OUTER BANKS SEASON 4 : JJ'S LEGACY

SICK NOTE

Quiet voices broke the sweet silence in JJ's ears against the soft fabric below his head. Mrs Heyward sat besides JJ in the hospital chair. The blonde boy could sense the heavy presence of Mr Heyward stood above him to the right with his wife even with his eyes closed.

"How is he?" Sarah's worried voice crept into the room quickly.

The patterned hospital gown hung loosely over JJ's chest.

"The doctor says he has a severe concussion that has been provoked by 'chemicals'. He'll be back in a minute, he wanted to get his notepad and ask us some more questions." Mr Heyward responded in a low growl, clearly frustrated.

John B followed carefully, crackling his knuckles and biting his lip anxiously. His eyes landed on the paleness of his best friend and he recollected the last time he saw JJ led in a hospital bed, removed it from his mind and focussed on what Heyward was saying.

"Did you call Pope and Cleo?" Sarah asked, voice breathless.

"They're on their way already." Heyward replied, reassuringly.

"And... Kiara?" Sarah cautiously added.

"They said she was with them." Mrs Heyward explained.

"Okay." Sarah breathed out, relieved.

She hadn't heard from Kiara in a few days and neither had John B or JJ, that she knew of. Since the argument, the group had been divided. In a way, Sarah was slightly hoping that something bad would happen in the group so that everyone would be reunited however, it was a shame that the bad situation had to happen to JJ.

John B felt extremely uncomfortable since his spat with JJ just a few hours prior. He didn't know how to react. He was scared, of course he was, and he felt guilty. John B didn't blame JJ for anything or felt anything was deserved. He was just wanted to protect him because he knew how it always ended.

Kiara's converses squeaked as she ran into the room with Pope and Cleo following behind. She came to a halt when Sarah, John B and the Heyward's eyes all fell on her. She glanced around quickly as Sarah approached her. Kie's mascara was smudged underneath her eyelashes and was slightly running down her face. She had clearly been crying and her hair was up in a messy bun with two pieces falling in front of her eyes. Sarah rubbed her thumb against her cheek and fixed her makeup, surprising Kiara with her kindness that she felt was undeserved.

Sarah then looked at her for a moment and pulled her into a tight hug. Kiara's eyes widened but she leant into the hug and felt she really, really needed her best friend right now.

When they separated, Kiara rushed over to JJ's side where John B was now pondering around. He moved to the side as Kiara sat down in the shiny wooden chair. She knitted her eyebrows into a frown as she gazed at her boyfriend, so dreadful looking and empty, as if he wasn't there.

His hand was down by his side; Kiara noticed this and she calmly picked it up and put it in hers. She felt at peace now that she was right by his side, watching him and keeping him safe.

Sarah turned to John B and they locked eyes and shared a sweet, quiet moment of recollection from a moment at the beginning of their story. John B's lips curled to a small smile.

Pope and Cleo talked to Heyward about JJ's report from the doctor whilst Kiara spaced out staring at JJ, obviously thinking about how she fit into the outcome of the situation. Sarah stood besides her with a hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner.

JJ stirred and fluttered his eyelids.

"Guys. John B!" Kiara spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

John B turned swiftly away from his conversation with Pope and came to stand with the two girls.