Satin swished around my legs as I stumbled in front of the mirror to do my mascara. My hand held the side of it to support myself. Blinking rapidly, I took a step back to assess the full image. I struck a pose in the mirror, bringing one of my legs forward to see the slit in my satiny blue slip dress. My chunky black flat-forms contrasted with the delicate icy blue color of the dress, being matched and balanced with the oversized denim jacket I pulled around my shoulders. Running or not, Homecoming is still overrated and I'll be caught dead before I dress completely formally for something like this. Keeping it casual grunge is much more my speed.
=====𝚝𝚎𝚡𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝙽𝚊𝚖𝚒 🍊🎀=====
Nami 🍊🎀:
girl, HURRY UP
we've been out here for like 20 mins
Me:
🖕
im coming rn
=====𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚍=====
"What do you think?"
I practically twirled down the stairs to my mom already taking pictures.
"Like a little queen,"
She giggled as she snapped some more photos of me at the bottom of the stairs. An involuntary grin wiped across my face as I reached for the door,
"Be back later, love you."
My ears were met with the sound of a car horn as I finally stepped outside. It was Vivi's navy blue SUV. The windows rolled down as I approached, the muffled sounds of music now becoming crystal clear.
"Come on! We want to take pictures before I have to announce it!"
Nami thrusted open the back door for me to climb inside.
"Can't rush perfection."
I rolled my eyes as I climb into the backseat with Robin and Nami.
"Yeah, yeah; you're not royalty yet—but I do love your take on it."
Nami started, but was interrupted with a compliment from Robin.
"Everyone ready?"
Vivi peaked in the rearview mirror at us, pulling the car into reverse. Kohza was riding shotgun, being the fire to Vivi's ice princess look.
"Wait where are Usopp and Fra—Hey! Watch it, I'm back here too!"
My head whipped around to Vivi's spacious trunk, seeing the aforementioned pair pushing against each other to fight for space in the back. Usopp was dressed in a grey tuxedo with orange detailing, and Franky was wearing grey with blue detailing.
Robin and Nami wore orange and blue to match Usopp and Franky. Nami's dress was a low-cut slip dress as well, with strappy cutouts on her hips and gold chains draped around her shoulders. Robin's was more of a sundress cut, but still satiny and fitted to be more formal to fit the occasion.
Vivi and Kozha were blasting music the whole way to GLHS; it felt like a fever dream. Nami forced flash selfies on us and the wind blowing from open windows made the moment feel like a music video.
Hopefully this movie moment-esque feeling would last the whole night.
When we arrived the sun had just finished setting and the sky was turned shades of blue and purple against the moon. The entrance to the school was decorated to the 9s. Giant balloons, red and blue, spotlights, glitter, ribbons of fabric; you name it. I tried to slip into the school without Nami's prerequisite of pictures, but Vivi and Robin helped keep me hostage out front with them.
"No, no, no! I want a picture with our new Homecoming Queen!,"
Nami pulled me into a hug, forcing Vivi to take candids of us.
"No–c'mon! It's gonna be awkward, I'm the only one in the friend group without a date."
I tried to opt out and take the picture, but Nami wasn't taking no for an answer.
"I'll pose with you."
Nami and I fell silent as his voice cut through the crowd of people. I bit the inside of my cheek. Nami squealed with excitement,
"Yeah! See (Y/N), you have to be in it!"
I glared back at Kid's smug face.
"Well who's going to take the picture then?"
I spoke through gritted teeth, almost like I just knew this wouldn't save my ass either.
"I'll just get one of the guys to take it."
Kid looked over his shoulder to a familiar group of three walking towards us.
"Oh, of course."
I strained laughter as they came closer. Kid pushed past them to me, pulling up a hand to rest on the small of my back. The slightest touch was spreading goosebumps across my skin.
He knew what he was doing.
Nami and the gang seemed stunned at our closeness, but I quickly recovered with a dry clasp of my hands.
"Alright, let's take pictures then!"
Everyone started handing their phones to Heat, Killer, and Wire.
"Make sure you don't get my bad side."
I joke to our photographers, climbing up the steps to pose with the rest of the group. Kid followed me closely, pulling me in front of him with a swift–but forceful–hand on my waist. I felt his breath on my skin from how close he was holding me,
"Impossible."
My shoulders ran hot as his usually brash voice turned velvety against the shell of my ear. I brought my arm up to elbow him in the abdomen, he knew what he was doing.
"Stop that,"
I hissed. My elbow almost stung from his toned stomach. His hands ghosted over my waist down to my hips as his friends took pictures of the group.
"Hey—woah!"
I jumped against his uncharacteristically delicate touches, losing my footing on the steps. I froze to keep from rolling my ankle or something worse, breath caught in my throat as I felt myself start to fall. Nami gasped beside me, a rough tug on my wrist suddenly stopping my tumble.
"Be more careful Birdie,"
Kid help me suspended for a second, making sure he had my attention before he pulled me against his tall frame. Warmth ran up from my shoulders to the back of my neck, blushy heat starting to invade my face as well. I quickly pulled myself away, making a beeline to Heat to retrieve my phone. The rest of the group followed in suit, coming to retrieve their phones as well. As I was trying to escape inside, Nami caught me.
...Again.
She linked her arm with mine as we ascended the stairs together.
"What is with you? And Kid–are you two finally—No."
I interrupted her with a low tone.
"But he—I know,"
I breathed out, turning my head to give her a pointed look.
It seemed like Kid had fallen behind with his friends, giving me the proper time and space to assess how weird the last 5 minutes have been.
I know this is what I wanted, but I couldn't help to think of...
"What if he's just making fun of me..?"
My words were barely a whisper. Even if it wasn't for the music booming in the distance and the sea of idle chatter and laughter filling the hallway to the gym, I don't even think I could have heard myself.
Nami seemed to squeeze me tighter against her arm. Her eyes scanned over my features carefully, but she decided not to comment on them.
We flooded into the open gym doors with a crowd of people.
And I thought the entrance to the school was opulent..
It followed the same motifs of red and blue lighting, but they mixed somewhere in the middle for rich shades of purple. There were warm center lightings scattered on tables lining the walls and even an ice sculpture!
The music was much more clear now; a top 40 hit I'm sure, but everyone already dancing didn't seem to mind.
"I'm going to get something to drink!"
I had to shout a little over the music to Nami.
I lied.
I just wanted to get away from the group for a moment, but she seemed to accept my excuse to break free of her lock on my arm. I slipped into a crowd that seemed much more my speed; the introverts sitting at the tables lining the walls.
I found an empty target nestled in the corner, a perfect vantage point for people watching. This experience was starting to feel all too surreal to me.
Moving here has turned my life around almost entirely.
Last semester I was living a completely different life. In Syrup City, only a couple months ago. Now I had people who cared about me so deeply all of the sudden. It's only the end of September. I was coming off of a 3 year relationship, something that music & this band has helped distract me from.
Now it's like it was never a thing that affected me.
And now I'm falling for someone new.
"What are you doing over here all by yourself Birdie?"
Kid's voice took me out of my thoughts,
"Hiding from you."
He rolled his eyes as he took a seat next to me.
"Don't be like that Birdie.."
He leaned in closely over my shoulder,
"I know how you really feel about me."
I scoff at his boldness, turning away from him slightly,
"I would hope so, I let you know how much of an annoyance you are constantly."
"I like you, I really like you."
He cooed in my ear with that same velvety tone. His mockery sent shivers up my spine. I let out a sharp groan, snapping my body around to face him fully.
"W-W-What are you doing?"
I mock him back, a lump forming in my throat as I looked up at him. His mouth stretched into a weird grin, like he was about to laugh at me or something.
"So what? I like your stupid face, it's not a big deal; I'm sure I'm not the fir—You really like my stupid face."
He corrected me with an arrogant tone. His head titled to the side as he looked down at me, his amber eyes reflecting red. I felt hot again under his stare; now he knew everything. I couldn't hide anything anymore.
"I hate you."
"I hate you more."
I felt my lips twitch into a smile, turning away as quickly as it happened so he wouldn't see.
"(Y/N)?"
(Y/N).
His uncharacteristically gentle voice replayed in my head. I was surprised I could hear it over the music, but it seemed like the music was calming into a slow crawl.
It was so strange to hear him use my real name after all this time. The change made me shift to look at him; I'm sure he could see the shock that lined my features.
I just looked back at him, waiting for him to continue.
"Dance with me?"
"What–Why?,"
"Just–humor me."
He stood up, extending his hand towards me.
There was a familiar warm feeling to his words.
My head was screaming at me to stay put, but my body ignored me. My hand decided to take advantage of his uncharacteristic suggestions.
His skin was calloused, but had a smooth and inviting coolness to it. I walked slightly behind him, looking at how small my hand looked wrapped up in his. Even in my flat-forms too, he still towered over me.
We blended into the crowd of our peers around us as he turned to face me again finally. He was obviously wearing red, as vibrant as his wild hair. It was a standard suit set, black slacks and blazer. His shirt was that signature red, lazily buttoned and revealing his pale skin and collarbone. No tie, but it's not like he needed one to make the outfit work. His hair was slicked back to some degree, but unruly bangs and flyaways framed his face and drew me further into his eyes.
♪ "You kissed the devil's lips," ♪
I watched as his hand moved to interlock with mine, his other hand finding my waist with the most fluid, gentle precautions.
♪ "Just for fun," ♪
We swayed with the swells of the music, locked in a tense swirl of red and blue.
"This is stupid,"
I whispered to him. He snorted at my abrupt admission, giving into a nod.
"Yeah, but it beats sitting in the corner like a loser all night."
♪ "You turned up the record player," ♪
"Maybe to you, but I quite enjoy people watching."
♪ "You said that this one, Always made you made you feel alone," ♪
"Oh yeah, how could I forget your little staring problem Birdie."
I stepped on his foot lightly on 'accident', feeling a giggle erupt through my throat as he let out a sarcastic gasp.
♪ "And you've never been the same," ♪
"You're stupid,"
I corrected my earlier statement. He rolled his eyes with a tsk,
"If I'm so stupid, why do you have a really stupid crush on me?"
♪ "You're still like that today," ♪
"Don't look so happy about it; I can revoke my previous statements at any point."
He twirled me around with the rhythm of the incoming percussion. Even the chunky soles of my flat-forms couldn't keep me grounded with his arms around my frame. It felt like I was walking on air.
"Nope."
♪ "You're still a mystery to me," ♪
"No?,"
I scoffed. When he pulled me back to him, I was much more aware of how close we were. His cologne was invading my senses, giving the atmosphere around us a hazier feeling. The dim blues and reds wrapped around his pale features softly, illuminating the sharp lines of his face. The lump that I thought had been swallowed back arose again, making my mouth dry. Even dazed, I still found it in me to tease back,
"You can't control me."
♪ "Dead, dead, heat," ♪
All he did was laugh; so soft and fading into our surroundings. We leaned into each other as the music reverberated through the gym. My skin was tingling from his slightest movements; butterflies floating throughout my stomach as he slowed us to a stop. For a moment, I wasn't in GLHS's gym.
It was just us, a swirl a of fire and ice. We were the only things in the world. His thumb and index finger came up gently to tilt up my head. His eyes pierced through mine, half-lidded and flicking down to make eye contact with my lips for only a second.
♪ "Don't think twice," ♪
My eyes fluttering closed as he guided me up. We were so close I could feel his breath fanning across my lips–
"Alright lovebirds, we have our winners!"
A cheery voice cut over the synthed out guitar.
I stumbled back from Kid, feeling a lack of warmth from where we were flush against each other just moments before the announcement. My hand ripped away from his when I realized it lingered with his between us. He couldn't help but to give a tiny indication of a smirk at my sudden sharpness.
"With all the last minute votes counted and ballots closed; the time has finally come to announce this years' Pirate King & Queen for the homecoming court!"
I could hear that it was Nami speaking over the sound system, but the bright blue of the spotlights were hindering my vision of the makeshift stage she stood on.
Nami and Usopp made it sound like they had practically rigged the whole thing in my favor for weeks now. I was a shoe-in.
So why was I so nervous?
My skin ran hot under the sparkling red light. I shifted my weight as a hushed murmur spread across the gym.
"For our King: in a landslide victory... Eustass Kid!"
His cocky persona took hold as he pushed through the crowd to the makeshift stage. I felt myself scoff at his confidence.
Moment of truth.
My eyes fell closed.
"And now for our Queen: in an unexpected turn of events..."
Please.
"(Y/N) (L/N)!"
The breath was sucked from my lungs at Nami's voice. Clapping overlapped with small bursts of cheers shot my eyes wide open. I somehow made it on top of the makeshift stage through the adrenaline pump that was clouding my senses.
Kid seemed to roll his eyes at my stiff reactions.
"Relax Birdie, the hard part's over."
He whispered to me. I stepped on his foot again, forgetting about the crowd of people in front of us.
"Come on..,"
His hand slid up the small of my back again, leaning down into my ear,
"Play nice."
His voice lit a fire in the pit of my stomach. My head shot the other way, trying to shoo away my thoughts with something boring like baseball or whatever.
The 'ceremony' continued, with the little plastic crowns and all, as Nami made a small–embarrassing–speech about the two of us before asking for another round of applause for Grand Line's new Pirate King and Queen.
Kid grabbed my hand abruptly, lifting it with his. I looked out over the gym, then up at him by my side. He was looking back at me, this big grin plastered on his face. My lips couldn't help but to curl up into a grin that matched his.
Maybe I was overthinking everything.
I let Kid lead me off the raised platform, hand still intertwined with mine. Usopp and the gang stood just to the side to wait for me, congratulating me with as much enthusiasm as the whole gym had managed just moments before. I felt Kid let me go as my friends formed a little semi circle around us. I wasn't even paying attention to them at this point–
My mind was buzzing with serotonin bubbles in the shape of Kid.
I managed to escape in the escalating music to the bathrooms. All I needed was to calm down.
Music muffled against the red and white tiles that lined all sides of the girls' bathrooms.
snff.. sniff!
It was the last person I wanted to see when I turned the corner.
"Why is this happening to me..?"
Bonney hunched over the counter of the sinks in front of the large mirror on the right.
I tried to leave undetected, but my flat-forms betrayed me with a quick squkk!
Her head snapped towards me, an aching and confused look on her face.
"Look–I'm sorry, I'll just—You!"
She all but shrieked as she realized who I was.
"This is the last fucking straw, I swear (L/N)–enjoy it while it lasts–because I'm so beyond done trying to be civil."
She choked out her words in between harsh gasps for air as she sobbed on.
Her body language and pained cry felt like it should make me anxious, but...
Her words just fell on deaf ears.
I don't care anymore.
"I'm sorry,"
It was all I could bother to say before turning on my heel to return to the crowd.
I just made a beeline to Kid; I wanted–no–needed to be near him right now.
Before I could even say anything, he lit up before me,
"Let's get out of here Birdie."
I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to everyone before we were running down the stairs at the entrance to the school. Giggles and huffs of our warm breaths released into the cool air as little white puffs.
"Where are we going?"
I panted slightly as we jumped into his Jeep, my breath catching as fog on his windows.
"Does it matter?"
It didn't.
"I mean a little,"
Cheeky banter,
"Just trust me."
I don't know what was in the air tonight, but it made my senses all fuzzy. We were giggling like children—Kid, laughing like a child with me as he we raced through the city to our mystery location.
When we arrived I felt my skin blush harder against the cool night.
Dorry & Brogy's Ice Cream in Little Garden Park.
"Come on Birdie!"
He hopped out of the Jeep, calling for me to follow him.
It almost felt like I was dreaming–like I was floating on this fantasy cloud. This was so...
wholesome.
Getting ice cream together under the stars, one spoon for two, as we sat in front of this ornate, romantic styled fountain.
We took turns with the spoon, enjoying the sweet and bitter aftertaste of dark chocolate as we joked about the people still in the gym at GLHS.
"So you don't even care about this stuff?"
I flicked at his matching crown, lazily sat atop his fiery hair.
"Hell no! Do you really think that low of me?"
He snickered at my accusations, passing me back the spoon.
"Oh, so sorry for assuming you cared so much about something you've been talking about for weeks on end, and practically forced me to be a part of because you wanted it to end up a certain way."
I rolled my eyes. He gave me an incredulous before rolling his eyes as well.
"Come on, please tell me you're joking."
"What?"
"You still don't get it, do you?"
"What?"
I laughed into my question, still completely serious and oblivious to his words' 'true' meanings. He laughed in disbelief, standing up and extending his hand towards me.
"Let me finish what I started."
I took his hand again, not a hint of doubt in my mind,
"Which part?"
He swept me up and into his arms once again. My stomach swirled as he brought himself closer to me.
"This one."
He all but whispered into my mouth as he closed the small space between us with our lips.
♥️♥️♥️
CHAPTER 19 IS DONE Y'ALL!!!
This one was really hard to write for me:
in between moving back from college, getting a job at Starbucks, a vacation;
But it's finally here!!
I hope this chapter lived up to y'all's high expectations, I think it ended up p sweet :)
Thank you all again and as always for all of your sweet comments, votes, and continued support through everything!
it's so validating and amazing to see how far this rlly niche fanfic idea has gone 😭
It's rlly late when I'm editing this and typing up this A/N, so please forgive me for my curtness, but
Until next update lovelies ♥️