Work Text:
Kiara Carrera felt like one of those girls from Totally Spies — a TV show she used to watch on Cartoon Network when she was a little kid. All she needed was a weapon attached to the non-existent holster on her right thigh, hidden just beneath her split-down-the-leg black dress, and she would be as hot as Scarlet Johansson.
Sadly, she wasn’t a Black Widow though, and she wasn’t on a secret spy mission either. Kiara was attending a mega gala event, curtsy of her mother. At ten she was being forced to attend a mega gala on Kook island. At least it was for charity purposes, Kiara reminded herself as she carried herself to the back hallway of the indoor ball room.
It was so boring. Kiara would rather be doing anything else than listening to sophisticated women and men talk about politics and golf and the organist playing on stage. Emotionally, she would appreciate a warning from her Mom about these type of events in advance. At least then she could prepare an excuse to leave early, or at least bring along Pope or John B or JJ to laugh with her at all the rich people sipping wine with their pinkie’s out.
The other kids at this gala were not as fun as her best friends. But Sarah Cameron was there to keep her entertained. Kiara liked talking to Sarah about real issues with wildlife and sea turtles. But Sarah was always occupied with talking to her father and his friends. It was like she had a job to do at these parties while Kiara’s only job was to keep herself from jumping out a window.
She continued to maneuver her way through the back halls and rooms, ducking from doorway to doorway like spy. Peaking her head out to make sure her parents didn’t see where she went.
Kiara wasn’t exactly sure where she was going, but for a while, the ducking into rooms was giving her a kick.
She had just dipped into the back room where they keep the coats and that’s when she saw him.
Rafe Cameron: Sarah’s older brother. Kiara had seen him around the house before and she occasionally heard him talk to his friends. But Rafe Cameron was a few years older and a bit of a mystery.
So naturally, when Kiara spotted Rafe dressed in a suit and tie, hair perfectly slicked back and sitting at a table with a couple of friends around him, curiosity got the better of her and she ducked into a coat closest.
It was thrilling, the act of spying. It made her heartbeat loudly in her chest, but she tried to even out her breathing so she could hear them talk. Maybe the older kids would talk about her and Sarah? Or maybe they would at least talk about Sarah since she was Rafe’s little sister and everyone always seemed to talk about her. Even if no one mentioned Kiara it would still be fun to listen to what they had to say about Sarah behind her back.
“C’mon. Don’t be so depressing,” A taller boy was saying, leaning over Rafe’s chair and glancing over his shoulder at his cellphone that he seemed to be scrolling through for miles, “Let’s go back to the party.”
“You go. I’m good here.”
“Rafe, man,” the taller boy continued in a maddeningly even tone that made Kiara’s hair stand on edge, “You’re literally always sad these days. Lighten up. So what, your Mom’s been replaced by a gold-digger. At least she’s hot.”
Rafe fidgeted with his hands, ran one through the slick mass of hair on his head, and ended up scratching compulsively at his scalp.
“You’re gonna pull your hair out doing that.”
“It’s just… it’s just like I try to talk to him about it, y’know? And he gets so angry when I bring it up.”
“Bring what up? Your Mom or Rose?” his friend asked. “Cause again… Rose is pretty hot so…”
“Fucking go away, Josh. Man, I’m just tired, okay? I’m gonna go to sleep,” he muttered, repeatedly running his hand through his hair.
Figured Kiara wouldn’t get anything juicy from the older boys. But this was entertaining either way. She had never seen Kooks fight like this. Usually they always had everything together. She kept her one eye opened wide and the other squinted as she watched them through the crack in the closet door.
“You’re tired?” Josh asked with a hike of his eyebrows.
It looked like the long night of drinking, dancing, and socializing was weighing down on the boy. He nodded and closed his eyes.
“Then it’s your lucky day, my friend, cause I got just the thing for you,” Josh said, and then he was holding out something. Something Kiara had never seen before.
Rafe closed his eyes momentarily.
“Have you ever been high before?” And Kiara could see it more clearly now, the plastic bag full of white powder in the palm of this kid’s hands.
“You’ve seen me smoke plenty of times,” Rafe yawned, pushing the bag away. “Get that shit outta here bro.”
“No, I mean for real. Not just pot.”
Kiara gaped at him from behind the closet door. This Josh kid was pushing hard.
“Yeah, well,” Rafe shrugged sluggishly, “I guess not.” He shifted uncomfortably under his friend’s gaze.
“Wanna try it?”
Kiara breathed deeply.
“Isn’t that like… like bad for you?” Rafe’s friends laughed at just how innocent he must have sounded to them and his face went beat red.
“Rafe, man. It’s fucking coke. What do you think?”
Rafe’s other friend was still laughing, patting Josh’s chest, “Oh shit, man. You were right. This kid is too funny.”
Josh muttered a quiet shut up, and tossed the plastic bag at Rafe’s chest. He nearly missed catching it.
“One time won’t kill you. Besides, it will make you feel better. You’re always so down. This will help. I promise, cause it’s a stimulant so it’s gonna lift you up.”
“Oh, Josh. Don’t give him that,” the other guy said. “He’s just a little kid.”
He wasn’t that little. He was thirteen. Three years older than Kiara.
She remembered the birthday cake in the refrigerator at Sarah’s house. The blue and red icing and a big thirteen candle in the center. She was there for his birthday dinner; steak and potatoes, and warm cinnamon buns. Rafe opened a few of his presents in front of her before Kiara and Sarah were excused and allowed to play upstairs.
“Why don’t you let him make his own decision,” Josh snapped, “It’s not like he’s dumb enough to get addicted after just one hit. Besides, this will wake him up.”
Josh patted Rafe’s knee. “First time is free.”
Rafe looked around the room, realizing everyone was looking at him expectantly. Josh smacked his arm, impatient for his compliance. “C’mon. This party is boring. Just try it.”
“How… how do I… do it?” Rafe asked hesitantly.
Josh clapped him on the back, “It’s like this. Watch, okay?”
Kiara wouldn’t say she ran from them, exactly. But she did briskly walk from the coat closet back to the party where she collapsed at her table with her head in her hands.
Peer-pressure. Yuck.
She could hear them coming down the hall a full three and a half minutes later, before they were bursting into the ball room, all goofy smiles and bloodshot eyes.
Kiara wished she didn’t know why. After this, she was never going to spy again.