❪ 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗡𝗘 & 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗘 ❫

𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝖾𝖾 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
pieces.  ╱  season one, episode one.
❛ 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒𝖻𝗈𝖽𝗒 𝗐𝖺𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝖺 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝖾, 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝖾. 𝖺𝗅𝗐𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗒𝗇𝖺 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝖺 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝖾, 𝗉𝗂𝖾𝖼𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗆𝖾, ❜

DAYS SEEM TO always drift and fade to the enigma of Outer Banks. Days and routines bleed into each other and eventually lose meaning after time. Life seemed to pass before her eyes, days fading into the night with nothing, no change. The same pit in her stomach was there when she woke up and when she went to bed, with each day it was slowly but surely getting bigger. While constant change washed around her, Kennedy's life remained the same. Still stuck, locked, in a life she didn't want, without a key to escape.

Her days were filled with interacting with people she didn't care about, her smile getting more and more forced, more plastic, with each passing second. The facade was becoming too big of a burden to bear. Life seemed so short, it was always passing, ticking by, her expiration date coming closer and closer, and all she had to remember it was the sinking defeat pooling in her stomach. And each day it was getting easier to accept things that would help her forget her worries. Drinks, drugs, sex, you name it, she would do anything to just forget the disappointed aches that buzz through her body at any given moment.

Constantly hiding the scowl that wanted to be stretched across her face with a cheap smile is getting harder and harder to do. Showing people affection who don't deserve it is getting harder and harder to do. Being unforgivingly nice to people who instantly turn and stab her in her back is getting harder and harder to do. Constantly taking the harsh blows of her mother's words with no reaction is getting harder and harder to do. Waking up in the morning with the same pit in her stomach is getting harder and harder to do. Every single thing is getting harder and harder to do. It's only a matter of time before the enigma of Outer Banks snaps.

The downside of days passing by is that each day Kennedy Thornton is getting closer and closer to her inevitable downfall. It's like a clock ticking in the background, the impending day is coming, but she just doesn't know when. But when it does, it'll be like a hurricane washing away everything she's ever known. She knows once this is all over, she'll feel relief, she just wants to feel a calmness surrounding her body as if she's floating on water. She just wanted to feel the eyes disappear. She wants to be able to do things without the fear of judgment. She just wants to be free.

Being confined to the fictitious narrative she's painted herself is torture. She feels as if it's a hand wrapped around her throat, with each breath, each day, it's getting tighter and tighter. Her throat aches to let out a scream that leaves her throat raw, to feel physical pain, to feel something. She wants something more than designer clothes, handbags, jewelry. She wants something more than fake smiles, manipulative notions of affection, and privileged rich people falling all over her. She wants something real. And the figure eight was never able to give that to her.

The figure eight's toxicity left a coldness in its wake. No one was safe from it, the hierarchy was too large for anyone to escape it. Kennedy knew she wasn't the only one who it affected, she could see the light fading out behind people's eyes. Even though there were many just like her, it didn't stop her from feeling alone. People struggle in many ways, and for Kennedy, hers was to go through it alone. She felt that this was her burden to bear, and she wouldn't dare lean on someone else for support.

Her mother taught her from a young age to keep her problems to herself, and to deal with them by herself. People didn't want to know how she was truly feeling, they simply didn't care, they only wanted to see the pretty smile spread across her lips as she strutted by them. They only cared about how she portrayed herself on the outside, nothing on the inside counted. The mending heart that was about snap, remained heavy in Kennedy's chest.

Looking into the mirror she saw someone she didn't recognize, someone she hated. The monster with ruby red lipstick was how people saw her, no wonder many people secretly hated her. She looked like a rich brat that got everything handed to her. But behind all the make-up and expensive clothing, lied the real Kennedy, who was screaming and banging her fists until they were covered in blood, who was just itching to get out, to escape the confinements behind the smiling blonde devil.

Kennedy never saw upsides of being a kook, all she saw was rich people thinking they were better than everyone around them. The ego's of the many people on this side of the island suffocated the air, stinking it up with their selfishness. People had always said Kennedy was lucky to be born a kook, and hell, that she was lucky to be born into such a prominent family in the Outer Banks. But all she saw was the ugliness of it.

Sure she was lucky to have a constant flow of money around her and a safe roof over her head, but the emotional abuse was severely overrated. When thinking of the Thornton family, people thought of privilege, perfection. But behind the walls of the Thornton home, lies trauma and pain. No Thornton family member was happy when they walked through the arching doors of the home. A new weight lingered on their shoulders as they met the fancy opened foyer. The only captivity they found was the solace of their designated rooms.

Kennedy had found a safe haven in the large bedroom, the atmosphere created an escape the Kennedy desperately ached for. It's a place where many aren't allowed, it's a special place where only certain people are allowed. If anyone got on Kennedy's nerves they most certainly weren't allowed in her room. The memories of that room were special to her, and she didn't need some asshole to paint it a completely different picture.

While poisonous memories fade away into the heavy air, soft and content memories live in the room. Small snapshots of good times swirl in the crevices of Kennedy's brain, nights of smiling, laughter, and peace were all she wanted to remember. Moments of hazey smoke filling her lungs, meant the most. From the flashbacks with Sarah, Riley, and Kie being about the feeling of true friendship and never letting go. To the sweet temporary touch of past lovers and silk sheets against bare skin. These things she couldn't let go of, the feeling of being free stuck to her mind like a wish that might never come true.

With life being undetermined, she itched to live in the moment and not think about the consequences, the words, the motions. But being the face of Outer Banks came with every moment, every emotion being out of her control. And there wasn't a single thing she could do about it.

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THE DAYS FOLLOWING the impact of a hurricane were never pleasant, the sickly heavy air made the mild asthma that plagued Kennedy act up. Staying indoors never really helped until the generators kicked in, moments like these made Kennedy grateful that she was swimming in money. She never had to lift a finger during the aftershocks, she often watched the working class of the cut make repairs and clean the mess that the hurricane caused. And today was no exception.

From the time she woke up, the stifling muggy air screwed with her breathing, her inhaler was attached to her side most of the day as she stumbled around her room, desperately waiting for the generators to kick in. Since the cell towers were down, she was cut off from communication with Riley and Sarah. But she knew it wouldn't be long until the two made their way to her house, as it was the designated meeting spot for the three of them.

She heard Topper milling around throughout the late afternoon, but she didn't bother to go and talk to him. They really did live separate lives, and their relationship wasn't as perfect as they portrayed. Kennedy would even go as far to say that she hates her brother. He wasn't a good guy, she saw ill-intent always swimming in his eyes. And he was currently annoying the living shit out of her, since he was constantly up Sarah's ass and wouldn't leave them alone when the Cameron girl was at the Thornton household.

In a sick and twisted way, Kennedy wanted Topper to get hurt, so when he expressed interest in Sarah, Kennedy sent him right into the trap of Sarah Cameron. She knew how Sarah was and with no regrets she sent him right into the lion's den.

Kennedy resented a lot of the people in her family, especially Topper. He didn't have to go through anything Kennedy did, he didn't have to feel as much pressure as she did. He could do whatever he pleased, he didn't have to think of the impact his actions caused. He was able to be a stupid teenager. Kennedy had to be the perfect barbie doll, she had to sit still and let people poke and prod her everything.

Days like these are what made Kennedy feel calm and solace, being locked up in her room without any interruption from her family, or her worst nightmare, her boyfriend. Kennedy was looking forward to a calm day staying in her room, hiding from the unforgiving world behind her bedroom door.

A thumping knock vibrated through the room, undoubtedly catching the attention of the blonde who was standing at the window, watching the workers on the ground below. Snapping her head to the noise in confusion, she made her way to open the door. A smiley Sarah Cameron was leaning against the door frame when Kennedy first opened the door.

"Hey Kenn,"

"Uh hey?" Kennedy expected the girl to plop down on her bed, but instead the kook princess walked straight into Kennedy's walk in closet. The blonde scrunched her eyebrows at the movements, but nonetheless shut her door and walked into the small adjacent room. "What're you doing?"

The Cameron girl said nothing for a few beats as she shuffled through Kennedy's sun dresses that hung on their respective racks. "There's a kegger at the boneyard tonight and all of us are going,"

Kennedy grimaced, already not wanting to go, knowing that there will be a million people there that dislike her, "Sarah I don't know-"

The girl paused, gripping onto a flowy red sundress before sending the Thornton girl an annoyed look, "Kennedy come on, it'll be fun, plus we haven't been to party in ages,"

"We went to a party like two weeks ago," Kennedy deadpanned, remembering the dreaded party at Kelce's house that made her wind up in the bed of Rafe Cameron after a drunken night together, then ultimately lead them to make up after another one of their cruel fights they had the night before.

Sarah snorted lightly, "See ages,"

Kennedy sighed softly, leaning against the wall of her closet, "Sarah, I'm not feeling up to it, plus Rafe's gonna be there and I'm kind of avoiding him right-"

"What's going on between you two lately?" Sarah blurted out, hands dropping from the rack of clothes, she moved across the room and took a seat on the automen that's under Kennedy's makeup table. "You've been fighting like crazy, are you guys okay?"

"I don't know," Kennedy huffed in frustration soon sliding down to the floor below her, she ran a hand through her hair in irritation, "We haven't been good for a few months, like we fight, then don't talk for awhile, and then have this big blow out fight that ends up with us having se-"

"Yup, I get it, no need to finish that statement," Sarah interrupted, her hands shooting out to gesture Kennedy to stop talking.

"Sorry," Kennedy laughs lightly, sucking in her lips to stop the amused smile from spreading across her lips. "I forgot he's your brother, and you probably don't want to hear about our sex life,"

"I think it'd be a good idea to skip over that topic completely," Sarah chuckled, watching a smile of agreement to cross over Kennedy's lips.

"Yeah, I think that'd be best,"

Before the girls could get any other words out, the sound of Kennedy's door opening and closing got their attention. Turning to look at the closet door, in one swift motion, Riley came waltzing in with a greeting smile twitching in his lips. He instantly plopped down next to Kennedy, "Hey whores,"

A contagious smile spread across Kennedy's lips as her eyes fell on the curly-haired boy, "Hey,"

"So, what were we talking about?" The boy asked the girls in front of him, Kennedy's smile instantly fell knowing how Riley felt about Rafe.

Sarah was oblivious to it all as she was the one who answered the question, "Oh, we were just talking about Rafe,"

Riley scoffed instantly, the boy's name left a sour taste in his mouth, "Why are you talking about him?"

"Just about how they're having problems,"

"They're having problems cause he's an awful human being," Riley snapped back in spite, but the look of animosity fell from his face as he met Sarah's concerned eyes, he dropped his arms into his lap with a sigh, "Sorry, Sarah I forget he's your brother too,"

The girl in question waved it off, "No I get it, he's always been a dick, which was why I was so confused that Kennedy went for him in the first place,"

The blonde snapped her head in the direction of Cameron girl, a look of confusion washing over her face, "Why?"

Sarah rolled her eyes, "Cause you're like the exact opposite and like you're personalities don't really mix well, I never really could picture it until it actually happened,"

Kennedy shrugged half-heartedly, eyes falling to her hands, an unconvincing smile pulling at her lips,"You know what they say, opposites attract,"

The Cameron girl saw right through the actions and words, she sent the blonde a knowing look "You and Rafe have an unhealthy relationship Kenn, from just how you are on the inside, you need a guy that isn't flaky and is a man of his word, Rafe's anything but that,"

Kennedy sent her a glance of disbelief, "How are you so comfortable with dissing your brother like that?"

"Cause I care about you and you deserve someone who will treat you right," Sarah shrugged softly, a kind smile splayed on her lips. "And Rafe is like a leech, he will take and take until he doesn't need you anymore, and I can't let that happen to you,"

A shaky sigh left escaped Kennedy's parted lips at the heavy words, "Can we please talk about something else? I'm not really in the mood to talk about my dysfunctional relationship anymore,"

The two in front of her sent each other looks of concern but played it off nonchalantly, Sarah nodded brightly, hoping that that would give Kennedy some ease, "Alright, how about outfits for tonight?"

The blonde let out the loudest groan she could muster, soon thudding her head on the wall behind her. The action lead amusement to fall on the faces of her two best friends, but Kennedy just sent them a look of annoyance, "Do we have to go to the kegger? I really don't want to deal with that shithead right now,"

Riley bumped his shoulder with hers, sending her a reassuring glance, "Relax Kenn, I got you, if JJ comes up to us I'll tell him to go away,"

"And plus we'll have Kelce and Topper with us, so I doubt that JJ would want to start something with you knowing that it'll cause a huge fight or something," Sarah piped in, as she made her way back to Kennedy's sundress rack.

Kennedy gave her a knowing look, "Please, that's exactly what he'd want to do,"

"You know," Sarah stopped her actions to turn to Kennedy with confusion gracing her features, "You've never told us why you guys hate each other so much, what's the story behind it?"

Kennedy tensed, her mouth falling open at the question. She never really knows how to answer this, it's come up a few times in the past year, but with how quick Kennedy closes up, Riley and Sarah know better to keep their mouths shut about. No one knows of went down last summer, know one knows Kennedy's deep seeded history with the Maybank boy, and she'd like to keep it that way. She didn't need anyone's curiosity to flood in and ruin the memories she has of the only summer where she felt completely herself.

The two in front of her were waiting on a response, so she blurted out the first thing that could come to mind, "He's an asshole, he's cocky, and has made it his mission to be the douchiest person around, I just hate him that's all...I always have,"

"I'll admit, even though he's my friend, he's a fucking dick," Riley added on, as if he could sense her uneasy emotions. He's always known there was something more that she wasn't saying, but he didn't pry. If she wanted him to know, he would. Riley felt a little hurt that he didn't know the full truth, but he didn't need to push her, knowing how much of a private person Kennedy was.

The blonde sent him a grateful glance, before jumping to her feet, already wanting this day to be over, "Let's just figure this thing out, so I can at least look hot tonight and makes some bitches jealous,"

Sarah clapper her hands in excitement, watching in happiness as the blonde in front of her smiled softly, "That's the spirit Kenn,"

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↝↝↝↝↝ 𝐓𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐒... ↜↜↜↜↜

𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗕𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗬 silverfalcons

I HAVE FOUND A RECENT LOVE FOR THIS BOOK AGAIN SO HERE WE ARE!!!

Kennedy owns me, I Mayhaps have a crush on my own main character 😳👉👈 shes so cute and soft I can't help it.

I'm so excited to write about the boneyard cause I have A LOT of plans for that and i am so excited, Jesus you'll get feed c&s content guys. Also maybe some new emotion content too, who knows 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Hope you enjoyed!

BUT IMPORTANT THING.

What did you all think?

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