Celia's heels clicked softly against the hardwood floor as she entered the living room, carrying a small, carefully wrapped box. "Celia, look at you. In our house. All alone. What are you doing here?" Amy asked, eyes narrowing in playful suspicion.
"Every year, we celebrate Hartley's birthday at Madame Millicent's Tea House," Celia said, ignoring Amy's teasing tone. "She's coming down to model the dress I got her for the tea party."
Y/N's eyes lit up. "Oh, I've always wanted to go to a tea party!"
Celia grinned slyly. "Mostly so you can squish all those tiny finger sandwiches together into one multi-flavored masterpiece."
"Well, keep on wanting," Hartley muttered, folding her arms, "'cause you're not invited."
Y/N gasped, pretending to clutch her pearls. "Ooh!"
Celia spun around dramatically, holding up the dress. "It looks even better than I imagined!"
"It's better than I imagined too," Hartley said reluctantly, glancing at the frilly pink fabric.
"And who's a pretty princess?" Celia cooed, snapping a photo with her camera.
"What do you think, baby?" Y/N asked, kneeling down beside Hartley.
"I love it. It's fantastic. Can't wait for the tea party," Hartley admitted, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"Well, now that I know these dresses are winners, I can go pick out mine. Tea you later."
"Still not invited," Hartley called after her, rolling her eyes.
"Wait!" Celia waved a finger from the doorway. "What's it worth to you to stop me from posting this picture?"
"Can you really put a price on your teeth?" Hartley asked, smirking.
"Eh, I'll take my chances." Celia waved and left, leaving Hartley fuming just a little.
Hartley turned to Amy, Y/N, Colby, Vic, Eva, and Jake, who were all gathered in the living room. "How can you actually like this?" she asked, holding up the pink dress.
"I don't," she admitted with a shrug. "I mean, I used to when I was little, but now it's just a tradition that means a lot to my grandma. I don't want to hurt her feelings."
"So you're willing to dress like a frilly princess just to avoid offending your grandma?" Y/N teased.
"Very Hartley," she muttered, hiding a smile.
"And what are the kids at school gonna say?" Jake asked, frowning.
"Nothing. It's too embarrassing to invite them," Hartley sighed. "So usually it's just me, my grandma, and her friends who complain that tea makes them gassy."
Vic whistled. "Wow. And I thought it was bad enough wearing the worst outfit ever."
"Second-worst outfit ever," Hartley corrected. "For your information, this is what regular people wear on vacation."
"And I gotta say, I do like all the pocket space in these shorts equipped for cargo," Colby added, holding up his own khaki shorts.
"What vacation?" Hartley asked, intrigued.
"Mom and Dad are taking me to a water park for the weekend," Vic replied with a smirk.
"Oh, that sounds like nice, wholesome fun," Y/N said sweetly.
"So we can pull villainous pranks on people," Vic continued, eyes gleaming. "We're gonna clog the waterslides with floaties, and we're gonna dye the wave pool a horrifying blood red."
YOU ARE READING
𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐑, COLBY MADDEN
FanfictionY/N's heart skipped as she spotted Colby across the crowded hallway-just like old times, reckless and untamed. "Didn't think I'd see you here again," Colby said with a crooked smile, the past hanging heavy between them. After years apart, Y/N never...
