STRANGER

chapter four ; the mystery game
[season one - episode two ]

   I JOLT AWAKE the moment Gwen's hands set on my shoulders. I don't think I'm even ready to wake up yet — physically and mentally that is. Last night was a wild one.

The second I open my eyes, I sit straight up. It took a few milliseconds to adjust myself to the unfamiliar surroundings. I wasn't expecting to wake up in the hallway of the Beck summer house... on the floor. I can't lie, I completely forgot we crashed here last night.

My eyes dash to the clock on the wall. The time read 8:06 a.m. Realizing how early it was, my brows subconsciously raise as I slowly turn back around to face Gwen, who was most definitely panicked. I look unamused. "Just a little bit early, isn't it?" I say sarcastically, my eyes half closed.

She narrows her eyes at me and scoffs. "Have you realized where we are?!" she whisper-shouts at me. I frown. I know where we are. We're in the house we practically grew up in. But it takes me a second to acknowledge the fact that Gwen has no idea what has happened and why we're here.

My eyes broaden immediately. Now I'm awake. I don't care what the time is. Six hours is better than nothing. "Jesus Christ," I curse under my breath as I don't hesitate to wrap my hand around her shoulder and rise to my feet.

"Fucking hell, at least let me not faint, would you?" Gwen scowls, clutching her head with her other hand as I move at a fast pace. Fortunately, the bathroom is just a meter away from us as I shove her inside as well as myself, locking the door behind us.

I quickly spin around to face her, my back to the door as she stares at me like I'm some maniac. I don't even get the chance to explain since Gwen's mouth flies open and slams me with dozens of questions all at once.

"What the hell?! Why are we here—?" She begins to bombard me with questions, and I know she must be so confused and how she must feel. She's no longer the Gwen she was last night and is back to normal.

I grit my teeth and shake my head, my eyes wider since I know someone will just hear her as they walk past. I bring my index finger to my lips and shush her.

"Did I miss the reunion?!" She ignores me. "Why were we on the floor?" She asks me way more questions than this, and I swear I must look like a psycho because I start jumping up and down on the spot, begging for the girl to be quiet as I shush her more and more.

"No, I'm not gonna shut up! Why are we here?!" she continues, and I want to cry from frustration. I grip onto her shoulders and shake her as the shushing sound slipping through my teeth begins to, more or less, give me a headache.

She just keeps on asking and asking until eventually two knocks sound from behind the door my back is facing. My heart sinks and Gwen's eyes lift over my shoulder.

"Are you two lesbians or something? Why are you peeing together?"

I merely blink as I begin to question my life.

Gwen's face scrunches up as she squints her eyes. "Shut the fuck up, Steven," she says. "Go back to checking your non-existent abs in the mirror or something, Lanky." I snort.

"Sheesh," says Steven, taking a step back away from the door, "someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed—"

"Piss off!"

"—oh yeah, that's right, you didn't sleep on a bed. You slept on our rock hard flooring because you can't control your alcohol."

"I swear to fucking God, Steven," Gwen breathes, controling her own annoyance, "I will go to the kitchen, find the nearest knife, and gut you," she says in a slow, menacing tone, smiling sarcastically and devilishly.

He blows raspberries, "Yeah, as if." We hear him walk away from the door, except he stops as he calls out another thing to us. "Oh, and tell New Girl Susannah wants to meet her."

Gwen's brows furrow deeply, sharing a brief glance with her best friend as she lifts her finger and opens her mouth to speak. My gut flips as I shake her once more, whispering the next words loud enough for her to hear but not anyone else outside the door. "They don't recognize me. None of them do!"

Despite her mouth already being open to retort something to Steven, it hangs open. It is nothing but dead silence for a moment or two as we stare at each other. She blinks as her eyebrows engrave into her forehead. "What?!"

I don't think twice to shush her, narrowing my eyes at her. I am not allowing her to attack me with another wave of questions.

"The fuck you mean they don't recognize you?! What!" I mentally sit myself in the corner of the room and scream. I cringe from how high pitched the final word was and I just know someone in the house had to have heard her.

I shush her ten times louder. "Shut up!" I hiss, shaking her violently which I just know is setting off some nerves in her fragile head.

"How do you expect me to remain calm?! They don't recognize you!" And apparently, this is now a war of whisper-shouts, praying to God no one is eavesdropping otherwise my plan is screwed.

"Correct! But I have a plan!" I whisper swiftly to quiet her. It works too, because she eyes me up and down as she crosses her arms over her chest.

"A plan to murder I hope..."

I lift my brows shortly. "Uh, not quite."

"Boo," she says as if I'm a shitty actor on a theater stage.

I sigh, a small grin playing at my lips. "I wanna play a game." I can tell Gwen's no longer irritated by the fact that no one recognizes me because her eyes lighten up and she actually remains quiet. Shocker, right? "A mystery game where they have to figure out who I am. If they don't figure it out by the end of summer... Well, I'll just have to tell them. Jeremiah calls me Star because I was watching them last night at the bonfire."

I watch Gwen smirk and wink. "Cute." I roll my eyes evidently as I whack the side of her arm with the back of my hand. Her smirk soon falters however when I think a shot of pain rattles through her head. "God, I'm gonna go get some water," she carefully pushes past me as she goes to unlock the door. "Hope they have painkillers too because my head feels like it's going to explode. Lord help me if Steven enters the room— hey, you coming?"

I squint my eyes at her as I gesture to the mirror. "I went to sleep with makeup on and my hair has one-too-many tangles in it."

"Right, you're gonna prep yourself, got it," she acknowledges what I'm suggesting as she leaves the small bathroom, closing the door behind her as she winks at me. I know she thinks my plan is a good plan, because it adds some drama to our lives and makes it fun.

I suck in a deep breath, and I seal my eyes shut as I sit myself down on top of the toilet seat, holding my head in my hands. Everything has gone to shit. This isn't how it was supposed to go, but I've made the bed by declaring the mystery game and now I have to lay in it.

If I had just said to them 'hi, it's me, Selena — the girl who left without saying goodbye four years ago,' then things would've been different. I stand up, forcing open my eyes as I lean over the sink. I watch myself in the mirror, asking myself questions.

The muscles in my face and shoulders fall as I notice the state of my hair. It's still half-up half-down... kinda? I don't hesitate to rip the hair tie out of my hair, brushing my fingers through in an attempt to detangle at least most of it. It's not the best, but it's better than nothing.

With the hair tie, I clump my hair in my hand as I wrap it around a few times, forming a bun. I twist the cold faucet in front of me and cup my hands underneath the pouring water. I lean down and close my eyes as I splash the bitter cold water on my face, my eyes snapping open from the sudden shock.

It takes me a couple of minutes to scrub as much mascara off as possible from under my eyes. There's evidently still some on my actual lashes, but I don't mind that. I got to at least try to look presentable to this family. They probably wouldn't even mind, but I do.

I take a few more breaths as I scratch my cheek, a small strand tickling my skin lightly. I pull the hair tie out, allowing my hair to fall freely as I turn to the door.

I pull down the door handle, the door slightly creaking as I open it. I peek out at first, making sure the coast is clear. It would've been super awkward if I just so happened to open the door the moment someone walked past. I don't why, but that's top tier awkward for me.

I leave the door ajar behind me in case I want to abort and walk straight back into the room. I step into the room to my left; the living room. Almost immediately, my eyes land on Gwen and Conrad, A.K.A the two hung over teens who are definitely regretting their actions from the night previously.

Gwen's dark brown eyes land on me and it seems her eyes widen ever so slightly. I think she forgot I was here. "Morning..." she says raspily and everyone in the room, including the kitchen, turns to look at her.

It isn't until I shift my gaze over to the kitchen that I spot Laurel, Steven and Jeremiah. Everyone's eyes set on Gwen with confusion before noticing me in the doorway. Nervously, I wave briefly at everyone, muttering a 'good morning.' I don't like how everyone's looking at me.

Gwen and Conrad look equally as hungover as each other. Conrad can barely keep his eyes open while Gwen just looks exhausted anyway. Jeremiah and Steven are both wearing uniforms; Jeremiah wearing a lifeguard uniform and Steven a bartender. I didn't know they had jobs. Laurel is on a seat at the kitchen island, her laptop in front of her as she types.

"Okay, great, you're both in here," Jeremiah speaks up, not taking his eyes off the pan in front of him. "Gwen, I don't think I even have to offer this magical hangover cure of a smoothie, right?"

"Not even a question," she answers instantaneously. She beckons me over to the seat she's sitting on with Conrad and pats it beside her. I don't think twice about shuffling over and sitting down.

"And, Star, would you like some eggs? Perfectly made. The yolk never gets broken when I make them," once again, he peers over his own shoulder and offers me a casual wink.

I raise my brows as I nod. "Sure, thank you."

Gwen has slouched herself back into the couch, sealing her eyes shut. However, I watch what goes on in the kitchen as I see Steven lingering around Jeremiah, his eyes glued to the eggs.

Jeremiah can sense him from behind and immediately spins around with the skimmer in his hands. "Alright, seriously, Steven, get out," he tells him, his hand on the man's chest.

Steven rolls his eyes. "Oh, c'mon."

"This is a delicate science," he points to the pan over his shoulder, "and your heavy breathing is gonna break the yolk. Gotta make the guests happy, alright?

"Okay. Okay, okay," Steven walks away in defeat, a grin tugging at his lips.

I lean forward, cupping my hands around the sides of my face as my elbows lean on my thighs. My eyes drift over to Gwen from the corner of my eyes, and I immediately want to smack the smirk she's trying so hard to hide off of her face.

"She hasn't painted you since you were little," Laurel speaks up, her eyes trained on the back of Jeremiah's head as he returns back to cooking. I assume they're referring to Susannah because she's the painter of the house.

I remember her doing all of our portraits when we were ten. She'd bring us outside one-by-one and paint us for a solid two or three hours. The thought of sitting still for that long sounds boring, but being with Susannah doesn't make it that way.

Susannah always treated Gwen and I as if we were her own, and I loved that about her. I hadn't grown up with a mother figure, so I saw her as one.

I see Laurel twist her head to our direction and she watches Gwen. "I'm sure Susannah would want you to have your portrait done too. You look different from how you were six years ago."

"Oh...uhm, yeah. Maybe because I had glasses and longer as well as straighter hair," Gwen states, rubbing her eye as she yawns after. "God, I do not miss my glasses. I've just noticed how none of us wear glasses anymore — even Belly. I mean, none of us do now... some of us. Maybe."

My eyes dash to her face as I spot the way she added the final words. She forgot they don't know I'm Selena yet.

The air falls silent, and I don't know if it's because everyone's doing something or not, I don't know. That's until Laurel speaks up again, "I'd assume Selena still wears her glasses, honey. She never took them off ever and loved them. It's a shame we won't be able to get an updated portrait of her this year."

I don't know if this is a regular occurrence, but my brows raise into the middle of my forehead as I face Gwen. She discreetly eyes me from the corner of her eyes. I nudge her leg and she instantly replies to Laurel, "Uh— yeah, totally. She loved her glasses..."

"You okay, hon?" Laurel wonders, and all of the sudden, all the eyes are on both Gwen and me.

She stammers for a second. "Uh... well, you know! Just miss her. Think we all do."

"Well," Steven begins as he circles the kitchen island, "Selly has to come back, right? I mean, she can't forget about us. When she comes back, then Susannah can paint her."

Selly... I haven't heard that nickname in forever. It's the nickname Steven gave me when I was six. I was so close with Belly as a kid, she was my best friend alongside Gwen. All three of us were. We were inseparable. Gwen and I earned the nicknames 'Selly and Gwenny' to match with Belly's nickname. I don't hate it at all, whereas Gwen does.

Laurel clears her throat for a second and hesitantly agrees with her son. I frown as I watch them. I'm right here.

"Look, I think it'd be nice to have these portraits for when you're older," Laurel tells her son and Jeremiah. I watch as the youngest Fisher boy turns around and walks over to the blender. I already know what's coming as he switches on a setting.

"Old? No," Steven begins, glancing over at Conrad, Gwen and I from the doorway. "When I'm older, I'm sure there'll be, like—" he rips his eyes away from us, "like, holograms or something I can watch myself, you know?"

"Oh, boy, don't you have high hopes for technology," Gwen murmurs, slowly beginning to drift back into unconsciousness as her head drops forward slowly. Just as I go to nudge her, the blender in the kitchen goes off and immediately makes Conrad and Gwen flinch. "Fuck me," Gwen whispers under her breath, holding her head as both her and the older Fisher boy begin massaging their temples simultaneously.

The second the whirring comes to an end, Laurel looks up at her son with narrowed eyes. "Just sit for your portraits. I don't see Conrad or Gwen complaining."

Jeremiah has poured the avocado smoothie into two separate glasses and he's walking into the room where the three of us are. "Conrad will complain when he's conscious and Gwen's too polite for her own good." He offers Gwen a glass, to which she groans as frowns in disgust as she takes it. With his free hand, he then lightly hits his brother's shoulder as he hands him the other glass.

He sends me a grin as he gestures to the pan. "Eggs will be ready shortly, m'lady."

"Got it," I chuckle as he turns around and walks back to the kitchen.

Steven watches with a particular look in his eyes. "C'mon, man. Hurry your ass up. Alright? I can't be late for my first day of work."

"We won't. We're good," Jeremiah says, entirely relaxed. He whacks Steven's hand as he steps past, to which Steven slaps his ass in return. I quietly snort from surprise.

"Mm, kinky," Gwen comments before groaning one last time as she chugs down the avocado smoothie. "Good Lord, that is fucking disgusting. No offense, Jere."

They ignore her small comments as Steven says the most outrageous things and does the most awful movements. I think I'd much rather claw my eyes out. "Those old country club boomers are gonna tip me so hard, man, they won't know what hit 'em!"

My brain immediately screams with second hand embarrassment. I bury my head in my hands and squeeze my eyes shut as I groan loudly from the cringe. He had set one hand over his crotch, his other in the air as he thrust the air.

"Steven, I do not ask anything from you but please for the love of God, never ever do that again," Gwen practically pleads from beside me, feeling the same emotion I currently have to deal with.

"Steven, I swear," his mom also cringed, and I don't blame her. I would never do something like that in front of my mother.

"What?" Steven laughed, his eyes dancing between Laurel, Gwen and I.

"C'mon guys," Jeremiah defends. "My boy's got to get that bread." Gwen and I both share disgusted glances as Steven thanks him. I hear lighter footsteps from the kitchen, and I think I know who it is instantly. "Good morning," Jeremiah greets as Belly steps into the kitchen with no ounce of happiness on her face.

"Belly, where have you been?" her mom demands without second thought, her eyes catching onto the bruise on her cheekbone that even I can see all the way from the couch. She gasps, "Is that a bruise?"

"Um—" Belly stutters as Laurel brushes her daughter's hair out of her face to have a better look at the forming bruise, "I— I bumped into someone." She lies through her teeth.

"You bumped into someone?" Laurel asks as Belly focuses her attention on the three of us on the couch. Conrad is leaned forward, his eyes on Belly while Gwen is leaning back, her head resting on the couch. I gave her a small smile, waving politely before retracting my hand and slapping myself mentally across the face.

"Doesn't look that bad," Conrad voiced.

The youngest out of all of us turns forward and meets Jeremiah's eyes. "Um, cereal?" he offers.

"Yeah, hit me."

"Sure."

"Oh, my God!" an exclamation sounds from a familiar, joyful woman as she runs down the stairs excitedly. Susannah turns the corner and her attention is so focused on the piece of card in her hand that she doesn't even see Gwen and I on the couch. "Belly is gonna be a debutante."

Susannah rushes over to Belly and wraps her arms around her. My mouth slightly falls open as I face Gwen, leaning into her ear to whisper, "They still do deb balls?"

Gwen nods immediately, exaggeratingly rolling her eyes at the idea. Belly laughs, "It's really not that big of a deal."

"I'm sorry. Like, Belly?" Steven questions with widened eyes. "Like, my sister? Like, that thing right there?"

Belly stares at her brother, leaning forward to grab the milk Jeremiah had set down for her as he returns to the eggs. "Shut up, cretin."

Susannah suddenly gasps, her eyes landing on something in particular. It's Gwen's bag on one of the chairs around the table in the kitchen. She walks forward towards it and Gwen watches her carefully before she pulls out the same piece of card from her bag.

We watch her stare down at the card for a moment or two, a look of disappointment falling over her expression as she turns around to face the couch. "Gwen, sweetie, you never signed it?"

"Uh, I said I would think about it, I'm just not sure it's my thing y'know?" Gwen shrugs, and I can see the way she feels bad for disappointing.

"Of course," Susannah sweetly smiles at the girl beside, her eyes sliding over to me after a second. Her jaw drops. "Oh, my God, hi!" she greets me, now walking over to the couch. "Gwen, is this your surprise you said you had yesterday? Your new pretty friend?!"

My heart falls again.

Nevertheless, I put on a bright smile as she approaches us. Gwen purses her lips tightly and awkwardly nods. "Uh, yeah." I know this isn't what she meant. The surprise was my return.

"Honey, you are gorgeous," Susannah says to me as she inspects my face. "You remind me of someone, I just can't put my finger on it," she says mindlessly, lost in thought. From this, Gwen sits up immediately and clears her throat. "What's your name, sweetie?"

As much as I really want to tell her, I know it'd ruin my plan. Gwen knows that too. I open my mouth to mutter out a false answer before Jeremiah sounds from the kitchen, "Star, the eggs are nearly done!"

I rise to my feet from the couch and begin making my way to the kitchen. Gwen feels the need to be on my heels as she follows me, Susannah doing the same as she gasps again. "What a beautiful name!"

I like the fact that Jeremiah has given me a nickname for the time being, but right now, I want to whack him. Everyone knows my name is not Star because of what Gwen had said in the car last night.

"Oh, honey, I love your hair. You and Gwen could sign up for Vogue," Susannah smiles brightly. God, I love her. She's such a sweet woman and I hate how I'm lying to her. "Very random question, but what's your last name, sweetie?"

"Uh—"

"Star Savoy!" Gwen blurts out. Everyone freezes in place as they turn to face us both. Even I have to turn to face her for a moment with somewhat wide eyes. She laughs uncomfortably. "Yeah, Savoy. She's uh— she's my cousin's daughter. Melissa? You guys know Melissa, right?" Everyone stays silent. "No, of course not, you wouldn't. B— but Melissa's daughter, Star, is my second cousin! Mhm!"

I have to restrain myself from bursting into laughter for a moment, but that soon falls as I feel a pair of eyes on me. I slowly turn my head to the side, catching Jeremiah's eyes. He looks beyond perplexed. He's the one that gave me the nickname, Star, in the first place, and now apparently it's my given name.

God, I'm confused too.

"That literally makes no sense since last night when Jere called her Star, you started babbling on about how there was no one in the car named Star," Steven points out, furrowing his brows as he watches us both.

"Uh, well, you know, I didn't know she was in the car at the time," she rushes out, feeling under pressure I assume.

Steven squints his eyes more skeptically. "You knew she was in the car, what are you talking about? You called her, and I quote, a 'pop up book from hell.'"

Despite the circumstances, Gwen snorts and points at me, "Hey, that's from Gilmore Girls right?" I elbow her arm. "Oh, yeah, right— Look, dude, I have short term memory loss when I'm drunk. I don't remember shit. I probably forgot she was even there." It's silent for a moment before Steven simply shrugs and goes back to whatever he was doing. Gwen stares at me dead in the eye again and whispers, "You have to tell me what the fuck happened, girl."

"I will," I whisper back, my eyes occasionally meeting Jeremiah's. He blinks confusedly as he turns back to continue the eggs.

"Have you signed yourself up for the debutante, Star?" Susannah innocently asks me. I cringe internally, acting neutral on the outside. I shake my head for an answer. "Oh, you should. Both of you should go! The boys' eyes will be all over you three," she refers to Gwen, Belly and I.

Steven scoffs loudly. "In Gwen's dreams. And, uh, no, my eyes would be nowhere near Belly. Gwen over here is far too busy with that weird eyebrow dude who is more or less a man slut."

"My God, Steven, no, he isn't," Gwen argues, resulting in an eye roll from Steven. I don't want to go against Gwen for this, but I can't help but agree with Steven... after what he did last night to her, I'm not exactly fond of him.

"Whatever. Major loser core," Steven mutters, loud enough for Gwen to hear.

Gwen flips him off. "Besides, who are you gonna be all over then? Star?"

I frown and give her a certain look. Definitely not. Steven chuckles at her ridiculousness. "Pft, nah."

"Then who? Hm?" she says, lifting her brows. I look back and forth between the pair, confused even more than before. I have no clue who they are talking about. Perhaps maybe the girl he was with last night. The really pretty one.

"Thought so. She's hot," she mouths, winking.

"Back off," he returns silently.

I zone out for a moment, staring blankly into space as the moms and Gwen converse about Noah. This isn't how I was expecting to spend my Monday morning. I just wanna go home. I wanna go back to bed. I'm done already. Now they think I'm one of Gwen's family members. How will they ever figure out that I'm not when they've just been informed that I'm not who I actually am?

Right now, if a grave was to open up right now, I'd gratefully crawl into it and lay there for the rest of my days. I can hear gasps from Susannah, but it isn't enough to snap me out of my daze.

What does however, is Steven's voice. "Woah, man slut is your boyfriend?" I didn't know a boy like that could settle." I snap my eyes over to him and nervously swallow.

"So, your boyfriend doesn't approve of your cousin?" Jeremiah pipes up, looking over his shoulder at her.

She seems confused and I send Jeremiah a certain look. "What are you talking about?" she asks, her brows knitted together. She looks across at me. "What's he talking about?"

"Uh—" I'm suddenly nervous, and I look to Jeremiah who sends me an assuring nod. I turn back to Gwen. "I went to tell you to ease up on the drinking, and uh, kinda got yelled at by him," I try to tell her as innocently as possible. I don't want her to get mad. "Um, he called me a pipsqueak, to leave you alone... how I don't fit in the crowd and uh, lastly, run back to mommy."

Perhaps I should clarify why I emphasize the M-word. Long story short, my mother died when I was two years old. I have no memory of her at all.

Gwen goes deafeningly silent, along with the rest of the room. I can tell she's not mad, but pissed. I want to calm her down as she glances between Jeremiah and I, however she brushes past me toward her bag on the chair. She slings it over her shoulder. "I'll be back," she informs us. "Thanks for letting me stay the night." How am I gonna tell her it wasn't a choice? She then looks at me and nods at me, "I'll text you later. See you guys."

She rushes out of the kitchen, and I'm left completely speechless. I don't know if I should go after her or not because I'm pretty sure she's either annoyed at me or annoyed at Noah. I'm not sure. I hope it's not me she's irritated by... I don't want her to think I'm trying to ruin her relationship the moment I return.

I hear the door close as she leaves.

I turn around to share a look with Conrad, who is merely taking a sip of his drink with raised brows, shrugging. I face forward again, and after a few moments of silence, Susannah attempts to lighten the mood as I stand here awkwardly with the people who don't recognize me.

"So, honey, are you gonna sign up?" she asks again, not earning a response from a few minutes ago since Steven interrupted. "I really think you should. You three are beautiful."

"I think trying to convince Gwen to go would be a difficult task," I giggle, earning the same giggle from the woman.

"Stubborn little Gwen, nothing ever changes," Steven mutters from beside the refrigerator where he's been all this time.

"I can go get you an invitation today! We have plenty of time," Susannah says, her excitement getting the better of her. "If you go, you have to convince Gwen to go. Are you a persuasive person, honey?"

"Can try to be."

"So, will you sign up?"

I ponder for a moment. I was always the kind of girl that likes dresses and dances. It's always been my kind of thing. I even taught myself how to dance with my roller-skates on... so slow dancing couldn't be too bad. "I could..."

"Ah, yes! See, Belly, now you most definitely have a friend to go with," she squeals. "Okay, this is gonna be so much fun. Just you wait. There is, uh... there's the tea, the auction, the ball, of course, the rehearsal— I gotta write this down." Then she gasps. "We need to go shopping. Which is great because we can stop by the country club and get Star's invitation!"

Belly shares a look with me, and she seems happy. I think she remembers me from last night... I wished she remembered me at all if I'm being honest. She laughs with her bowl of cereal, finishing it as she steps over to the table. I watch her, and I think she feels my eyes on her because she looks over at me and beckons me over.

I giggle, quickly moving over to the table as I sit myself on the seat to the side of Belly. "This sounds... expensive," Laurel comments.

"Oh, don't worry, Laur. It's on me," Susannah waves her off. "Are you coming with, Star?"

It feels so abnormal to be called Star by everyone else. With Jeremiah, though, it feels... normal. I shake my head hesitantly. "I still have to finish unpacking my things once my dad gets back. Plus I'll probably have to force Gwen to shop with me. Could work for the persuasion task."

"Aw, that's a shame. I was hoping to get to know you," Susannah replies, pouting her bottom lip but smiling afterwards to let me know she's joking. She turns back to Laurel. "It was my idea, and we still need to style you for your book party, so..."

"Belly, are you sure you want to do this?" Laurel asks her daughter. She looks over her shoulder as she catches her mother's eyes. "It doesn't seem very you."

"It's not," sounds Conrad from the living room. In unison, everyone turns to face him.

"Conrad, could you please be a little more supportive?" Susannah tells her son, to which he looks away unamused. "Now, which one of you is gonna be Belly's escort to the ball?"

"Not me," Conrad replies. "I went last year."

"Yeah, and I swore off balls," Jeremiah speaks up, his attention driving away from the eggs for a moment. I have to hold back a grin since the immaturity in my brain is still partly there from when I was twelve. Steven snorts loudly, however. "The dances, dude!"

"Wow, guys. Stop fighting over me," she embarrassingly and sarcastically laughs. "Um, I'm not going with either of you. I am going to find my own date."

Susannah smiles, bringing a cup of coffee to her lips before directing her attention to me again. "Have you got a date, honey?"

I shrug and shake my head at the same time. "Nope. I know literally nobody here. Oh, man, I forgot you have to find someone to dance with. That sucks."

"Trust me, everyone in this town is friendly. You'll find someone," Susannah assures me, and I smile in return.

"Wikipedia says debutante balls require instruction in morals and social etiquette," Laurel reads from her laptop screen.

"I'm going for a swim," Conrad informs, stepping outside. Belly and I watch him leave, sharing a glance with each other afterwards.

"That bruise looks like it hurts," I comment, gesturing towards the mark on her cheek. "That was quite a hard hit last night." I make sure I'm talking quietly, knowing she doesn't want her mother to hear.

Belly breathes out a small laugh. "Yeah, it's not that bad. I can't feel it until someone touches it. I'm sorry for pushing you over. You probably breathed in a lot of sand and stuff."

I wave her off. "Don't worry about it. I wasn't hurt."

"Are you actually gonna go to the deb?" she asks me as if she doesn't believe that I'm thinking of going. I frown and tilt my head at her. "It's just... you're friends with Gwen and most of her friends don't really seem interested in this sort of thing..."

I smile at her and shake my head. "Gwen and I are nothing alike."

I don't even see Jeremiah approach the table as he sets down two plates in front of us. "Here you are," he says. Belly looks up at him while I muster out a 'thank you' with a polite smile. He smiles back before walking back to the stove.

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words: 5839
30th may 2024
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THE GAME. fuck i jst ruined the game for myself. well, i meant the mystery game but wtv. sorry y'all. :(