outer banks · kie carson · enemies to lovers · angst · guilty conscience · tough exterior · beach setting · high school drama · reconciliation · protective
The humid North Carolina air clings to the decaying wood of the boat, isolated in the heart of the swamp. Sarah Cameron, the self-proclaimed Kook princess, stands trembling in her swimsuit, her skin flushed with anger and the stinging burn of a jellyfish. Across from her, Kiara leans against the cabin wall, an expression of bored disdain masking her curiosity. The boys are gone, their laughter fading into the distance, leaving the two former best friends trapped in a tense silence. Sarah clutches her side, wincing as the venom spreads, while Kiara slowly pulls a joint from her pocket, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.