𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 | 𝐉𝐉 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐊

One

Outer Banks: Paradise on Earth

so they say.

We drive through palm trees and bright green grass until we pull up right in front of a manor, our new house. It's a grey and white building with a dock that leads out to the marshes. My twin brother, Sam, rushes over to the boat he immediately spotted the second that we pulled in. I have only been in this house once before, three months ago when my parents originally decided to buy it. It's gorgeous on the inside, but it doesn't feel like home.

For the past two weeks, Sam and I have stayed with our grandparents while our parents moved in all of our belongings. Seeing my fully furnished room, minus personal items which are still packed in a box that my parents didn't want to touch, makes me feel slightly more at home.

After a second tour, we end up right back in the car. We pull up to a different house, one that neither Sam nor I have seen in a very long time. A blonde woman and a tall man with a dark grey beard is standing on the front porch; Ward Cameron, no doubt. We're greeted with an overbearing smile and warm hugs from him.

"Jason, this is my wife, Rose," he turns and looks at her. Rose and my parents exchange greetings as a younger girl opens the door.

"Wheezie, hey kiddo. You remember Jason, right? And, of course, Molly."

Wheezie tucks a piece of her dark hair behind her ear. She gives me and Sam a smile as she nods her head. She's much taller than she was at five.

"Right, yeah," she says as she stays planted on the porch.

Ward leads us into the house, then to the parlor. As we take our seats, Rose heads into the kitchen to gather drinks. I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, causing me to turn my head toward the parlor entrance. When Sarah Cameron walks in, I'm the first person she notices. An expression of excitement mixed with confusion is spread across her face.

"You did not tell me they were coming today," she says, looking at her dad. She hugs me tightly, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I've missed you so much, you have to tell me everything that I missed."

"I'm sure she will, Sarah. How about the two of you head up to your room while you finish getting ready."

Without further question, Sarah pulls me upstairs by the arm. I get dragged into a well-lit room filled with bright colors and pictures of Sarah and her friends. She rambled on about everything that's new in her life, including her boyfriend, Topper; who she's been seeing for a few months now. She brings up her friends and her classes and how excited she is for me to be back.

"So, I'm getting ready for a kegger going on at the beach. You should totally come with me and Topper," she suggests, walking into her closet.

"Sarah, as much as I'd love to third wheel you and your boyfriend, drinking isn't really my thing and I have absolutely nothing to wear."

She comes out holding a yellow crop top and a pair of light blue, ripped jean shorts with a sunflowers embroidered on the back pockets, contrasting the white skirt I'm currently wearing. I'm also wearing a navy blue blouse with white heels. She's wearing a light blue dress with pink flowers. She tosses both items on her bed as she picks at her shoe rack on the only side of her closet I can actually see.

"I thought you might say that. Put those on, I'll do the rest."

"Including begging my parents?"

"Including begging your parents. Let's tell them it's a party. We can keep the beer low-key. Especially if you're not drinking anything"

I close her door, and strip down to my undergarments. Slipping on the jean shorts and pulling the crop top over my head, I smile at Sarah, who's holding a pair of beige sandals. I put on the shoes, and she compliments my toenail color, a light blue. It's nice that Sarah and I have always shared the same clothing sizes, because admittedly, it'a fun being able to swap clothes without having to buy anything.