EVA RETURNED TO THE SUMMER HOUSE AFTER DROPPING GABY AND THE REST OF HER FRIENDS AT THE BUS STATION. Jer was just lying on the edge of the pool in his bathing suit and with a laurel crown in his hair. He was still as handsome as usual.

"Hello, handsome stranger." Eva whispered in his ear, leaning towards him to give him a pat on the chest.

"Hello, good-looking." he smiled, opening his eyes as he sat down.

"What's with the crown?" she asked, sitting down cross-legged next to him.

"My mother wants to paint me as Hermes, messenger of the Gods."

"Oh yeah?"

"I mean, I'm as handsome as a God, so it makes sense."

"Ohoh, don't get over yourself!" she laughed. "You're the messenger of the Gods, not a God."

"Hey, hey, hey!" he exclaimed, abruptly tipping her back to lay her on his legs. "What does that mean? Don't you think I'm handsome as a God?"

"Um, no, not really." she lied in an amused voice.

"How dare you?" he said with a shocked expression.

      She laughed and looked at him. He was so pretty. She grabbed him roughly by the neck and bent him forward to press their lips together. She gave him a passionate kiss and smiled as she let him go.

"Okay. What was that for?" he asked with a big smile.

"It's because you're my favorite God."

"What are you guys doing?" Belly's voice asked.

      Eva got up suddenly to sit back down normally and they looked innocent.

"Just chatting."

"Wait, are you guys, like, together?" Belly asked.

      The two exchanged a look and Eva let out a soft giggle.

"It's new." she said.

"Oh my God, Eva! You didn't even tell me!" Belly exclaimed, jumping around. "I'm so happy for you guys, I knew you would be together one day!"

      They laughed of her enthousiasm and Jeremiah asked her:

"Where have you been?"

"I had a picnic with Cam."

"Ow, cute." Eva commented.

"How is Cam Cameron?" Jer added.

"I... don't think we're gonna hang out anymore."

"Oh."

      There was a little silence and Jeremiah tried to make them laugh.

"Well, poor Cam Cameron."

"You guys were never gonna let that go." Belly giggled.

"No." Jer admitted with a laugh. "But for the record, I liked him."

"Yeah, me too, he was nice." Eva nodded.

"But you don't look that upset." Jeremiah noticed. "But, if you are, this little nugget will cheer you up. Our moms: high-key stoned right now."

"No way!" the girls exclaimed at the same time.

"Yeah, all my favorite snacks are gone."

      They entered the house and found the three mothers debating whether or not Kurt Cobain's death was accidental.

"I don't feel anything." Caroline said looking up at the ceiling as if it were the eighth wonder of the world.

"I'm hungry. We should make lasagna!" Susannah proposed.

"Oh! I love lasagna!" Laurel gasped.

"Shoot! I need to go shopping!" Suz said while looking in the fridge.

"Oh my God, they really are stone." Eva whispered.

"I told you." Jeremiah smiled.

      The mothers were laughing for literally nothing when they saw the three children who were watching discreetly at the entrance to the kitchen.

"Hey!"

"Our beautiful babies!"

"Oww look at them!"

"Ohhh, they're so cute!" Susannah said before pointing at Jeremiah. "You! Come with me. I got to get you while the light's still good."

"Okay, well, let's do that." he had a big smile putting his hands on his hips.

      He giggled and followed his mom, waving at Eva. Caroline and Laurel continued to giggle as Belly and Eva tried to calm them a little. On the patio, Jeremiah was trying not to burst out laughing at his stoned mother's remarks.

"Oh, my beautiful boy. I just want to dance with you." she said standing up after several minutes and spreading her arms. "Dance with me?"

      Jeremiah smiled and held out his arms. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheeks. Suddenly, Eva ran out of the house to rush towards them while Caroline followed her with a pair of scissors in her hand.

"Please, tell her not to touch my hair!" exclaimed the brunette trying to hide behind them.

"I just want to cut it a little!" her mother said.

"Not when you're like this! No way! Besides, it's very good like that!" said her daughter.

"Maybe you can do that later, Caro." Jeremiah told her, taking the scissors. "You know, when you're no longer high on drugs."

       Caroline sighed and went back into the house while Eva sighed in relief.

"Thank you!" she said before going back inside.

"Have a seat." Susannah giggled at her son and they sat on the edge of the pool. "How's your summer, my love? You happy?"

      He thought about his kisses with Eva and began to smile.

"Yeah, mom, really happy. It feels a little bit different this summer, tho."

"Summer's the same. We're the ones who are changing. Except you. I don't want you to ever change!" she said kissing his cheek. "You seem happy, honey. You really seem happy."

"I am." he told her.

"Yeah? Is there a particular reason?"

"I- I'm dating a wonderful girl. She makes me happy. She's the most beautiful and the smartest girl I know."

"Yeah? Who's she?" Susannah asked. "Is it Eva?"

"Wh- How do you know that? Is that that obvious?"

"Finally!" exclaimed his mom. "I'm so glad. I was waiting for this since you were kids. I knew you would end up together. I could feel it."

"Okay. Great." he chuckled. "Enough with the commentary, Mom. Let's see the art." he said, standing up to look at his portrait.

"What do you think? I think it might be my best work."

"Um. Eva? Belly?" he yelled.

      The two girls rushed out of the house and stopped in front of the painting.

"Oh, Lord." Eva gasped with a smile.

      Their moms followed them and everyone looked at the picture for a few seconds while Susannah was waiting for their opinions.

"Picasso and Jackson Pollock had a baby." Laurel declared.

"What?" Susannah asked.

      She came back to her seat and her eyes widened when she looked at her work.

"Oh my God, it's terrible!" she laughed. "This is so bad!"

"See, this is why old people should not do drugs." Jeremiah said.

      The three mothers clapped him on the arm and he laughed.

"How dare you? Outraged! Let's leave these brats and go walk on the beach." Susannah declared, grabbing her two friends by the arms.

"Have fun, mom!"

"Bye, brats!"

      Belly soon leaved too, saying she had to clean her room and Jeremiah and Eva stayed outside, looking at the painting.

"Do I really look like that?"

"Nah, you're way hotter in person." Eva told him.

"Oh yeah?" he smiled, grabbing her by the hips.

"Yeah." she said, placing her arms around his neck.

"You wanna go for a swim?" he asked.

"Sure. Just give me one second to put on my swimsuit."

       She placed a quick kiss on his lips and ran into the house to change.

— i love them sm