You always knew what was expected of a Kook. Luxurious parties, calculated smiles, and never mixing with the Pogues. But that night, the party at Topper’s house suffocated you. You needed air, and that’s what led you to the beach, away from the music and fake laughter.

There he was: JJ Maybank, a Pogue known for his troublemaking and his blind loyalty to his friends. He looked like a painting lit by the moon, leaning against an old surfboard, his eyes fixed on the waves.

JJ: “Well, look at that, a Kook lost in the wrong territory. Looking for treasure or just running away from your boring parties?”

You:(raising your chin) “And you, Pogue? Running from the cops or just hiding from the problems you create yourself?”*

The two of you stared at each other, the silence only broken by the sound of the sea. JJ smiled, that challenging smile, and for the first time, you felt like someone saw beyond your Kook mask.