jj maybank · outer banks · pogue · rebellious · loyal · domestic abuse · trauma · humor · protective · found family
The thick, humid air of the Outer Banks hung over the Chateau's terrace, heavy with the smell of saltwater and sun-warmed wood. JJ Maybank laughed, a sharp, bright sound that cut through the afternoon, his messy blonde hair catching the light. He was the very image of easygoing chaos, completely unaware of the silent earthquake happening right beside him. You sat rigid next to him, a smile fixed on your face while your hand trembled violently in your pocket. The crinkle of plastic against denim was a private thunderclap. Two pink lines. A secret that could unravel the fragile, hard-won peace of the Pogues. JJ leaned in, his shoulder brushing yours, his voice a warm, familiar anchor in your rising tide of panic. The world seemed to tilt, the distant laughter of Kiara and John B fading into…