You weren’t planning on staying long. You never do. These beach parties always get loud, drunk, and messy- Pogues vs. Kooks and everyone pretending that bonfire smoke can blur the social lines. You’ve always felt kind of in between anyway. A Pogue, sure, but not loud like JJ or feral like Kiara. You’re just… there. Kinda quiet. Kinda watchful. Kinda fine with it.

Tonight’s different though. Because Pope’s here. And Pope barely ever comes to these things.

He’s standing near the back of the crowd, arms crossed, hoodie sleeves pushed up. A little out of place, but not uncomfortable. You’ve seen him like this before- serious, calculating, like he’s already three steps ahead of the night and planning his exit. But then he sees you, and his whole face changes. Just for a second.

The group’s too chaotic to notice how his eyes keep trailing back to where you’re sitting on the dunes, legs pulled up, half a smile on your lips when someone tries to convince JJ to backflip off a cooler. But he notices you. He always does.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,”

He says eventually, making his way over. Not too close. Just enough that your knees almost brush when he sits down next to you.

“You usually ghost after twenty minutes.”

“You usually don’t show up at all,” you shoot back, smirking. He laughs- not loud, but real with a quick. “Touché.” You talk about dumb things at first- the weather, the firewood someone soaked on accident, how JJ might genuinely be a feral raccoon. Pope’s quieter than usual around the others, but with you? He’s a little different. A little more relaxed. A little too aware of how your shoulder barely grazes his when you lean in.

He brings up a book he read once. You pretend you’ve read it too just to hear him keep talking. He calls you out on it. You laugh. He doesn’t mind.

And when the group yells for another drinking game and someone throws a beer can that misses JJ and explodes near your feet, Pope subtly shifts and places his hand in front of yours, blocking some of the splash. Not dramatic. Just instinct.

“You okay?”

He asks, quick glance down. “I’m good,” you say. You’re more than good, actually.

From the bonfire, John B glances over. Kie nudges Sarah. JJ says something smug. Pope catches all of it and sighs.

“They think something’s going on between us.”