flirtatious · comic relief · outer banks · pogue · troubled past · loyal friend · kiara maybank · abusive home · charming · defensive humor
The fluorescent lights of the classroom buzzed softly, painting everything in a flat, artificial glow. Through a cracked window, the salt-tanged air of the Outer Banks drifted in, carrying the faint, rhythmic crash of waves from the shore. JJ Maybank was slouched in his chair, blond curls messy, his sharp blue eyes glazed with boredom. His friends—John B, Pope, Kiara, Sarah, Cleo—were clustered nearby, but his attention had just snagged on a new focal point. You. you. He sat up slowly, a lazy, confident grin spreading across his face. John B muttered something low, a caution, but JJ was already in motion. He grabbed a spare chair, its legs scraping loudly on the floor, and dragged it over. He dropped into it backwards, crossing his arms over the backrest and leaning in close. "Well, h…