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p r o l o g u e 2 years prior , cousins country club
𝒯his is where she felt truly herself. Not a place physically, but mentally. Elevated. Physically she hated this place. Lilian sits in the stall of the country club bathroom, take a hit from a cart, inhale... exhale. her hands fan the cloud of smoke in the bathroom and wait until the fizzles out.
Her phone vibrates. Her uncle Teddy is ringing. The reason she is where she is. In the cousins' country club bathroom stall, in an overly expensive dress, hiding from a dreaded event to most women her age, a debutante ball. However, she knew the only way to survive such an occasion. High.
She lets out a strong cough before picking up, "Lil, where the hell are you? it's starting in ten minutes!!" He half yells. He cared enough about this is raise his voice, but not enough to go full on father figure mode.
Lilian cracks a laugh, "I'm just double checking myself in the bathroom, I'll be out in a second!" Swiftly before hanging up.
One more hit. Inhale. Exhale.
Exiting the stall, she stares at herself in the mirror. She hated this. A petit crown sitting on her up did hair, a floofy way priced gown perfectly white, and long silk gloves. Part of her wanted this. The seven year old in her who's favorite princess was Cinderella, that's basically who she was today. Boy, couldn't she wait until midnight. She smiles.
Snapping out of it she scurries out of the bathroom and makes her way to the line.
.·:*¨ ¨*:·.
𝓣he moment the program of the ball was done, Lilian rushed out of the venue. Finding a peaceful quiet place near the closed club pool. It's dark, moon light and pool light brighten the scene. Her feet are dipped into the water leaving the ends of the gown bunched up onto her thighs. Another hit. Inhale. Exhale. She was there again. She was truly herself. She got some joy out of her mom and uncle getting their moment via her suffering on that dance floor.
Especially she got some joy in knowing how knee deep in mingling they are and not seeking her presence. Right now, they're getting what they want, and she's getting what she wants. Peace and quiet.
There's a faint conversation of teenage boys hustling around. They're getting louder. "Jer Jer Jer Jer Jer Jer Jer Jer Jer, the way Emilynn looked at you after you basically ate ass!!" As one does hearing that, she whips her head towards them. It's three teen boys. "PRICELESS!" Says the tallest one.
"Mind you!" Lilian impulsively yells across the green. She couldn't help it, nor did she regret it. She wasn't really thinking anything through at the time. "Some of us are just trying to get some peace and quiet around here!!" They look over the way teenage boys look over after hearing a teenage girls voice. The tall one exchanges a look with the other two, and they walk away laughing, probably continuing the same conversation.
He's tall, wearing a polo shirt and glasses. A slightly familiar face, but it's apparently not from the ball. He looks sweet, he looks slightly concerned. "Hey"
She hides her cart under her dress is caution. Forces a little cheeky smile, "Hellooo"
"Am I ruining your wanted peace and quiet?" There's a genuine tone to the question. He gives a smile waiting for the answer. Lilian gives a small head shake. "Alright, debutante" he scoffs with a smile quickly taking off his flip flops and joining next to her.
She laughs at the acknowledgement, "Lilian, actually."
"I'm Conrad" he gives a soft smile to her. Holds in a laugh before commenting, "smoke?"
"What??" she giggles pushing him, "never!!" her high blabbering slips out. He follows with a slightly humorous, but a serious sigh. "Sorry, I'm- I don't do that sorta thing" attempting to save herself.
Conrad scoffs revealing her failure, "I'm not gonna judge, I can just smell it a bit" he notions to the air with her pointer finger.
"You are quite observant, Conrad" she admits to defeat.
He kicks his feet in the pool. "You know" he pushes up his glasses from the side. "Smoking rots your brain."
She lets out a laugh, "classic country club guy, with a polo, and I am only assuming a regular member of golfing and beach houses."
"Touche, I guess I'm not the only observant one."
She takes her cart from under the gown lifting it up to her lips. "I adore your honesty." Another hit. "I think my brain deserves a little rotting." And another. Conrad sits there watching her, basically a total stranger. Slight wariness because she isn't someone he would normally interact with, but there was something about her.
"Well, I adore your honesty" he could not help but let a slight smirk slip.
They look at each other for a moment. Two strangers. Her eyes are glistening from the pool lighting. Her hair is torn from the updo. His eyes looking at hers through his turtle framed glasses. An intoxicated smile on her face. Flirting always felt easy to her in that state.
"LILIANNA REED MOORE!" Both of their heads whip towards the voice of her mothers. "MS. THOMPSON SAID SHE FOUND YOU SMOKING IN THE BATHROOM?!? AND NOW YOU'RE OUT HERE DOING THE SAME THING?!?"
"Ohhh fuck" she looks back and she can only see the figure of the boy walking away. Best that way.
