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/ EPISODE FOUR

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❀It's the Fourth of July, and it's hot. The heat is practically warming everything up, even the pool. Everyone's inside, finishing up anything else they need to before guests arrive.

Luna is in one of the many guest rooms, her hair pulled back into messy bun, her pyjamas still clinging to her body. She's making the bed, white pretty covers and sheets being folded and neatly tucked in.

"You got to fold the bottom sheet at a 45 degree angle if you want right corners." Conrad spoke from the doorway where he leaned. He pointed to the corner with his finger, leaning forward slightly as he did so.

Luna did what her older brother said, folding them at a 45 degree angle and tucking them in. "Like this?"

Conrad shook his head, leaving the doorway and kneeling down beside his sister. "Yeah, not like that. Like this." Conrad showed her what to do, doing it like he's done it a thousand times.

Luna nodded, doing the same thing to the other corner. "So... Izzy can't be my escort for the debutante ball." She frowned.

Conrad shrugged, "What about Jer?" He cared, of course he did, he might not show it though.

"I was actually wondering if you'd go? If you would be my escort...?" Luna trailed off as she finished making the bed and smoothing out the blanket.

Her mom would be beyond happy to see her son participate again, and it would give her a change to see them both dressed up and happily spending time together.

"Uh. Sure? I'll think about it, okay?" Conrad said, getting you from the floor and turning towards the window when he heard a car honk. It's was Bellys father and his girlfriend.

"Sure, yeah. Let's go say hi." Luna dragged her brother along with her downstairs, stopping right at the door where the others stood.

"She's hot." Jeremiah grinned, stepping closer to the door to see the woman.

"Dude!" Steven scolded his friend, turning his head around so he could glare.

Jeremiah stepped back, raising his hands. "What? I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking."

Belly frowned. "I wasn't thinking that."

"Yo," Conrad started, eyes staying focused on the woman everyone was looking at. "That could be their future stepmom."

Steven didn't like that and pushed his friend, "Dud, what the hell?"

"Don't push me." Conrad stepped towards Steven, raising his hands to play fight.

"Guys!" Luna exclaimed. "They're coming, they're coming. Gah!"

Luna, Conrad and Jeremiah all ran out the back door where they sunk into lawn chairs by the pool. Luna smiled at her brothers, she'd always look up to them. They were her family, and she'd want to spend her summers with no one else but then and the Conklins.

❀Now changed into a bathing suit, a white cardigan overtop, Luna made her way towards the pool where she dunked her feet in the water. Everyone else was doing there own thing, and Luna didn't mind being able to just sit and relax.

"Hey, Luna." Belly and Stevens fathers girlfriend said, sitting down beside her and dipping her feet into the water.

"Hi." Luna smiled back towards the woman. "Victoria, right?"

"Yes, yes!" Victoria grinned. "So do you know where I can find a blender?"

Luna stood up, pushing herself up from the ground. "Of course, I can show you if you'd like."

"That would be great, thank you." Victoria warmly said, getting up and following Luna inside.

Luna grabbed a blender from the shelf, plopping it down on the counter and moving to sit beside Jeremiah. Victoria got to work, cutting and blending all the ingredients.

"How'd you learn to make these?" Belly questioned when Victoria started to pour the drink into margaritas glasses.

Victorias eyes shimmered as she happily started to tell the kids how she learnt how to make the drinks. "So I actually spent a summer in this desert town in Texas near the border call Marfa. And there was a bar there that served these, and I told the bartender that I would not leave until he showed me exactly how he made these."

"Can I try a sip?" Belly grinned and looked up towards the woman.

Victoria hesitated before she looked between all the kids. "Are your parents cool with that?

Belly waved her hand, eyes darting towards Luna for a split second. "Yeah, yeah, no, they didn't care." A pretty little lie that slipped from her lips, because everyone did care.

"Oh, then, sure." Victoria nodded. "I'm gonna take this out to your dad. Do you mind take those out to Susannah and your mom?"

Belly nodded, eyeing the drink before she looked back up at Victoria. "Yeah, sure."

"Thanks, love."

Belly lifted the margarita glass the second Victoria had left the house. The glass was against her lips as she tasted the pomegranate flavour that made her eyes widen.

"Oh, well, how is it? Strong?" Jeremiah questioned as he waited for an answer.

"This is amazing!"

❀Things had gone down hill after the drinks had been made.

Lunas father had shown up — not that it was a bad thing, she misses her father. It's always a treat to see Adam, always giving him a hug and listening to him tell her about something that's happened in his life. Of course, she's much more of a mammas girl and she would almost much rather stick beside her mother.

Conrad on the other hand wasn't impressed that their father had shown up. It's like something was brewing inside him, and Luna didn't know what it was. She didn't miss the way her oldest brother glared at their father, the way he snarked and avoided him like a plague.

Jeremiah was just happy. Happy that his father had shown up, happy that he was at the beach house celebrating the Fourth of July. He was happy and nothing could stop that.

Like I said, only the start of the downfall.

Belly had drank way too much, seven or more drinks and it didn't help that she was slightly a lightweight. Luna had tried her hardest to keep Belly somewhat sober, but eventually after being on the beach she needed a shower.

So that's where Luna was, standing in the outside shower with her neon green baiting suit on, water falling and washing away the sand. "Hey, Bells."

Belly stumbled, grip tightening on the drinks in her hands. "Sweetheart, hi." Belly giggled like a school girl, stepping closer until she was leaning against the open door to the shower.

"You're pretty when your wet." Belly whispered, and Luna heard her.

"Thanks, Bell."

"No thank you for the view." Belly giggled again before she walked away, leaving Luna to finish her shower.

When Luna was done her shower, it was cake time. She left the outdoor shower and didn't bother in drying ger wet hair of her body that was dripping — she had a bathing suit on and that was good enough.

Luna stepped around the corner just in time to see Belly trip going down the stairs and fall right into Susannah. Luna went to her mother first, helping her up and making sure she hadn't hurt herself. When her mother shrugged her off, saying she was okay, Luna knelt down by Belly.

"You okay, Bells?" Luna asked softly, hands resting on Bellys arms.

"Mhm sweetheart." Belly mumbled and allowed her father and Luna to help her up.

That night, when Belly was much more sober, Luna had knocked on her door and asked her if she wanted to go for a walk on the beach.

That night, and like many other nights, Luna and Belly danced slowly on the beach. Sand beneath their bare feet as the moved to the music in their heads.

The fireworks were going off above them, the magic in the sky being the only light they needed.