THE FOURTH of July in Cousins was all about traditions. Via helped her mom decorate the whole house, as the boys steamed clams and shot off fireworks. However, this year, Via could finally be herself- to a certain extent. Now all of the kids knew she was gay, she felt more comfortable and included.

Susannah continued speaking, "... Oh, which makes me think. If Belly doesn't hurry up and ask Cam to that Ball, you should take her."

Via's heart dropped at her mother's words as she felt her face blush a pink colour. She frowned, about to open her mouth to speak but Steven had already interrupted,

"No, no, no." Steven refused, "I'm already going with Shayla."

Via breathed in relief, realising her mother was asking Steven- not her, though she kind of wished it was.

"To the Debutante Ball?" Laurel questioned, "As an escort?"

"Yeah. Wrap your head around it, Mom, alright?" Steven explained, "Shayla's coming today with Nicole and Gigi, so you'll meet her."

Susannah reminded, "Oh, and don't forgot, Miss Convington's first dance rehearsal is tomorrow so, uh, tick-tock."

"I'm asking Cam today." Belly smiled, and Via's expression dropped as she remembered her words to her- we can go together, as friends.

Susannah nodded, before looking at her daughter, "Via, who are you going to ask?"

Via just shrugged, as she continued eating her cereal, "I don't know."

"Well, you need to decide today, okay? The dance rehearsal is tomorrow and you can't show up without a date." Susannah insisted, "You're already on thin ice with Paige because of the last meeting. So, try and make her happy by following the rules-"

Via defended, raising her voice slightly,"That wasn't my fault-"

"Via." Susannah warned, "You know this Ball means a lot to me... So, just please stay under the radar." She paused, "Via?"

The girl rolled her eyes, "Okay. Okay, mom." She paused, looking at Laurel beside her mom, "Your makeup looks nice by the way, Laurel."

Steven blurted out, "You're wearing makeup?!"

Belly teased, "Ohh! Mom!"

Susannah remarked, "I'm sure it has nothing to do with John coming to the Clam Bake."

"Oh, please." Laurel scoffed, "The husbands always come for the fourth."

Belly reminded, "He's not your husband anymore."

Steven sighed, "You know, I still don't understand why you invited Dad's girl friend."

"Her name is Victoria and your father wanted us all to meet her." Laurel explained, "Oh, Belly I need you to make up the guest bed for them."

Belly complained, "They're staying in the room next to mine?"

"You could sleep in my room if you wanted, Belles." Via suggested, a smile appearing on her face, "Like, a sleepover."

"Really?" Belly grinned, "Thanks."

"Oh, speaking of dads, yours called." Susannah exclaimed, "He's closing a deal, so he can't come."

Via muttered sarcastically, "That's a surprise."

"What?" Jere frowned.

Conrad walked inside, before asking, "Did you say dad's not coming?"

Jere continued, "But I got some serious fireworks for the show this year."

Susannah suggested, "We'll take a video."

"It's not the same." The boy sighed, and Via couldn't help but feel bad for her brother.

Olivia had never had a good relationship with her father- she did once, but she was too young to remember. He always preferred her twin brother and never understood her as a person. He made Via feel worthless and he didn't even try to be a father to her- he cared more about his work and the boys. Olivia always wondered what she had done wrong.

  ***

A few hours later, Laurel's ex-husband had arrived with Victoria, as the kids watched the mom's greet her outside. Via peered through the window, seeing Victoria and almost gasping out loud,

"Is it just me or is Victoria..." 

"Hot?" Jere finished, "Definitely."

"Don't even go there." Steven interrupted, "She's my step-mom!"

"What?" Via chuckled, "You're not telling me you wouldn't-"

Steven grimaced, "Now that's disgusting."

Via defended, "I'm just saying what everybody else is thinking."

"I wasn't thinking that." Belly quickly defended, glancing at the girl next to her before looking back out of the window.

Conrad admired, "Yo, that could be their future step-mom."

"Dude!" Steven scoffed, "What the hell-"

"Guys, guys!" Jere panicked, "They're coming."

After being introduced to Victoria, the Debutantes had arrived shortly after for the party. Via didn't mind Victoria at all, she actually thought she was incredibly sweet, and not just because she had a slight crush on her. Via admired the woman as she made pomegranate margaritas for the party, as Jere, Belly, and Via watched.

Belly questioned, "Can I try a sip?"

"Are your parents cool with that?" Victoria asked.

"Oh, yeah." Belly lied, "They don't care."

Victoria left the kitchen to take the margaritas she had made to the people outside, leaving the three kids alone with a couple of margaritas on the table. They all tasted it, before planning to make more.

Conrad questioned, "What are you guys making?"

"Pomegranate margaritas." Belly explained.

Conrad suggested, "Well, you gotta use the good blender."

"We haven't used that thing since the great Kool-Aid debacle of 2011." Jere explained.

"Oh, yeah." Via chuckled, "The counters were sticky for, like, two summers!"

"Yeah, and dad kept his briefcase in my room for a year," Jere added, "As a reminder that all mistakes are not reversible."

Belly questioned, "Wait, won't he be mad if he finds out?"

"He won't find out because he's not coming." Connie retorted.

Via added, "Again."

"You both need to give him a chance." Jere reasoned, as his two other siblings gave each other a quick glance of disbelief. Jeremiah always believed that their father was going to wake up one day and love all of his kids equally, and Via wished it came true, though it's easier to believe that idea when your the favourited one.

"I'll give him a chance when he gives me a chance." Via retorted sarcastically, "Respect works both ways, Jere, you can't be a people-pleaser forever."

"Do you know what i miss?" Conrad blurted out, before taking a sip of his freshly made margarita, "... watching Laurel put dad in his place. She would be like, Adam-"

"Adam! You came." Laurel's voice interupted unexpectedly as she walked into the kitchen, as Belly watched as Via's face dropped.

Jeremiah shot up quickly, hugging his dad tightly, "Dad!"

"Happy fourth!" Adam greeted, "Hey, guys. Hey, Connie." Conrad stayed silent, as Adam continued, "Via, what are you mixing up there? I'll take a glass of whatever it is."

"It's for the party." Via deadpanned, avoiding eye contact the entire time. Suddenly, the margaritas had become so interesting to look at, as she couldn't find the bravery to look at her own dad.

"Where'd everyone go?" Susannah questioned as she walked inside the kitchen, her face dropping as she saw her ex-husband. She hesitated for a moment, not knowing how to react in front of her kids, "You managed to get off work?"

Adam chuckled, "Couldn't miss the fourth with my family."

Laurel noticed the awkward tension between the kids, Adam, and Susannah, who all shared looks with each other as the silence continued. Laurel blurted out, breaking the quiet, "Come on, kids, let's go back to the party."

Everybody stood up to leave, following Conrad out first as she rushed outside to avoid any contact with his father. Via looked at her mother, who had gone quite pale, she didn't look well but she pressumed it was just the nerves of seeing Adam again.

Adam cleared his throat, reaching out for his daughter as she walked passed, "Oh, Vi, can I speak to you?"

"Later." Via replied quickly, as she continued walking behind Belly, "We're going to the beach."