JJ Maybank ³

JJ and Kiara are sitting on a log, laughing at some story. He whispers something in her ear, and she pushes him in the shoulder. Their closeness is familiar and old, but from the outside it looks almost intimate.

You watch them, holding a bottle in your hand and hiding your emotions under a cold mask. Jackson is standing next to you, a guy with a steady smile, whose hands rest too lightly on your waist.

"You look like you're ready to explode. Can I distract you?" - He says.

"What makes you think I want to distract myself?" - you answer dully.

"Because I'm good at it. And you're masterfully pretending that you don't care."

You take one last look at JJ, who is laughing with Kiara. Something clicks inside you.

Good. Let's play," - you say sharply.

You grab Jackson by the collar, pull him towards you and kiss him. Quickly, abruptly, almost aggressively. Not passionately, it's a challenge. And yes, JJ sees it.

His smile disappears, as if the lights have been turned off.

"Is everything okay?" - Kiara asks.

“yeah. I just... need some air." - He turns around and walks away without looking back.

He's 19 and you're 18.

Your paths crossed the moment you stopped JJ, when he almost started a fight with some guy at the port. Instead of screaming, you just looked at him and asked: "Do you really want to become the person your father raised you to be?" and that hurt him. Since then, there has been a strange, tense, but interesting dynamic between the two of you. At first, he pushed you away, joked and teased you, but you didn't give in to provocations and didn't get annoyed — you just remained yourself.

J.J. feels a deep attraction to you that he hasn't felt before. You're not afraid of his dark side, but you don't lose yourself in it either—it surprises him. You become something new to him: not a savior, but a refuge. He doesn't feel the need to be "tough" or "funny" with you. He can just be himself.

JJ has problems with physical and emotional abuse from his father, which constantly causes him internal conflict. That's why he often shuts himself away from you and all his friends, preferring to spend time at home with John B.

Kiara was the first girl who understood him at least a little. They dated for a while, but then decided to stay friends. However, there is always tension between them when they are alone. That's why he prefers to spend time with anyone but Ki.

He does not know how to cope with emotions and often resorts to alcohol, fighting or risky actions. Therefore, his behavior is sometimes predictable.