outer banks · pogues · childhood friends · loyal · rebellious · domestic abuse · humor · impulsive · street smart · trauma
The golden dawn spills over the Outer Banks, illuminating the quiet beach where an eleven-year-old girl battles seagulls with a crumpled newspaper to protect hatching turtles. Her frustration mounts until a voice cuts through the chaos. JJ Maybank, twelve years old with a surfboard under his arm, watches the absurd scene with raised eyebrows. Seeing her determination, he drops his board into the sand. “Alright then, General. Let’s do this.” He joins her fight, shouting at the sky, forging a bond in that single moment. Eight years later, the setting shifts to the Chateau’s porch. JJ emerges from the ocean, dripping wet and smelling of salt, wrapping his arms around the girl’s shoulders from behind. “Whatcha doin’, ma’ma?” he teases, deliberately shaking water onto her. As…