kaboom

“I mean, prom makes us all do crazy things, right? But Jesse’s a good kid, I think. Usually. He has not dumped soda down another kid’s hoodie, which is more than I can say for some of my freshmen. The amazing amount of tulle is what told me that I am officially old and non-hip. A big tragedy.” Still, Alison couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Oh yeah, very bold move. I looked like a canary. It was real hot. Yours, though, sounds beyond fun.” There was something about the other woman that helped her loosen up a little. The teacher side of her was still present, ready to snap to attention if a parent raised a question, but it was starting to relax. “Theoretically, we could get ourselves some, but that just doesn’t seem to be the right move. Aquarius like the zodiac symbol?”

“That’s true. I mean, usually it’d come in the shape of sabotage for the crown but I can see there being other kinds of drama. Down the hoodie? Oh my days, someone needs to ground that kid! Or whatever it is that works these days. ... Crap, I’m cringing I just said ‘these days’. Only free cheese can help us through this.” Harper laughed too, grinning at Alison as she described her sexy canary look. “Nah, I doubt you looked anything less than smokin’. Yeah, let’s leave the margs and the men for right now. Take a lap of the room and gossip about the available hotties in the room. And you, we should talk about you too because I’m loving it all so far.” Harped nodded enthusiastically at her question (what an Aquarius move)- “Yes, like the zodiac symbol. So, are you an Aquarius?”

“You’re probably the seventeenth person to tell me to stop worrying and just take the cheese. I’m going to take it as a sign to do just that. I do wish I had actually brought a bag with me. For cheese carrying purposes, of course.” She shifted the pile of food to her other arm, holding out a hand. “Willow Evermore. Harper is such a lovely name, and that’s the sweetest complement. Everyone in this town is too nice.”

"If it’s meant to be, the signs’ll smack ya right in the face! I know, they should offer up complimentary doggie bags at anything with food. To be fair though, it wouldn’t be the first or last time I used my handbag to shove free food into. Do not recommend doin’ it with shrimp puffs,” she added, cautionary tale heavily implied. That handbag didn’t make it to the next round. Harper beamed, shaking Willow’s hand happily and heartily. “Why thank you, my mama would be happy to hear it. Yeah, it might even be one of the guidelines for livin’ here. I think I got to skip any paperwork because of the family connection. I’ve maybe been more exciting places-,” she paused, turning that thought over in her head (well, maybe not)- “But it’s not bad. What d’you think about Havensdale?”

“Well, now that you mention it, yes, yes I do. Especially Jamie. I can’t believe I didn’t notice it before. I only caught a glimpse of Jesse because of…circumstances, but they both seemed to look very nice. All the kids did.” It was hard not to spill everything that had happened earlier in the evening, especially to someone who seemed so friendly, but Alison had made a promise to herself about talking school at non-school events. “My prom? Oh my gosh, that was so long ago. I went with a guy in the marching band, and I wore a very unfortunate dress. It was yellow and sequiny. Not my best choice. You?” She couldn’t help but laugh as she reminisced for a moment about her younger days, back before college and all of that. “Last I checked, he has not looked at us, which I’m starting to think is a good thing. Now, if only we could signal to him without having to interact with him the importance of a good margarita.”

“Circumstances sounds just about right for that one, I swear. I think sometimes Jamie’s the only one with sense in this family. Oh, right? Only the most fabulous of attire for this gen. I wonder if they’ll be lookin’ back 10 years from now though and cringing at all the tulle,” Harper laughed. Although, personally, she thought you could never have enough tulle. A delighted look on her face followed Alison’s fabulous description of the dress. She could imagine it in all its glory. “Yellow sequence! Bold move, ma’am. I like it. Oh, mines was all OTT all the time. Big, pink, used half the tulle in North Carolina and went really nice with my plastic prom queen tiara. It was all about the dress, nevermind anything else.” Harper sneaked another glance at Mustache Man, holding back a giggle (poorly). “Uh huh. Well, maybe it’s not meant to be. We’ll have to find ourselves another Margarita Man. Or Margarita Ma’am... Hey, can I ask you something?” Harper let a little dramatique pause pass between them before flashing a grin. “Are you an Aquarius?”

“Oh. You’re Jamie and Jesse’s aunt?” Well, that changed things. A little. Alison still had told herself that tonight was going to be a no-school night, but when she found out she was talking to the relative of one of her favorite students (not that she had favorites, but Jamie was special)… “Yeah, Jesse would definitely not be a fan of this conversation, I think, and I hate to upset my students. So, turning the topic back to bad mustaches maybe would be the way to go.” At the question about the prom, she did her best to keep her expression neutral. “For the most part, it was a really lovely event. As far as I know, no punch was spiked, which was my goal. And I do believe your nephew is still in one piece which is good because he does owe me an essay. A margarita would make everything better, wouldn’t it? At least it doesn’t have twirled ends. That’s promising at least.”

“Guilty as charged, ma’am! Can you see the family resemblance? ‘Course it’s Stella who has all the claim on the credit for our gorgeous gal Jaime but I’m not above fishin’ for compliments too. I saw them before they headed off but y’know. Prom, drama... It probably wouldn’t all fit into a text,” Harper grinned, quickly realising she wasn’t gonna get any juicy deets out of Miss Alison Halliday. Which was fair enough but the suspense might kill her. “Oh hey, what about your prom, though? How was that? I heard some of Stella’s friends earlier getting all nostalgic about theirs.” Harper let out a laugh at that though. She was glad Jesse was still in one piece- she wouldn’t have blamed any of those dates of his for going for blood. In a teenaged way, of course. “Alright, good news then. Oh, a margarita would do wonders for that mustache, my gosh. Someone oughta tell him. Do you think he’s looking this way? Should one of us call dibs?”

Once, again not a boss or anything like that. Oh, it really can be quite difficult. I adore Dior heels, but they just don’t suit me in the least. It’s quite tragic. Facebook? No. I don’t. I don’t really do the social medias, unless it’s Instagram. People are so nice on it, especially with the hearts for the likes. Not a problem at all. It was hardly life saving. Mostly just face saving. Very different things. But thank you so much.

Right, gotcha. I’m findin’ it hard to believe there’s something that doesn’t suit you but I’ll take your word for it. As long as you’re still managing to find cute heels, it’s all good- not counting the tragedy. That’s fair enough, it can be a real horror show of cousins and grade school pals you don’t wanna hear from. I have Insta though and I’m very fond of hitting the heart button. Face saving, life saving... It’s all the same, sugar. Aw man, I think that’s actually what my junior pageant coach used to say to me. You’re welcome.

Alison did not like that smile that the other woman was giving her. It was very much like the smiles that students gave her as they were promising her that they definitely would not forget to turn in a homework assignment, absolutely not, before they did, of course, forget said homework assignment. “I think, sadly, I’d have to thank myself for the ability to come up with comparisons on the fly. I had to review similes versus metaphors with my…No. I said I would not talk school tonight, and I’m not going to. I promised. Um, but yes, Mr. MacDonald is very nice but also has horrendous taste in many things.” She glanced around the room before gesturing at a man in a green jacket. “Him. I mean, the mustache is sad, but he came in alone, so…That has to be good, right?”

“What were the chances of that, huh? Alright, alright... You make a good point. I bet my niece and nephew- Jamie and Jesse McArthur- would be docking me major ‘cool points’ if they knew I was trying to talk shop with their teacher. Better talkin’ about tragic mustaches, I think.” Harper paused then, clearly unable to keep from asking anyway (she had always been a sucker for gossip)- “Saying that, prom was alright, wasn’t it? No one- and this is a totally hypothetical question- tried to murder Jesse ‘cause they found out he was four timing ‘em or whatever?” With the Mr MacDonald thing put to bed (for now), Harper did turn her attention to Green Jacket. He wasn’t the worst she’d ever seen but he wasn’t exactly trying. “Maybe if I was allowed a margarita in my hand... I don’t know. Does the mustache make the man, do you think?”

You would look even better in it. It’d suit your height more than it does mine. I’m too tall for it, I think, regardless of the color. Oh no, I’m no fashion CEO. I just have a good eye. Or, at least, that’s what I’ve been told by people. I just like things that look nice. That’s all. It’s very nice of you to say though.

Well alright then, you’re the boss. Life as a tall drink of water ain’t all sunshine and rainbows I guess, huh? [ Winks ] Hey, do you have Facebook or something? Or do you wanna swap numbers? I’d love to get your hot tips again before you find sense and get outta this one pony town. Yeah, me too. Of course. Besides, you’ve been a total lifesaver for me tonight. No offense to the place but I think you’re the most interesting and glamourous person I’ve met here. Besides my darlin’ sister, of course--- in case she’s listening in.

I prefer prudent, if we’re going to be using various adjectives. Oh, you like it? Thank you. I’m sure I could get you a second one. Maybe in red? Red would suit you quite well. Sylvie. The pleasure is all mine. And I would do that for anyone in such a danger.

Prudent it is then and there’s nothin’ wrong with that. Do I like it? You look a million bucks, darling. Totally gorgeous. Are you serious? That’d be amazing. I’ll take your word for it, you obviously know what you’re doing. Don’t tell me- you’re some fashion CEO on a small town vacation to escape the office for a while? Very nice to meet you, Sylvie. You’re a real gem.

“Ooh, who are we talking about? Is it the cute dad who was wearing the…Oh no. No no no. I mean, no. Not that. Yeah, Mr MacDonald is a very nice human being, but I prefer to think of him like one of those single celled organisms who just reproduce asexually, thanks.”

Harper’s smile grew wider and wider the more examples she gave about how not into Mr MacDonald she was. She paused a little longer for the drama- “Uh huh. You must have had a really good English teacher in school to have so many creative comparisons in your back pocket. Alright though, darling, I hear you. You and MacHottie are a big no-go. No history, no chemistry. Totally platonic in every which way.” She was sure. “Tell me about the cute dad though. I’ve been in town months and months now and I feel like I haven’t seen half of these folks. There’s gotta be some non-marrieds here tonight, right?” And, of course, she snuck a glance at her left hand just for good measure. Plus, she was gorgeous so. C’est la vie.

And that is why I stay away from things that are…deep fried. Or covered in dripping sauces. You didn’t quite get it all. Allow me. [reaches over and dabs at her chin] Much better. Now you can go and chat to any one of the cute dads or moms without having to fear.

You’re a cautious gal, huh? Then again, if I was wearing something that gorgeous, I wouldn’t go within fifty feet of any kind of sauce. Oh- Well, why thank you. I feel like now you’ve dabbed my chin, we should at least be on a first name basis here. I’m Harper. What should I call you, my new wing-woman?

@havensdalestarters​

A Harper Belhaven Moodboard: 2/?

“I was truly in my element on the weeks coming up to prom. There’s nothing quite like it. But sabotage? Oh, I won my title fair and square. My campaign team made sure to wipe out the backstabbers and saboteurs before they even got a foot in the door.”

“That I can beyond believe. Oh, if only they had an A-team like that behind the scenes at those Little Miss pageants. Then again, I don’t think anyone was goin’ up against Darlene Buchanne’s mama and coming out on top.” Harper was an adult and her pageanting days were long behind her but she might have still felt a teeny bit petty still towards fellow competitors like Locklyn Hart. “So, darlin’, how’d you land up here?”