word count: 2.1k
summary: in which your best friend jj drives you crazy in the best way possible
a/n: there's no season two spoilers in here, i wrote it in may. enjoy!!
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You loved the pogues. You really did. Their constant pestering and reminders of a certain crush you may or may not have had? Not so much. In your head, and even out loud sometimes, you had to reassure yourself it wasn't true. There was absolutely no way in hell you could have a crush on JJ Maybank. And that is exactly what you would keep telling your friends.
You all were sat out on the Chateau's porch, enjoying a hot afternoon with a few beers and the company of one another. Unbeknownst to you, it wasn't a regular hang out. It was, as Pope stated, an intervention.
"Intervention?!" You exclaimed. "What exactly do I need that for again?"
"Would you like that alphabetically or in order of importance?" John B quipped in a serious tone.
"Ha ha. Very funny, John B." You mocked. "Seriously, what's this 'intervention' you speak of?" Your fingers came up to air quote the words as you grimaced, looking between Kiara, Pope and John B. "I don't need help with anything."
"You're right." Pope settled. "You don't need help. You need to confess your crush on JJ."
A scoff left your lips as soon as the words fell from his, folding your arms across your chest. "Excuse me?"
"We know you like him, Y/n." Kiara informed.
"No, you know what?" John B interjected. "She doesn't like JJ, she looooves him." He dragged out in a pesky tone.
"And I'm the one who needs the intervention? All three of you are insane." You asserted.
Pope sighed. "We're here because we love you, Y/n. Regardless if you love JJ more than us or not." He chortled. "We just want you to admit it, it's not healthy to keep inside."
"You know, it's sad that you all wasted your time jumping to these bizarre conclusions. I don't know what you're talking about."
They all gave you skeptical looks.
"You don't?" John B asked.
"Nope. I do not like JJ. Not one bit." You shook your head as you said your piece. "If anything, I hate him. He's a big jerk who is always teasing me and trying to get under my skin."
Kiara quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"
"Denial." John B muttered under his breath, masking it with a cough that earned a menacing glare from you.
"What do you hate about him, Y/n/n?" Pope inquired curiously.
"Well.. for starters, he's never on time for anything. Horrible punctuality." You began kicking a rock around on the wooden planks of the porch as another way to let out your so-called hate. "Or sometimes he doesn't show up at all. Then he makes you worry about him and wonder where he's at. Only to turn up fine in the next day or two."
"Hm." Pope hummed, taking mental notes as he studied your behavior.
"I hate the way he never brushes his hair. It's like he's a damn golden retriever. And the way it tickles when it brushes my forehead is so annoying. Not to mention when I find it on my hair ties after he steals them." Not once did you look up, continuing your assault on the poor rock. "Oh! That's another thing. He's always stealing. Like when I was 8 and he stole my pet turtle Franklin right out of his tank. Because he wanted to make Franklin a cute bowtie to wear and surprise me with it, but still! He could've killed my turtle! I mean, who does that?"
You threw your arms up in exasperation, reading the mixed expressions on your friends faces. "I hate the way he purposely messes things up. Like when we go out to eat and then he drops his fries just to eat out of mine." You went on.
"I hate that stupid necklace he wears. It's always so dirty because he's been wearing it for years but he always turns me down when I offer to buy him a new one. I hate when he randomly touches my shoulder so I'll jump because of his cold ass rings. I hate how he's such a player. Always flirting with any and everyone. It makes me want to gag, he's so cheesy. Not only flirting with any girl in sight, but also trying to scare off guys that show even the slightest bit of interest in me. He never lets me have anything!"
You let out a sigh, taking a drink of water before continuing your ramble. As you were so in the moment, fired up at this point, you hadn't noticed your friends whisper amongst themselves while staring behind you.
"I hate how he can never make up his mind. JJ has to be the most indecisive person on Earth. I hate when he hides behind doors and jumps out to scare me, while he laughs hysterically. I hate how he's always sweet talking my mom, because now she's convinced all of her friends and family that we're together. Do you know how frustrating that is? To be mistaken for his girlfriend all the time?" You pause, beginning to breathe normally again from your rant.
"Do you even hear yourself Y/n?" Pope quizzed.
"What do you mean?"
"You have a crush!" He shouted, the others piping up with a few words of agreement. "What about Kie, or John B, or even myself bothers you that much?"
"Nothing." You answered. "I mean, I'm sure there's things that bother me but-"
"But not like how JJ bothers you." Kie pointed out. "That's a crush in disguise if I've ever seen one."
"You know what?" You started, voice raising to more of a yell. "I do not have a crush on JJ. In fact, the thought alone disgusts me."
John B rolled his eyes, throwing his head back in his chair at your stubbornness.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have actual productive things I'd like to do today."
Turning around to take your exit down the steps and towards your car, you gasped, bumping into the boy you knew all too well.
"Hey there, sunshine." JJ greeted with a devilish grin. "Am I on that list?"
You scoffed, cheeks burning up as you pushed him aside. "Absolutely not. But you can add that to the list of reasons why I would never ever like you."
"Aww, don't be so hard on me, Y/n. I just had to hear almost every single reason why my best friend hates me."
As fast as you were trying to get to your car, JJ was quicker, standing in front of the driver's side door with his arms crossed. Oh, how hard it was not to look down at them. But you hadn't given in yet, so you'd be damned to give in now.
"Oh, you poor thing. It's really me who needs sympathy here, since I've been dealing with you for most of my life."
"Ahh. It's a shame you're still mad about Franklin. Maybe we could be something." He joked, referring to your childhood pet.
"You abducted him." You shot back. "Even if you hadn't, we'd still never be anything."
"I have a hard time believing you really hate me, Y/n." He looked into your eyes, peculiarity filling them.
"Oh? I could always refresh your memory."
"You know, if I didn't know any better, I would think you hate all of those things about me because I'm not yours."
Your shoulders came up into a shrug. "Nope. Doesn't bother me one bit. I just hate your guts. Could you move off of my car now? I have that list of productive things I should be getting to."
He put his hands up in surrender, pulling on the door handle and opening it for you. "Fine, Y/n. You win." He shut the door once you were in, leaning his forearms up against the already rolled down window to face you. "Just let me know if you reconsider adding me to that list."
You returned the smirk he was giving you, turning the key as the engine came to life. "Don't worry, I won't."
With that, you drove off, not once looking at JJ or your other friends in the rear view mirror. "Damn. I really thought that was gonna work." Pope mumbled in disappointment.
"Sorry, JJ." Kie apologized.
He shook it off. "It's alright, guys. We'll get her next time."
-
A week passed by after that day, now having had some time away from the pogues. Or JJ, specifically. It gave you some time for reflection, time for realization. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad to admit you didn't think of JJ as completely repulsive, but you had too much pride. There was no way he was going to win this, you'd never be able to live it down.
On your way to one of the local stores, you spotted JJ leaning up against one, presumably waiting for a ride. "Hey, JJ." You spoke up, his eyes darting up at you from his fidgeting.
"Hey, sunshine. Whatcha up to?"
His lighthearted energy threw you off, even plastering a smile on your face because of it. "Just picking some stuff up for my parents. Boring errands. You?"
"Waiting for John B." He informed.
"Oh, okay. I could wait with you if you want. I know I would hate waiting alone." You offered, before your face went blank at his next words.
"Almost as much as you hate me?"
"Come on, JJ. It was just for fun. You know that, right?"
"Sure it was, Y/n." He sighed disappointedly.
The old thoughts about pretending to hate him vanished, as it was only the two of you there. You weren't putting on a show for anyone. "I was kidding. I don't actually hate your guts. Because if I did, there's no way I would become that close to you to know all of those things about you anyway. And there's no way I would've let you meet Franklin." You attempted to lighten the mood.
"Forget it. If you meant it or not, what difference does it make?"
You exhaled sharply, squeezing your eyes shut as you debated your next words. "It makes a difference to me. Maybe I was being a little dramatic when the pogues asked me about you." He stayed silent, blue eyes shining perfectly due to the golden hour of the sun. "You're not gonna ask me what it was?"
"It's not important, Y/n. Not with the way you feel about me." He muttered, kicking a pinecone up with the tip of his shoe.
"JJ, you are so difficult. And for that, I'm going to tell you anyway. They asked me if I liked you." You waited for a response, but he didn't grant you one like you'd hoped. "I panicked and started thinking of something to convince them I didn't like you. And convince myself, too."
"So, you do like me then, huh? I thought it was all a big myth." He questioned nonchalantly, main focus still on that damn pinecone bouncing in the air. You kicked it out of his reach, cutting him off before he could protest.
"Please just look at me while I confess, after that you can look anywhere you like, I swear."
"Fine. Make it quick." JJ held back a laugh, a scowl present on your face at his irritated tone.
"I don't hate you, JJ. I thought about it and it's actually kinda the opposite. As hard as it is for me to admit it. So, yeah. I do like you."
His expression quickly turned to one of victory, though you almost took it as amusement, heart dropping as a result. "Good. Because the feeling's mutual, sunshine."
A sigh of relief left your lips, chuckling softly. "Damn, JJ. You don't know half of the things you do to me. I've been on such an emotional rollercoaster this past week."
"I think I have a pretty good idea." He disclosed, cupping your chin and pecking you on the lips, smirking as yours chased his for more. You let out a whimper of protest because he wouldn't just kiss you properly already. "I drive you crazy, sunshine."
"Finally. The first accurate thing that's come out of your mouth since birth."
"You wish you could hate it."
You wrapped your arms around his neck so he could get a good look in your eyes, deciding to play his game. "Face it. I drive you crazy, too."