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Dakota had been going to Cousins Beach with his mother and sister for as long as he could remember. Every summer, the family made their way down to Massachusetts to spend time with two other families. The Fishers and the Conklins.

Susannah and Laurel had been best friends with Megan for years and when the three discovered that they were going to have children around the same age they were ecstatic. Megan had the twins first, then Susannah had Conrad. Right after, Laurel had Steven.

The four had no choice but to become close. Spending every summer together for two years. Then Susannah had Jeremiah and Laurel had Belly.

Dakota could remember Liz being on Cloud 9 whenever she found out she wasn't going to be the only girl anymore. He heard about it that whole summer and for months after. The six kids all grew up together and became a family. Which was exactly what the moms wanted. For them to all be close like they were.

Eventually, Laurel and Megan had decided that they would just make the drive to Cousins together. Packing all four kids in the back which was always a disaster on its own, but just seemed easier.

So, every summer for the next upcoming years, they made the drive up there together.

The summer after the twins had turned 17, they made their usual drive to Cousins. Belly and Liz catching up as usual, and the boys messing with them any chance they got.

Which didn't stop when they got there, it actually got worse when Conrad and Jeremiah joined in. Liz ran in the house as the boys did their traditional Belly flop. Tossing the girl in the pool and cackling about it as they high fived.

Dakota and Jeremiah walk back toward the house as Conrad and Steven helped Belly out of the pool.

"So I'm hearing that there is this party tonight. You coming?" Jeremiah says

"For sure. You know whose house it's at?" Dakota says as they walk into the house

"No." Jeremiah shakes his head, "But I guess we'll find out."

"Dude, are you even sure Susannah is gonna let you go? You're only 15."

"She doesn't have to know." Jeremiah whispers as he shrugs. Dakota laughs as he shakes his head. Dakota heads upstairs as Jeremiah heads to the kitchen.

As he passes Liz's room he stops, "Yo." Liz turns with her brows raised, "Party tonight. You coming ?"

"Uh, sure." She nods, "Whose house?"

"No clue." He shrugs, "Jeremiah brought it up."

"Of course." Liz chuckles before she reaches for her phone, "I'll just ask River."

Dakota furrows his brows as he walks further into the room, "River? Who's River?"

"A girl I met a couple of summers ago." Liz says as she keeps her eyes on her phone, "She's been here before. I don't know how you haven't seen her."

"I don't pay attention to who you hang out with." He scoffs

Liz rolls her eyes, "Whatever. I'm sure she'll know since she lives here."

"Okay." Dakota says dragging out the first letter. He looks around before walking over to Liz's dresser. The girl finally looks up from her phone with confusion covering her features.

"What are you doing?" She says. He doesn't respond as he just walks up to her stuffed animal and knocks it over.

"Wha- Dakota." Liz sighs. The boy chuckles as he walks out, "You're so annoying."

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A couple of hours later, Conrad, Dakota, Jeremiah, Steven, and Liz are walking into the party. Belly stayed home with the moms for a movie night.

As they walk in, the music is blasting. Teens already having cups of alcohol as they danced around and yelled.

"Whose house is this?" Steven yells

"Some guy named Logan." Liz yells back

"Logan?" Dakota says

"Yeah, that's what River said." She nods

"Alright." Conrad says, "Everybody has their ringers and shit on right?"

"Yup."

"Cool, see you guys later." Steven says before walking off

"I'm gonna go find River." Liz says to the other three before she disappears into the party

"Who's River?" Jeremiah frowns

"No clue." Conrad says before the two boys turn to Dakota.

"Don't look at me. I don't know." He says before he leaves as well. The brothers furrows their brows at each other before Jeremiah shrugs and the two boys go their separate ways.

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River had a drink in her hand as she stood in a corner with some friends. She could barely make out what they were saying because of the music blaring throughout the house.

She turns and gasps as she sees Liz looking around the party, "Liz!" The girl turns and immediately smiles as she sees River making her way toward her, "Hi!"

"Hey." Liz giggles

"Oh my god. I missed you so much." River says as they pull away

"I missed you too. How are you?"

"I'm good. Trying to find a fling." River says as she looks around the party.

"A fling?" Liz chuckles

"Yeah."

"Isn't it awkward when you could possibly run into them?"

"No." River snorts, "It can't be awkward if I don't care."

"Right." Liz smiles, "Well, then let's find somebody for you."

"That's what I like to hear." River smiles bright as she hooks her arm around Liz's

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Hours had passed of all the teens hanging out with friends they made over multiple summers. They would occasionally run into each other, although it was more so the boys that would since they liked to play beer pong and other drinking games.

Dakota and Jeremiah stood together against a wall as they talked about whatever came to mind. Both looking at the other teens moving around the room.

"I haven't ran into any cute girls yet, dude." Dakota sighs

"What?" Jeremiah says bewildered, "I've seen so many."

"What? Where?" Dakota exclaims

"Everywhere, bro." Jeremiah laugh as Dakota groans loudly

"Come on, bro." Dakota says tapping Jeremiah's shoulder, "I have to find somebody."

Jeremiah follows behind him. Dakota brings his drink in closer to himself as they keep walking through. He turns back toward Jeremiah.

"Should we go out back?" He yells

"Yeah, sure." Jeremiah nods.

Dakota goes to turn back, but as he does he bumps into someone coming toward him. His drink splashing all over the front of them. The person gasps as Dakota's eyes go wide.

"Oh my god." She says as she looks at her shirt

"I'm so sorry." Dakota says as Jeremiah comes up beside them

"Dakota." Liz says, "What the hell?"

"My bad. I didn't see you guys coming."

"Of course not because you clearly walk like a blind person." The other girl says

"Dude, I said I was sorry. I don't know what more you want from me." He scoffs

"Well, you can give me $40 because that's how much this shirt costs."

"I'm not giving you $40." Dakota chuckles, "I can give you a paper towel."

"A paper towel?" Liz says, "Seriously?"

"Who even is this? Do you know him?" The girl says

"Yeah, he's my brother."

Dakota frowns as he turns to Liz's friend, "Who are you?"

"This is River, you dipshit." Liz says

"Oh. Well, I'm sorry, River." He shrugs. River scoffs before she rolls her eyes and storms off. Liz giving Dakota a look before following after her.

"Well, that went well." Jeremiah says as he rests his arm on Dakota's shoulder

"Yup." He sighs, "But now we have to make a pitstop to the kitchen before we go to the backyard."

"Let's do it." Jeremiah says finishing off his drink

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