SMOKE SIGNALS / OUTERBANKS
ੈ✩‧₊˚ written by catie . . . © vqnillascented
chapter six ━━  ' midsummers '

ALEX DIDN'T KNOW why disappointment flooded her chest when she woke up in the morning and Rafe wasn't beside her in her bed. She had no reason to assume that he would've stayed, she might have even been shocked if he had.

But, maybe there was just a small part of her that hoped she might turn over and see his face, especially after the night that they had shared.

She was also unsure of why she didn't expect the nearly crippling regret to rush through her next, as if she didn't just sleep with her best friend's older brother. She swore to herself, right then and there, that Sarah would never find out, no matter how much the remorse ate at her core.

Slipping out of bed and approaching her window, which Rafe had left open whenever he had snuck out in the night. Alex yanked it closed, shutting up the latch, taking a moment to stare out at the beautiful view of the beach. She just wished she could enjoy the serenity a bit more, instead of being distracted by the aching in her chest.

Her phone screen lit up with a notification, and she rushed to see what it was, hoping it might be a text from Sarah, who she hadn't seen in over twelve hours now. Or maybe it would be Rafe, checking in with her, to prove that he wasn't just another rich douchebag.

It was neither of them, however, and Alex groaned with frustration when she saw that it was only her calender app that was notifying her. After reading the details of the notification, her annoyance melted away into excitement.

Midsummers @ 6

Alex jumped back onto her feet, running over to her closet, already on a mission to find the perfect dress to wear.

KATHERINE THORNBURY sat in front of her vanity, staring at her reflection in the large mirror. She twisted her curls around her fingers several times, trying to make them sit right. Her knee was bouncing as nervous energy coursed through her veins, her stomach alive with thousands of butterflies.

Tonight was Midsummers ━━ a formal party that the most wealthy families on Figure Eight held every year, smack dab in the middle of the long summer months. It was originally supposed to celebrate the communitie's achievements over the past year, but it soon turned into one big contest for bragging rights, where every Kook family had to outdo the others, whether in their outfits or their charity work and achievements.

This night was also the first time that Katherine would be seeing Ward Cameron since she moved away all those months ago. She didn't know if she should avoid him, ducking behind every table and chair she could find. Or if she should greet him like an old friend, put any past animosity behind her.

Those chairs and tables were looking awfully tempting right about now.

"Mom?"

Katherine turned her head, seeing her oldest daughter, Alex, standing in her doorway. She looked beautiful in her floor length black dress, the silk fabric cascading down like a waterfall. Her makeup was carefully applied, and her long brown hair was curled perfectly. Even her anxious, cold mother couldn't help but to smile at the sight.

"You look so pretty, honey." She commented, turning back to poking and prodding her own appearance.

Alex blinked for a moment, taken aback by the compliment from her mom. Nice words were something that Katherine would very rarely hand out, even to her own family.

"Dad's got the car ready." Alex said, watching her mom inspect every detail on her face, like a teenage girl about to go on her first date. "We're ready when you are."

"Tell your father that I'll be down in a few minutes." Katherine replied, finally setting down the powder puff that she had bene patting against her cheeks like it might completely transform her entire face.

"Okay." Alex turned and left her mother alone, which only made Katherine's nerves return with an even greater intensity.

She inhaled sharply, moving her long pink skirt out of the way so she could stand. After one final glance at her reflection, she began to head for the doorway. Just then, something caught her eye, and she froze.

Hurrying over to the closet that she and George shared, she yanked the carboard box from its place on the top shelf, having noticed that it's lid was coming a bit loose. She had put the box up there the first day they moved in. It contained some of the extra files that wouldn't fit in her downsized office space.

Shoving the lid back on the box roughly, Katherine squeezed her eyes shut, not needing a reminder of what papers lay inside the box ━━ not tonight anyway.

When she was finally satisfied with the readjustment, she slipped the box back in its rightful place, and then, she herself slipped out the door.

THE DUSK AIR was warm against Alex's bare arms as she hurried to walk in front of her family, practically running towards the golf club.

"Already leaving your old man behind, huh?" George squinted against the bright sunset.

"Yeah," Alex spun around to face him, a smile overtaking her face as she tesded him. "I don't need you anymore, I'm almost an adult."

"Hold your horses!" George chuckled. "You're a whole two years away from earning that title."

"And you act the furthest thing from it too." Katherine muttered under her breath, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Alex huffed at her mom's words, but she'd be lying if she said it didn't sting. Still, she would take thousands of backhanded comments over the oddly nice compliment that she had been given earlier. At least the digs were expected and familiar.

Jenna piped up from her mother's side, "Yeah,  I mean, you haven't even gone through puberty yet."

"Shut up, Jenna. I'll smother you in your sleep."

The Thornbury family entered the entertainment hall, going straight through until they reached the massive backyard, which had been all set up and decorated for the occasion.

Katherine murmured something about needing a drink, and next thing anyone knew, she had vanished.

"I wanna try some champagne." Jenna commented, looking around at all the sophisticated guests with their dainty glasses in hand.

George patted the young girl on her head with a tired smile. "Absolutely not."

Slowly, the crowd began to clap, and the three new arrivals joined in, unaware what they were even clapping for. That was, until they turned around.

The back doors opened and the entire Cameron family stepped out, all of them dressed to the nines, walking through the crowd elegantly.

"I wish we were that rich." Jenna huffed, crossed her arms.

"I swear to God, Jenna, you better hope you can make a career out of being annoying." Alex kicked her younger sister in the back of the shin with her pointed heel.

Jenna didn't react to the kick, only smiling brightly back at her sister. "I think I'll find a way."

Alex rolled her eyes, stepping to the side to put some distance between the two of them. Her gaze lifted to meet Rafe's, and she was surprised to see that he was staring back at her already.

"I'll be right back." She started to move away before she even finished talking, ignoring Jenna's loud groans about how she really wanted that champagne.

"Hey." Alex greeted him with a playful smile, pushing some of her dark hair out of her face.

"Hey, how are you?" He grabbed a drink from one of the wandering waiters' trays.

"I'm fine." She replied. "I just thought I would've heard from you by now."

"Yeah, sorry about that." He took a swig from his glass. "Dad had me getting my suit fitted this morning, took four hours. Four hours, can you believe that?"

"What about the other four?" Alex crossed her arms over her chest, her flirty attitude having been sucked from her body.

Rafe clicked his tongue. "I just got busy, I guess."

"Right." She pressed her lips together. "Okay, well, I'm gonna ━━ "

"Yo, Rafe." Kelce approached the two, interupting Alex's attempt to leave the conversation. "Top looks upset over there, let's go see what's up."

"Bet my sister was beating on him again." Rafe scoffed, the two older boys leaving Alex behind. She scrambled to follow the two of them as they walked up to a frustrated looking Topper, who was pouting in the corner.

"You good, man?" Rafe asked him, as Kelce handed over his drink to the boy that looked like he needed it more.

Topper took a long swig from the glass, exhaling sharply once he had finished. "Hey, uh, Alex?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

Topper squinted up at the sky for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "Did you go to Chapel Hill yesterday?"

She merely blinked at him, and he blurted out more of an explanation, "I'm just trying to verify Sarah's story, alright? Make sure she's being honest with me."

"That's my boy." Kelce slapped him on the arm. "Don't let her walk all over you."

"Chapel Hill?" The question slipped out without much control on Alex's end, and the lack of a response seemed to be enough for Topper.

He nodded harshly, shoving the now-empty glass against Kelce's chest. "Thanks, Alex. You've really cleared things up."

With this, he stomped away, inevitably off to find Sarah and rat her out for lying to him about visiting the college campus with her best friend. Alex sucked in her breath, knowing only one thing.

She had to get to Sarah first, and get some answers.

catie speaks!

hello my loves!! thanks so much for reading, i hope you enjoyed the chapter! watching obx 3 gave me so much writing motivation so expect lots more updates soon!

what were your thoughts on the third season? let's dicuss!!

make sure you follow me to be notified when i update. votes & comments are also highly appreciated! i have a tiktok which is the same user as here, i post edits and teasers for my fics, including this one. i would love if you'd check that out too 🫶

virtual hugs,
catie !