written in the stars - a topper thornton fanfic (outer banks)

t h i r t y t w o

song: 'mind over matter (reprise)' - young the giant

one year ago

It had been fourteen days since Laurie had passed. Eleven since her funeral. Ten since Genevieve and her father had last spoken. Grief hung heavy in the air of the Brown household, and Genevieve worried that it may never go away.

Sat on the steps of The Wreck, Genevieve and Kiara gazed across the ocean of Figure Eight as they ate their burgers in silence. A comfortable silence, not like the unsettling silence that was growing between Genevieve and Jackson.

'Oh great,' Kiara muttered. 'Look what the cat dragged in.'

Drawn from her daze, Genevieve watched as Rafe and Kelce approached The Wreck, laughing hysterically at something that most definitely was not that funny.

Genevieve sighed. A few weeks earlier, Topper might have been with them. Genevieve felt her heart twinge a little at the thought of him. Although she had been so preoccupied these past few weeks, Genevieve had often found herself hoping that Topper would call, would text, would let her know that he was still thinking about her. After all, she had never stopped thinking about him. But he never did call or text, and Genevieve was beginning to realise that he never would.

'Oh damn,' Rafe said, wiping the smile off his face. 'Hey Kie, hey Genevieve.'

'What do you want, Rafe?' Kiara sighed exasperatedly.

'Are we forbidden from getting food or something? By the way, sorry to hear about your mom, Genevieve.'

Genevieve looked up at Rafe, who was looking back at her with compassionate eyes. Taken aback by the sincerity in his voice, it took Genevieve a few seconds to process what Rafe had said. 'Oh. Thank you, Rafe,' she said, smiling weakly.

Rafe nodded and looked over at Kelce, shooting him a glare. 'Oh yeah, sorry,' Kelce blurted out, noticeably less sincere than Rafe.

Genevieve laughed softly at the sheepish look in Kelce's eyes. 'Appreciate it Kelce. I still hate you guys, by the way.'

'We still hate you, the fuck.' Rafe muttered, before flashing Genevieve a smirk as he headed inside The Wreck.

Genevieve turned to face Kiara and raised an eyebrow. 'Are you just as confused as I am?'

'So fucking confused.'

...

A little while later, Genevieve and Kiara were walking along the beach. Kiara glanced over at Genevieve, who was staring out across the ocean.
Kiara sighed, biting the inside of her cheek as she debated whether or not to mention the elephant in the room; Topper. It had been a few weeks since the night he had left, and Kiara hadn't spoken to Genevieve about him since then. Although Genevieve had been through a lot since Topper left, Kiara wanted to let her know that she could still confide in her.

'You miss him, don't you?'

Genevieve stopped dead in her tracks, her breath catching in her throat. It had been weeks since Topper had left, but not a day had passed where she hadn't thought about him. In fact, as her and Kie walked, Genevieve thought about the many times she had walked along this exact beach, but with Topper by her side.

Genevieve's heartbreak had never subsided. The grief that had consumed her in the last two weeks was intense, but she couldn't shake the constant ache in her heart. She looked over at Kie and nodded, trying to ignore the lump that was forming in her throat. 'So much,' she whispered shakily.

Kiara sighed sympathetically, wrapping her arms around Genevieve's shoulders. 'You're allowed to miss him, Genevieve. You're allowed to be hurt.'

Genevieve nodded, biting her bottom lip as she fought back the tears that were blurring her vision. 'I feel stupid, because it seems so insignificant in comparison to.... everything else that's happened. But I can't just seem to move on.'

Kiara nodded, gently rubbing Genevieve's arm. 'It's not insignificant, Gen. You two had something special. You don't just forget about something like that overnight.'

Genevieve nodded, gazing out over the ocean. 'He seems to have done just that.'

Kiara sighed and planted a gentle kiss on Genevieve's head. 'Nobody could forget about you overnight, Gen. Believe me.'

Genevieve smiled weakly, looking over at Kiara gratefully. 'I'm lucky to have you, Kie.'

...

Genevieve waved goodbye to Kiara, watching as she turned and headed back towards Figure Eight. She sighed shakily, glancing over at the boneyard as she passed it on her walk home. She stopped and stared at the log where her and Topper had so often sat, sharing secrets and staring at the stars.

She missed the smell of his cologne, the colour of his eyes, the way he would blush when he laughed. She missed the ease with which they spoke, how he never judged her and how she never judged him. She missed how safe she felt when he was near. She missed how her hand felt in his. She missed everything about him.

Wiping the tear that rolled down her cheek, Genevieve turned onto her road. As she grew closer to her house, she was taken aback by the sight of her father sat on the Maybanks' porch. Genevieve felt her stomach drop as she spotted the can of beer in Jackson's hand, and the flask in Luke's. Her eyes then fell to the dozens of empty cans that were scattered across the porch.

'Ayo Genevieve,' Luke yelled, slurring his words.

Genevieve bit the inside of her cheek as she walked closer. 'Hey,' Genevieve said, locking eyes with Jackson. He was hurting, anyone could see that, but he was shutting her out. In his eyes, Genevieve searched for strength, for support. But in his eyes, all she found was anger and upset. Rage.

'You haven't seen my boy JJ, have you? Can't remember the last time he spent a night here,' Luke asked, his voice full of fake sincerity, his eyes menacing.

Genevieve shrugged. 'Can't say I have.'

Shooting one last look in Jackson's direction, Genevieve turned and walked towards their house. 'He won't let us turn out like that,' Genevieve whispered to herself, glancing over at JJ's empty bedroom window. But deep down, Genevieve knew that that was exactly where her and Jackson were headed.