EMMILYN PULLED ON THE STRAPS OF HER DRESS as Susannah painted her portrait. "You look so much like your mom in that dress." The blonde woman smiled.

Emmilyn beamed at her. "Do I really?"

Susannah nodded, glancing at her before looking at the painting. "Your red is coming out. You guys could be called twins."

Emmi's smile faded slowly. Everybody said she and her mom were twins. She was forced to bear the face of the woman she killed for the rest of her life.

"I can't believe Conrad is going to the ball with you." Susannah told her, not noticing how upset the girl looked. "Amy and I were right. Both our girls ended up with my boys."

Emmilyn smiled at her, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear. "I wish my mom could be here to see this." She admitted. "She always said she wanted to help me deb."

"She'd be happy you still did it," Susannah assured her. "And she'd be so happy you're with Conrad now. She only ever wanted you with someone good. And Emmi? She is seeing this."

"She hated Scott." Emmilyn laughed, remembering how many times she'd been told to break up with him. "She'd be so happy I'm with Connie."

Susannah snorted from in front of her. "She really hated Scott."

Emmilyn's smiled faded as she thought about her ex-boyfriend. "Stupid, stupid Scott." She spoke. Susannah laughed, not knowing the full context behind the words leaving Emmilyn's mouth.

"I'm going to go wake up Belly," The blonde told her. "Go see Connie, then head to the club."

Emmi nodded as she stood up, going to the bathroom. She changed back into her regular clothes, going to the kitchen. "Good morning," She smiled.

"Good morning," Conrad spoke, pushing a box towards her. "I got us the good muffins." Emmi nodded, picking one up. She leaned up to kiss Conrad in thanks, making Elijah gag.

"I'll never get used to that." He complained loudly.

"I'll never get used to you and Lottie." Emmi shot back as Conrad's hand dipped into the back pocket of her jeans, making Elijah zip his mouth. She laughed lightly. "I got to go. I'll see you tonight. Don't bail."

Conrad shook his head at her as she walked away. "Never."

Emmilyn sent a smile towards him before opening the front door, driving to the club. She sighed as she walked in, seeing all of the girls.

"Emmi!" Shayla grinned, walking up to her. She wrapped her in a short hug. "Come on, I saved you a seat."

Emmi smiled seeing it was right next to Nicole. Of course. She sat down, picking up her mascara bottle.

Nicole sighed. "I'm sorry about yesterday Emmi, I-"

"Go shove your apology." Emmi spat out, turning to face her. "I swear to God after this stupid debate ball is over I will fuck you up."

Nicole left all three girls vulnerable to anything happening. No matter what her grievances with Emmi were, she should have left Taylor and Belly out of it.

•••

Emmilyn Wilson stood wide-eyed behind Belly. She was about to be presented to everyone there; she was about to be presented to society without her mom there by her side.

She adjusted her strap again, straightening the pearl necklace Susannah had given to her on her birthday last year. The deb ball meant summer was ending; she wasn't ready to go back to New York. She wasn't ready to leave Conrad.

Emmilyn was behind Belly, who was whispering prune over and over again. Emmi tilted her head in confusion.

"Isabel Conklin." The announcer spoke. Emmi lightly tapped her gloved hands together as Belly walked forward. "Daughter of John Conklin and Laurel Park."

Emmi breathed nervously out her nose as she waited for her name. Conrad smiled at her in reassurance as he walked up to the doorframe.

"Emmilyn Wilson," The lady spoke. Emmi walked forward slowly, connecting her arm with Conrad. "Daughter of Jameson Wilson and Amy Wilson. She's captain of her school's varsity volleyball and basketball team. She raised six thousand dollars for the domestic violence shelters."

"You look perfect," Conrad whispered as they stepped down, smiling widely for the cameras. Emmi blushed heavily at his words. Somewhere in the audience, Emmi heard Elijah wolf whistle, making her giggle.

Susannah, over at her table, looked close to tears. "Are you okay?" Laur whispered over.

"I got to see both our girls in white dresses." Susannah whispered back. "And my boys on their arm. I couldn't ask for a better night."

Emmi walked down to the table, handing her floeers to Susannah. She pulled the woman into a hug, smiling. "Thank you for watching out for me this summer," She whispered. "I couldn't ask for a better bonus mom."

Susannah inhaled at her words, smiling sadly. She knew losing another mom would kill Emmi; she didn't know how to break it to the kids.

"I'll be right back," Laurel told them, voice breaking. Emmilyn watched her in confusion before grabbing Conrad's hand, smiling at him.

Belly glanced at her dad, who got up to follow Laur. Emmilyn and Belly exchanged a confused look. "It is my honor to this year's Cousins Beach Country Club debutantes."

Emmilyn curtsied, face beating red as everybody clapped. Conrad chuckled, while Belly smiled up at Jere.  Jere however, frowned, following towards where John and Laurel went.

"And now," Paige continued. "Introducing this year's debutante escorts."

The people in the audience whooped and cheered as the escorts went down the stairs, starting the dance. Emmilyn laughed at Conrad's smile; he looked so stiff and awkward. "I think you're the only person Connie would ever do this for." Susannah whispered over.

Emmilyn didn't reply but let out a whoop, clapping her hands together. Laurel and Susannah laughed, clapping.

Conrad Fisher was hers. It was such a foreign thought. Conrad Fisher was Emmilyn Wilson's boyfriend. Emmilyn Wilson and Conrad Fisher were finally dating.

Jeremiah looked like he was having the time of his life dancing to the song. Emmi laughed; typical Jeremiah. He thrived off attention.

The boys emded in squats and on the floor. Emmi laughed, clapping again and cheering loudly. Emmi walked up to Conrad, smiling. "I didn't know you could dance like that."She teased.

Conrad glared at her. "Just this one time." He told her. "This doesn't happen again."

"Trust me, I'm never debbing again." Emmi assured him, adjusting her braid before connecting their lips in a short kiss.

She got to do this whenever she wanted now.

"You really do look pretty," Conrad told her, making her blush slightly. "Really gorgeous, actually."

Emmi leaned forward, putting her lips by his ears. "Maybe if you're lucky you'll be taking this dress off of me tonight."

Someone tapped on a glass, causing Emmi to grab Conrad's arm. "Just the waltz and it's over." She mumbled to him.

The debs got into their spots, waiting for the music to start. Emmi frowned as she spotted Belly standing in the middle of the dance floor, by herself. No Jeremiah. "Bells?"

"Have you seen Jeremiah?" She questioned, looking at the pair. Emmi shook her head pitifully.  "Okay."

Emmi glanced around for her brother; if Jere didn't show she'd make Elijah dance with Belly; she was like his other sister.

Emmilyn frowned as the music started up again. She pulled her hand away from Conrad, walking up to Elijah. "Eli," She whispered. "Come dance with Bells, Jere bailed."

Elijah nodded, standing up immediately to go to Belly. Emmi walked back up to Conrad, getting in their place. "Lijah's going to dance with Belly." She whispered over.

Conrad nodded as they started the dance. Emmilyn was suddenly hyper aware of everyone looking at her, but kept her focus on Conrad.

He was her ocean. Her peace.

Emmilyn glanced over to their table, seeing Jeremiah walk up to their table. She frowned as she glanced over to Elijah dancing with Belly. She didn't know what was up Jere's ass today.

Emmilyn sighed as Conrad dipped her, resisting the urge to kiss him. She hated the waltz. "I think I forgot some steps." He whispered over to her as she raised up.

Emmi shook her head. "You were perfect. You almost made that stupid dance enjoyable." She joked. Conrad cracked a smile.

Emmilyn looked over as Jeremiah approached them. "Conrad," He whispered, voice breaking. "We need to talk, all right? It's important, it's about mom. I found something out."

Emmilyn froze at Jere's tone; whatever was going on with Susannah was not good. The first thought that came into her head was Susannah's cancer was back. "We'll talk about this later, okay?"

"No, it's important." Jeremiah protested. At this point, they'd attracted Elijah and Belly's attention, the pair walking up.

"It's okay," Conrad assured his brother.

"You already know, don't you?" Jeremiah questioned, betrayal clear in his eyes. Emmilyn glanced at Conrad, confused. "You've known this whole fucking time and didn't tell me?"

"Jere..."

Emmilyn and Belly gasped, taking a step backwards as Conrad's face flew back. Whatever Jeremiah found out was serious. Emmilyn had seen Jeremiah and Conrad get into verbal arguments, but she's never seem them lay their hands on each other like this. Jeremiah tackled him, the boys hitting the ground.

"Hey!" Elijah yelled, grabbing Jeremiah's coat to try and yank him back. Jeremiah didn't stop his attack on Conrad though, struggling to get on top of him.

"Stop it!" Susannah shouted, running up. At the sound of their moms voice, the boys immediately froze. "Both of you, stop it. What, is going on?"

"We know, mom." Conrad whispered, voice soft. "We both know."

Susannah's lips parted in shock as Emmilyn glanced at her brother. "Know what?"

•••

Susannah had cancer again. That was what they were hiding. Susannah's cancer was back.

Emmi and Elijah wrapped themselves in eachothers arms, sobbing onto eachother. Elijah was rubbing her back, trying to comfort his sister, but it was no use.

The Conklins and the Fishers had their moms; the Wilson siblings only had eachother. "I'm so stupid," Emmi sobbed, trying to curl herself further into her brother. "Fuck, I'm so stupid."

"I didn't know either," Elijah spoke, trying steady his voice. Emmi knew he was breaking just as bad as she was inside. She wished he would let himself hurt instead of trying to be strong for her.

After their mom died, both of them latched onto Susannah as a bonus mom. Now she was going to die too. They couldn't take another loss.

Emmi tightened her hold on her brother, sobbing into his neck. "I've been getting so drunk all summer," She cried. "I'm barely going to remember our last summer with Susannah."

"She's not going to get better?" Elijah sniffed. Emmilyn shook her head; her hands had been shaking so hard she couldn't drive home. Belly's dad had to take her and Elijah back to the house. He told them Susannah wouldn't do the trial and would probably pass by winter.

Emmilyn's insides felt like they were shutting down; she couldn't imagine her life without Susannah. Almost all her memories from the time she was born involved the woman.

The siblings cried together, refusing to let go. Laur was upstairs talking to Belly and Steven; Susannah was with Conrad and Jeremiah.

That was why Conrad was so upset all summer; and Emmilyn hadn't even noticed. She felt so stupid. She was so selfish. She had given him such a hard time when Conrad knew his mom was dying and there was nothing he could do about it.

Emmi remembered the first time Susannah had gone through chemo; she was thirteen at the time. Susannah had been so sick, barely herself. She understood why Susannah didn't want to go through it again, but none of them could lose Susannah. She was sure it would kill all the kids; and Laur.

Oh, God, Laurel. Laurel and Susannah had been inseparable for years. Losing Amy had broken a piece of Laurel. If she lost Susannah too, Emmi knew the woman would shatter.

Emmilyn's tears slowed, loosening her grip on her brother slightly. She couldn't lose herself yet; maybe Jere and Conrad would convince her to do the trial.

"You're the best little sister." Elijah mumbled into her hair, still shaking from sobs. "I love you. I just want you to know."

Emmi sobbed again, curling more into her brother's side. "Emmilyn?" Conrad whispered, voice still broken.

Emmi looked up, wiping her face slowly. She sat up, glancing back at Elijah, who nodded at her to go. The blonde followed Conrad down to the gazebo. "What happened with your mom?" She whispered.

"Jere and I got her to agree to the trial." Conrad told her. Emmilyn sighed in relief, wrapping her arm around Conrad's neck. "I can't believe she said yes."

Emmilyn sniffed, nodding. "I'm sorry you had to carry all of that alone. I wish you would've told one of us." Even if it wasn't her.

"I almost did," Conrad smiled weakly. "I wanted to so many times. I wanted to tell you so many times. I didn't want to make you carry the burden alone."

Emmilyn followed Conrad back to the house. They broke the news to Elijah, who was so relieved he wrapped them both in hugs, trying to lift them.

Emmilyn laughed as they went in the house, watching their little family with a fond smile; no matter what, no matter how badly she fucked up, she'd always be able to come back to the beach, to these people.