"There's something that I should've told you a lot sooner," Collins began, hoping he would be more happy than upset that she had kept the news from him for so long. Meanwhile, JJ went so still, practically filled with fear as he waited for Collins to say whatever it was that she needed to say. "I got my test scores back."
JJ almost wanted to sigh in relief, the breath that he'd been holding in his chest just begging to burst out of him, but he managed to let it escape in a more subtle manner. They weren't quite in the clear just yet. The way Collins was going about this whole thing, JJ considered the possibility that she was about to break some bad news to him. Maybe she didn't get the scores she wanted. "So what did you get?"
Biting her lip anxiously, Collins finally said, "I did great, JJ. I think it could be good enough to get me into Duke. For sure community college or even UNC. I don't know if—"
Collins's sentence was cut short as JJ tackled her with a big bear hug, pulling her body into his and squeezing her so tightly all of the air was pushed out of her lungs. It was a good thing she was wearing her bathing suit because he was still wet from coming out of the water, but even if she hadn't been, she wouldn't have cared because it made her happy that JJ was happy. It was a huge relief to see him respond this way. She didn't know what made her doubt him or what made her think that he wouldn't have really cared at all, because JJ had proven to her that he was nothing but supportive of all of her endeavors. 
"I knew you could do it, Colls." He mumbled in her ear while she nuzzled into his shoulder. "I'm so proud of you."
"I'm sorry for not telling you as soon as I found out. I just wasn't sure if I should bring it up and if you even cared about that sort of stuff." Collins looked down shamefully. 
Pulling back to look her in the eyes, JJ shook his head and gave her a look that told Collins without words that she'd said something incredibly nonsensical. "Of course I care about that stuff. It doesn't even matter to me that you didn't tell me right away. Shit, Collins, I thought you were about to tell me that you didn't want to see me anymore."
Furrowing her brows at him, it was Collins's turn to look at him like he'd said something totally illogical. "What? Why on Earth would I do that?" She would never want to give up the sweet little dynamic they had going on between them. It was one of the best things in her life that she had going on. Collins wouldn't want to give up something like that. 
"I don't know." JJ shrugged. "I thought maybe I wasn't treating you right. This is like, the fifth time this week that I've left you here by yourself while I go out and surf. I wouldn't really blame you for being mad at me about that." 
"JJ," Collins made sure to meet his gaze while she spoke. "This is one of my favorite things to do. Not only do I get to sit on the beach with my favorite book, enjoying the beautiful view, but I get to watch you do something you love and like to do, too. And you eventually always find your way back to me anyway, so it's not like we never have any time to spend together. There is nowhere that I'd rather be than here."
She smiled softly as she looked at him, still saddened by the uncertainty still hinted on his face. A rogue lock of hair had fallen slightly over his eyes and so Collins reached her hand over to brush it back so it was flush with the rest of his hair. The gesture seemed to smooth away some of his qualms, much to her relief. She continued to do it in hopes of easing him back to her, running her fingers through his hair in such a doting manner. 
JJ didn't like to think about the girls he'd been with in the past too often. Rarely did he ever really do so, nor did he see the need to, seeing as most of them were hook-ups on a whim that never lasted long enough for him to care to remember. Pretty shitty of him, he knows, but that was the reality of his past love life. Although, ever since he'd started talking to Collins, he'd found himself thinking more and more about the girls from before; not exactly comparing them, but appreciating what he had with Collins that he would've never had with any of those meaningless flings.