THE NEXT morning, Olivia tried her best to act normal, like nothing had happened last night- however, she was on the verge on tears all morning. The girl had completely forgotten about the dance rehearsal today, and forgotten to bring a date.

Belly questioned, "Do you know where Conrad was this morning?"

Via couldn't find any words to reply, as her eyes darted around the hall which was filled with the Debs and their partners. Belly stood alone next to her, and Via didn't know who she had asked- she pressumed it was Cam... or Conrad, or Jeremiah.

"Hey, Livy?" Belly repeated, snapping Via out of her trance, "Are you okay? You kind of zoned out."

"Yeah, uh, fine." Via smiled slightly, and Belly knew it was fake. She continued, "I think Connie went-"

"Attention, everyone." Paige interrupted, "Please welcome our Debutante waltz instructor, Miss Covington, all the way from Miss Convington's School of Ballroom Dance in Newton."

"Thank you, Paige." The old woman smiled, "As you all know, the waltz is the most highly anticipated part of the ball. So, please join your partners now... and we will begin with fundamentals, starting with the box step."

Via's heart dropped, looking around at the Debutantes partner up and start practicing the waltz. Via felt frozen on the spot, her heart racing in her tightened chest.

"Hey." Nicole walked up to the girls, "Where's your escorts?" She looked at Belly, "Weren't you gonna ask Cam?"

Belly explained, "Um, six margaritas kind of ruined that plan."

"I actually counted seven." Nicole smiled, before looking at Via, "Did you eventually ask anyone?"

Via stressed, "No, uh, I didn't, I-"

"Hey, that's okay." Nicole reassured, "You two can just partner up today, but please make sure you bring your escorts for the big night, okay?"

Nicole left the two girls who stood awkwardly in front of each other. Belly was the first to move, placing her hands on Via's hip, before holding her other hand. Olivia internally panicked, before placing her hand on Belly's shoulder.

The girl's started stepping backwards then forwards in a rhythm to Belly's counting, which Via couldn't focus on. She loved dancing with Belly, but couldn't keep her mind off her hand on her waist.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Belly blurted out, as they continued stepping, "You seem, like, tense or something."

Via hesitated, "I'm, uh, just worried about finding an escort. You know?"

"You don't have to be worried about that." Belly reassured, before moving the hand on her waist and placing it on the girls stomach- where her anxiety was. Belly hummed, shutting her eyes tightly as if she was some kind of witch casting a spell.

Via chuckled nervously, "Belly, what are you doing?"

She grinned, opening her eyes, "I'm getting rid of all of your worries."

Via hesitated, "Remember you said about us going to the ball together? I mean, I totally understand if you want to ask Cameron or someone."

Belly replied, "I was actually thinking of breaking up with Cam."

"Really?" Via questioned, as they danced, "Why?"

"I don't know, uh, there's no fireworks." Belly explained, "So, maybe we should go together, as friends. Unless you're going to ask someone."

"No, uh, im not." Via chuckled, a grin appeared on her face as she giggled, "Cool."

The moment was interrupted by the classical music changing into So Pretty by Reyanna Maria. Jeremiah stood at the entrance, a flirtatious grin appeared on his face as he started dancing to the beat.

"Alexa, stop." Paige ordered, as the music turned off quickly, "What is going on here? Jeremiah Fisher, why aren't you at the pool?"

"We had a code brown." Jere explained, "We lost the keys to the chemical closet." Paige quickly passed him the keys, "Thanks."

Via held in her laugh, as she watched Jeremiah walk away confidently. Her eyes traveled to her other brother, who was standing at the entrance. She smiled at him, as he shook his head at Jere, before it faded when she noticed Belly giggling to herself.

Conrad walked away, following Jeremiah outside before the Debutantes went back to dancing. Via attempted to hold Belly's shoulder, however Belly pulled away when her phone vibrated- a message from Conrad. She stared at Belly, her heart shattering, as Belly grinned- Via felt sick.

After the rehearsal, Via swam in the pool at her house alone, accompanied by the mothers on the sun beds, talking about dating- which shocked Via to her core.

Susannah asked, "How was rehearsal today, Via?"

"Yeah, uh, great." Via replied, brushing the wet hair from her face, "I haven't seen Belly since the rehearsal, have you seen her?"

Laurel nodded, "She's getting-"

Belly interrupted, walking outside in a dress and makeup, "Hey, have you seen Conrad?"

Susannah replied, "Um... I think he's out sailing."

"Belles, do you wanna come in the pool?" Via asked, leaning on the side of the pool with a smile.

Laurel replied for her daughter, who got distracted by Cameron walking towards her, "I think she has other plans."

"Hi." Cam smiled, "Do you wanna go for a bike ride? I know a really cool spot."

Belly glanced at Via, before looking back at Cam, "Sure. Yeah, let me go change." She looked at Via, "Sorry, Livy, I'll be back later."

"Sure." Via smiled, "Maybe we can have the Harry Potter marathon?"

Belly replied, "Yeah."

***

Via explained, "She replied yeah. Like, just yeah. Nothing else."

"And then she walked away with Cam?" Evie questioned, it looked as though she was on the beach.

"Yeah." Via sighed, "I just don't know anymore. When she was drunk she was all over me and now she's so... distant."

"Drunk words are sober thoughts, Ollie." Evie explained, "She's probably freaked out because you're super hot."

Via chucked, "She's not gay panicking over me, Evie." She paused, "She's just panicking over my brother."

"Oh, Ollie." Evie sympathised, "I miss you."

"I wish you were here." Via exclaimed, "How's life in Spain?"

"It's going good." Evie explained, "My mom's are going out tonight so I might see if there's a party."

Via chuckled, "You better tell me what happens-"

"Hey." The door slowly opened, as Belly entered her room, "Are you- Oh, sorry, I'll come back later."

Via nodded, before looking at Evie, who was giving her that look through the screen. Evie's hands shooing her away, mouthing go! before hanging up.

Via sighed, "Wait, Belly."

The girl re-entered her room immediately, "Was that Evie?"

"Yeah." Via exclaimed, "She's in Spain again with her family, she goes up there every year, but next year she might spend summer here."

Belly tried to smile, jealousy laced through her voice,  "That's cool." She continued, "Taylor's here, by the way, for the tournament."

"You're friends again? That's great." Via smiled, before questioning, "I guess I don't have to fill in for her anymore?"

"No, uh, you don't." Belly replied, "Maybe you could sub for one of us?"

Via smiled, "Yeah, sure."

"Hey, Ollie!" Taylor greeted, as she rushed into the room, embracing the girl in a tight hug, "You look hot, as always."

Via grinned, "Thanks, Taylor-"

Laurel interrupted, as she entered the room, "You girls ready? I can drop you."