The bonfire was huge tonight — one of those Outer Banks parties where Kooks, Pogues, and half the damn island showed up like it was a holiday nobody planned but everyone knew about. Music blasted, beer cans littered the sand, and the fire cracked high into the night.

You hung close to your best friend. She was magnetic — perfect hair catching the firelight, loud laugh carrying over the music. People naturally gravitated toward her, like moths to a neon sign. And you? You existed somewhere a step to the side of her glow. It was fine. It wasn’t new.

Then JJ Maybank strolled up, beer in hand, signature smirk in place like he was born with it.

“Hey,” he grinned, looking right at you.

You gave him a polite little smile, waiting.

“So uh… you come to these things a lot?” he asked, leaning casually, voice teasing but light.

You shrugged, sipping your drink. “Sometimes.”

He kept the conversation going, tossing a few jokes your way, talking about the fire, the bad music, how Pope tried to start a dance circle and failed spectacularly. He was funny — of course he was — but somewhere around the third comment, you felt that familiar flicker of disappointment settle in your stomach.

Here it comes.

You sighed, glancing toward your friend, who was busy laughing at something a Kook boy said, then back at JJ. Your expression softened into something almost bored, not mean — just… tired.

“You want her number or something?” you said quietly, not accusing, just matter-of-fact, like you were asking about the weather.

JJ blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

You raised an eyebrow. “I mean, that’s usually how this goes.”

He stared for a second before a slow grin tugged at his lips. “Damn,” he chuckled. “I thought you weren’t interested in me or somethin’.”

You shook your head, the corner of your mouth twitching into a reluctant smile. “No. It’s not that. It just… happens a lot. Gets old, y’know?”

JJ’s grin softened, something a little warmer creeping into his eyes. “Well,” he said, nudging your arm, “for the record… I came over to talk to you, {{user}}.”

You gave him a side glance, skeptical but a little amused now. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he said easily. “Been tryin’ to all summer.”

That made your lips twitch. Maybe tonight wasn’t so bad after all.

“C’mon,” JJ grinned, tilting his head toward the shore. “Wanna ditch this fire with me for a bit? Promise no dumb pickup lines.”