SWEET NICOTINE | CHAPTER ONE (THE NOTE AND THE TAPES...)
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Being on the run at sixteen was not a life Amelia Jade Whitlock envisioned herself living. But she was, and nothing was going to change that. She had to pull herself together again and refocus. There was no time to think about the life she was leaving behind. She needed to put her energy into getting to this island.
407 Cape Hatters Lane Kildare County, Outer Banks NC
That's what she needed to focus on, because whatever her mother was doing was connected this this address. That's all she knew and she wasn't about to take a shot in the dark with some other plan.
She got off the ferry and took in the view for a second. The island was larger than she expected and there were far more people than she thought there would be. The ferry was at capacity and she almost didn't make it on.
When Amelia pulled her phone out to get directions she cursed to herself at the lack of public wifi. She sighed and started to walk, trying to find either someone to help her or a cafe to use the wifi.
She couldn't help but take in her appearance against the other people on the islands. She look ridiculously out of place and she could feel the stares of others.
She found a map of the island stapled to a phone poll and she walked over, finding the street name on it. She frowned when she saw how far on the other side of the island it was but took out her phone and snapped a picture.
It would only take longer to get there if she put it off. Her converse were quite worn and the soles were distressed but they were reliable shoes, always there, no matter how many times she ran in them or partied at pitters.
They were adorned with doodles and sketches both her mom and her brother logan drew on them, pen and marker staining the fabric. They were now her most prized possession. Especially seeing as she didn't have the money for a checked bag and she couldn't really fit more than her mother's work and a few clothing items into the carry-on.
She heard a car behind her slow and it triggered every nerve in her body, screaming at her fight or flight response. "John B!" Some lady called out and Amelia couldn't help but turn and look back. Two women sitting outside of a surf shop and yelling at the teenager who sat behind the steering wheel of a beat-up VW van.
"You're out!" The other girl called and he laughed.
"I'm freakin free" Before he can speed up Amelia uses her hand to block the sun from her eyes, meeting the boy's brown ones. His face sparked with confusion and he waved with furrowed brows. It seemed like reluctantly he stopped and Amelia knew in her gut this could be the dumbest decision but she approached the vehicle.
"Hey, could you help me really quick?" Amelia asked, getting a better look at the boy. His hair shaggy and his face bruised.
"uh" The boy paused and she took the note from her hand, passing it to him.
