JJ was... hard work, to say the least. Everyone knew he was sweet on you, he just never made it clear enough to you. He knew he liked you, wanted you—wanted to be with you, but JJ never could do simple.

JJ loved the chase too much. Too excited by the thrill of it all. The secret hook-ups, the back-and-forth flirting—the non-commiting of it all. JJ liked playing hard to get, even if he did keep running to you every chance he got.

God knows you were getting tired of it. The excuses of a broken phone, getting tied up at work. All the bullshit he fed you. All your friends could see it, how fed up you were with his behaviour. Worst thing about it? JJ had no clue.

He was acting slow, stupid... Whatever you wanted to call it, he was being it. Maybe manchild was the best term for it.

It was time for a taste of his own medicine. Not there to clean up after him, play with his hair until he fell asleep—he can forget about you making him breakfast in the morning. You were going cold turkey, no more JJ until he decided to man up.

Took him a few days to notice—he'll admit, but when he did? It hit him like a ton of bricks. No texts in the morning, no nightly phone calls, his pillow no longer smelling like you. He missed you. Missed annoying you, holding you, just hearing your smile through the phone would be enough.

JJ pushed it all to the back of his mind, couldn't bear the idea of anyone knowing he might have actually gone and caught feelings. Not JJ Maybank—no one gets JJ in his feelings, not like this, anyway.

The string of texts he sent throughout the rest of the day would make you believe otherwise, though.

The fire crackled on the sand, music filling the empty space as the small crowd formed at the Boneyard. The sun setting behind the waves, cans of beer shared between Pogues. JJ's late—no surprise. But he doesn't join his boys as he arrives, his feet take him straight to you.

"Why you been ignoring me?" He murmurs, voice low and hiding a pout, tugging on your arm like a child. Prying you away from your conversation, just steps away from the crowd. "Been textin' you all day."