You can't understand the Outer Banks without understanding the boneyard. It's kinda like a three-layer burrito. There's the pogues, the working-class derelicts. Then, there are the Kooks, the rich second-homers. They're mostly from poncey-ass boarding schools, just rich posers. The pogues' natural enemies. And then, there are the Tourons. Totally clueless. Here for a week on vacation with their families. Chum for the sharks.
The teens settled the keg into the sand on the beach and slowly but surely the party kicked up. Lydia found herself sitting on a log, next to JJ, with her friends across the fire pit. All of her friends were talking to some tourons, you know, just different people to talk to and flirt with. She tried not to listen in on the conversation going on beside her, but the blonde touron would not stop talking. She caught JJ's eyes out of the corner of her's and he tapped the rim of his cup. She smirked knowing exactly what that meant. The group had come up with a discrete signal that they could use if they were with someone at a party they were uncomfortable with. This was mostly the guys' way of keeping track of their girls but occasionally the boys needed the girls' help.
When she caught the signal she knew what she needed to do. She slowly rested her head on JJ's shoulder and grabbed his hand off his lap. "Can I help you?" The blonde touron asked
"No. But you can help me by backing off my boyfriend" Lydia smiled sweetly as the blonde girl scoffed
"You need a refill?" JJ asked, knowing they needed an excuse to leave the touron
"Yeah but I'll come with you babe" Lydia said and they walked off hand in hand until the blonde touron found someone else to bother.
"Babe, huh?" JJ asked
"Oh, shut up. You knew she wasn't gonna back off unless she believed it" Lydia said, pushing him lightly away from her, as they approached the keg
"What is she doing here?" she heard Kie ask from behind her. Lydia followed her friends gaze before she realized it was Sarah Cameron and her boyfriend Topper
That's Sarah Cameron. Kook princess. Kie and Lydia's best friend in the ninth grade and worst enemy in the tenth grade. John B worked on her dad's boats. The boy accompanying the kook princess is Topper, her not so pleasant boyfriend. Topper actually thinks that Pogues were bred to mow lawns.
As the kooks approached the keg, John B and Pope joined their friends, "Yo, what's up?"
JJ moved a solo cup towards John B, "I got this for you. Want it?" and John B went to grab the cup before JJ's attention was directed elsewhere
"Sarah, can I interest you in a tasty Milwaukee beverage?" JJ asked, holding the cup out to Sarah
"No, thanks." Sarah said, obviously uncomfortable in the presence of the girls she used to be friends with
"Is it not fancy enough for you?" JJ asked, not wanting to let it go
"Hey you know what?" Topper chimed in, "I'll take it. Thank you man. I appreciate it"
"That's nice, but I didn't ask you. If you said pretty please maybe, but you didn't." Lydia sighed from beside him, as JJ continued talking. She knew that whatever was about to happen, it wasn't going to be good
"Oh, pretty please" Topper mocked
"Sarah, you can have it" JJ said, once more holding the drink out. Topper decided to smack the cup out of JJ's hand, causing it to go all over him and Lydia
"You're so funny man" JJ stepped forward to shove Topper. Lydia tightened her grip on his arm, trying to get him to back off
"Oh, Lydia. Didn't see you there" Topper began, "Rafe wanted me to tell you that he wants to recreate last year. You didn't forget did you?"
YOU ARE READING
Shells
Romance"You and I both know you haven't been okay in months" "So what? It doesn't matter. Not with all the other things we have to worry about." "See that's the problem Lydia. You don't give a shit about yourself and it's going to end up killing you. You...
