Carmen Lancaster is not your typical Kook. She doesn’t crave the constant spotlight of the lavish parties, the endless shopping sprees, or the shallow friendships that seem to define her new life here on the Island. But she doesn’t have much of a choice. After all, her family’s fortune depicts a certain image, and it’s one she has no intention of trying to escape--not yet, anyway.
Carmen’s father, a business man with connections that run deep, decided one day that the Outer Banks would be the perfect place for a fresh start. The decision was, of course, driven by his belief that there were opportunities to expand his empire, even in this seemingly quiet part of the world. He’d already secured business deals with Big John Routledge, a man that had lived here on the island, who was searching for one of the most famous shipwrecks in all world, hoping to lay the groundwork for something bigger. But that was before Big John disappeared at sea nine months ago, leaving behind unfinished business. Carmen wondered if she would be able to find out more about it, now that she lived here on the island. She heard he had a son around her age, perhaps she'd even meet him someday. But he was a "Pogue", or whatever they were called, so that might be harder than what Carmen assumed.
Her parents, always eager to mingle and make connections, had quickly decided they needed to introduce themselves to the island’s residents. Carmen’s father was particularly keen to see if there were any potential business allies to be found. And so, the plan was simple: they’d go out, meet some people, and have lunch at The Wreck—an unassuming little local restaurant. The restaurant was, of course, Kooks property. Never in her parents live, or atleast her fathers, would Carmen be seen at a place of the poor, which Carmen thought was kind of strange, but she didn't speak up against it, since she didn't want to get in more trouble than she needed to.
Carmen’s mother, Micaela Lancaster, sent her to her room to prepare for the outing. Carmen, however, was used to the ritual by now. She closed the door behind her and stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection for a moment before picking up the brush. Her long hair needed taming, and she quickly styled it into loose waves, the kind of effortless look that took more effort than she cared to admit.
She pulled on a simple outfit: a white top with delicate lace details, tucked into a pair of dark shorts—just enough to look fashionable without trying too hard. Her eyes lingered on her face in the mirror for a moment, applying some makeup to make the dark circles go away, her mom would probably get a heartattack otherwise, but not too much. She wasn’t trying to impress anyone; she was just trying to make it through another day in a town that felt both weirdly welcoming and suffocating at the same time.
After a moment of thinking, Carmen grabbed her phone and made her way downstairs. She could hear her parents’ voices from the hallway, already making new plans to make as much business as possible. Her father’s voice was low, confident--always the one who had something to say. Her mother’s was softer, but there was authority in it too, a sense of control.
“I think this town could be good for us,” her father was saying as Carmen entered the living room. “John B’s father was a good contact. Too bad he disappeared, but we’ll still need to start networking right away. There are people here who could make things, how do I put it, easier.”
Her mother hummed in agreement. “And once we meet the right people, it’ll be smooth sailing.”
Carmen bit her lip, unsure if she was more annoyed or just numb to the conversation. This was her life now. Money, power, business deals--none of it ever felt real to her, but here she was, part of it. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for. Something, maybe. Something different. Or someone.
The sound of Carmen's sneakers hitting the living room floor signaled the end of their conversation, and Carmen followed her parents out the door. They walked together toward The Wreck, the restaurant just a short walk down the street. It was a sunny day, but the air still had that salty smell of the ocean.
The Wreck was a charming place, looking equally rusting and withered as it looked cozy and homely. Inside, you could say the same thing, although it looked definitely more chic now. Carmen barely glanced at the locals sitting at tables around them as her parents led the way to the bar, that seemed to be the center of the restaurant. Carmen’s mother exchanged pleasantries with the staff, while Carmen hung back, silently observing the scene around her.
At their table, Carmen scanned the room. It didn’t take long for her eyes to catch on someone. A girl with long, dark hair and an easy smile was delivering food to the table next to them. She was talking easily with the customers, her laughter light and genuine. Carmen noticed how effortlessly beautiful she was, with a natural elegance that couldn’t be bought--something Carmen didn’t quite know how to place. She seemed real, even if that was a weird thing to say.
As their meals arrived, Carmen was surprised when Kiara approached their table, handing her mother a plate of seafood with a friendly smile. Carmen noticed the glint in her eyes as she took in her parents’ polished appearances, and for a brief moment, their eyes met. Carmen smiled faintly, wondering if Kiara had already figured her out—another Kook trying to fit into a world she didn’t belong in, even though she tried her best to.
Just as she was about to turn back to her meal, the door opened again. In walked a group of three boys. One had messy, light brown hair and a kind of charming but awkward smile, the other one had blonde hair and sun-kissed skin, also kind of an asshole grin, yet he seemed like he wasn't a bad person to be around. The last one had dark skin and hair, he seemed like a nice guy, like naturally funny. Carmen’s gaze followed them as they made their way to the bar, laughing and joking as they waited for something. Or maybe someone? She couldn’t help but watch them for a moment, taking in their easy camaraderie, the way they seemed to be completely comfortable with each other. It was a world she wasn’t sure she’d ever truly be a part of.
The girl, once she had finished taking care of a family’s table, walked over to talk to them, leading them to a free table. Carmen caught sight of her joining the others, her laugh ringing out as they joked among themselves. The ease with which they interacted was something that made Carmen feel a sting inside, kind of. They were so different than what she was used to.
She sighed softly, her thoughts full of awe. She hadn’t found that connection on this island—not yet. The Kooks were nice enough, but it always felt like they were more interested in her money than who she really was. The only one she had genuinely connected with so far was Sarah Cameron, another girl from a family that was so rich, it almost seemed like a joke, but even their conversations were brief.
Her thoughts were interrupted as her parents stood up to leave. Carmen grabbed her phone and followed them out the door, glancing one last time at the group of boys and the pretty girl. The door swung closed behind her, but she couldn’t shake the image of them laughing together.
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That's it for the first chapter, I really hope you've enjoyed it so far ! Thank you so much for reading, I'm always open for corrections, tips and just generally feedback!
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difficult - outer banks
Fanfiction"i've been drinking and staying up too late reliving bad decisions i thought eventually my ranting here would fix it i really think sometimes there's something that i'm missing oh, i know spiraling is miserable i should probably go back home why doe...
