╰┈➤ 1 | chapter
❛ ━━・❪ ❁ ❫ ・━━ ❜
Cali stood at the edge of the pier, the salty wind whipping through her hair. The same breeze she loved as a child still carried the scent of the sea, but now, it felt different-colder, sharper.
The sound of the waves crashing against the shore had always been her escape, a place she could lose herself in memories of a time when things were simple, when her parents were still alive. But ten years had passed, and the weight of that day had grown heavier with each year.
At sixteen, she had learned how to bury her emotions behind a tough exterior, much like the Outer Banks itself-beautiful and wild on the surface, but dangerous underneath
Her friends had drifted away, and she had learned to navigate her days with a quiet resilience.Her days were now a blend of routine and solitude.
School was a blur of classes and empty conversations, and her evenings were spent in the sanctuary of her room, where she often found solace in memories and old photographs.
The ocean, once a place of joy, had become a symbol of her fears-a reminder of the fragility of happiness.Cali's interactions with others were minimal. She had built walls around herself, avoiding close relationships and keeping her distance from those who tried to reach out.
Her only real solace came from the quiet moments she spent by the sea, where she could feel the echoes of her parents' presence in the crashing waves.
On the rare occasions she ventured beyond her usual routines, she found herself in the company of Sarah. The daughter of her parents business partner, Sarah was friendly but often struggled to break through Cali's walls.
Their conversations were polite but superficial, a reflection of Cali's reluctance to let anyone get too close.As Cali watched the waves rise higher, she couldn't help but think about the changes that had occurred in her life.
The carefree child who had once danced along the shore had become a teenager who approached life with caution and reserve. The weight of her past had shaped her, and she often wondered if she would ever find a way to move beyond it.
For now, Cali clung to her routines and the familiar patterns of her life. The pier, the ocean, and the quiet moments of solitude were her constants.
The ocean continued its endless dance, a reminder of both the past and the future-a future she faced with cautious hope, still searching for a way to reconcile her present self with the carefree child she had once been.
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As Cali walked back to her house, the heavy wind tugged at her like a puppet on strings. She glanced to her right at the shore, where two boys were surfing the hurricane's ferocious waves, carefree and oblivious to the danger. Cali envied their fearless abandon as the rain soaked through her tank top.
She turned her gaze back towards home, fighting against the wind with every step. When she finally arrived, she was met with the worried and angry face of her brother. She winced at the scolding she was about to receive.
"Do you have any idea how many times I've told you not to do this?" he exclaimed, wrapping a large towel around her soaked and shivering form. "Do you enjoy giving me heart attacks, Calista?" The use of her full name made it clear that he was really upset.
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know there was going to be a hurricane," she said, though she knew it was a lie. Andro gave her a look that saw right through her.
"You knew very well," he said sternly, leading her to the fireplace to warm up. "I swear, you're going to give me a heart attack someday, C."
A sheepish smile appeared on her face. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice laced with sincerity. She hated making him worry about her all the time. Since their parents died, he had focused solely on her and their business, neglecting his own needs.
She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen him in anything other than his expensive, formal suit. It was always impeccably clean, not a wrinkle or smudge in sight.
"I was just going for a walk, you know, the usual. I think I lost track of time," she shrugged, feigning innocence in an attempt to diffuse his anger.
He half-heartedly rolled his eyes, a casual gesture for someone in his formal attire. "Yo-" he began, but was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. The almost-carefree expression on his face vanished immediately. Taking the phone, he moved to a distance where she couldn't hear the conversation.
His face remained emotionless as he listened, not uttering a word. After a brief exchange, he simply said one word and hung up. A guarded mask settled on his face as he approached her, her curiosity evident. "Who was it?"
He shook his head, dismissing her concern. "Just Cameron," he said seriously. "Look, I have to go. He needs me for some business."
"Now?" she asked, alarmed. "You can't drive in a hurricane!" She stood up, the towel slipping from her shoulders in her worry.
"Says the girl who was just out walking in the storm," he retorted with a hint of sass. "You just called it a stupid move. Maybe you should take your own advice."
He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead, looking into her eyes. "I'll be fine. You go upstairs, take a hot shower, slip into cozy pajamas, and watch a Harry Potter marathon," he said softly, trying to ease her worry. "I'll be back. I won't leave you." He almost added, *'not like them,'* but stopped himself.
Fear flickered in her eyes as she asked softly, "Promise?"
With a gentle smile, he hugged her shivering body. "Promise. I have to go now, okay?" She nodded, still worried. He squeezed her one last time before walking out the door. The screeching of his tires filled the air as he drove away.
As the sound of the tires faded, Cali walked upstairs, her heart heavy with worry. It all felt too familiar.
The smell of the ocean filled the air, making her nearly gag as flashbacks flooded her mind.
Soft droplets fell from the sky, as if to hide Andro's vulnerability.
"They're not coming back, C. I'm sorry," his voice was thick with emotion.
She shook her head, taking deep breaths, one hand pressed to her chest. She stopped in the middle of the hallway before continuing to her room, determined to push away the painful memories.
Cali stripped off her soaked tank top and shorts as she walked into the bathroom.
A half hour later, she lay snuggled in cozy pajamas under her comforter while Harry Potter played on the TV. She wasn't paying attention to her favorite movie-shocker-her mind was somewhere else.
Awful scenarios about her brother filled her head. She tried to focus on the movie to distract herself from the overthinking that always seemed to torture her.
Her breath quickened, and her heart ached as she felt a panic attack creeping in. She sat up slightly, taking deep breaths and whispering to calm her racing heart.
"He's fine. He's fine. He promised," she reassured herself.
She managed to calm down slightly, the soothing, nostalgic music from the movie helping her relax. Her eyes slowly closed.
Little did she know, this would be the calmest night she'd have from now on...
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♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ :Nadia speaking: :;
Ok but actually I kinda loved this chapter, I want to your opinion too so don't be a silent reader !<3
Oh and don't forget to vote , please(◕ᴗ◕✿)
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