EMMILYN SAT ON TOP OF THE COUNTER, Scout at her feet. She took a sip of her coffee, looking back as Elijah came in. "Good morning."

"Good morning," Elijah replied, taking a sip of his sister's coffee. "Always too sweet." He complained, scrunching his nose up.

"At least I don't drink mine black." Emmilyn replied, jumping off the counter. "Hey, I need you to play Play it Forward with me."

"Con still hasn't asked you?" Elijah questioned. "Or you haven't asked him?"

"We haven't figured anything out." Emmilyn replied. "I kind of went off on him yesterday. He looked so hurt."

"He's the one messing with you." Elijah responded. "He needs to figure it out, Emmi, but you're also allowed to feel hurt."

"Thank you." Emmi smiled, wrapping her older brother in a hug. "You're the best brother anyone could ask for, you know that?"

Elijah didn't reply for a minute. "Where did that come from?"

"Just realized I hadn't told you." Emmi told him. "You deserve to know that, in case anything happens to either of us."

"Don't think about that." Elijah protested, shaking his head. "Do not think about that, Emmilyn."

"It's hard not to after mom." Emmi mumbled. "I just wanted to tell you that, Lijah, don't think too hard about it."

The Wilson siblings looked up as Conrad came into the kitchen. "Hey, Emmilyn."

Emmi winced at the full name. "Conrad."

"Elijah!" Eli announced. Emmi gave him a weird look, chuckling. "Sorry, I thought we were saying names."

Emmilyn pulled off her shirt, then slipping into her jersey. "Em." Conrad spoke. "I'm sorry."

Emmilyn nodded. She grabbed her water bottle, phone, and Scout's leash. "Figure your shit out." She told him. "Or I'm done, Conrad."

"Can I take you to the ball?" Emmilyn froze and Elijah's mouth opened in shock, looking between the two. "I mean, I already know all the dances and everything."

Emmilyn exhaled through her nose. It was progress, but he hadn't ended it with Nicole yet. She didn't understand why, after Nicole humiliated her at the party. "I'll think about it." Emmi told him.

She knew she would say yes.

Belly ran through the kitchen to open the door for Taylor, making Emmi stop short. What would Belly say, and who would she go with?

"Come on, Scout." Emmilyn sighed, grabbing her dogs leash. She needed out of this house. "Wait!" Elijah yelled, pulling on Em's jersey.

She sighed as she started her car. She pressed on the gas pedal, glancing at her brother. "You're telling him yes, right?" Elijah asked.

Emmilyn shrugged. "He's still with Nicole and apparently leading Belly on." She paused as she glanced at her brother. "I don't want another Scott. I don't want to get led on again."

Elijah immediately shook his head but Emmi interrupted. "Conrad wouldn't hurt me, it's not that part I'm worried about. It's the cheating. It would kill me."

"Con won't cheat on you." Elijah spoke, looking at his sister as they pulled into the club. "He won't, Em. Especially if he knows about Scott."

Emmi nodded, knowing Elijah was right. She knew Conrad would never do that; but she was so paranoid after Scott. "He does know."

The siblings walked into the volleyball area. Elijah immediately ran over to Lottie, pulling her into a hug. Emmi followed. "Can you hold Scout?" She requested with a small smile.

Lottie nodded, taking the leash. "Hey, good luck today. You'll beat all of them."

Em smiled at her, catching sight of Taylor talking to Shayla. "Oh, shit." She laughed. Elijah turned to see what she was laughing at, letting out his own chuckles.

"Good afternoon," Susannah spoke from the stage, holding her microphone. "I'm Susannah Fisher, chair of the club's community service board, and I am delighted to welcome you to Play it Forward!"

The crowd cheered loudly. "You know, as my mother used to say, if you're lucky enough to be at the beach, you're lucky enough. And we are very fortunate indeed," Em's body tensed as Conrad stood beside her. "Which is why in the spirit of fun and friendly competition, it is time to open our hearts, and our wallets, and give back to those who may not be as fortunate."

"We have teams raising money for homelessness, women's shelters, environmental causes, and many more." Emmi blushed as Conrad smiled at her. "And Play it Forward will match pledges for the winner of the tournament."

The crowd cheered again. Emmi was raising money for the domestic violence shelters. "Pledge tables still open, so please donate generously." Susannah continued. "And with that, I say let the games begin."

"This is mom's group, so we have to win." Emmilyn told Elijah. He nodded. "No matter what."

"Watch out for those two." Conrad told the siblings, pointing at two girls in white jerseys. "Her spike is lethal."

"You haven't seen Emmilyn's." Elijah told him, grinning. Emmi pointed at her brother in agreement as they walked away. Emmi had scholarships for a reason. Conrad shook his head as he watched her.

Emmilyn crossed her arms over her chest, watching as the groups practiced. She had been practicing at home; she didn't want the competition to know anything about her or how she played. She would be a surprise attack.

She frowned as she watched Conrad talk to Nicole; she hoped he was ending it. The first round started with Belly's team against the red team.

"Belly's going to be the hardest," Emmilyn mumbled. Elijah nodded in agreement, watching the girls. Until Taylor dived and said she hurt her ankle. "Oh, shit."

Jeremiah replaced Taylor, making Emmi sigh. She played with Jeremiah a lot; he was good.

Emmilyn and Elijah kept winning their rounds, but so did Belly and Jeremiah. To Emmi's happiness, she nailed the team with the killer spike.

After a bit, Belly got so annoyed with Jere's fumbling she replaced him with Conrad, making Emmilyn pissed off. "We have to beat them." Emmi declared, turning to face her brother.

Elijah looked at her with a grin. "Jealous?"

Emmi rolled her eyes, putting her hands on her hips. "No," She lied.

Elijah nodded in understanding. It finally got to Emmilyn and Elijah against Belly and Conrad, making her sigh. They had to win.

The game was close. Whoever got the next point won. Emmilyn bumped the ball up, Elijah slammed it and then they got the point.

Emmi screamed, jumping up and down. Elijah cheered beside her, wrapping his little sister into a hug. "And the winners are Emmilyn Wilson and Elijah Wilson!" Susannah whooped.

Emmilyn glanced over to Belly, noticing the frown on her face. Susannah ran up to hug them, making Emmi smile. "Oh my gosh, you guys were incredible!"

Emmilyn grinned, hugging her back. "I see why you have so many scholarship offers." Belly nodded to her. Emmi shrugged modestly.

"This was an off day for me."

•••

"Put a finger down if you've ever made out with two people within twenty four hours of each other." Taylor spoke. Most of the girls put their fingers down with laughs, but not Emmi or Belly.

Emmi had been invited by Belly and Taylor to Nicole's boat, so the debutante girls could all hangout. Emmi had been less than thrilled, as she didn't like most of the girls.

"Okay, put a finger down if you've ever used a stuffed animal to, you know." Dara spoke. Emmilyn shook her head.

"His name was Harry Bear Styles!" Taylor laughed as she put a finger down.  "Like,"

"You had a name for yours?" Gigi laughed, tapping Taylor's arm in amusement.

"Okay, put a finger down if you've ever had sex." Marissa spoke. Emmi and all the other girls but Belly put their finger down. Emmi only had two bodies, Conrad Fisher and Steven Conklin. "If you've ever been to third? Put a finger down if you've ever gone to second."

Emmi felt bad for Belly as the other girls stared judgingly at her. "Put a finger down if you've ever made out with Jeremiah Fisher." Taylor spoke up, coming to her best-friend's rescue.

The girls errupted as Belly put her finger down. "I knew it!" Emmi shouted, throwing her head back with a laugh.

"Shut the fuck up!" Dara yelled, while Gigi's mouth was open in shock.

"Wait," Nicole spoke. "Belly, we want all the tea."

"Um, sorry, Gigi." Belly spoke, taking a sip of her drink. The girl lied quickly and said it was fine. "Um, I mean, there's not much to tell. He's like my best friend."

"And when did it start?" Gigi questioned. Emmilyn snorted as she started on her fifth glass of alcohol. She could feel the drunk bliss approaching, thank the Lord.

"Um, about a week ago." Belly answered. "We kissed in the pool at our house."

At least now Emmi didn't have to feel as bad about Conrad. "I always had this weird feeling there was something going on between you and Conrad." Emmilyn coughed into her glass. "But I guess I just had the wrong brother."

Taylor gave Belly a look. "Uh, yeah , no. It's um, I don't know I-"

Emmi gave Belly a desperate look. She wanted to be petty. Belly picked up on the hint quickly. "Put a finger down if you've ever slept with Conrad Fisher."

Emmilyn's finger went down, while Nicole's stayed up, causing the blonde to smirk at her. Nicole sent a glare back while the other deb girls laughed loudly.

"Yeah, whatever!" Taylor interrupted. "Enough about Jeremiah and Conrad. Uh, put a finger down if you've ever been skinny-dipping."

"Put a finger down if you've ever gone skinny-dipping at Hopper's cove." Nicole added. Emmi put her finger down, while most of the girls didn't. Steven, Lottie, Jere, and Emmi had gotten drunk last year and went. It was fun.

"Is that a dare?" Taylor asked.

Nicole nodded. "Absolutely."

The girls laughed before nodding. "Let's go!"

•••

Emmilyn swam through the water, smiling. The ocean brought her so much happiness, as cringy as it sounded, it was like all her problems washed away.

"Nicole, Conrad's texting you!" Gigi called from the docks. Emmi's smile dropped as she sighed. He asked her to the ball but keeps going back to Nicole. She was so over this.

"Okay, coming!" Nicole replied eagerly, swimming for the dock. The others girls laughed at how quickly she went over.

Emmi wondered if Nicole knew she was being played.

Emmilyn droned Belly and Taylor out until she saw headlights. They had left them. "I knew they were bitches!" Taylor announced, swimming toward the dock.

"What's happening?" Belly called. Emmilyn followed behind Taylor, who had just pulled herself up. "They took everything! Except for Emmi's phone, that has a really incriminating text from Conrad."

Taylor gave her a glare as she handed the phone over. Apparently, Taylor had not caught the memo that Belly was supposedly into Jeremiah now.

connie
i really do want to take you to the ball, em
i just needed time to figure out what i want
and its you, only you
i seriously have been in love with you for years but i havent been in the right mental state to be with you, you deserved better
im ending things w nicole tonight.
please let me take you to the ball
and im sorry for walking away when we kissed
i got scared
i love you, emmi

Emmilyn's face blushed as she read the text. This was all she wanted. All she wanted was for Conrad to end things with Nicole so she could be with him.

It also explained why Nicole was so angry.

Belly swam up beside them, her face fallen. "Tarp." Emmi spoke, pointing at the tarp in front of them. She had basically grown up with those girls, she had done volleyball with Dara and Gigi for years.And they just left her naked and wasted at the cove.

"No." Taylor groaned.

"It's our only way." Belly spoke, while Emmilyn pulled herself up onto the dock. The blonde couldn't care less if Taylor and Belly saw her naked. She grabbed the tarp, wrapping it around her body as Belly and Taylor joined her.

Emmilyn sighed as they got not even a quarter way home, shivering. "I knew those girls were shit." Taylor spat out in anger.

"Okay, enough." Belly warned. "Okay, I get it, you were right."

"Why can't we call Jeremiah?" Taylor whined. "We're going to get like, murdered. Or we could call Elijah!"

Belly shook her head. "No, calling Jeremiah would be too much drama."

"Elijah would try and kill them." Em added quickly. "Like, he won't care if they're girls. They left his little sister and his practically little sister drunk at the cove. He will kill them."

"I can't walk two more miles." Taylor whined told them. Emmi understood. Her feet were killing her.

"Well, you're going to have to."

Emmilyn groaned as dogs started howling near them. She was officially cutting off all the deb girls but Shayla. "Belly, about Conrad." She mumbled. "I was going to tell you, but not until I knew what was going on. He's been messing with my feelings all summer, but I didn't mean to hurt you. I just didn't want to tell you if nothing was going to come from it."

Belly nodded in understanding. "It's okay, Em. I get it. Conrad's been acting all weird this summer. Plus, I have Jere now."

"I knew it would happen." Emmi smiled at her. "Jere's been pining for you all summer. Even Elijah noticed."

Belly blushed. "You know what, I'm going to call Jeremiah."

Emmilyn and Taylor cheered at that. They could not walk two more miles. They sat down on the curb, waiting for the boys. It was silent; but comfortable silent.

Two cars pulled up, making Emmi sigh in relief. "Oh my god, Belly, are you okay?" Jere questioned.

The trio sat up while Conrad got a bag out the back, holding Emmi's clothes. "What are you doing here?" Taylor spat.

"Nicole," Conrad answered, handing them the bag. "She told me about um."

Elijah got out of Conrad's car, making Emmi sigh. "Emmilyn, Jesus, are you okay?" His sister nodded, making him sigh.

"I hope you told her to watch her back." Taylor retorted. Conrad nodded.

"I'm going to beat the fuck out of that bitch's ass," Emmilyn promised, stepping out of the tarp and exposing her body to everyone.

"Jesus, Emmilyn," Elijah groaned, snapping his head away as she changed. Jeremiah and Conrad looked away to, but Conrad's eyes had traced her figure.

"Can you um?" Belly asked, gesturing to the edges of the tarp. The boys, obviously flustered, nodded, looking away as the other two girls changed. "Are you okay if I go with Jeremiah?" Belly whispered to Taylor.

"Oh my god, are you kidding me, yes." Taylor nodded. Emmi buttoned her shorts, walking towards Conrad's car. "A thousand percent, yes."

She paused, turning around and going straight for Elijah. She pulled him into a hug, burying her face in his neck. "Jesus, Em, you could've got kidnapped."

Emmilyn nodded, slightly shaking. It was the stupidest thing they could have done; walking two miles down the road naked. And with Emmilyn wasted. "I know."

Elijah sighed. Emmilyn got into the passenger seat of Conrad's car, Taylor and Elijah getting into the back. Belly and Jere had gone by themselves.

Emmi was hyper aware of Conrad glancing at her as he drove. With Elijah in the back, they couldn't talk about what happened. Plus, with Taylor shooting her judgmental glares.

"Can we have a minute?" Emmilyn requested when they pulled into the driveway. Elijah and Taylor nodded, getting out of the car. "Thank you for not leaving us." Conrad nodded. "And that text. Do you really want to take me to the ball? Is it really only me?"

Conrad smiled at her. "Of course, it's only you Em. And I do want to take you to the ball. Me and Nicole ended things tonight."

"I hoped you would after she left me naked and drunk in a lake." Emmilyn sniffed. Conrad chuckled at her, leaning forward to capture her lips with his.

This one was slower than the last, more cautious. This was the start of something new. Emmilyn kissed back as Conrad's hands went down to her waist, pulling her up. Emmilyn squeaked as he moved her over to the drivers side, sitting her on his lap.

She pulled back, leaning her forehead against his as she caught her breath. "So what does this mean for us?" She whispered. "We just make out and you take me to the ball or what?"

"Actually," Conrad breathed out, seeming nervous. "I was hoping you'd be my girlfriend. I only want you, Emmilyn. Only you. Forever."

Emmi smiled as she pulled Conrad into another kiss. "Only you, Conrad. You're the only one I want." She breathed against his lips. Conrad grinned up at her.

Her mom was right. Emmilyn had been destined for one of Susannah's boys; her only regret was her mom wasn't there to see it.