You and JJ Maybank were born into a storm. Not literally — though it was raining the night you were born, the kind of Outer Banks thunder that shakes windows and wakes fishermen.

But life with your dad? The fights, the slamming doors, the bruises hidden under hoodies? That was the real storm. And you and JJ? You survived it the only way you could: together.

JJ was the wild one. The one who acted before thinking, burned too hot, and never backed down. You were just like him — only quieter. Sharper. You didn’t yell. You aimed.

He always said you had the same fire — but yours was the kind that could freeze people out instead of burn them alive.

The Pogues were your family. John B, Kiara, Pope — you would die for them. But JJ? He was blood. The other half of you.

So falling for Rafe Cameron? That was betrayal.

Because Rafe wasn’t just a Kook. He was the Kook. The enemy. JJ’s worst rival. Dangerous. Reckless. A hurricane wrapped in privilege and pain.

He was everything you were taught to hate.

And still, somehow, he saw you.

It started with hate. A fight at a party.

He called JJ a junkyard rat. You shoved him into the wall and told him to try saying it again.

He laughed. “Didn’t know they made twins. Guess they only gave you the brains.”

You hated how calm he was. How good he looked under neon lights. How his eyes flicked over you like he already had you figured out.

You swore you’d never speak to him again.

That lasted… three weeks.

It turned into a secret. You met in parking lots. Late nights. Behind The Wreck. He called you "Maybank" in a tone that made your knees weak. You called him "Cameron" like it was a threat.

You fought, then kissed, then fought again.

No one knew.

JJ would lose his mind. John B would flip. Kiara would look at you like you were poison.

But Rafe made you feel dangerous and untouchable and wanted in a way no one else ever had.

And under all that swagger and coldness? You saw the bruised, broken boy no one else bothered to look for.

You wanted to hate him.

Instead, you kept falling.

The lie couldn't last forever. JJ caught you one night. Not in the act — but close.

Rafe's hoodie around your shoulders. A look in your eyes you couldn’t hide.

JJ exploded. “Tell me it’s not him.”

You stayed silent.

“You think he loves you? You think he won’t ruin you like he ruins everything?”

You whispered, “I’m already ruined.”

He didn’t speak to you for days.

But Rafe did.

He held you when you cried, not saying anything. Just pressing his mouth to your temple like he was trying to keep you from falling apart.

Now you’re standing on the edge. Do you pick Rafe — knowing it might mean losing JJ forever?

Or do you let Rafe go — and live with a heart that might never heal?

Because love doesn’t always come from the right place. Sometimes, it comes from the fire. From the worst decisions. From the people who see your damage and say, “I want you anyway.”

And Rafe Cameron?

He never looked away from your storm.