𝐹𝑜𝑜𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝐵𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝒲𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹'𝓈 || OUTERBANKS

-15-

•Midsummers•
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"Are you getting ready for tonight?" My mother asked as she walked into my room. I smiled looking down at my MacBook, taking my glasses off.

"Do I have to come?" I asked, closing the MacBook and placing it on the table infront of me.

"Yes, you do, I had the best dress picked out, you aren't going out today right?" She asked, to which I shook my head, "Right, get ready then, I'll come and help you once I've sorted out your father, I swear that man can't dress himself for shit"

I smiled looking down as she walked out of the room shutting my door gently. I walked over to my closet and opened the door, lay on the island in the middle was a beautiful beige dress. It was loose and silk, it would reach down to just above my knees, which I didn't mind, it was also sparkly and had crystals on it.

No doubt the cost of this dress could feed the whole of The Cut. I shook my head before slipping my pyjamas off and sliding the slightly figure hugging dress on. It was loose but not too loose. I smiled as I examined the dress in the floor to ceiling mirror.

My mother walked in holding the flower crown I was supposed to wear, it was white and gold, I smiled looking down. As much as I hated Midsummers and all of this crap, I was appreciative to my mother, I can tell she went through a great deal of trouble to make this day, normal.

She handed me my necklace and I slid it on, along with the necklace that JJ gave me when we were 13, it was just a small necklace with the words 'Pogue Lyfe' on it. He had it made when he realised I was one of them.

"You look beautiful" She smiled, as I sat on the chair infront of my dressing table, so she could do my hair.

"Mother..... do you ever wonder what your life would be like if... you stayed on The Cut?" I asked as she gently ran the brush through my hair.

"Not often. I have given it thought once or twice" She smiled, as she started to pin up my hair into a beautiful messy bun with braids wrapping around it,"But if I stayed on The Cut, I wouldn't have had you and Christian.... so I'm happy I decided to stay"

"Thankyou" I smiled, grabbing my lip balm.

"What for?" She replied, grabbing my flower crown, from the dressing table.

"For accepting me. Who I want to be, who I want to be around. My friends. My lifestyle" I smiled as she pinned the crown on my head. She let out a small laugh.

"That's what mothers do, I love you no matter what, and you hanging around with Pogues and treating everybody equally just makes me love you more" She smiled and kissed my temple once she had done. I nodded gently applying the clear lip balm to my lips.

"I'll be out in a minute" I nodded looking at my reflection in the mirror. I grabbed my bag and walked out of the room. Bumping into Christian on the way out. He wore a blue button up that he hadn't done up all the way, his Rolex on one wrist and his gold chain around his neck standing out due to his tan. His hair had been tamed, and he wore a pair of black bottoms.

"Well you clean up nicely don't you" He spoke looking at my outfit with a genuine smile. I nodded and smiled.

"Wow. You complimenting me Tian?" I laughed, "What happened to you in the Bahamas?"

He just laughed and walked down the stairs. I sighed and followed closely after.

*********

I walked into the 'party' with my family, I held my hands behind my back and overlooked the crowd who were just chatting. JJ, Kie, John B and Pope all knew I had to act different when I was with my family, I had to act proper and more serious when out in public with them.

I spotted Pope and Kie over by the barbecue that I saw Pope was working. I rolled my eyes with a smile as they both waved. I smiled and waved back gently when my father gave me a 'Dont' look. I looked down offering them a sympathetic look.

I walked over to Nmio and Daniel who were stood with Rafe, Kelce and all them. They both turned to me offering me a small hug. I smiled and returned it.

"Wow Cody, you look— you look amazing" Nmio spoke to which I just laughed looking at the crowd of dancers.

"You clean up nicely yourselves—" I started but the sight of somebody familiar stopped me mid-sentence. What the hell was JJ doing here?

I started to walk over to him but he disappeared in the mast of people. I stood in the middle of the dance floor and looked around. That's when a hand grabbed my wrist and spun me around, catching me against his chest.

"JJ?" I asked, looking up at the blonde boy. He just smiled looking down.

"Hey," He smiled, only now did I notice the bust lip and the whole right side of his face was bruised and cut.

"What ha—"

"Nothing you need to worry about" He smiled, looking down, "Who knew you could scrub up so good"

"Me? Look at you, is this a bow tie?" I asked reaching my hands up to tighten it. He was dressed like one of the waiters. I noticed that my father was looking over so I turned my back and moved my head to the side.

"Meet me after?" I smiled over my shoulder, he saw my dad too and nodded before grabbing a glass from a nearby table and walking away with a smile.

*****

Later in the night I was stood with Christian and my father, who was talking about finances with Ward Cameron. I looked around out of boredom when I saw JJ getting dragged away shouting by one of the security team.

"It's okay everybody! Do not panic! Leave it to the men and women in uniform huh?! Let's hear it for them." He shouted clapping, as everyone turned to face him.

"Rose! You look like Lady Liberty. It's good to see you again. Hey, buddy, can I have one of those?"

"Let go of him!" I shouted finally just thinking 'fuck it'. My dad can think what he wants, it's my life, "You can't just boot him"

I felt Christian grab my wrist as he tried to make me stop talking.

"Excuse me Miss Grayson? Really?" The guard asked, loosening his grip on JJ.

"I invited him here. My father owns this club." I shouted, as Christian now pulled me back, yet everyone stopped as JJ turned around and shoved the guard making him fall into a table.

"Sorry about that!" JJ spoke, "Hey, mandatory power hour at Rixon's, Codes! Pope, Kie you as well, all right? Rixon's cove. Let's roll"

He shouted over the gasps, I let a smile wash over my face as he wrapped his fist around his other wrist and held it up.

"Right Cody! Come on! Workers of the world unite! Throw off your chains!" He shouted as I let out a laugh.

"Do not even think about it Cody-Leigh." My father warned as I started to walk backwards, Christian trying to grab my wrist, as I yanked my hand away, "Cody these kids are bad! You're better than them!"

"No I'm not" I shook my head with a smile, before I took off, both my Father and Brother shouting my name, as I ran over to where JJ ran.

"Come on Cody!" JJ shouted, as I saw John B waiting for us. I smiled as I ran, finally happy that people knew me for me. I ran over to John B who picked me up and spun me. I laughed as JJ and Pope joined along with Kie.

"Woohoo!" John B shouted as we ran down the beach, I slipped off my heels and ran with them. I laughed as I looked back seeing all the attention on us.

******