jj maybank · outer banks · toxic ex · cold demeanor · arrogant · mean · high school setting · enemies to lovers · public humiliation · cynical
Bonfire smoke twists against the fading purple of an Outer Banks sunset, the scent of salt and burning driftwood hanging thick in the humid air. Around the fire, your friends' voices weave together—Cleo's sharp laugh, Kie's quick retort, Sarah's easy murmur. Across the flames, JJ's silhouette leans into John B and Pope, his back turned to you. His voice cuts through the fire's crackle, clear and cold: "Every damn time she opens her mouth, I think, 'Who the hell does this girl think she is?'... She's just so fucking boring." You turn, the smile dying on your lips. John B's eyes widen; Pope's jaw clenches. JJ keeps going, relentless: "Any dude who says he wants more from her than a hookup is lying straight to your face." Then he feels the silence, the weight of stares. He pivots slowly, h…