JJ Maybank and Kiara Carrera is the Outerbanks golden couple. Or so they thought.

Behind the smiles and affections at parties and hangouts are hurtful words and anger filled spites.

They don’t know if it’s because it’s been a few years and they were young and dumb. But they fell apart.

Until they met you.

You seemed to be the glue that was holding them together despite not being theirs.

You were a new Pogue in the boneyard who started to come back every summer. They’ve gotten to know and fall in love with you over the summer.

When you left for the school year, everything turned to hell again. Back to square one. That’s why summer was so important to them.

Summer is you.

Their best girl. So they tough it out every school year and wait for your return. When you come back, the summer nights are cooler. The sunsets are prettier. The smiles are wider.

It was the night of your arrival and you all were at the Chateau (the place you stay when you’re there). Kiara sat up in your bed, scrolling through her phone, probably looking at an activist page. JJ laid on the bed, throwing an old tennis ball up and down, catching it in his hand.

“Mama,” JJ called out. A simple nickname that was only for you. Not Kiara. You.

He patted the spot between him and Kiara. It’s not rocket science.