When a shy girl from Figure Eight suddenly gets whisked into a dangerous treasure hunt involving four pogues known for their knack for trouble, she finds herself navigating not only the troubled waters of adventure but also the complexities of frien...
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Sydney spent the afternoon orbiting the echo of the slap. It kept replaying—the heat on her cheek, the stunned silence after—until the house felt too small for her thoughts. She tried to bust her hands, tossing towels under the slow drip in the kitchen, sweeping shingles by the back door, but every task folded back to the same loop: Rafe's grin, the shock, the sting.
By sunset the light had gone honey-thick, slipping in through the windows and turning dust into glitter. She decided that a walk might clear her head. It was one of the few positives about living in the Outer Banks; Sydney could always count on having amazing views from all over the island. With the sun setting, casting a golden hue over the landscape, she hoped the fresh air would help lift her spirits.
She clipped Sunny's leash onto his collar, and he wagged his tail excitedly, sensing the change in her mood. Together, they stepped out into the warm evening air that smelled like wet wood and salt. The storms fingerprints were still everywhere in Figure Eight, even after the army of contractors and staff had left leaving not a chip of paint out of place on their white picket fences, their manicured lawns a vibrant green. Some trees still leaned at odd angles, piles of wet leaves clung to the curbs, and the streets still seemed dampened with the dirty water.
Sydney knew the imperfections wouldn't last long in Figure Eight though, being a Kook meant being perfect.
She began to look away from the homes and took in the natural beauty that the Outer Banks had to offer, Sydney felt a sense of peace wash over her. The ocean sparkled under the fading sun, the water reflecting hues of orange and pink like a watercolor painting come to life. Seagulls glided overhead, their calls mingling with the gentle sound of the waves rolling onto the shore.
Sunny happily sniffed at the grass and flowers along the path, his excitement infectious. Sydney smiled at his antics, feeling her tension slowly dissolve with each step. As they turned a corner, Sydney noticed the sky shifting to deeper shades of orange and pink and Sunny instantly began to pull recognising the path down to the beach.
She was thinking about everything and nothing when she drifted down the path towards a cluster of Kook Academy kids, all sunburnt and loud. She recognized them from school and tried to keep her head down as she walked past them. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself, especially after the humiliation she had experienced earlier.
As she passed the group, Sydney overheard snippets of their conversation.
"Are you going to the kegger at the Boneyard tonight?" one of the boys asked, his voice full of excitement.
"Totally! It's going to be epic," a girl laughed, emphasising on the word epic.
"I heard it's going to be packed," another added on as they passed by the brunette and her dog.
Sunny tugged her onwards towards the beach; she happily followed quickening her pace until she was met with the familar sight of the ocean and her sneakers met the sand.
