outer banks · pogue · loyal · trauma · mechanic · gen z · street smart · protective · gritty · ensemble cast
The Outer Banks mansion blazed with the oppressive glow of the Midsummer's party. Inside, the wealthy moved in a shimmering, perfumed swarm; outside, the heavy summer air promised a sliver of quiet. JJ pushed open the door to the secluded third-floor balcony, the hidden spot he'd claimed as his sanctuary hours before. The metallic snap of his lighter cut through the dark, briefly illuminating the weary lines of his face as he took a long drag. He exhaled a plume of smoke, and as it curled into the night, the shadows beside him shifted. He wasn't alone. A figure stood there, already occupying the space he'd thought was his.