Chasing Sunshine | JJ Maybank

25 // Midsummers

I previously thought that there was nothing Kie could have done to improve my weathered appearance that only comes with feeling too many feelings and sleeping not enough sleep.

However, she was not one to be underestimated. Once the dramatics of our earlier conversation had faded away, she told me in no uncertain terms that JJ and I were to make amends at the first available opportunity. I believe her exact words were "the two of you will figure this shit out or I'll lock y'all in a closet until you do."

Charming.

Two hours later, I stood next to her in the mirror, barely recognizing whoever's reflection stared back at me.

After pressing my hair into coils, she artfully swept them to the side and arranged the pieces into a low up-do towards the base of my neck, pulling a few loose tendrils to frame my face. The dress was an older one of her's that she had quickly grown too tall for but would sit at an appropriate length on me. It was a deep cobalt color, cinched at the waist before flaring gradually until the hemline hit right above my knees. A sprinkling of small white flowers dashed around the bottom of the skirt and floating off-the-shoulder straps completed the look.

"We clean up good for a couple of good-for-nothing Pogues," Kie teased, resting an arm on my shoulder with a smile. I ran a hand over the silky material of the dress, noting how its color only served to emphasize the stormy cerulean nature of my eyes and complimented by Kie's choice of a muted makeup palette.

"Yeah I'd say so," I agreed with her, genuinely grinning for what felt like the first time in forever.

"Kiara, I'm home!" Mrs. Carrera's voice carried from downstairs, accompanied by the loud shutting of the garage door. A minute later she was poking her head in the doorway, hair and makeup already done and holding what I assumed was her recently picked up dress from the dry cleaners. She stopped short when she saw me and greeted, "Oh, hello Meg. I didn't know you'd be stopping over."

I waved. "I wasn't. But long story short I have a Midsummer's invite too. Kie was just helping me get ready."

She flashed a warm smile. "Well perfect, we can all go together then," she decided, waggling a finger in her daughter's direction, "Now maybe you won't be such a stick in the mud about going."

"Well maybe if I didn't have to be a kiss-ass for the Kooks all night-"

"Oh hush," her mom scolded quickly, beckoning her forward with a curl of her finger, "Stop complaining and help me pick out a pair of earrings."

I giggled as Kie groaned but followed her dutifully out of the room anyway, leaving me behind for now. Now that it was silent, my thoughts naturally began to race and my body prickled with nervousness. The next time I saw JJ, I'd have to talk to him, not just because of Kiara's pointed warning, but because I didn't want to drag it out any longer.

But what was I supposed to say to him? Sorry for being an oblivious idiot, hope you can forgive me. Oh, and by the way, we should probably discuss our burning feelings for one another that break just about every rule in the book-

I stopped myself, cutting off that train of thought with a small shake of my head. One thing at a time; tonight, I needed to get through this gala. So in the spirit of Midsummers, I picked up the large white flower Kie had set aside and tucked in securely behind one ear.

Now, we were ready to go behind enemy lines.

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The sun was almost completely obscured by the horizon by the time the Carrera's and I pulled up to the Island Club but the outdoor festivities were already underway. Outrageous evening gowns and pastel-colored tuxedos could be seen everywhere you looked. Kie and I managed to sneak away from her parents right as they began to strike up conversation with Mr. and Mrs. The-Only-Thing-Bigger-Than-Our-Bank-Account-Is-Our-Ego. We slunk around the outskirts of the crowd until spotting and walking up behind an unsuspecting Pope, there in an apron and gloves to serve Heyward's famous oysters to the party-goers.