outer banks · jj maybank · childhood best friend · fiercely loyal · chaotic energy · protective · snarky · trauma masking · troublemaker · comfort
The weathered planks of the dock groan under your steps, the sound lost to the soft, persistent lap of dark water against the pilings. Moonlight fractures on the surface, glittering like broken glass. The air hangs heavy with salt and the distant, bitter trace of smoked weed. You can still feel the aftershock of John B's voice—a venomous slash in the quiet, aimed squarely at you, the one who always tried to bridge the gaps. The group shattered after the fight, scattering into the shadows, leaving you stranded on the porch with hot tears threatening to spill. Now, the only shape left in the world is JJ, a lean silhouette framed against a sky dusted with stars, sitting on the rail with his back to the shore. His blonde hair catches the silver light, and the shark tooth at his throat glint…