outerbanks imagines.

changes in the runaways-topper

{this imagine is about topper's family in a way i created to better fit the story.
regardless if this information is wrong or not,
it's how I created it for this story.
enjoy <3}

topper thorton came from a long line of royal screw ups.
though you'd never realize upon first glance.
you see them and you see every other happy family with perfect smiles and perfect lives,
as though they belonged on the hallmark channel.
but the truth couldn't be any further from that. 
the reality of it all was that topper's father had been through many affairs,
all while his mother feigned ignorance despite how miserable it all made her to be the second choice.
behind closed doors,
the tension could almost materialize into his palm if he tried hard enough.
his father,
alongside being an adulterer,
was abusive.
topper couldn't count the times he had seen his mother stumbling away with a swelling bruise to her being,
not that he wanted to know the number of times anyway.
he preferred to keep those memories locked up.
he loved the family they pretended to be when people were around.
they were lively,
laughed without consequence,
bonded with one another as best they could.
but all of it was fabricated;
bruises covered by concealer,
entanglements kept secret by lies,
a failing family kept together by the string of deception.
topper swore to himself he would never be his father,
or like any male figure in his family.
he would never prioritize his career over his family,
never lay a foul hand to his wife,
would cherish and support his kids in whatever they pleased.
he would achieve success and celebrate with his family,
not hold it over their heads.
but all of that came crashing down the day he found himself harming sarah cameron in a moment of blinded rage.
topper couldn't even remember what he had been so mad about that warranted such a reaction.
not that anything would have justified it.
he knew he would never forgive himself.
topper stared down at his hands in revulsion and fear.
after so long of swearing himself differently,
he had become just that;
he was truly his fathers son.
topper had tried for hours to apologize to sarah,
telling her that he didn't mean to and that he was incredibly sorry.
he knew such small words were not nearly enough to make up for the colossal damage he inflicted.
what did he have to hold on to now?
he would be like every thorton man ever.
topper could feel his soul darkening at the realization.
it would take a miracle to reverse such doom.
his only way out would be escaping.
"i have to leave town."
he later told his parents over dinner.
"what? leave town?"
his father echoed.
"mhm."
his mother blotted her lipstick onto the napkin before saying,
"what's the sudden rush to leave, honey?"
"i just...i need to go. there's nothing for me here."
he couldn't admit that he was running as far as he could to avoid turning into his father entirely.
this short explanation would have to do.
"well...you can go see your aunt up north if you'd like."
he figured it was better than telling them he was practically planing to run away.
"okay,"
he agreed,
hoping they couldn't see through his lie.
"do i get no say in this at all?"
topper turned his head to face his father then shrugged.
"does it matter to you that much?"
"it absolutely does."
topper didn't reply.
there was no point in arguing,
considering he already had his mind made up.
topper would be leaving that night.
dinner continued the same after that.
he was beside himself with nerves at leaving.
he'd never really been on his own before.
this would be the ultimate test;
would he survive?
was he determined enough to make it without the influence of his fathers money?
this journey,
should he succeed,
would set him apart from the rest of his family.
topper packed a bag and carried as lightly as possible.
he didn't want to fill his car up with unnecessary items that might slow him.
when he climbed into his car,
leaving behind home to return when he was a man with footing in life.
he wished he could have kissed his mother's cheek goodbye.
topper didn't even want to imagine how much louder it would be in the house without him there to prevent his fathers berating.
if he thought about it for too long,
he knew he'd turn around and never leave.