Outer Banks – JJ Maybank and Original Female Character (Rowyn Daniels)

NOTE:

This is my first time posting any of my fanfictions. I usually just save them to my computer to look back on, but this one has been running wild for the last few weeks and just feel like i need to get it out there.

This will be AU for sure and diverges from the original plot... however i kept several of the main event that occured in the series (ie midsummer, sinking Toppers Boat, Rafe and Berry, etc). I love the treasure hunt in the series but couldnt make it fit the way i liked so no treasure hunt however i am going to incorporate drug running so if you stick around hopefully i can do this some justice. Anyway i wanted to focus on JJ and his relationship with an OC and navigating the Cut. I know the series has them at 16 years old but this will start when they are 17, it just fit better for the characters and relationships.

Anyway this is my first so please review and comment give me advise or suggestions i am happy as long as its constructive. I love to write and would love to just keep going with this and other works. This is unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own and i am sure there is a few, when i get going i sometimes dont catch the spelling or grammatical errors so sorry in advance.

CHAPTER 1:

When you ask anyone around what makes up the Outer Banks they will tell you its an island of two tribes. There is the Kooks, rich folks of the island, everything they own is new and bright and shiny and have the personality of a crab looking for anything the sparkles. And then there are the Pogues, working class who although how it may look appreciate everything they have as it is not for what it could be. Me…. I find myself with a foot in both worlds. Up until I was 13 I was a full Kook, but not necessarily proud of it. My dad was a corporate lawyer with most of his clients on the main land and my mom… well that I am not sure, she left when I was about six without a word as to why or where she was going. As long as I could remember my dad was never there, he would come by every now and then but he would never stay, and it got worse once my mom left. Once she left he became a man with two sides, it was either unemotional, didn't care, I was invisible to him or it was angry at everything and nothing I did was ever enough. It wasn't a terrible up brining as long as I kept to myself and I learned that pretty early on. As soon as I was able to I got out and got my first job, which came easier than expected.

I knew Kiara from school and we had been friends almost immediately so when I mentioned needing a job she jumped at the opportunity for me to work at her parent place, The Wreck. Starting there at 13 I got really close with her and her parents. She picked up pretty quickly when I avoided going home that it wasn't the best environment, but she never outright asked or brought it up. It was an unspoken thing that she made sure I knew she was there whenever I needed. I suppose I owe her quite a bit seeing as it was because of her I now sat 4 years later on the HMS Pogue in the middle of the marsh.

Sitting with my feet on the bow of the boat I watched as the group splashed each other and laughing. I smiled to myself as I watched them as I bathed in the sun, book in hand. I never felt… I don't know if the right term for it would whole, but it's the closest I could can come with… until I met them.

John B, the heart and soul of the group, he always seemed to have a smile and open arms for them. He had welcomed her without hesitation with a hug and a place to crash when she needed an escape, no questions asked.

Pope, it took a bit to get him to open up, he was quite at first, but really who am I to talk because I took all of 2 years to open up at all to them. She related academically to him and to be fair I would not have passed any of my science classes without him, even if I was at Kook Academy.

Then there was JJ. Mine and JJs relationship as always been different. He wasn't as quick to let me in and had a pretty good hatred for Kooks and me being one of them didn't change that. It got better over time the hateful remarks changed to snide comments which I threw back at him on a regular basis. There are two major events that I can recall that turned the tides of our relationship, we went from acquaintances and just dealing with each others presence to actual friend. Now, I think he is the one that knows me the best and the one I choose to go to when I just need … to feel safe.

I was startled from my train of thought as that same shaggy haired blonde boy jumped into the boat and towered over me leaning over enough for water to drip down onto me.

"Can I help you?" I ask pulling my sunglasses down enough so my hazel eyes met his blue ones.

"Whatchya doing?" he grinned shaking his hair before running a his fingers through it. I laughed as I lifted my arms up book still in hand covering my head to try and keep the drops of water from hitting me, as futile an attempt it may have been.

"Relaxing Maybank," I said a playfully annoyed look playing across my face.

"Rowyn Daniels get your ass down here," I heard Pope yell and Kie agreeing adding an additional 'Yea' water splashing over the side of the boat. My reaction was lifting my hand and a single finger as I moved slightly to avoid the splashing water.

"You realize this is the first day of summer vacation, we are not in school and instead of enjoying it your reading right…" JJ stated and I simply shook my head and opened my book again.

"Believe it or not I enjoy reading in my free time when its not forced by the school system." I replied simply with a shrug.

"Nope not buying it." He said and grabbed the book from my hand tossing it to the ground. Before I could protest, he put one arm around my back and the other under my legs lifting me in his arms.

"JJ!" I yelled wrapping my arms around his neck quickly. I tried to ignore how high my voice went. Look at him as he grinned from ear to ear I couldn't help but be extremely aware of how close our faces were. He continued to grin as he took a step further up on the and I tightened my grip around his neck. "Don't you dare." I warned.

"What?" he asked feigning innocence just as his grip loosened a little as he pretended to drop me forcing another squeal to leave my lips.

"I swear to God JJ…" but I wasn't able to finish my sentence before he jumped, me in his arms, off the boat and into the water. His arms released me the moment we hit the water and I kicked my legs to the surface. Taking a breath of air I treaded water with one arm wiping water from my eyes with the other. JJ emerged beside me laughing.

"Asshole," I stated splashing water at him. Although my words were firm I couldn't help the grin the pull at the corner of my mouth.

"Oh come on Roe you know secretly… deep down you wanted to go in." John B said swimming next to me. My response was to push his head under the surface of the water and swim back toward the back of the boat. He wasn't wrong, I loved the water and would have joined them sooner had I not been lost in my own thoughts, but I wasn't going to tell them as much.

"Hey guys, hate to kill the mood but Roe and I have to get back to The Wreck for our shift." Kei commented after she made her way into the boat, one hand holding her phone the other brushing out her curls as best she could. Reaching the ladder I climbed up and went back to my place at the bow of the boat throwing my shirt over my head and grabbing the red hat next to it placing it on my head.

"Pretty sure that's my hat." JJ came over sitting across from her grabbing his sleeveless t-shirt from the boat floor.

"Pretty sure you just threw me in…" I shrugged returning my sunglasses to cover my eyes giving him a smirk. Chuckling he turned grabbing the bow line as Pope helped with the stern so we could head back to the Chateau. Jumping from the boat at the doc I helped get it tied off before dropping the cooler off on the porch and grabbed my keys from the table on the porch ignoring the rough housing I hear behind me as Pope and JJ jokingly push each other towards the house.

"Kie I will see you there alright I got stop by my house and change." I lifted my hand up keys in hand as I headed towards my jeep.

"Roe wait I need a ride." JJ called running up to me. His hair was a mess of blonde and I realized I still had his hat on. Smiling I waited leaning on the passenger side of the car taking in his appearance as he turned to say bye to John B and Pope. I resigned myself a long time ago that JJ and would always just be friends regardless of the butterflies I got every time he smiled at me or simply touched my shoulder. I know its shallow of me to think he has a type and whether he does or doesn't I know I don't fit the marker. As he made his way closer to me I let my eyes glance over him, from his messy hair, to the toned biceps… shit I was in trouble.

"Ready?" I asked as he reached for door behind me.

"Yeah lets hit it." He said and I stepped away towards the drivers side. Putting the car in drive I glanced to the blonde teen next to me and notice the slight clench of his fist as he rolled the ring on his thumb around, looking a bit distracted.

"Where too JJ?" I ask already knowing his answer.

"I gotta get some things from home." With a deep breath I nodded tightening my grip on the wheel. Everyone knew Luke Maybank was not father of the year it was never any secret. After JJ's mom left it was like a switch flipped and we all saw it. Only our small group really knew the extent of what Luke would do and how JJ handled it, but I was the only one who knew emotionally how it affected him. One of those two major events that changed mine and JJ's relationship occurred because of Luke Maybank. It was a moment the broke a lot of barriers between us but wasn't one I was happy had to happen in the long run.

"I hear the gears turning in that head of your Roe, relax." JJ said beside me and I scowled at him confused. Reaching over he poke his finger at my lower jaw. "Your clenching, which means your overthinking."

"Not sure what your talking about." I mumbled unclenching my teeth and loosening my grip on the steering wheel.

"Liar." He stated with all the confidence that he knew he was right. "Look I just need to grab some shit, I cant keep wearing the same shirts and shorts. Plus he's my dad… may be a shit dad but still mine."

"You don't owe him anything JJ…"

"No but it makes me better then him by checking on him…" I huffed at his response not happy with the logic behind his thought process. I knew he was right, but I still didn't have to like it. The rest of the drive to his house was in comfortable silence, the radio playing softly. Pulling into the drive to JJ's house I stopped short a few yards from the house.

"You want me stick around?" I asked knowing he would say no but hoping this once he would ask me to stay.

"You have to get to work Rowyn. I'll be fine alright." Nodding I watched him get out and walk around to my open window. "You heading back to John B' after your shift?"

"I think im going to head home tonight, I spent the last week at the Chateau I need to make sure everything at the house is good in case my dad decides to make an appearance." I shook my head leaning on the steering wheel watching him light a joint from his pocket.

"He coming home soon?"

"Who knows at this point," I shrug.

"Just text me when your home, yeah." Raising an eyebrow at his request he lifted his back from where he was leaning on my car and shrugged, "late night, pretty girl never know the weirdos that will be out."

"Weirdo's like you?" I smile with a small laugh.

"Whatever, you know what I mean just text John B or me, okay." He rolled his eyes taking another step away allowing me access to back my car out.

"Sure." I call out waiving a hand out the window. I watched threw the rear view mirror the silhouette of my best friend standing in front of the home that hadn't been home to him in some time. Watching him disappear from my view and let my mind wander hoping this time Luke would either be sober or so wasted JJs presence wouldn't even be a problem in the home.