"Damn, looking sharp Mr. Gilligan," Hoagie poses in the mirror energetically. His dark brown suit is the very height of couture fashion in his eyes. "Are you single or what, you sexy beast?"

Finger guns are pointed at him in the reflection, and for the first time in a long time, he genuinely feels confident in his body.

"Hoagie, what the hell are you doing?" Of course Tommy chooses this moment to enter Hoagie's (charmingly messy) room. Raising a quizzical eyebrow above his glasses at the sight of his brother hyping himself up.

"Just getting ready for the company dinner" Hoague is embarrassed, as evidenced by his squeaky reply. Clearing his throat he continues, "Mom said to dress in our best, and there might be some hot business babes to impress there." He says the last part with a cheeky shrug and wink.

"Ew," Tommy wrinkles his nose and gives Hoagie a look. (A really, are you really going to say stuff like that and traumatize your little brother? Kind of look) But Hoagie's not going to let the haters get him down, he's going to shine and be the coolest almost valedictorian at the party. "Anyways, come downstairs, Mom says we're leaving soon."

Hoagie looks at Tommy incredulously, "are you really wearing that to the party?" The offending outfit in question was a simple blue sweater and some straight dark wash jeans. Definitely not nearly as dressed up as his elder brother. (Who for some reason was sporting a monocle instead of his normal glasses?)

"Uh, yeah," Tommy looks curiously at Hoagie, and starts to leave the room to go downstairs. "It's a company family dinner, not some kind of prom you weirdo."

"Hey, I take offense to that," Hoagie yells to the closing door. He looks at himself once more in the mirror. "There's no way I'm overdressed, if anything he's underdressed."

—-

Hoagie was definitely overdressed.

Most of the people at the dinner were wearing simple slacks and smart shirts. It was a decidingly business casual event. (In hindsight the monocle might've been too much.)

Luckily there were a couple people a bit overdressed, though not as much as he was, which was a relief.

The event took place in a rented business meeting room, but the chairs and table had been moved and replaced with smaller tables and tea lights. Towards the ice sculpture there was a couple of girls who seemed just as dressed up as Hoagie was.

The one with the lavender gown he knew as Kuki Sanban, her round pretty face was animated with joy and her hair was twisted in a smooth bun that accentuated her silky black hair. He couldn't place the other girl she was talking to though. (He knew it wasn't Abby at least and his stomach dipped with disappointment.) She was tall and pale with freckles dotting her long face. Her eyes were wide and green, and suited her short red hair exceptionally well. She was pretty, but in a different way than her companion. (Like how a lily of the valley and candle flame are both beautiful in their own ways.)

He was just going to go over to them when he saw Wally making his way to him. A smile stretched over his face, this shindig was definitely getting interesting.

"That's quite the outfit you have on," Wally's face held the same confused look that his brother had on earlier. Which made sense since the blond boy was simply wearing dark wash jeans and a polo shirt.

"I know, I overdressed a bit," Hoagie's face flushed a tad.

"A bit, you look about ready to go to an opera or somethin' " Wally's nose scrunched a bit at his friend being so extravagant in his way of dress. Feeling a bit wicked and annoyed, Hoagie decided to get back at his bemused friend.

"Did you see who else is here," The monocled teen gestures to where the two girls are now seated, entrenched in what looks to be a moving conversation.

Wally glances at them and then immediately blushes and takes a step back. "You're evil, utterly evil Gilligan," He shakes his head in false anger at his friend.

"That I am, but I'm not a coward," A smirk stays on Hoagie's lips as it's his turn to raise an eyebrow at Wallabee.

"I'm not a coward," Wally grumbles, his forehead puckering with distaste. "I'm not required to speak to her or anything."

Hoagie leaves their conversation there. He doesn't want to tease the poor boy any further. Instead he turns their conversation to something better. And he and Wally commence talking about embarrassing subjects of the other.

Unbeknownst to them (they're steeped in a good conversation about the latest basketball game) makes her way to Kuki and Fanny and engages the girls in conversation.

"This party is really lame, I hope it blows over soon." Wally exhales out of boredom.

Hoagie hopes so too, the food here isn't nearly as good as he expected. And yet he couldn't feel as if something was to change.

"Anyways tell me about winning valedictorian," Wally interrupts his thoughts with a comment that makes Hoagie gnaw his lip in nervousness.

A/N: Sorry for the shorter chapter this time, I have covid and my brain is a mushy soup. I quite like Wally and Hoagie's friendship though. I hope to get better soon. I'll try to update by March.