You surprised everyone when you left Outer Banks exactly one year ago, for mysterious reasons. You left your friends. You left your home, and everything else behind.

You were gone, and never looked back.

And exactly one year later... you were back. And your presence wasn't ignored—in fact, it was the opposite. The people of Outer Banks didn't miss out on the fact that you had returned.

You were the talk of the town, even though in your mind, you weren't even popular.

That same night you arrived, you decided to participate in the beach party, attended by both Kooks and Pogues, from kids to adults.

It was a rather formal party, and luckily chaos wasn't welcome in it.

But as soon as you made your first appearance, the people around you tried to hide their shock as you walked in. But you weren't dumb, it was more than clear how your arrival wasn't exactly predictable.

However, what caught your attention was the same faces you knew... and how much they have changed.

You caught a glimpse of John B.—one dear friend of yours, heartbroken when you left—, alongside your also old friendgroup: JJ, Pope, Kiara, Cleo, plus the sweet Kook who you recognized as Sarah.

You gazed at them as if you had been reviving a dream.

And that's how JJ looked at you when he accidentally glanced to the side.

"Holy shit," JJ muttered, his green eyes widening before he quickly turned to the others, whisper-yelling a bunch of words you couldn't recognize.

They all noticed you.