( 𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙊𝙉𝙀. )
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RAYS OF SUNSHINE soaked into Jaylene's skin as she gripped onto the edge of the ferry, the wind blowing through her chestnut hair, creating knots that she'd have to detangle later. Her ears picked up the sound of the obnoxious seagulls, making it clear that they were close to reaching the land of Outer Banks in just a few short minutes. The thought of going back home made her feel uneasy. This was the day she'd been dreading the most since she left. The day in which she would have to face reality and every other judgemental person who lived on the island. No doubt everyone would put up a fake smile and pretend like they weren't disappointed in her for turning out to be just like her mother. They would simply blame it on her rebellious stage as a teenager.

With a sigh leaving her lips, Jaylene looked towards her father who was sat on the wooden seat behind her. Ever since he picked her up from New York the previous day, they hadn't muttered a single word to one another. Mainly because she didn't wanna speak to him. He hardly ever visit when she was away which completely shattered her heart. When she was younger, they were the closest duo, but now she wasn't really sure where their relationship stood.

Her burning stare was harsh, making it hard to avoid. "You can't avoid me forever." He was the first to speak, looking up from the newspaper he'd been reading since they boarded the ship. "It'll be impossible considering we live under the same roof."

Clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth, Jaylene tapped her fingers against the edge of her plump lips. "Twice. You visit me a total of two times in the six months I spent there. You wanna be mad at someone for what happened, dad? Why don't you try being mad at yourself. You never pay attention to your two kids because Lorelei has you wrapped around her finger. You didn't even realize that I was completely fucked up in the head the entire time leading to that day where Nate found me clinging onto life in my bedroom!" She snapped, receiving countless looks from other passengers on the ship. If that wouldn't discourage them from vacationing in Outer Banks, she wasn't sure what would.

Henderson swallowed loudly, standing to his full height and walking closer to his daughter who was on the verge of tears due to how frustrated she was with the entire situation. "I couldn't bare to see you in that state. You looked so fragile and completely drained of life. Unrecognizable." His hand brushed against her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze as her gaze remained focused on the land that was getting closer and closer with every passing second.

"How do you think I felt watching people reunite with their loved ones on visiting days? You think that helped better the damaged state I was in, dad?" She whipped her head towards him, shaking his hand off of her shoulder. "Or were you scared? Scared of your reputation going down the drain because of your junkie daughter stuck in a rehab center hundreds of miles away? I turned out just like her and that terrifies you, doesn't it? I'm a disappointment just like my mother was."

"Jaylene—"

"What story do I have to stick with? When people ask me where I was at do I just flat out tell them the truth? Or should I lie and say that I overdosed on pills because I was craving some sort of attention?" Jaylene pursed her lips into a thin line, pools of tears brimming in the corners of her eyes. "Where'd you tell people I was at? What's the truth behind my departure from the island? And don't you dare lie to me. You've already done that enough."

Her father sighed, shutting his eyes as he gripped onto the edge of the ferry with both his hands. If she didn't hate him enough already, she surely would after receiving the truth. "Lorelei figured that it'd be easier to deny the rumors about the pills when they first surfaced. She told everyone that you attempted suicide by trying to drown yourself which was why you were sent to go live with family in New York. The story kinda spread like wildfire, completely drowning out the truth. No one knows where you were actually at."

Jaylene was stunned, the salty taste of her tears overpowering her tastebuds as they traveled into her mouth, her mouth gaped open in shock. "Screw you."

｡･:*:ˑ༄ؘ ۪۪۫۫ ▹

WHEN THE FERRY finally docked, Jaylene practically fled the ship, leaving her baggage behind so that her father would have to take it home. Since a large number of people had been on the ferry, she immediately got lost in the crowd. Once away from the dock, she let out a sigh of relief, receiving confused looks in return from the residents who recognized her. No one ever thought she'd dare show her face again, but she'd proved them wrong. Several people welcomed her back with warm smiles, while others gave her the stink eye as she walked in the direction that led to figure 8.

The wind felt stronger than it did on the ferry, making her wonder why they'd even allowed the ship to set sail across the North Atlantic when hurricane Agatha was to make her debut within the next couple of days.

"Jaylene?" A familiar voice from behind her interrupted her from her thoughts, causing her to stop dead in her tracks, a fake smile forming on her face.

"Jason! Hi!" She exclaimed, greeting the brunette haired boy who she began dating freshman year of high school before breaking up with him over the phone once she'd left the island six months ago. Even she thought that was low of herself to do. No one deserved to be broken up with like that. "Listen, breaking up with you like that was really shitty of me to do. I just needed some time off the island after willingly plunging my body into the water, you know? No hard feelings, right?" The sarcasm was heavy in her tone, clearly angered at the lie she had to keep up with thanks to her brute of a stepmother.

"You okay? It looks like you've been crying." His hand reached for her face, carefully grazing his thumb across the tear stains on her rosy cheeks.

"Must be some residue from my swim I took six months ago." She slapped his hand away from her face, not in the mood to be all lovey-dovey with her ex-boyfriend. She just wanted to go home and lock herself in her room. It was the only place in Outer Banks that she truly missed.

"Why are you treating it like a joke, Jay? Do you seriously think that we weren't worried sick about you?" Jason was fed up with all the cruel jokes she was making, completely unaware that the truth had been twisted. "You always seemed so fine and then out of nowhere you attempt suicide. I remember that you once told me that your mom suffered from depression—"

Jaylene shook her head before he could continue, backing up so that the two had some space between them. "My mom is a topic that you should keep the hell out of your mouth unless you want a good kick in the balls." She sneered, catching a glimpse of her father who was at the dock with her suitcase, searching for her. "I'm fine, Jason. I'm alive and that's all that matters. Now if you can excuse me, I'd like to get back home to the rest of my family." She rushed off before he could protest, hurrying towards the Rosewood mansion so that Henderson wouldn't find her.

"Wait, Jaylene!" He followed behind her as she crossed the street to get to the side where all the large homes were lined up, nearly getting ran over by a car coming in his direction that contained John B. and his three friends.

"Jesus Christ, Jason! Just go on and cause a car accident then!" She shouted, pushing his body towards the green grass on the golf field.  "I need some time to readjust. The last thing I need right now after 6 months of re—being away with family in New York is you breathing down my neck like some obsessed freak. So do me a favor and lay off my back for now." Jaylene wanted to smack herself for almost revealing the truth that had been deeply buried.

"I waited six months for you to come back, Jay. The least you can do is tell me how you've been doing!" He grabbed her wrist before she could walk away from him again.

Irritated, Jaylene pulled her wrist away from his grasp, fighting back the urge to slap him across the face for being such a prick. "I left this island because I almost died, Jason! Now everyone's comparing me to my mother who I hardly remember! So forgive me if I'm not in the mood to talk about my feelings!" She spat, leaving the brunette-haired boy behind before continuing her walk towards the mansion that was being prepared for the hurricane that would have a large impact on the large piece of land.

authors note. Jason irks the living crap out of me and he's my oc lmao. anyways, this takes place before hurricane agatha strikes. Jaylene and John B. won't interact until the next chapter (hopefully).