure it wouldn't fall and that it covered them both. 

He wrapped an arm around her, his fingertips lightly tracing patterns along her shoulder. His lips found the top of her head, placing a soft kiss before settling in and leaning his head on the pillow. He closed his eyes, basking in the warmth of the early morning sun and the presence of the sleeping girl in his arms. He listened to her steady breathing, a small smile appearing on his face.

He and Anessa often ended up sharing a bed or a hammock after a late night of hanging out. It wasn't a strange thing to see, and no one even batted an eye at it. They were all used to seeing it, John B and Anessa had a unique bond and were like attached at the hip. So seeing them cuddling wasn't new. John B's free hand slid up to her hair where he began to gently untangle the knots in her hair. His fingers combed through her curls, slowly working out the tangles and smoothing the strands. He couldn't resist running his fingers through her hair, it was something he had done since they were kids and now it was just a habit. Plus she loved it when he played with her hair and vice versa.

After a while, he was finally able to work out all the knots, leaving her hair smooth and untangled. He then slid his hand down to the small of her back, his fingers idly drawing circles on her skin. Her shirt had ridden up a little during the night from her tossing and turning and John B took advantage of it, his fingertips lightly tracing the exposed skin. A small shiver ran through her, and he smiled. She always did love skin on skin contact, whether it was a simple touch or a full-on cuddle session.

Anessa stirs, burying her face in his neck. "Hmm, what's new time is it?" She sleepily mumbled, her voice muffled and her breath tickling his neck.

"Early. Go back to sleep, bubs." John B replied, his voice quiet as to not disturb the peace of the morning.

She hummed in response, not needing any more convincing as her breathing slowly evened out. She was asleep again in no time, her body curling up against him and her hand gripping his shirt. He let out a content sigh, closing his eyes and holding her closer. The warmth of the morning sun and the familiarity of her body against his lulled him back into a peaceful slumber, a soft smile playing on his lips as he drifted off.

Anessa woke up first the second time, her nose buried in his neck. She slowly blinked awake, disoriented and a bit groggy. She pulled back a bit, a yawn escaping her lips as she rubbed her eyes. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but she could make out the shape of the boy beneath her. She felt his steady breathing, a hand pressed against her lower back. She let out a small yawn, laying back down and nuzzling his neck. He was warm, and his scent was comforting. She didn't want to get up just yet. The early morning sun was streaming through the windows, and the birds were chirping outside. She felt at peace, like nothing else mattered but this moment.

"Good morning, bubs." John B mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. He was still half-asleep, his eyelids heavy. He didn't want to get up either, not when she was pressed against him like this. He could feel her heartbeat, her warmth. He didn't want this moment to end.

"Morning." Anessa mumbled back, her voice equally as sleepy. She snuggled closer, her eyes falling shut again. She felt so safe in his arms, like the world outside didn't exist. The soft rise and fall of his chest beneath her, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, was all she needed in that moment.

John B let out a small, contented sigh, his hand gently tracing circles on her back. "We could stay here all day, you know. No rush."

Anessa smiles sleepily, her lips brushing his neck as she mumbled, "Tempting...But we probably should get up eventually." Her words were half-hearted, though, and they both knew neither of them was eager to move just yet.

"Eventually," John B echoes with a grin, his voice barely above a whisper. "But not right now."

She hummed in agreement, her body completely relaxed against his. The sunlight filtering through the curtains warmed the room just enough to make the bed feel like a cocoon of comfort. Outside, the birds continued to chirp, and the soft breeze rustled the leaves, but inside their little bubble, time seemed to slow down.

"Five more minutes." She whispered, her voice fading as she drifted back into the peaceful rhythm of their quiet morning.

John B smiles fondly, his eyes closing once more as he held her close. "Five more minutes." He agreed, though in his heart, he hoped this moment would last forever.

****

(anessa's outfit for this part of the chapter)

After a nice, relaxing, lazy day, the group decided to have a bonfire. Anessa smiled as she chatted with her friends though her gaze drifted to John B, who was sitting by himself and staring out at the ocean. Anessa frowned, concern growing within her. She had noticed he seemed a little off all day, not as talkative or upbeat as usual. She didn't know if it was just because he was tired or if something was bothering him, but she had a feeling it had something to do with his dad.

She got off the log she sat on by Pope, patting his shoulder before heading over to John B. Her footsteps were silent on the soft sand, but he seemed to sense her approach, glancing up with a sad smile. "Hey, bubs."

"Hey, JB." Anessa returned, her tone matching his as she sat down beside him, the sand soft beneath her. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the waves roll in and the sunset painting the sky.

"Everything okay?" She asked gently, her eyes flickering to his face.

He nods, though the sadness doesn't leave his eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired."

"Are you sure its just that? You seem a little off today." Anessa said softly, nudging him with her shoulder with a reassuring smile. "You can talk to me, you know."

John B let out a long breath, leaning his head on her shoulder. He stayed like that for a moment, his eyes closed. He was grateful for her presence, her quiet understanding. He didn't have to explain, didn't have to say anything at all, and yet he found himself wanting to open up to her, to share the burden that had been weighing on him all day.

"I guess I'm just thinking about my dad. Can't help it. I know everyone says he's dead, but I can't help but hope that he's out there somewhere, you know? That he'll come back someday. I miss him." John B finally admitted, his voice thick with emotion.

Anessa's heart clenched at the raw pain in his voice, the grief etched into his features. She reaches a hand up to run through his soft sandy blonde hair, a familiar and soothing gesture for them both. "Yeah, me too. But even if he's not, you're not alone, JB. You have me and the pogues, and we'll always be here for you. I know its not the same, but you're not alone. Never will be."

John B gave her a soft smile, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thanks, bubs. I know. Same goes to you." He looked back out at the ocean, his head still on her shoulder. She continued to run her fingers through his hair, offering him quiet comfort. They stayed like that, wrapped in the calming sounds of the ocean and the crackle of the bonfire in the distance. The sun had dipped lower, casting hues of orange and pink across the sky, but neither of them seemed in a hurry to move.

They didn't need words, didn't need to fill the silence. The moment was enough. And if John B's hand slipped into Anessa's, their fingers lacing together, well, no one had to know.

A/N ugh anessa & john b are so wholesome I love them so much