Tides of grace

The night at the boneyard

The Boneyard was a familiar spot for the Pogues-a place to unwind, forget about the world, and just be themselves. It wasn't a glamorous spot by any means; it was a rocky stretch of beach, surrounded by cliffs and overgrown trees, and a firepit that had become a sort of unwritten tradition for the group.

When they arrived, JJ was already there, sitting on a boulder with a guitar in his lap. He strummed lazily, looking up as they approached. His eyes caught Grace's, and for a moment, the world around her seemed to pause. The air felt electric, and for a second, she forgot about everything else.

"Hey, Grace," JJ called out, his tone light and teasing, as always. "Ready for some music?"

Grace smiled, trying to push down the flutter of nervousness in her stomach. "I didn't know we were having a concert."

"Well, now you do," JJ replied, flashing her that signature grin of his. "You're the headliner."

Grace rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, really? I wasn't aware I had signed up for that gig."

JJ laughed and nudged her gently. "It's all part of the deal. You just have to go with it."

As the night went on, the group settled into their familiar rhythm. They talked, laughed, and shared stories, with JJ occasionally breaking into a song or two, much to Pope's annoyance. Even though it was meant to be a casual hangout, Grace could feel the tension in the air. Sarah's warning still lingered in her mind, and it was hard to ignore the way Kiara kept glancing at her, her expression unreadable.

As the night wore on, Grace found herself drifting closer to JJ, his energy magnetic. She couldn't help but be drawn to him, despite the chaos it might cause. And when he finally stopped playing and looked at her, his gaze intense, she felt a sudden wave of vulnerability.

"Grace..." JJ's voice was quieter now, his usual cocky tone replaced by something softer. "What's really going on in your head?"

Grace's heart skipped a beat. She had always been able to keep her emotions in check, but with JJ, it felt like everything was slipping through her fingers. She didn't know how to explain it-how she felt torn between everyone and everything.

"I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I'm trying to figure it out, I guess."

JJ stared at her for a long moment, his eyes studying her, as if searching for something more. Grace looked away, suddenly feeling exposed.

"You don't have to figure it all out right now," JJ said, his voice soft but sure. "We're all just figuring things out as we go."

His words, though simple, were comforting. Grace wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that she didn't have to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

But deep down, she knew it wasn't that easy.

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