╔⭑-⭒-⭑-⭒-⭑-⭒-⭑╗
𝕮hapter one
╚⭑-⭒-⭑-⭒-⭑-⭒-⭑╝
Summer in the OBX was an experience that rivaled California's. But to Evangeline, it was nowhere near the same. Beaches on the Pacific Coast were overwhelmingly packed, loud, overall a cluttered mess. The only thing untouched was the horizon that she could never get tired of. When the sun began to set, giving the water a golden glow, the waves calming for just a moment. But the OBX? Evangeline could hear herself think, feel the sun blanket her instead of lashing at her for not wearing copious amounts of sunscreen. The water was always warm and welcoming, and there was room for everyone to have their own space. She guessed that was the only good take away from being sent out here. "Wakey, wakey, Evie!"
Maybe not the only thing.
Peeking through one eye, she scrunched her nose at the blinding sun that she was currently bathing in, her arms crossed underneath her head acting as a pillow. Hovering over her, John B. Routledge smiled down at her, his hazel eyes piercing into her amber ones. Since the night he invited her to the Boneyard, the two had become inseparable. The Pogues - the label the group had commandeered themselves - always made fun of the boy for it. In some ways, John B kept her sane. All that time spent around the Kook's sometimes became too much, and John B was her safe place, where she could be just herself. He was also someone she could trust wholeheartedly, especially with the loss of her family. Not even 9 months before, John B's dad was lost at sea, leaving him all on his own at the old fish shack that was famously known as the Chateau. The Pogues were practically his life now, but with Evangeline it was different.
There were a few times Evangeline caught John B in a moment, the loss of his Dad still heavy on his shoulders. Evangeline could understand entirely what that felt like and she made sure John B knew that he wasn't alone. After that, John B saw her in a new light. Just as he was a safe place for Evangeline, she was his. And everyone knew it.
You never saw one without the other, and if they were separated, they managed to always find one another again. "Can't you see I'm busy?" A few chuckles sounded behind the teen, as he stared down at the bronze skinned girl. "Fine, no beer for you." At this, Evangeline sat up and faced the four teens who had been the missing piece since moving. The first few months, she was catered to by the Kooks, specifically Sarah and Topper. She had attended many of their party's and countless hangouts at the Country Club where she was subjected to Topper and Sarah's older brother, Rafe, golf sessions. The night she met the Pogues and the rest that followed filled her with an adrenaline that the Kook's could never give her. The group of 4, now 5, wreaked havoc through Figure 8, the Twinkie, their reliable getaway car. It was an adventure every day with them and to Evangeline it felt like she was with her Dad all over again.
But although she finally felt at home, there were some disapproving eyes on her the entire time. And that was her Aunt, Cynthia. Evangeline would leave the moment the sun began to rise until the very late hours of the night, tracking sand and the smell of saltwater into their home. She had stayed silent for the first few times, but she eventually grew annoyed when the sand started appearing in her own laundry. Topper, however, was more annoyed at the fact that she was hanging out with the Pogues. It was no surprise that the Kook's despised the group of teens, hurtful words going back and forth between the two, but they were never directed towards the brunette. Mostly because she was Topper's cousin and Sarah's friend. They wouldn't dare cross that line.
"Come on, JB. You'd leave me high and dry just like that?" With a playful huff, the teen held out the opened can of beer, her hand grabbing it eagerly before chugging it down. The three boys all cheered, Kiara shaking her head with a smile as Evangeline downed the can before crushing it. "Refreshing."
Days out in the marsh on the HMS Pogue were the highlight of Evangeline's days. Sometimes, John B would hand her the keys and let her go off for a few hours to clear her head. But although there were good moments, there were always the ones that Evangeline couldn't avoid.
"Insurance called earlier." It was later that same night when Evangeline was quietly making her way through the Thornton residence, her sandals clutched in her arms, her hair still damp from her previous swim. Seated at the kitchen counter, Topper watched her near, a glass of whiskey sat in front of him. "And?" She asked, leaning against the counter across from him. "Well, it's covered so you'll get a pay out." He started, taking a long swig of his drink. Evangeline brightened at the news, her lips pulling up slightly. After everything that happened, there were many meetings with the insurance people and lawyers, Evangeline couldn't really remember much, but one thing was the money. Not only was the payout discussed for the rebuilding of the house, but there was also the fact that the Carson's had an entire safe that held everything. Money that both Grant and Minnie had saved for not only for their future retirements, but also for their two kids. When the house was finally investigated, it had been revealed that the safe had been broken into and the money was both stolen and burned.
Evangeline wasn't one to care about money, not like the Kook's had, but this was her parent's money. Something they had worked hard for. Evangeline was determined to have the money returned, to put it somewhere safe for emergencies. But the most important thing in the safe was the deed to Grant's Surf Shop that he had built and managed himself. In some ways, it was the only thing she had left of her parents. "So, when did they say it would come in?" She asked, Topper giving her a small frown. "Uh, it's not. Not to you, anyways." Evangeline frowned, her hands clenching around the straps of her shoes. "What?"
Sighing, he set his glass down and stood from the stool. "Mom said that because you aren't 18 yet, that it should be given to a guardian. Which, -" He paused, seeing Evangeline's shoulders sag. "- would be her." Letting out a breath, she shook her head. "I don't understand, so they're giving her the money?" Topper nodded slightly. "She said she'll hold it in a savings account until then, and they agreed. She signed off on it earlier."
Evangeline had very little to her name now that she was in the Outer Banks. Not only was the money going to help rebuild her home, but it was also the money that belonged to her family. Her throat closed slightly, her eyes glazing over. "What - What about the Surf Shop?" Topper hesitated, Evangeline seeing the change in his expression. "Topper?"
"Because the deed was burned and there's no one out there to keep it in business, they're shutting it down permanently." Evangeline couldn't stop her tears now, her head lowering. Topper reached her side and rested his hand on her shoulder awkwardly. "I'm sorry, Ange. Mom tried, she really did."
Evangeline sniffled, her eyes hardening as she met the blonde's eye. "Yeah, and now she has all our money in her hands. Sounds like she tried really hard." She scowled, turning to leave. "What did you expect, Evangeline? You're a minor, of course they weren't just going to hand you all that money." He scoffed. At the bottom of the staircase, Evangeline glared at the teen. "Topper, that money was supposed to rebuild the house. It was supposed to put us - me- through college." She paused, her eyes clenching tightly. "That and the shop was all I had left of them." Topper remained silent before shrugging. "It's not like you won't ever see it. It'll be locked away, waiting for you until your birthday. Alright." Evangeline's gaze hardened before she stomped up the stairs and into her room, the door slamming behind her. If it had awoken Cynthia, she didn't care.
"Hey Bubs! Where're you going?" Halting in her steps, she spun at the sound of her Dad's voice, her lips widening in a smile. "Looking for you, Bubba!" Racing down the dock, she landed in his outstretched arms, their laughter tangling with one another. "Come on, high tide today." Evangeline's eyes brightened as they raced to the shack where their trusty surfboards resided. "And then maybe after we can go to Hugh's for some pizza? How's that sound?"
"You got yourself a deal, mister." Grant ruffled his daughter's hair before they made their way to the waves. They surfed for hours, their senses filled with salty water, sand sticking to their hair and skin. Evangeline's fingers were pruny and her muscles ached. The sun began to set when they made it back to shore. "Whoo! You were great out there, Ev's!" Clapping hands, they wrapped their arms around one another, supporting one another through the sand. Their legs were giving out in exhaustion, their stomachs grumbling. "Can we do it tomorrow?" Evangeline exclaimed excitedly, wanting to spend another day out in the water, doing what she loved with her favorite person.
"Don't you have work tomorrow?" Remembering her new schedule, she hummed. "Oh, right. I forgot." Coming to a stop, he brushed her hair from her face. "Hey, don't frown, Bubs. Look, we'll go out after alright? And then maybe visit the baby turtles?" Forgetting what she was upset at, Evangeline nodded, her sunburned skin tightening at her smile. "Deal."
"If you two are done, me and Wills are starving!" Minnie Carson, Mother and Wife, stood with a bright knowing smile on her lips. Beside her was Evangeline's older brother, William. Both kids took after their Mother, with their brunette curls, bronzed skin and their bold tendencies. Minnie Carson was a sweet, caring woman, working with the younger kids at the local elementary school, but she was smart and wasn't afraid of taking risks for both her children and husband. The only thing the two Carson children inherited was their Father's love of the water and adventure. He used to explore shipwrecks with a few others, sometimes leaving on trips and bringing back souvenirs. One trip he brought back a necklace, one that Evangeline never took off. When William was old enough, Grant started bringing him along. Evangeline only hoped one day she would be able to join.
The two laughed before reaching the other half of their family. "Hugh's here we come!"
That was the last time they were all together, happy. And it was the memory that haunted Evangeline in her sleep every night after. Gasping awake, the brunette let out heavy breaths, sweat beading her brow. Running her hands through her hair, she sat up and leaned her head against her knees. Taking slow, steady breaths she tried to get the image of that night out of her head. She was used to these nightmares, but she hadn't had one in a while. Peering behind her, she realized her phone was ringing, the brightness of the screen illuminating her room. Ridding herself of the dream, she answered without fully checking the caller ID.
"Hello?" She grumbled. "Yo, where you at?" Evangeline furrowed her brows at JJ's voice, pulling her phone from her ear to see that it was 6 am. One other pastime of Evangeline's was surfing the waves while the sun rose for the day. Sometimes she went alone, but it was a tradition for both her and JJ. Swearing under her breath, she returned the phone to her ear. "I forgot to set my alarm." She groaned, shuffling around the dark room for the lights. "I'll be outside in like, 3 minutes." She spoke before running around the room to change.
Throwing on a random bathing suit and button up shirt that most likely belonged to John B, she quietly escaped the walls of the Thornton residence and towards the awaiting blonde who was already handing her one of his helmets. Climbing up behind him, she adjusted the helmet to her face, missing the way JJ looked at her with a slight furrow of his brow. Noticing the silence, she finally caught his eye. "What's up?" She questioned, but he shook his head. "Nothing, you just - you look tired." He shrugged, Evangeline rolling her eyes. "JJ, always the charmer." She chuckled, the blonde rolling his eyes playfully. JJ had first caught wind of a new girl coming to Figure 8 while bussing tables at the island Country Club. It was news thrown amongst the Kooks until the night John B had invited her to the Boneyard. The two had a few interactions throughout, but it wasn't until one sunrise that he got to truly meet Evangeline.
The teen had had a rough night before, so he decided to wake up extra early to surf with the sunrise. Just like Evangeline, there was something comforting about the water and he used it as an escape. But after a couple of waves, he had recognized the brunette paddling even further than he was. A smart comment was on the tip of his tongue but when she caught a few waves he was left with his jaw dropping. Evangeline had noticed the blonde and rolled her eyes. "Gonna catch flies, blondie!" Ripping from his shock, he paddled closer. "You a professional or something? Never seen anyone do waves like that." Sure he and his friends surfed almost all the time, but she was different. Evangeline chuckled softly, her eyes scanning the open water. "No, just taught by the best, I guess." She muttered, her thoughts flooding with memories of her dad.
For the rest of the morning, the two surfed to their heart's content before it was time to head back to shore. "We should do this again." To JJ, she was refreshing, almost like the waves under his board. She didn't really care for little things, taking it all in as it goes. Yet behind her brown eyes and smile, there was something more to her. "Actually, we should be friends." The blonde called out, Evangeline facing him with a smile. "As long as you aren't a Kook." She only knew Boneyard JJ, and that was just him goofing off and drinking. JJ scoffed. "Oh honey, I am no Kook. I am a POGUE!" He exclaimed with pride.
Evangeline watched him with a warm smile. JJ returned the gesture before nodding his head. "Wanna be a Pogue?" Evangeline had no idea what a Pogue really was, but it sounded better and more liberating than being labeled a Kook. "Depends, what will being a Pogue give me?" JJ trotted towards her, his board left behind. His smile was bright, a lightness in his once cloudy blue eyes. "Every day is a new adventure, anything could happen." It was convincing. "There's also weed and beer." Hook, line and sinker. And so, she became the fifth member of the Pogues, letting the four teens take her anywhere and everywhere.
"You know what I mean." Evangeline's smile dimmed, her eyes staring out the helmet's visor. It wasn't an easy night for the girl, the remnants of last night still playing in her head.
"Was it another dream?" JJ always let her bring the topic of her family up first, just as she would wait for him too. But there was something different about her that morning, something that was physically weighing her down more than usual. "Same one." She answered softly, her chin resting upon his shoulder. "And -" She paused, JJ glancing at her briefly. "- the insurance finally called." The teen remained silent, letting her collect her thoughts. "They're shutting down the shop, and all the money is going into a savings account until I'm 18."
"I mean, it makes sense. The money, not the shop closing down." He started. "That's the thing, it's going into a savings account under a guardian's name." JJ furrowed his brows before realization crossed his features. "Your Aunt." She nodded softly, her fingers picking at the buttons on her shirt. "You think she would somehow take advantage of that?" Evangeline hoped that wasn't who her Aunt was, but she barely knew the woman still. But she was a successful business woman, so why would she need all that money? Sighing, she let her head rest against his back, her eyes closing at the warmth he radiated. The oncoming headache dimming slightly.
JJ felt the change in her mood and reached for her hand that was wrapped around his waist, grasping it tightly. "Hey, look at me." Evangeline's eyes met his cool gaze through her visor, his lips pulling into a reassuring smile. "Everything's going to be okay." The brunette let out a breath before smiling. "Now, we've got waves to catch." And that was what made Evangeline grateful for his friendship. The way he could easily pull her back from the tragedy that was her life with a simple look and smile. She wouldn't know where she'd be if she never met the teen.
⊱—-----------{ ⋱ ★ ⋰ } —-------- ⊰