Cassie's POV

I hop out the taxi with a cheery smile on my face. The driver helps me get my luggage out the trunk and I thank him, paying him before he drives off. I grab my handbag and suitcase before strutting up to the front door of the fancy mansion I haven't seen in years. I ring the doorbell and straighten out my outfit which consists of black jean shorts, a baby blue crop top and baby blue high top chucks. The door is swung open and I'm met with my gorgeous younger sister.

"Cassie!" She squeals, throwing her arms around me.

"Hello to you too" I laugh, hugging her tightly.

"I've missed you" She mumbles into my shoulder.

"I missed you too, Kie" I sigh, rubbing her back.

We pull apart and she ushers me inside.

"You can start unpacking. Dad's at the Wreck until later and my mom is with some friends. The boys will be here soon and we're going to the beach if you wanna come with?" Kiara explains.

"That sounds great, Kie. Let me get changed and unpacked" I tell her and she grins happily, skipping into the kitchen.

I drag my suitcase up the stairs and down the long hallway. I reach my old room and smile when I see my name still engraved into the wood. I turn the doorknob and open it to reveal everything is exactly how I left it. The walls are a pale yellow, my curtains are cotton white as are my bed covers, my bedside tables and dressing table are wooden which makes the room feel more homey, the pillows and blanket on my bed are yellow and the door to my closet is painted white. I drop my bag on my bed and walk over to my glass doors that lead onto the small balcony. The cool wind blows through my dark curls and I grin happily, leaning on the railing. I soak up the feeling of pure happiness before heading back inside to unpack.

After an hour or so of unpacking and dancing around the room to music, I stand in front of my full length mirror and smooth out the yellow jumpsuit I'm wearing over my white bikini.

 I hear the front door slam and I grin, slipping my white wedges on before heading down the hall. I reach the top of the stairs and I see the Pogues at the bottom talking to Kiara.

"Look what the cat dragged in" I speak up and they all look at me in surprise.

"Cassie?!" The boys shriek in unison as I skip down the stairs.

"Hello, boys" I grin.

Their confused faces morph into wide smiles and JJ is the first to crush me in a hug. I hug John B and Pope before taking a step back.

"Are we going to the beach or what?" I smirk.

"To the beach!" JJ declares making us all laugh.

☁️☁️☁️

As I run from Kiara and the boys who are trying to drag me back into the water, I collide with a hard surface. I hear a squeal as I hit the sand and I look in front of me to see one of my best friends.

"Sarah fucking Cameron" I laugh.

"Holy shit, Cassie! You didn't tell me you were back!" Sarah screeches, pulling me up into her arms.

"You know I always spend my first day in OBX with my sister" I laugh.

"You could have text me" She says, holding me out at arms length.

"I was gonna surprise you guys tomorrow" I say with a cheeky grin.

"Rafe is gonna freak" Sarah laughs.

"Don't tell him I'm here yet, i'll come over tomorrow as planned" I tell the dirty blonde who nods.

"I'll let you get back to the Pogues" Sarah tells me, looking behind me at the guys and Kiara who are all sitting down in the sand.

"I'll let you get back to your boyfriend" I reply, looking behind her at Topper who is obliviously talking to some guy i've never seen before.

I salute her and she grins doing the same back before we go our separate ways. I jog over to the Pogues who are messing around, John B and JJ wrestling in the sand while Kiara and Pope watch.

"Go, JJ!" I cheer as JJ tackles John B to the ground.

"Hey! You're not allowed to have favourites!" John B complains, pulling himself out the sand.

"C'mon, JB. You had no chance" I laugh and JJ holds out his fist which I bump with my own.

"How was your talk with the Kook princess?" Kiara scoffs.

"Kie, be nice" I warn her and she rolls her eyes.

"I don't understand how you can tolerate those trust fund assholes" John B shrugs.

"Because I'm one of those trust fund assholes" I reply with a chuckle.

"You're not like them, Cassie" Pope tells me.

"I wish I could agree with you, Pope" I state.

JJ opens his mouth, I'm sure to tell me I'm being stupid but I change the subject.

"Anyone hungry?" I ask curiously.

Everyone complains that they're starving and we decide to head over to the Wreck. I slip on my jumpsuit and put my wedges on. We stroll over to the Wreck and my excitement bubbles up inside me as the thought of seeing my dad again enters my mind.

I've always been close with my dad and step mom, Anna. I would have loved to stay with them and Kiara permanently while I was growing up, but my mother would never allow that which always angered me because it's not as if she was doing much for me in New York anyways. I raised myself from the age of 7 and that really fucked me up, having to grow up and look after myself at such a young age. You see, my mother is an alcoholic and spends most of her day passed out on the sofa before heading out to the clubs again at night. I'd be lying if I said her way of life hadn't rubbed off on me, i've been there and I know what it's like to be an addict but she chose to be this way and won't accept any sort of help. The only escape I had from my living nightmare in New York was the summers i'd spend in the Outer Banks with my dad. I've not been here in a few years due to personal reasons, so I'm really missing him right now.

We reach the Wreck and I stroll inside, heading to the counter.

"What can I get you?" My dad asks, not looking up from his cooking.

"A hug would be nice" I answer and his head snaps up.

"Cassie" He breathes out, his lips tugging up into a smile.

I walk around the counter and my dad wraps me in a tight bear hug.

"It's good to have you back, pumpkin" He chuckles and I grin happily.

"It's good to be back, dad" I reply, taking a deep breath as he pulls away from me.

"Dad?" Kiara speaks and he turns to face her.

"Any chance we could get something to eat?" She asks, glancing at the boys who are all sat down at a table.

"Oh, hell no" He shakes his head.

"Please, dad?" I pout and he looks at me.

He looks between Kiara and I as we look at him pleadingly and huffs dramatically.

"Fine, but only because it's your first day back" He says, looking at me.

Kiara and I squeal, high fiving each other and running over to the boys.

We all stuff our faces with food and head back to the chateau for a couple hours before John B and JJ drive Kiara and I home.

"Bye, boys!" I yell as the van drives away, the boys yelling goodbyes out the window.

I turn to Kiara and she shakes her head  with a grin.

"So what's with you and John B?" I ask with a cheeky grin.

"What are you talking about?" She asks, acting clueless as we walk towards our front door.

"Don't think I don't see the tension between you two. What's going on?" I question her.

"Really, Cassie. It's nothing" She assures me but I roll my eyes.

"If you say so" I sing as she opens the door.

"Kiara, where have you been?!" I hear Anna yell, followed by the sound of her heels on the marble flooring.

She reaches the foyer as I close the door behind me.

"Oh, Cassie! You're early" The woman says in surprise and I chuckle.

"I got an earlier flight" I explain.

"It's wonderful to see you again, sweetheart" She grins, pulling me into a hug.

"It's good to see you too, Anna" I smile, hugging the woman back.

Kiara waits until we finish our hug to apologise to her mom for being late and then drag me up the stairs to her room. We throw ourselves onto her bed and I let out a happy sigh.

"I've missed this" She admits.

"Me too, Kie. Me too" I agree.

My little sister and I have a long catch up like we always do when I come for the summer. We talk for hours until I'm yawning and I turn to see Kiara fast asleep. I slowly get up, making sure not to wake her up and I grab a blanket, pulling it over her. I place a light kiss on her temple and exit the room. As I turn to go to my own room, I bump into my dad who is rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"Goodnight, dad" I whisper.

"Goodnight, pumpkin" He replies, rubbing my shoulder as he passes me.

I enter my room and get changed into my pyjamas before throwing myself on my bed. My head hits the pillow and my breathing slows as I start to lose consciousness. I quickly fall into a deep sleep.