#midsummer party

Sighing, you placed the tan cowgirl hat on your beautiful shiny hair and watched as the turquoise blue crystal connected to the hat made your eyes pop. There were tassels on the hat too but they laid in the back, unnoticeable to anyone unless they searched for them. You had on a pair of light brown and blue cowgirl boots, the boots hugging your legs to make the fit seem more nostalgic.

Even so, you couldn’t find it in you to be happy or proud with the fit. You were about to take the hat off when you heard shouting in the distance, dragging your attention to the outside world. The party had started about twenty minutes ago and anxiety has kept you inside the room. When another shout and a bang was heard, you finally made your way to the door, hesitantly and quietly creaking it open.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so you took a step into the hallway but immediately went flying. A sharp pain jolted through your side before a dull ache settled in your tailbone. Muttering a curse, you began to rub your side, just realizing everything was now dark. It was your hat that had fallen over your eyes and you were terrified to take it off in case anybody was looking.

When the feeling of your hat being removed shocked you out of your embarrassment, your breath caught in your throat. In front of you stood the one and only mystery boy with the sandy soft hair. Before you had time to truly study him, a hand wrapped around yours and you were hauled off your feet and into a closet, chest to chest with the mystery boy.

“J, what is go-” You started before his hand covered your mouth, probably smearing the lipstick you had spent twenty minutes on. Shaking hands was a serious issue in the makeup field. You soon heard Rafe and what sounded like Kelce shouting to one another. After several minutes of them searching the room, thankfully not opening the small door that led to them, JJ’s hand eased away from your mouth.

“Hey, pretty girl.” This man was everything you’ve ever wanted wrapped in a black and white tux. A few bruises sported his cheek that you were soon gently tracing before you found his gorgeous ocean blue eyes that shined with many emotions.

“Hello, mystery boy.” You hummed, a soft smile gracing your lips.

“We still on for a slow dance?” He asked, one eyebrow raising with a cocky grin.

“Hmm… considering I didn’t know we were on for the first one… I’ll have to generously accept your invitation.” The soft giggle that escaped your chest felt so foreign that it even shocked your own ears. Never in your wildest dreams would you imagine being held between a wall and a handsome devil's chest, one you’ve only met a handful of times, giggling like a love sick school girl.

Yet here you stood, doing the exact thing you thought impossible with a boy you still don’t know much about. Only his name and that he was a part of the main pogue group. The one your best friend had love hate relations with.

“So… I have a message to deliver to the Kook queen, would you like to accompany me on my undercover adventure?” He asked, swirling a strand of hair that fell over my shoulder around his finger.

“Why, I wouldn’t want to get shot in a duel… but I suppose an adventure would be pretty fun.” You mock in a very breathy voice. This boy had no idea what he did to you and you loved it.

“Then on we go, my dearest.” He whispered, brushing a soft swift kiss to your cheek before you both snuck your way onto the dance floor. You blended with the crowd very well whereas JJ did not. So when he slipped away from you and moved towards Sierra, you couldn’t help but feel a small part of you feel disappointed from his lack of warmth.

It didn’t take long though before he stood in front of you, dancing from side to side with a goofy face. For the first time in a long while, your true laugh joined many others at the party. Maybe it was worth everything after all.

“You’re coming with us. Meet me over there in ten minutes.” He hummed, pointing to a spot in the distance where the lights didn’t quite touch. Not even a second later, you spotted the three princes of Kook town: Kelce, Topper, and Rafe.

“I’ll see you soon, my dearest.” He called out, having backed away slowly before disappearing in the crowd. In your hand lay a small flower that you guess he had picked and in your heart laid a swarming warmth that threatened to engulf your whole being. You were most definitely meeting him in y’alls secret spot in ten minutes. Those ten minutes couldn’t pass soon enough.

The issue wasn’t the party itself… rather getting dressed for the party and the people who would be there. You didn’t hate the Kooks like other pogues did and you didn’t hate the pogues like many Kooks did. You just couldn’t stand the snotty and wicked words and actions between the two groups.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Sierra smiled before her eyes grew big with her bottom lip puckering out. Her hands were together in front of her and you swear that if she had animal ears, they would be flat against her head.

“Sierra, love, I have nothing to wear.” You grumbled, turning to walk over to Heywards truck that just arrived.

“Plus, no one really likes me. I don’t fit in and many say I’m too boyish and quiet.” You mutter more to yourself with a small frown. The words that were often whispered by others were very hurtful. You would rather get punched in the face then hear another word said about your voice, body, or personality. All the same though, Sierra heard it and followed you to the truck that now had Heyward behind it and Pope in the bed of the truck, passing Heyward stuff.

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Sierra all but chanted, disdain etched all over her face when an eye roll was all she received back.

“What about that mystery boy? Will he be there?” She asked, making you pause, a warmth slowly creeping from your neck up into your cheeks. How did she know? Did she know who it was? You turn with curious and slightly accusatory eyes before you see a little eavesdropper listening in on the conversation between the two of you. Pope was still passing things to his father but you could tell by his body language and by the way his eyes glanced over every few seconds that he was, in fact, listening. Choosing that it didn’t really matter, Pope not having known who they were talking about in the first place, you turned and scowled.

“I told you already. He doesn’t like these types of things. Plus I don’t have enough motivation, let alone inspiration to go all out for this party and that’s IF I’m even going to it.” Your voice held a tone of final, rolling your shoulders before turning. Pope still stared at you with wonder and you offered a soft smile before tilting your head ever so slightly.

“Need a hand?” The question was simple and sweet, the tone you took with anyone you didn’t know too well. The same one that trapped your bumblebee in the sickly sweet honey of yours.

“You know… inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” His words were sweet and you knew he had good intentions but there was also something lying just beneath his words. Almost like a double meaning. You stared for a few moments, letting your mind toss his words around before finally settling on having read too much into it.

“Alright, wise man. Let me help you and then I’ll go get ready.” The answer was sweet and teasing. Pope was a good boy. Not just yet a man but very close, as most of the other boys on the island were. Not to mention, he was brutally honest which you greatly appreciated. Not that you two talked much or even hung out.

“Yes ma’am.” And with that, you two worked on unloading until you finally left.

Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman. - Coco Chanel

Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work. - Chuck Close