MADSTON'S HOUSE WAS already crowded by the time they got there. Loud music blasted from speakers, but since Madston's house was the only one within a considerable distance, Livia thought it wasn't much of a problem. Annoying for the critters in the area around, perhaps, but no concern for any particular person. No doubt Madston's parents were somewhere else. They allowed their sons to throw parties, most definitely, but none as crazy as this.

Livia got out of the car, one brow raised. "Makes me wonder why none of us ever throws parties."

"Brie and Lila could if they wanted to, but Lila doesn't," Amphion pointed out. "Sarah's parents are strict as all hell. Honestly, Zeth and I could too, but with Aurelius and Victoire there... just seems like a mess, doesn't it? And there's so many people on the street that we won't dare do anything too crazy. And well, you and Pamela most definitely are not going to."

"And thus," Livia said with a dramatic sigh, "we are reduced to attending those thrown by others."

"You don't go to half of them," Zeth pointed out.

"I've gone to many, and I know who throws the good ones and who thinks a party is just a lot of alcohol with some music and people making out in the corners. I'm picky with which ones I go to, especially since wherever I go, Pamela is most likely to follow."

"That, or your parents."

"That, or my parents," Livia agreed. "I do not want to be caught in any unsavoury location or position, you see."

"It's always entertaining to know how terrified of your parents you can be."

"It is part of my culture," Livia said soothingly, smoothing out a crease in her dress. "What kind of Asian child will I be, if I am not terrified of my parents? Come on, let's go in now. At this point, Pamela, Anya and Aurelius will arrive before we even step into the house.

The entire long road before the Madston residence had been filled with cars. They made their way up the road until they'd finally arrived at the open gates and stepped in.

Livia whipped out her phone, seeing a message from Brie and Lila stating that the two girls were already here. To her surprise, when Livia told the boys she was going to search for them, Amphion said, "We'll follow you around."

Livia blinked, startled, until she realised why. Zeth. Right. Their little mission for Zeth today. To at least have him show to Brie that he liked her. It was quite strange, really. Had Zeth even properly spoken to Brie this entire summer? Not as far as Livia was aware. For someone who'd been silently crushing on the girl for so many years, Zeth hid it almost scarily well.

Livia didn't even think Lila knew.

It wouldn't end well. They all knew it wouldn't. Livia didn't think there was any chance Brie would accept it. It might just ruin the friendship. But at this point, even that might be better than the endless pining Zeth had been doing for the past while. Maybe rejection would set him on the right track, to help him be able to move on rather than continue on longing, but never daring to do anything about it.

"Amph! Zeth!"

Three heads turned over as Sarah strolled over, dressed in a black skin tight dress, her red hair pulled up in a high bun. She paused for a moment upon seeing Livia. "Hello, Livia."

"Sarah." Livia greeted the other girl with the same coolness and the nod of a head.

"I didn't know you were friends again," Sarah murmured.

"I wouldn't call us friends," Amphion sighed, "but we can speak to each other without ripping each other's heads off now, yes."

"We're looking for Brie and Lila," Zeth said weakly. "Want to join us?"

"For old time's sake, why not?" But Sarah's eyes were still on Livia while she said that, judging, questioning. Unable to understand how everything seemed to be just... okay again.

Livia rewarded the other girl with a mere smile. No answers. What she did with the boys was none of Sarah's business, and the sooner the other girl recognised that, the better.

So the four of them set off on their search for the Carmen/Anderson sisters together. They eventually located them by the makeshift bar in the kitchen. Brie's eyes lit up as she saw them approaching. Whether it was because it was them, all together, or because of the individual people, Livia wasn't sure. She didn't ask either.

"Guys!" Brie rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Livia and offering Sarah a little wave, before giving the boys a nod. "You're here!"

Amphion raised a brow. "Nice to see you too, Brie."

Zeth offered a stiff nod. Brie didn't seem to notice his discomfort. She never seemed to. It was both her best and worst trait.

"Lila Anderson," Livia muttered, scrolling over to the other sister. "How's life?"

Lila's eyes twinkled. "Well, Eunice is my girlfriend now."

"How long is that going to last?"

"This summer, I think. She knows the deal, and so do I. Neither of us are expecting anything else more than this."

"That's good, then." If both sides knew what they were in for, no one got hurt. And even if they did, there was no one else to blame. They knew very well what they were getting into.

Lila wrinkled her nose. "I don't think Jason likes me much."

"No," Livia mused. "He's scared of you, I think."

"Who's scared of Lila?" Amphion asked, glancing over from where he was just in a conversation with Sarah.

"Jason," Livia replied. "Lila is dating Eunice."

Amphion raised a brow. "I suppose I'm expected to offer my congratulations, though we both know it won't last after the thirty-first of August."

"I know, I know," Lila said with a roll of her eyes. "I have commitment issues."

Livia shook her head. "Commitment issues always just seem like an excuse for people who can't settle down. I don't get it. If you can't settle down, don't do it in the first place. Wait til you're mature enough for it."

"Are you calling me immature?" Lila exclaimed, glancing at Livia in mock outrage. "Amphion, can you believe this?"

To both girls' surprise, Amphion simply shrugged. "You can be immature sometimes. We're all immature sometimes."

Lila's gaze narrowed. "Since when did you become such a realist?"

"Always been one," Amphion said with a flash of his teeth. "I just hide it well behind the facade of a hedonistic rich boy, that's all."

"You're not a hedonistic rich boy," Livia said before she could stop herself.

With two curious pairs of eyes on her, Livia gave a one-shoulder shrug. "Rich boy, yes. Hedonistic, no, not at all, Amphion."

"Is that meant to be a compliment or an insult?" Lila asked, tilting her head, "because I can't tell at all."

"You're not the only one," Amphion agreed.

"Just an observation," Livia laughed awkwardly.

"Actually... Lila, did you know that Brie's been hanging out with Mark Arron again? Zeth and I saw them hanging out together yesterday. At the market." It was clear where Amphion was trying to propel this conversation. None of them liked Mark Arron, and no one more than Lila Anderson. And Lila was also the only one with close enough proximity to Brie to actually be able to change anything about this never-ending cycle, and who might have an idea of Brie's feelings towards Zeth.

Of course, Livia thought that the chances of any romantic feelings existing in that department being absolute zero, but it didn't hurt to try.

Lila's back had stiffened when Amphion revealed the information, and by the end of it, her accusatory glance had immediately swept towards Brie. She took a step forward, clearly about to confront her step-sister, but Livia yanked her back.

Lila shot her a glare. Livia raised one brow in warning.

"No." Lila composed herself quickly, sucking in a deep breath. "Yesterday, you say?"

"It was around two in the afternoon," Amphion admitted.

"She told me she was out with friends. I didn't bother pressing further. She said..."

"You believe her about anything regarding Arron?" Livia shook her head.

Lila fell silent for a moment. "I suppose you're right. My mistake."

"It's not your mistake," Amphion murmured. "You're not in charge of her. You can't stop her from doing what she wants to."

"I thought that nice little slap would keep Arron away from her for a while. Clearly, more extreme measures are needed."

"He's at the party tonight," Amphion said. "I saw him earlier."

Livia turned to face Amphion, eyes widened. He had to know what he was turning this conversation into. They might not consider physical violence a way to deal with this situation, but the way Amphion was proposing this to Lila, who had a violent history, was only going to turn into utter disaster.

"If he steps within ten metres of Brie," Lila seethed, "he can kiss his balls goodbye."

Amphion winced. "Okay, not that far, Lila."

"If you didn't want me to do that, you shouldn't have told me in the first place, Amphion. Why did you tell me in the first place? And why are you two friends now?"

"We're not," Livia said blandly. "We're just on speaking terms again, that's all."

"Speaking terms?"

"We're able to talk to each other without immediately bursting into a fight."

"Oh, so it's the same as always, then. Actually, it's a slight improvement from last summer." Lila flashed a smile. "Nice to have the two of you back."

Livia let out a weak laugh. Amphion didn't at all. So they stood there, awkwardly, the three of them, staring at each other and then looking away.

This was the way they often were now. Unsure of the words to tell each other, trying to decide what was the best thing to say without killing the conversation altogether. They were not the kids they were any longer, not even needing to think before speaking. They were long past that now.

This was growing up.

A few minutes later they were all talking together as a group, those who did not get along or had purpose for ignoring each other (Livia and Sarah, Zeth and Brie) trying their best to act natural through it. Zeth attached himself to Livia, as if that would save him from his aching heart. Now that Livia was really looking, she caught a lot more of the surreptitious glances Zeth threw Brie's way. And the way Brie was completely ignorant of it all. It was almost tragic, but it did happen. There was nothing they could do about it. Livia was almost tempted to tell Zeth to not tell Brie anything at all, just to avoid the embarrassment. But after all these years, he had to put it down somehow.

Tough rejection might just do the trick. It would be brutal, it would be rough, but it might finally allow Zeth to put everything down and move on with his life. He had to. They weren't kids anymore.

Suddenly Livia realised that the summer had turned into one of resolution. Of fixing the problems they'd neglected for years regarding themselves and their friendships, before they left it behind forever. This summer had turned into one about removing any regrets or remorse, so that when they looked back in some years' time there would be nothing bittersweet, but simply, yes. That happened. And those were some of the best years of my life.

There was nothing wrong with that, right? It wasn't like she was the only one suffering, she'd suddenly realised. It affected everyone else too. No one quite knew what to do with those threads left hanging out, and they were figuring it out now.

She wasn't alone. She wasn't alone at all.

She didn't think she'd ever feel any sense of similarity with any of these people again. Especially not Amphion and Sarah. But now she was struck with the commonality. None of them knew how to handle any of this. They were all just figuring it out on the go.

But in moments like this, they could forget all of that. They could pretend as if everything was alright, as if nothing had changed at all since last year. As if they were still the tight-knit, inseparable group of friends they used to be. They could still play pretend, even if the moment one walked away this entire facade would fall apart. It was a moment to breathe, a moment to remember where they all started, and how this would all end.

Somewhere down the line, Lila left to look for a friend (more specifically, Eunice). With Lila gone, Brie soon followed suit. Livia attempted to follow her with her eyes, not quite ready to let go of this illusion yet, but soon lost the girl amidst the crowds of people who had gathered at Madston's party. The host himself swung by, joining in the conversation with his usual bravado and pride, but soon found himself dragged to the next group of people gathered, performing his duties.

Pamela and Anya dropped by and said hello before disappearing on their own. Aurelius didn't bother stopping by to greet them at all, something Livia found extremely rude. Or perhaps he hadn't found them. That was a possibility.

But that left her in an awkward four again. Livia, Amphion, Zeth and Sarah. In a way it was ironic. They were the four who first became friends all those years ago. Brie came a bit later, and Lila not until they were in their teens. These four, they knew each other like the back of their hands, even when they hated each other the most.

They stood there, having small talk and random chatter about things in their life. Livia asked Sarah quietly about Brian, her little brother. Sarah told her that he was doing well, faring far better than he used to, with a rare moment of softness in her eyes. Sarah never allowed herself to go soft around Livia. The two girls had always been competitors, and you didn't show weakness in front of your rival. That was always the first rule.

Brian was different, though. They all liked Brian. And Sarah knew Livia would never use Brian against her. It was the same way with Victoire, when Livia was around Amphion and Zeth when they would rather rip each other's tongues out then talk. Their little siblings were always common ground, always a place they could agree on. They were all very protective older siblings.

Perhaps that was why they often clashed? They were all used to being the oldest child in their families, always used to being the one protecting the others and making the decisions. They didn't know how to take a step back and let other people step in the spotlight. Maybe that was why Brie and Lila got along with the rest of them equally well. Brie was a younger sister, and Lila grew up as an only child.

That might explain it, actually. That was a theory she'd share with Remiel later, perhaps, once the other girl got off her plane.

It would explain so much.

Though it still didn't offer a solution to their current problems, and their inability to get along except on these very few topics.

Or maybe this wasn't the problem, but instead the consequence. The consequence of the problems they'd failed to solve, all culminating into the current status quo. Strangers who knew each other far too well.

It was the most awkward and painful position to be in.

Livia turned to Zeth at one point, brow raised. "Are you not going to talk to Brie?"

"What's the point?" he asked quietly. "I know what her answer will be. She's never seen me that way, never even considered it. I'll just be embarrassing myself."

"You have to at least move on from that," Livia remarked. "Telling her the truth might just help. She won't hold it against you."

"But I will," Zeth said darkly. "I'll hold it against myself. I might as well let things stay this way."

"What, silently watching over her?"

"You make me seem like a stalker," Zeth groaned. "I don't silently watch over her. I just..."

"Pine. You pine."

"What's this about?" Sarah asked, eyes narrowed, glancing over at the chatting pair. Amphion's eyes followed hers, and Livia watched Zeth shut his eyes.

Livia sighed. "If he wants to, he'll tell you."

"Livia wants me to tell Brie I like her."

Sarah's brows creased. "Okay. I kind of saw that coming. But why now? It's not like it's the first day..." Even Sarah had noticed, then. Unless Zeth had told her, which wouldn't be too surprising. The two were quite close, after all. Everyone except Livia seemed to enjoy Sarah for her brash honesty, her toughness, her refusal to ever bow down. All the exact same reasons Livia disliked Sarah.

Which was funny, because both she and Lila encompassed similar qualities, and Livia didn't have a problem with that, did they? No, it was just because she and Lila were never pitted against each other and compared children, the way she and Sarah were.

"Now, so he can get it over with and not continue wasting his time away," Livia said, offering a shrug. "So that he won't still be heartbroken by the time he starts university."

"But we all know what the answer is going to be," Sarah pointed out. "You're literally setting him up for rejection."

"Pining for another three years isn't going to help with that, is it? Might as well get it done and over with now."

"You're going to destroy him mentally," Sarah protested. "Don't listen to her, Zeth. It's a stupid idea."

"You're just saying that because you don't like me," Livia shot back. "It's the best way to get this all over with."

"Not everyone is you!" Sarah growled. "And look at you, you're still heartbroken, aren't you?"

Livia didn't even dare to glance in Amphion's direction, to see his face. She kept her gaze on Sarah's face, eyes narrowed. "I got over it a long time ago, Sarah. You don't see me crying my eyes out, don't you? And it's better for him to get it over with now over the summer than to wait until he's literally in university."

"It'll fade away eventually," Sarah pointed out. "You're just going to crush him. You don't know everything, Livia, learn to stop handing out shitty advice once in a while."

Sarah was a lot more blunt now than she used to be. She'd always been honest, of course, but she preferred using more passive arguments rather than an all out screaming match. Which wasn't actually what was happening at the moment, but it was getting close to it.

Zeth raised his hand weakly. "I don't suppose I have a say in any of this?"

Both girls turned to glare at him. He immediately dropped his hand. "Never mind, I suppose. Keep arguing. You'll get to a good point eventually."

Amphion cleared his throat. "Or let's not do that, because people are glancing over and realising this isn't just some drunk conversation."

"Let them," Sarah said, twirling around a piece of red hair between her fingers. "I'm not scared of her."

Amphion glanced at his friend, clad in black from head-to-toe, a striking contrast to her pale, almost translucent skin under the dim lighting of Carlston's house. "I don't think that's the point, Sarah. I think the point is that you two should stop arguing, not who'd win."

"What, so you think Zeth should tell Brie he likes her too?" Sarah shot, half-joking. But after a moment, as she stares at his face, she realises that he was not. Her face slack, she turned to Livia, her eyes filled with something indecipherable for a second before it retained her normal anger. "Then you're more of an idiot than I thought, Amphion."

"I think it's a good way to get him over it," Amphion admitted. "I know it'll hurt... but it might just work. And it's already been years. If he's going to get over her naturally, I think it would have happened by now, you know."

"I am disgusted."

"I can tell," Livia shot back. "Get used to it."

"This is all your fault."

"Oh yeah?"

"You ruin everything, Livia Wong. You think you're so smart, don't you? You think you're so, so smart. You must be so smug. Well let me tell you, you're a fucking idiot."

With that, Sarah turned with a huff, storming off and leaving the three of them flabbergasted. Zeth waved his hand in the air. "It's okay, she'll get over it. I think."

"It's just that right now, at this moment," Amphion murmured, "she's pissed. You two are really alike, you know?"

"I do. And I hate that, thank you very much."

"But it's the truth," Amphion said with a shrug. "You two have the exact same attitude sometimes. I don't get why you don't get along."

"Because they're too similar," Zeth suggested, which was what Livia thought too. "It's the same reason you two argued a lot when we were younger. You both like being the leader, but there can only ever be one, you know?"

Livia released a sigh.

"It's fucked us all over, hasn't it?" Amphion asked, a lopsided grin on his face. "We all just want to be the leader, don't we? We all think we know things better than the other."

"We're past that age now."

"Yet," Amphion frowned, "it is also now that the consequences come to bite us in the ass."

Livia was about to retort when Lila came storming over, a tornado in the skin of a girl, breaking through anything in her way. It felt as if a path cleared for the girl as she walked over, and a few curious glances were tossed their way at the visibly enraged girl.

"What is it?" Livia asked, though she already thought she knew.

"Brie. Mark Arron. On the roof."

Livia and Amphion both instinctively glanced at Zeth. But except for a quick swallow and the clenched fists by his side, he showed nothing. He remained quiet.

Livia turned back to Lila. "What do you want us to do about it?"

"I want you to help me end this. Once and for all."

oh oh oh shit about to go down rip mark arron you cheating piece of shit