FOOLISH ONE! OUTER BANKS

ONE.

CHAPTER ONE.

(the pilot.)

   It was autumn when he began talking about it.

   It started as a joke, with light-hearted comments here and there about getting away from the snow. To get away from the people with tattooed frowns and bitter attitudes, to move somewhere far from home. Then in the winter, he began sending her houses, apartments, and even condos.

   Where?

   North Carolina, of all places.

   It was a world away from home, or that's what it seemed like, anyway. Octavia never thought he'd do it, but she never would admit it out loud.

   In the spring, Oliver broke up with Camden.

   Octavia never thought he'd do it, and she sure as hell never thought she'd go with him. That was until he mailed her a key, 'our new home :)' it read. It was summer when the Grace siblings packed up their things and moved halfway across the country- okay, maybe she's being dramatic. But that's what it felt like.

   There aren't any rules to running away from your problems. No checklist of things to cross off. No instructions. Apparently, there was no age limit to it, either. Because here he was, twenty-two and running away like a kid who was got in a fight with his mom. Octavia likes to convince herself that Camden is the reason she and Biscuit were forced against their will to one of the sunniest places on Earth, but she knows it's not true.

   Octavia ran her hands through biscuit's wet fur, and the faint smell of strawberries hung in the air. The puppy wiggled and squirmed in her grasp; tiny pointless teeth clamped down on Octavia's fingers. The girl giggled, scrubbing the dog until she was rid of all the grease and dirt.

   "See? Being clean isn't so bad now, is it?" She spoke softly, her knees cracked as she stood and turned the hose off. The dog whined and barked in response, rolling around the grass on her back.

   "If you keep talking to yourself, we'll be labeled as the new crazy neighbors."

   Octavia pouted, she clipped the baby blue collar around the dog's neck and whirled around. Camden stood at the top of the porch steps; arms crossed over his chest. Biscuit retreated like a bullet from Octavia over to Camden, barking and jumping on the man as if she were a child telling on Octavia. The Silver Lab was not small for her age, and it wouldn't be long until she wouldn't be able to be held. 

   The girl rolled her eyes, tucking her hair behind her ears. She gathered all her things and joined her brother on the porch, who now held the pup in his arms. "Wait till they learn my brother is a classified nutjob." Octavia teases, yanking the door open.

   He follows her in, biscuit goes scattering across the hardwood floor as Camden releases her. Octavia flicks on the kitchen light, pulling open the fridge door to find, bottles of water, cheese and butter. She sighs, poking her head out and eyeing Camden who shrugs.

   The house was littered with unopened boxes and tissue paper thrown throughout, two air mattresses sat on the living room floor with tiny throw blankets and pillows. Octavia pressed her hands to her cheeks, pulling a box of noodles from the cabinet as Camden rummaged through boxed until he found a pot.

   She blinked slowly, exhaustion seeming to veil the brightness of her gaze. "We have mac and cheese. . . and mac and cheese." She informs.

   "Hmmm. . ." Camden trails off, tapping his chin in pretend thought. "Spaghetti?"