duchess → outer banks

EPISODE VIII.

[lana grubbs]

Despite being chased and shot at, The Pogues conducted business as usual. For Duchess, that meant a shift waiting tables at The Wreck with Kie. She loved her job, and she also loved the oppurtunity to talk to Kie, girl to girl.

"Hey," Kie started while they were closing," Can I ask you something? You can totally say no but I need to ask."

"What's up," Duchess said while wiping down the last of the dirty tables.

"So the country club holds this event every year," Kie explained. "It's called Midsummer."

"What about it?"

"Well this year, my parents are forcing me to go," her friend replied, "And it's Kook central. My one condition to me going was I got to bring a friend."

Duchess nodded, understanding where the conversation was headed. "You want me to be your date?"

Kie laughed, "Yea I guess that's one way to put it. You can totally say no, I get it. No one wants to go swimming with sharks. It's just that your the only friend of mine my parents don't hate."

Duchess laughed, "That's because they don't know me well yet. Give it till the end of the summer and I'll be in the same category as JJ."

Kie smiled at her friend. "I have no doubts about that. But seriously, you don't have to come if you don't want to. I can suffer with the Kooks on my own."

Duchess scoffed and rolled her eyes, "You really think I'm gonna let you go to the front lines without backup. I'll be there. Besides, I haven't had an excuse to dress up in so long."

Kie let out a small scream and wrapped her arms around her friend. "Duchess what the hell would I do without you?"

"Probably die," she responded, returning the hug.

❁

The next day, Duchess found herself in John B'a van with her two idiot friends: John B and JJ.

"All I'm sayin is," JJ started, "I don't understand why you don't at least try with Kiara."

Duchess lit up at this. "Finally, someone brought it up. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed. She clearly likes you."

"She's like 'Oh, John B'," JJ said in a high pitched voice.

"Really," John B deadpanned, "You two are gonna team up on me like this?"

"She's sketching about you diving and then she kissed you," said JJ.

"She kissed me on the cheek."

"Yea, but you didn't see me doing that shit," Duchess pointed out, "And I was just as worried about you."

"Don't pretend like you don't notice," JJ said," You're like 'I kinda like that' and you start blushing."