The Key to Oz

Chapter 24- Mary was a little bitch

The streets of Martha's Vineyard were alive with the vibrant energy of the town parade. Colorful floats rolled down the road, decorated with flowers and ribbons, while locals waved from the sidewalks, cheering and snapping pictures. Everyone congregated together, blending into one another as if they were equal and not separated buy wealth. The air smelled of popcorn and funnel cakes, and music from a local band drifted through the crowd as the group wandered the busy streets, laughing and soaking in the normal excitement of the day, actively trying to forget that someone tried to kill them less than 8 hours ago and could attempt it again at any moment.

Jessper had already bought a massive cotton candy, the pink fluff ball almost bigger than her head, "I love the parade," she grinned, tearing off a piece of cotton candy and handing some to Oz. "No creepy lighthouses, no SUVs trying to run us off the road—just pure sugary bliss."

Oz accepted the cotton candy with a smirk but kept her gaze moving through the crowd, always on edge. "Don't get too comfortable," she said, her voice carrying a hint of playful sarcasm. "The day's still young—plenty of time for someone to try and kill us." Even though she joked, her tone remained distracted, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Grayson walked beside her, his arm brushing against hers as they maneuvered through the crowd. he leaned into her, his voice dropping slightly as he said, "You're looking pretty cute today, you know that?" he wiggled his eyebrows. "Even with the busted lip and gashed forehead," he added rubbing his fingers on her purple bandaid she put over a cut.

She smirked, not entirely sure how to take the compliment but not dismissing it either. "Don't make me kick your ass Gray," she said giving him a playful shove.

He chuckled, nudging her with his shoulder. "Can't blame me for admiring."

Jessper, catching the vibe, shot Oz a teasing look but said nothing, biting back a laugh, it wasn't abnormal for Grayson to flirt with Oz, but it was for her to return the flirtation.
Oz just rolled her eyes, and popped another piece of cotton candy in her mouth before coming face to face with Pyke, he looked down and smiled at her, Grayson tensed as he glared at him, already wanting to attack. Pykes eyes remained firmly on Oz, like he was actively trying to avoid looking at the others, After the threat he'd made to her about what James and Grayson had done to his truck, she had expected him to pounce the first moment he got. But instead, he acted like they didn't even exist, completely ignoring them.

His eyebrows arched when he saw the bandaid on her forehead but he didn't acknowledge it. "I won you something," he smiled placing a stuffed butterfly in her hands. It's vibrant colors a stark contrast to her black shirt.

"Thank me later," he says giving her a wink, before walking off with his friends.

Oz rolled her eyes and quickly turned back to Grayson. She could see the tightness in his jaw, the way his muscles coiled like a spring, ready to snap. He half-expected her to discard the gift, to toss it aside or throw it away without a second thought. But instead, she held on to it.

James suddenly perked up, and began waving over at someone in the crowd catching the groups attention. "Hey, Evie!" he called, grinning as he spotted her near a food stand.

She looked a bit out of place in the middle of the lively crowd, but she smiled when she saw him and made her way over. She was holding a lemonade, and her wide eyes were taking in the parade with a mix of awe and slight nervousness.

"Hey," she greeted, her voice soft but friendly. "This parade is crazy. I didn't expect it to be so... big."

James slung an arm over her shoulder, guiding her into their group. "Come hang with us. We're just wandering around,"

Evie hesitated for a second, then smiled, nodding. "Okay, sure. Let me just text my dad and let him know where I'm at,"

As they moved through the parade, they stopped at different booths, trying out ring toss games and watching local performers juggle flaming batons. Eric kept making terrible jokes, while Jessper was on a mission to flirt with all the carnies to see if they would give her a giant stuffed animal, which they did not.

They kept walking, the parade continuing to swirl around them, but Oz's mood shifted when she spotted a familiar figure near one of the floats—a girl with long, brown hair, dressed in a crop top and shorts, looking down and typing on her phone. The sight of her immediately soured Oz's mood.

Jessper noticed instantly and grabbed Eric's arm. "Uh oh. This can't be good." He said as she came closer to the group.

"Look who it's is," Mary sneered looking up at them. "A pack of rats,"

"Look who it is," James smiled shoving his hand into his pockets. "A bitch,"

Mary flared at him to clear disgust.

Oz blinked, her expression unfazed as she crossed her arms. "What's the problem, Mary?" she asked dryly. "Lose your sheep?" She glanced around, noticing that her usual group was nowhere to be found.

Mary's eyes narrowed. "And what's your problem, Oz? Run out of men to throw yourself at?" She said with a head tilt. "You're just as much of a slut as your brother is an asshole. Guess having that reputation must be handy though. At least they know what they're getting upfront."

Oz's jaw clenched, her fists balling at her sides as she fought the urge to pounce.

"What?" Mary taunted, her voice dripping with venom. "Did I hit a nerve. Heard you've even started charging for it. Real pathetic."

That was it. Oz lunged forward, but James was faster, grabbing her arm and holding her back. "Enough, Oz," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Not here."

Mary scoffed, tossing one last glare over her shoulder before strutting away, her expensive perfume lingering long after she disappeared.

Oz yanked her arm out of James's grip, still seething. "I hate her. I hate them all."

James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, but picking fights in the middle of the parade isn't going to help anything."

Evie looked uncomfortable, shifting on her feet. "Is everything okay?"

Jessper wrapped an arm around her shoulders, steering her away from the tension. "Yeah, just some old drama. Let's get back to enjoying the parade."

They moved on, but the mood had shifted. Oz stayed quiet, her fists clenched at her sides, while Grayson gave her a sympathetic look. He stepped closer again, his hand brushing hers. "You good?"

She forced a smile, though the anger still simmered beneath the surface. "Yeah, I'm fine."

He grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, if you need a distraction, I'm pretty sure I saw a funnel cake stand calling your name. I'll buy us one to share,"

Oz chuckled, some of the tension easing. "Lead the way."

As they made their way back through the crowd, the parade carried on, and slowly, the group found their rhythm again, laughing and joking as the festivities continued around them. But even as she smiled, the encounter with Mary lingered in the back of her mind, a reminder that some things never really go away, no matter how hard you try to ignore them. She was still the town slut and that wasn't going away anytime soon.