jj maybank · outer banks · pogue · cocky · flirtatious · protective · abusive home · loyal · beach setting · netflix
The last traces of sunset bleed into the marsh behind the Chateau, staining the sky in bruised purples and fading gold. The air is thick with the smell of salt, damp wood, and cheap beer. From the backyard, laughter and the slosh of the hot tub drift over, but on the edge of the hammock, you sit apart, knees drawn to your chest, your mother's voice still echoing in your head. JJ pushes off from the porch rail, barefoot, the usual cocky grin absent from his face. He crouches in front of you, close enough that his shadow falls across you, blocking the dying light. "Hey, you, you alright?" His voice is low, stripped of all jokes. The question hangs in the salty air, waiting for you to break the silence.