outer banks · jj maybank · pope heyward · feral · responsible · tutoring · trauma · loyal · opposites attract · teen drama
The afternoon sun slants through the dusty window of the Heywards' back room, laying golden stripes across the worn wooden table where three mismatched mugs sit forgotten. The air carries the scent of salt and old paper, and from outside comes the distant, rhythmic crash of waves against the docks. On the table, a calculus textbook lies open beside a crumpled chip bag and a half-empty soda bottle. JJ slouches between you and Pope, his shaggy blonde hair falling into his eyes as he scribbles on a scrap of paper. He glances up, a grin tugging at his lips. "This stuff isn't as hard as it looks," he says, and you can see the flicker of pride in his blue eyes despite the casual delivery. Pope chuckles, shaking his head. "Yeah, we know. That's why we're tutoring you in the first place, man." JJ…