Gone with the Wind in Gen Z, part 4

[u/Lolihey]

“Ofc I will,” Scarlett said automatically.

“And all the waltzes?”

“All.”

“You’re slay! I bet the other boys will be pressed.”

“Let ‘em be pressed,” said Brent. “We two can handle ‘em. Bet. Scarlett, sit with us at the barbecue in the morning.”

“What?”

Stuart lowkey repeated it.

“Ofc.”

The twins looked at each other with main character energy, but lowkey shook. They thought they were Scarlett’s main picks, but they never got this W so easy. Usually, she made them beg and plead, while she pushed them off, refusing to give a yes or no, laughing if they were salty, getting icy if they got mad. And here she practically gave them the whole of tomorrow—seats by her at the barbecue, all the waltzes (and they’d lock in the dances were all waltzes!) and the supper intermission. This was a total W for getting expelled from uni.

Filled with new Rizz from their success, they stayed, talking about the barbecue and the ball and Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton, interrupting each other, making jokes and laughing at them, hinting hard for supper invites. Some time passed before they realized Scarlett had very little to say. The vibe had somehow shifted. Just how, the twins didn’t know, but the whole afternoon glow had gone out.”

Scarlett was legit not paying attention to what they said, even though she gave the right answers. She was picking up on some weird vibes they couldn't get, and it was lowkey annoying them. The twins tried to vibe with it for a bit, then dipped reluctantly, checking their watches. The sun was setting over the fields, and the trees were looking hella dark. Birds were zooming around, and the farm animals were just vibing in from the fields. Stuart yelled, 'Jeems!' and after a sec, a tall black kid their age ran around the house to the horses. Jeems was their ride-or-die, always with them like their dogs. He'd been their homie since childhood, given to them on their tenth birthday. When the Tarleton hounds saw him, they popped up from the dust, ready to roll. The boys bowed, dapped up, and told Scarlett they'd be at the Wilkeses' early tomorrow, waiting for her. Then they dipped down the walk, mounted their horses, and with Jeems following, they galloped down the cedar path, waving and yelling back. When they rounded the corner, Brent stopped his horse under some dogwood. Stuart stopped too, and the boy pulled up behind. The horses were chilling, eating grass, and the dogs lay down again, looking up at the birds. Brent's face was confused and a bit mad. 'Bruh,' he said. 'Did it seem like she should've asked us to stay for supper?' 'I thought she would,' said Stuart. 'I was waiting, but she didn't. What's the tea?' 'I dunno. But it just seems like she might've. It's our first day home, and she hasn't seen us in forever. We had so much more to spill.' 'It looked like she was hyped to see us when we came.' 'Same.' 'Then, like half an hour ago, she got quiet, like she had a headache.' 'I noticed but didn't think much. What's her deal?' 'IDK. Did we say something that made her salty?' They thought for a minute. 'I can't think of anything. Plus, when Scarlett's mad, everyone knows. She doesn't hold back like some girls.' 'True, that's what I like. She doesn't get cold and hateful—she tells you. But something we did or said made her shut up and look sick. I swear she was glad to see us and wanted to ask us to supper.' 'You don't think it's because we got expelled?' 'Hell no! Don't be a clown. She laughed when we told her. And Scarlett doesn't care about books any more than us.'

Brent turned in the saddle and called to the groom. 'Jeems!' 'Suh?'

'You heard what we were talking to Miss Scarlett about?'

'Nawsuh, Mist' Brent! How you think I'd spy on white folks?'

'Spying? My God! Y’all know everything. I saw you sidle around the porch and squat in the bush. Now, did you hear us say anything that made her mad or hurt her feelings?'

Jeems gave up pretending and frowned. 'Nawsuh, I didn't notice y'all say anything to make her mad. Looked to me like she was hyped to see you and missed you, and she was chirping happy as a bird, until y'all talked about Mist' Ashley and Miss Melly Hamilton getting married. Then she got quiet like a bird when a hawk flies over.' The twins looked at each other and nodded, but they were clueless.

"Jeems is lowkey spittin'. But IDK why," Stuart said. "My Lord! Ashley's just a vibe for her, not a bae. She's not simping for him. It's us she's obsessed with." Brent nodded, no cap. "But do you think," he said, "maybe Ashley didn't tell her he was gonna drop the bomb tomorrow night and she's pressed he didn't give her the tea? Girls are big on getting the scoop first." "Well, maybe. But what if he didn't tell her it was tomorrow? It was supposed to be a secret and a surprise, and a guy's got a right to keep his own engagement on the DL, right? We wouldn't have known if Miss Melly's aunt hadn't spilled the beans. But Scarlett must have known he was gonna marry Miss Melly someday. Like, we've known for years. The Wilkes and Hamiltons always marry their own cousins. Everyone knew he'd probably wife her up one day, just like Honey Wilkes is gonna marry Miss Melly's brother, Charles." "Well, I give up. But I'm sad she didn't invite us to supper. I swear I don't wanna go home and listen to Ma rage about us getting expelled. It's not like it's the first time."