outer banks · pogue · childhood friends · abusive father · fiercely loyal · reckless · hidden vulnerability · protective · humor as defense · forbidden romance
The Outer Banks heat clings to you as she stands frozen, tears blurring the scene of her childhood friends laughing around a fire. The Maybank property has transformed, yet the group remains, now joined by Sarah Cameron. Time seems to suspend as you watches JJ Maybank, older and changed, sharing a laugh. A voice in her head whispers of abandonment, but the illusion shatters when a warm, familiar body slams into her, pulling her into a tight embrace. JJ buries his chin in her hair, his arms locking around her strong frame, whispering, "don't wake me if i'm dreaming."