Chapter Text
You checked your red lipstick for about the millionth time in the mirror rearview mirror of your car. Everything needed to be perfect for your first interview. You had spent what felt like hours pressing your hair perfectly smooth, and had tried on every headband you owned…but the finished product was worth it. You were going to make a smashing first impression.
With a final nod to yourself in the mirror, you jumped out of your car as gracefully as you could. You were interviewing to be admitted into a prestigious ladies’ society at your local country club. As far back as anyone in your family could remember, every woman in your family had been part of this club. There had been only a handful that had never been admitted and they were viewed with a touch of shame. You refused to be one of them.
Squaring your shoulders you entered into the air-conditioned splendor intent on wooing the Counsel of Ladies. You pinned on your most confident and dazzling smile as you were ushered into the sitting room where the Counsel was waiting. One of the perfectly coifed women looked down at a slender watch gracing her thin wrist, “Perfectly on time Summer, you’re off to a good start,” the woman said with only a trace of a smile.
“Punctuality is a virtue that I value above all else,” you said perching yourself delicately on the edge of one of the winged-backed chairs, “Tardiness is not something to be taken lightly.”
The women all nodded in agreement with small smiles tugging on the corners of their mouths. You had obviously said the right thing. Another woman, the president of the council if you remembered correctly, lifted a fragile-looking teacup up to her lips as she asked, “So tell us about some of your hobbies Summer.”
You were just about to launch into your rehearsed speech about your love of ballet and needlepoint when there was a large crash behind you. Everyone besides the President herself flinched at the noise. Trying to ignore the sound you started to outline the reasons why ballet was the most sacred of dances to you. You were however cut off by the sound of a belch from some person behind you.
Unable to continue you turned slightly to confront the person that was interfering with your interview. Your eyes nearly bugged out of your head as you meet the challenging blue eyes of a tall blond-haired boy wearing a torn jean vest and black leather pants. The ends of his hair were blue, as though he had just grown his hair out after being dyed. There was a large ornate cross tattooed on his left forearm and he gave you a smug look as he caught you staring at it.
“Niall darling, we’re not quite finished with today’s interview,” the President addressed the rude boy, “If you could wait in the lobby, we’ll be down in a couple of minutes.”
Niall rolled his eyes but left the room, leaving you struggling to conceal your shock. The President of the most prestigious ladies’ club around was the mother to…him! Schooling your features you directed your attention back toward the counsel. Unfazed the President took a sip of her tea and said, “I’m sorry Summer, what were you saying?”
It took your brain a couple of minutes to completely recover from seeing the offspring of a woman you had respected since the moment you knew what a ladies’ society was. You couldn’t believe that a woman as put together as her could have a son that was just so…so…punk!
At the end of the interview, the ladies stood up politely to each shake your hand. You let out a sigh of relief as the President addressed you, “You are quite a young lady. I must say that I am impressed! You’ll have our decision by the end of the week.”
“Thank you!” you said with a sigh, “I haven’t wanted anything as bad as I’ve wanted to be part of your society! I hope that your decision is favorable towards me.”
“I’m sure it will be,” the President said with a smile, “We’ll be in touch dear.”
You were beaming from ear to ear as you practically floated to your car. You were living in the reality you had always dreamed of! About to be induced into the ladies’ society you had always wanted. With a romantic sigh, you slipped your key into the ignition and turned. Your engine made a ticking sound, but refused to turn over. You tried again…only to have the same results. Again and again, you turned your key, but your engine wouldn’t start. You were stuck.
With a growl of frustration, you hit your head onto the steering wheel only to have your car horn wale in protest. Turning pink from your indiscretion you let out a squeal as you caught sight of a boy with blue-tipped hair smiling through your window. Fuming internally you rolled down your window and addressed him with a curt, “What do you want?”
“Looks like yer havin’ car trouble Princess,” he said sarcastically as he leaned on your window frame, “Thought I could lend a helpin’ hand.”
“I don’t need your help.” you said crossly, “I can figure this out myself.”
“Aww well Princess I hope you’ve got tools shoved up your ass along with that stick because it sounds like your spark plugs are shot,” Niall said looking smug.
“I do not–!” you said furiously feeling your cheeks flaming, “I’ll have you know–”
Niall cut you off, “That a lady doesn’t argue with a man when he’s trying to help her…” he said with a knowing look, “I don’t think mum would like to find out that her latest recruit turned down the help of her own son…”
He had you there. You couldn’t afford to jeopardize your admittance. Swallowing every bit of pride you had, you turned to Niall. Pinning on a smile that was more of baring of teeth than a smile you said through your clenched teeth, “I’d love some help. Please tell me what you had in mind.”
Niall stepped away from your car so that you could step out. “So what exactly is your plan wise guy?” you said crossing your arms across your chest.
“Well Princess I was thinking we take a look under your hood,” he said seductively as his eyes dipped down to your decolletage, “and see what’s got your engine churning.”
You rolled your eyes and stomped over to the front of your car, “You disgust me.”
“And you don’t exactly churn my butter Princess,” he said smirking, “but I’m trying to be a gentleman about this…”
“And I’m trying to tell you that I can handle this!” you said tugging on the hood to your car. You propped it open and peered into the knot of metal pipping and…whatever engines were made of. You just started to push back the sleeves of your cardigan when you were roughly pushed out of the way. “Excuse me! But what do you think you’re doing?” you huffed as you regained your balance in your classic pumps.
“Puh-lease, what’s some pearl-wearing princess like yourself going to do about this?” Niall said gesturing to the car, “Your head is filled with fluff, not cars.”
You felt your composure starting to slip as you stomped your foot on the ground, “What is your problem with me!? Do you really have so much against this ladies’ society that your mother is the president of?”
Niall turned to face you, his face contorted with anger, “I have nothing against the society! It’s what they stand for! Having girls like you parade themselves around. And for what? So they can marry one of daddy’s lawyer friend’s sons? Make something of your life…don’t waste it learning about how to host a dinner party.”
You stepped into Niall’s space, putting your face up close to his, “There’s more than that to being in the society. Maybe if you’d listen…”
“Listen to what? You ramble about the finer points of the pirouette?” Niall sneered.
You pushed Niall away hard in the chest, causing him to stumble back a couple of steps, “I’ll have you know, that your mother’s society has one of the largest networks of members in the country! Do you know what that means? Networking. Plain and simple. Connections I can use to get into a good university.”
“What are you going to do there? Study ‘Women’s Studies’ while you find yourself a rich educated man?” Niall said putting himself back in your face.
“Actually, I was going to study physics,” you said sneering yourself, “But you wouldn’t understand that. After all, you thought it was my spark plugs that caused my engine to fail. Anyone with half a brain would know that that clicking noise meant that my starter was faulty.”
Maybe you were over-exaggerating the ‘half a brain’ part, but you were tired of putting up with this punk. Reaching into the mechanisms inside your car, you felt around until you found the loose wire. Pushing it back into its place, you removed your grease-covered hand to shut the hood.
“Go on, try it,” you said mockingly as you dangled the keys in front of Niall’s face.
He snatched the keys out of your hand, and when to the driver’s side. So maybe your car had a loose starter wire, and you were sort of bluffing about your knowledge of cars. But that didn’t change the smug feeling of seeing Niall’s face fall into one of disbelief as your car hummed into life.
“How did you do that?” he asked incredulously as he climbed out of your car.
“A woman never reveals her secrets,” you said with a smirk as you brushed past him. You wiped off your hands on a towel you kept in your glove box for this purpose, listening to Niall stammer to find the right words.
As you buckled your seat belt he threw himself into your open window. “I can’t believe that you did that!” he said with his eyes wider than you had ever seen them.
“Never underestimate a woman,” you smirked as you tapped him on the nose with your finger, “Now get out of my car.”
“Please! You have to show me how you did that,” he begged, “Let me take you to dinner. I’ll make it up to you for being such an inconsiderate jerk.”
You were tempted. His punk demeanor was…intriguing. Only slightly though, you told yourself. You had a reputation to uphold.
Niall could see you chewing over the idea, so he decided to sweeten the pot, “I’ll put in a good word with my mum!”
Now there was something you weren’t sure you could turn down. “Fine!” you said a huff, “but it will be on my terms. You’ll pick me up Friday at exactly 6, and you’ll have me home by 10. Got it?”
Niall nodded solemnly, “I understand. I shall be a model of punctuality.”
“See that you are,” you said fixing him with a stern glare.
Perhaps sensing that he had lost control of the situation, Niall leaned in and did the one thing he could to regain it. He kissed you.
You were blushing so hard you were almost sure you were going to faint. Niall gave you a smug grin as if he knew the effect that he had on you. “I’ll see you Friday then,” he said as he turned to saunter off.
“Fr-Friday then,” you said a bit shakily. Niall laughed at you as he made his way over to…what else? His motorcycle.
You watched in fascination as he mounted it and revved the engine. An action clearly directed at you. With one last smirk, he pulled on his helmet and sped out of the car park.
Taking a shaky breath you thought over what you had just agreed to. A date with Niall. The punk son of the president of the most desirable ladies’ society in the country. You were in over your head.
Squaring your shoulders you caught your reflection in your review. You could do this, you told yourself. You were a strong, confident, independent woman and you would show Niall just who was boss. Come Friday, he wouldn’t know what hit him.