Allison hadn't seen the Outer Banks since she was seven years old. Now, years later, she was back, her heart caught in a delicate mix of excitement and anxiety. The memories of her childhood summers spent here flooded her as soon as she stepped off the boat. Aunt Anna was standing on the dock, arms wide open with a welcoming smile. When they hugged, it was more than a simple embrace—it was the warmth and comfort of all those years apart, melting away instantly.
As they loaded her suitcases into the trunk and began the drive to Aunt Anna's house, Allison gazed out the window, soaking in the scenery. The Outer Banks had changed, but it had somehow stayed the same. The sprawling beaches, the giant houses, and the crisp, salty scent in the air felt both foreign and familiar. There was an ache in her chest, but it was softened by the thought of being here again.
Finally finishing school had been a huge relief, and her parents letting her spend the summer at the Outer Banks was like a dream she'd been waiting to relive. She had missed this place more than she ever admitted—the sandy shores, her sister Kie, and her best friend Jessica, whom she'd known since birth. Though distance had kept them apart, Allison and Jessica had somehow managed to maintain their friendship over the years. The thought of reuniting with her brought an excited flutter to her stomach.
Arriving at the house, Allison's heart pounded in her chest. The house stood before her like a relic of her past—different, yet still carrying the same charm. And there, on the porch, was Kie. Her face lit up the moment she saw Allison, and they both broke into a sprint, running toward each other. They collided in a tight embrace, tears of joy brimming in their eyes. It had been far too long. The house itself had the same cozy atmosphere, with its wrap-around porch and the familiar scent of blooming flowers mixed with the ocean breeze. Inside, the warmth of the family photos lining the walls brought a rush of nostalgia, the space feeling lived-in and loved.
Kie pulled back from their embrace, her eyes shining. "Can we go somewhere? We have so many things to catch up on," she said eagerly.
"Two of you should probably stay here," Mark interjected, his voice tinged with concern. "They said the hurricane will be bad."
Allison laughed, brushing off the looming threat with a light-hearted joke. "First night back and already a hurricane? Didn't know I had that effect on the island."
Both girls burst into laughter, the tension easing.
"Help Allison move into her room, and we'll start dinner," Anna suggested, giving them a knowing smile.
Kie nodded and grabbed one of Allison's suitcases. Together, they made their way through the house, down a hallway that ended with a familiar door. When Kie opened it, Allison paused to take it all in. Her eyes landed on the nightstand, where a framed photo stood. It was from the last Midsummers before she moved away—Allison, her parents, Kie, and Kie's parents, all dressed up for the event. Allison picked it up with a bittersweet smile.
"This is still happening, right?" Allison asked, holding the photo.
"Yes, unfortunately," Kie replied with a hint of disdain in her voice.
Allison raised an eyebrow, puzzled. "Why unfortunately?"
"I'm not a fan of Midsummers anymore," Kie admitted. "Too many stuck-up Kooks in one place."
Allison let out a laugh. "But we are Kooks," she pointed out, teasing.
"Oh no, maybe you are. I'm with the Pogues now," Kie corrected her with a proud smirk.
"Really?" Allison's surprise was clear, her eyebrows shooting up in curiosity.
"Yeah," Kie confirmed.
Allison couldn't help but prod further, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "So, boys, girls, both?"
"Only boys," Kie answered with a roll of her eyes.
Allison's grin widened as she leaned in, teasing her sister. "Are they cute? Is that why you're hanging around with them? You like one of them?"
Kie's defense was immediate, and her cheeks flushed slightly. "No, I don't. No Pogue on Pogue mackin'," she said with mock seriousness, though her smile betrayed her.
Allison laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, like that rule ever works."
For the next half hour, the sisters caught up on their lives, filling the gaps that distance had created. They unpacked Allison's belongings, reminiscing, joking, and reconnecting in a way that felt like no time had passed at all. When they were almost done, Kie's parents called them for dinner.
Afterward, Allison took a long, soothing shower. The warm water cascaded over her, washing away the fatigue from her journey. She let herself relax, the anticipation of the summer ahead finally starting to settle in her bones. By the time she crawled into the queen-sized bed, her body was heavy with exhaustion. It didn't take long for sleep to claim her, her dreams filled with the promise of new adventures.
・ • ・ • ・
The next morning, Allison woke to the soft sound of birds chirping outside her window. The golden light of dawn spilled into the room, casting a warm glow over everything. She stretched and got out of bed, feeling refreshed and eager to start the day. When she glanced out the window, though, she saw the damage left behind by Hurricane Agatha. The backyard was a mess, and though the sight wasn't pleasant, she was grateful that she had slept through the storm.
After taking a shower and going through her morning routine, Allison headed downstairs. The rich smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen.
"Morning, sweetheart," Anna greeted her with a smile as she poured a cup of coffee. "Did you sleep well?"
Allison nodded, smiling back. "Morning! Yeah, I slept like a rock." She sat down at the kitchen table. "How bad was the storm?"
"It was pretty rough," Anna admitted, handing her a plate of waffles with chocolate syrup. "But we're all safe, and that's what matters. Breakfast?"
Allison thanked her, digging into the waffles with enthusiasm. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until the sweet taste of syrup hit her tongue. After finishing, she leaned back, satisfied. "Where's Kie?" she asked, noticing her sister wasn't around.
"She's with Mike at the restaurant. We should head over soon. There's some cleaning to do before we can open again," Anna replied.
Later, when they arrived at the restaurant, Allison and Anna quickly got to work alongside Kie and Mike. The hurricane had left quite a mess, but they worked efficiently, the hours slipping by as they cleaned, organized, and prepared the restaurant for reopening. By the time they finished, Kie had packed some sandwiches and was ready to head out with her friends. Allison watched from the porch as they arrived, deciding she would meet Kie's new crew another time. There was still plenty of summer left.
・ • ・ • ・
Later that day, as Allison organized her room, her phone buzzed. It was Kie, inviting her to a kegger party at the Boneyard. Allison couldn't hide her excitement. She always loved parties and was eager to meet new people. After applying some light makeup, and slipping into her bathing suit, and a short summer dress, she made her way to the party, the energy already buzzing within her.
When she arrived, the party was in full swing. Pogues, tourists, and Kooks mingled under the twilight, the air filled with the sound of music, laughter, and waves crashing in the distance. Despite the clear divisions, everyone seemed to be having a good time. Allison scanned the crowd, her eyes landing on Kie, who was sitting on a fallen tree, talking to a guy. She waved, catching her sister's attention.
Kie beamed when she saw her. "My friends can't wait to meet you," she said, grabbing Allison's hand and pulling her closer.
As they approached, Kie's friends — John B, JJ, Pope, and Jordan — were laughing and holding beer cups. Their attention shifted to Allison as Kie introduced her. "Hey, guys, this is my sister, Allison."
Allison smiled warmly, shaking hands with each of them. "Hi, nice to meet you." She couldn't help but notice Jordan. His quiet, laid-back energy drew her in, and there was an undeniable attraction between them.
Jordan, too, seemed captivated. He kept his gaze on her a little longer than the others. When their eyes met, he poured her a cup of beer with a small smile. They exchanged glances that were more than polite—a silent understanding that neither of them needed to voice.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the music. "Allison, is that you?"
Allison turned around and her heart swelled as she spotted her childhood friend, Jessica. "Jess!" she exclaimed, running over to hug her. "I can't believe you're here!"
Jessica's face lit up. "I can't believe you're here! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"I wanted to surprise you," Allison laughed, soaking in the reunion. "Looks like it worked."
They spent the next hour catching up, dancing, and laughing. Jessica filled her in on the local gossip, while Allison updated her on her life away from the island. The beers kept flowing, and soon enough, Allison was pleasantly tipsy, the weight of the day lifting as the night unfolded.
As the night wore on, Allison decided to find Kie and her friends again. She made her way back to where they had been earlier, but only Jordan remained, sitting alone with his beer.
"Hey, where's Kie?" Allison asked as she approached, her curiosity piqued.
Jordan shrugged casually, his easy smile making her heart race a little. "Not sure. She's probably off somewhere with JJ, John B, and Pope."
"Mind if I join you?" Allison asked, feeling the pull between them grow stronger.
Jordan nodded, shifting slightly to make room for her beside him. "Of course not." His voice was soft, the kind that could easily put someone at ease.
The atmosphere around them felt intimate, despite the loud music and crowd. The connection was undeniable. As they sat together, their conversation flowed easily, with Allison teasing him playfully and Jordan responding with a mix of humor and charm. When Jordan noticed her empty cup, he offered to refill it.
"One more cup and that's it for tonight," Allison said with a grin, grabbing his hand as he stood up. "But only if you drink too."
Jordan smiled down at her, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Okay, one more cup for me too."
"Good," Allison teased. "I don't like to drink alone."
He handed her a fresh cup, and they clinked their drinks together. "Well, here's to new friends and being back," she toasted.
"I feel like it's going to be a great summer," Jordan said, raising his cup to meet hers.
"Now that I'm back, of course it will be." Allison winked, playfully bumping her shoulder against his.
Jordan laughed, clearly enjoying her confidence. "Confident, are we?"
"Always," Allison smirked, taking another sip of her drink.
"As you should be." Jordan leaned closer, his tone a little more serious now.
Allison felt a spark of attraction flare between them. She edged even closer, her breath mingling with his. "So, do you like confident women?" she asked, her voice low and teasing.
"Who doesn't?" Jordan replied, his gaze locked on hers.
"Some guys don't," Allison teased. "That's why I'm asking."
Jordan's smile deepened. "I like confident women, but I also like making women feel confident."
Allison raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Now that's a good answer," she said, her attraction to him growing by the second.
The firelight danced in his eyes, and the pull between them intensified. Allison bit her lower lip, feeling herself lean closer.
"But," she said with a mischievous grin, "I hope you don't have a crush on my sister."
Jordan blinked, surprised, then laughed. "What?"
"You know, four guys, one girl," Allison teased. "It's hard not to start liking someone."
Jordan shook his head, his laugh rumbling softly. "No, I don't have a crush on her. But I can't say the same for the others."
Allison rolled her eyes playfully. "I don't care about the others. You're the cutest."
Jordan smirked, his gaze darkening slightly. "Oh yeah?"
Without hesitation, Allison stood up, taking his hand and pulling him with her. "How about we move this somewhere else?"
Jordan allowed her to lead him away, curiosity and excitement playing on his features. They wandered to where she had parked her car. Allison hopped up on the hood, pulling him closer as she locked her legs around him. Their lips met in a heated kiss, her tongue softly licking at his bottom lip.
Jordan's hands slid over her thighs, gripping her skin and pulling her dress up higher as their kiss deepened. Allison's heart raced as she guided his hand to her inner thigh, just grazing the edge of her panties. She moaned softly, the heat between them intensifying.
But just as the moment built to a peak, Jordan pulled away, glancing around nervously. "Someone will see us."
Allison's brow furrowed in confusion. "So?" she asked, her voice breathless. "You've never had fun in public?"
Jordan chuckled, brushing a hand through his hair. "We could move into the car."
"Hmm, maybe later," Allison teased, her voice filled with desire. "I want you to touch me here, now."
Jordan's gaze darkened, and he let out a soft laugh. "Okay, okay, just be quiet if you can."
Allison grinned widely, leaning back against the hood. "Yes, sir," she whispered, pulling him closer again. Her body responded to his touch, her skin warming under his fingers as they slipped beneath her panties.
But the sound of chanting and the word "fight" suddenly pierced the air, cutting through the intimate moment. Jordan paused, his head turning toward the noise. They both looked toward the water, hearing the crowd chanting the names "Topper" and "John B."
Curiosity and concern replaced the passion as they rushed toward the crowd. Just as they reached the clearing, Allison's breath caught in her throat. JJ had a gun pressed against Topper's head, his face a mask of fury.
"You move, broski," JJ warned, pressing the gun harder into Topper's temple.
The crowd watched in stunned silence, some starting to back away, fear creeping into the air. A few stayed, holding their breath to see what would happen.
A girl Allison didn't recognize stepped forward. "Put the gun down, JJ," she pleaded.
JJ hesitated, then slowly lowered the gun, but the tension didn't dissipate. He lifted the weapon toward the sky, firing two deafening shots into the air.
"Okay, everyone, listen up!" JJ shouted, his voice ringing out above the chaos. "Get the hell off our side of the island!"
The sound of gunfire sent people running, scattering in every direction. Allison stood frozen, her grip tightening on Jordan's arm as the shots echoed in her ears. Her heart raced in her chest as she watched Kie and Pope rush toward JJ.
"Are you crazy?" Pope yelled, pushing JJ backward.
Allison stood frozen, shocked by the violence and chaos. This wasn't the carefree summer she had imagined. The summer that began with nostalgia and excitement was quickly turning into something much darker and more dangerous.