sunburn - rafe cameron (outerbanks)

1 - paradise on earth

chapter 1
paradise on earth

kildare island was paradise on earth - or so the sign said at least. evangeline woods was inclined to agree, of course, she was biased. she had lived there for the majority of her life and there was nowhere else she would rather be.

agatha's a bitch; but to evangeline, she was beautiful. as she lay in a plague of her own self-destructive thoughts, thick ringlets of blonde sprawled around her like a crown of honey, it was hard to avert her gaze from the tall glass panes separating her from the demolition that was taking place across the island. the once clear blue sky was deprived of the peaceful embrace it usually held, instead replaced with a gloomy cast of dark, black clouds that enveloped the island for as far as the eye could see. the rain was violent. angie admired the scenes before her.

storms were not uncommon in kildare. a month without a storm was considered a rarity. despite the mess that was left in its wake, she had always loved storms. she sat for hours watching from the serenity of her bedroom window. she supposed it was comforting watching the weather reflect how she often found herself feeling.

evangeline woods knew who she was from a very young age - or more so who she was supposed to be. as a child she had always been groomed to be flawless, keeping up the picture perfect family appearance. she was the kind of girl that other girls were jealous of and that boys wanted a chance to be with.

by the time the storm had cleared it was early the next day, and if it hadn't been for the destruction that agatha had left behind, there would have been little to indicate she had even been there at all. the sky had returned to its soft blue hue and the sea that lined the shore was almost entirely still, barely a ripple grazing the surface.

the figure eight was back into its regular 'kook' swing, and the woods' family was no exception, an afternoon tea was booked with the camerons. not that angie was complaining. she had first met sarah in kildare county high school. angie had been held back a year; yet despite being different in many ways the pair clicked instantly. unlike sarah, angie lacked a filter from her brain to her mouth, her words were sharp and cut deep. she was the troublemaker of the pair, whilst sarah was prim, preppy and proper. regardless, they had been joined at the hip.

angie smoothed her hands across her short blue dress as she stepped out of the car, her mother giving her a scolding stare. the country club was busy, so busy angie actually wondered whether there was anywhere for them to sit. this thought was short lived - of course - as they were immediately directed to a large round table in the far corner with a small 'reserved' sign in the centre. she expected nothing less - the best view in the house. angie took a seat beside her mother, hands instantly gripping the menu that was placed in front of her.

"oh, could we have some water for the table?" regina ushered to the waiter before turning to her husband. "honey, are you sure you told them the right time?"

"two-thirty. i'm very sure." hunter muttered in response.

"thanks." angie smiled to the waiter who placed a large glass carafe of water onto the table.

-- <3 --

the blood dripped slowly. trickling into a steady stream down to the peak of his chin. the stinging causing his eyes to prickle with tears as he stared down at the dusty countertop that he gripped tightly. fuck. he stuffed the small bag into the bottom of the trashcan, holding a fist-full of tissue to his - now - pouring nose. he knew that it was too much, but once he had etched the lines onto the counter he couldn't resist clearing the lot.

rafe rattled with fright as a loud knock ruptured through the door of his ensuite bathroom. "rafe, are you nearly ready?" ward called from the other side of the pane.