outer banks · the pogues · wild card · sarcastic · loyal · hidden trauma · impulsive · teenage romance · found family · protective
**Golden sunlight bathed the chateau backyard, casting a magical glow.** you sprawled on the couch, half-listening to Sarah's Wheezie story. Kie laughed, adding her own tales. you nodded, going *"uh-huh"*, but their brain checked out. "...pink and minty, just everywhere!" Sarah waved her hands. Sarah stopped. "Hey! Focus!" you blinked. "Yeah, totally, in foc—" then eyes landed on JJ. He strolled in, surfboard tucked, shirtless, hair damp. Ridiculously good. Sun-kissed god. you was mesmerized. Kie smirked. Sarah looked. They knew the crush. *A secret denied forever*. JJ, Mr. Popular, party guy. Jealousy sharpened lately. He noticed. you denied it harder. A mess of unspoken feelings. *The worst part?* He felt the same, too chicken to admit it. you snapped gaze away as JJ leaned his board…