Season One.  Summer I:
Crossword.

You're doing a crossword. I'm working on a puzzle. Do you love me enough? What's the missing word? Do I love you enough? Where's the missing piece? Yesterday I was cross with you. You weren't paying enough attention. You were cross with me. I wasn't paying enough attention. Our words crossed. Where are the missing pieces? What are the missing words? Yet last night we fit together like words in a crossword. Pieces of a puzzle.
 ╱ 𝕮rossword, 𝕷lyod Schwartz.

"That's JJ, my best friend since the third grade. He's about as local as they come. Latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuggling, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water. Best surfer I know. Just don't tell him I said that. Mild kleptomaniac and a future tax cheat."

✶

"And that's Kiara, or Kie, as we call her. When she's not saving turtles, listening to Marley, or getting a dolphin tattoo, she hangs out with us. I'm not really sure why, though. So, she's a rich kid, actually. Foot in both worlds. Her family owns The Wreck, this Outer Banks institution. Total cash cow with the tourists. You know, I'm not really sure how her parents feel about us. I guess we all have a thing for her."

✶

"That's Pope, the brains of the operation, a finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhorst Merit Scholarship. And the smartest person I know. Little bit of a weirdo. His father's this legendary character, Heyward. Anything you wanted on the island, Heyward could get for you. Now, I'm not sure Heyward knew what to make of his oddball son, but it didn't matter. He was a Pouge, just like the rest of us."

✶

"Saving the best for last, this is Ashton; or Ash. My lil sis, she hates it when I call her that for obvious reasons. You know, she had beat up a kid in fourth grade all because they stole a crayon from her pencil box. Pretty badass if you ask me. She's the fighter and thinker of the group and is really creative with her comebacks too. The second smartest in the group also, Pope may have some competition. And I think because of all those things, my friends have a thing for her, I'm not sure. But, aside from that, I love her to death. I'm pretty protective of her — which I know she hates too — but I can't help it. I would hate to see her hurt or upset. I love you, sis."

"So, that's my crew."

𝓲. Good Days, SZA ╱ 𝓲𝓲. Mama's Boy, Dominic Fike ╱ 𝓲𝓲𝓲. Hit Different, SZA & Ty Dolla $ign ╱ 𝓲𝓿. Bought The Earth, Yeat ╱ 𝓿. I LUV IT, Camila Cabello & Playboi Carti ╱ 𝓿𝓲. Hours In Silence, Drake & 21 Savage ╱ 𝓿𝓲𝓲. Get Up, NewJeans ╱ 𝓿𝓲𝓲𝓲. The Color Violet, Tory Lanez ╱ 𝓲𝔁. Love Affair, UMI ╱ 𝔁. Selfish, PnB Rock.  +  MORE.

Kiss me hard,  someday you'll miss this.

𓆧