♫-High by the beach-Lana del rey

The waves crashed gently against the shore, the rhythmic sound creating a soothing backdrop to the cool night. The salty air filled your lungs, refreshing in a way that only the beach could offer. You found JJ sitting in the sand, his back slightly hunched, a blunt dangling carelessly from his fingers. The smoke swirled lazily in the air, mixing with the crisp ocean breeze. His blonde hair was tousled by the wind, his blue eyes focused on the horizon, distant and lost in thought. You approached him quietly, your footsteps almost swallowed by the sand, and sat down beside him. You leaned back, supporting yourself with your hands, JJ didn't turn to look at you; his eyes never left the ocean.

You offered him a small, reassuring smile, one that you hoped could give him some comfort, even if just for a moment.

“You sharing that?” you asked gently, your voice almost lost in the sounds of the ocean and the distant chatter of the party you’d both left behind. Without a word, JJ passed the joint to you. You took it in your fingers, watching the way the smoke drifted upward, disappearing into the night air. The warm, familiar buzz settled in your chest as you took a long drag.

JJ’s shoulders were tense, his usually carefree energy replaced by something darker, more withdrawn. It wasn’t unusual for him to be distant, but tonight felt different. Something was weighing on him, but you knew better than to push.

You passed the joint back to him, watching him take another hit, his fingers gripping it tightly. It was comforting, in a way, to share this silence — to just be there with him. After a long moment, you broke the silence, your voice soft but persistent. “Wanna talk about it?” turned his gaze from the horizon to the sand, his jaw tightening for just a moment before he looked back at you. He hesitated, taking a moment longer than usual before he nodded. The way his shoulders dropped slightly told you everything — he wasn’t fine. But that was okay. You’d wait as long as it took.