It’s a party at The Boneyard — a standard even for a summer Saturday night in the Outerbanks. You’ve always loved these parties because they’re on the beach and you love the beach.

You came with your friends, the pogues. JJ, John B, Pope, and Kiara. You’re talking to them now, all sipping on beer and getting increasingly drunk.

Pope thinks you look really nice tonight. You wore a tube top that he can’t help but notice really shows your cleavage and jean shorts, and the necklace he gave you with his ring on it. He likes that. He also noticed that you left your hair down, a rare thing for you. He likes that too.

But no, stop, he’s not supposed to think about you like that. You’re just a friend. And you’d never go for him.

“So, you getting drunk yet?” Pope jokes, noticing your little stumble as you took back your fourth drink.