𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀, Kaci Flores spent all her free time on the Internet. She found that it was a great place in some ways — that she could type in absolutely anything and it would have her back. It was the only thing that knew her secret. It was the only thing she had trust and faith in.

It answered all of her questions, like ʼwhich Shameless man would marry me?ʼ, or ʼif I was a pokemon, which one would I be?ʼ.

It also told her everything she needed to know about pregnancy, considering she still hadn't cracked the nerve to take herself to a midwife. And she knew it was stupid, maybe even dangerous, but it was hard to find the perfect time to do that on such a small island; there was only so many places she could go, and only so many times people weren't around. It seemed to be that almost everywhere she went, she'd see somebody either herself or her parents knew. There were family connections all over the place.

And if she was being completely honest, Kaci was still finding it hard to believe she was pregnant. Seven months in, a bump the size of a history book, and she was still in denial over it all. It was a hard pill to swallow, and even harder everytime she thought of how soon it was coming to an end. How soon it was until her secret would break.

"Hey, Kace — wait, are you dipping a banana in peanut butter?"

Freezing in her place, the awkward texture of mushed up bananas and crunchy peanut butter stuffed in her mouth, Kaci didn't respond to the amused voice of her best friend.

"You don't even like crunchy peanut butter!" Sarah Cameron accused with a bubbly giggle. She traveled further inside Kaciʼs room and threw herself down onto her queen-sized, luxurious bed like it was her own, causing the girl to slam down the screen of her laptop.

Sometimes, when Kaci and Sarah were casually hanging out, guilt took over her whole body. Sometimes, Kaci had even considered coming out and telling Sarah the truth. They were best friends, afterall — sisters, even, at this point. But then she had to pause and remind herself that not only was she carrying a baby, Kaci cheated on Sarahʼs big brother to conceive it. She was a terrible person, and although everyone deserved the truth, she was scared of losing the people that meant the most to her. What she did was simply unforgivable, and she could never take it back. No matter how badly she wanted to. She wasn't sure if she'd ever forgive herself for it — maybe that was why it was so hard to believe it was true.

"I don't," Kaci dismissed the weird combination of snacks in her hand by the flick of her wrist. She swallowed down the remaining banana-butter in her mouth and turned around to face Sarah. "You wanna order a Chinese later? I could kill for sweet and sour chicken balls."

It was the first day of their summer holidays, and that meant it was the first day in a while the girls could have to chill. And rather than going out and doing crazy shit like the other teenagers on the island, Sarah and Kaci always dedicated their first day of summer to bed and movies, always hosted by the one with better WiFi. Which was Kaci, considering she lived in a million-dollar penthouse.

Sarah watched her best friend with a large smile, a loud laugh escaping her mouth. "What is up with you lately?" she exclaimed. "You're eating like a horse!"

"The term is ʼlike a pigʼ, Blueberry," Kaci corrected as the girl beside her climbed into the thick covers.

"Why do I smell cheese?"

"You probably took your socks off."

"You're such a bitch."

"And you're such a cunt."

They both looked at each other for a moment, going silent for a second, then burst into laughter. It was loud enough for a few of the older residents to fill out a noise complaint about the penthouse above them.

"Seriously, though," Sarah turned to her best friend with a straight face, "which movie kicks off today?"

"Jennifer's body."

"I miss 2010 Megan Fox."

"Everyone does."

Sarah burried herself in the covers as Kaci sat up to turn her TV on, and the two of them stayed there for hours talking about random nonsense and reacting to their favourite scenes without feeling the need to pull out a phone.

That was one of the best things about their friendship. With the other kooks, to have a good time, they'd have to get dressed up and go somewhere just to throw away money — and God forbid them laugh without it being broadcasted on Instagram live. However, when it was just the two of them — Sarah and Kaci —, they could spend days in pyjamas and watching Disney movies and eating takeaways without a care in the world. They could talk about real things, complain about their real lives, and not have to take selfies every two seconds. Come to think of it, Kaci wasn't sure if she had more than five photos of Sarah in their whole fourteen years of friendship.

Kaci settled down properly after a while. She binged on any snack she fancied and she didn't care that Sarah was watching her with a laugh. Because Sarah didn't judge. Because Sarah didn't question it. And gradually, the guilt of her secret washed away with the lemonade she devoured. Gradually, she once again forgotten that she was even keeping a secret in the first place.

𖧷

𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮 hit the island like a bitch. Her man had cheated on her and she was not happy. Lucky for her, she got to take out her anger by destroying Outerbanks.

Not so lucky for the island, though.

Kaci Flores sat at her family dinner table, a huge hoddie thrown over her body and maternity leggings underneath. The others didn't question her outfits so much anymore, as it had become her new normal over the last month. But they were a little confused at first. How did somebody go from dressing everyday like she was attending the Met Ball, to looking like a homeless person?

Across the table from her, Kaciʼs little brother Jordan was scoffing down his breakfast meal like a literal pig. The way he chewed, the way he grunted and the way he gulped knocked her ill. And he knew what he was doing. The grin on his face told her that.

"Can you stop that?" she asked.

"ʼCan you stop thatʼ," he mocked.

"I will kill you."

"Do it then."

"I will."

"So, Jack quit earlier today," Mikel, their father, announced, causing the two siblings to fall silent. The proud man took his space at the head of the long dinning table, face in its same neutral expression.

"He did?" asked his wife, Marie, curiously.

"Yes."

Jordan and Kaci shared a look of question, anxiety spreading through the air.

"Well, where is he now?" asked Kaci.

"Back on the mainland, I'm sure," their father said.

Kaci nodded to Jordan, who gulped loudly. This had happened a few times over the last year. One by one, their fatherʼs inner circle was randomly leaving. Disappearing. Mikel made excuses, but nobody ever saw these people again.

And it all started with their older brother. It all started that night Luis went missing. Seven months later, and he still hadn't been found.

"What are we going to do without him?" Marie asked her husband, noticing the worried and suspicious looks on their childrensʼ faces.

Jack was the manager of ʼThe River Palaceʼ, the hotel the Flores family owned. He was also the person Mikel Flores trusted the most, the person who knew all of his secrets, the person who carried out all the things he couldn't.

Kaci had her own theories about Jack and the things he did for her father  — so did Jordan.

"Kaci," Mikel said, causing the girl to look up at him.

"Yeah."

"How would Rafe feel about joining the family business?" he offered with a straight face. "It's about time he starts to make some money for himself, isn't it?"

The girl pushed her cereal around with her spoon. "Um, I think he's looking at helping out Mr. Cameron at the moment," she lied, knowing there was no way Rafe would be into a management position. He'd rather throw away his trustfund on cocaine than pay for it with his own, earned money.

"Ah, right," her father said. "I guess we could promote Jorge and hire a new buss boy. Or we could rehire one." He looked up at his wife, who was waiting patiently for him to speak. "What about that boy? The blonde one with the temper on him? — he'd be good to have back."

Kaciʼs heart sunk.

"He was from the cut, doesn't pay much at all," Mikel went on. He sighed. "What was his name again? Mija, I'm sure you know."

Kaci nodded, gulping down her water. "JJ Maybank. His name is JJ."

"Right. Yes, him. I want him back, Marie. Good worker, good with the staff."

"I'll speak to Lucia about it."

Kaci wanted to die. Seriously.

She would have to face him again.

She was carrying his baby.

Holy shit.

She was so fucked.

Authorʼs Note

i feel like the first half of this chapter wasn't that necessary, but i just wanted to show y'all how sarah and kaciʼs friendship was. the next chapters will go back into the plot of the show and we'll meet the rest of the pouges and how well they blend with her. i personally can't wait to write in her friendship with john b because can you imagine him as an uncle? ik some people hate him but i think he's amazing. i don't think i actually dislike any of the pouges to be honest. anyway, i really hope y'all are enjoying this and don't forget to comment all your opinions, i love to hear them.
love, tay </3