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“What are you doing here?” Eli questioned in surprise as she walked further into the room, eyes falling on none other than Oliver King, who was seated at the table with her grandparents.

“Hey, Ellie,” he cheerfully responded, pulling out the seat next to him for her to sit. 

“Why are you here?” the girl questioned again as she sat down, eyeing her grandmother who sat before her. “Actually, why am I here?”

“We’ll get to that eventually,” Cecelia waved off, gesturing at the butler to bring in their dinner.

The entire time they ate, Eli sat in silence, simply listening to Cecelia and Ollie chatting away about his years abroad in China with his parents for their business trip. Her grandfather was the same, simply listening away as he enjoyed his meal. 

“Okay,” Cecelia started after they finished their meal and had their plates taken away. “Back to business.” The older woman looked at Eli who awkwardly shifted under her gaze. “Midsummers. Eliana, it’s time for you to make your Midsummers debut.”

Eli straightened up in her seat, ready to fight back, but her grandmother knew her too well. 

“I won’t take no for an answer, Eliana,” Cecelia firmly spoke, causing Eli to sigh as she slouched back in her seat. Her grandfather simply stood up, gently patted Eli on the shoulder, and walked off. He was truly a man of few words.

“You know I hate things like that,” Eli complained, “All the kids are stuck up and treat me like I’m vermin.” 

“Eliana, that’s because they think you’re a pogue.”

Eli raised her brow as she stared at her grandmother. “So you’re saying it’s okay for them to treat other pogues like that?”

Cecelia sighed in response. “You know that’s not what I meant. Besides, you won’t be alone,” she continued, gesturing towards Ollie. “That’s why Oliver is here.”

“Oh,” Ollie spoke up, looking between the two of them. “Me?”

“Yes,” Cecelia nodded. “Oliver is someone you get along with, Eliana. I’d like for you to debut together. That way you have someone you know with you as well.”

“I’m sure Ollie has better things to-”

“Fine by me,” Ollie cut off, causing Eli to sigh to herself.

“Read the room, Ollie.”

“Come on, Eli, it’ll be fun,” the boy tried to convince, his body twisting in order to fully face her. “I’m sure Kiara will be going too since her parents have recently become members of the club.”

“Do it for your dear old grandmother,” Cecilia added as she reached across the table, grasping Eli’s hand with both of her own. “I never had any daughters of my own to debut, and you’re my only only grandchild.”

Eli sighed. She knew her grandmother was trying to guilt trip her, but unfortunately, it was working. 

“Fine,” Eli finally caved, causing Cecelia and Ollie to grin. “But only if my mom also attends. And I won’t stay there for the whole event.”

“I’ll take it,” her grandmother said with a smile, gently squeezing Eli’s hands in appreciation. “I’ll set aside some dresses for you and you can choose which one you want. Any preferences on colour?”

“Blue,” Eli responded immediately. “Apparently I look good in blue.” 

“Perfect.” Cecelia said as she stood up, clasping her hands together in excitement. “I’m going to make some preparations. You kids are free to do whatever now, but sweetie, I’d like for you to stay here for the night. You don’t come over very often nowadays.”

“Okay, grandma,” Eli said with a smile watching as the older woman made her way out of the room. 

“Actually, I’d like for you to go somewhere with me,” Ollie spoke as Eli turned to face him with raised brows. 

“Where?”

The boy paused for a moment. “If I tell you, you might not come with me.”

☀︎︎☀︎︎☀︎︎

a few hours later

“Well, you were right,” Eli spoke as she looked up at the scene in front of her. “I definitely wouldn’t have come with you if I knew.”

“Oh, come on, Ellie,” the boy tried to convince, steering the girl by the shoulders towards the Thornton estate, the sounds of cheering and loud music filling the air. “It’ll be fun.”

The blue-haired girl had no idea how she ended up at a kook party, especially a kook party hosted by Topper Thornton of all people.

“No. No, no no,” Eli exclaimed as she tried to turn around, only to be stopped by the boy. 

“Come on, come on, just half an hour. Plus, you can make use of their free alcohol. Steal some of their expensive whiskey or something.”

“Jesus, what impression do you have of me?” Eli questioned as she finally stopped resisting. “I mean, I’m gonna do it, but what the hell man?”

Ollie let out a laugh as he slung an arm around the girl and led her around the side of the house towards the pool area, which was surrounded by an incredible number of drunk teens who danced to the songs blasting from the loudspeakers. 

“Hey, guys,” he greeted as he walked past them, and all Eli could do was awkwardly smile at the unfamiliar people. 

“Wait one sec,” the boy suddenly spoke as he removed his arm from Eli, causing the girl to widen her eyes. “I’ll be right back.”

“Wait, Ollie,” she hissed as he walked off towards some random blonde girl who was grinning at him from the doors leading into the house. 

“He’s dead,” Eli muttered to herself as she grabbed a solo cup filled with beer on the side table. “He is so dead.”

“Eliana Valentine,” a voice called out as she chugged the beer. She turned around as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, internally groaning as her eyes fell on none other than Rafe Cameron. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Oh, it’s you,” Eli said with a deadpan expression, immediately stepping away with the intention of walking away. Unfortunately for the girl, Rafe simply followed her with a smile that she wanted to punch off his face. 

“Now, now, that’s not very nice, Eliana,” the boy tutted, to which the girl rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you take a dip in the pool, you know, cool off a little.”

Eli yelped as Rafe suddenly grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder, panicking as he began to walk closer to the pool.

“Put me down Rafe!” the girl yelled as she pounded her fists against his back, which only made him laugh harder. The crowd around the pool grew larger as Eli continued to yell from her upside down position. “Rafe, I swear-” 

Elia screamed as Rafe threw her into the pool with a splash, the cool water pulling her under and her panicked state causing her to sink further down. Unfortunately for the boy, Eli was good at holding her breath, and she was going to scare him even if it was only for a moment.

The girl allowed herself to float up to the surface with her body facing down, and pretended to have passed out as she floated in a starfish position. 

People started to whisper in hushed voices as they looked at the girl in the pool, eyes widened in fear as they looked over at Rafe, who nervously stared into the pool. 

“Get up, Eliana, this isn’t funny,” Rafe called out, trying to control his shaky voice. He nervously fidgeted with his hands as he looked around the pool, noticing all the eyes on him. 

“Ellie!”

The crowd parted to reveal Ollie, who wasted no time as he pulled off his shirt and dived into the pool, immediately swimming over to grab the girl. 

Eli finally decided enough was enough as Ollie wrapped an arm around her waist, bursting out with laughter as she finally raised her head out of the water to look at Rafe’s face. 

There was a collective sigh of relief from all the teens around the pool, with Rafe shaking in anger as he stared at the girl who was still hysterically laughing. 

“Oh my god, don’t scare me like that,” Ollie exclaimed as they climbed out the pool, but Eli was more concerned about Rafe, who stormed off into the house in anger. 

“Well, maybe that wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t leave me alone, you bastard.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the blonde boy apologised. “I won’t do it again.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Eli grumbled as she walked towards the house. “I’m gonna try and dry myself off.”

~ °•☀︎︎•° ~

eli is acc hilarious

also not ollie leaving like 0.005 seconds later like hello?

Nova x