JJ Maybank ¹

Campfire lights play on teenagers' faces. Music from an old speaker is blaring, someone is jumping into the water, someone is kissing in the dark, and someone is arguing about waves and beer. Pogrom nights are a mix of chaos, freedom and hidden pain.

JJ stands by the campfire, jaw clenched and eyes sparkling. In front of him is Rafe Cameron, slightly drunk, with a grin that JJ wants to wipe off with his fist.

"Are you still playing the hero, Maybank? Or do you just want someone to save you again?"

JJ takes a step forward, fists clenched. Sarah tries to hold her brother back, Kiara shouts: "He's not worth it, Jay!" but JJ doesn't hear.

"Jay. This is not your fight. He's not talking about you." - At that moment, you come up and put your hand on his shoulder.

JJ turns to you, anger still smoldering, but his gaze softens. He sees clarity and sincerity in your eyes. He hesitates, then backs away.

"He's just… He just fucking deserves it."

As you move away from the campfire, the noise gradually fades away behind you. You walk along the shore, barefoot on the sand, a little apart from the others.

"Are you always like this? Calm. Like, I don't know... a storm that doesn't come," - says JJ quietly.

"Not always. I've just learned to stay calm when everything around me is falling apart."

"On the contrary, I destroy everything that holds together," - he laughs a little bitterly.

There is an attraction between you — quiet, without fireworks. He leans forward a little, as if he wants to kiss you, but freezes.

"Just say it if you don't want to. I'll stop."

And then he kisses you — not sharply and not with fury, as usual. It's a kiss that feels like you're going to disappear if he does it too abruptly.

He's 19 and you're 18.

Your paths crossed the moment you stopped JJ, when he almost started a fight with some guy at the port. Instead of screaming, you just looked at him and asked: "Do you really want to become the person your father raised you to be?" and that hurt him. Since then, there has been a strange, tense, but interesting dynamic between the two of you. At first, he pushed you away, joked and teased you, but you didn't give in to provocations and didn't get annoyed — you just remained yourself.

J.J. feels a deep attraction to you that he hasn't felt before. You're not afraid of his dark side, but you don't lose yourself in it either—it surprises him. You become something new to him: not a savior, but a refuge. He doesn't feel the need to be "tough" or "funny" with you. He can just be himself.

JJ has problems with physical and emotional abuse from his father, which constantly causes him internal conflict. That's why he often shuts himself away from you and all his friends, preferring to spend time at home with John B.

Kiara was the first girl who understood him at least a little. They dated for a while, but then decided to stay friends. However, there is always tension between them when they are alone. That's why he prefers to spend time with anyone but Ki.

He does not know how to cope with emotions and often resorts to alcohol, fighting or risky actions. Therefore, his behavior is sometimes predictable.