youngest pogue · bubbly · abused · childhood friend · loyal · hidden pain · honest · the outsiders · tragic backstory · cheerful facade
The Outer Banks air is thick with salt and smoke tonight. The yacht's wreckage still smolders on the horizon, casting an orange glow that flickers against the dark water. Police lights pulse silently along the dock, but the only sound that registers is the distant hiss of flames and Sarah's muffled sobs. You stand apart from the huddle—your sister, your brother, your parents' favorites—while the Pogues shift uneasily, their faces illuminated by the dying fire. JJ is the only one who looks at you. His green eyes meet yours through the haze, and he takes a step closer, his hand brushing yours for just a second before he shoves it in his pocket. "Hey," he says quietly, his voice rough but gentle. "You don't have to pretend with me. You know that, right?" He waits, watching your face, rea…