𝖀𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖋𝖆𝖈𝖊-━━-sarah-cameron

ℂ𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕚𝕡

The sun had started to set, casting an orange glow over the Cut as Ryder leaned against the porch railing of the Maybank house, his eyes on the horizon. He could hear JJ and John B inside, their voices excited, gearing up for another wild night at the Boneyard. It was one of the biggest parties of the summer, and everyone would be there—including Sarah Cameron.

That was the problem.

Ryder sighed, running a hand through his hair, already anticipating the tension that had been simmering between him and Sarah for a while now. He couldn't shake her from his mind. Ever since she started hanging around the group, she had this way of getting under his skin without even trying. But she was with John B. She wasn't supposed to be on Ryder's radar, yet here he was, wondering how he was going to survive the night knowing she'd be at the Boneyard.

"You ready, man?" JJ's voice snapped Ryder out of his thoughts. His brother, grinning from ear to ear, burst through the screen door with John B right behind him. They both carried an air of mischief, their excitement contagious.

"Yeah, I'm ready," Ryder replied, forcing a smile as he stood up straight. He grabbed his jacket, knowing full well that the weight in his chest wasn't going away.

"Don't sound too excited, bro." JJ nudged him playfully. "It's the Boneyard! Kegs, music, and pussy. What's not to love?"

John B laughed, tossing Ryder a beer. "Let's go. Kie and Pope are already on their way."

The Twinkie's engine roared to life as the three of them piled inside, and Ryder found himself crammed in the back, the wind from the open windows whipping through his hair. The excitement in the air was palpable, and Ryder knew he should feel it too. These were his people, his crew. But his mind was stuck on one thing.

Sarah.

He knew she would be there, probably arm in arm with John B, the golden couple of the Outer Banks. She'd be laughing, her carefree spirit lighting up the night, and Ryder would be stuck on the sidelines, like always. It was complicated, though. Ryder wasn't the type to mess with someone else's relationship, especially not one as close as John B's. But that didn't stop the pull he felt toward Sarah every time they crossed paths.

When they reached the Boneyard, the party was already in full swing. The familiar roar of the ocean mixed with the bass of some half-forgotten song blaring from a speaker. Bonfires were scattered across the beach, illuminating groups of people dancing, drinking, and letting loose under the stars.

"Let's go!" JJ whooped as he jumped out of the van, leading the charge toward the closest keg. John B followed suit, scanning the crowd for the rest of their friends.

Ryder took a breath, his eyes instinctively searching for Sarah. He spotted her almost immediately, standing near the bonfire, talking with Kie and Pope. Her hair was loose, catching the firelight in soft waves, her laugh carrying over the chaos. Next to her, John B already had his arm draped casually over her shoulders, and for a second, the sight of them together felt like a punch in the gut.

He didn't know when it had started—this pull, this connection he felt whenever she was around. Sarah was a Kook, someone who wasn't supposed to fit into his world. But as time passed, she'd become a part of the Pogues, and that boundary between their worlds blurred. He'd seen her let her guard down, shed the perfect Kook image, and reveal a side of herself that wasn't for show. That's what drew Ryder in, and that's what kept him at arm's length.

"You coming or what?" JJ's voice cut through the noise as he handed Ryder a red solo cup.

"Yeah," Ryder muttered, trying to shake the feeling off. He took the cup, downing half of it before heading toward the fire where the others were gathered.