EVERYONE GATHERED outside the house, preparing to go their separate ways.

She couldn't have imagined everything that had happened had gone down in a week. Everything from the party to Conrad shouting fuck school in the living had all happened in a week.

And my God a week it has been.

She stepped outside the sun beaming down on the girl as stepped down from the porch. She furrowed her brows as looked over by her car and seeing Conrad and her mother talking to each other, a small smile painted on his face.

He soon turned, heading over to Laurel. Olivia squinted, making her way towards her car where her mother stood.

"What were you two talking about?" Olivia asked, brushing her soft red hair behind her ear.

"Nothing." Jessie smiled, "The boys and Belly are staying one more night to help Conrad study. Something about him and Stanford."

"Uh," Olivia sighed, looking back over at the others as they stood Laurel, "I don't think I'm needed anymore."

Jessie scoffed, almost laughing, "Come on, Liv. You're the only one who can understand half of the shit in the textbook anyway."

"Because we have similar majors." Olivia chuckled, "I don't think it's going to take five people let alone four."

"For my sake, stay."

Jessie took Olivia's keys from her hands and carefully made her way to the others, bidding them all a goodbye.

Jessie smiled, taking the keys and entering Olivia's car as the young girl stood on the other side.

"What did Conrad tell you?" Olivia asked.

Jessie smiled, moving her sunglasses into her curly hair, "I'll always love you, Liv and if I didn't make you stay just one more night, I think I'd regret it for a long, long time."

Olivia furrowed her brows, but chuckled nonetheless, "A bit dramatic, but whatever."

Jessie blew kisses over to Olivia and pulled out of the driveway of the beach house leaving Olivia alone as turned, making her way towards the others.

"You're staying?" Conrad asked.

"If I didn't, I think my mom would kill me." Olivia smiled, "Come on, Connie baby, we've got some work to do."

Olivia waved goodbye to Laurel, Skye, and Julia as she, Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, and Steven made their way into the house, Olivia dropping her bag off at the front door, watching Steven eat the bacon that Laurel had made prior.

But instead of studying like planned, the group decided to take a power nap for at least and hour.

Belly was adamant about helping Conrad study, so, she dragged Steven and Olivia with her to McDonald's and bought plenty of burgers, fries, sodas, and a couple of coffees before making their way back to the house.

Soon, Belly and Olivia made their way into the empty living, nightfall almost covering all of Cousins as they hovered over each of the boys.

Belly held a pitcher of water in her hands as she poured the liquid all over Jeremiah to wake him.

Olivia only looked over with a small smile as she turned back, brushing Conrad's hair out of his face.

"Wake up." She softly spoke, "Time to study."

Conrad heavily sighed, opening his eyes slowly to look at Olivia.

He reached his hand out, rubbing the other against his tired eyes.

"Where are your glasses?" He muttered.

"In the kitchen, dillweed." She scoffed, standing to her feet and reaching her hands out, "Get up."

Conrad sighed once more, taking Olivia's hands and standing up slowly, watching Olivia stumble some trying to help him to his feet.

With that, she, Conrad, Belly, and Jeremiah made their way into the kitchen where the boys saw the pile of burgers sitting on the kitchen island.

Jeremiah smiled, stepping forward to grab a burger, but Belly was quick to slap his hand away.

"These are a crucial part of the reward system." Belly said.

"Well, why does he get to have one?" Jeremiah asked.

"Look, this is how it's going to work." Olivia smiled, "Conrad studies, he gets a burger. If Conrad studies, you get a burger."

Jeremiah chuckled, he and Belly stepped away to join Steven side on the inflatable pool chairs.

"It's a reward system, huh?" Conrad muttered towards Olivia, "What else do I get?"

Olivia smiled, pressing her back against the island, "Whatever you want."

Conrad raised his brows, "Whatever I want?"

"Sure... Whatever you want." She softly smiled, "Now, let's get to it."

With that said, the group began the hours long studying and some dancing here and there. The majority of them had fallen asleep on the floaties in the house.

But Olivia found herself outside, sitting in a pool chair, and sipping her tea as she wrote down various tips from the notebook in her lap.

She wasn't as tired as the others, but if she became distracted, she would soon find herself falling asleep.

She had her music playing on her phone to hopefully keep her awake, but the soft voice singing i'm sorry wasn't really helping.

She finally switched her contacts out for her glasses once more and shook her head slightly, trying to stay awake.

Soon, the back door opened and Conrad made his way out, seeing that Olivia was nowhere inside as he was the only one up and studying.

He didn't say much as he made his way towards her, sitting down on the chair next to her and watched her highlight another important text.

"You seemed more worried than I am." He said.

Olivia looked over, "This is important. I want to see you get into Stanford. But I think you feel pretty optimistic."

She finally shut the book, placing the book on the ground. She sat back in the seat, her head resting against the back of the chair.

"It's just hard knowing how much I fucked up." He paused, "What if... they kick me out of Brown and I-I don't, you know, they don't want me at Stanford and..."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. You always do."

Conrad nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, "Earlier... when I was talking to Jessie. I asked her if you could stay one more night. I knew I would regret not... telling you I'm sorry, and I really don't want to hear your bullshit about both of us hurting each other because, Olivia, I never, ever met to hurt. And you were always there. Always trying. And I pushed you away every time." He sighed, "And you said that you love me and I said nothing... I said nothing twice. Maybe I'm scared. I always thought I couldn't compete with Jere. I didn't want you to look at me like I was him and you never did. I thought that maybe you should've with him and not with me, but you always reassured me that it was you and I... I don't want to hurt you, Liv."

Conrad turned and shut his eyes, heavily sighing at the sight of the girl sleeping across from him.

He leaned forward, pulling her glasses off her face and placed them onto his head.

He only looked at her as the one song died out and blended into the next.

SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK by Joji.

THE NEXT day everyone woke up bright and early to be able to get Conrad to Brown on time and with no other way home, Olivia decided to tag along.

Belly would also be coming, a shock to no one.

But before leaving, Laurel snagged a photo of Steven, Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah.

Olivia hugged herself, a small smile on her face as Laurel began to take the photo.

"Wait." Belly called, "Are you sure you don't want to be in the photo, Olivia?"

"I'm good." She chuckled, "This is tradition. I can't ruin that."

"Traditions can change." Conrad muttered.

She looked over at Laurel who gave the girl a smile and a nod, ushering the girl to join in on the photo.

Olivia scoffed to herself before stepping forward to join in on the photo.

She stood in between Steven and Conrad, wrapping her arms around the two boys as Laurel began taking photos.

"Here, you want to see?" Laurel asked.

She stepped forward allowing the others to look. Soon, she, Olivia, Jeremiah, and Belly began making their way back to the front of the house.

And of course, they couldn't leave the house without doing the infamous Belly flop.

The boys grabbed the girl, carrying her to the pool as Olivia followed behind slowly.

She stood by the fence that led to the pool and watched as the three boys counted down before throwing her into the pool.

And one by one each of the boys jumped into the pool with her.

But Conrad turned, seeing Olivia watching them with a small smile on her face.

He began to make his way towards her, a small smile painted on his face as he grew closer.

"What?" She questioned, "Afraid you'll melt in the water?"

"No. No." He smiled, "But like I said, traditions can change."

Olivia shook her hand, backing away from Conrad, "I'm not getting in that pool, Conrad."

"Too fucking bad, Lovell."

He was quick to grab Olivia. She put up a good fight, but he was able to snag her by her waist, carrying the girl over his shoulder as he ran towards the pool, jumping in with his arms locked around her waist.

After that and drying off as much as possible, they were all off.

Olivia rested her head against the door of the car, sitting in the back seat with Conrad as she read P.S. I Still Love You.

It was the only book she had at her beach house and if she was going to drive to Brown, Pennsylvania, and New York... she might as well sit and read than do nothing at all.

She glanced over the book to see Conrad already looking her way. She took one of her AirPods out and gave him a small smile.

"Wanna listen?" She muttered, "Might help you concentrate."

He grabbed it, looking over at her, "Do you clean these?"

"As often as I clean my glasses."

Which was rare... but to digress, he put the AirPod in his ear and music was blasted in his ear.

She'd turn the rain to a rainbow, when I was living in the blue

He looked by over at Olivia, her eyes looked on her book while her freed hand ran up and down her arm.

Perfect don't mean that it's working, so what can I do?

Jeremiah looked in his rear view mirror, glancing between Conrad and Olivia.

"Are you cold back there?" He asked.

Olivia looked up for a moment, "I'll be all right." She smiled softly.

But I'm thinking of the way it was. Said I'm fine and said I moved on.

Conrad didn't look back up from his notes as he grabbed the Brown sweatshirt from his side and handing it over to the girl.

"Thanks." She muttered.

She set her book down, throwing the sweatshirt on. She picked her book back up before setting her feet in the seat to get more comfortable.

Hoping I'll find a glimpse of us.

They soon arrived at Brown. Conrad stepping out of the car, leaving Olivia in the backseat.

"You got this, bro." Jeremiah cheered.

"Yeah, it's cool if you don't, but I think you do." Belly smiled.

Conrad smiled, resting against his car door, "Thanks, you guys. I'll see you after."

"Hey," Olivia called, "can I stay?"

"You wanna stay here?" Conrad asked, "While I'm taking my exam?"

"Yeah." She smiled, "This gonna be me in two months. I wanna get the experience."

Conrad looked back over at Jeremiah before opening the car door and letting Olivia out.

The two waved goodbye to Belly and Jeremiah before Conrad led the girl to the building where his exam would be held.

"Are you sure you want to stay?" Conrad asked, "I'm sure Jere and—"

"Conrad." Olivia chuckled, "I wanted to be with you. So, I'm here."

Conrad smiled softly, continuing his walk before he was outside his exam room.

"You got this." Olivia reassured, "Next stop Stanford." Olivia gave his arm and gentle squeeze, "Call me when you're done."

Conrad nodded as he watched Olivia turn, leaving the building all together.

He had this... he had to have this.

OLIVIA RUSHED back to the building with a bag from the bookstore in her hands as she saw Conrad walking out of the building.

"So?" She asked, huffing out air.

"Guess who's going to Stanford."

Olivia cheered, wrapping her arms around Conrad who caught the girl, his arms wrapping around her torso.

"I fucking told you, Fisher!"

Olivia smiled, backing out of the hug and taking Conrad's hand, "Come on! I'm sure Jere and Belly are back! You've got to tell them!"

"Back? Back from where?"

Olivia pulled on his arm, pulling back towards the car, "They went to Finch! Now come on!"

Conrad chuckled as Olivia dragged him back to the parking lot of the university. She apologized for the students that she pushed through and they finally made it back.

Just to seen Belly and Jeremiah making out on Conrad's car.

And that's when Olivia's smile dropped.

— lucy has something to say !!

well...

let's all laugh just because

(double update slayyyy)

bye :))))