^^Spencer's Beach house

I stood with my brother as we watched Andrew drive away. When he was out of sight, I side glared at my brother.

"You are a terrible actor."

"Terrible?!" He shrieked and snapped his head towards me. "I am an incredible actor. Didn't you see how much I frightened him?" He burst out laughing, slapping his knee.

"Not funny Luke," I grumbled. "He was only helping me out tonight and look what you did."

"I was being a protective brother." He shrugged his shoulders.

"You were being a nosy brother," I said deadpan, then remembered his earlier statement. "And how do you even know him?"

"Jonathan told me about him." He answered, getting his luggage out of his car. When he saw the confusion on my face, he added. "He came to pick you from the gay club."

"Oh, that..." I adjusted my glasses when I remembered it.

"Yeah... He told me that some guy named Andrew came to get you from the club when you were drunk and how protective he was for you-"

"No, he wasn't." I denied.

"Deny all you want, little sis." He closed his car's gate after getting his baggage out. "I saw how the guy looks at you." He smirked, and I ducked my head in embarrassment. "Mom also told me about him."

"Of course she did." I groaned.

"She's shipping you two." He grinned. "She's pretty sure that you two are going to end up together. It's mother's intuition, she said."

I didn't know what and how to answer him, so I changed the topic.

"Let's go inside." I grabbed his suitcase and dragged it towards the gate while he picked up his other bags and laughed.

"Is my little Lillian blushing?" He teased.

"Am not," I grumbled.

"You are." He chuckled, then got serious. "By the way. What's on Monday?"

"We're going to the beach."

"You two?" He inquired in a shrill voice.

"No. Not only us. My friends and his friends in a group." I spell it out for him.

"Wow..." He beamed, opening the door. "The guy is fast."

Groaning, we entered and went to the living room. Mom and Dad were sitting there, and they were thrilled when they saw Luke with me. Mom being mom began crying and kissing him all over the face while Dad being dad hugged him and patted his back.

After that, we all ate dinner together, and Luke told his college tales. Mom asked why he didn't bring his girlfriend home and he told her he broke up with her because she cheated on him and I felt bad for him.

Why do people do that?

When they are not interested in someone, can't they just end things with them? But no, they have to hurt them in all the ways they can.

Luke said he wasn't sad, but I knew he was hurt. My brother is the sweetest guy any girl could get. He's loyal, and he does everything he can and sometimes beyond that for the people he loves.

Mom reassured him he'll find the only one for him soon. Then the tables turned towards me and I told them I was spending the breaks with the Clichés. I honestly told Mom that Andrew asked me and also Louis and Chloe became a couple. She was ecstatic about it and began praying that things work out for me and Andrew too.

My face turned red like a tomato and I got up from my seat. I excused myself, saying I was tired and ran to my room. After changing into my PJs, I lay on my bed wide awake, thinking about what will happen on Monday.

I'm going to spend five days with the Clichés at the beach.

Five days with Andrew...

Closing my eyes, I thought of all the possibilities that could happen and drifted off to sleep.

The weekend went by in a blur. My family and I spent it together. We drove around the whole town and showed it to Luke since he went to his college straight when we moved here. Then we went out for family dinner, watched movies, and played games together as we used to when we were in Hidden Hills.

When we were out for dinner at a restaurant, Mom showed Luke some girls and wanted to set him up with them. Some already had boyfriends, and my mom crept some out, while others thought it was cute. After all the struggle, she couldn't find a girl for him. Luke promised her he'll get a girl because he doesn't want to die alone like me.

I glared at him and wondered how confident he was, unlike me. I never dated a guy because I always buried myself in my book and now I like a guy who is also interested in me, but my insecurities are stopping me from giving him a chance.

Later that night, I pondered on it and concluded that I will try it. As long as it doesn't kill me, there's no problem in giving it a shot.

Right?

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

On Monday, I was in my room packing my bags to go out to the beach. Ben was picking me up with Toby.

Turns out Ben also invited Toby. He helped Andrew with his plan because he knew if Chloe and I will come, then no one will question Toby. Andrew's plan amazed me even though he did it for his benefit, but it helped two more couples.

Louis and Chloe are now official.

Ben and Toby get to spend the breaks together.

I'm sure Toby will be pleased with Andrew now.

Speaking of Andrew, his black shirt came into view in my wardrobe when I was taking my clothes out. It was the shirt I borrowed from him when he took me to his house from the gay club. I wrote a note that I'll return it to him but didn't get the chance.

Now I don't want to give it back.

A knock on my door cut my thoughts. I turned and saw Mom grinning.

"Done packing?"

"Yeah..." I answered, putting the shirt back in my closet and closing the door.

"Did you pack the new clothes we bought?"

"Yes, mom-"

"Bathing suit?" She raised her brows, making me groan.

"I did." I zipped my small grey suitcase.

"Good." She beamed. "Now come down. Breakfast is ready."

Nodding my head, I picked up my bag and descend the stairs after Mom. It wasn't heavy since I only packed a few clothes. Luke was in the living room setting his baggage. He was also leaving today.

"Both my children are going." Mom sniffed. "What will I do without you two?"

"You can go out on dates with dad." Luke winked. My face scrunched while my mom giggled like a high school girl and played along with him.

"That's what I was thinking. Finally, a week without kids." She exclaimed, walking into the kitchen, and I watched her in disbelief.

Wasn't she feeling sad like a second ago?

I chuckled at my dramatic mom and walked inside. Dad was already sitting at the table. This was the last meal we'll have as a family. I'll be back after the week, but Luke will go to his college.

After eating, I helped Mom with the dishes while Dad helped Luke get his baggage in his car. Mom gave me ideas about how I could get Andrew to like me, at which I rolled my eyes.

"Lillian, your friends are here!" Dad announced from outside.

"Let's go!" Mom was more excited than I was.

"Mom, Toby, and Ben are here to pick me," I said, bursting her bubble.

"I know Andrew is with them." She said, picking up my bag. "It's mother intui-"

"Intuition." I completed it for her as we walked outside. "But it's not always... Right..." I trailed off and swallowed my words back when I saw Toby and Ben in the front with Andrew waving at me from the back seat.

"Told ya." Mom giggled, and I came out of my shock.

How did she...

"Morning, Mr. and Mrs. Smith." They greeted my parents getting out of Ben's car.

"Hi, Luke." Andrew nodded at my brother while Toby and Ben looked at him in confusion.

"Guys, this is my brother Luke." I introduced them.

"He's your brother?" They gawked at him up and down, then side glanced at each other. I wondered what was going on in their heads.

"Yes, I am." Luke crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at them.

I sighed, knowing he was now going to 'act' in front of them again.

Did I mention my brother is in acting school?

"It's nice meeting you, sir." Toby and Ben stood straight, clearing their throat.

"You three are here to pick my sister?" I glimpsed at my parents and saw them covering their faces, trying to hide their laughs. "Are you telling me that my little sister will be with three high school boys alone for an hour's drive?"

They darted their eyes at me, then back at him, and bobbed their head.

"Not going to happen." He shook his head and turned to me. "I'm not allowing you to go with them."

I was about to open my mouth, but the boys began panicking.

"You don't have to worry about it."

"We will take care of her."

"I told you not to bring Toby."

Sighing, I rubbed my hand on my forehead as I saw them begging my brother to let me go with them. I knew he did that on purpose because he loves teasing others. Only if they knew my brother they would have never feared him.

Luke may look like my dad, but he has the same personality as Mom. Chill and sweet. While I was more like Dad. Quite and reserved.

I glanced at my parents and eyed them to stop Luke. My parents cleared their throats and stood straight, trying not to laugh.

"Luke. That's enough." Dad tried to sound serious but failed.

"Y-yeah." Mom almost giggled. "They are nice kids. They'll take care of our Lillian."

"We will." The three of them simultaneously nodded their head. Luke squinted his eyes at them and sighed.

"Fine. I'm only allowing this because you guys said so." Mom and Dad beamed while I rolled my eyes at my dramatic family.

Why do they have to embarrass me like that?

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~

"Fine. I'm only allowing this because you guys said so."

Finally!

I sighed in relief and thanked God that Luke allowed her to go with us. I knew he would create some issues when he'll find Lillian is going with us three.

In the morning when I drove to Ben's house, he told me Toby was also coming with us. I begged him not to pick him up and let him go with the others, but he ignored me and still did it saying it won't be a problem.

If it wasn't for Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I don't think Luke would have let us go.

"You kids should go." Mrs. Smith gives us her sweet smile. "And have fun on your vacations!"

"We will." Ben grinned and took Lillian's bag.

We bid farewell to the Smiths and were sitting in the car. Toby sat in the passenger seat and Lillian in the back. Ben was putting Lillian's bags in the car's trunk. I was about to sit in the back, but my eyes flickered to Luke's car and paused.

"Is that Mercedes-Benz Five sixty SL?"

"Yeah. Nineteen eighty-seven." He raised his brows. "How do you know that? It's a quite old model."

"I know." I strode around his car and examined it. "Top speed of two forty kilometers per hour, a naturally aspirated V eight-cylinder engine, with a four-speed automatic gearbox. The fuel-injected engine produces two twenty-seven horsepower at fifty-two hundred rpm and two right seven foot-pounds of torque at thirty-five hundred rpm." I ranted without realizing it.

"Woah..." I halted and looked at the Smiths as they watched me in shock.

"You know a lot about cars." Luke blinked his eyes at me.

"Yeah... I enjoy reading about them." I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment.

"I'm impressed." Luke praised, and I peeked at Lillian to see her stunned.

"This one is rare now. How did you get it?" I questioned.

"I got this baby from a junkyard three years ago." He grinned and patted the hood. "Got this from my savings." He said proudly.

"Wow..." I was amazed.

He looked so delighted with his old car. On the other hand, it was me. Every year on my birthday, dad gifts me different cars because I would get bored with one and I showed them off around high school even though they weren't of my money.

"Are you coming or not?" Ben asked, tapping his foot.

"Yeah..." I cleared my throat and walked towards his car, glancing at Lillian's parents, who were still staring at me in surprise. "Bye Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Luke."

"Bye." They waved at me.

"See ya around, Andrew." Luke grinned. "Next time when we'll meet. I'd like to discuss more about cars with you."

Next time?

There will be a next time?

"Of course." My chest puffed with hope and I grinned.

Sitting in the back seat, I closed the door and turned towards Lillian to see her blinking her curious green eyes at me.

"I didn't know you are into cars this much,"

"You should see his room." Ben chuckled, initiating the engine of his car. "His room is full of car toys."

"First, they are not toys they are miniature car model collections." I huffed, leaning my back on the seat. "And second, she has already seen my room."

"What?!" Both Toby and Ben simultaneously screamed.

"After the gay club when I was drunk." She mumbled, jogging their memory and their shoulders relaxed.

"Geez, guys, what do you think of me?" I snorted.

"Player." They said together, then burst into laughter.

"Are you two ganging up on me?" I narrowed my eyes at them.

"Of course not. Why would we do that?" Ben glimpsed at me from the rare view mirror as his eyes sparkled in amusement.

"A**hole," I grumbled and peeked at Lillian and saw her hiding her laugh.

"Are you also making fun of me?" I pouted.

She halted and glanced at me for a second, then sat straight.

"No... I would never make fun of you." She shook her head.

"Good." I beamed.

After a while, Ben parked his car outside Nate's house. Everyone, we're gathered there and getting in cars.

"Meet you guys at the beach!" Chloe waved as she sit in the back seat of Jordan's car with Louis and Maddie and Jordan in the front.

Nate was taking his car out of the driveway. I made eye contact with Brittany in the passenger seat and she rolled her eyes at me. David and Tiana were in the back.

When I told Brittany that I would go with Ben and she knew the reason. She said nothing but wished me luck. She forced me to tell her what happened at Nate's party and why we fought with Dexter but I didn't tell her and that made her furious, so again we weren't on talking terms, but I know she'll understand it.

We began towards our destination. Nate's car was in front of us while Jordan's was behind us. The ride to the beach was around an hour, so I relaxed in the back seat. Ben played some songs on the radio and we walked about what we'll do on the beach.

Toby and I bickered on every topic while Lillian and Ben calmed us down. The guy has a problem with me, but I don't understand it. I ignored him and turned my attention toward Lillian. I asked her what she did the last week.

Then she asked me about mine, and I told her I did little on the weekends. My father was home, and we spent days relaxing and now my family was going to meet Austin since he couldn't come. I'll meet him after my graduation.

The journey passes by quickly when you're enjoying it and chatting. We reached Nate's beach house and Ben parked the car in the driveway. I stretched my limbs when I got out and inhale the fresh salty air.

I looked around the beach house and grinned. The view was breathtaking. A modern double-story white exterior beach house was built right before the beach, along with the other houses. The sound of the waves made me excited, and I already wanted to go jump in the water.

Last year we went to the Forbes beach house when Mr. Forbes bought a new property. The Forbes twins hated their father and did everything in their power to boil his blood. On the last day, they threw a party and everyone from the town near the beach was invited and they ruined everything in the house.

Mr. Forbes was furious and banned us from ever going there, so this year we came to Spencer's beach house.

"Let's have some fun," Brittany smirked and strode towards the gate. "Bring my bags, Nate."

Nate rolled his eyes but still did it while everyone else got their stuff. I glanced at Lillian and saw her looking at the place, awestruck. I flicked my fingers in front of her and she got out of her daze.

"Shall we go inside, madam?"

"Y-yeah." she stuttered and ducked her red face.

I chuckled at how cute she was and grabbed my bags.

"Let me," I said, clasping her bag, but she moved it to the side.

"I can carry it. It's not heavy." She smiled, and we walked inside.

"This place is gorgeous!" Chloe shrieked, looking through the window wall that gave will a full view of the beach.

"That it is." Louis beamed, looking at his girlfriend.

"Whipped." Jordan plopped his arm around Louis and shook him.

"Get off me!" Louis grumbled as he tried to get out of his grip.

"I'm thirsty," Ben murmured and walked into the kitchen.

"How about we decide the rooms first?" Maddie dropped her bags on the floor. "I'm tired from the drive."

"There are five rooms. Two here and three upstairs." Nate said, taking a seat on the couch.

"I'm taking the master bedroom," Brittany announced.

"I'm with you," Tiana said, taking a seat on the couch, and David frowned.

"What about me?"

"You can sleep with the guys." She said in a duh tone. "I need some time with my bestie."

"Trouble in paradise," Maddie murmured. We snickered while David groaned.

"Alright then." Brittany picked up her luggage. "Tiana and I are upstairs, the rest of you." She eyed me. "Do whatever you want to do." With that, she ascended the stairs.

"Louis and Chloe can take a room," Maddie smirked as their faces turned red. They both opened and closed their mouths, avoiding eye contact.

"Maybe It's too early for them." Tiana teased, and all of us burst out laughing.

"How about we take a room-" David said, sitting next to Tiana, but she cut him off.

"I'm not sharing a room with you this time, David." She said determinedly.

"Alright!" Maddie clapped her hands. "I'm going to share the room with my two favorite people."

"Us?" Jordan and Louis sat straight.

"Ew gross!" Maddie's face scrunched in disgust. "I'm talking about Chloe and Lilly."

"Oh..." Their shoulders slumped, and I snorted.

"As for you guys." She looked around, darting her eyes at us. "Ben Toby and Drew can share-"

"No." Toby and I cut her off simultaneously.

"No way in hell am I sharing a room with him." Toby crossed his arms.

"Feelings mutual buddy." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"How about..." Ben came out of the kitchen on time. "Toby and I share a room and Drew and Nate."

I can digest Nate.

"Fine." I agreed.

"Then the three of you." Nate pointed at Jordan, Louis, and David. "Get a room upstairs with the girls."

"Why?" My voice came out a little shrill.

"The rooms upstairs are bigger for the three of them." He said in a monotone. "Were you expecting something else?" His lips curled into a smirk.

"Don't use your brain too much or it'll explode," I growled and side glanced at Lillian to see her still stunned by the view and beach house.

Good, she wasn't paying attention.

"Let's go then." Maddie jumped up from the couch.

"Take rest and settle down," Nate grinned. "Next stop is the ocean."

~•~ • ~•~ • ~•~