"this is disgusting," kiara whined as she stared at herself in the mirror.

"i know it's just horrible," mrs. carrera mockingly smiled, rolling her eyes at her daughter. "i'm asking you to relax and go to a fun party."

just then kiara's bedroom door opened and riley stepped in. she was wearing a white silky gown that nearly matched her sister's, except for that kiara's dress was purple. their mother thought it would be charming if the twin's wore similar gowns. the girl's disagreed but they didn't have a say in the matter.

"oh honey you look beautiful," their mother said warmly as riley awkwardly stepped into the room. the girl mumbled a small thank you before her twin huffed and turned around to face the two.

"i look like a bourgeoisie pig," kie grumbled.

"will you please not worry about socioeconomic injustice for one night?"

"mom, people three miles from here have no power, no running water, and we're going to midsummers. that's so tone deaf." kiara made sure to narrow her eyes at riley as she spoke.

"we worked hard to get here," mrs. carrera spoke, brushing off her daughter's prattle.

"how could i forget," the girl muttered under her breath.

"i will not tolerate attitude tonight," mrs. carrera scolded, "from either of you." she pointed between the two girls before walking towards the door. "be downstairs in 20 minutes."

"how is it that you're the only one speaking and i still get in trouble," riley mumbled once their mother had left the room. kiara just scoffed before stomping over to her dresser to grab the earrings she was forced to wear.

"did you need something?" she huffed.

"i just uh... needed help putting this stupid flower thing in my hair."

kiara turned around to her sister, rolling her eyes. but nonetheless motioned for the girl to sit down on the bed and hand her the crown.

"have you heard from your friend?" riley asked quietly.

"you mean jj?" kie scoffed. "why would you care? your friends are the ones who sent him to jail."

"why are you acting like it's my fault?" riley snapped. "it's probably not even topper's fault. i'm sure his mom called for the arrest warrant."

"of course you're sticking up for him."

"i'm not-" riley paused, taking a breath to calm herself down. "i am not sticking up for him. i just think this whole kooks vs pogues thing is getting out of hand."

kiara finished putting the flowers into her riley's hair as she clenched her jaw, not in the mood to argue with her sister any longer.

"we should go," kiara gritted.

kiara immediately walked off to find pope as soon as the carrera family arrived, which left riley by herself. she anxiously scanned the room full of extravagant dresses and high-priced liquor, hoping she would spot a friend.

"hey," riley felt an arm wrap around her's and glanced to her side to see topper smiling. "have you seen sarah?"

"no i was just looking for her," riley replied. "wait did you two not walk in together?"

"no," topper scoffed. "and she wasn't home all yesterday either."

riley remembered how sarah had been with john b the other day and wondered if sarah had been with the pogue for all this time.

topper and riley began to hear clapping from the crowd and looked to their left to see the cameron family walking in.

"i'll be back," topper said.

"good luck." riley unlinked her arm with the boy before he walked off to go and talk to sarah.

"can i get you a drink, princess?" another voice came behind the girl, startling her.

"please," riley breathed out, deeply in need of some alcohol at the moment.

"rough day already?" rafe asked, chuckling. "the party hasn't even begun."

"what is this now? like your 30th midsummers?" riley joked at the boy's age, something she always loved to do.

"oh shut it," the dirty blonde grumbled, before grabbing a champagne glass off of the waiter's tray who had just walked by. "m' lady," rafe said, handing riley the glass.

"cheers," she muttered with no enthusiasm, and downed the glass quickly. "well i'm off to find sarah. don't get yourself into too much trouble."

"no promises."

the brunette rolled her eyes at the boy before joining sarah who clearly looked upset after her conversation with topper. riley decided to just bring the girl to the dance floor in hopes of cheering her up instead of pestering her with questions.

by the time the sun had gone down, the two's girls had each easily drank three glasses of champagne and were giggling around the dance floor.

"i'm gonna go pee, i'll be right back," riley said before exiting the crowd of people and walking off to the restroom.

slightly tipsy and not paying attention to her surroundings, riley accidentally bumped into someone in the grassy area before making it to the steps.

"oh gosh i'm sorry i-," the girl looked up to meet blue eyes and a blonde head of hair, "jj? what are you doing here?"

"i- shit," jj looked anxiously at the girl, "can't explain." he tried to leave but riley grabbed onto his arm, stopping him before he could walk away. "riley, i really can't do this right now."

"i was just going to say your bow tie is crooked," riley smiled, bringing her hands up to fix it. she wanted to know how jj had gotten into the event and why he was dressed as a waiter; but, she could obviously see he had no interest in talking to her. understandably, she figured, because of their fight from just yesterday.

"thanks," jj mumbled. he was glad that it was dark where they stood so the girl couldn't see the new bruises and cuts that adorned his face.

the blonde looked the girl up and down, admiring how she looked in her dress. riley coughed and his eyes met hers again, causing a slight blush to run through his face. "well i uh.. i gotta go."

riley watched the boy walk off before going to find a bathroom. after waiting in a painfully long line for much too long, the girl finally exited only to hear yelling in the men's room just across the hall.

suddenly, jj bursted out of the room, a security guard dragging him by his arm. the two males moved quicker than riley could in her heels, so by the time she arrived onto the patio a whole scene had erupted causing the entire crowd to focus in on the blonde.

"rose, you look like lady liberty!" jj shouted. "hey! buddy, can i have one of those?"

"let go of him!"

riley whipped her head around to see kiara standing on the patio, an exasperated look spread across her features as she watched the boy causing the scene.

"you can't just kick him out! i'm a member of this club! i invited him!" kiara shouted. riley watched her parent's rush over to the girl's sides trying to hush their daughter. riley chewed on her lip as she moved her eyes between her family and jj who was still wrestling the security guard.

with the man finally distracted, jj managed to place both hands on his chest and push, sending him hard into the sea of people.

"hey mandatory power hour at rixons kie. pope you as well!" jj yelled. "let's roll!" riley looked between the boy and her sister, waiting for kiara to make her next move. "kie, come on. workers of the world unite! throw off your chains!"

kiara glanced over at her riley, the corners of her lips curving up slightly. riley knew what her sister was about to do and she wasn't ready to see the look on their parents faces when she did it.

"no," mrs carrera grumbled.

"hey! hey! kiara!" her father called as she began to run away. both parents looked at their other daughter for help, but riley had no interest in stopping the girl. riley's gaze didn't leave the four pouge's as they met at the end of the clearing.

before running away jj had glanced back at the brunette, sending her a small smile. she wasn't sure what it had meant, but she couldn't seem to get the grin that was on her own face to go away either.

authors note:

long chapter and so so so many thing about to happen! i freaking love midsummers.

this is the dress i imagine riley wearing!