[...]

Summer, it's finally summer. Something I have been waiting for, for so long. Not just because I don't have to get up early for school and go swimming all day, also because I finally get to see my childhood best friend again.

Belly Conklin, we have been friends since we were born. But over the years we grew apart, unlike our mom's. Laurel, Susannah and my mom have been best friends since forever. But now I finally got the change to get close to her again. My family and I are staying over at the Fisher's beach house this summer.

I've heard a lot of story's about the Fisher family. I don't really know them that much because the only times I saw them I was still a kid. But how Susannah is the most sweetest woman you will ever meet, how Jeremiah is very funny and kind and how incredibly hot Conrad is. Yep, that's what Belly always told me.

Anyways we're on our way to the beach house right now. My mom is driving and my brother Boaz sadly claimed the passenger seat. So I'm in de back listening to music. My parents are divorced that's why my dad is not coming with us, I actually don't see him a lot anymore but it's fine.. I love it with my mom and brother, well with him.. sometimes.

We finally arrived a few seconds later than the Conklin's at the house and there was Susannah waiting for us.
We got out of the car. "Hii! It's been such a long time Nat, it's good to see you again!" Susannah said waking up to my mom. Then she looked at me. "Oh my god Nat, I'm sure you raised the most beautiful girl ever." She told my mom looking at me. "Vienna, you've grown so pretty! The last time I saw you, you were lying in my arms drooling all over me."

"Omg! I was like 2 hours old." I said laughing. "I know, I know." She responded laughing taking me into a hug. I greeted Laurel and walked up to Belly. "Hey Bells!" I smiled. "Hey Vie!" We hugged each other. It's weird seeing her again. But on the other hand amazing, because I really missed her.

"It's so good to see them together again." Susannah said to my mom and Laurel. "Yes, they were always meant to be best friends." Laurel said and they all smiled at me and Belly.

I heard a door open and there were Jeremiah and Conrad. Steven ran up to Boaz to hug him because they also have been friends for so long. While Jeremiah and Conrad greeted themselves to Boaz and my mom, Steven walked up to me and also gave me a hug. "Hey little Vie! How you doing?" Steven asked. "Hi Steven! I'm great thanks." I answered. Jeremiah and Conrad walked up to me. "Hi, little Vie grew up huh?" Jeremiah asks me smiling. "So did you." I smiled giving him a hug. He indeed looked kind like Belly told me. I turned around to face Conrad. Oh, my, god.. now I understand why Belly has a crush on him. He has changed so much since the last time I saw him. "Hi Vienna." He nod his head smiling at me. "Hello Conrad." I responded smiling.

"Hey hey, guys, guys. I mean I don't know about you, but I.. well, I think it's time, for a.." Steven started.
"Belly flop!" Jeremiah and Steven yelled. Belly tries to run away. "No! No!" She yells. "She's quick!" They catch her and and they carry her to the pool. Me and Boaz run behind them laughing. "Woohoo!" "Belly flop!" They all yelled "One...two...three!"

She screams and splashes into the pool. We all laughed. I feel someone touch my back and when I turn I around I see Conrad standing there. We hold eye contact before he picked me up. "Conrad.. no. No!" I screamed while he laughed. "Conrad don't you dare!" I tried pulling away from him. "Oh please do it man!" Boaz laughed. Before I could react I was thrown into the water. I get up and look at Conrad, "I hate you so much." I say while laughed "Oh come on, it's tradition." He adds. Belly already got out of the pool, I also walk to get out but faked that I hurt my ankle. "Guys, I hurt my ankle." I held out my hand and when Conrad took it to help me get out, I push him into the pool too.

He got up, "Vienna!" He yelled and grabs me to take me underwater. We came up and he splashes some water in my face. "So I heard there is a bonfire tonight, are you going?" He asked me. "No, I think I'll stay and watch some movies with Belly." I respond. "Oh okay." He says almost disappointed?

I walk inside to join my mom, Belly, Laurel and Susannah. "Ah I see they got you too." My mom said laughing pulling a towel around me. "Yes, Conrad did." I laughed sarcastically. Susannah looked at me like she was already planning our wedding. "Your father is also coming on the Fourth." My mom told me. "What? Why?" I said. "Well, I mean.. all fathers are coming so I invited him too."

Great a summer with my dad who I haven't seen in such a long time. This will be great.

"Anyways for now it's just the woman and the children, just the way we like it." Susannah said and we all smiled.

Belly and I walk up to our rooms and place our things. As soon as I walked in I liked to room, it was such a cute vibe. Belly and Jeremiah burst into my room, "We're going to take a swim in to ocean, and you are coming." Jeremiah said smiling. "Alright I feel like I have no choice." I said laughing "I'll be right there."

We arrive at the beach. "I've waited all year for this" Belly said. "Me too!" I smiled hitting her arm. "You guys want to race?" Jeremiah asked us. Belly and I look at each other, "No, no I can't, you.." Belly started. "Oh come one." He said. "Your legs are too long now. We can't." Belly said and I agreed. Suddenly Belly and I start running. "You cheaters!" Jeremiah yells. We run up into the water and push each other under.

God I missed summer.

[...]

It was a while later and we were at the dining table eating. "It's good to see your beautiful faces again." Susannah said, "Oh belly and Vienna, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you." She handed us an envelope. "So this is why we stopped by the country club." My mom said. "What uh- uh what is that?" Steven asked. "I wrangled the girls and invitation to be a debutante." Susannah answered. "Is that the thing where girls wear white dresses and curtsy?" Belly asked. "It's when a girl comes of age and is presented to society. I-I know it sounds silly, but I swear it's fun. You guys will make so many new friends." Susannah said. "Mmm, isn't that something for you Vie?" My mom asked. "I-I don't know." I answer. "I cannot believe you are still holding on to this archaic dream." Laurel said. "No, it used to be about finding a husband, but now it's about networking." Susannah adds.

"The whole deb scene is bullshit. It's for sheep." Conrad said. I turn to look at him and he was already looking at me. "No it's not, it's when a girl has a coming out, it's a formal recognition she's reached maturity." Belly says while Boaz and Steven chocked on their soup while laughing. "Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. Mature?" Steven said laughing. "Yes." Susannah said. "Belly? A couple months ago you had a cat funeral, you made us all wear black." Steven started. "Shut up Steven, I saw you crying in your room." Belly spats. "Vienna do you even want me to start." Boaz asked. "Bo, don't you dare." I said giving him a death stare. Conrad laughed looking down.

"We'll think about it." Belly said. "They'll think about it." Susannah responds making a point.

[...]

"Going for a night swim?" My mom asked sitting on the couch. "Yeah, night swim." I answer. I walk up to the pool and see Conrad sitting there. We make eye contact, "Doesn't smoking pot change the way your brain processes information?" I asked him. "So does your cell phone." He answers. I dive into the pool. "Marijuana messes with white matter." I said. He scoffed and laughed, "Do you even know what white matter is?" He asked. "O-our brains are still developing and.." I said but Conrad stops me, "God, you really became smart huh? Last time I checked, you were solving , 15 + 20, saying it was 48." He laughs. I scoff, "Get over yourself. I was 5." I dive underwater again. "Shouldn't real athletes like don't put that shit in their bodies?" I asked. "Well I'm not an athlete anymore, so.." he responds. "Well, I still think you should quit." I said looking at him. He breaths out the smoke, "What'll you give me if I do?" He asks smiling. "Nothing." I laugh nervously, "I think you should quit for yourself." I got into the water again.

"Hey, why are you considering this debutante thing?" He asked. "I don't know. I mean, it's not like I have anything else going on." I said. "It doesn't seem like anything for you." He spats. "Don't let my mom make you her little doll just because she never had a daughter." "I don't mind it. I would love to be her daughter." I said. "Your better off with Natalie. Trust me." He said looking down. "Why are you acting like this?" I asked him. "I'm not." He turned to look at me. "Well.. I mean.. if somethings going on, you can tell me." I respond questioning what I said. "Vienna..." He said but got interrupted.

"First bonfire of the summer!" Steven yelled. "Alright, we're totally taking my car." Jeremiah says. "Come on man, we're leaving. You ready?" Steven asked Conrad. Belly walks up, "Can Vie and I come too?" Belly asked. "Uh, no." Steven said. "The moms are getting everything set up for your movie night." Boaz adds. Belly and I nod. "See you." Conrad told me and got up to leave. I sigh. "Let's go, slowpoke." Jeremiah said. "Have fun with the moms!" Steven said teasing us.

"Everything okay guys?" Susannah asked me and Belly. "Yeah, no, we're just... we're kind of tired." Belly said looking at me. "So I think we might skip the movie and go to bed." I add. "Okay, hon, yeah, sure." Susannah told me. "We can, uh.. we can do the brownies another night." She adds. We walked away.

"Sooo? Are we going?" I asked Belly. "Going to what?" She responds. "The bonfire duh." I roll my eyes. "Oh yeah, I don't know." Belly says. "Ohhh, come on, this way you can see Conrad more and actually make things work!" I said trying to get her in. "Oh yeah. Conrad. I saw you guys taking by the pool." She says changing the subject. "Uh.. it's-its nothing." I say, "Come on you have like the biggest crush on him. Let's go!" I got a cute little dress for youuu!" I add. "Okay shut up I'll go!" She says, I smile and hug her.

We sneaked out and walked to the bonfire.

We arrived. And we kind of both immediately regret it. "Yo, gas station girl!" Some boy called to Belly. "Who in the hell is that?" I whisper to her. "Hey! Where you coming from?" He asked. "Uh, a-another party." Belly says chuckling and I raise my eyebrows at her. "Sweet. Yeah. Hey. Here, take my beer." He says. "No, no, no, thanks. I'm okay." Belly says. He signed the beer to me and I gave him a death stare and raised my eyebrows so he immediately took it away. "So, uh.. you got a boyfriend back home?" He asked Belly. "Alright, that's it. We're leaving." I took Belly's arm and walked away.

"Steven!" Belly yells. "What, uh, are you doing here?" He asks her waking up to us while the creepy gas station guy is still following us, "And I-I'm sorry, wh-what are you wearing?" He adds. "I invited her, who the fuck are you?" The gas station guy asked Steven. "Why are you still here?!" I asked him. "I'm her brother. She's 15, you pedo." Steven spats. "I'm-I'm almost 16." Belly tells him. I push her and nod. "My bad." He says. Steven walks away with Belly.

"Vienna, what the hell are you doing here?!" Boaz walks up asking me. "Same thing you are doing here?" I spat at him. "Nah ah, what are you wearing?" He asks getting angry. "A dress?" I say sarcastically. "Vie don't give me that attitude. Does mom know your here?" "Of course not." I say waking away. "Oh your so dead." He yells.

[...]

"Belly! Vienna!" Jeremiah calls us. "You came! Great, we can all hang out, you guys." "We're about to take them home." Boaz says. "What?" Jeremiah asks. "Yeah, we're leaving. Are you kidding me?" Steven spats. "Okay, guys, chill out. Come on. Go-go hang out with Shayla or something." Jeremiah says. "Come on." Shayla tells them. "Fine, but just stay right here. Both of you." Steven says. "And don't talk to anybody." Boaz adds. "Okay. Alright. Chill." Jeremiah backs him up. "Fuck you!" Belly and I yell after them. "Okay, I will be right back." Jeremiah says and walks off.

I sat alone watching Belly talk to a guy named Cam Cameron? "It's one beer. It's a party. Relax." I heard someone say to Conrad. "No, give me my beer back, I payed for this." Conrad spats. "Your drunk. Just give him the beer." Nicole says. "Maybe you should listen to your lady." The boy spats. "No. I'm fine. I'm fine." Conrad says, "Give me my beer back!" "He's fine. He's a real big man." The boy tells Nicole. "Fuck you, bro." Conrad tells him. "Oh my gosh." I sighed. "You're not taking my fucking beer dude." Conrad says. "Relax it's one beer!" The boy yells. "Yeah, and it's my fucking beer!" Conrad pushes him.

"You guys, guys, guys." I try to stop them but I get hit in the face by that boy. "Vienna-" Conrad tries to help me but gets pushed again. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Conrad tells him. Boaz gets next to me while Conrad hits the boy in his face and he falls to the ground. "Vienna- are you okay?" He asks worried. But he gets pushed again and they start a fight now. Boaz helps me up and I wipe the blood from my nose off. "Guys, hey, hey,hey! Break it up. Come on." Jeremiah tries to part them. The cops arrived.

[...]

"Officers thank you, it won't happen again. I can promise you that much." Laurel tells the cops. "Tell Mr. Fisher the chief wants to set up a tee time when he gets back into town." The officer tells her. "Absolutely, sorry again for all the trouble." Have a good night, officers."

The door closes and by the look on Laurels face we know we're dead.

"How could you guys be so irresponsible." Laurel asks us. "Mom, it wasn't a big deal. Alright? Seriously. The cops were just looking to break up the bonfire." Steven responds. "Not a big deal?" She asks. "Yes." Steven sighs. "I would say getting picked up by the cops for underage drinking is a pretty big deal, Steven." Laurel says and Steven scoffs. "Were-we're you guys, smoking tonight?" He asks. "What?" Laurel acts dumb. "Keep your voice down. Susannah and Natalie are asleep on the couch."

"Well, I-I wasn't yelling. Well, you-you were." Steven says. "Just so you know, Laurel, I-I didn't drink tonight. I was the DD, I swear." Jeremiah tells Laurel. "Your the oldest. What the hell's gotten into you?" She tells Conrad and I frowned. "And when did you two leave the house without telling anybody? And what in the world are you wearing." She asks me and Belly. "Mom please. And why are we the only ones who are not allowed to go out?" Belly asks her crossing her arms. "It's not that you're not allowed, it's that you should've told us you were going out. How did you even get there?" She says. "We walked." I tell her. "Jesus. You guys know better than to walk that far down the beach alone late at night." Laurel yells. "Can you stop treating us like a kid?" Belly says raising her voice too. "If you want yo be treated like an adult, you need to act like one." She says.

"Then maybe you guys should too." Conrad adds. "What does that mean?" Laurel asks clueless. Conrad raises his shoulders. "I hope you realize this night could've ended a lot differently if your family wasn't your family." She tells us all. "We're sorry, Laur." Jeremiah says. She sighs, "Just... go to bed guys."

I lay down on my bed, keeping a ice pack against my face. Suddenly Belly knocks on the wall and I knock back. Right after I fell asleep.

[...]