JESSIE SUMMERS sat in the passenger's seat of her ex-husband's car with her arms crossed over her chest as they sat in the driveway of the Fisher's summer house.

It was truly her last resort as her car had broken down not even fifteen minutes from her house and no one that she knew would be willing to let her borrow their car so she could go get Olivia.

Harry tapped his fingers against the steering wheel waiting for Jessie to tell him what to do next.

Which was to wait in the car, don't get out, and don't say a word.

Jessie slammed the car door shut and made her way inside the house, passing by the familiar doors and finally spotted Olivia laying on the floor with her (Jessie's) clothes on and the leather jacket covering her body.

Olivia had to drunkenly wake up in the middle of the night and take her contacts out because her glasses were on her face and pushed harshly against her as she slept on her cheek.

Jessie sighed, squatting down next to Olivia and gently shaking her away, "Olivia, sweetheart, you've got to get up."

She wasn't mad at Olivia for leaving... well, she was. She was mad that Olivia had lied about where she had been, but she couldn't blame the girl for just up and going, especially when her father just popped back into her life like nothing had happened.

"Come on." Jessie sighed, pulling Olivia up by her arms as the girl muttered nothingness under her breath, "Get up and shower. I've brought you some clothes to get changed into"

Olivia finally opened her eyes, seeing her mother in front of her. She furrowed her brows in confusion and took in her surroundings.

She was still in Cousins. She was still in her clothes from last night. She knew her breath reeked of the plenty of alcohol she had consumed.

"What?" Olivia muttered.

Jessie let go of Olivia's arms, taking the tote bag off of her shoulder and sitting it on the ground to pull out Olivia's clothes.

"Get up, go shower, get dressed." Jessie said, "After that, you and I... are talking."

Olivia only nodded in confusion, standing up slowly and making her way into the bathroom to get dressed.

After doing so, (and hearing Laurel and Belly shouting) she stepped out of the bathroom, almost fearing that she and her mother would have a screaming match of their own.

Jessie turned, looking over at Olivia, "Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" She asked.

Olivia sighed, pushing her glasses up and clasping her hands together, "I didn't want you to stop me."

Jessie only nodded, her black heels clacking against the hardwood floor. She tried her best to gather her thoughts. She knew that Olivia left because of her father, but it hurt her that Olivia didn't tell her that she had gone so far.

Olivia watched as her mother paced back and forth in the room. They way her mother's shoe boomed scared her, matching the racing of her heart.

How the hell did she even know that Olivia was in Cousins? She knew that Violet wouldn't utter a word, unless she had.

"You called me last night." Jessie said, "Not that Violet friend of yours."

Well, that made more sense.

In full honesty, Olivia didn't remember much from last night. She remembered talking to Conrad on the beach and basically telling Jeremiah to fuck off and not use her in an argument like that, but other than that, it was pretty blank to her.

"Oh." Olivia muttered.

"Oh." Jessie turned, "I know why you left, but telling me where you were going would've been great, Olivia."

"I know and I'm sorry—"

"I know you Olivia. I'm you're mother, I know you." Jessie sighed, "Who brought you here?"

"Conrad." Olivia answered.

Jessie nodded, "Conrad. Conrad fucking Fisher." She muttered under her breath, "I know you left because you're father showed up, but you also left because of Conrad."

"No I didn't."

"Olivia." Jessie called, "If Conrad didn't show up, you would've been locked up in your room for hours! So, enough with the lies. Why are you here?"

Olivia had seen her mother angry. She was hothead at times and caring the next. That's just how Jessie Summers lived her life and she wasn't going to change that.

"Their aunt is selling the house and Conrad asked me to come with him."

"To do what, Liv?" Jessie asked, "Are you in any shape, way, or form able to save this house with just you and Conrad alone?"

"No, but..." Olivia sighed, shrugging her shoulders, "I don't know."

Jessie only nodded, crossing her arms as she finally stopped walking around the room.

"I'm assuming you guys had a party and that Belly called Laurel." Jessie turned, resting her hands on her hips, "I'm going to tell you something and however you feel after is valid. Is that understood."

Olivia only nodded, watching her mother rest her hands against her knees before standing upright.

"Harry brought me here because my car broke down and no one else would be able to take me to see you and if I knew that Laurel was coming I would've done my best to meet her so it was just us."

Olivia watched as her mother's eyes danced back and forth across her face, trying to see how Olivia taken the news that her father was right downstairs at this exact moment.

And instead of freaking out on her mother, Olivia made her way towards the door and outside the house where her father black Sedan stood out to her instantly.

Jessie followed the girl downstairs with Conrad and Jeremiah standing closely behind her as Olivia beat on the window of the car.

"Get out!" She shouted.

Harry slowly rolled down the window, keeping his eyes forward, "I was told not to get out the car."

"You we're also supposed to stay, but you didn't do that, did you?"

Harry shut his eyes and turned to look at Olivia.

"Olivia, I promise—"

"I don't care!" She shouted, "Why did you offer her a ride?"

"She wanted to see you, Olivia. What was I supposed to do, say no?"

"Yes!" She shouted once more, "You can't come back into my life and think that every thing is going to be okay."

"I know that, Olivia." He sighed, "I know I shouldn't have popped up at your house like and I know you will never believe that I have changed, but I have and I was wrong and—"

"And I'm supposed to believe that now?" Olivia asked, "You've been out of my life for years because I was bi and I'm supposed to believe that you've changed? And for what?"

"For you, Liv! I changed for you." He argued.

Olivia's gaze bore into her father's eyes, a mix of skepticism and hurt etched across her features.

"You can't just show up and claim you've changed, Dad," Olivia retorted, her voice tinged with frustration, "Do you know how much I needed you? How much I struggled after you left?"

Harry's expression softened, regret and pain evident in his eyes, "I know, Liv. And I'm so sorry for that. I can't change the past, but I want to be here for you now."

Olivia's arms crossed defensively, a protective shield against the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, "Why now, Dad? Why after all these years?"

"I know it seems sudden, Liv, but sometimes life's twists and turns take a while to make sense. I've spent years reflecting on my mistakes and the pain I've caused."

Olivia's eyes searched his face, seeking any signs of insincerity, "And what about Mom? What about the way you treated her?"

Harry's shoulders sagged, the weight of his remorse evident in his posture, "Your mother deserved better, and so did you. I can't change the past, but I can make amends and try to be a better father now."

Olivia's emotions were a whirlwind, torn between the anger and hurt that had festered over the years and the flicker of longing for a relationship she had always wished for.

She sighed, looking away from him for the first time to look over at the door to see Conrad, Jeremiah, and her mother all standing on the porch.

"You know, Liv, it's not just about saying I've changed," Harry said softly, "It's about proving it through actions. I want to earn your trust back, to be there for you in the way I should have been all along. That's why I'm here."

Olivia toon in deep breath, only shaking her head and leaving him there, leaving them all there.

She didn't want to be there any longer.

She had finally heard him out. He'd been trying to reach Olivia for a week and he didn't think the conversation between them would even last that long and yet, she stood there and let him speak.

Just because she longed for a father.

But she couldn't and wouldn't be with him, not right now. She instead made her way to the beach, sitting on the stand with her forehead resting on her knees

She didn't even bother to look up to see who had sat down next to her, but she had a feeling that it had been the only person to understand what she had been feeling.

Jeremiah took in a deep breath, sitting down next to Olivia.

He didn't say a word and wouldn't until she felt the need to speak.

She finally lifted her forehead from her knees and rested her chin on them instead. She had small tears rolling down her cheeks.

She was confused, she was hurt, she was angry... she was in a world in which she didn't feel like anyone would get her, expect Jeremiah.

"I don't want to talk about it." She muttered.

Jeremiah nodded, "We don't have to talk."

Olivia pressed her cheek against her knee, looking over at Jeremiah as he looked down at her.

"Thank you." She muttered.

Jeremiah gave her a soft smile, reaching his arm out to rest it over her shoulder. But she moved quickly, wrapping her arms around him as she hug him.

Jeremiah softly sighed, wrapping his arm around her waist to pull her close.

Olivia finally broke the silence, her voice soft yet filled with sincerity, "You know, Jere, I never wanted things to end the way they did between us."

Jeremiah tightened his hold around Olivia, his voice tender and sincere, "I didn't either, Liv."

Then it was silent, the two of them in an embrace and the sound of the the waves hitting against the sand.

That's all Olivia needed.

Was for someone who understood.

— lucy has something to say !!

just a couple of besties on the beach (she hasn't forgotten that jeremiah said he would kiss her)

bye :))))