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A warm orange glow covered the Outer Banks, with the group of friends making their way outside the Chateau, their laughter filling the air with infectious joy.
The day had been perfect—filled with sunshine, surf, and the company of their closest friends. Now, as they walked along the patchy grass of the backyard.
The promise of a summer night filled with their usual shenanigans and beer drinking lay ahead of them.
JJ skipped ahead of the group, pretending to surf on invisible waves, much to the amusement of his friends.
"Hey, JJ, save some energy for later!" Kie called out, laughing as she watched the blonde's antics.
JJ grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Can't help it, Kie," he replied, his voice filled with excitement. "I've got enough energy to power this whole island!"
Lacy shook her head in amusement, a fond smile playing on her lips as she watched him.
Despite his goofy exterior, there was something undeniably endearing about him.
The sound of local boats hitting the marina filled the air, mingling with the laughter and chatter of the friends as they cracked open warm beers and relaxed into the summer evening. Lacy was sat next to Kie, the blonde's wavy hair meshing with the curly locks of the girl beside her.
"I love our life," Lacy whispered under her breath, taking another swig of her beer.
Kie looked down to smile at the petite blonde, "We definitely have the most fun." Kie's drunken hands grabbed Lacy's face as she gave her a dramatic kiss, "Mwah! Best summer ever!"
Lacy's laughter filled the air at her best friend's actions.
John B, Pope, and JJ all shared a look. "I don't even know what that was, but I loved it," JJ expressed at the sight of his two female best friends currently now engrossed in a story from high school.
Pope, ever the voice of reason, raised his beer in a toast. "To summer nights and good friends," he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. The group shared looks across the bonfire, raising their bottles up.
The rest of the group echo his sentiment, clinking their bottles together in a celebratory gesture. For a moment, they were lost in the magic of the moment, the warmth of friendship washing over them like a comforting blanket. For Lacy, JJ, Kie, Pope, and John B, these summer nights were a reminder of the beauty of friendship, the joy of living in the moment, and the power of love to bring people together.
And as they watched the stars twinkle overhead, the sound of waves in the distance, they knew that these moments would stay with them forever, a treasure to be cherished for years to come. No matter where they all ended up after high school ended, the conversation that was scarcely brought up.
