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Flashback 1

Cousins, Massachusetts

Day - Beck House - Living Room

(Song:) Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra

There was a slow pan over the city of Cousins, a summer town like the Hamptons, before Susannah's beach house was finally shown.

AJ: (voice over) "My family's been going to Susannah's beach house in Cousins every summer since I was a baby. Since before I was even born. All year long, I count the days until I'm in that house."

Young Amina "AJ" Jalali, Young Isabel "Belly" Conklin and her older brother Steven, and their cousin Percy Smythe, and the young Fisher brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, were playing in the house with their toys, just having fun.

Their parents were nearby, watching them play with smiles on their faces.

AJ's parents, Adilah and Khalid Jalali, who would sometimes go by KJ. Both happily in love and with an intense past, but they gladly let it go to be happy with their little family.

Belly and Steven's parents, Laurel Park and John and Conklin.

Percy's parents, Reagan and Helaena Smythe. Reagan was Laurel's brother, but they agreed to take the Smythe name.

And Conrad and Jeremiah's parents, Susannah Beck and Adam Fisher.

The last three marriages were far from perfect and would quickly lead to divorces.

Percy: (voice over) "The dads come to visit, but it's not their place. They don't belong to it. Not the way we do. The mothers and us kids."

♾️

Flashback 2

Day - Mako Marine Aquarium - Outside

Reagan, Adilah and Khalid were present, as were the other moms and the kids as they were opening Reagan's aquarium / hospital, and all of the kids thrived seeing the animals inside and helping Reagan treat and release them when they could.

Belly: (voice over) "But Reagan lives in Cousins unlike the other dads, and Adilah and Khalid helped him open his very own marine hospital and aquarium. We all practically lived in there growing up."

♾️

Flashback 3

Day - Country Club

The kids were all dancing around at the country club, and Helaena watched them with a fond smile.

Belly: (voice over) "And Helaena didn't stay with us. She had her own place with Reagan and Percy, but Percy went back and forth between home and with us... all while he was a child genius. He grew up in elementary and middle school normally because Reagan wanted to try and give up a mostly normal life, but then he breezed through high school in nine weeks, and then college three years later, and continued on to med school. Helaena saw that he was a medical child prodigy and took full advantage of it to make him into a doctor just like her... as soon as she could."

♾️

Flashback 4

Night - Beck House - Living Room

Adilah, Susannah and Laurel were dancing the night away with the kids, all in their pajamas, smiling and laughing all the while.

♾️

Flashback 5

Day - Beck House - Outside

Now, the kids were slightly older, into early teens for Conrad, AJ and Steven, and preteens for Belly, Jeremiah and Percy.

The boys grabbed Young Belly and Young AJ and were about to throw them into the water as per tradition every year, and the girls loved it.

AJ: (voice over) "The summer house is made up of lots of things."

As the boys threw the girls into the water, they all laughed.

♾️

Flashback 6

Day - Beach

The young kids were running to the beach, making a race of it as they hit the water.

Young Conrad was teaching Young AJ how to throw a perfect spiral with a football, and when Young AJ threw it with so much strength that it knocked Young Jeremiah back some when he caught it, they all cheered with laughter.

Young Belly was slightly annoyed as she watched Young Conrad and Young AJ.

AJ: (voice over) "The beach."

♾️

Flashback 7

Night - Beck House - Outside

The young kids were swimming in the pool outside the house.

AJ: (voice over) "The swimming pool late at night."

♾️

Flashback 8

Night - Beck House - Living Room

Looking more like themselves in present day, Belly and AJ were 13 and 14 respectively as they had their movie night with Laurel, Susannah and Adilah.

AJ: (voice over) "Movie nights with the moms."

♾️

Flashback 9

Night - Beck House - Dining Room

AJ, Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven and Percy were playing cards, all smiling, laughing and having fun.

AJ: (voice over) "But the boys. The boys most of all."

♾️

Flashback 10

Day - Beck House - Kitchen

Conrad, AJ, Percy and Steven were sitting at the table.

Jeremiah and Belly were sitting at the kitchen counter.

They were all chatting away.

AJ: (voice over) "It's the same every summer. I've always loved that about it."

Steven came up from behind Belly to snag her muffin, running off.

"Steven," Belly complained. "Steven!"

Percy laughed, high fiving with his cousin. "Way to go, Steven."

Steven grinned.

Belly ran over to get her muffin back, but Steven ran away.

Steven turned to their cousin. "Percy!"

Steven tossed the muffin to Percy.

Percy smiled, catching it.

Belly sighed, walking closer. "Percy, please."

Percy acted like he would give it to Belly but kept moving it out of her reach as she tried to take it.

Conrad smirked, shaking his head. "What a bunch of kids."

AJ laughed. "Oh, like you're not?"

Conrad mocked offense, as AJ laughed.

Percy tossed the muffin to Conrad.

Conrad handed the muffin to Belly.

Percy: (voice over) "For us, everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August."

Belly smiled at Conrad. "Thank you."

Conrad gave her a nod, before returning back to his conversation with AJ. "You were saying about me being a kid?"

Conrad and AJ smiled, while Belly's smile into disappointment as she walked away.

♾️

Dock

Over the years, in flashes, it was shown that there were pictures taken of the kids at each summer they were there, from when they were babies, to all the way up until last summer.

AJ: (voice over) "Though after last year, this summer is never going to be the same. Or any summer after."

(Song Ends)

♾️

Now

Day - Park-Conklin House - Belly's Room

Belly looked mostly the same now, but she grew into herself. Without glasses, and straight teeth, smooth hair and skin, she went from "cute" to "pretty" over the last year.

Her best friend Taylor Jewel was laying on her bed. "Drew's bummed you're missing the beach matchup with the boys' team next weekend."

Belly turned to look at her. "Um, make sure you tell Sophie to square up for the block."

Taylor gave her a look. "Drew Martinez is texting me about you, and you're talking about volleyball? Like, are you serious right now?"

Belly was packing for the summer. "Drew doesn't care if I'm there or not. He just wants an excuse to text you. And you better take this game against the guys seriously. I mean, team pride is on the line, Taylor."

Taylor tilted her head. "Please. You know me better than that. I would never let a boy beat me at anything."

Belly laughed. "I thought you came here to help me pack."

Taylor stood on her knees on the bed. "Fine. I'll help. Here's a tip. Don't bring that Speedo. It doesn't do a thing for your new boobs."

Belly gave her a look, putting the bathing suit away. "It's not a Speedo."

Taylor plopped down. "I'm just saying, babes. Like, you need to pack cute things."

"Well, I always buy a new suit when I get there," Belly explained.

Taylor leaned forward. "Okay. So, buy one that doesn't look like you're trying out for the swim team."

Belly smiled, giving her a look. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Taylor answered.

Belly playfully tackled Taylor, making them fall on the bed. They both laughed, giggling all the while.

Laurel called up. "Belly, we're leaving in the next ten minutes!"

Belly stood. "I got to go."

Taylor sat up to grab Belly's arm. "No, you don't."

Belly turned to face her. "Yes."

Taylor yanked her back down. "We still have ten minutes." Belly laughed, sitting on the floor next to her, as Taylor chuckled and laid down, face to face with Belly, poking her in the nose. "Boop. Okay, before I let you go, you have to tell me your summer wish. Like, the one thing you want to happen this summer."

Belly shrugged. "I don't know."

Taylor chuckled. "You little liar. Yes, you do. You want a hot make-out with Conrad Fisher. You want his tongue in your mouth, you dirty little slut."

Taylor kept poking at Belly.

Belly chuckled, pushing her hand off with a stuffed turtle. "Okay, shut up, Taylor."

Taylor laughed. "I'm just saying." Belly stood. Taylor sat up. "Like, you've been in love with him since we were 12. You've got to shit or get off the pot."

Belly tilted her head. "A, that's disgusting. And B, it doesn't matter what I do. He doesn't see me that way."

Taylor nodded. "Oh, he'll see you. Whether he wants to or not. You look a lot different than last summer, Belly."

Belly smiled.

♾️

Cousins, Massachusetts

Beach

Already in Cousins, Percy and Reagan approached the ocean, wearing swim trunks and holding surfboards, smiling at each other.

"You wanna go first?" Reagan asked.

Percy took off for the water with a yell.

Reagan laughed as he chased after Percy.

When they got to the ocean, Percy and Reagan immediately went to lay on their boards and start to swim out further into deeper waters.

Soon, they were on their feet and surfing every possible wave. They were laughing, smiling, having a lot of father-son fun, high fiving.

Once they were done, Percy and Reagan were walking away from the water and out across the sand.

"I love a father-son surf, Percy," Reagan told him.

"Me too, Dad," Percy agreed. "Living in LA with Mom is one thing. I'm glad I get to come back and spend summers with you."

"Me too," Reagan mused. He sighed, looking down. "How are you doing? You okay?"

Percy knew why he was asking, nodding. "Yeah, I'm okay, Dad. Better than AJ and Conard, at least."

Reagan nodded in agreement. "I know how Conrad's been doing. How is AJ? She ignores my texts and calls when she knows that's what I'm checking in on."

"She's like that in person, too, trust me," Percy told him. "AJ's not the party girl anymore. I just... don't know how to help her."

Reagan nodded sadly in agreement. "Hopefully coming back to work with us will help. She always loved that. So did Adilah and Khalid."

"Yeah, but she's not gonna be able to get in the water, Dad," Percy told him. "She hasn't been able to since Thanksgiving."

Reagan nodded in understanding. "I figured as much. We'll find a way to work around it."

Percy nodded, getting distracted when he saw someone else coming out of the water.

(Song:) Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift

A boy Percy's age, Cameron, walked out of the water, after having just been surfing himself.

Percy and Cam locked eyes for a moment before looking away, and Cam smiled politely.

Percy got flustered and embarrassed, turning to Reagan. "I gotta go. I'll see you at Mako after work at the hospital."

Percy ran off.

Lyrics: "Fever dream high in the quiet of the night / You know that I caught it / Bad, bad boy / Shiny toy with a price / You know that I bought it."

Reagan frowned in confusion, shaking his head.

♾️

Cousins Airport - Outside

AJ had just arrived to Cousins from the airport, stepping outside.

She got a text on her phone, and AJ looked at her phone to see that the text from Conrad.

Conrad had hesitantly sent: Everyone wants to know if you're still coming.

Lyrics: "Killing me slow, out the window / I'm always waiting for you to be waiting below / Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes / What doesn't kill me makes me want you more."

AJ couldn't help the smallest of smiles at the text.

AJ: (voice over) "I know what they really want to know. If I'm okay. I really do not like hearing that anymore. And Percy and Conrad seem to be the only ones who talk to and ask me directly... about anything anymore."

Lyrics: "Hang your head low / In the glow of the vending machine / I'm not dying / You say that we'll just screw it up in these trying times / We're not trying."

AJ texted back: I'm already here. Just got off the plane.

At his house, Conrad was in his room, and he was relieved when AJ texted him back. When he saw her text, that she was already here, he couldn't help but smile slightly, texting back.

Great. I'll see you soon.

Lyrics: "I'm drunk in the back of the car / And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar / Said, "I'm fine, " but it wasn't true / I don't wanna keep secrets just to keep you / And I snuck in through the garden gate / Every night that summer just to seal my fate / And I screamed for whatever it's worth / "I love you, " ain't that the worst thing you ever heard? / He looks up grinning like a devil."

AJ and Conrad both looked like they had a lot on their minds, overwhelmed but with a sense of relief and longing.

AJ: (voice over) "We have a lot weighing us down after Thanksgiving. But the thought of everyone being back together and seeing each other again... it sets my mind a little bit at ease. And I hope it does the same for Conrad."

Lyrics: "It's new, the shape of your body / It's blue, the feeling I've got / And it's ooh, whoa, oh / It's a cruel summer / It's cool, that's what I tell 'em / No rules in breakable heaven / But ooh, whoa, oh / It's a cruel summer / With you."

(Song Ends)

AJ looked up, glancing around nervously.

A limo was waiting for her outside, and the limo driver was holding a card with "AMINA JALALI" written on it.

AJ walked closer cautiously, confused, in disbelief.

The driver gave her a slight smile, putting the card down, opening the door for her.

AJ shook her head. "I don't believe this."

"Please, Miss Amina," the driver told her.

"Are you really going to drive me to the beach house in this?" AJ asked. "Helaena sent you, didn't she?"

The driver nodded. "Miss Amina, if you don't get in, I'll be fired."

AJ scoffed in disbelief, looking away. "Un-fucking-believable."

AJ: (voice over) "On the one hand, I had been nervous because I knew there was no way that I could get behind the wheel of a car and drive. I have a tough enough time just riding in one, but I had to become used to that again over the last seven months. And I know that Helaena sent the driver because in her own way, it shows that she cares about me."

AJ sighed, getting into the limo.

The driver closed the door, walking to the driver's seat, getting in, starting to drive them away.

AJ: (voice over) "But she knows how stubborn and independent I can be, so saying the driver would be fired if I didn't get in, it just made me mad because it's a way of being controlled, using someone else as a bargaining chip to make me listen, because Helaena knew that I would not let anyone get fired because of me. Because I didn't listen."

♾️

On the Road

Percy was being driven back into town by limo, just as AJ was, thanks to Helaena. He was on a phone call with his therapist, Dr. Sullivan, having headphones on, and his eyes were closed.

Dr. Sullivan's voice was heard, but she wasn't seen. "All right, Percy, if your eyes are closed, all you need to do is concentrate on your breath."

"Sorry," Percy told her.

"You don't have to apologize," Sullivan told him. "Notice the sound. Let it go. Come back to your breath."

Percy kept his eyes closed as he shook his head. "Maybe I should take another Ativan. I only had one so far."

"Did you run this morning?" Dr. Sullivan asked.

"Three miles and surfed with my father," Percy answered.

"Yoga?" Dr. Sullivan asked.

"20 minutes," Percy answered.

"Then you're doing everything right," Dr. Sullivan told him.

"But what if I just took a 1/4 of a pill?" Percy asked as he opened his eyes.

"Percy, you know what I'm gonna say," Dr. Sullivan told him.

Percy sighed. "I know, I know, I know. I'm supposed to push through the anxiety. Tell myself it's not gonna last, it's not gonna kill me. And it's--it's actually just evidence of my body working at peak condition. But I'm pretty sure peak condition doesn't feel like there's a giant fսck¡ng weight crushing me, so can I please just take another Ativan?"

Sullivan spoke calmingly, reassuringly. "Percy, we spoke of this. It's not your responsibility to be concerned about AJ's state and how she might feel coming back."

Percy shook his head, struggling a bit. "I know, I know. I just want to help her and want to make things better."

"You can help her by taking care of yourself," Sullivan told him. "Now let's try again and close your eyes." Percy closed his eyes as he was clenching his fists hard enough to claw his fingernails into his skin and draw a little blood. "And breathe."

Percy exhaled when he felt the car slow down, opening his eyes, taking out his headphones. "What's going on?"

"An accident is up ahead," the driver answered.

Percy looked up through his window to see how bad the accident was, with cops trying to help a young boy on the ground. "Pull over."

"Sorry, sir?" the driver asked.

"Pull over," Percy repeated before speaking into his phone. "Sorry, Dr. Sullivan, I gotta go."

"Percy, wait," Dr. Sullivan told him.

Percy hung up.

The driver pulled over to the side of the road.

Percy immediately got out of the limo and ran toward the scene of the accident.

A man tried to stop him. "Excuse me. Hey."

Officer 1 was trying to help the victim of the crash, a young boy. "We got an 11:41."

Percy ran closer to help. "Let me see him."

"Who are you?" Officer 1 asked. "Get the hell outta here."

Officer 2 walked closer. "Excuse me, kid."

Percy took out his flashlight, shining it into the eyes of the boy in front of him. "Possible concussion."

Officer 2 walked closer to grab Percy's arm. "Come on."

Percy shrugged him off. "Get off of me."

"You wanna go to jail?" Officer 2 threatened.

"You'll be going to jail for criminal negligence," Percy replied, showing his ID, with a doctorate. "This man has a fracture-dislocation of the hip and he's gonna lose his leg unless I fix it right away. Hold his hips down so I can rotate his leg."

"What?" Officer 2 asked.

"There's no palpable pulse in his leg, and he's gonna lose it because of blocked circulation," Percy explained.

Officer 2 frowned. "I'm not gonna--"

Percy gave them a look. "Hold him down. Now." Officer 1 sighed, kneeling down to do as told. Percy looked at Officer 2. "And you, support his neck." Officer 2 did as told. "Ready? Hold him steady, okay? Here we go." As the officers held the boy steady, Percy moved his leg until his hip was relocated, with a lot of audible cracks and noises that made everyone wince and look away. Once that was done, Percy checked the pulse of his leg. "I can feel pulses. Circulation is restored. Now get me something I can use as a brace. Go."

Officer 2 stood to do as said. "Yes, doc."

"And something we can use to put pressure on this wound to stop the bleeding," Percy added.

Once the officers did as said, Percy easily fashioned a tourniquet and helped stem the bleeding.

Even before the paramedics arrived as the ambulance finally pulled up to the scene.

♾️

On the Road - Park-Conklin Car

(Song:) Can't Do Better - Kim Petras

Steven was driving the car. Belly was in the passenger seat. Laurel was in the backseat.

Belly: (voice over) "I love this drive, this moment. It's like coming home after you've been gone a long, long time."

Belly was singing along to the radio, jamming out. "Every time she goes through her hair / I feel the tension in the air / No, I can't let you leave / So I kill my insecurities / Oh / You can't do better! / Oh / You can't do better!"

Steven gave Belly a weird look.

Laurel had a slightly amused look. "Uh, can you guys turn it down a little, please?"

"Yes, please," Steven agreed, turning down the radio.

Laurel sighed. "Thank you. I don't want you two bugging AJ about how she's doing. Or Conrad, for that matter. After what happened, just give them some time and space, okay?" Belly and Steven nodded in agreement. "AJ's lived in LA with Percy and Helaena, and Reagan is gonna be helping take care of her this summer too, but go easy. I want you both to be better about helping out this summer. Like, don't just leave your dishes in the sink. Load them into the dishwasher. And not just your own dish, either, Steven."

Steven frowned. "What? But I..."

"I want you to be good houseguests," Laurel told them.

"Mom, Susannah has people who clean, doesn't she?" Steven asked.

Laurel swatted him over the head. "Steven."

"Ow!" Steven complained. "All right. All right. Sorry."

Belly gave Laurel a skeptical look.

Belly: (voice over) "My mom is weird about money. The fact that Susannah and Helaena have a lot, and Adilah and Khalid had a lot, and we don't. Percy, AJ, Conrad and Jeremiah get their family money, but Uncle Reagan, even with his aquarium, doesn't have a lot, not after the divorce with Helaena."

Laurel gave her kids a look. "Just be considerate and act like I raised you right. Steven, that means don't stay out too late."

"Mom, I'm too old for a curfew," Steven complained.

Belly turned toward Laurel. "Wait, what about me? I don't have a curfew either, right?"

Steven laughed. "What do you need a curfew for? You don't go anywhere."

"Don't be a jackass, Steven," Laurel told him.

"What?" Steven asked.

"Belly, we'll talk about it when something comes up," Laurel told her.

Belly scoffed softly, before looking at Steven. "Oh, and don't forget, you promised you'd take me driving."

Laurel frowned. "Belly, I told you I'd take you."

"Yeah, but you're too judgy," Belly said.

Steven laughed.

"Excuse me?" Laurel asked.

Belly smiled. "Yes, I'm sorry."

(Song Ends)

♾️

Gas Station

The Conklins stopped at the gas station.

Belly and Laurel walked in.

Belly immediately opened a bag of chips and started eating them.

The man at the counter, Jumper, was watching, giving her a nod. "Hey."

Belly smiled sheepishly.

Belly: (voice over) "Boys at school never look at me. Taylor's the one they look at. Even in Cousins, AJ was the one that got all the attention. I guess you could say I'm just kind of there."

Belly got a soda from the fridge, walking up to the counter.

"Are you new this summer?" Jumper asked.

Belly frowned. "Uh, me? N-No."

Jumper chuckled. "Really? Hmm. Thought I knew every pretty girl in Cousins." Belly chuckled softly. "Coming to the bonfire tonight? First of the season."

"Uh, maybe," Belly replied.

Jumper rung up her chips and soda. "Come. I'll introduce you to some of my friends."

"Maybe I will," Belly told him.

Laurel walked up to Belly. "After we get settled, do you want to go to Whale of a Tale with me so I can pre-sign stock before the signing tomorrow night? Remember how you used to sit on my lap when I did signings there? You insisted on drawing a little whale on every book I signed."

Belly was embarrassed, mortified, that Laurel brought that up in front of a guy who just asked her to a party. "No, I--I don't remember that."

As Jumper went to hand the credit card they used to pay back, Laurel grabbed it before Belly could. "I'll take that. Thank you." She looked at Belly. "I'll make you a deal. I'll let you pick out tonight's dessert if you come with me and keep me company."

Laurel walked toward the door, opening it.

Belly hesitantly followed.

Jumper watched her go. "I'll see you later."

"What's later?" Laurel asked.

Belly walked outside. "Nothing."

♾️

Outside

Belly got into the passenger seat of the car again, pulling down the visor to look in the mirror, taking down her hair from the ponytail it was in, brushing it out, putting lip gloss on.

Laurel and Steven got into the car so they could drive away.

♾️

On the Road - Conklin Car

As they drove down the road, Belly leaned her head out the window and reveled in the air.

Belly: (voice over) "It smells exactly the same. Tastes the same. Like it's been waiting for me to get here."

♾️

On the Road - AJ's Limo

AJ looked around the limo, taking in everything, as it was distracting herself from the fact that she was in an actual car. She looked out the window, gazing off for a long moment.

As she looked around Cousins as they drove through town, AJ felt a mixture of relief to be back in a town where she loved, but also heartache and grief.

AJ: (voice over) "It's weird being back this time. I loved every summer before. It was what I was waiting for all year round. To be with the boys and Belly and the moms and dads. Our friend Boaz. It feels like a breath of fresh air to be home again... but in the same breath, it feels like I'm losing all the oxygen I have... because all I can think about is what happened the last time I was here. Because of the loved ones I lost, in the worst of ways."

The limo continued on through town, and everyone was staring, wondering who was inside, as not many limos were seen in Cousins.

AJ realized they were getting close to the Beck house. "Uh, can you stop down the block? There's no need to take me all the way up there."

AJ knew that Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah and Steven would tease her all to hell over this, while she knew that likely, Percy wouldn't becaue Helaena did the same thing with him.

Instead of answering or even acknowledging AJ's request, the limo driver kept driving up to the house.

AJ sighed, tilting her head, unsurprised, looking away.

♾️

Beck House - Kitchen

Susannah was picking flowers and setting them up in a vase, and when she heard the Conklin horn honk outside, she grinned. "They're here!"

♾️

Outside

A tiny sign that said "Beck House" was over the front door of the beach house.

Jeremiah opened the door, walking outside. "What's up?"

Laurel walked up to him, smiling. "Hi. Oh, my go..."

Jeremiah ran up to Laurel to give her a hug, his voice kinda high as he spoke. "Hello." They both laughed. "Long time no see."

Laurel nodded. "Good to see you."

Jeremiah and Steven went to hug tightly.

Susannah ran outside, as she and Laurel shared a bittersweet smile.

Laurel reached out for her. "Hi."

Susannah instantly wrapped her arms around Laurel. "Oh, my God."

Steven and Jeremiah pulled away.

"You've been going to the gym, bro?" Steven asked. "Seriously."

Susannah laughed. "Oh, my God."

Laurel smiled. "I know. Oh, my God."

(Song:) Lover - Taylor Swift (brief verses)

Jeremiah turned his head to see Belly, looking awestruck.

Belly laughed.

Lyrics: "And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear."

Steven walked away to go hug Susannah.

Jeremiah walked up to Belly. "Look who came back all growed up."

Belly jumped in for a hug, and Jeremiah picked Belly up and spun her around as they held each other tightly.

Lyrics: "Have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?"

Belly laughed. "Oh, put me down."

"Jere, Jere, Jere," Steven said. Jeremiah put Belly down. "Come over here."

Jeremiah walked toward him.

Conrad walked outside, looking out of it.

Belly looked at him expectantly, hoping for a good reaction, that he would suddenly fall in love with her like she had been with him for four years.

Conrad paused when he saw Belly, surprised by the way she had changed, but smiled at seeing one of his best friends. "I liked you better with glasses."

Belly looked disappointed. "Too bad. I like me better without them."

Conrad managed to smirk, ruffling Belly's hair, causing her to laugh.

AJ's limo stopped outside the beach house.

Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah and Steven stared in shock.

"No fucking way," Jeremiah said.

"What the hell is this?" Conrad asked.

"Do you guys know anybody famous?" Steven asked.

Belly grinned. "Oh, my God, who is it?"

AJ tried to open her door, but it was locked with a child lock, so it could only be opened from the outside. "Uh, sir? Could you..." The driver clearly had no intention of letting AJ get the door herself, getting out of the limo. AJ almost growled in frustration. "Oh, fuck... kidding me."

The driver nodded to Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah and Steven, walking up to the door, opening it for AJ. "Please, Miss Amina."

AJ shook her head, frustrated and a bit embarrassed and sheepish knowing the teasing from hell she would get, grabbing her bags.

AJ stepped out of the limo, giving the driver a look. "You can tell Helaena you did your job."

The driver nodded, closing the door, walking away to get into the limo.

Belly, Jeremiah and Steven laughed in disbelief.

Conrad was stunned, looking at AJ with surprise, but mostly concern in his eyes.

Lyrics: "Can I go where you go?"

AJ noticed and gave Conrad a tight smile, before looking down.

Lyrics: "Can we always be this close / Forever and ever?"

The limo drove away.

"What the hell?" Jeremiah asked.

Steven smiled. "Yo, AJ! Since when you're a starlet, huh? I mean, I know you're a singer and dancer, but still."

AJ smiled sarcastically.

"We thought you were someone famous," Belly said.

"I didn't," Conrad interjected.

AJ nodded slightly. "Sorry to disappoint, Belly. But guess that's what you guys get for thinking someone famous would randomly stroll up to this place."

Conrad couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, maybe not randomly. But once you get through Julliard and God knows what after that, then who knows what the hell will happen." AJ chuckled a bit. "Let me guess. Helaena."

AJ shrugged. "Who else?"

They all nodded in agreement.

Steven picked AJ up in a bear hug, spinning her around. "Come here, girl!"

AJ couldn't help the little laughter she let out in surprise at the motion. "Steven!"

Steven smiled, putting her down.

Jeremiah nodded to AJ. "Hey, AJ."

"Jere," AJ replied.

Jeremiah and AJ did a special handshake that ended with a hug.

"You doing okay?" Jeremiah asked.

"Don't ask me that right now," AJ told them.

They nodded sadly in agreement.

Belly went to hug AJ. "We missed you."

"Missed you guys too," AJ told them.

They pulled away.

Conrad stepped closer, as he and AJ locked eyes for a moment, a lot left unsaid just with a look. A sadness, darkness, that they both went through, but they were trying to get past it now so that they could have fun with their best friends.

Lyrics: "And ah, take me out, and take me home."

Conrad put on a slight smile, slightly forced, to cheer her up, along with himself, teasing her about what the driver called her. "Miss Amina, huh?"

AJ smirked, shaking her head. "Shut up."

Conrad chuckled, stepping closer. AJ wrapped her arms around him, and Conrad returned the embrace.

AJ: (voice over) "So far, Conrad was the only one not treating me like glass. He knew what I went through because he went through it too. And we're both strong as hell, but we worry about each other. And I can tell Conrad doesn't want to let it show to the point that it would just make me more sad, mad, and bring everyone down. And honestly, that's the best thing I could ask for right now."

AJ nodded in appreciation, which Conrad nodded back to.

Lyrics: "You're my, my, my, my / Lover."

(Song Ends)

Belly was watching Conrad and AJ with apparent jealousy that she tried to hide.

Belly: (voice over) "I always noticed that Conrad and AJ looked at each other the way that I imagine I look at Conrad. And everyone knew they had feelings for each other, except for maybe them. As nothing could really touch the bubble they're in when they're around each other. And AJ's pretty, in the same kind of way Taylor's pretty, which somehow makes things worse. And I couldn't help but feel a little bit of hate for her because of it. For being in the place that I should be in."

Belly and AJ both embraced Susannah as Susannah held her girls close, tears in her eyes that she hid.

Laurel reached for AJ. "Hey, AJ."

AJ hugged her. "Hey, Laurel. I missed you. And you, Susannah."

"I missed you girls too," Susannah told them.

Steven and Conrad shared a hug.

Reagan pulled his car up with Percy, and they both got out of the car.

Belly and Steven both smiled at their cousin. "Percy!"

Percy ran to embrace his cousins. "Belly! Steven! Hey."

Belly, Percy and Steven held each other tightly for a long moment, as the other kids smiled, and the moms grinned.

Reagan smirked, shaking his head, smiling. "Hey, Belly. Steven."

Belly ran to embrace her uncle. "Hey!"

Reagan spun her around, causing Belly to giggle uncontrollably, placing her down. "There's my favorite niece."

"Your only niece," Belly replied.

Steven walked closer to do a handshake and a hug with Reagan. "Uncle Reagan, hey."

Reagan smiled. "Hi."

In the mean time, Percy was giving hugs to Jeremiah and Conrad, who both returned them.

"Hey, Percy," Conrad told him.

"What's up, man?" Jeremiah asked.

Percy shrugged. "Oh, just had to ditch the limo driver and had Dad pick me up from saving a guy off the middle of the road."

"So, Helaena clearly set you up with a limo too," Steven said in amusement. "Did the same thing with AJ."

"Not surprised," Percy remarked.

"How the hell did you escape your driver?" AJ asked. "I'd like to know that secret."

The others laughed lightly.

Reagan smirked. "He had a little help. Helaena's... overbearing."

"That's putting it mildly," Percy told him.

"But she means well," Reagan told them. "She loves you. Both of you. And this is the way she shows she cares."

"Yeah, well, she could get a little better at it," AJ remarked, before giving him a slight smile. "Hey, Reagan."

Reagan pulled AJ in his arms. "Hey, AJ."

AJ returned the embrace tightly, as the others watched with somber glances, but they tried to keep the sad faces off, as everyone felt the huge gap that was here right now.

AJ and Reagan pulled away.

AJ sighed heavily. "Okay."

Percy ran up to Laurel. "Aunt Laurel."

Laurel smiled and embraced her nephew. "Hi, Percy."

Once they were done hugging, Susannah pulled Percy into her arms. "How's our other little boy?"

Percy smiled. "All good, Susannah."

Reagan threw the other two boys a smile. "Conrad, Jeremiah, no hug?"

"We see you a lot more than they do, Reagan," Jeremiah told him, teasing. "You do live in Cousins most of the time too like Mom. Whenever we're not in Boston."

Conrad chuckled, walking over, as Reagan gave Conrad and Jeremiah both a hug that caused the others to smile.

Laurel called her brother over. "Reagan, hey."

Reagan walked over to his sister. "Hey, Laurel." Laurel and Reagan embraced, smiling softly. Reagan turned to give Susannah a hug. "Susannah."

"Reagan," Susannah replied. "You two wanna go inside and talk?"

"Yeah, sure," Reagan answered.

Laurel nodded. "Come on."

Laurel, Reagan and Susannah walked inside, leaving the kids alone outside.

Steven got an idea to lift everyone's spirits up again. "Hey, hey, guys, guys. I mean, I--I don't know about you, but I... Well, I--I think it's time for a..."

Jeremiah grinned. "For a..."

Jeremiah and Steven both cheered. "Belly flop!"

AJ looked away, closing her eyes at the tradition they always did as kids. How they would first throw Belly in, and then AJ after.

Belly took off running, laughing with a squeal as Steven got his arms around her, but Belly pulled free and ran away. "No, no!"

The boys ran after her.

"She's quick!" Percy said.

Conrad and Jeremiah caught Belly around the stomach, swinging her around toward the other two boys, as Steven and Percy grabbed her legs and lifted her up, carrying her to the pool, all laughing, as the boys kept cheering. "Belly flop!"

AJ watched distantly for a moment, a glassy look in her eyes despite the fond memories this brought. She slowly followed them toward the pool, standing back, quite a bit away from the water.

The boys were overlapping with chatter as they stood at the edge of the pool with Belly in their hands. "One, two, three!"

The boys threw Belly into the pool, as Belly screamed and landed with a splash.

For a brief second, AJ flashed back to water rushing her lungs in darkness, and her own screams filling her ears, as she looked down and tried to shake the memory out of her head.

The boys laughing snapped AJ out of her moment.

Belly came up over the water, gasping.

"How's the water?" Steven teased.

Jeremiah turned to AJ to loop his arms around her. "Who's next, AJ?"

AJ wiggled as she definitely did not want that, looking tense and even a little scared. "Jere, no."

Conrad shook his head, stepping closer. "Jeremiah."

"Not a good idea, dude," Percy told him.

Jeremiah frowned but seemed to get it, letting AJ go.

AJ stepped away a little, running a hand through her hair nervously to pull it back, feeling guilty for "ruining" the moment, in her eyes.

Steven looked concerned as he looked down.

Conrad had a hand on AJ's arm, not asking the question, knowing that AJ didn't like hearing it, but it was clear what they were wondering.

AJ nodded barely, unable to meet their gazes. "I'm fine. I'm sorry, guys."

"Don't apologize," Steven told her. "We didn't... we didn't think."

"It's okay," AJ said quietly.

No one answered, because they didn't think it was okay, and while Jeremiah, Steven and Belly were acting like they thought AJ could break any minute, Conrad and Percy knew she wouldn't, just being there for her rather than treating her like glass.

Belly looked at them for a moment, looking concerned for AJ, but her eyes locked on the way Conrad's hand rested on her shoulder, and she wanted to break the awkward tension that suddenly overtook the teens. "Guys, I hurt my ankle. Come on."

Conrad lowered his hand from AJ's shoulder, turning to the edge of the pool, as he was the closest one to the water. "Yes. Got you." Conrad grabbed Belly's hand, but Belly pulled him into the water, laughing, swimming away. Conrad came up. "Belly!"

They wrestled a bit in the water, but it seemed to be more to Belly, in a way that Conrad didn't see.

Belly noticed this, like Conrad was just playing with a sister rather than someone he could love, getting annoyed quickly. "Let go."

Conrad splashed Belly, backing off.

AJ sat down in a chair away from the pool, looking down.

♾️

Inside - Kitchen

Reagan and Susannah were helping Laurel with her boxes.

Reagan laughed lightly. "Oh, my God, Laurel. How many boxes did you bring?"

Susannah smiled. "I told you not to bother."

"Your fancy little market doesn't even carry Diet Coke," Laurel replied.

Reagan smirked, shrugging. "True."

AJ and Belly walked in, while Belly was still soaking wet from the pool, and they sat down at the counter.

"Hi," AJ told them.

Reagan gave the two a smile. "Hi."

Laurel gave Belly a look. "You're dripping water all over the place."

"Laur," Susanna said. "Rea." They both looked at her. Susanna whispered while pointing to AJ and Belly. "They're gorgeous."

"I know," Laurel replied in a whisper.

Reagan chuckled.

Laurel and Reagan walked away to deal with more boxes of snacks and food and drink.

Susanna took AJ and Belly's hands. "You have always been lovely, but, oh, sweeties, look at you."

Belly laughed. "I think I look pretty much the same."

AJ shook her head. "You do not look the same at all."

Belly shrugged. "You do. You've always looked better. So..."

AJ tilted her head at the way Belly said that, frowning.

"Yeah, but both of you are amazing," Susanna told them. "You're growing up. You're in bloom."

AJ managed a small smile, while Belly grinned.

Belly: (voice over) "Susannah has a way of saying things that almost makes me believe her."

Laurel and Reagan returned with more boxes.

Laurel wrapped a towel around Belly.

"Laur, she's you all over," Reagan told her.

Laurel laughed lightly.

Belly smiled. "People always say I look like my dad."

Reagan shook his head. "No, when we were your age, Laurel looked just like you."

Laurel pointed to Belly's chest. "Except I had no boobs at all."

AJ shook her head in slight amusement. "Gross, Laurel."

Belly nodded. "Yeah."

"Hear hear," Reagan agreed.

Susanna laughed.

Laurel looked at Belly. "You should call your father and tell him we got in safely."

"Uh, why don't you tell Steven to do it?" Belly asked.

"Because I'm telling you," Laurel answered. "He misses you guys when you're gone."

AJ lowered her gaze.

"Yeah, but he'll see us at the end of the summer," Belly said.

"No, he'll be here for the Fourth," Laurel explained.

"And then we could combine AJ's party with the Fourth party since her birthday is a day after, like we normally do," Susanna added.

AJ shook her head. "I... can we not do that this year? I'd really rather not want to do anything for my birthday, guys. Sorry."

They all knew it was because this was the first birthday that AJ would have without her parents, sad and sympathetic.

"Whatever you want, Amina," Reagan answered.

AJ nodded thankfully.

"And Dad's coming here?" Belly asked.

"Doesn't he always?" AJ asked.

"He didn't come last summer," Belly answered.

Laurel sighed. "Because we'd just gotten divorced. We're good now."

"Where's Mr. Fisher?" AJ asked.

"Oh, he's in London," Susanna answered. "They got him going back and forth. He'll join us later in the summer. For now, it's just the women and the children, just the way we like it. Oh, and you, Reagan."

"Thank you for that, Susanna," Reagan replied sarcastically.

They laughed.

"What about Helaena?" AJ asked.

"She's working overtime at the hospital," Reagan answered. "Percy will be going back and forth between here and my place, and at the hospital and at Mako. AJ, you still want to work at Mako Marine this summer?"

"Of course," AJ answered. "My parents put so much into helping you raise the aquarium from the ground up."

"I couldn't have done it without them," Reagan agreed somberly.

AJ nodded sadly. "And I love it as much as they did too. So yeah, I'll definitely be there."

They all nodded.

"Could be very good for you, AJ," Laurel pointed out. "Give you something to keep you busy."

"Yeah," AJ agreed, gazing off. "I'll have a lot to keep me busy."

♾️

AJ's Room

AJ slowly walked into her room at the beach house, taking in the sight of the room, looking all around.

The colors were pink, white and gray, and it was vibrant and a little messy, because AJ had been such a party girl before. A party duo with Jeremiah in a lot of ways.

AJ looked so upset and overwhelmed as she took in the room around her, realizing how everything changed.

AJ: (voice over) "Coming back here... it makes me realize that my life here, in Cousins, was a lifetime ago. I barely recognize the room I'm in. Like it's from another life. A life where I still had my parents. Before they died. Before I did. Before everything came crashing down."

AJ sat down on her bed, picking up a tye-dye Tweety Bird plush doll. The one thing that brought a small and sad but still-there smile to her face.

AJ: (voice over) "But at least there's always something, or someone, who could always bring even the smallest smiles out of me."

♾️

Belly's Room

Belly walked into her room, smiling at the bear on her dresser, walking over to pick it up. "Hi, Junior Mint."

Jeremiah walked in, jumping on the bed, sitting down on it. "I can't believe you still have that bear."

Belly walked toward him. "Duh. I would never throw away Junior Mint."

"Come on, let's swim before dinner, please," Jeremiah told her.

Belly tilted her head back. "I... I can't. I--I have to go with my mom to Whale of a Tale."

Jeremiah sighed. "Aw, man. I've been wanting to go in the ocean all day, but I've been waiting for you to get here. Please." Belly sighed, putting down Junior Mint. Jeremiah picked up the bear to add fuel to his begging, shaking its arms back and forth with a grin. "Pretty please. Pretty please!"

Belly smiled. "Yeah, yeah, screw it. Let's, let's go swim."

Jeremiah made a victory fist. "Yes. All right, I'll meet you outside, okay?"

Belly nodded. "Okay, I'll be right down."

♾️

Outside

Susannah was folding towels.

Laurel and Reagan walked outside.

"I'd hate to go so soon, but I have to get back to Mako," Reagan explained.

"And I'll be right back," Laurel added.

"You going into town?" Susannah asked.

Laurel took a breath. "Oh, Belly and I were gonna go by Whale of a Tale so I can sign stock, but it seems she's ditched me for the ocean."

Susannah smiled. "Let her play. I'll go with you. I, uh, just need to drop by the country club first."

"The country club?" Laurel repeated in distaste, glancing at Reagan, since Helaena owned the country club.

Reagan shook his head. "Don't start."

Laurel sighed. "Oh, God, never mind. I'll go by myself."

Susannah gave her a look. "I'm going to check on the catering for your party."

"Catering?" Laurel repeated. "I swear to God, Beck. You said you were doing a few bottles of wine and that's it."

Susannah tilted her head. "It's just a few light appies. Calm down. You don't have to come in the club. You can wait in the car. You won't even have to see Helaena."

"That's even if she's there," Reagan added. "She might still be at the hospital."

Laurel gave in. "Fine."

"Hel's not that bad, Laur," Reagan told her.

"Her nickname is actually Hel," Laurel replied. "And I know the divorce was mutual, and years ago, and she gave you the beach house in the divorce, but she's okay with letting Mako close if it means that Percy's not 'distracted' by working at both the aquarium and the hospital. Reagan, Mako is the one place that Adilah and Khalid loved more than anything, just like you, and just like AJ. If Mako closes, then... Amina's going to be devastated. Again. Especially since she plans to work with you this summer too."

Reagan nodded sadly. "I know. I'll figure it out."

"You're not going to tell the kids yet, are you?" Susannah asked.

Reagan shook his head. "Not until I know for sure if I can still salvage it or not."

Laurel and Susannah nodded in understanding.

Susannah knew the reasoning behind it, and related to it, all too well.

♾️

Cousins Hospital - Old Man Will's Hospital Room

(Song:) Feelin' Blue - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Percy walked in, wearing his doctor clothes and all, greeting the elderly man with a smile. "Hey, Will."

Will lit up, smiling. "Hey, Percy."

Percy looked around the hospital room, which was set up with decorations. "I like what you've done with the place."

"Oh, yeah," Will said. "My daughter came and did all this to try to lift my spirits. Groovy, huh?"

"Yeah," Percy answered.

Will was listening to a Creedence song. "You like this song?"

"I don't think I know this one," Percy admitted.

Will frowned. "Really? It's a classic. When I was your age, I snuck out to see Creedence live. The first concert I'd ever been to. And it's the first time I ever danced with a woman. And it's the first time that I ever... I tried a few other things." Percy nodded in amusement. "You never forget a night of firsts."

Percy smiled. "I want a night like that."

"Are you kidding me?" Will asked. "You're young. Your whole life is gonna be nights like that."

Percy chuckled.

(Song Ends)

A few other doctors walked in.

"Oh, Will, you are so popular this whole team of doctors wanted to see you," Percy explained. "This is Dr. Lin. He's the heart surgeon I was telling you about."

Dr. Lin looked at Will's chart. "Will, I hear you're not feeling too well. But not to worry, we're going to make you feel much better. We might even give you a new heart." Percy and Will both looked at him. "What do you say to that?"

Will let out a shaky breath. "I worry."

"Well, there are risks," Percy acknowledged, tense from his own shock of this being brought up, but he maintained calm in front of Will. "And given your age, complications to consider, but Dr. Lin is an expert, and he's gonna fix you up so w can get a really sick guy in here. Right, Dr. Lin?"

Lin pointed to Percy. "Definitely."

♾️

Office

Percy was confronting Helaena and Lin. "A transplant? We've never discussed a transplant. I know he's got severe AS, and he's been in class four failure for a long time. But we should start with TAVR, and go from there. A transplant is too risky."

Lin walked closer with Will's file. "Not according to these labs."

"Statistically, he's got a better chance if we replace the valve," Percy explained. "Then probably a bive pacer. I know I can get his EF above 20 percent in two months."

Lin sighed, sitting in a chair. "Look, my recommendation is to do the transplant, okay? Does my call stand or not?"

They both looked at Helaena.

Helaena looked between them both. "It's a tough call. But, Dr. Smythe, I'm not sure we have the time to wait. So yes, Dr. Lin, your call stands."

Lin gestured to Helaena, nodding.

Percy was just more upset and angry by that. "He is my patient, and I know what he needs."

"Well, sometimes other people know better than you do, Percy," Helaena told him.

Percy just stared at her. Once again, he closed his eyes as he was clenching his fists hard enough to claw his fingernails into his skin and draw a little blood.

Percy: (voice over) "I wanted to tell her off. I wanted to tell her that she doesn't actually know better, that I know what I'm doing and that she can't treat me like a kid. Not after she forced me into being a doctor to begin with. And, perphaps, in perfect world, I could have."

Percy opened his eyes, exhaling before giving up, opening his hands, putting them behind his back before looking at Helaena. "I understand."

Helaena nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Smythe. You can leave now."

Percy nodded, turning around, walking away, shaking his head at himself.

Percy: (voice over) "But this wasn't a perfect world, so I did what I always did. I kept what I truly wanted to say to myself and just understood it."

♾️

Street

AJ was sitting on a bench, waiting, drinking coffee.

Boaz Campbell walked up to her.

AJ: (voice over) "And finally Boaz Campbell. An old family friend of all of our families. He used to work with my parents in Special Forces before they all retired, and Boaz took up private investigating so he could still do something good in the world. Like how my mom took up being a psychiatrist to help people like me and Percy. And my dad was a world-traveling doctor that still saved lives every day, and they still used all the money they had to donate and make things better for everyone else. Boaz was their commanding officer, and they were the best of friends. He was from the same group as all the parents growing up, so he's kinda like another dad to us kids whenever we're in Cousins."

Boaz gave her a slight smile. "AJ."

AJ looked up, giving a slight smile. "Hey, Boaz. Thanks for coming to meet me."

"Of course," Boaz agreed. "Adilah, Khalid and I go way back. It didn't feel right not knowing what happened that night, with you and them."

"Yeah, it doesn't feel right for me, obviously," AJ added. "It's good to see you."

Boaz gave AJ a hug. "It's good to see you too, Amina."

AJ sniffed, pulling back. "Um, what do you have?"

"We know that there were two people in the vehicle that drove your car off the bridge into the river," Boaz answered. "Two guys, according to Conrad, but it was dark and storming so he couldn't be sure, but taking a look at security camera footage in the area, and he was right. We can see the skid marks that start from here, all the way over there."

"It took them a while to stop," AJ remembered.

Boaz nodded. "And the driver hit the brakes hard. But when he realized what happened, he freaked and ran. The storm makes it hard to see the license plates, but I'll clear the video up and get it."

♾️

Country Club - Outside

Susannah and Laurel pulled up in Susannah's car.

Susannah got out of the car, walking up to the building.

Laurel watched her go. "Be quick. If you leave me too long, I'll get 'sunken placed.'"

Susannah chuckled, walking inside.

♾️

Beck House - Outside

Jeremiah ran outside, wearing trunks, a towel over his shoulder. "Come on."

Belly ran outside, wearing her swimsuit that Taylor dissed that morning, a towel over her shoulder. "Okay, I'm ready." They walked along. "Hey. Did you know my dad's coming up for the Fourth?"

"Cool," Jeremiah told her.

"Don't you think it's weird?" Belly asked.

Jeremiah shook his head. "Not really. I love your dad."

"Yeah, but they've only been divorced for, like, a year and a half," Belly told him. 

"Well, that's what's so cool about your mom, you know?" Jeremiah asked. "She just doesn't give a shit."

Belly scoffed. "Exactly. She doesn't give a shit because she's the one who wanted the divorce in the first place."

Jeremiah shrugged. "I think if you don't want to be married, you just shouldn't be married."

"Well, tell that to my grandma," Belly said. "She basically collapsed when my mom told her."

♾️

Beach

Jeremiah and Belly were walking the trail from the beach house down to the beach.

"Did you know my dad has a new girlfriend already?" Belly asked.

"Well, what about your mom?" Jeremiah asked. "Is she dating anybody?"

"No," Belly answered. She laughed. "Oh, and he has a beard now."

Jeremiah laughed. "Your dad has a beard?"

"Yeah," Belly answered. "Yeah, he thinks it makes him look cool."

"Well, does it?" Jeremiah asked.

"Kind of," Belly answered, giggling. They reached the beach finally, looking over the ocean. "I've waited all year for this."

"You want to race?" Jeremiah asked.

Belly shook her head, smiling. "No, no, I can't, you--"

Jeremiah tilted his head. "Oh, come on."

Belly smirked. "Your legs are too long now. I can't do that."

(Song:) Rollercoaster - Bleachers

But right away, Belly took off running toward the ocean.

Jeremiah was startled. "Oh!"

Jeremiah ran after her.

Belly laughed. "That was a bad start."

"You cheater," Jeremiah called. They were both laughing, throwing their towels down into the sand, running into the ocean, playing and splashing around. "I'm gonna get you."

As Jeremiah tackled Belly, they fell into the water as she squealed.

(Song Ends)

♾️

Boaz's Office

Boaz was clearing up the video of the security footage from that night on the bridge.

AJ wasn't looking, as she couldn't see the car driving her family's car off the bridge to what would be her parents' death, and hers, even if only for a few moments.

Boaz paused the video. "There's the car. Clearing up the image."

"Run the plate," AJ told him.

Boaz nodded, running the plate. "Got a hit. The car is registered to a company called ShalCorp. And guess what? It was reported as stolen the night of the accident." He pursed his lips. "Okay, put out an APB on the car. I want everyone looking for it. Front hood has to be damaged."

"They would've gotten rid of the car by now, if they're smart," AJ pointed out.

"It's the only lead that we've got," Boaz replied.

AJ shook her head. "Not quite." She walked toward a computer, typing in ShalCorp to look it up. "Okay, you're not gonna believe who's the owner of ShalCorp. Rami Miller." She looked up the number and dialed it on her phone, pacing. "Hello, Mrs. Miller? This is Ali Nadar with the police. Seven months ago, your husband reported his car missing on Thanksgiving? The night of the Jalali tragedy?" Boaz was impressed with AJ's lying, but not surprised. "Oh, I see. So could I have his number? Yeah, yeah, just to clear out a few things." AJ wrote the number down. "Mm, got it. Yeah, yeah, thank you."

AJ turned around tensely.

Boaz raised an eyebrow. "Adilah and Khalid taught you well." AJ nodded, tilting her head slightly. "And did you really use your middle names as an alias?"

AJ shrugged, smirking slightly.

Boaz chuckled, shaking his head in amusement.

♾️

Whale of a Tale

Susannah and Laurel walked up to the shop, walking in.

Laurel was talking to a man and a woman.

"We are all set for your party tomorrow night," the woman told her.

Laurel smiled. "Great. Thank you."

"How was tour?" the man asked.

"Oh, my publishers didn't send me on tour for this one," Laurel explained. "It's been a pretty quiet release."

The woman tilted her head. "Are you on social media? You should really be on social media."

"Ah, well, no, I'm not," Laurel answered.

"Are you working on something new?" the man asked.

Laurel nodded with a tense smile. "Always."

Susannah walked up to the counter. "How many copies did you guys order for tomorrow night?"

"I think 20," the woman answered.

"Oh, that's not nearly enough," Susannah told them. "I've invited half the town."

Laurel turned to give her a frown. "What? You said this was just going to be a small thing."

Susannah looked at the woman. "Mika, I am so sorry, but you might have to run to the Barnes & Noble in Portsmouth and get some more."

"Business has been slow," Mika told her. "We haven't been keeping as much stock."

Laurel shook her head. "It's fine."

♾️

Street

Boaz was sitting in the driver's seat of his car, staking out Rami Miller and another man at a cafe across the road.

He was confused and startled when the passenger side door suddenly opened, and AJ got into the seat, closing the door behind her.

"What the hell, AJ?" Boaz asked. "I told you that you couldn't come."

"Well, these guys might be the guys that killed my parents, so you knew that wasn't gonna work," AJ replied.

"Get out of the car," Boaz told her. "Go home."

"No," AJ denied.

"I'm not having you on a stake out with two potential murderers," Boaz told her. "Not when I have to follow them and could end up in a chase."

"Yeah, well, I guess that's too bad," AJ told him. "You can't make me leave and risk losing them by trying to convince me."

Boaz gave her a look. "AJ."

"Boaz," AJ replied.

"Do the folks even know you're here?" Boaz asked.

AJ shrugged. "They know you're helping me search for answers."

"That's not answering my--" Boaz started.

AJ didn't let him finish, pointing to the two men at the cafe. "That's him, Rami. The other one is his partner, Nissim Bensimon."

"Don't do anything here," Boaz told her. "It's too crowded." A third man walked up to Rami and Nissim, handing them a bag. "Oh, great. Now it's a real party."

The third man left the bag with Rami and Nissim before leaving.

AJ nodded, not surprised. "He left the bag." Rami and Nissim walked away from the cafe with the bag, getting into their car and driving away. "Boaz."

Boaz started the car to follow theirs. "I know."

AJ was nervous to be in the car like this, but was focused on one thing and one thing only. Finding out what truly happened to her parents.

Soon, Rami and Nissim's car sped away.

Boaz sped up after them. "They made us."

"Get them," AJ told him intensely. Boaz chased them down the alley, until a van pulled in front of them and blocked their path. "Shit!"

Boaz backed out of the alley to go another way. "We'll catch them on the other end."

As they got to the other street, they saw Rami and Nissim's car speed into sight.

AJ pointed. "Right there! Faster, faster! You're losing them!"

Boaz continued speeding to try and catch up, chasing them onto the highway, swerving in and out of traffic. "Drive, you stupid motherfucker."

AJ was insanely tense because of the paranoia of speeding in a car chase, but more at the thought of losing two men who could've been the ones that destroyed her family. "Get on their ass, you're gonna lose them."

"AJ," Boaz warned. AJ looked at him. "Hold on. We're gonna catch this motherfucker."

Boaz rammed their car into Rami and Nissim's in a fender bender, bringing their car to an abrupt halt.

AJ was incredibly jostled, realizing that was what Boaz was warning her for. After pulling herself together, she quickly got out of the car and ran up to Rami and Nissim's.

Boaz aimed his gun at the two men. "Don't fucking move!"

AJ looked relieved with the thought that they caught people that could help lead to the answers they needed to find out what happened to Adilah and Khalid.

Moments later, Boaz was arresting Rami and Nissim.

AJ was watching. "What now?"

"We'll arrest them and process them and question for answers," Boaz answered. "We won't be able to ask the real questions until then. It's getting late, AJ. Go home, be with the moms and the kids. Have dinner. Relax. Be a kid for a while. I'll call you in the morning and you can be there when I get to question these tools. Okay?"

AJ accepted this, nodding. "Okay. Thank you, Boaz."

♾️

Night - Beck House - Dining Room

The moms and the kids were having dinner.

Susannah and Laurel always had red wine, and the kids had grape Fanta, but on that night there were wineglasses for everyone.

"I think we're all old enough to partake now, don't you, Laur?" Susannah asked as they sat down.

"I don't know about that," Laurel began, but then she stopped. "Oh, all right. Fine. I'm being provincial, isn't that right, Beck?"

Susannah laughed and uncorked the bottle. "You? Never." She poured wine for each of them. "It's a special night. It's the first night of summer."

Conrad drank his wine in about two gulps. "It's not the first night of summer, Mom."

"Oh, yes, it is," Susannah replied. "Summer doesn't start until our friends get here."

AJ drank her wine steadily, looking a bit more at ease.

Steven kept looking at his phone.

"Steven, I swear to God, if you look at that phone one more time, I'm putting it in the screen basket," Laurel warned.

AJ glanced at her phone on the table next to her, as she was anxiously waiting to hear anything from Boaz, but she knew that she wouldn't hear from him until the morning, trying to put it out of her head.

Susannah smiled, taking a drink of wine. "It's just, we want to see your beautiful faces. Can dinner be a screen-free zone? You know, like the olden days." AJ put her phone away. "Thank you, AJ. Steven?"

When Steven didn't answer, Jeremiah took his phone, standing, tossing it into the basket nearby.

"Dude, are you kidding me?" Steven complained.

Jeremiah cheered. "Boom! Nailed it."

Jeremiah flexed his muscles, sitting down.

Steven nodded sarcastically. "Okay, okay, okay, we get it, you've been working out."

Belly laughed. "Oh, you're just jealous because Jere has a better body than you."

Jeremiah smiled, taking a drink of wine.

Steven rolled his eyes. "Uh, no, actually, it's all about the lean look now. Otherwise, you can't wear tailored suits."

Jeremiah, Percy and Belly laughed, and AJ chuckled a little.

Conrad smirked. "Tailored suits."

Percy patted Steven on the shoulder. "Sure, sure."

Jeremiah smiled. "Belly, AJ, check out my latest scar." He pulled up his shirt. "I scored three field goals that night."

AJ's eyes fell onto her own scar across her hand from Thanksgiving night. She had two more but luckily her clothing covered them both.

Conrad and Percy looked at AJ, but she seemed to be okay.

Percy glanced at his plate; he hadn't eaten anything, yet he was playing with his food, putting his fork down, looking up to glance at AJ, clearing his throat. "So, AJ, you know my mom got a new couch for my bedroom per tradition and since you know I hate sleeping alone on the first night, you wanna room with me?"

AJ knew why Percy was asking, tilting her head, about to speak.

Belly, who had been leaning in next to Jeremiah to get a good look--it was a long scar that was just beginning to fade, right across the bottom of his stomach--turned to Percy at this, cutting AJ off before she could respond. "Wait, why her? I always sleep in there during the first night."

AJ looked down, biting her lip.

Conrad rolled his eyes, sighing heavily, not surprised that Belly cut AJ off in order to insert herself, opening his mouth like he was about to speak, but Percy beat him to the punch.

Percy gave Belly a look. "Well, yeah, but you snore like a cow, and I have work in the morning. I need sleep."

Conrad smirked.

Belly scoffed. "Excuse you."

Steven laughed. "It's true. I mean, why do you even like sleeping in there?"

"'Cause his room is the coolest after Helaena did those renovations," Belly answered. "Duh." She looked at Jeremiah. "But that is a cool scar."

Jeremiah grinned. "You didn't say anything, AJ. Did you see?"

AJ nodded barely, but took a drink of wine, so she didn't speak, giving Jeremiah a thumbs up.

Conrad snorted. "Jere just wants to show off his two-pack. Why don't you show all of us, and not just Belly and AJ?"

"Yeah, show us, Jere," Steven said, grinning.

Jeremiah grinned right back before looking at Conrad. "You're just jealous because you quit."

Conrad didn't respond, his face falling a bit.

AJ, Percy, Belly, Steven and Laurel reacted in surprise.

"Wh..." Percy trailed off. "Wait, really?"

"Conrad, you quit, man?" Steven asked.

Percy: (voice over) "Conrad and Jeremiah were on the team together these last two years, but it was Conrad who had been the star."

Conrad shrugged indifferently. "It got boring."

"What he means is, he got boring," Jeremiah said, glancing at AJ before looking around. "Seems to be going around."

AJ and Conrad looked up incredulously, and Susannah and Laurel shot Jeremiah a look.

Percy scoffed, looking away.

Steven and Belly were awkward and didn't know what to say.

"Gee, thanks, Jere," AJ told him sarcastically.

Jeremiah quickly regretted what he said, and wanted to make up for it, but Steven cut him off before he could say anything.

"Are you kidding me, man?" Steven asked. "I'd--I'd kill to play college ball."

"He can always change his mind," Susannah pointed out.

Conrad shook his head. "I'm not gonna change my mind. I was just gonna sit on the bench all season anyways."

AJ looked at Conrad curiously before looking away.

AJ: (voice over) "Conrad didn't love football, not like most people thought he did. He only got into it because of his father Adam, but he wanted to make him proud... which was never easy. I can understand why Conrad quit. I had to quit dancing and singing as much as I used to... and I love doing both with a passion."

Conrad glanced at AJ before looking away, knowing that she understood while the others didn't.

Laurel frowned. "Well, if you're not playing football anymore, what are you gonna do all summer?"

"Oh, dude, you can work at the club," Jeremiah suggested. "You did lifeguarding last summer, yeah?"

Conrad looked down and away at that.

Jeremiah was right. Conrad had done it the summer before... which was why he didn't hesitate to do what needed to be done Thanksgiving night. But this summer, he didn't think he could do it again after what happened.

Steven smiled. "Yeah, with me and Jere. Yeah, Helaena got us an in like she did with you last year."

"Not surprised," Percy remarked.

Conrad shook his head. "I'm not gonna work at the club again."

Belly frowned. "Wait, I knew that AJ and Percy were working this summer, at Mako and the hospital. But you guys are working too?"

Jeremiah nodded. "Yeah, I'm lifeguarding, and Steven's working at the snack shop."

Jeremiah and Steven did a fist bump.

AJ finally spoke up again. "Percy, how are you gonna pull off Mako and the hospital all summer?"

Everyone looked at her, as they noticed that she hadn't really spoken up before except for responding to Jeremiah saying that she and Conrad got boring.

"Oh, she speaks," Jeremiah said lightly, jokingly, but with a slight serious tone, as he was miffed by AJ's distance.

Susannah and Laurel gave him a look.

Conrad shook his head slightly.

Percy rolled his eyes at Jeremiah. "Dude." He looked at AJ to answer her question. "Oh, uh, Mom wants me to drop Mako, but that's never gonna happen." Laurel and Susannah exchanged a knowing look, after their earlier conversation with Reagan. "But Dad wants to make it work. And I wanna do both. I love both, so..."

"Right," Conrad agreed, nodding. "Do both then, Percy. Just, uh... don't let it run you too far into the ground."

"Thanks, Conrad," Percy told him.

"What do you think, Belly?" Jeremiah asked.

"Pretty nice," Belly agreed, trying not to smile.

"Now it's Belly's turn to show off," Percy said teasingly.

"Belly doesn't need to show off," Susannah replied, sipping her wine, smiling at Belly and AJ. "We can all see how lovely our girls are just looking at them."

"Lovely?" Steven repeated. "Yeah, right. Belly's a lovely pain in my ass."

"Steven," Laurel warned.

"What?" Steven asked. "What'd I say?"

"Steven's too much of a pig to understand the concept of lovely," Belly said sweetly.

Smirking, Percy pushed the bread to him. "Oink, oink, Steven. Have some more bread."

"Don't mind if I do," Steven said, breaking off a crusty chunk. "Thanks, Percy."

AJ still wasn't saying much, looking numb, empty, gazing off as she felt herself slipping away from the conversation into her own mind, despite her best efforts to be present, which didn't escape the attention of everyone else.

"AJ," Jeremiah said loudly, which caused AJ to snap out of it. "Tell us about all the hot friends you're gonna set me up with."

AJ glanced around to see that they were trying not to make it obvious they noticed her state just now, playing it off with a joke. "Didn't we already try that once? Don't tell me you've forgotten about my friend from LA already."

Everyone laughed then, even Conrad. Mostly out of relief that they still saw a bit of their AJ there if she was joking and messing with the boys.

Jeremiah's cheeks turned pink, but he was laughing too, and shaking his head. "You're not a nice girl, AJ. There's plenty of cute girls at the country club, so don't worry about me."

"And guys," AJ added.

Jeremiah smiled. "Exactly."

The others smiled or smirked slightly.

Susannah remembered something. "Oh, AJ, Belly, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you."

Susannah stood, walking over to the table, picking up two envelopes, waving them at the girls, handing one to AJ and one to Belly.

Laurel tilted her head. "So, this is why you had to stop by the country club."

Susannah sat down, smiling, shrugging.

AJ and Belly started to open the envelopes.

"What, uh, wh-wh-what is that?" Steven asked.

Susannah could hardly contain her excitement. "I wrangled AJ and Belly invitations to be debutantes."

"Is that the thing where the girls wear white dresses and curtsy?" Belly asked.

Susannah considered how to say it. "It's when a girl comes of age and is presented to society. I--I know it sounds silly, but I swear it's fun. Girls come from all over New England to Cousins just to be a part of it. You'll make so many new friends."

AJ frowned, skeptic, and it definitely was not something she would do on her own.

Laurel downed her drink. "I cannot believe you are still holding on to this archaic dream."

Laurel stood, walking away to get another wine bottle.

"No, it used to be about finding a husband, but now it's about networking," Susannah explained. "They teach you leadership skills, like how to market yourself, and it benefits charity. It's, um, like a bat mitzvah."

Laurel walked back over with the wine bottle, laughing. "It is not like a bat mitzvah. There is nothing religious about a debutante ball."

Laurel sat down again.

Conrad shook his head. "The whole deb scene is bullshit. It's for sheep."

Jeremiah chuckled. "Yeah."

Susannah gave them a look. "No, it's not. It's when a girl has a coming out, it's a formal recognition she's reached maturity."

Steven burst into laughter. "Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. Mature?"

"Yes," Susannah answered.

"AJ I get, but Belly?" Steven asked.

Susannah nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Steven looked at Belly. "A--a couple months ago, you had a cat funeral. You made us all wear black."

"Shut up, Steven," Belly replied. "I saw you crying in your room."

"Wait, Mochi died?" Jeremiah asked. "Dang. I'm sorry, Bells."

Laurel shot Steven, Belly and Jeremiah a look for talking about stuff like that at the dinner table, glancing at AJ in concern, hoping that it wouldn't stir anything.

AJ, however, looked numb, and still stayed mostly silent, which Conrad noticed and frowned slightly; staying silent and void of emotion was definitely not the AJ they knew, and AJ looked conflicted and overwhelmed.

AJ: (voice over) "They want to make things get back to normal, make us have a perfect summer like always. I know that's never gonna happen, but I won't ruin it for the rest of them. Not if I can help it. Even though pretending like everything is normal, that everything can be perfect... feels like the biggest lie that any of us have ever told. Feels like it's a betrayal to Mom and Dad in a way that I can't explain. But if it means moving on, means making other people happy even if I don't feel it... then it can't be a betrayal... can it?"

Susannah tilted her head, noticing AJ's silence and distance too. "AJ. Belly." They both looked up. "Don't you want to get all dressed up?"

"It's just not Belly and AJ's kind of thing," Laurel pointed out, brushing back Belly's hair. "Our feral little alley cats."

Belly and AJ both frowned at that.

Jeremiah, Steven and Percy laughed lightly.

"Alley cats," Steven said. "Well, at least AJ knows how to fight like a badass like that."

"I'll think about it," Belly told them.

Susannah smiled. "She'll think about it." AJ put a hand to her head, leaning her head into her hand to prop it up. "Amina?"

AJ shook her head slightly. "I don't know."

Percy looked at AJ. "You know, my mom and Adilah met at the deb ball when they were our age."

AJ looked up at that, nodding. "I know. Mom and Hel told me."

"And they became best friends," Percy pointed out. "I think the entire thing is stupid, but Susannah could have a point."

Susannah smiled. "Thank you, Percy."

"It might be good for you," Percy added. "To get a distraction away from everything."

AJ bit her lip in thought.

Conrad eased back a little at the words, knowing that Percy had a good point.

"Just say you'll think about it too," Susannah told her.

AJ: (voice over) "It's hard to say no with the way Susannah pushes, pleads... the way she's glowing at the chance to see us through this. And with the thought that Mom and Helaena met at the deb ball and became best friends, knowing how much they had fun even if they didn't believe in that sort of thing otherwise... And besides the mission I have to find out what really happened, I can't deny that I really want a distraction from thinking about all of this all the time. And I don't want my depression to make them sad too. So if this makes them happy, going through the motions and doing everything I did before like I'm supposed to... that's a good thing, isn't it?"

AJ nodded slightly. "Okay. I'll think about it."

Susannah smiled.

♾️

Bathroom

Jeremiah stood at the bathroom sink, brushing his teeth.

Steven was in the shower, singing.  "Oh, girl / It's you / That I lie with / As the atom bomb / Locks in." Jeremiah was doing a little dance as he spit into the sink. Steven opened the shower door slightly. "Oh, girl / It's you."

Jeremiah leaned back against the sink, singing. "You."

♾️

Outside

(Song:) The Few Things - JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence

Conrad was sitting by the pool, smoking a joint.

AJ walked outside to get some air, looking a bit panicky and overwhelmed, breathing in the fresh air for a moment.

Lyrics: (Charlotte Lawrence) "I want you to unravel me."

Conrad looked up when he heard the door open and close.

AJ was slightly surprised to see him smoking a joint, walking closer. "Since when did you start smoking weed?"

"A couple months," Conrad answered.

AJ knew what that meant, and what partially caused it, nodding. "Yeah." She slowly sat down on the outside of the pool nearby Conrad, looking into the clear blue waves with a haunted look in her eye, still having some distance between her and the water. Conrad glanced at her but remained silent, giving her space. "Thanks for not asking."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe) "I don't say what's on my mind quite as much as you'd like me to / I've been hearing that my whole life, I promise, it's not just you."

Conrad nodded slightly, whispering softly. "Yeah. What are you doing up? I thought you had to go to bed early to go to Mako tomorrow."

"Can't sleep," AJ answered. "Nightmares."

Conrad understood that all too well after what happened, holding up his joint to prove his point. "Yeah, that's what this is for."

Conrad took a hit, releasing the smoke.

Lyrics: (JP Saxe) "But I so confidently want you / That when you say you're insecure about my feelings I don't take it serious."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence) "But if you need me to tell you more."

AJ watched curiously. "Let me see."

Conrad met AJ's gaze to see that she was serious, unable to help a small smirk. "What will you give me if I do?"

AJ: (voice over) "And just like that, the first actual feeling I felt since coming back. The air felt different all of a sudden. It felt charged, electric, like being zapped by a thunderbolt. And of course, it was because of Conrad."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence) "You're one of the few things that I'm sure of / You're one of the few things that I know already."

AJ bit her lip, unable to help but feel a rush of blood to her cheeks, thankful that she couldn't noticeably blush, but she did let out a soft, genuine chuckle out of amusement to act unfazed, though she did noticeably light up a little bit. "Conrad..."

Mission accomplished in getting her to cheer up a little bit, Conrad handed the joint over. "Go for it. Probably need it more than I do."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence) "I could build my world of / One of the few things that I'm sure of."

AJ took hold of the joint, taking a hit, releasing the smoke as she tilted her head back. "Thanks." Conrad nodded. "I take it you're not a big fan of the debutante thing."

Lyrics: (Charlotte Lawrence) "And I want you to unravel me."

Conrad shook his head. "Did it last year as an escort, and that's how I know for sure it's dumb."

AJ chuckled a bit. "Yeah. I don't know. Percy was right. Mom and Hel... how they met and became friends. The distraction alone is a good reason for me just to do it. Get it all out of my head for a while." Conrad nodded in understanding. "And Susannah makes it hard to say no to her."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence) "Come closer, come closer / Come closer, come closer."

"Yeah, she does," Conrad agreed. "But don't let my mom make you her little doll just because she never had a daughter."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe) "And I want you to unravel me."

"I don't mind it," AJ admitted. "You know, Helaena may be a bitch, and Susannah can be pushy as hell, and Laurel can be so judgy, but..."

AJ couldn't bring herself to finish.

Conrad still seemed to know what she was trying to say. "They're good moms to the kids."

Lyrics: (Charlotte Lawrence) "I don't say what's on my mind quite as much as you'd like me to / And often when I'm quiet you worry I'm hiding from you."

AJ nodded. "Yeah. And my mom... she'd want me to do it too. Just like I know Hel is gonna want me to do it. And Reagan because he'll think it's a good distraction too."

"Yeah, but what do you wanna do, AJ?" Conrad asked. "Not what everyone else wants you to do."

AJ looked down, not knowing the answer, taking a hit, handing it to Conrad. "You might want to take that before I smoke it all."

Conrad couldn't help but chuckle. "It's all good."

Lyrics: (Charlotte Lawrence) "And I know I keep a lot to myself / But still you're more part of me than anybody else."

AJ looked at him curiously. "What's going on with you?"

Conrad looked down. "Nothing."

Lyrics: (Charlotte Lawrence) "So if you need me to tell you more."

AJ tilted her head skeptically. "I know you, Conrad. Something's going on. And it's not just what happened seven months ago." Conrad sighed, as if thinking he should've known that AJ of all people would notice first, not even surprised that she noticed on the very first night even with everything going on with her. "You can tell me. God knows you let me tell you everything even when I was in LA."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence) "You're one of the few things that I'm sure of / You're one of the few things that I know already / I could build my world of / One of the few things that I'm sure of."

Conrad hesitated, like he wanted to tell her, but he was also worried about overwhelming her too much, and scared that if he said what he said, then it would become real, and everything could come crashing down, all over again. "AJ..."

Lyrics: (JP Saxe, Charlotte Lawrence) "And I want you to unravel me."

AJ looked at him expectantly but patiently.

Lyrics: (JP Saxe) "Come closer, come closer / And I want you to unravel me / Come closer, come closer."

(Song Ends)

Before Conrad could even begin, Steven, Jeremiah, Percy and Belly walked outside, laughing.

AJ and Conrad snapped out of the moment and looked toward them.

Steven cheered. "First bonfire of the summer!"

Jeremiah pointed at Steven. "All right, we're totally taking my car. You're not driving."

Steven laughed.

Conrad took a hit of the joint.

Belly frowned at the joint, immediately judgy. "I thought you said smoking pot changes the way your brain processes information."

"So does your cell phone," Conrad replied.

Belly shrugged. "You said marijuana messes with white matter."

"Do you even know what white matter is?" Percy asked.

Belly shook her head. "Conrad said o--our brains are still developing and that..."

Conrad raised an eyebrow. "God, do you memorize every single thing that I've ever said?"

Belly hesitated a moment too long, as if she had as much as she could, before scoffing. "Get over yourself." AJ raised an eyebrow at that. Conrad took a hit. Belly shook her head in exasperation. "I mean, Conrad, you're the one who said that--that smoking's dumb and that real athletes don't put shit in their bodies."

Conrad sighed, slightly annoyed, because he needed this just for anxiety. "I said a lot of stuff, and I'm not an athlete anymore, so..."

"Could you maybe not judge, Belly?" AJ asked. "Weed also helps with anxiety and shit, so kindly back off."

"Speaking of, you wanna go to the party, AJ?" Jeremiah asked. "Come on, gotta get the party duo back together."

AJ hesitated, conflicted. "I don't know, Jeremiah. I just... I think I'm just gonna stay in for the night."

"Really?" Steven asked.

"Since when do you ever say no to a party?" Jeremiah asked, slightly miffed, hurt even.

Conrad and Percy gave him a look.

"Seven months straight," AJ answered, deadpan.

Jeremiah took the hint, sighing. "I don't know, could've been a good distraction too."

AJ tilted her head. "We'll see, okay?"

Jeremiah nodded, more satisfied with that answer.

Percy rolled his eyes given that AJ only gave that answer because they wouldn't drop it, and AJ didn't want to let anyone down.

"Hey, Percy, you wanna come?" Steven asked.

"Not really," Percy answered. "I've got to get up early in the morning for work, and so does AJ, so..."

AJ gave Percy a slight smile in appreciation for the help.

"Come on, Conrad, we're leaving," Steven told him. "You ready?"

Conrad handed the rest of his joint to AJ. "Yeah." He looked at AJ, whispering. "Keep it."

AJ took the joint appreciatively. "Thank you."

Conrad nodded, standing, walking away toward Jeremiah and Steven.

AJ watched him go as she took a hit of the joint.

Belly gave them a judgy, jealous look, speaking up in a hopeful voice. "Can I come, too?"

"Uh, no," Steven denied.

Jeremiah shrugged. "The moms are getting everything set up for your movie night." He looked at AJ. "In case you wanna do that now again."

AJ rolled her eyes slightly at the way that Jeremiah made it sound boring compared to a party, when AJ would prefer the movie night, even after the way she used to party.

Conrad nodded to AJ, Belly and Percy. "See you."

"Let's go, slowpoke," Jeremiah told him.

As the three older boys walked away, Steven called back. "Have fun with the moms!"

AJ looked down, finishing the joint, putting it out.

AJ: (voice over) "Every time I hear 'the moms, I can't help but think about how mine should still be here. Be one of them. With them right now. Dad would be at work saving someone's life, but it would be enough for us to be happy as a family when he came to see us as much as he could over the summer. And now it's all gone."

♾️

Inside - Kitchen

Susannah and Laurel were making brownies.

AJ, Belly and Percy walked in.

"Brownies are going in," Susannah told them.

"Go put the DVD in," Laurel told them.

"Uh, do we have to watch It Happened One Night?" Belly asked. "Can't we do something different?"

"But we always watch It Happened One Night on the first night," Laurel stated.

Susannah held out her hands in a shrug. "Well, we could watch The Philadelphia Story instead." AJ was not really into the conversation, looking out of it. Susannah tried to look unconcerned, as she knew it set AJ on edge more, giving her a slight smile. "Everything okay?"

AJ snapped out of it. "Yeah, no, I--I'm just... I'm kind of tired, so I think I might skip the movie and go to bed."

Laurel nodded in understanding. "Okay, hon, yeah, sure. We can, uh... we can do the brownies another night."

"Do you feel up to singing us a song on the second day, like always?" Susannah asked. "Tomorrow?"

"Yeah, yeah, we'll, uh, we'll see," AJ answered.

Susannah smiled slightly. "We always love to hear your pretty voice."

AJ gave them a tight smile in return, nodding, walking out of the room toward the stairs.

Laurel and Susannah looked at Belly and Percy, concern all over their faces.

Percy nodded. "Yeah, we'll go check on her."

The moms nodded.

Belly and Percy walked upstairs.

♾️

Percy's Room

(Song:) Pretty Pictures - Indigo De Souza

Percy sat at his desk, which was more set more like a drawing\painting station, as he was in the middle of doing a new drawing.

AJ put her bag on the couch since she was staying the night in Percy's room. She walked over to Percy, standing behind him, looking over the drawing, tilting her head. "Please don't tell me it's Mystery Boy."

"It's not him," Percy lied.

"Really?" AJ asked skeptically.

"And he's not a mystery boy," Percy told him. "I know who he is."

AJ nodded. "Exactly, because you met him in the 8th grade then once again two years ago when he saved your life. It's like fate."

"7th grade," Percy corrected. "And there is no such thing as fate. And he doesn't remember it. Besides, I know what I'm doing."

"Right," AJ said skeptically. "You just stalk him, then runaway before he has a chance to speak with you."

Percy gave her a look. "I don't stalk."

AJ crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Would you preer stared at him, longing in the distance without him knowing?"

Percy tilted his head in return. "Yeah."

AJ rolled her eyes. "What you need to do is go and talk to him."

Percy shook his head instantly. "That's a terrible idea."

"Why?" AJ asked.

"Won't he laugh at me?" Percy asked.

"No," AJ deadpanned.

Percy was freaking out, rambling. "Well, what if he doesn't like me and tells everybody, and then everybody thinks I'm the freak and my parents hate me and banish me to the North Pole to some clandestine hospital where I'm married off to some town girl for some sheeps and live the rest of my life with nine kids and unhappily married until I die of old age by frostbite?"

AJ frowned, giving Percy a weird look, shaking her head. "Percy, none of those things are possible."

Percy continued on. "Besides, I really feel like soon it will be over. I'm approaching that point."

AJ took one of the sketchbooks off the nearby table, turning around to show Percy that it had several drawings of Cam. "Are you now?"

Percy took the sketchbook from her, closing it. "Well, I didn't say it was a fast approach."

AJ couldn't help a slightly noticeable smirk, shaking her head, walking away towrd the bed, going up the steps before just throwing herself on it while gazing off, while Percy went back to his drawing.

AJ knew that Percy truly did have issues sleeping in the house the first night of summer, but she knew that he asked her to room with him tonight not just for his sake, but for her own too, because she would have a hell of a hard time, too, and because of her nightmares.

AJ took a deep breath before speaking. "Hey, Percy?"

Percy knew what she was gonna say without her saying it, turning toward her. "I know."

AJ and Percy looked at each other for a moment, sharing a small, sad smile.

Belly knocked on the door before walking in. "Hey, guys." She looked at Percy, seeing his sketchbooks. "Please don't tell me you're drawing Mystery Boy again."

AJ sat up on the bed, smirking slightly.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Okay, do I tell you people who you have a crush on?"

AJ raised an eyebrow, glancing from Percy to Belly.

Belly rolled her eyes before turning to her. "Hey, AJ?"

"Don't ask," AJ told her.

"I won't," Belly promised. "I just... Is there anything we can do?"

"You guys are doing everything you can," AJ told them. "I'll get through it. I just... need more time. And fucking answers."

AJ laid back on the bed.

They nodded in sad understanding.

"I know Jere was acting kind of like a dick earlier when you said you didn't want to go, but he might have a point," Percy pointed out. "Like with the deb ball."

"It could be a good distraction," Belly added. "And I never care about a beach party before, but I really wanna go right now."

"Really?" AJ asked.

"Yeah," Belly answered. "Well, I--I did talk to this one guy, um, who asked me to come."

"That's great, Bells," Percy told her.

"Yeah," AJ said. "You should go. Go have fun."

Belly bit her lip. "Yeah, but... I don't like that guy. And I don't even have anything to wear to the party."

AJ couldn't help but chuckle a bit, standing up, walking down to the couch, reaching into her bag to pull out a small box. "Well, now you do."

Belly frowned. "What's that?"

"It's a gift I got for you, from LA," AJ answered. "I was gonna give it to you later, but since you want something now..."

Belly took the box, smiling in anticipation, opening it, revealing a cute, flattering pink dress, good for a party, but not too revealing or overdressy, though Belly was nervous because this sort of thing was still not like her. "No way in hell."

"What?" Percy asked. "It's not nearly as bad as Party Girl AJ's dresses, or Taylor's dresses."

"Thank you, Percy," AJ told him sarcastically.

Percy smiled, before looking at Belly. "I'm just saying, that's kinda tame for a party. Good for a beach bonfire."

Belly shrugged in agreement. "All right. I'll wear it." AJ gave a slightly bigger smile. "On one condition. Both of you come with me."

AJ and Percy definitely weren't expecting that.

"Belly..." AJ trailed off.

"I'm serious," Belly told them. "You used to live for this kind of thing, AJ. And I know you wanna get back out there. Only one way to try, right? And Percy, the same goes for you, because you always wanted to try and get out there too. But you can't do that if you're going to bed before 10 and getting up at the butt crack of dawn."

"Okay, don't say it like that," Percy told her. "But you make a good point."

AJ raised her eyebrows, tilting her head.

Belly gave them a pleading look. "Please."

Percy smiled, nodding. "I'll go."

"Well, then, I'm glad that I got you a new outfit, too," AJ told him. "Since Helaena buys all your clothes, I figured that you would like something else."

"Especially if it's something you picked," Percy answered, giving an excited smile. "Thanks, AJ. Let me see." AJ took out the outfit for Percy, handing it to him. Percy and Belly smiled. "I guess this means you need an outfit for yourself, too. Since I'm only going if you go." AJ hesitated. "Let's have some fun."

"You remember what fun is, don't you, Amina?" Belly asked in a teasing voice.

AJ smirked sarcastically. "You're on, Isabel."

Belly and Percy smiled.

(Song Ends)

♾️

Downstairs

After all three teens changed for the party, while Susannah and Laurel were watching their movie, AJ, Belly and Percy snuck out of the house, stopping for a moment to hear the moms laugh and watch them cuddle on the couch before leaving.

♾️

Beach

(Song:) Up - Cardi B

AJ, Percy and Belly arrived to the party.

AJ winked at Belly and Percy. "All right, have fun."

"All right," Percy agreed.

AJ walked away.

Belly waved. "See you soon, right?"

Percy gave Belly a thumbs up. "Real soon."

Percy walked away.

Jumper noticed Belly, walking over to her. "Yo, gas station girl. Hey."

"Hey," Belly replied.

Jumper offered Belly his beer bottle. "Hey. Here, take my beer."

Belly shook her head. "No, no, no, thanks. I'm okay."

"So, uh... you got a boyfriend back home?" Jumper asked.

Belly hesitated. "Um..." She got distracted when she saw her brother with his girlfriend Shayla, calling over. "Steven!"

Steven walked closer, stunned. "What are you doing here? And I--I'm sorry, wh--what are you wearing?"

"I invited her," Jumper answered. "Who the fuck are you?"

"I'm her brother," Steven answered. "She's 15, you pedo."

Belly stammered nervously. "I'm--I'm almost 16."

Jumper backed off. "My bad."

Jumper walked away.

Steven shook his head. "Jesus Christ. Belly, come on."

Steven grabbed Belly's arm, pulling her along.

"What are you doing?" Belly asked. "Will you let go of me, please? What are you doing? No... You're embarrassing me."

"I'm embarrassing?" Steven repeated. "You're embarrassing."

Belly's voice raised squeaky high. "Why am I embarrassing?!"

"Quit embarrassing yourself," Steven told her. "Are you kidding me?"

Percy walked up to them. "Steven, what's going on?"

AJ walked closer.

"Belly's embarrassing herself," Steven remarked.

"Why, because she showed up to a party?" AJ asked skeptically.

"No, because she showed up to a party asked out by someone 21 or over," Steven answered. "He didn't even know she was 15."

Percy made a face. "Oh. Yeah, we didn't know that part. Yeah, Belly didn't tell us that."

AJ shook her head. "Could you guys just..."

Percy was about to speak when he gazed off and saw Cam down by the ocean.

Percy: (voice over) "That's when I saw him. He was standing alone too, drinking a bottle of water. It didn't seem like he knew anybody either, since he was standing all by himself. Maybe coming wasn't such a bad idea. Maybe I could just forget me fears and go up and talk to him and maybe, just maybe, I can finally live something real."

Belly was trying to pull free from Steven's tight grip. "Stop it! Steven!"

Cam turned towards the sound of Belly's voice and noticed Percy across the way and looking at him, smiling and waving at him.

Percy's eyes widened.

Percy: (voice over) "Oh, fuck no."

Percy got nervous, instantly losing any courage, turning to run at the same time Belly pulled free too hard as she collided with Percy, and they ended up falling to the ground with Belly on top of him.

Right in front of where Conrad was making out with a friends-with-benefits girl, Nicole.

Percy: (voice over) "Someone please drop a bomb on this beach."

Partygoers who saw Belly and Percy wipe out on the sand all groaned.

"Oh, fuck," AJ said in surprise.

"Are you okay?" Steven asked.

Conrad frowned in confusion, pulling away from Nicole. "Belly? Percy?" He looked up and his gaze fell on the other teen that said that they hadn't been planning on coming. "AJ?"

Still on the ground, Percy waved his hands awkwardly. "Surprise."

AJ helped Belly up to her feet, while Steven helped Percy, who had a little pain in his ankle after Belly fell on him.

"You okay?" AJ asked once she saw Percy limping slightly.

Percy: (voice over) "Besides wanting the earth to swallow me?"

Percy nodded awkwardly. "Peachy."

There was some overlapping chatter about Belly and Percy's fall.

Belly was ignoring them so her embarrassment didn't eat her alive, looking at Nicole, who was wearing a Red Sox baseball cap, before giving Conrad a judgy look. "I thought you hated the Red Sox."

"Who are you?" Nicole asked.

"Who are you?" Belly replied territorially.

"Nicole," Nicole answered. "Conrad and I went to the deb ball together last summer."

AJ nodded, looking away.

Conrad's gaze was on AJ for a second before he caught himself and redirected his gaze to Belly and Percy, nodding to Steven. "It was after you guys left to take Steven to look at colleges."

Belly frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "I thought you said that deb balls are bullshit, and all debs are sheep."

Conrad gave her an incredulous look. "I didn't..." Nicole looked at Conrad with a pointed look. Conrad looked at Nicole, before giving an annoyed look to Belly. "You're such a brat."

"Well, you're an asshole," Belly replied.

AJ rolled her eyes. "Okay, can we not, you guys?"

Jeremiah ran over when he saw AJ, Belly and Percy. "Guys. You came!" He looked from the three of them to Steven and Conrad. "Great, we can all hang out, you guys."

"I'm about to take her home," Steven told them.

"What?" Jeremiah asked.

Steven grabbed Belly's arm. "Yeah, we're leaving. Are you kidding me? AJ, did you give her this dress?"

"It's not even that bad of a dress," AJ told him.

"And it's a gift," Belly added.

"Okay, Steven, chill out," Jeremiah told him.

"Come on," Percy agreed. "Go--go hang out with Shayla or something."

Shayla walked up beside Steven, giving him a look to give his sister a break, nodding. "Let's go. Come on."

Steven sighed, giving in, looking at Belly. "Fine. But just stay right here and don't talk to anybody."

Percy held up a hand between his cousins. "Okay. All right. Chill."

AJ shook her head. "Talk about overbearing."

Jeremiah chuckled.

Steven gave AJ a look, walking away with Shayla.

Belly glared after Steven, flipping him off with both hands. "Fuck you!"

The partygoers went, "Oh!"

Jeremiah smirked. "Wow. Listen, for one, I'm really happy you're here."

AJ let out a breath. "Yeah." She hesitated while looking at the ocean, frowning a bit. "Right."

Jeremiah noticed AJ's look, following her gaze to the chaotic waves of the ocean, realizing now that AJ had said no the first time was more about that than anything else, knowing that she just needed to be distracted. "Come on, AJ. Let's get you a drink. Bring back the party duo."

AJ couldn't help but a smile a bit, knowing that even if Jeremiah was being a bit pushy to get things back to the way they were, to 'normal', he was still trying to help distract her which was what she needed right now, despite the frustration and feeling of betraying her parents at the thought of everyone pretending things were normal, making her feel very conflicted and overwhelmed, but she just wanted to go with it and make her friend happy. "Okay."

Jeremiah linked his arm with AJ and lead her along, looking back at Belly and Percy. "Come on, guys."

Belly and Percy walked with them, smiling a bit.

Conrad watched them curiously, concerned.

(Song Ends)

♾️

Beck House - Dock

On the dock outside the beach house, Laurel and Susannah were sitting together, smoking a joint.

"When the boys threw Belly in the pool today, I swear I almost saw a smile on Connie's face," Susannah told her. "I know AJ's still healing and it went kinda sad after that, but..." Laurel nodded, handing her the joint. "They've been in a better mood today than I've seen them in seven months. Percy, too."

"Yeah," Laurel agreed. "But AJ's still sad and angry. And Percy blames himself for not being able to save Adilah and Khalid, but he seems to be doing a bit better. But Reagan and Helaena are worried about them, and so am I." Susannah nodded in agreement. "It's the first summer without Adilah and Khalid. We knew it was gonna be hard, but..." Susannah sighed. "What about Connie?"

"He's just in such a bad mood," Susannah answered. "So unlike himself."

"Since when did he quit football?" Laurel asked.

"A couple weeks ago," Susannah answered. "He only ever played football to please Adam. I told you they weren't getting along. And Conrad's going through it too. What happened Thanksgiving really messed with his head, too. I'm just gonna... let him have his space. You know? Let him do his thing."

Laurel frowned. "Don't you think maybe it's time you talked to him?"

Susannah shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about. Can we just have a really great summer like we said we would?" They both laughed lightly. "How's your writing coming? Your office is all set up for you. I put fresh flowers in it."

Laurel just looked at Susannah with a sadness in her eyes, with a fear of what she knew was coming, far too soon after they already lost Adilah and Khalid. "I just want to hang out with you. I could give a shit about my book right now."

Susannah took a hit. "Mm. Liar. You give so many shits about your book. You give all the shits."

Laurel chuckled. "It's a midlist book. It's been out for a month and it's barely selling. Maybe if I'd written about the Asian American experience... whatever that is... it would be selling better."

"Well, it is gonna sell a ton of copies tomorrow, and I can't wait to read it," Susannah told her.

Laurel tilted her head. "You never read my books."

Susannah gave her a look. "Yes, I do." They both laughed. Susannah chuckled. "You know, it wouldn't hurt you to put yourself out there more. Get on Tinder while you're at it."

Laurel was embarrassed. "Oh, my God, please stop."

Susannah smiled. "Okay, okay. Not Tinder. What's, uh, what's the app for the 40 and up crowd?"

Laurel threw her hands up, smiling sheepishly. "Oh! I'm begging you, stop."

Susannah giggled. "It's OurTime."

Laurel couldn't help her laughter. "No, it's not." They continued to laugh for a moment before it started to quiet. Susannah slid closer to Laurel, smiling at her. "What?"

"Okay, don't get mad at me," Susannah told her. "I just, I really think you should let Belly have a deb season. And maybe talk to Reagan and Helaena. We both know that they'll want AJ to do it, too. Hel even just for how she and Adilah met and became friends, and because they both know that it could distract Amina and get her back out there."

Laurel sighed. "Please, debutante balls are just so problematic."

"Please," Susannah told her. "I really want to see our girls in white dresses."

Laurel looked at Susannah for a moment, knowing that she couldn't say no. "Fine." Susannah laughed. "You win."

Susannah smiled. "I always do."

"I still don't think they'll go through with it," Laurel told her.

Susannah shrugged, leaning her head on Laurel's shoulder. "They might surprise you. People can change, you know."

They both laughed.

"Not us, though," Laurel told her.

Susannah shook her head. "No. You and I are immovable objects."

They just continued to sit on the dock, content in the silence.

♾️

Beach Bonfire

(Song:) Without You - Ursine Vulpine

AJ was drinking quite a bit to get everything out of her mind for a while, and just to be able to sleep through the night completely whenever she got home.

But when she realized she was wandering too close to the ocean, AJ stumbled back a little bit, looking out over the dark waves with a haunted look.

The waves crashed chaotically against the sand, nearing AJ, and for a second, AJ just stood there, letting it wash over her feet, but she couldn't bring herself to do much more than that, looking down as she remembered that Thanksgiving night, when the families would come to the Beck House for dinner as per tradition.

AJ: (voice over) "Ever since Thanksgiving, it feels so easy to get sucked out of the world. Out of reality. I can't stop it most of the time, and it feels like I'm shutting down. Trapped in my own mind, it feels like I'm alone. Like I don't know where the world is, but I know I'm missing out. And they're missing me. Like I'm screaming like mad at the top of my lungs but I'm not making a sound. And the only thing that comes back is an echo. A replay of all that happened. Like a shadow that never left my side no matter how hard I try to pretend I'm fine. Not when I can see this in my head every single time I'm near the water and every time I close my eyes."

Lyrics: "If it's gonna get violent tonight / Tell me you gonna be alright, you gonna be / It's an eye for an eye and I don't know if I want you to fight / Want you to fight."

♾️

Flashback 11 - Thanksgiving, 2021

Night - Loveat Bridge

The Jalalis were driving in the middle of the storm, trying to make it to the Beck house for shelter.

An electrical wire was cut on Loveat Bridge, and it fell from the pole onto the bridge, hitting the water and sending up a shower of sparks that blinded Khalid, Adilah and AJ in the car, causing them all to scream as Khalid lost control and the car slid right into the railing of the bridge, as AJ and her parents screamed, the crash knocking them out briefly on impact.

Lyrics: "I'm losing my mind / Don't leave me behind / We need a bit more time."

Conrad was on his way back himself in a car, when he saw the crash, and was horrified and worried, being careful as he pulled his car over at the side of the road so that he didn't crash himself.

Soon, when the Jalalis woke up, AJ groaned, as did Adilah and Khalid, all of them worried.

"AJ?" Adilah asked, freaking out for her daughter. "Amina!"

Khalid tried to reach back to AJ, but they were all trapped due to the crash and their seatbelts. "She's bleeding. She won't stay awake."

"Okay," Adilah said, trying to stay calm.

"AJ?" Khalid asked. "Amina, hey. Hey, sweetie, we need you to stay awake for us, okay?"

AJ could barely keep her eyes open. "I can't. I don't... want to."

"You have to, baby girl," Adilah told her. "We're gonna get out of this."

"She needs a doctor, Adilah," Khalid told her.

Adilah was shaking, as the storm continued outside. "I know." She was trying to get reception on her phone, calling 911. "Please, there's been a wreck on Loveat Bridge by the beach over the river. We need help right now! Hello?" She threw her phone, but kept it on call so that they could track the phone and hopefully find them in time. "Damn it!"

Conrad was running closer through the storm to try and get to the car, knowing they needed help. "AJ!"

AJ became alert at the sound of his voice, looking out through the window, seeing Conrad, her breath caught slightly. "Conrad!"

"Conrad, please, we need help!" Khalid told him.

Before Conrad could get to the car, another car was speeding down the bridge, right toward the Jalali car at the side of the bridge.

Conrad realized, horrified and trying to stop it. "No, stop! Stop! Stop!"

AJ, Adilah and Khalid saw the car coming and tensed for impact, unable to do anything else.

AJ screamed. "Conrad!"

Conrad shivered for a number of reasons, the pounding rain being one, the horrifying scene of the car intentionally crashing into the Jalalis' car and pushing it off the bridge and into the river below being another, and AJ's scream just as they fell into the water.

Lyrics: "'Cause I don't want the world to turn without you / And I don't want the sun to burn without you / Yeah, I don't want the world to turn without you / And I don't want the sun to burn without you."

Conrad looked at the car that ran them off the road, but he could barely see two men in the darkness and the storm, unable to see their faces.

Conrad ran toward the edge of the broken bridge, looking into the water. "No!" He didn't even hesitate to jump over the railing of the bridge and into the river below next to the car, swimming closer. "AJ!"

The car up above, that had drove the Jalalis off the bridge, sped off the bridge without looking back.

Immediately, Adilah and Khalid were trying to break their windows so that they even had a chance of getting out.

On the outside of the car, Conrad kicked in the windshield, shattering it so that he could get in and so they could get out, but that still left their seatbelts and seats keeping them in place, as they couldn't get them to unlock.

"No, stop, stop!" Adilah told him.

"The belts," Khalid told him.

Conrad shook his head in horror. "No."

AJ was crying in terror, as they were all trying to pull their belts, to break themselves free.

Adilah looked at the broken glass shard on the windshield frame and took it off, even if it meant cutting herself in the process and making her bleed so much, giving it to Conrad. "Get AJ free, now!"

AJ froze for a moment. "Mom? Dad?"

"We're sinking and we're gonna drown if you do not get her cut free right now," Khalid told him.

Conrad shook his head. "No, no, we're not sinking. The car's on the bottom."

"Are you sure?" AJ asked.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Conrad answered. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," AJ answered.

"Just get her out of here, please," Adilah told him.

"Careful," Khalid told him.

Conrad carefully held the glass as he started to cut at AJ's seat belt, having to be extremely careful so that he didn't cut her with the glass, as the force he had to use to cut her belt could have easily stabbed her, though careful not to do so. "AJ, talk to me. I need to know I'm not hurting you. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," AJ answered. "Conrad... are you sure we're not sinking?"

"We're not sinking," Conrad answered.

AJ sobbed slightly. "Go."

"No," Conrad denied. "I'm not gonna leave you. No way in hell I'm leaving you."

"It's okay," Khalid told them. "It's okay. Are you sure you're not hurt, AJ?"

AJ still had a tough time keeping her eyes open.

Conrad noticed and had to stop cutting so that he could grab her head and shake her lightly, knowing that he couldn't let her fall asleep or risk the chance of her not waking up. "AJ, stay with me. Okay? I've almost got it."

AJ nodded, her head pounding from the tears, from the storm, from the fear, and from the concussion.

And as the car shifted as the tires were sinking further into the bottom of the river, AJ cried out as she felt intense pain on her leg.

Lyrics: "You don't have to be the brave one every time / I know you wanna make it right, you wanna make / It's a lie for a lie and I'm getting tired on the other side / On the other side."

"What happened?" Adilah asked.

Conrad winced. "Her leg's stuck under the console column. It got ripped up in the crash and..."

"Now it's on my fucking leg," AJ groaned.

"I need a crowbar or something," Conrad told them.

AJ reached behind her to the seat compartment and pulled it open so that she could reach through toward the trunk behind her and felt around blindly before she felt the crowbar, pulling it out, handing it to Conrad.

Conrad nodded shakily, taking the crowbar, trying to move the console off of AJ's leg, as her seat belt was cut halfway through.

Suddenly, Khalid frowned. "Can you hear that? What's that noise? What is it?"

Adilah realized, horrified. "It's the levee!" The levee rushed into the car with an overflow of water, starting to overtake the car, washing over all their faces, as they all tried to keep their heads over the water, struggling now more than ever. "Conrad, you get Amina out now!"

"And you!" AJ cried.

"Amina," Khalid said softly.

AJ took the glass from Conrad and used it to cut the rest of the way through her seat belt with all of her strength, not caring that she sliced her hand open and jabbed herself in the side doing so, crying out.

Lyrics: "I'm losing my mind / Don't leave me behind / We need a bit more time."

"AJ," Conrad said worriedly.

"Get that thing off me, Conrad," AJ told him. "We're not gonna let them drown."

Conrad put the crowbar beneath the console and tried to pull it off of AJ's leg, as AJ cried out as it had dug deep into her leg, everyone wincing.

Conrad shushed her as much as he could, freaking out but determined not to bend under the pressure, needing to save them. "I can get you out. Hold on. I can do it, AJ, hang on."

"Promise you'll get AJ out," Adilah said, as that was the only thing she cared about, unable to pull the belt around her free.

Khalid reached for the glass from AJ, but through the waves quickly filling the car, the glass was torn from their grasp and fell to the ground, out of sight, and definitely out of reach, as AJ let out a broken cry, knowing that meant they couldn't cut her parents free.

Lyrics: "Can you hear my cry, an old lullaby drifting through the sky?"

AJ shook her head in denial. "No, we're gonna get you out."

"AJ, it's gonna be okay," Khalid told her. "You're gonna be okay."

"Mom, Dad, I'm not leaving you!" AJ told them.

Khalid let out a broken breath as he looked to Conrad, who was still prying the console off of AJ's leg as she cried out. "Conrad, save her, and then save us. Please? Just get AJ out of here, Conrad."

"Promise us," Adilah told him.

Conrad was left in an impossible state as he tried to work harder and faster without damaging AJ's leg so much, as she cried and yelled in pain.

AJ shook her head in tears. "I won't leave you here."

"We know," Adilah told her. "Now go. Conrad, AJ, go! Go!"

Conrad took a big gulp of air as he held his breath and went underwater, using the crowbar to completely take off the console from AJ's leg, as it caused her to scream again.

The water was getting higher, to AJ, Adilah and Khalid's heads, and they had to tilt their heads back so that they could keep their noses and mouths out of the water for as long as possible, until the water finally covered their heads.

Conrad finally got AJ free, and since she was quickly losing oxygen because of her pain and the screams and cries she had let out because of her leg and the pain, and because of her concussion, she was quickly losing consciousness as water flooded her system.

Conrad took AJ in his arms and swam out of the car, breaking through the surface, walking to the edge of the riverbank through the storm, putting AJ on the ground.

Down below, Adilah and Khalid were losing oxygen, but fighting to hold on, as they were trying to break free, finally managing to do so, and it caused them to slowly float out through the broken windshield... they weren't swimming, as it had already been too late.

Lyrics: "'Cause I don't want the world to turn without you / And I don't want the sun to burn without you / Yeah, I don't want the world to turn without you / And I don't want the sun to burn without you."

Conrad went back for Adilah and Khalid, only to find them floating away from the car, dead in the water, crying in horror, shaking his head. "No. Adilah! Khalid!" He got Adilah and Khalid's bodies to the river back and turned toward AJ on the riverbank, as she laid motionless on the ground, unconscious, and Conrad knew that he only had the ability to save one until help arrived to the scene... and her parents had made him promise to save her even if it meant sacrificing themselves to allow him to save their daughter. "Shit. AJ!"

A car pulled up on the bridge, and Percy and Helaena got out of the car immediately, running through the storm toward them, gasping in horror.

Lyrics: "Oh, oh, oh, oh no / Oh, oh, oh, oh no."

"Oh, my God," Percy cried.

"Conrad, what happened?" Helaena asked.

"Conrad!" Percy yelled.

Conrad couldn't focus on answering them as he posed AJ on the ground to resuscitate her, starting to give her CPR. "Come on, AJ. Come back to me. Come on!" He kept breathing for AJ, pressing his lips to hers and filling her lungs with as much air as he could give her, before doing chest compressions, desperately to bring her back. "Come on, Amina! Breathe! Come on, AJ. Come on, breathe! AJ, come on. Don't do this to me, Amina."

Percy and Helaena ran to try and do the same thing with Adilah and Khalid, knowing exactly what to do because they were doctors... which was why, even though they were doing CPR like their own lives depended on it, they knew it was too late to bring them back. They didn't stop trying, in tears as they kept breathing for Adilah and Khalid and compressing their chests, but nothing was working.

Conrad had AJ's blood on his hands from the compressions, from the wound in AJ's side, and blood was trailing over her stomach and chest, from when she cut herself with the glass to get free, and she was bleeding badly, along with the cut on her hand from the glass, and her leg was wounded from the console, also bleeding.

The blood on his hands only made him more terrified of losing her, and the stakes even higher.

Conrad was crying, desperate, but refusing to give up, his voice cracking with denial and pain. "Come back! Come on, AJ! Come on. Come on, AJ, breathe! Come on, AJ, fight! Come on! Come on! Amina, come back! Come on! Come on! Breathe! Come back! Amina! Come back!"

Percy and Helaena were completely heartbroken, saying the same things over and over again as well for Adilah and Khalid, saying their names, desperately trying to bring them back.

Sirens were heard in the distance as an ambulance finally got closer.

Desperate and feeling devastated and defeated, Conrad punched the ground with a yell.

Percy kept trying. "Adilah, Khalid, please!"

Helaena knew it was no use, sitting back, crying, taking hold of Percy, having to pull him back. "Percy... Conrad..."

Percy and Conrad broke down.

After a moment, AJ's fingers twitched. Conrad noticed this as his breath caught, and he looked to her face immediately in hope.

AJ woke with a wrenching cough that shook her to her core.

Conrad, Percy and Helaena looked at her in shock but relief.

Conrad instantly helped AJ sit up and let her cough the water out of her lungs to the ground. "Oh, my God. You're okay, AJ. You're okay, Amina."

AJ was gasping for breath, disoriented, looking around, only remembering what she had seen just before she saw blackness. "Conrad?" Percy and Helaena showed utter relief, but still devastation, as they couldn't revive Adilah and Khalid. Conrad just held AJ in his arms, trying to keep her calm, as he knew that she would lose it when she saw her parents, a crying mess himself. AJ turned to look at Percy and Helaena. "Percy? Helaena?" Her eyes fell to the motionless Adilah and Khalid... slowly realizing, knowing, but in complete denial. "Mom? Dad?" As she started to cry, she squirmed and struggled desperately in Conrad's arms, but he held her as tightly as he could, so she didn't hurt herself even more. "No! Mom! Dad!"

Lyrics: "So won't you hold me now? / Hold me like I've never did anything to hurt you / Don't let go / Give me another minute to play here in your echo."

Percy and Helaena were crying as they crawled toward Conrad and AJ to help him calm her down and keep her from hurting herself.

AJ broke down into tears and sobs, screaming in devastation that sent a chill and shiver down each of their spines, each one flinching and crying more at her pain.

AJ, Percy, Conrad and Helaena were all breaking down, and Helaena wrapped her arms around all three of the kids, just trying to hold them together as if that could keep them from shattering, along with herself.

The ambulance pulled over as help finally arrived.

AJ: (voice over) "They were in time to help me... to save me... to bring me back from the dead. But it was far too late to save my parents... who never had the chance to be saved as they were already truly dead before they even left the water."

Lyrics: "I don't want the world to turn without you / And I don't want the sun to burn without you / Yeah, I don't want the world to turn without you / And I don't want the sun to burn without you / I don't wanna live a life without you / I will watch the world burn without you."

(Song Ends)

♾️

Now

Night - Beach Bonfire

AJ only pulled out of it when she realized that she was crying, shaking her head, wiping her cheeks. "Jesus."

AJ took a big drink, continuing on through the party, away from the ocean.

Conrad noticed AJ's reaction to being around the ocean again, looking like he himself had been remembering that Thanksgiving night which was just as traumatic for him as it was for her and they all lost people that day. He looked down, taking a drink of his own beer.

Nicole returned to Conrad's side, sitting next to him. "Hey, you okay?"

Conrad nodded, entirely unconvincing. "Yeah, fine."

Nicole didn't notice that he clearly didn't mean it.

Belly was sitting alone for the moment, looking at Conrad with Nicole, insanely jealous.

(Song:) Everything Has Changed - Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift

Percy was sitting on the sand, looking out over the ocean, closing his eyes.

Cam approached him. "Livia? Hi." Percy heard the voice but didn't turn around and frowned slightly. "It's me, Sextus."

Percy's eyes opened once he fully realized who it was, in shock. He tried to make a subtle attempt to stand up, but his ankle hurt.

Lyrics: "All I knew."

Percy tried to put on his headphones, but he had left them behind after Belly told him too, mentally cursing himself. He had no choice but to turn around to see Cam, faking confusion. "What did you say to me?"

Lyrics: (Taylor)"This morning when I woke."

Cam smiled, shaking his head. "No, no, no, no, no, no. Sex-tus. From seventh grade Latin convention. You were Livia Drusilla. Wife of the first Roman Emperor, right? You placed first in the poem recitation and costume contest."

Lyrics: (Taylor) "Is I know something now / Know something now I didn't before."

Percy couldn't help but smile at the fact that Cam remembered. "Oh, yeah. You, uh, you--you dressed up for the costume contest, right? Weren't you Charon, ferryman of the dead?"

Lyrics: (Taylor) "And all I've seen / Since eighteen hours ago / Is green eyes and freckles and your smile / In the back of my mind making me feel like."

Cam smiled at the fact that Percy remembered too. "Yeah." He did a bow. "Salve, Livia."

Percy smiled, doing the same bow. "Salve, Sextus."

"My real name's not Sextus, though," Cam told him. "It's, uh, it's Cam."

Percy nodded. "I'm Percy."

Lyrics: (Taylor) "I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now."

Cam gave a slight smile. "Cool." He held out an ice pack. "I brought you something."

Percy's smile fell as he quickly became embarrased, remembering the fall. "Oh, God, everybody saw that, didn't they?"

Lyrics: (Taylor) "I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now."

"Oh, no, no," Cam said, not wanting him to feel bad. "It's just, you know, I'm kinda in charge of going around and giving people ice packs. So it's just doing my rounds."

Percy tilted his head. "Is that like an official title?"

Lyrics: (Taylor) "I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now."

"Oh, totally it's very real," Cam replied. "At the Very Real Party Job Agency where I study at."

Percy chuckled. "I think we went to the same agency."

"Oh, really?" Cam asked.

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed)"I just wanna know you, know you, know you."

Percy nodded. "Yeah, you know, I was going for 'guy who goes around giving ice packs' but that job was taken, so I settled for boy who looks at the ocean."

Cam smiled. "Looking mysterious."

"Looking mysterious, yeah," Percy agreed.

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "Cause all I know is we said, "Hello" / And your eyes look like comin' home."

Cam scratched his head. "Well, since I took your dream job, I figured helping out with an ice pack is the least I could do." He walked over, sitting down next to Percy, putting the ice pack on his ankle to help him. "So here."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "All I know is a simple name / And everything has changed."

Percy looked at him for a moment. He had been so focused on their little talk that he hadn't realized that he had been talking to Cam naturally. "Thank you."

"No problem," Cam said, starting to stand up.

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "All I know is you held the door / You'll be mine and I'll be yours."

"Wait," Percy spoke, surprising both of them. "You know, it's fine. You can sit down. I could use a gazing-at-the-sea, all mysterious partner."

Cam was surprised given Percy's tendency to disappear. "Oh. Okay. Cool. Yeah. I would love to." He sat back down. "Caught me on my way out, but, uh, I can--I can chill. Plus I'm very good at gazing, so might learn something."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "All I know since yesterday / Is everything has changed."

Percy chuckled. "So, you remembered my costume, and my poem."

Cam smiled, nodding. "It was a very memorable poem." Percy laughed lightly. "I've seen you around a lot, but you always disappear so fast."

Lyrics: (Ed) "And all my walls / Stood tall painted blue."

Percy shrugged sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm just, like, extremely busy all the time."

Cam shrugged. "Yeah, I get that. At least we get to talk now." Percy couldn't help but smile, rubbing at his bare arms. Cam took off his hoodie. "Are you cold?"

Lyrics: (Ed) "But I'll take 'em down, take 'em down / And open up the door for you."

Percy chuckled. "I'm okay. I'm--I'm fine."

"No, no," Cam said. "I don't even like this hoodie. It's..."

"Really?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, it's gross," Cam said.

Lyrics: (Taylor) "And all I feel / In my stomach is butterflies."

Percy nodded in amusement. "Great. I'll take it off your hands."

Cam handed the hoodie to Percy. "Thanks."

Percy pulled the hoodie on. "And thank you."

"You ever go to these things before?" Cam asked.

"Not really," Percy answered. "Too busy. And I'm not really into the party scene."

Lyrics: (Taylor) "The beautiful kind, makin' up for lost time / Takin' flight, makin' me feel like."

"Me neither," Cam agreed. "But I'm really glad you came. 'Cause I did not want to come. I knew it was just gonna be a bunch of kids, like, getting drunk, and I don't drink at all."

Percy smiled. "Me neither. So, how do you know all these summer people, if you're local?"

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now."

"Oh, my mom works at the country club, so I grew up around them," Cam answered.

Percy's face fell at that, nodding a bit, awkward.

Percy: (voice over) "What Cam didn't know is that he interns for a boat that my father owns... and now I just find out that his mother works at the country club that my mother owns. Meaning that Cam and his mother both work for both of my parents... and I have no fucking idea what to say to that. It's embarrassing."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now."

To change the subject, Percy got an idea of what to ask when he looked over at AJ and Belly, knowing they were still conflicted about the ball, hoping to find something that could help them decide. "Hey, do you know anything about that--that debutante thing? It's--it's dumb, right?"

"I mean, it's definitely, like, steeped in the patriarchy, if that's what you're talking about," Cam told him.

Percy nodded. "Yeah, no, yeah, totally."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now."

Cam laughed. "Yeah. But it's actually, like, not total garbage. They do, like, a big fundraiser every year."

"Wow," Percy said.

Cam took out his phone to show a picture on his phone to Percy. "Last year, Elizabeth Warren ended up showing up."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "I just wanna know you, know you, know you."

Percy was impressed by that. "Oh, my God. Wow."

Cam chuckled. "I know."

"That's awesome," Percy told him.

Cam nodded in agreement. "I know. Why do you ask?"

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "Come back and tell me why."

"Oh, just my cousin and my adoptive sister, they're thinking about doing it," Percy answered. "Well, my aunt's best friend is actually begging them to do it, but yeah. They're conflicted."

Cam nodded in understanding. "Ah, so you wanna help them decide."

"Yeah," Percy answered.

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "I'm feelin' like I've missed you all this time... / Ah, ah, ah."

"That's cool," Cam told him. "So, I always wanted to ask why Livia. I mean, not that there's anything wrong. It's just such a specific one."

Percy shrugged. "Well, I guess I just always admired the way she always stood with her head held high, despite all the rumors about her, and even though she lives in the shadow of her husband, the emperor. She acquired her own power and got out. I mean, it takes a lot of will for that. She deserves recognition."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "And meet me there tonight / And let me know that it's not all in my mind..."

Cam looked surprised and proud of that answer, impressed. "That's actually an amazing answer."

Percy blushed, looking away, clearing his throat. "So, why did you choose Sextus?"

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "Cause all I know is we said, "Hello" / So dust off your highest hopes."

"Well, a lot of reasons, but it was a tough battle, 'cause everybody wanted to be Sextus," Cam explained.

Percy turned to look at Cam, tilting his head in acknowledgement. "Right, because..."

"7th grade boy humor isn't very developed," Percy and Cam finished at the same time, before starting to laugh.

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "All I know is pouring rain / And everything has changed."

Percy: (voice over) "I can't remember the last time someone my age asked me questions about me. It's almost like Cam actually cared about what I had to say. Maybe I was actually right. Maybe right here and right now, it wouldn't matter who my family is or what he is doing. Maybe we can just care about each other enough to not care about it all. Perhaps tonight would end up good after all."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "All I know is newfound grace / All my days, I'll know your face."

"That's nice," Cam told him. Percy gave a slight smile. Cam checked the time on his phone before putting it back in his pocket. "Wow. It's pretty late. Um... I really don't want to leave right now, but I have to be up really early in the morning because I'm interning on a whale-watching boat." Percy was nervous because that was Reagan's boat, and he didn't know how to bring that up. "And it would be really, really great if you want..."

Lyrics: (Taylor & Ed) "All I know since yesterday / Is everything has changed."

(Song Ends)

Before Cam could finish, they heard a clamor across the party.

Percy: (voice over) "But as usual, reality came crashing down me. Or I would like to call it, Jeremiah doing what he had an incomparable talent like no other, which was making shit ten times harder."

(Song:) Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo

AJ stood by the bonfire with her own beer, not really in a caring mood as she was also too wasted to give a fuck, drinking more, stumbling slightly, plopping down next to the bonfire, a bit too close to the flames. "Fucking hell."

Jeremiah walked closer, grabbing AJ's arm. "AJ, come on, get up, away from the fire."

AJ stood and pulled her arm away from Jeremiah, grabbing her beer from him. "Give me."

Jeremiah tried to keep it from her. "No, no, no."

AJ pushed him off. "Get off."

Jeremiah pulled her away from the fire a bit more, as he held her beer out of her reach. "No, you've had enough."

"Screw you!" AJ told him, going back for her drink.

Lyrics: "I want it to be, like, messy."

"AJ, I'm serious," Jeremiah told her. "Hey! Hey, hey, stop. No, I'm serious." AJ got her drink from him. "Put it down."

"No," AJ denied.

Lyrics: "I'm so insecure, I think / That I'll die before I drink."

"Seriously, put it down," Jeremiah repeated, reaching for the cup again.

"Jere, stop!" AJ complained.

Lyrics: "And I'm so caught up in the news / Of who likes me, and who hates you."

Jeremiah lost hold of the cup, and in the process, accidentally knocked it out of AJ's. "Stop. Stop."

AJ gasped as the contents of her cup were spilled all over her.

Lyrics: "And I'm so tired that I might / Quit my job, start a new life."

Everyone in the party was watching AJ and Jeremiah, all exclaiming.

Conrad, Belly and Steven's attention was caught like Percy and Cam's already had been.

While everyone else in the party was staring because they knew AJ was the girl with a dark history in Cousins, Conrad, Steven, Belly and Percy frowned in confusion and concern.

Lyrics: "And they'd all be so disappointed / 'Cause who am I, if not exploited?"

AJ looked at Jeremiah with an exasperated look. "What the hell?"

Jeremiah sighed in regret. "I'm sorry. Come on, let me just take you home, okay? Come on."

Lyrics: "And I'm so sick of 17 / Where's my fucking teenage dream?"

AJ slurred her words drunkenly. "You wanted me to come, Jere. This what you wanted? You wanted Party Girl AJ back? Your party partner. You wanted this."

"It's not what I..." Jeremiah trailed off, because he knew that in a way, that would be a lie, sighing. AJ tilted her head as if this proved her point. "I just wanted things to go back to normal, have some fun."

Lyrics: "If someone tells me one more time / "Enjoy your youth," I'm gonna cry."

AJ shook her head. "It's bullshit."

"No, it's not bullshit, okay?" Jeremiah asked.

"Bull... shit," AJ repeated slowly as if that would get her point across, finally saying what she really thought and felt when she was this drunk. "Things can't be normal. Ever again. Why--why is that so hard to understand? We're pretending like everything is okay. You know, like my parents aren't dead. Like I didn't die. Like Conrad didn't almost die. Like, it's great. Like, we're having fun and we're partying. Yeah, let's party, huh? Party. We're partying. Like we used to do before it all changed. So what if I changed or didn't want to come to a fucking party? Get over it. Over this fucking bullshit, man."

Lyrics: "And I don't stick up for myself / I'm anxious and nothing can help / And I wish I'd done this before / And I wish people liked me more."

Jeremiah frowned, knowing she was drunk and upset and frustrated, but the words still hurt, and he saw a glimpse of how depressed and angry AJ was, and he didn't know what to do to help.

While Jeremiah, Steven and Belly looked surprised by the anger and depression and what AJ really thought, Conrad and Percy weren't.

Percy: (voice over) "Conrad and I knew that it was only a matter of time before AJ snapped and said the truth. Granted, didn't think it would be so soon."

Conrad was drinking and about to go over to stop the argument with AJ and Jeremiah, also clearly very drunk.

Nicole was next to him, stopping him before he went over. "Maybe you should stay out of it."

"That's my brother and best friend," Conrad told her.

Lyrics: "All I did was try my best / This the kind of thanks I get? / Unrelentlessly upset (ah, ah, ah)"

"Yeah, but--" Nicole started.

Jumper came up and swooped Conrad's drink from him. "Don't mind if I do."

"Give me my damn drink," Conrad told him, not in the mood for this.

"What's your problem, man?" Jumper asked. "It's one beer. It's a party. Relax."

Conrad tried to take it back. "No, give me my beer back. I paid for this."

Lyrics: "They say these are the golden years / But I wish I could disappear / Ego crush is so severe / God, it's brutal out here."

Nicole stepped between them. "Stop, stop. You're drunk. Just give him the beer."

"Maybe you should listen to your lady," Jumper told him.

"Stop," Nicole repeated. "You're drunk."

Conrad shook his head. "No. I'm fine. I'm fine. Give me the beer back."

Jumper nodded mockingly. "He's fine. He's a real big man."

Conrad glared. "Fuck you, bro."

Lyrics: "I feel like no one wants me / And I hate the way I'm perceived."

Percy was worried, looking at Cam. "Oh, my gosh. Uh... I'll be right back. I'm sorry. Don't--don't go anywhere."

Cam nodded. "No, yeah."

Conrad was still trying to keep his beer. "You're not taking my fucking beer, dude."

Lyrics: "I only have two real friends / And lately, I'm a nervous wreck."

Jumper was still trying to take it. "Relax, it's one beer!"

"Yeah, and it's my fucking beer," Conrad replied.

AJ watched in concern, frowning. Jeremiah held her back from getting involved knowing that she could get in trouble.

Lyrics: "'Cause I love people I don't like / And I hate every song I write."

Belly ran right up to them. "You guys, you guys, you guys."

Jumper elbowed Belly in the face, and she fell to the ground.

Conrad stepped closer in concern. "Belly."

Lyrics: "And I'm not cool and I'm not smart / And I can't even parallel park."

Jumper punched Conrad in the stomach before he could help Belly up, making him stumble back.

Jeremiah tried to stop the fight. "Guys."

With Jeremiah no longer focused on stopping AJ from drinking since now he was trying to stop a fight, AJ grabbed another beer to replace the one that ruined her clothing, drinking.

Lyrics: "All I did was try my best."

Conrad glared at Jumper. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Jumper punched Conrad in the face.

Lyrics: "This the kind of thanks I get?"

Steven and Percy ran toward Belly, kneeling next to her, despite Percy's limp with his twisted ankle.

"Are you okay?" Steven asked.

"Belly?" Percy asked.

Lyrics: "Ah, ah, ah."

Conrad shoved Jumper back.

"Come on, big man, come on," Jumper taunted.

They continued to wrestle and fight.

Lyrics: "They say these are the golden years."

Jeremiah walked closer. "Hey, guys, guys, come on. Hey." Steven and Percy helped Belly up to her feet. "Guys. Hey, hey, hey. Break it up. Come on."

Jumper shoved Conrad to the ground, and pushed Jeremiah back when he got into the middle of it.

Lyrics: "But I wish I could disappear."

AJ had enough, chugging the rest of her drink, tossing the cup into the fire, the alcohol remnants causing the fire to flare higher as she walked toward Jumper, grabbing him by the back of his shirt, punching him twice in the back, kicking him in the knee, spinning him around to flip him to the ground, making him land hard on the sand.

Lyrics: "Ego crush is so severe."

Everyone watched in shock, aside from Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly, Steven and Percy.

While Conrad just relaxed slightly, Jeremiah, Belly, Steven and Percy gave AJ a look.

AJ tilted her head. "So, is this over, Jumper? Or are you going to try me next? You're not a fucking kid, so what the hell is wrong with you picking fights with teenagers?"

Lyrics: (voice over) "God! / It's brutal out here."

 Conrad and Percy smirked slightly, while Belly, Steven and Jeremiah just looked at AJ, not knowing what to do.

Suddenly, sirens chirped as cops pulled up.

"Cops!" kids shouted. "Get out of here!"

Everyone was shouting as they started to run.

Cam and Percy ran off together.

Conrad and AJ could barely run on their own from being so drunk, so Jeremiah and Steven helped as they ran, and Belly followed fast.

Lyrics: "Got a broken ego, broken heart / (It's brutal out here, it's brutal out here) / And God, I don't even know where to start."

(Song Ends)

♾️

Parking Lot

Jeremiah and Belly were helping Conrad and AJ get into the car as they were about to leave.

"Seriously," Jeremiah said. "Come on. Get in the car. Watch your heads. Legs, legs."

Conrad mumbled. "Yes. I know how to get into a car."

Belly and Jeremiah closed the doors as Jeremiah got into the driver's seat, and Belly got into the passenger.

Cam and Percy were standing outside the car.

"Percy," Jeremiah called. "Let's go. Get in."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Thanks, but I'd rather walk."

"Oh, you shouldn't walk with a hurt ankle," Cam told him. "I can give you a ride."

Percy nearly choked on air but played it off. "Oh, you don't have to. I'm better."

Cam shook his head. "It's no problem."

Belly gave Percy a look. "No, you're not gonna get in a car with a guy you just met."

Cam held out his hand. "I'm Cam. Cameron."

"Your name is Cam Cameron?" Jeremiah asked.

Cam withdrew his hand, shaking his head sheepishly. "No, it's ju--just Cam. But we actually, we know each other. Seventh grade. Latin convention. And we've seen each other around a lot. So, like, we're not total strangers."

Jeremiah chuckled sarcastically. "Okay."

Percy gave him a look. "Can it, you nightmare eyes."

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow at Percy.

AJ snorted.

Conrad smirked slightly.

Belly shook her head. "No offense, but no."

"Percy, get in the car," Jeremiah told him.

Conrad was annoyed with the overbearingness but just wanted to go home, and he knew that Jeremiah and Belly wouldn't let them leave unless Percy got into the car. "Just get in the car."

Percy was tired of being treated like the "baby" alongside Belly, and this was one example of how.

AJ tilted her head back. "Just give him a break."

"You, you're drunk, so shh," Jeremiah told her.

AJ rolled her eyes.

Cam awkwardly looked to Percy. "Uh, you should probably go. But I'm glad I finally got to talk to you."

"Thank God I nearly twisted my ankle," Percy said without thinking, cringing when he realized what he said.

Cam chuckled, tilting his head. "I'm not sure about that."

Percy mentally slapped himself. "Please ignore that."

"It's okay," Cam told him. "I mean, I would totally have figured out a way anyway."

Percy looked down to hide his blush since the way Cam said it, it meant he was actively trying to find a way to talk to him all the times Percy ran away. "Really?"

"Yeah, totally," Cami answered with a smile, pointing at himself. "I'm smart, remember? First prize in oration."

Percy looked up, chuckling. "All right, well, I won't question your abilities, Cameron."

Cam was startled when Percy used his full name. It just rolled right off his tongue, and it felt different the way he said it but he liked it. He smiled. "But, um, the whaling boat that I intern on, it leaves at dawn every morning from the piers. I was wondering if you would, uh, want to come."

Percy was still nervous given that it was his father's boat, but nodded nonetheless. "Uh, yeah, yes, sure. I have to get up early in the morning for work anyway, too, so..." He laughed. "I mean, how else will you get your hoodie back, right?"

"That's true," Cam agreed.

They both smiled, adorably awkward.

Percy pointed to car. "I'll just..."

Cam moved out of the way. "Oh, yeah. Bye."

Percy waved as he got into the backseat with AJ and Conrad. "Bye."

AJ and Conrad looked at Percy with a knowing glance, and Percy looked away sheepishly.

Cam smiled, walking away toward his own car.

AJ whispered to Percy. "Mystery boy?"

"Shut up," Percy replied.

Conrad smirked.

Jeremiah was about to drive away.

AJ frowned, realizing one of them was missing. "Where's Steven?"

Percy, Belly and Jeremiah's eyes went wide.

Jeremiah slammed the brakes. "Fuck!"

AJ frowned as they were all jostled. "Jesus, Jere."

Jeremiah sighed. "She's right. Steven's still with Shayla." He looked at Belly and Percy. "Watch Conrad and AJ. I'll be right back."

Belly and Percy nodded, but AJ and Conrad rolled their eyes.

Jeremiah got out of the car, running over to get Steven.

AJ could barely keep her head up, as she leaned it to the side. Conrad situated back so that she could lay her head on his shoulder.

AJ's hair splayed over his shoulder and chest and down her back.

Conrad, not even thinking, couldn't help but reach up and twist a strand of her hair around his finger. "Your hair's like a little kid's, the way it's always so messy."

AJ shuddered slightly, just relaxing like this. Both her and Conrad looking content and at ease for the first time in a long time.

Percy looked at them knowingly.

Belly also cast a knowing glance back, but was jealous, shaking her head a bit in denial.

But AJ and Conrad didn't notice their looks, in their own little bubble.

Belly: (voice over) "There it is. That bubble again. The one I want to burst and never reform."

Suddenly, there was a knock on Conrad's window that made both him and AJ jump as they sat up slightly and looked out the window.

Percy and Belly followed their gazes, startled.

A female cop stood outside the window. "Have you kids been drinking?"

AJ and Conrad both had a busted look on their faces.

Percy and Belly looked away awkwardly, pressing their lips together.

♾️

Police Station

Boaz was working on the paperwork regarding Rami and Nissim, getting them processed so he could get to work in the morning on them, when he saw AJ, Conrad, Belly, Percy, Steven and Jeremiah were brought in with some other kids from the party.

Boaz sighed, walking over to the kids. "Hey, kids."

"Hey, Boaz," they replied sheepishly.

Boaz raised an eyebrow knowingly, smirking slightly. "Let me guess. First bonfire?"

"First bonfire," Jeremiah answered sheepishly.

"Any chance that we can get to go home?" Steven asked hopefully.

Boaz chuckled, shaking his head. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you," Belly told him in relief.

Percy patted Boaz on the shoulder. "You the best, Boaz. You should come around more often. The folks miss you."

"Yeah, well, they won't be too happy to see me tonight," Boaz replied. "Sit down, I'll take care of everything."

"Thanks," Conrad told him.

"Seriously," AJ agreed.

The kids went to sit down.

Boaz looked at AJ and Conrad, noting their drunken states, shaking his head in concern.

♾️

Beck House - Foyer

AJ and Conrad were sitting on the bench in the foyer.

Reagan was giving them water, having come after hearing about the party and how the kids got in trouble.

Jeremiah, Steven, Belly and Percy were standing, completely sober.

Susannah stood nearby.

Boaz was standing at the door.

Laurel walked up to Boaz, sighing. "Boaz, thank you. It won't happen again. I can promise you that mich."

"It's all right, Laurel," Boaz told her, glancing over the kids, his eyes landing specifically on AJ, Conrad and Percy. "They've been through a lot."

Reagan, Laurel and Susannah nodded slightly in agreement.

"Still, that's no excuse," Laurel said pointedly as she gave AJ and Conrad a look.

Reagan gave Laurel a look to back off, walking closer. "Sorry again for all the trouble. Have a good night, Boaz."

"You guys too," Boaz agreed.

"Nice seeing you, Boaz," Susannah told him. "Even given the circumstances. Are you still coming to Laurel's party tomorrow night?"

"I'll be there," Boaz answered.

Laurel gave him a smile. "Thank you. Good night."

Boaz nodded, walking out of the house.

Susannah closed the door, looking at the kids, shaking her head, walking upstairs. "I'm going to bed."

Laurel gave the kids a look. "How could you guys be so irresponsible?"

"Mom, it wasn't a big deal," Steven told her. "All right? Seriously. The cops were just looking to break up the bonfire."

"Not a big deal?" Laurel repeated skeptically.

Steven nodded. "Yes."

"I would say getting picked up by the cops for underage drinking is a pretty big deal, Steven," Laurel told him.

Steven sniffed the air, able to smell the weed in the air still, scoffing. "Were--were you guys... you guys smoking tonight?"

"What?" Laurel asked. "Keep your voice down. Susannah's trying to go to sleep."

Steven frowned. "Well, I wasn't yelling. Well, you-you-you were."

Jeremiah stepped forward. "Just so you know, Laurel, I--I didn't drink tonight. I was the DD, I swear."

Laurel gave Conrad a look. "You're the oldest. What the hell's gotten into you?"

Conrad didn't answer, looking down.

Reagan gave her a look. "Laurel. Ease up a bit."

Reagan knew that AJ and Conrad both had a reason to act like they did tonight, because of what they went through, even if people didn't know the full story with Conrad.

"No, Reagan, this behavior can't slide," Laurel told him.

"No one says it will," Reagan told her. "Just don't be so harsh about it."

Laurel knew where Reagan was coming from, sighing, looking at AJ, Belly and Percy in confusion. "And when did you three leave the house without telling anybody?"

Reagan looked at AJ and Percy, tilting his head. "And you have to get up early in the morning, so what were you doing going to a party?"

"If it's any consolation, I didn't drink," Percy told him. "I never do."

Reagan tilted his head, about to say something else to parent, but Laurel's next words cut him off.

Laurel looked at Belly's dress. "And what in the world are you wearing?"

"AJ gave it to me," Belly explained. "All right, and don't blame her and Percy, all right? She gave me the dress because I wanted to go out, and I brought them with me."

"Dragged, would be the word," Percy told her.

"You came of your own choices," Belly replied.

"After you begged us and wouldn't let up, much like Jere earlier tonight," Percy retorted. "And then fought with AJ at the party when she got drunk, like he thought anything else was gonna happen. Since you yourself said you wanted Party Girl AJ back to have your party duo again, Jeremiah. What the hell did you think was gonna happen?"

"It was never like that before," Jeremiah replied.

"Well, things aren't like they were before," Percy retorted.

"Enough," Reagan cut in. "It doesn't matter who did what. You all made the choice to go."

"Okay, but AJ always used to go out with the boys," Belly pointed out. "Why are Percy and I the only ones who are not allowed to go out?"

"It's not that you're not allowed, it's that you should have told us you were going," Laurel told her, giving AJ, Belly and Percy a look. "How did you even get there?"

"Walked," AJ answered in a drawled-out tone, as if it was obvious, in a kind of funny way.

Reagan sighed. "Jesus. You know better than to walk that far down the beach alone late at night."

Belly raised her voice slightly. "Can you stop treating me like a kid?"

Laurel shushed her.

"If you want to be treated like an adult, you need to act like one," Reagan replied. "And that goes for all of you, not just you."

Conrad finally said something, looking from Laurel to the stairs where Susannah went. "Then maybe you guys should, too."

"What does that mean?" Laurel asked. Conrad didn't answer, looking down. Laurel gave the kids a look. "I hope you kids realize this night could have ended a lot differently if Boaz wasn't there for us, these families, like he always is."

"Laur, Rea, we're sorry," Jeremiah told them.

Reagan sighed. "Just... go to bed, guys."

"Can we maybe not tell Mom about this?" Percy asked.

"You know Helaena's gonna find out about this whether or not we tell her," Reagan replied.

Percy sighed, hanging his head, knowing Reagan was right. "Right."

Reagan put a hand on Percy's shoulder, knowing that even if he didn't get drunk like AJ and Conrad, he was still dealing with what happened seven months ago, even if he wasn't as traumatized by what happened as they were given that he and Helaena showed up after they got out of the water. "You okay, Percy?"

"I'll be fine, Dad," Percy told him, not knowing how true that actually was, but knowing AJ and Conrad were a lot worse off, looking at them sadly before walking up the stairs, waving as he did. "Goodnight, guys."

"Goodnight, kids," Reagan told them. Belly, Jeremiah and Steven followed Percy upstairs. Reagan walked toward AJ and Conrad. "AJ... Connie..."

"You gonna yell at us some more?" AJ asked.

Reagan shook his head. "No. I know you guys are going through stuff, even now. It's gonna take a long time to move on from what happened on Thanksgiving." AJ looked down. Conrad sighed, looking away, knowing that wasn't the only thing on his mind, but he didn't know how to deal with the rest. "Just talk to us, okay? Let us help you. Instead of doing things like this. All right?"

AJ whispered slightly. "Okay."

Conrad nodded barely. "All right."

Reagan nodded in return. "All right. Go on up to bed."

(Song:) 1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back - Olivia Rodrigo

AJ and Conrad stood, walking upstairs.

Laurel watched them sadly, feeling guilty for the way she snapped.

Lyrics: "'Cause it's always one step forward and three steps back."

♾️

Belly's Room / Jeremiah's Room

Belly was dressed for bed, laying down, holding Junior Mint, placing a bag of peas to her eye, the light on in her room.

On the other side of the wall behind her bed, Jeremiah was laying in his bed, his light off. He knocked on the wall between their rooms.

Belly smiled slightly, sitting up a bit, knocking on the wall in return.

Jeremiah chuckled softly.

Lyrics: "I'm the love of your life until I make you mad."

Belly laid back down and put the peas to her face.

♾️

Bathroom

Steven was brushing his teeth as he was getting ready for bed.

Lyrics: "It's always one step forward and three steps back."

♾️

Laurel's Room

Laurel was sitting on her bed, on her phone, making an Instagram.

Lyrics: "Do you love me, want me, hate me? / Boy, I don't understand."

♾️

Percy's Room

Percy was laying down to go to sleep. He had a content smile on his face after his moment with Cam on the beach.

But he was still worried about his work in the morning, his patient with Will, and scared that he wouldn't be able to save him... like he and Helaena weren't able to save Adilah and Khalid.

Lyrics: "No, it's back and forth, did I say something wrong?"

♾️

Susannah's Room

Susannah had fallen asleep without the blanket on her.

Conrad stood next to her, putting a blanket over Susannah, looking at her with deep sadness and denial.

Lyrics: "It's back and forth, goin' over everything I said."

♾️

AJ's Room

After tonight, AJ didn't want to sleep in Percy's room anymore. She wanted to be alone, and Percy understood that.

AJ stood in front of the mirror as she lifted her shirt and looked at the scar on her side, from when the glass cut her when she cut her seat belt off. She looked at the scar on her hand, also from the glass. She looked at her leg, where there were a couple of scars grouped together from the console digging into her leg and trapping her in the car.

AJ: (voice over) "I hate every reminder on my body of the worst day of my life, and I don't know how to make it all go away when the scars never will."

Lyrics: "It's back and forth, did I do something wrong?"

AJ sighed, turning off the light, walking toward her bed, laying down. She was gazing off at the picture on her nightstand.

The picture was of AJ, Adilah and Khalid, smiling and just having fun, and another picture on the nightstand was of everyone. Of the Fishers, the Conklins, the Smythes, and the Jalalis, and even with Boaz, all smiling like one big family.

AJ: (voice over) "It doesn't feel the same now. And I don't know if it will ever feel the same again. If it will ever be normal again."

Lyrics: "It's back and forth, maybe this is all your fault."

AJ couldn't help but cry herself to sleep that night, only able to sleep the night away because of getting so wasted.

Lyrics: "Yeah, it's one step forward and three steps back."

♾️

Reagan's Beach House - Living Room

Reagan returned to his beach house alone, sighing heavily, looking around.

It was a big, expensive home that Reagan got in the divorce from Helaena...

And it felt really lonely all year round.

Even with the sadness and loss of two of his closest friends, and knowing the pain that AJ, Conrad, and even Percy and Helaena went through that night after what happened, Reagan was happy that they were all back together, even if it was dampened without Adilah and Khalid.

And it was far from the last change, and the last loss, that they would all have to go through.

Lyrics: "Do you love me, want me, hate me? / Boy, I don't understand / No, I don't understand."

(Song Ends)

♾️

Day Two

Morning - Beck House - Belly's Room

Belly was waking up, looking at the deb ball invitation on her nightstand.

Belly: (voice over) "Things change, whether you want them to or not. Everything's changed. So maybe I'll change, too."

♾️

Cousins Hospital - Old Man Will's Room

Percy walked in, greeting the old man with a smile. "Hey, Will. How you doing?"

"Oh, hey, Percy," Will greeted. "Come on in, grab a seat." Percy sighed, sitting down next to him. "Uh-oh. What's wrong?"

Percy shook his head. "Nothing."

Will gestured with his hand. "Come on, talk to me. You can tell me."

Percy tilted his head in thought for a moment. "I just... feel so ready for everything. But my mom, and a lot of my friends and family, doesn't think so. I'm a damn doctor, and I'm more mature than anyone else my age, and yet they still treat me like a little kid. I just want to be free."

Will picked up a CD, handing it to Percy. "I got just the thing. Here, take this."

Percy smiled, shaking his head. "No, I couldn't. I..."

"Come on, take it," Will insisted. "My garbage son-in-law gave it to me for Christmas. It's a CD. You know what a CD is, don't you?"

"I do," Percy answered. "I think I have a Doc McStuffins boom box somewhere."

"Well, you just put that on, when you need a little pick me up," Will told him. "Trust me, it'll help."

Percy gave him a small smile. "Thanks. I should tell you, that I got to talk to this really great guy last night."

Will smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," Percy answered. "His name's Cameron."

Will chuckled. "So what's the problem?"

"He works an internship on my dad's boat for whale watching," Percy answered. "And his mom, I found out last night, works at the country club that my mom owns. So he and his mom both work for my parents. And I have no idea how to tell him that. Or that I'm a Smythe, so..."

Will nodded in understanding. "Ah. Well, if he really likes you, he won't care about that, right?"

"I hope not," Percy answered. "But I'm still embarrassed. Plus, he asked me to go with him on the boat this morning, but..."

"So what are you doing here for?" Will asked.

"I'm doing my job," Percy answered. "I still got time."

Will smiled. "Good. Because you should go."

Percy tilted his head. "So, are you ready for your new heart?"

"When do I get it?" Will asked.

"The transplant schedule is hard to predict," Percy explained. "It could be today, tomorrow, next week. Depends on when they get one." Will looked emotional. "Hey, it's okay."

Will took a deep breath. "Will you be there when I get it?"

Percy nodded. "Yes, absolutely. They will call me. No matter what, no matter when, I will be there."

"Promise?" Will asked.

"I promise," Percy answered.

Will smiled. "Okay. Come on, get out of here. You got to go be a kid for once. You got a boy to go see and a boat to catch."

Percy smiled in response.

♾️

Beach

Conrad was sitting on the beach, overlooking the ocean with a numb look in his eyes.

Belly walked closer. "Hi." Conrad nodded in return. Belly sat down next to him. "Percy and AJ already leave?"

"Yeah," Conrad answered. "Hospital and Mako."

Belly nodded, giving a slight smile. "Last night was..."

Belly said, "Amazing", the same time Conrad said, "A shit show."

Conrad looked at Belly's face where Jumper elbowed her. "You know you're gonna have a black eye tomorrow, right?"

"It's already tomorrow," Belly pointed out. "Hey, do you...? Do you remember anything that happened last night? I mean, you were pretty wasted."

Conrad sighed. "I always remember everything when I drink."

Conrad pulled a joint off his ear, placing it in his mouth, trying to light it as his hand cupped around the lighter and joint, but the wind was still blowing too strong.

Belly got an idea, knowing that the older ones didn't want her to get high and/or drunk because they still thought of her as the baby. "Let me have a puff."

"No," Conrad denied.

Belly nodded. "Mm-hmm. Yeah."

"No," Conrad replied. "No."

"Yes," Belly insisted.

"No," Conrad repeated. "Laurel would actually kill me."

Belly shrugged. "Okay, fine. Then if I can't smoke, then you can't smoke."

Belly smiled.

Conrad chuckled, putting the joint away. "Same old Belly."

"Hey, let's go pick up some of the good muffins before everybody else gets up," Belly told him.

Conrad sighed, nodding.

♾️

Mako Marine Aquarium - Outside

AJ slowly walked up to the aquarium, looking at the outside, huge pools, and making her way to the doors.

AJ: (voice over) "It feels so weird to be back in Mako. The first time since Mom and Dad died. But at the same time, I feel like there's no other place where I should be. Even if it hurts the first time I walk through the doors in seven months."

♾️

Inside - Lobby 

AJ walked into the huge, luxurious lobby of the aquarium that her parents helped fund and build, looking at the glass windows that led to see the pools for the animals.

Of course, as Reagan always had the mantra of releasing animals after they were healed, there weren't many here, especially since this was the first time the aquarium opened since last summer, as not many people stayed in the Cousins outside of summer, and Reagan had to take time off of the aquarium anyway given that when Adilah and Khalid died, Mako lost two of its board members and the biggest donors.

AJ took in all the white space, the beautiful statue in the middle of the room at the back, the blue spheres hanging from the ceiling.

It hurt so much, but at the same time, filled AJ with contentment, and she couldn't help a bittersweet smile.

Reagan walked toward AJ, giving her a soft, sympathetic smile. "Hey, AJ."

AJ turned toward Reagan. "Hey, Reagan. It's... really weird to be back."

"Good weird or bad weird?" Reagan asked.

"I don't know," AJ admitted.

Reagan nodded in understanding. "That's fair. Take your time, all right? We'll get you settled in at your own pace." AJ nodded appreciatively. Reagan wrapped an arm around AJ, and she leaned into the embrace. "No matter what, Adilah and Khalid would be happy that you're here."

AJ gave a small, bittersweet smile. "I know."

Reagan pulled away. "I gotta head out on a boat with the interns, but I'll be back soon, all right?"

AJ nodded.

♾️

Cousins Hospital - Locker Room

Percy was about to change into his normal clothes so that he could head to the beach and dock where Reagan and Cam were about to leave on the boat.

But he never got the chance to get there, when his phone rang, and Percy answered. "Hey, what's going on?"

Percy's face paled as he heard what happened, in shock and horrified.

♾️

Old Man Will's Room

Percy ran into the room, devastated to see that the bed was empty. "No."

Percy ran out of the room.

♾️

Doctor Lounge

Percy ran in to speak to Lin. "What happened?"

"He was asleep in his bed, when he suddenly went to V-fib arrest," Lin answered. "We worked on him for over an hour, but... he was just... too debilitated." Percy was in shock as he processed, turning away in despair, sadness. Lin stood in concern. "Hey." Percy turned to face him. "I'm sorry, Dr. Smythe."

Lin knew that Percy wanted to be alone, walking away.

Percy started to cry.

Helaena walked into the lounge. "Percy? I heard." Percy walked toward Helaena, and she pulled him into an embrace. "I'm so sorry."

♾️

Old Man Will's Room

Percy sat in the room, in tears.

Helaena stood behind him at the door. "You were right. He was too weakened. But Dr. Lin was right too. His best chance was a new heart. Sadly, his time came before we could get him one. As hard as we try, sometimes it just doesn't work out the way we want it to."

Percy frowned, shaking his head. "I was just here. It happened so fast. I really thought I could make him better. I wanted to help him."

"And you did," Helaena pointed out, taking a chair, walking closer, sitting down next to Percy. "I saw how he lit up whenever you came into the room."

"We were buddies," Percy told her.

Helaena shook her head. "No. You were his doctor. The one he trusted. The one he knew was looking out for him."

Percy looked down. "Well, a lot of good that did him. Just like Adilah and Khalid."

Helaena knew that was why it was hitting Percy so hard, and her, too, looking emotional. "Look at me." Percy turned to look at her. "You are an extraordinary doctor."

Percy shook his head. "You're just saying that 'cause you're my mom."

"No, I'm saying it because it's true," Helaena told him. "And I know that because I'm your boss. You know how both you and I were Thanksgiving. Refusing to give up on Adilah and Khalid. The same way that Conrad refused to give up on AJ."

"But Conrad saved AJ," Percy told her.

"That's because she still had a chance, barely, but still a chance," Helaena pointed out. "Adilah and Khalid didn't. But we both knew that, and we still kept giving them CPR. Thinking that if we just tried harder, then we could make them wake up."

Percy started to really cry now. "But they didn't. And AJ lost her parents because we couldn't save them."

Helaena shook her head. "That's not my fault, and it's not your fault. And AJ knows that. We knew that they were gone, but the thought of giving up on them... we couldn't do it. And I'll never forget what happened next when we got AJ to the hospital... and Adilah and Khalid to the morgue. I wanted out of the hospital, and I saw someone... buying pretzels at a vending machine." She was getting emotionally just off of the memory, tears in her eyes. "And I wanted to scream, you know? 'Cause, how could anybody be eating pretzels right now?" She chuckled hysterically, emotionally, wiping her tears. "I'm sorry."

"It's too bad your mom's not a doctor, and she couldn't be there for you," Percy told her.

"That's all I want," Helaena told him. "To be there for you. To know you're okay." Percy gave a tight, emotional smile. "You can talk to me about anything."

Percy nodded. "Thanks, Mom. Mom?"

"What is it, honey?" Helaena asked.

"Can I be alone for a minute?" Percy asked.

Helaena nodded. "Yeah."

Helaena stood, walking out of the room.

Percy looked around the room with the decorations still up around.

Percy: (voice over) "This was a reality check. An incredibly sad and despairing one. But no matter how smart I am for my age, a doctor at my age, there's still gonna be times where I can't save the people that I love. and other people I will meet. Even if I accept that, it doesn't make anything any easier for anyone. We have all gone through so much pain, and loss, and change... even with happiness, excitement, love, family and magic. And we would only go through more of both from here on."