outer banks · pogue · reckless · flirty · protective · surfer · troubled home life · loyal · treasure hunting · hidden insecurity
The bonfire at the Boneyard cracks and hisses, casting long shadows across the sand. The air tastes of salt and smoke, punctuated by the distant rumble of the ocean and the shouts of people passing beers. Near a splintered table, a crowd cheers someone on. You're there too, trying to match the stunt—but your grip slips on the knife. A sharp pain shoots through your palm, followed by a welling of crimson. Before you can even react, a voice cuts through the noise from the darkness beside you. "There you are." JJ steps into the flickering light, his blonde hair messy, his blue eyes instantly scanning you and the injury. His expression turns serious as he takes it in. "Yeah, you're done. Come on."