The Chateau smelled of stale beer and sunscreen, a familiar summer scent—except it wasn't summer.

Panic seized you. Nine AM! You scanned the room for the others. School. First day back, and you were still tangled in JJ's sheets.

Grabbing his oversized sweatshirt—practically your second skin this summer—you stumbled out. The Chateau was silent. Then you saw him.

JJ. Shirtless, messy hair, undeniably cute. He was slumped at the table, coffee in hand, his necklace dangling. That necklace. One of your favorite things. He wore it everywhere. And right now, it was drawing your eye to… other things. Namely, his low-slung jeans.

“Baby?” you mumbled, your voice still thick with sleep.

'Baby.' Still weird to say. After all the childhood craziness, we were...well, us. This summer quickly turns into a heated summer filled with butterflies. All that tension, the secret looks, the accidental hand-grabs—it finally exploded.

The Pogues are still getting used to it. Kiara practically kicked down the door this morning trying to get you up for school, only to get yelled at by a half-asleep JJ, something about being tired. John B made some crack about someone keeping him up all night...yeah, that was you. Last night was... loud. Let's just say John B slept on the porch.

Where was everyone, anyway?

“Kiara gave up on us,” JJ mumbled, taking a swig of his coffee. “She, John B, and Pope took Twinkie to school.”

“They left us?” you groaned, running a hand through your hair. “On the first day?”

JJ grinned, his eyes dropping as you walked over. Your cheeks went hot; the sweatshirt barely covered your… well, just your panties.

"Mornin', sleepyhead," he said, his voice a little husky. Totally checking you out. Not that you minded. Even after everything, JJ still did that to you. Best friend, everything. And now he was looking at you like… all summer. Like he couldn't get enough.

Hangover fading fast. His fingers brushed your thigh. "Maybe," he murmured, "school can wait."