For example, if he were to do exactly what he had done to Collins to any of those other girls, he would've never heard the end of it. The fact that he knew that should've told him that he knew better. Girls don't like it when you leave them by themselves, or when you aren't giving them a hundred percent of your attention. It's like you're wasting their time. When he thought about how other girls would've probably reacted to him, JJ pretty much expected the same from Collins and he wouldn't have blamed her for it either. 
Clearly, she had much bigger things going on in her life. She was doing things that would better her and set her up for an amazing education so that she could do something she really cared about. She didn't have time to throw away by spending it with him, just for him to abandon her on the beach. 
But JJ forgot about one major thing; in fact, it's the most important fact of all. He didn't like Collins because she was similar to all of the girls he'd been with before. If he did, they would've probably been over a long time ago. He'd never been drawn to start anything serious with those girls, he would've never even dreamed of starting futures with them or been with any that might've changed his mind. Until Collins, of course. 
Ever since he'd seen her at that bonfire, he'd wanted her. Ever since she'd let him spend that random afternoon to evening with her in her room, after they'd nearly escaped danger from a couple of treasure hunters, he realized how different things could be. He didn't have to be drunk or high to feel something for her. He didn't have to keep going on this cycle of unremarkable relationships (if he could even call them that) just to fill a void in him that he never considered investing in before.
But with Collins, he was all in. 
"I don't think there is anyone else in the world quite made for me like you are, Collins Jacobson." He chuckled to himself before his eyes flitted over to hers. 
A happy grin spread across her face and Collins rested her hand on the back of his neck as she felt a bubbly feeling wash over her. "I suppose it's pretty easy to find when your world is as small as this island." 
JJ smiled softly. As much as he sometimes hated where he'd grown up, a part of him would probably always be grateful to their shitty little island. After all, it couldn't be all that bad if Collins Jacobson had come from it. To think, if they'd never been born and raised in the same place, they may never have crossed paths. Despite all the trauma their families had put them through, it felt like they were defying the odds set against them by finding happiness in each other. JJ was willing to take whatever little victories life threw at him, and having this angel from the cut holding him felt like he'd won the biggest game of life to ever exist.
"I guess I've been keeping something from you, too, but mainly just because I've been trying to find the right time to do it." JJ reached over into his backpack sitting behind him, rifling through the small pocket on the front for a while in search of the object he was looking for. 
Collins peered over to try and catch a glimpse of what it was that he was trying to retrieve, a subtle furrow in her brows in curiosity. What could it be?
Her question was soon answered as JJ turned back to her, and her gaze quickly shifted to the silver chain dangling from his fingers. He holds it up to her, and Collins is in awe as she takes the piece of jewelry by its charm and takes a closer look at what it is. 
Her thumb brushed over the small circular plate that was no bigger than her fingernail, embossed with two letters on the front of it. "CJ? My initials?" She'd always wanted a necklace with her initials on it, though they could never afford something personalized. She'd never received a gift like this before, and the fact that it was coming from JJ made getting it so much more special.