𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍𝐄, 𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄
𝟏𝟓:𝟏𝟓 - 𝟏𝟖:𝟐𝟔
𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨: 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 » 𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘥

∞

"This is disgusting." Kie and I both grumble as we stare into the mirror at ourselves in our midsummers dresses.

Unfortunately, I had to abandon JJ and my brother because Kiara insisted that I got ready with her. I'd promised the boys that I wouldn't mention their situation as seen as they had some sort of plan.

"I know. It's just horrible," Anna replies sarcastically, "I'm asking you both to relax and go to a fun party."

Kie roll her eyes, turning to her mum, "I look like a bourgeoisie pig."

"And I look like— I don't even know what I look like that's how nasty it is." I grumble, "Why is it so short? Everyone is gonna see my ass," I stare down at the silk, dark green dress wrapped tightly around my body. The only nice thing of the whole outfit being the delicate gold necklace wrapped around my neck.

"Ava, you look beautiful," Anna moves her gaze to her daughter while putting another earring in, "Will you please not worry about socioeconomic injustice for one night, Kiara?"

"Mum, people not three miles from here have no power, no running water, and we're going to midsummers." Kie walks over to her, "That's so tone-deaf."

"Do you know how hard we had to work to get into the Island Club?" Anna snaps, her angrily visibly growing.

"Yeah, mum," Kie looks at me for a second around to pulling a face, mocking Anna before whirling around again, "How could I forget? You had to grovel for, like, ten years—"

"Twelve," Anna corrects her, "and we also had to cough up a huge chunk of dough, and do you know why we did that?"

"To keep up with the Joneses?" Kie retorts while I sit down on the end of the bed, watching the mother and daughter fight in front of me.

"So you could have the experiences that I had as a child." She leans on the bed frame, making me feel very out of place, "Do you know what the island club is?"

"A factory farm for debutantes." Kiara grimaces.

"It is a nice place, with nice people, where you can do fun stuff!" Anna emphasises each word, attempting to make it all seem more appealing.

"With out of touch rich people," I speak up, my lips pursed.

Kie nods at me before finishing my sentence, "While the island sinks slowly into the ocean."

Anna sighs, "Okay, I want you to put on your party face, Kie, if you wanna live."

She marches out of the room and Kie lots out a loud gasp of annoyance, flopping down onto the bed beside me.

"That's all she cares about. Being a kook. For me, she says." She shakes her head, "Me? When I'm a Pogue. I don't want to be a Kook but she acts like it's my dream."

I stand up before moving in front of her, holding out my hands. She puts hers in mine gently and I pull her up into a hug.

"Let's go rule this boring ass party." She chuckles, pulling away from the hug and taking my hand to lead me out of the room.

"I'm just praying I don't run into Rafe." I grumble, "He's making me want to smash my own head into a wall just to erase every memory I have with him."

"If you do, JJ will come to rescue you." She laughs, leaning back slightly and resting the back of her hand on her forehead.

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that, Kiara Carrera." I hiss.

~~~

We finally reach the Cameron's mansion and we both immediately push past everyone, making our way to the back garden. Most of the guests are out here, sipping on wine and other beverages. I glance around at them, wishing I had brought my cigarettes just to piss them off. I have no doubt that ever single person here has at least one thing against my brother and I.

"Excuse me, Sir. Do we have to shuck these ourselves?" Kie says in a British accent as we reach Pope beside the barbecue, "Cause it might mess up our costumes."

Pope looks at us, a smile forming on his face once he realised who we are, "We wouldn't want that now, would we?" He copies the accent, very badly.

We all turn around to watch the other guests, me standing between them, pulling my dress down.

"Pope, that accent was horrific," I point out after a few seconds, "I wasn't gonna say anything, but sheesh."

"Yeah, it really wasclnKie agrees, "I was gonna let it go."

"I know, I know." Pope rolls his eyes, leaning on the table in front of him, crossing his arms.

"You ever seen this many Kooks in one place?" Kiara questions, brushing the loose bits of her hair away from her eyes.

"Yeah," Pope nods, "Last year."

"We're in the lion's den," I state, "And I'm not excited."

Pope turns to me, nudging me slightly, "Hey, have you heard from JJ?"

I shake my head, keeping my lips sealed.

"I haven't either," Kie answers, pursing her lips, "He'll be alright. He's got the survival instincts of a cockroach."

"It's all my fault," Pope grumbles, smacking his forehead in a huff.

"You didn't do this, Pope." Kiara says gently, looking at him.

"Topper almost fucking killed you. Remember?" I raise my eyebrows, "If it's anyones fault, it's theirs."

Kie nudges me as she starts to clap lazily, "Here they come."

I look up to the door once everyone else starts to applaud loudly. Rose and Ward walk through first, arms linked. Then their children: Wheezie, with her usual lovely smile. Sarah, wearing the same dress as last year and Rafe, his face looking glum and angry like usual.

"Lord Capital and the Exploiters," I mutter, giving the family a fake smile.

They all come down the steps, greeting everyone and trying their best not to show how dysfunctional their family actually is.

"She's gonna poke somebody's eye out with that," Pope points out Rose's spiky, golden crown.

"She looks like lady liberty," I scoff.

"Ava, here." Pope throws a pack of cigarettes at me and I swiftly catch them, "You seem like you need them."

Kie reaches across me and smacks his chest, "Why would you give them to her?"

He panics for a second before shrugging, "She smokes... so I gave her some cigarettes."

I smile, hugging him from the side, "Thank you so fucking much, Pope. Saved my life.

"You seriously need to stop smoking, A." Kiara snaps, snatching the box from my hands and shoving it into the bin beside us, but I managed to get one out in time.

I roll my eyes before using Pope's lighter that he used to start the fire for the barbecue, "It helps me." I mumble, blowing out a cloud of grey smoke.

She wafts it away from her face, "It's gross."

"Said the girl who stress smokes weed. Plus, it's hard to stop once you've started," I shrug, "Now, changing the subject, what the fuck are we gonna do?"

"Drink, drink, and drink more."

"That's a great idea, Kie," I smile, nodding happily.

"I was being sarcastic," She mutters, shaking her head, "I'd prefer not to get wasted at a party full of hungry, perverted Kooks."

"Cough, cough; Rafe." I hiss, covering my mouth with my hands before taking another puff.

"I heard my name."

"Of course you did," I slowly turn around, coming face to face with the one and only, Rafe Cameron.

"Hello, Ava." He smirks, he looks at the cig between my middle and index finger, "You aren't allowed those here."

"I didn't know there was a rule book for Midsummers," I snap, "But, I'll be sure to make a note of them for next year. Now, is that all you wanted?"

He runs his tongue over his teeth, "Can I speak to you?"

I take in a large puff before blowing it out in his face, the smoke covering his face completely, "No. No, you cannot."

Pope and Kie snigger from behind me but Rafe grabs my wrist, roughly taking the cigarette out and throwing it onto the floor, crushing it with his foot, "You aren't allowed those."

"That was my only one," I whisper sadly, watching the last bit of it burn out into the grass, before ripping my arm from his grasp, "And you aren't allowed to touch me without my consent."

"Just come inside and let me talk to you for second, Ava." He grumbles.

I shake my head, "No means no, Rafe. I know you struggle to understand that," I wave him away, "but fuck off."

"Ava, it's one fucking chat." He holds up a singular finger aggressively.

I roll my eyes, smacking his finger roughly away from my face, "So was the last one and look where that one ended."

"Ava—"

"Will you leave me alone for the rest of night?"

"Yes."

"Fine." I push past him, barging my shoulder into his side, "Let's go. You have a minute to say what you want to say once we're inside."

"Ava, don't—" Kie starts.

I turn to her, "I'll be right back. I promise."

Rafe leads me through his massive house, occasionally checking over his shoulder to make sure I'm still there. Eventually, we reach one of his many living rooms and he stops, making me do the same before slowly turning around to face me.

"Ava, I'm sor—"

I widen my eyes, laughing and cutting him off, "That's what you brought me hear to say? 'I'm sorry'? Rafe, are you really that pathetic that you can't say those two simple words in front of other people?"

He tilts his head, clenching his jaw angrily, "What the fuck did you just say to me?"

I swallow, but there's no fucking way I'm backing down that easy, "I said are you really that pathetic—"

He jumps forward, his hands tightly grabbing my biceps and squeezing them as he pulls me closer to him.

My breath starts to get shaky, completely unsure of what he's about to do, "Rafe, get off."

"I'm not fucking pathetic, Ava." He shouts, quickly lowering the volume, "Don't ever speak to me like that again."

"Stop acting like you fucking own me. Plus, what makes you think I want to speak to you again anyway?" I let out a shaky breath, "Rafe, we broke up a month ago, probably more. We're done for good."

His nostrils flare and his grip on me tightens and I can already feel the bruises forming on my arms, "You look amazing, by the way," He snarls, his gaze staying on my boobs.