Author's Note: One of my favorite things about this fanfiction is that it's become sort of a "test-run" for me when I'm getting to know a new ship. Like, I knew that I wanted to write Jiara, I was obsessed with them during Season 2 (more than I expected to be considering I was kind of impartial during S1), but I didn't know exactly what to write so I created a Mishaps with Mistletoe.

(and clearly the test-run worked because I went on to write like 10 fics/one-shots about them lol)

Enjoy! :)

JJ Maybank was not a romantic guy. Everything he knew about women came from either John B or the romcoms he'd caught his mom watching when his dad wasn't home before she split. He could bluster all he want about candles and setting the mood, but when it came down to it JJ probably knew about as much about wining and dining a woman as he did about advanced calculous.

Kissing was a whole other story. JJ knew a lot about kissing.

Like. A lot.

So he did what he had to, shoving down his pride. If he could handle the kissing part, the most romantic man he knew could handle the rest.

"Mistletoe."

JJ groaned, looking at John B incredulously. "Mistletoe? That's the best you can do?"

"What do you mean 'that's the best I can do'?" John B scoffed. "If you're looking for a way to show the world- and by 'the world', I mean the folks in Outer Banks that are our age demographic- that you and Kiara are officially together, the best way to do it would be with mistletoe."

JJ grumbled again, considering. He could picture it now: Him and Kie walking into a Christmas blowout on the beach, beers in hand. Him edging over to a nearby tree that was almost always strung with mistletoe, calling Kiara over with a wave of his hand and a grin, her stepping up to him with that questioning eyebrow raise and him pointing up. Mistletoe, Kie. Let's make out in front of all these losers, just in case anyone had any doubt that you're mine and I'm yours.

"Uhhhh… JJ?" John B poked his knee. "You look like the grinch."

JJ blinked and squinted at him. "Which one?"

John B squinted right back. "The animated one. When his mouth gets all curly and his little head-tufts get all flat."

"I'll take it," JJ shrugged, hopping to his feet. "Thanks, man. 'Preciate the help. Will proceed with the plan as directed."

Except JJ did not 'proceed with the plan as directed'. Or, rather, he was unable to proceed. He picked Kiara up on his motorcycle at eight pm (as they'd scheduled beforehand), spent a few awkward minutes sucking up to the Carreras (as he always did), and rode his bike at top speed like the absolute adrenaline junky he was (just the way that made Kiara scream and hold on to him as tight as possible). When the two of them arrived at the Christmas party, they found John B, Sarah and Pope already hanging around.

"Ayyy, the lovebirds have arrived!" John B crowed, grabbing two beers and tossing them to JJ and Kiara.

"Shut up," Kiara said fondly, giving his head a shove as they walked by. She glanced at the beer brand and rolled her eyes. "For real? They couldn't have gotten anything slightly more high-end as, I dunno, a Christmas gift?"

"Beer is beer, baby," JJ shrugged, cracking open his can and knocking back a gulp. He clapped Pope on the shoulder. "What's poppin', dude?"

"The snacks here suck," Pope grumbled.

"Food is food," JJ grinned, scanning the crowded beach for the snack table. "Want anything, Kie?"

"I'm good, thanks."

John B and Pope immediately began hollering after JJ about being 'such a gentleman'. But the truth was, JJ was only heading over the snacks to give himself a second to collect his nerves.

He and Kiara were already together. All those uncertainties had been resolved a long time ago, so the idea of kissing her alone wasn't what was tripping him up. No, it was the idea of kissing her in front of dozens of curious eyes, eyes of kids who knew him and hated him, who he went to school with, who he'd sworn to be mortal enemies with as long as they both may live.

It was true that he and Kiara didn't have to showcase their relationship to the other island kids; they didn't owe that to anyone. But JJ liked the idea of the world knowing that Kiara Carrera was spoken for. Not only that, but that she was spoken for by him. His girl.

JJ had reached the snack table by now and blindly grabbed a handful of small Christmas-tree shaped pretzels. He stuffed a few in his mouth, trying to steady his nerves. Just one kiss. A kiss, probably followed by some catcalls, whistles, whatever, and then it'd be over and people would move on and everything would be chill again. He could do this.

One kiss.

"Hey Kie!" he called across the beach through a mouthful of pretzels, smiling as his amazing, beautiful girlfriend glanced away from a conversation with Sarah and wrinkled her nose at him. He broke eye contact and looked towards the tree where some romantic (or lustful) soul always hung a sprig of mistletoe.

JJ's stomach dropped.

There was no mistletoe.

"Yeah?" Kiara yelled over impatiently, eyebrows raising. "What's up, JJ?"

This was no good. Actually, this was straight up bad. John B's entire plan for JJ hinged around mistletoe. JJ hadn't created the plan, which meant he couldn't adapt the plan. The plan was the plan and if there was no mistletoe there was no plan and he had nothing, absolutely nothing, absolutely-

A face popped into view. "Hey, what's going on?" Kiara asked, putting a concerned hand on his shoulder. "You look like someone just killed your puppy."

"I don't have a puppy."

"It's an expression, J," Kiara sighed. "What's up?"

"Nothing," JJ mumbled, scuffing at the sand with his sneaker. "I just… I had this plan -well, it was John B's plan, really, but I was gonna execute it- to get you under some mistletoe tonight. To show the island we're dating. I'd just kiss you, I guess, but… I dunno, I guess I wanted it to be special. Maybe a little romantic."

Kiara's gaze softened. "JJ, it's me," she sighed. "You think I care what you kiss me under? Ceilings, stars, tree branches, mistletoe… honestly anything goes as long as it's you."

JJ blinked. "That may just be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," he said, placing a hand over his heart with a mock-tearful sniffle.

Kiara rolled her eyes. "C'mere you dork," she muttered, and pulled him down for a kiss right in front of everyone.

So, no. JJ Maybank was not a romantic guy.

But maybe he didn't need to be.

Author's Note: OBX SEASON 3 WHO'S READY?!