❪ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗘 & 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗘 ❫

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝗇𝖾 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
the archer.  ╱  season one, episode zero.
❛ 𝗐𝗁𝗈 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝗈
𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗒? ❜

KENNEDY THORNTON felt as if the figure eight has gripped her by the throat, with every passing day it was squeezing tighter and tighter until she can no longer breathe. From a young age, she was taught to hide all her imperfections, she could never truly be the person she wanted to be. On the outside, she was the perfect image of beauty, from her make-up always being flawless to the outfit that screamed rich. Kennedy Thornton was an enigma in Outer Banks, no one knew exactly how to explain her. With only a glance, she seemed like your normal Kook Princess, but once she graced you with her presence, she had completely changed your mind.

There were many layers to the Thornton girl. She was someone that you could never quite put in a box. There wasn't one girl on the island that didn't want to be her, and any boy that didn't want her. She was just perfect, she seemingly basked in the attention that people gave her. It was no secret that she was the favorite Thornton sibling, her twin Topper was practically non-existent when she came into the picture. She couldn't help it, people gravitated to her, like a moth to a flame. She was a seemingly polite, kind, and generous girl, the adoration that she received was astronomical.

Any normal person's ego would boost substantially, but not Kennedy. She understood why people adored her, the act she put on would make anyone fall in love with her presence. To everyone else, she was a high, Kennedy was something that they needed a fix of, she never failed to give them a euphoric feeling while they did so. But to Kennedy, she was just a hangover that could never be cured. While everyone boasted about the enigma that is Kennedy Thornton, she felt like it was all a lie. She felt like she wasn't the Kennedy Thornton, people believed she was. She felt like an imposter, someone who had the exact features of the girl, but the mindset and personality didn't add up.

The façade that the Thornton girl put on wasn't who she is. After years and years of perfecting it, she was the perfect kook Princess that everyone wanted. No matter how much it tore her down, she always had to put on a show for the island, she portrayed someone that was one hundred percent not her. She knew no one wanted to see her true, genuine self. The Kennedy Thornton everyone saw was a mask of a person Kennedy didn't want to be. But the personality she painted every day was what the people of Outer Banks wanted, and everything her mother forced upon her, she felt guilty if she didn't give it to them.

Every fake smile, false laugh, Kennedy's throat burned with the urge to scream, but every time, the feeling was swallowed in order for the perfect chipper laugh to escape her red-tinted lips. Kennedy could feel her soul shriveling up into something that wasn't there, and it felt like it was too late to save herself. The girl was in too deep, her true self could never claw it's way up, she had to be what the people wanted, and if she wasn't, she was a burden to everyone around her.

If anyone was to blame for the monster that was created, it was Cynthia Thornton. From a young age, there was a certain agenda that was pushed on the young Thornton girl. Kennedy was taught to hide her imperfections, they were deemed as ugly and disgusting, and "not fit" for an elegant girl like Kennedy. While her brother was off doing whatever he pleased, Kennedy was trapped inside their mansion learning how to be quiet and smile as if everything was okay. For a long time, Kennedy had felt trapped. There was always something lodged in her throat, that made her incapable of breathing. She never fully breathed until she was alone, and or tucked away with her closest friends.

There were only small times throughout her day when she could let the person trapped inside of her out. With every sweet, plastic smile, her control weakened. Her body screamed for herself to break free, but with the watchful glare of her mother, she refrained. She couldn't do anything wrong without there being a consequence, a heavy weight wrapped around her heart tightly, slowly dragging her further and further down with each step she took.

Kennedy could count the times on her perfectly manicured hand when she let her true self shine through the plastic that was her image. Last summer was the time when Kennedy felt free for the first time, she wasn't Kennedy Thornton, she was just Kennedy. Sometimes if she closes her eyes and focuses hard enough, she can feel the midnight sand sifting through her fingertips. The night is quiet and she only feels comfort as the sea breeze wraps around her skin. The salty air is pungent against her nose as she breathes it in. There's no heavy heart there, just calmness as she hears the gentle waves of the ocean in front of her. A blond is there beside her, silently smoking a joint, occasionally passing it to her.

There was something about him that never failed to make her heart race. Maybe it was the midnight moon illuminating the sloped nose and jaw of the boy in front of her, or maybe it was the goofy smile that graced his lips once he noticed her soft stare. But there was just something that felt right about it all, and it made Kennedy never want to leave. She could still feel the goosebumps that crawled across her skin once he leaned over and whispered something sweet into her ear, the words were now lost in the mix of all that was said that summer, an almost lost memory, but they didn't fail to leave a bright blush coating her cheeks in their wake.

The soft thudding of her heart made her want moments like this to keep replaying in her mind. The euphoria that she felt that summer never left her mind. It was always the simplest things that brought her right back into those sacred moments she held dear. It didn't matter if the relationship between her and the boy turned sour and they were now the bane of each other's existence, she still gripped those moments for dear life. As they were examples of moments where she was completely and utterly free, she would give anything to go back and live through that summer again.

But she knew that couldn't happen, so instead, she lived those moments over and over again in her mind. Fantasizing that one day she could be back on that beach, at midnight, sifting through the sand, while the waves crashed in front of her. And maybe just maybe, that boy would be there right next to her.

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THE SUN HAD been beating down on the five kooks that resided on the private Thornton beach for most of the afternoon. The dry air piled onto the heat that overtook them, while three of them attempted to ail their overheated bodies by going in the water, two rested on the beach still not bothering to move from heat exhaustion. The Outer Banks enigma lay lazily in her beach chair, flipping through a book she had randomly plucked from one of the many bookcases that were in her home's library. She wasn't bothered by keeping up the conversation with the Masterfield boy next to her, and he had the same mindset as he stole her phone and was now shuffling through the thousands of songs she had.

She felt a hawk-like gaze on her most of the day, seeing as her boyfriend had never failed to look at her and examine her figure. She could understand why, the young Thornton girl opted with a strappy white bikini that accentuated her curves quite wonderfully. She had gotten affirmations from both Riley and Sarah, as they both at some point during the afternoon jokingly slapped her ass and mentioned that she looked hot. Kennedy wasn't full of herself, but she knew when she was having a good day, and today was that day.

Her morning was spent with Riley and Sarah by her side as they lazily lounged in her room, avoiding any contact from the outside world. The three best friends were something that never failed to be together. Since they all entered high school, they had all been attached at the hip. There wasn't a moment when Kennedy didn't have Riley and Sarah by her side. They were the unstoppable trio that practically owned the island.

But Riley was the one that Kennedy had known for most of her life. Kennedy could confidently say that Riley Masterfield was her soulmate, platonically of course. From the time they accidentally tripped each other in first grade, there was never a moment when they weren't together. Where Kennedy was, Riley was right next to her, and vice versa. Riley was someone who just fit into Kennedy's life, she couldn't imagine not having the chaotic boy in her life. Riley was the brother that Kennedy needed, he was someone that had no problem filling Topper's shoes. Riley embraced the real Kennedy with open arms, there was not one part of Kennedy that Riley didn't love.

The boy was deeply loved by all on the island, kooks and pogues included. While Kennedy was tolerated by the people on the cut, Riley was welcomed. The boy had an infectious personality that everyone admired, and they thrived in his presence. The Masterfield boy was either attached to Kennedy's side or hanging out with a specific group of pogues on the cut. Kennedy wasn't exactly thrilled that her best friend was fraternizing with the people who had the most problems with her. But she wasn't gonna be bitch that kept him for herself. So she swallowed her dislike for this situation and let him be friends with the pogues who hated her existence.

It wasn't like that before, there were things that Kennedy wished that could be brought back. The light feeling that flooded her chest when all of her best friends were together. A feeling of nostalgia and want to hit her in waves sometimes when she'll find a random Polaroid in a scrapbook she made in ninth grade. There didn't use to be three of them, at the peak of their friendship, there were four. Kiara Carrera was the missing piece that tied Kennedy's life together. But once Sarah didn't invite her to her birthday party back in the summer before tenth grade, Kennedy watched it all crumble. Once a look of hatred took up Kie's face when she glanced at Kennedy, the girl's heart cracked a little. And while Riley fully kept hanging out with Kiara, even after Sarah told him not to, he didn't care, he wasn't gonna lose someone close to him.

Kennedy could've salvaged their relationship, god how she wished she had gone back and done that, but she didn't. Kennedy dropped the girl, and with a heavy heart watched Kiara hate her. The Thornton girl couldn't excuse the sudden drop of her friend, and how cruel the act was. But Kennedy was struggling with a certain loss. While no one died, it felt like her world was crumbling in front of her and all she was left with was rubble. Kennedy had only one support system throughout her life, it was someone that she gripped with dear life. Maggie Thornton was a gift from heaven in Kennedy's eyes. While everyone in the Thornton household pushed a certain idea of how she should be on her, Maggie was different.

Maggie became one of the only people that Kennedy could be herself around, she preached to her that she needed to get out of the figure eight as soon as she could. Maggie was never one to accept the limitations that the figure eight had to offer. She defied against the people who tried to put her in a box, she refused to let them. And when she had a chance to make her escape she did, leaving a dependant Kennedy alone to be eaten by the dogs that were the Thornton family. Kennedy had felt like her lifeline had been ripped away, life at the Thronton mansion had grown cold for the girl. There were no more late-night chats or comforting hugs available at the ready when Kennedy had a deafening fight with Topper or her mother. Kennedy was left alone to suffer the wrath of her family, without protection from her big sister.

With the feeling of safety ripped away from her, she recoiled into herself and disconnected from everyone. Kennedy went through a time of struggle, acclimating to the new living situation. Kennedy's heart was getting squeezed tighter and tighter, and she couldn't do a thing about it. Without the confidence and peace of mind that her sister gave her, she was lost in a world full of kooks and she couldn't escape. Tired of resisting the life around her, Kennedy gave in. Soon falling in line with the other people around her and she shut herself off, slowly becoming the monster she is today.

With the book discarded on the ground beside her, the kook princess adjusted her cat-eye sunglasses so they framed her face instead of resting on her hairline. Kennedy rested her head back against the tan beach chair she had been laid out on, feeling her body sinking into the seat as she listened to the calmness of the waves crashing. Memories began flooding her mind once she became more focused on the noise in front of her. But they soon died out as she felt droplets of water fall against her heated skin.

Peaking her eyes open, she noticed her boyfriend standing over her with a smile, laughing at something Topper had just said. Kennedy kicked Rafe's leg lightly in order to get his attention, "What do you want?"

"Can you pass me my towel babe?" The Cameron boy questioned, giving her a small smile. Wordlessly, the blonde nodded and reached down to pull his towel out of the bag she brought down to the beach. He grabbed it gratefully, soon drying his hair with the cloth, "Thanks Kenn,"

The girl hummed quietly, soon sliding her shades back over her eyes. The air was calm, it was a peaceful moment, her ears barely noticing the small talk that was displayed between the three that had just got out of the water. A cool breeze suddenly flowed through the beach, washing Kennedy's skin nicely.

The peace that the blonde felt was quickly ripped away from her as the boy next to her wrapped his towel tighter around his frame, "Holy shit, it got fucking cold,"

Kennedy rolled her eyes in annoyance at the sudden burst from Rafe, she turned her head to see him splayed out on a beach towel. Her voice showed nothing but annoyance, "Maybe it's because you just got out of the water Genius,"

Rafe snorted, his hand soon shooting out to tug on a few strands of her bouncy golden hair, not realizing that the tugs were painful to the blonde beauty, "Thanks captain obvious,"

In an instant, Kennedy ripped her glasses off to send her boyfriend an annoyed glare, "Touch my hair like that again and I cut yours in your sleep,"

Rafe looked absolutely amused by her response, only further angering the short blonde in front of him, "Oh would you, huh? I don't hear you complaining when I pull your hair like that in bed,"

The conversation ceased between Topper and Sarah at the apparently loud comment. An embarrassed blush bloomed on Kennedy's cheeks as her eyes found the disgusted ones of Sarah and Topper. Sarah's face scrunched up with distaste at the words, "Rafe, can you refrain from mentioning your sex life with my best friend, please?"

"Yeah dude, don't talk about sex with my sister around me," Topper chimed in, feeling slight pity seeing his twin squirming in a mix of anger and discomfort.

Rafe laughed, and he soon lifted his shoulders in a shrug, "Awe come on guys, I was just messin', Kennedy sees that, don't you babe?"

Kennedy didn't say a word, she did nothing but grind her teeth in shame and slight fury. She did not enjoy it when people—especially Rafe—mentioned the intimate moments that happened between them. The bouncy blonde sent him a look that screamed nothing but upset and anger, "Fuck you, Rafe,"

The girl jumped up from her chair, shoving her book, glasses, and everything she had brought with her, half-hazardly into her light blue beach bag. She saw Topper and Sarah giving her looks of confusion, Kennedy ignored them, letting anger further burn in her stomach. She kicked Riley's ankle lightly to get his attention. The boy ripped the earbud out of his ear, eyes bored as he glanced toward her, "What's going on?"

"We're leaving," Kennedy clipped, bending down to snap her beach chair up so she could carry it.

"Cool," The Masterfield boy gave in quickly, soon standing up from his lying position on the blanket below him. From the frustration that dripped from Kennedy's tone, he knew either Topper or Rafe had pissed her off.

"Are you kidding me Kennedy?" The Cameron boy hissed, nothing but annoyance filled his face, continuing to watch her in amazement. "It was a joke, don't throw a fucking tantrum just cause of a stupid joke,"

Kennedy whipped around to face the boy, "I've told you a million times that I don't enjoy those jokes, and especially when people can hear them, it's demeaning. And I'm not throwing a tantrum, you asshole, I'm leaving cause you're being a dick,"

The boy laughed in response, crossing his arms in amusement as his eyes held a condescending glare, "That's funny, all I'm seeing is that little miss perfect can't take a fucking joke,"

The comment made her blood run cold. Little miss perfect. You've got to be fucking joking. Before Kennedy could even snap back, Riley was already sliding in between them, eyes full of anger and disgust at the boy, "Watch it douche, I wouldn't start right now,"

Riley soon got pushed back, his body thudding into Kennedy's surprised one, when she had a good grip on her best friend, she gaped at her boyfriend, "Rafe what the fuck?!"

The other teens jumped up from the commotion, snapping at Rafe and telling him to cut it out. The older boy ignored her exclamation and the words being said around him, his eyes still zeroed in on Riley, who had nothing but frustration flooding his face. "I didn't start anything, it's Kennedy's massive bitch attitude that started it,"

"Hey fuckface, I said watch it," Riley practically hissed, anger soon pumping through his veins at the rude words directed towards his best friend.

Kennedy soon intervened, eyes waving between the two, face stricken with worry, not wanting a fight to break out between the two. Her eyes instantly snapped to Riley's vicious ones, "Ri, let's go, we have to go get Maggie's check, remember?"

Riley visibly calmed himself, he straightened out, fixing the position of his shirt, but his eyes never left Rafe's, "Yeah let's leave, I'm not in the mood for the beach anymore,"

The two grabbed all their bags, Riley was already making his way back to Kennedy's mansion, eager to get away from the testosterone-wielding boy that was in front of him. But Rafe wasn't done, "Yeah that's right walk away, you fucking puss-"

"Rafe shut the fuck up," Kennedy snapped at her boyfriend, which immediately shut him up. Rafe soon began spitting out immediate apologies toward the girl, but she pushed it off and went to grab the rest of her stuff. Kennedy was about to grab the last bag, balancing the chair strap on her back, she snapped her head up to a still shockingly confused Sarah, "Are you coming with us?"

The Cameron girl looked conflicted as her eyes went between her brother and her best friend, both of them finding their eyes on her. Sarah sighed feeling the soft grip of her boyfriend's hand on her hip, she sent the blonde a smile, "I wish I could, but me and Top have plans,"

Kennedy's heart deflated slightly, the organ tightening in her chest at her best friend picking them even after what had just happened. But the Thronton girl shook it off, giving the Cameron girl a tight smile, "It's fine, I'll talk to you later, you guys have fun,"

Kennedy turned away from the three, but the wretched boy she was trying to get away from caught her wrist, "Kennedy wait-"

She instantly ripped her arm away from him, quickly whipping around to send him a look of warning, "Don't even,"

Rafe jumped back at the look, his face filling with defeat watching her walk away, still feeling the irritation that was rolling off of her in waves. Kennedy sped up her movements, eager to get away from this whole situation. Her heart was heavy, and the anger that she had been feeling was already making her exhausted. Then the weight of her feelings got much heavier, finally realized that she had to go to The Wreck, where most likely the pogues were residing. Kennedy with her whole chest prayed that she didn't have to deal with Kiara's snide comment and or worse, she'd have to be the in presence of goddamn JJ Maybank.

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↝↝↝↝↝ 𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐒... ↜↜↜↜↜

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬 silverfalcons

WELCOME TO FIRST CHAPTER OF CHAMPAGNE AND SUNSHINE!!!

Beginning chapter aesthetic inspired by JUPlTERBARNES

So we must protect Kennedy at all costs! And that's on that! I know she seems a little dramatic but she's going through a rather bad rough patch with Rafe, shocker!

But also I kinda of love my flashback moment like a lot! And I can't wait to write them further cause I Love last summer JJ and Kennedy, the flashbacks make me so fucking soft! Cause my babies are so in love and adorable, just fuck.

N e way, also sorry abt the lack of JJ lol, but he's in the next chapter and you can get a taste of their relationship, ps. It's not good.

But I have so many ideas for this story and how Kennedy connects to the pogues and I'm pumped, like I'm really excited to write it out for you guys!

Hope you enjoyed!

BUT IMPORTANT THING.

What did you all think?

I really would like your feedback on this, so please leave a comment.