P4L | Outer Banks | JJ Maybank

Engagement Party

Cory stared at herself in the mirror. It was so Kook. So so Kook.

She was wearing the most Sarah Cameron outfit ever: a pair of jeans and a Paris approved pink formal top. Not really Cory's style, but it would have to do. On her feet were white kitten heels, that she could barely walk in despite how close to the ground she remained. She clipped her hair up in a half-up, half-down, and put on a little bit of makeup. She looked pretty... she couldn't deny that fact. But it felt weird. She felt that she actually looked related to Paris for once.

She groaned out loud, wondering what she was getting herself into by going to this stupid party.

She had tried to send JJ a text with the nearly dead phone she had found in her bedroom, but it seemed her father had stopped paying her phone bill, so it didn't go through. She was just gonna have to wait and hope JJ didn't show up at her front door.

Cory had even packed a small duffel bag that was hiding in her closet with clothes and everything she might need to go back to the Chateau. She missed a lot of her personal items that remained in her old house.

She heard the doorbell ring downstairs, and a second later the door popped open, and Paris' cheery voice floated through the house.

Cory sucked in a deep breath and stepped up to her door.

She made her way downstairs slowly, dreading the various interactions she was going to have to have with the Kook's that were arriving.

When she stepped down, she could see Topper in the corner of her vision, greeting Kelce happily.

She pulled her head back, sucking in a breath and attempting to not immediately fall into a panic attack.

Kook's were one thing. Topper and possibly Rafe... were another.

She didn't often interact with Topper, though she heard all of the stories from John B and she was sure he heard the stories from Rafe. She wondered what Rafe had told him over the years about her.

Her mind trailed off to Rafe, contemplating the possibility of him showing up to the party. He wouldn't, right? He was still stuck in Barbados... right? Cory hoped that her and Kie had stalled him enough that she wouldn't have to see him so soon, but she wasn't so sure anymore.

Maybe she shouldn't be at this party.

But it might be the only chance to get her sister back.

Cory from a few months prior would have scoffed at the thought of trying to be friends with her sister again, but something in this new Cory, the Cory who had survived so much, she wanted that relationship back. She wanted Paris back.

She thought about turning around, but reluctantly, she held herself in place.

She watched as Topper and Kelce walked past her into the kitchen, avoiding the confrontation for a little bit longer.

Cory stepped down the stairs, turning back toward the front door. She could see her sister peeking through the door as she shut it, her head swivelling in an attempt to see if anyone else was coming.

Cory took in a deep breath and crossed her arms.

Paris turned back and smiled gently.

"Good," she said, gesturing to the shirt. "I like it."

Cory smiled back. It wasn't exactly the nicest thing she could have said, but at least she wasn't being beaten.

"When's dad getting here?" Cory asked.