Chapter Text
Kiara was a Pogue through and through. She lived, drank and breathed the Pogue life. But unfortunately, Mike and Anna decided to throw her a debutante ball to celebrate a coming of age in the Kook lifestyle.
Kiara had always had a complicated relationship with her parents. Anna was a successful lawyer who was always working long hours, and Mike was a free-spirited artist who spent most of his time traveling the world. Growing up, she had always felt like they didn't really understand her, and she often felt like an outsider in her own family.
It wasn't until Kiara discovered the Pogues that things started to change. For the first time in her life, she felt like she had found a family that understood her. JJ, Pope, and John B became her closest friends, and they always had her back no matter what.
Mike and Anna didn't approve of her new friends, but Kiara didn't care. She was finally happy, and she wasn't going to let anyone take that away from her.
But as Kiara's adventures with the Pogues got more dangerous, her parents started to take notice. They were worried about her safety, and they didn't like the idea of her getting involved in all the trouble that John B seemed to attract.
One day, her parents sat her down for a serious talk. They told her that they loved her and that they were worried about her. They wanted her to come home and focus on her studies, to leave the Pogues behind and start living a more responsible life.
She was torn. Part of her wanted to listen to her parents, to make them proud and prove to them that she could be responsible. But another part of her couldn't bear the thought of leaving the Pogues behind, of giving up the only family she had ever known.
Even though she was conflicted, she decided to attend the debutante ball (Not like she had much of a choice).
She sat on her bed in her room and contemplated her options, her fingertips dancing on her patterned quilt.
Maybe I could invite the boys.
Kie needed emotional support, but she knew JJ had an unbridled hatred for the rich snobs living off their parents’ money on Figure Eight.
But she had to give it a shot.
So, Kiara hopped on her bike and rode to the Chateau.
As she busted in through the backdoor, all three boys were there. JJ held a blunt between his fingers, exhaling a gust of smoke, while John B was rummaging at his desk. Pope was sleeping on his favorite recliner. Kiara watched the puff of smoke whisper itself away into the air, some of it catching John B’s hair, the latter shooting an angry glare at his best friend.
JJ ran his hands through his hair and shook it out roughly. “What’s good Kie?”
Kiara crossed her arms, bearing a mischievous look on her face. “I have a proposition,” she said, walking over to join JJ on the couch opposite him. “My parents are hosting a debutante ball.”
“WoaAHH,” Pope hollered, jerked from his sleep. “Debutante ball?”
She cocked her head. “It’s a coming of age thing. Every family on Figure Eight attends with their kids once they turn 17 and get their license. It’s a pretty big deal.”
“So what you’re saying is it’s a Kookfest,” JJ slurred and looked up at her, curling his lip slightly.
Kiara grimaced. She knew this wasn’t going to go over well with the boys, especially JJ, but she needed to try to introduce the idea lightly.
Maybe he’ll come for her. If John B and Pope agree, why wouldn’t he? Plus, it’s an excuse to see JJ in a tuxedo, an opportunity Kiara wouldn’t regularly pass up.
“Basically. It’s being held at the Kildare County Country Club, they have a ballroom,” she explained. “And I need emotional support…”
The blonde boy scowled, putting his head in his hands. “Oh no.”
“Hey! My parents are making me go,” Kiara protested. “It’s not like I have a choice!”
He quickly exhaled another cloud of smoke, coughing a little bit. “I’m just taking notice. Rafe and Topper will probably be there, since it’s a Kook Party.”
“So?”
“Kie, you don’t get it. With Rafe comes Barry. And lord knows he’ll beat my ass if he sees me.”
“No way in hell Barry would be at a formal Kook party,” John B disagreed, looking up from his work. “He’s too soiled for that and you know it. We all know you’re trying to find a reason to not go because you hate Kooks.”
“Damn right I do!” JJ shot back, putting out the blunt and tossing it aside.
Kiara was frustrated. “Can you all just go for me? I hate Kooks just as much as you do, and I’ll lose my mind if I have to go alone.”
“I’ll go,” Pope said. “My dad is going too I think.”
“I guess I will too,” John B volunteered. “Sarah told me earlier she’s going with Rose and Wheezie.”
“That makes two. Come on, Jay! You don’t have to stay the whole time,” Kiara reasoned. “One night, and you’ll be my escort.”
JJ paused. “Alright Kie,” he growled. But if Barry shows up and beats my ass, you’re to blame.”
“Sounds fair to me,” she grinned. “See you tonight, and look your best.”
Kiara left, letting the Chateau backdoor slam shut behind her.
She pulled out her phone from the back pocket of her jean shorts and dialed Sarah’s number before getting on her bike.
“Pick up, pick up…”
“Hey Kie, what’s up?” Sarah echoed from the other end.
“Hey, I need you to help me pick a ballgown for tonight,” she said.
“You’re going to the ball?”
Kiara snorted. “My parents are hosting it, and they’re making me go. I need help picking a dress, and I have a few in my closet.”
“I’ll be your fashionista,” Sarah agreed, sarcasm edging her voice. “Give me an hour.”
Kie stared at her closet, trying to decide what to wear to the upcoming ball. She had so many dresses to choose from, but none of them felt quite right. She had always been more comfortable in her cutoff shorts and tank tops, and the thought of wearing a fancy dress made her feel self-conscious.
Sarah came into the room, looking as glamorous as ever in her designer dress. "Hey, sorry I took so lomg."
Kiara sighed. “You’re good.” She stared at her closet. “ have all these dresses, but none of them feel like me."
The blonde girl smiled sympathetically. "I know how you feel. Dressing up isn't really my thing either. But we have to look our best for our guys, right?"
Kiara rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile at Sarah's enthusiasm. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
Sarah walked over to the closet and started rummaging through Kiara's dresses. "Let's see what we've got here. Ooh, this one is cute!" She held up a bright red dress with a flowy skirt.
Kiara shook her head. "Too bright. I don't want to stand out too much."
Sarah nodded, putting the dress back. "Okay, how about this one?" She held up a black dress with a high neckline and lace detailing.
Kiara shook her head again. "Too fancy. I don't want to look like I'm trying too hard."
She frowned. "Okay, we need to find something that's the perfect balance. Something that's elegant but also comfortable and true to who you are."
They continued searching through the closet, trying on different dresses and discarding them one by one. It wasn't until they were about to give up that Sarah spotted a dress hidden in the back of the closet.
"Wait, what's this?" she said, pulling out a simple blue dress with spaghetti straps.
Kiara's eyes widened. "I forgot about that one. I haven't worn it in ages."
Sarah held up the dress against Kiara's body, and they both gasped in surprise. It was the perfect fit, hugging her curves in all the right places without being too tight or revealing.
"That's it!" Sarah exclaimed. "You look amazing in it."
Kiara couldn't believe how beautiful she felt in the dress. She twirled around, feeling the flowy skirt spin around her legs.
"You're right," she said to Sarah. "This is the one. Thank you so much for helping me."
She grinned. "Anytime, girl. Now let's go show the boys what we've got."