Outer Banks (JJ Maybank x Reader) Book 1

The Chase

JJ and I glance over the edge of the water together. My hand rests on the side of the boat, tapping nervously, and JJ's hand covers mine. "Shit, guys," Pope says urgently. We turn to the whoop of a cop's boat heading towards us. "Guys, that's the police," JJ says. "Oh, you gotta be kidding me," I sigh. "Yup, that's the police," JJ says as the boat comes closer. "Just, act frickin' normal," Kiara says, leaning against the side of the boat.

"Evening, officers," Pope says as their boat stops next to ours. "Hey," The female one says. "Evening," The male says. "Here," The woman says, handing Pope a rope across the boats. "JJ, y/n, tie this off," He says, tossing it to us. We get to work, tying their boat to ours. "How you kids doin'?" The sheriff asks, taking off his sunglasses. "You know the marsh is closed?" He asks. "No," I say, shaking my head along with JJ, acting clueless. "No. Wow," Pope says. "I didn't know that."

"Why's it closed?" Pope asks, scratching his head. "Well, we're conducting a search out here. Boat went down," The officers says. "Oh," We say. "You see anything?" He asks. "No," I say. "Nope," JJ shakes his head. "No boats," Pope shakes his head.

"Where's your friend you always hang with? Your brother?" He asks, nodding to me. "He here?" He asks. JJ shakes his head slightly. "He's working," Kie answers. The officers eye us suspiciously. "I'm gonna check your little boat out," He says finally. "Yeah," JJ nods, moving over so he can get on. "Yeah, hop aboard," Pope nods. "You wanna check it... uh- check her out," Pope nods nervously. "Thank you," He says, looking around. "Uh, you got another one of these?" He asks, holding up a life jacket. "Yeah, yeah," Pope and JJ nod. "Of course, it's uh... it's in the hold," Pope nods. I bite my lip, John B is probably out of air now, he'll have to come back up soon. "Yeah," I agree with a nod. "Show him," Kie says, standing up. She's desperate for them to leave. "Okay," JJ says, lifting up the trapdoor.

"Yeah, here we go," He says, holding up the life jacket. "Alright," The officer nods. "Yeah," JJ nods. We smile, waiting. He walks towards the end of the boat, where John B is probably waiting to come up. "Uh.. be careful," Pope says. "Be careful right there, you don't want to slip," JJ warns. I hold my breath.

The officer looks into the water, stepping onto his boat. I turn to JJ. "Shit," I mouth, gripping his hand tightly to keep myself from shaking. John B either has to come up, or risk running out of air and possibly dying. The officer takes one more look and turns. "Alright," He says. "Alright." "Alright." JJ and Pope echo. "Beautiful day, innit'?" He asks. "Sure is," JJ says, but I can feel his pulse quicken. "Very," Pope nods.

"You let us know if you see anything on your way out," The sheriff says, starting his boat up. "Will do, will do," Pope nods. "We'll be gone soon, sir," JJ nods as the boat pulls away. "Yes, you will," The deputy nods. The boat pulls away and all four of us rush to edge, looking over.

"He's definitely out of air," Pope says just as John B surfaces. I gasp in relief, letting go of the breath I was holding. "There he is!" JJ grins. "Oh, god!" Pope groans as we all smile. "Jesus christ," Pope grins as JJ laughs giddily. "Don't scare us like that," I snap. "How'd it go down there?" JJ calls. He holds up an ok sign. "Did you find anything?" JJ asks as we help him onto the boat. "Did I find anything?" He breaths happily, lugging a duffel bag onto the ship. "Yeah, there we go, that's my boy," JJ grins. "Jeez, dude," Pope smiles as he climbs on board. "You okay?" Kiara asks as he pants.

"Yeah, I ran out of air," He sighs. "You scared the shit outta me," Kiara sighs. "Yeah, the cops were up here, but, uh, took care of 'em," I grin, hugging him tightly. "My bad," He grins. "You're all good," Pope smiles. "Yeah, you kind of missed the show brother," JJ grins. "Hey, guys? Guys, bogey, two o'clock," Kiara says. "What?" JJ asks, turning.

"Do you recognize that boat?" Pope asks nervously. "I've never seen it," Kiara shakes her head. "What are they doing back there, the marsh is closed," Kiara asks. "I don't know, but let's not stick around to find out," JJ says as the boat turns toward us. "JJ, get the bowline," John B says. "Yeah," He nods, lifting it. "Should we wait on 'em?" Pope asks nervously.

"No, we're not gonna wait on them," John B snaps. "Are you joking?" Kie asks. "Go get the stern, go!" John B snaps urgently. "JJ, hurry up," I whisper shakily as the boat speeds up, heading straight for us. "Guys, don't wait for me, go!" JJ shouts. "Let's go!" Kie says. "Pull out the stern!" Pope warns as John B starts the boat. I grab the rope, helping JJ as John B pulls forward. "I don't like the look of this," John B says as the boat speeds up behind us.

"Are they coming for us?" I ask nervously. "Maybe they're fishing," Pope suggests. "Go, go, go, go, go!" JJ shouts as they gain on us. "Go into the marsh!" Pope shouts. "Let's go!" Kie shouts. "I'm going!" John B says. "Act natural!" I hiss.

"Hey, guys, they're following us!" Kiara shouts as we turn into marsh. The boat speeds up. "Oh, this can't be good," Pope groans nervously. "Shit," JJ says, running his hands through his hair. "Dude, you gotta go faster!" I shout, looking between John B and the boat behind us. Two men are on it. "Going, going!" John B shouts. "Gun it!" JJ yells.

They chase us at full speed as we ride through the marsh. Suddenly, a gun shot rings by us. "What the-?" Pope screams as we duck. "Holy shit, guys!" JJ yells, grabbing my arm and yanking me down beside him. "John B, get down!" I scream. They fire again. "Oh, my god we're gonna die!" Pope screams, covering his head. I wince, grabbing JJ's shirt. More shots ring out and JJ grimaces, panting and looking around.

"Come here, come here," He whispers, pulling my shaking form into his chest. "Shit, Pope, move," Kiara says, ducking onto the end of the boat and grabbing a net. Another shot flies by her. "Get down Kie!" John B yells as she screams, running to the other end of the boat. "Kiara!" I yell as another bullet rings past us. I bury my head into JJ's neck as she tosses the net into the water. It works though. They're boat tangles in the net and comes to a sputtering stop.

"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" Pope yells before they can fire again. We round the corner as one last shot rings out. My head pokes up and we smile at each other. We did it. "Wooo!" JJ screams, laughing and hugging me tightly. "Booyeah!"

"Oh yeah!"

"See, you guys!" JJ shouts.

"That was insane!" I laugh. "Whoo!" JJ calls again, laughing.

~~~~~

"What do you guys think it is?" John B asks as we climb onto the dock, opening the duffel bag. "Gotta be money or something, right?" He asks again, unzipping it. "That or a couple of keys with street value to the low - to mid-mills," JJ says. "Can we please just open the bag?" Pope snaps. "Wow, Pope," John B says, laughing. "That's a rare outburst of emotion," He says.

"Okay, you guys are literally killing me with anticipation," He sighs. "Open the bag," He says. "Okay," John B says. "We almost died for this," Pope says while I laugh. John B pulls out a silver canister, unscrew the top, and dumps a compass into his hand. "Oh, wow, yup, that's about right," Pope sneers. "Good job everybody, we found a compass," He snaps.

"Dude, what? It's not worth anything?" JJ asks, staring at my frozen form. I can't breathe. I shake my head. "This was our father's," John B breathes.