A week had passed since Isla and Sienna arrived at the Outer Banks, and the girls had already begun to settle into their summer routine. The house was quickly becoming their sanctuary, filled with laughter, music, and the sweet scent of sunscreen and saltwater. The days blended together in a blissful haze of sunbathing, late-night movies, and endless conversations.

They weren't able to go out and explore outside the house, just yet. Their moms were too on edge for them to go around freely. The lectures had been non-stop. Don't do this, dont to that, don't interact with this. Too much for that carefree summer. They were merely waiting for their moms to leave so they can get going with their fun. They would be careful of course. They weren't stupid. But not as careful as to the point they walked on eggshells.

Isla woke up to the soft hum of the air conditioning and the distant crash of waves. She stretched languidly, feeling the slight soreness in her muscles from their impromptu beach volleyball match the previous evening, which the moms won. They had brain rights now. The room was filled with the gentle morning light filtering through the sheer curtains, casting a warm, golden glow. She glanced over at Sienna, still curled up under her blanket, her hair a messy halo on the pillow. They preferred sleeping in the same room even though there were enough rooms in this mansion to house fifteen people. But they wanted to be close. To gossip and talk. They had missed each other dearly.

"Sienna, wake up," Isla whispered, throwing a pillow gently in her friend's direction. "Our moms are leaving today."

Sienna groaned, burrowing deeper into the covers. "Five more minutes," she mumbled, her voice muffled.

"Nope, no more minutes," Isla replied, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. "We promised we'd see them off. Plus, we can finally have the fun we have been waiting for today."

Sienna sighed dramatically but sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Fine, fine. I'm up. Barely."

They dressed quickly, donning light summer dresses that flowed with the breeze. As they headed downstairs, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of hushed conversation greeted them. Caroline and Fallon were sitting at the kitchen island, sipping their coffee and discussing last-minute details.

"Morning, girls," Caroline said, her face lighting up as she saw them. "Sleep well?"

"Like rocks," Isla replied, grabbing a mug and pouring herself some coffee. "Are you guys all packed?"

"Too excited for us to leave now, are you not girls?" Caroline teased with a big smile.

"No we would never dare, Mrs. Harper!"

"But could you blame us mother?" Isla put a hand on her mother's shoulder.

"My own daughter!" Caroline held her hand and sighed dramatically "You hear that Fallon?"

"Come now Carol." Fallon laughed, "They have the right to do that. I wouldn't want my own mother with me on a vacation. And yes we are packed, we're just waiting for the car to come get us," Fallon said, smiling at her daughter. "Are you two ready for your girl time?"

"Absolutely," Sienna said, her voice perking up with excitement. "We've been cooped up here for a week. It's time to explore."

Caroline stood up and hugged Isla tightly. "Hope that exploring is inside the limits we sat. Remember to stay safe and keep your phones on. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"We will, Mom. Don't worry," Isla said, returning the hug. Their limits were too tight. Of course it wouldn't stay in the limits. But they didn't need to know that.

Fallon hugged Sienna next, her eyes glistening slightly. "Have fun, sweetheart. And don't forget to take lots of pictures. I want to see everything when we get back."

"We will, Mom. I promise," Sienna said, holding her mother tightly.

The sound of a car horn honking outside signaled that the car had arrived. The girls helped their mothers with their bags, carrying them out to the waiting car. After one last round of hugs and goodbyes, Caroline and Fallon climbed into the backseat, waving as the car pulled away.

As the dust settled and the car disappeared down the driveway, Isla turned to Sienna, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, ready to go out?"

Sienna laughed, the tension of the goodbyes dissipating. "Definitely. But after breakfast please! Its like 8 am only."

"Deal, but you are making it."

"Okay but I do not promise it will be edible."

They should have paid attention probably when their mothers were showing them around. Now they couldn't really find anything.

"I can't believe you still haven't tried surfing," Isla said, teasingly bumping Sienna with her shoulder as they were looking around.

Sienna rolled her eyes, closing yet another cupboard. "I told you, the ocean is intimidating. I don't want to end up with a mouthful of seawater and sand."

"Trust me, it's not that bad," Isla reassured her.

"We need to find the pancake mix, honestly why isn't it in the cupboards above. And how many cupboards just one kitchen has."

"I don't know, god! But I am so hungry. So, who are the Pogues again?" Sienna asked, pulling open another cupboard only to find it filled with plates. "I remember our moms being super strict about not interacting with them."

Isla rolled her eyes, still rifling through cabinets. "Yeah, they're the local kids who don't come from money. I think. Mom said they are rude to anyone not a part of them. Our moms think it's dangerous to hang out with them, but honestly, I think it's just some outdated class thing."

Sienna frowned, sitting down at the kitchen island. "That's so weird. I mean, why would it matter so much? Are they really that bad?"

"I doubt it," Isla replied, giving up on her search and joining Sienna. "I think our moms are just overprotective. My mom, Caroline, is especially worried. She's always been a bit paranoid about safety. But she didn't really explain why we should avoid the Pogues specifically." Isla opened the fridge, only to be greeted by the sight of empty shelves and a few sad, forgotten items. She sighed, closing the door. "Well, it looks like breakfast is going to be a bit more challenging than I thought. Are we sure we didn't already use the mix?"

"I don't really know." Sienna frowned a bit. "I didn't pay much attention to what we ate but more to what we talked about."

"Me too actually." Isla closed the fridge behind her joining back Sienna on the counter. "The drama was more entertaining."

Sienna nodded thoughtfully. "And what about that area they told us not to go to? What's up with that?"

"Probably the same thing," Isla said with a shrug. "It's probably just where the Pogues hang out or something. But it's all a bit fuzzy to me. The Outer Banks have changed a lot since I last lived here. I don't remember much except for the beach, learning to surf, and the school a bit. I only lived here until I was five, so it's all a bit hazy. And honestly, I don't remember this house even that much."

"We could always make our own memories. So what are we going to eat? At this point we will starve to death before we have to worry about this 'Pouge' thing."

"I don't know! I haven't made my own food for a long time now."

"Do you think I ever made my own food?"

"Yeah that is probably one of the reasons my mom and Fallon went on a speech to learn how to live."

"Life lesson it is." Sienna jumped down the counter "We couldn't be out of everything could we? Let me take a look."

"Suit yourself. But I don't think there is anything."

Sienna peeked into the fridge and groaned. "Great. I guess shopping is our first adventure of the day."

"Can't we just ask for delivery?"

"Is there one around here? I don't think so."

"There should be one. Mom said something about it." Isla frowned again "But I don't remember her giving away a number."

"We really should listen to them more, huh." Sienna opened the fridge again. "Scrambled eggs then. Seems like the only option we have."

Isla sighed, pulling out her phone to start a grocery list. "Okay, let's make a list of what we need. Eggs, bread, pancake mix, fruit, milk..."

Sienna was already cracking eggs into a bowl, whisking them. "Don't forget bacon. And some veggies maybe."

"Got it. Bacon, veggies, and... coffee. We need more coffee. Also, snacks. We can't forget snacks," Isla added, typing furiously.

Sienna poured the beaten eggs into a pan and started scrambling them. "Juice too. And cereal. Something easy for when we don't feel like cooking."

"Juice, cereal... What about lunch and dinner stuff?" Isla asked, glancing up from her phone.

"Sandwich stuff for lunch," Sienna suggested, stirring the eggs. "And for dinner... maybe pasta? We can't mess that up, right?"

"Sandwich stuff and pasta. Sounds safe," Isla said, smiling. "Maybe some salad ingredients too. We should at least pretend to eat healthy."

Sienna laughed. "Yeah, and maybe we should get some frozen pizzas, just in case. I mean, we're not exactly culinary experts."

"Good thinking," Isla agreed, adding frozen pizzas to the list. She set her phone down and poured two glasses of orange juice, setting them on the counter. "Here's to our first real day of summer," she said, raising her glass.

Sienna grinned and clinked her glass against Isla's. "Cheers to that."

As they sipped their juice, Sienna flipped the scrambled eggs onto two plates and set them on the counter. They ate quickly, savoring the simplicity of their meal. After breakfast, they cleaned up and grabbed their bags. Isla tucked her purse and phone to her pocket. Her dress had pockets! It was the best dress ever. They headed out to the garage to get their bikes.

The morning sun was climbing higher, casting a warm glow over the landscape. They mounted their bikes and set off down the sandy path that led from the house to the main road, the breeze rustling their hair and the sound of seagulls filling the air.

"Thank God we have bikes," Isla said, pedaling beside Sienna. "I don't think I'd survive walking everywhere in this heat."

"Same," Sienna agreed, laughing. "Plus, it's way more fun to bike around. We can cover more ground and find all the cool spots."

As they cycled along the beach, they chatted about their plans for the summer, the sand and surf glistening in the sunlight. They passed by huge mansions and yachts. People seemed to be rich here.

"Okay, so we've got surfing on the list," Isla said, glancing over at Sienna. "And exploring the town. What else?"

Sienna agreed. "We are totally getting out of figure 8 for that! I don't want to sightsee mansions. If I wanted to do that I would stay in LA. And maybe we can find some hidden beaches or secret trails. You know, the stuff tourists don't know about."

"I love that idea," Isla said, smiling. "We can make it our mission to discover all the best spots."

They continued cycling, the gentle sound of the waves providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation. They laughed and joked, their spirits high as they pedaled along the shoreline.

"Remember that time we tried to make dinner for your mom's birthday?" Sienna said, grinning. "We almost set the kitchen on fire."

Isla laughed. "Oh my gosh, yes. I don't think I've ever seen my mom so stressed. But hey, we learned how to use the fire extinguisher, so it wasn't a total disaster."

"True," Sienna said, giggling. "At least we can't burn down the house making sandwiches and pasta."

"Let's hope not," Isla said, smiling. "I'm just glad we have this time together. It's going to be an amazing summer."

"Isla." Sienna stopped her bike.

"Oh I don't like that tone. Who did I kill?"

"We have no idea where we are going. Do we?"

Isla and Sienna came to a slow halt, their bikes skidding slightly in the loose sand.

"Okay, I might have gotten us a bit lost," Isla admitted, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings. The neighborhood was quiet, with only the sound of waves crashing in the distance.

Sienna sighed, pulling out her phone. "Let's just ask someone for directions. We can't be that far from the main road. I understand nothing from the maps app."

"Good idea," Isla said, glancing around for anyone who might be able to help. They spotted a girl about their age walking towards a nearby house, carrying a beach towel and a small bag. She had long blonde hair and an air of effortless cool. Isla nudged Sienna. "Let's ask her."

Sienna nodded, and they pedaled over to the girl, who was now just a few steps away from her front door.

"Excuse me," Isla called out, stopping her bike a few feet away. "Can you help us?"

The girl turned around, a friendly smile spreading across her face along with a confused frown. "Sure, what do you need?"

"We're trying to find the grocery store," Sienna explained, walking her bike closer. "We just moved here for the summer, and we're a bit lost."

The girl's smile widened. "Welcome to the Outer Banks. I'm Sarah. You guys must be the new renters in that big house on the hill."

"That's us," Isla said, smiling back. "I'm Isla, and this is Sienna."

"Nice to meet you both," Sarah said, shaking their hands. "So, you're looking for the grocery store. It's a bit tricky to find if you're not familiar with the area."

"Yeah, we figured that out," Sienna said, laughing lightly. "Can you give us some directions?"

"Of course," Sarah said. "If you follow this road straight for about half a mile, you'll hit the main street. Turn right, and the grocery store will be on your left. But, to be honest, there's a local delivery service that's super convenient. You can call them, and they'll bring your groceries right to your door."

"That sounds perfect," Isla said, relieved. "Do you have their number?"

Sarah pulled out her phone and quickly found the contact. "Here you go," she said, showing the number to Isla. "The Heywards run it. They could get you anything really."

"Thanks so much, Sarah," Sienna said gratefully.

"No problem," Sarah replied with a friendly wink. "It's always nice to meet new people around here. And summer is almost the only time we get that. What brings you guys to the OBX?"

"We're here for the summer," Isla explained. "Our moms wanted a change of scenery, and we were up for an adventure."

They couldn't give the full truth of course, or even half the truth at that.

"Sounds like a good excuse to me. I love your dress by the way!"

"Thank you." Sienna spinned around herself "My own design."

Sarah's eyes widened with admiration. "No way! That's amazing. Do you design a lot of your clothes?"

"God this is going to be a long conversation." Isla teased.

"Izzy, stop it!" Sienna blushed slightly, pleased with the compliment. "I do, actually. I love fashion. Maybe I could show you some of my sketches sometime."

"I'd love that," Sarah said, genuinely intrigued.

"Sarah!" A male voice called for her. Probably someone their age.

"Coming!" Sarah sighed but still kept a smile on her face "That's my boyfriend. I should get going. If you guys need any more help or just want to hang out, feel free to find me. This is my house."

"Thanks, Sarah," Isla said, grateful for the warm welcome. "We'll definitely take you up on that."

As Sarah waved goodbye and headed into her house, Isla and Sienna pedaled back to their mansion, all this cycling had tired them out.

"I think we're going to like it here," Sienna said, smiling at Isla.

"Definitely," Isla agreed. "Now, let's call that delivery service and get some food before we starve."

Back at the mansion, they sprawled out on the living room floor, surrounded by their beach gear, and placed their grocery order with Heyward's Delivery. The friendly voice on the other end of the line assured them that their groceries would arrive within the hour.

While they waited, they decided to explore the house more thoroughly. It was a sprawling, luxurious mansion with high ceilings, large windows that let in plenty of light, and a stunning view of the ocean. The decor was a blend of coastal elegance and modern chic, with soft pastel colors and nautical touches.

They found a cozy reading nook in the sunroom, a spacious kitchen equipped with state-of-the-art appliances, and a game room complete with a pool table and vintage arcade games. The backyard was equally impressive, with a large swimming pool, a hot tub, and a private path leading down to the beach.

"This place is incredible," Isla said, her eyes wide with wonder. "I can't believe we get to live here all summer. Even your penthouses got nothing on this."

"I know," Sienna agreed, flopping onto one of the plush sofas. "It's like a dream come true."

The doorbell rang, signaling the arrival of their groceries. Isla hopped up to answer the door while Sienna lingered in the living room, savoring the comfort of the sofa. She opened the door with a smile and was greeted with a boy his age with two brown paper bags filled with groceries that seemed to be heavy.

"Hey there," Isla said cheerfully, holding the door open wider. "Thanks for coming out. You must be from Heyward's Delivery?"

He looked so exhausted with dribles of sweat on his forehead.

"Yeah." He nodded. "You asked for groceries. Should I put them on the doorstep or..." He trailed off.

"Yeah, yeah sure. Sorry." Isla glanced at the bags for a second "If you don't mind could you bring them inside?"

"No problem," He said, stepping inside. "Lead the way."

As they walked towards the kitchen, Isla continued, "So, how much do we owe you for the groceries?"

He set the bags down on the kitchen counter and took out a small notepad from his pocket. "Let's see... With delivery, it comes to forty-five dollars."

"Okay." She checked her pockets for her purse but couldn't find it. It was a bit embarrassing as the boy stared at her. "Sienna, can you grab the wallet? I forgot to take it with me."

"Sure thing," Sienna called back from the living room, getting up from the sofa and heading to her bag.

"I am so sorry." Isla sighed.

"It's alright, I understand."

"Would you like some cold water?"

"That would actually be great thanks."

Isla opened the fridge, taking out a bottle and handing it to him. "I am Isla by the way."

"Pope." He said chunking down the water.

Sienna arrived with the wallet and handed it to Isla, who quickly counted out the money. "Here you go," she said, giving Pope the cash. "Thanks again for the speedy delivery."

"You're welcome," Pope replied, pocketing the money. "Is there anything else you need help with?"

"Well no, not something specifically..." Sienna muttered.

"I should be on my way then."

"Yeah, thank you again."

"Call the Heyward's if you guys need anything."

Isla watched Pope as he prepared to leave, a thought crossing her mind. "Hey, Pope," she called out just as he reached the door. He turned back, a curious expression on his face.

"Yeah?"

"Do you happen to know where we can get some surf supplies? Like boards, wetsuits, that sort of thing?" Isla asked, leaning against the counter.

Pope's eyes lit up with interest. "You guys surf?"

Sienna rolled her eyes playfully. "I don't. She does. Izzy is pretty good at it."

"You will be too once you try it out. I know you will love it." Isla threw an arm around her shoulder. "And once I get you the supplies you will have no excuses left."

"Whatever you say Izzy."

Pope grinned. "There's a great little surf shop called 'Wave Riders' a few blocks from the beach just past the pier. They have everything you might need."

"Thanks, Pope. We'll definitely check it out," Isla said, grateful for the tip. "And do you surf?"

"No problem. And I surf a bit. " Pope offered a friendly smile on his face. "Not the best at it. JJ and John B are much better. But don't tell them I said this if you ever come across them, yeah."

"Could we join you, perhaps?" Isla asked precipitously, without thinking at all. God why did she do that?

"What?" Sienna asked, confused.

Pope didn't reply for a minute but it felt like a day for Isla. It was so awkward.

"Sorry but I don't know." Pope said, holding his neck. "I would have to run it up by the boys. They are not too open to new companies, you know? Nothing personal."

"Oh." Isla's face fell and heat crawled up her neck. "Yeah I get that."

"Well thank you for your service." Sienna said with a smile walking towards the door to indicate for him to leave.

"Anytime," Pope replied, giving them a nod before stepping out. "Enjoy your stay at the OBX."

As the door closed behind him, Isla and Sienna exchanged looks. They both started to laugh.

"Isla!" Sienna exclaimed. " 'Could we join you' , oh god you truly forgot how to flirt after Jaxon haven't you?"

"I wasn't flirting at all!" Isla was crimson red. "I was just trying to make friends."

"Sure whatever you say Izzy. But you need to level up your game if you don't want to die single."

"I broke up with my boyfriend almost six months ago. When was the last time you were in a relationship?"

"Mine is a choice, yours is a skill issue babes."

"I wasn't flirting, again"

"Whatever you say. Change of topic?"

"Change of topic," Isla said, heading back to the kitchen to start unpacking the groceries. "This conversation is going to much into the way of Jaxon and I don't want to talk about that right now."

"Got it." Sienna agreed, following her. "And now we have a lead on where to get surf supplies."

They began unpacking the bags, placing items in the fridge and pantry. The kitchen quickly filled with the sounds of rustling bags and the clinking of jars and cans.

"Alright, let's see what we've got. We went a bit overboard, didn't we?"

Sienna joined her at the island, peeking into the bags. "Better too much than too little. Plus, we need snacks for our movie nights."

Once the groceries were put away, they decided to make sandwiches for lunch. Sienna assembled a simple but delicious spread of turkey, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes on freshly baked bread. Isla prepared a fruit salad, mixing together strawberries, blueberries, and sliced bananas.

They took their lunch out to the patio, where the sound of the waves and the salty breeze created the perfect ambiance. They ate in comfortable silence, enjoying the view and the momentary peace.




Allie Here!!
I will still be publishing this stories with the help of a friend who agreed to publish chapters as I send them to her. But I will be more active on discord and tumblr (my users being stardustsway) and also tiktok (my user .stardustsway) and this story is also being published on AO3, check it out there if you would like to interact in the comments.

I hope you liked this chapter :)) Next chapter we will start to follow the tv show storyline.