A Poignant Fallacy

Chapter 62- Pretty

Croquet is not an easy sport. This is why Daddy doesn't let me play. I take forever and I'm awful, or so my brothers like to tell me.

I watched them all play with their partners while I sat on the side. I wished I had a phone so I could at least look cool sitting on the sidelines.

I see the new neighbor couple not far behind my parents, which is weird because they're new to this game. My dad must have let them cheat a little. I wonder why?

In third place was Beau and Gavin and fourth was JD and his best friend. Jackson and Scarlett were in dead last. In past years that would have made him lose his ever loving mind, but it seems like Scarlett has cooled his will to care about such things. He looks happy being in last. He's always laughing with her and she's always laughing with him. I wondered when he was going to propose. My brother being married sounded crazy to me.

I suddenly got bit by a bug and rolled my eyes in annoyance. After I sprayed more bug spray on me inside I headed back out the doors that were closed for some reason.

I opened the door and in just that instant Beau appeared and spilled beer all over my light blue smock dress.

I looked up at him in horror as he started to burst out laughing. Mommy came up behind him and gasped in disgust.

"Beau Montgomery Warren! Look what you did to her smock! That was custom! $300!" She yells at him while she pushes all of us back inside the house.

My eyebrows raise at the fact that she spent $300 on one outfit for me that I'd probably never wear again.

"I didn't do it on purpose, Mom. The little brat came out of nowhere and I bumped into her." He said calmly but demeaning.

Beau's Specialty.

My mother takes another look at me but this time annoyed and a little bit sad.

"Well, you better go change then. I can't have you looking like that in front of everyone." She says to me disappointed and walks back out the house.

Score. I get to pick out my own outfit.

"You're welcome." Beau says grabbing another beer.

"You did that on purpose?" I said extremely puzzled.

"No, but now you can wear something that isn't as embarrassing." And he laughs to himself as he passes me.

I didn't know it, but I wore a glum look. It must have been sadder than most because nothing ever prompts Beau to say,

"I'm sorry. You know what I mean though." He says with a genuine tone.

I look at him innocently, not sure what to say and he doesn't give me a chance to respond before he walks out of the house.

I instantly bolted up the stairs and into my room. I had stashed away dozens of really gorgeous clothes from shopping trips with friends from my old school. My daddy would just give me $500 and tell me to have a great time.

I sifted through my large walk in closet decked out in pink hydrangea wallpaper and gold chandelier. I landed on my favorite, one I had never worn. I pulled it off of the rack and took in all of it's glory.

A plain white sundress, spaghetti straps, that was super short. I got it from a store that sold bar clothes to college kids and I hoped it would fit me. I kicked off my stupid white lace socks and Mary janes and tossed my beer drenched clothes to the side.

I opted for my bright red cowgirl boots and my brand new necklace. I threw the bow in my hair across the room and let my now dried wavy hair down. Once I looked at myself in the mirror it was like a whole new me.

I never look at myself in the mirror often, but I looked different. I was tan from swimming, my hair had loose waves from my ribbon curls my mom did before the party. Some of the beer must have gotten in my hair, but I couldn't smell it. I felt pretty.

I decided to quickly stop by my Mom's bathroom to douse myself in perfume and put on some very unnoticeable makeup.

Clear mascara, little bit of blush, and lipgloss. My parents would kill me if they knew what I was doing right now, but we have hundreds of people over. They don't have time to pay attention to me.

Once I get back outside, I do my best to go unnoticed and I ultimately succeed. I score an empty table by the dance floor clear on the other side of the yard where my parents are. Luckily my brothers seem to have my back recently so I'm not worried about them ratting me out.

I start to sip my coke I grabbed from our kitchen fridge and someone sits next to me at the table.

"Don't know anyone here?" A male voice asks.

I turn to face it and it's Link.

What?