Rogue | outer banks

001 - Hurricane Agatha

The sun kissed my skin with a warm embrace as I sat next to JJ on the wooden platform, suspended above the deck. Our legs swung freely, dancing in unison with the rhythm of the waves below. The salty breeze tousled my hair, and I took a refreshing sip of beer, feeling the cool droplets of condensation on the can against my palms. John B stood on the rooftop, his silhouette against the sky like a fleeting figure about to embrace freedom.

Pope, holding an electric drill, engaged in banter, his words mixing with the symphony of crashing waves and seagull calls. "That's what? A three-story fall to the deck?" Pope quipped, casting a mocking laugh. "I give you about a... one-in-three chance of survival."

I glanced at JJ, sharing a subtle smile. The picturesque scene before us painted a temporary escape from our reality. The metal bars beneath our arms creaked slightly, bearing witness to our casual perch on the edge.

"You're being generous, Pope," I replied, a playful glint in my eyes. "I'd say he's got at least a fifty-fifty shot."

John B, with furrowed eyebrows, seemed to be contemplating the dare while Pope, wielding the electric drill, played along with a smirk. John B, in his typical daring fashion, ran his tongue along his index finger before turning to Pope. "Should I do it?" he challenged, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Yeah, you should jump," Pope grinned.

"Yeah?" John B questioned.

Pope responded with a mock threat, pointing the drill at him. "I'll shoot you on the way down."

"You're going to shoot me?" John B quipped, mimicking a gun with his fingers.

I couldn't help but join in, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Please finish him," I drawled, lifting the can to my lips and taking a satisfying sip.

Despite the potential hazards, the construction site had become a familiar haunt for us. As long as the spot remained unoccupied, we carried on with our daily escapades, seemingly unfazed by the risks that lingered in the air.

I glanced at JJ, taking in his dreamy gaze at the opulent mansions lining the coastline like a row of glistening diamonds.

"I could totally see myself living in one of those bad boys," he sighed, turning to me with a dreamy look in his eyes. "Imagine waking up in a house so big, you need a map to find the fridge."

I couldn't help but give him a soft smile.

"But hey, you already know how that feels," he teased, earning himself a playful hit.

"I've practically been living with John B, so that..." I gestured with my finger. "Doesn't apply to me anymore."

JJ chuckled, a hint of rebellion in his tone. "Okay, let me rephrase that," he grinned. "Maybe one day we'll each have our own gigantic house, or... we could always consider moving in together," he proposed, wagging his eyebrows.

My amused expression turned serious in an instant. "Oh, God no. No way." I shook my head. "We're practically already living together at The Château. Do you have any idea how annoying you can be?"

"Oh, and you think you aren't?"

"Please," I scoffed. "You always leave your dirty clothes lying around and never bother to pick them up. Oh, yeah, and to top it off, you never remember to put the toilet seat down. Like, come on, that's totally not cool. And if you ask me, you're nowhere near my ideal roommate."

Despite my annoyance, JJ was unfazed, grinning widely. "But Lia, you love me for my flaws, right? That's why we're soulmates."

I rolled my eyes at his comment, but a hint of a smile played at the corners of my lips. JJ had a way of turning even the most exasperating moments into something that made me appreciate the quirks that defined our friendship.