✧

Luna pushed around the basket of fries while everyone else engaged in conversation around her. Layla had just gotten out of rehab and Asher, Liv, and Spencer agreed to eat at the cafe, also extending the invite to the Ramirez girl. However, she felt as if she was the fifth wheel, considering Liv and Asher were dating, and Spencer and Layla...were exes. But extremely friendly exes.

Asher snapped his fingers in front of her face, alerting her attention. "Hey, Luna!"

"What, Asher?" she whined. "What do you want?"

"Liv was trying to get your attention!" Asher argued.

"You two argue like children," Layla glanced at them. "Or like siblings."

"Anyway," Liv drawled, gaining their attention. "We have to catch Layla up on what's been going on while she was away."

"Oh!" Luna clapped her hands together. "JJ's president, now."

"Oh. Stop," Layla cringed. "No, that's enough. I don't want to live in this scary new world. Maybe I should just check myself back in."

"Hey, maybe, I'll join you?" Luna joked.

"No. Don't you dare," Liv pointed her finger at them.  "You're coming to my cotillion. Both of you."

"I cannot believe you're excited for a fancy ball," Layla laughed.

"Who said I was excited?" Liv retorted. "I mean, if I have to try on one more pair of frilly white gloves, I will cut my hands off in protest."

"You would still need gloves for the stumps though?" Spencer balled his hands up into fists and placed them against his face. "Right?"

"Hey, she's been dreading this thing since she's heard about it," Asher added.

"Why?" Layla questioned. "I think it could be fun. We can, like, all go together."

"That's not how it works," Luna shook her head. "Liv, Asher, and Spence have to get there before us for the whole presentation thing."

Layla glanced at Spencer, tilting her head. "Why do you have to be there?"

"Uh, Kia didn't have an escort," Spencer awkwardly said. "So I told her I'd go."

She dropped her shoulders, feigning a smile. "Oh, that'll be fun."

"You and I can go together," Luna offered. "It's not like I have to be up there and I hate attending things by myself."

"You have a boyfriend," Layla laughed her off, immediately pursing her lips together once she noticed Luna's face fall. "Don't you?"

"I lied to you," Luna confessed. "Jordan and I broke up weeks ago. We...weren't working out."

"Great!" Layla exclaimed. "Wait...not you and Jordan. I meant the whole cotillion thing. I think it'll be great if we go together."

"Perfect," Luna grinned. "It's a date, Layla."

♡♡♡

Luna stood in her closet, sifting through her racks of dresses and trying her best to find a dress for Liv's cotillion. She picked out a couple of contenders, throwing them into the crook of her arm, and walked out of her closet only to be met with a remorseful-looking Asher Adams.

"What are you doing in my room?" Luna squinted her eyes at him. "I'm mad at you."

Liv usually kept her best friend extremely updated on the things going on in her life and one of those things was how flakey Asher had been when it came to her dance practices. Along with informing her that Kia and Jordan were now partnered up.

"Why are you mad at me?" he frowned.

She let out a sigh, throwing her pile of dresses behind him on the bed, and sat beside him. "Because you kind of suck as a boyfriend. Liv was really counting on you, Ash."

"I know," Asher shook his head. "But, this practice was really important. Matt Springer was there. Do you know how huge that is?"

"I don't even know who the hell that is," she scoffed. "Is he important?"

"He's like..." Asher tapped his finger against his chin. "Van Gogh?"

"He has one ear and paints?" Luna scrunched her face up. "Okay...sureee."

"No," he scoffed. "I was trying to think of a famous person you'd know. Someone who was into the same thing as you."

"And you picked an old white guy from the 1800s?!" she giggled. "Okay, so this Matt Springer guy...he's what? A good football player."

"One of the best," Asher corrected. "He's a super bowl MVP."

"Sounds impressive," Luna rolled her eyes. "Look, Asher, I get that football is important to you. But, Olivia is my best friend and your girlfriend and she is equally just as important, got it?"

Asher nodded his head, sending her a mock salute. "Yes ma'am."

Luna picked her phone up, staring sideways once she noticed Asher had stuck around. "You can leave now."

"You still stalking Jordan?" Asher glanced at her phone. "That's like borderline psychotic you know that, right?"

Luna picked up one of her pillows from her bed, repeatedly hitting Asher on the head. "Get out!"

"Stop, stop, stop," Asher held his hands up. "I'm leaving!"

♡♡♡

Luna finished the last bit of her makeup routine, checking her phone for a response from Layla. She had offered to give the Keating girl a ride to the cotillion considering they lived within 10 minutes of each other and it just made sense. But, Layla texted back, telling her that she'd just meet her instead.

Luna shook it off as nerves since an event like this was probably overwhelming for Layla who was fresh out of rehab. So, once she was done getting ready, she grabbed her clutch and car keys, waving goodbye to her parents, and headed straight to the Cotillion.

As she entered the ballroom, she practically looked everywhere for Layla but she had been late. So instead she retreated to the table where Billy and Laura were sitting, sending them small smiles as they greeted her. After a while of meaningless conversation with the two parents, Luna had excused herself and walked out to the front hall, spotting Layla nervously pacing the floor.

"You're the worst date ever."

"I know!" Layla threw her hands up. "I just...I don't think I can go in there."

"Oh, Layla..." Luna sighed, offering her arm out to her. "Come on. Once we get inside if you still want to leave, just say the word. 'Cause I don't think I can listen to Mrs. Baker drone on about me and Jordan any longer."

Layla couldn't help but laugh at her friend's statement, she looped her arm through Luna's and the two girls entered the ballroom. Luna pointed at the table Billy and Laura were sitting at and pulled her along, settling at the table with them.

The lights had dimmed and the introductions had started. Luna and Layla had made sure to clap extra loud for Spencer and Liv. But, when Jordan and Kia were announced, Luna couldn't help but roll her eyes a bit at them, not wanting to watch them dance together.

"Didn't you dump him?" Layla whispered for clarification as they watched the dance. "Why do you look so jealous?"

"Yes, I did dump him," she clarified. "Doesn't mean I can't be upset seeing him and Kia look...like a married couple!"

Layla pursed her lips, shutting up immediately and turning her attention back onto the dance floor. After the dance between the girl's and their escorts, the dance floor was opened to everyone. Layla had joined Liv on the dance floor while Luna stayed behind.

"You're a great dancer," Jordan sat beside her at a table. "It's a shame you're not out there."

"Not in the dancing mood," she shrugged. "Plus my feet hurt."

"$1,000 heels usually do that," Jordan teased.

She nodded, stirring around her ice water. "True."

"I don't know if this is weird or not," he cleared his throat. "But, do you maybe want to dance with me?"

"Oh," she frowned. "No, I don't thi—"

"As friends," he clarified. "Just friends. I mean, friends dance together, right?"

"Yeah," she confirmed. "They do. But, if I remember correctly, you said you couldn't be my friend."

"Right," Jordan rubbed his palms against his thighs. "If you want to be friends, then...let's do it. 'Cause, it doesn't feel right having to avoid you. You're literally everywhere."

"So, friends—"

"Hey!" Liv cut her off as she approached them. "I feel like I haven't seen you all night."

Luna engulfed Liv into a hug. "You and Spencer looked great out there!"

Liv said a small thank you, reciprocating the hug before the lights had dimmed once more and they turned their attention onto the stage. A woman had stood behind the podium and announced an award which Liv had won. Once Liv walked off of the stage, she was immediately engulfed in hugs by her family and friends.

Luna eyed Asher storming into the venue and glanced at Spencer and Jordan with wide eyes. "That does not look good."

"Not at all," Spencer mumbled, walking away.

Jordan had shrugged off his jacket, wrapping it around Luna once he saw her shivering a bit. "Hey, what do you know about Matt Springer?"

"I know that he's not a painter," she snorted, glancing up at his confused face. "It's an inside joke. But, seriously, I don't know anything about him."

"I think he's after my dad's job," Jordan confessed. "I was sort of insta-stalking and found some incriminating evidence."

"You and Liv suck at playing detective," she bluntly stated. "But, if you think he's really gunning for your dad's job, you should give Peter a call. He's a booster and has connections everywhere. He'll know something. Plus, he and your dad are friends, so he'd definitely be against it."

Jordan nodded. "Should I be scared to speak to your stepdad? You know, considering..."

"Yes," Luna bit down on her bottom lip. "He's not the biggest fan of you. But, I can put it in a good word."

Jordan put his hands up in a prayer position. "You'd be doing me a solid. Thank you." He sent her one last smile before walking off, not even bothering to ask for his jacket back.

"You two look like best friends."

Luna turned around and glanced at Liv who was smiling widely at her, she shoved her arms through the jacket she was wearing and immediately shook her head. "Jordan and I are...friends. Not best friends. Not a couple. Just friends. Got it?"

"Whatever you say, lover," Liv wrapped her arm around her. "Your cousin totally sucks by the way."

"Yeah," Luna sighed, sending her a sympathetic glance. "I'll make sure to kick his ass the next time I see him."

Spencer eyed the two girls heading for the door and quickly ran after them. "Hey...y'all was just gonna leave without saying bye."

"Yes," Luna sent him a grin. "Kidding. Come on, Spence, you can walk us to our cars."

Spencer happily nodded, shrugging off his jacket and wrapping Liv in it. The two had drifted into their own conversation and Luna wondered if Spencer had forgotten she was there. Because the words he was saying to Liv had definitely come from the heart and were incredibly sincere. Almost mimicking the words a man who was in love would say, sure, she knew that Spencer James had a way with words. But, when it came to Olivia Baker he sure did know the right thing to say.

Before either she or Liv could react, they were pummeled to the floor by Spencer whose first instinct was to protect the two girls and put himself in the line of fire once gunshots had been fired in their direction.

2x10

A/N: would it be helpful if I added what season and episode each chapter was based off?