"Jake, please enlighten me as to why we're in an abandoned field by a river at nine o'clock at night?" Chloe was sitting on the tailgate of her truck next to Brooke, her arms crossed against her chest.

"Aw, c'mon, Chlo, it's the Fourth of July!" Jake exclaimed, smiling widely. "And that means fireworks!"

"Are you going to be okay, Rich?" Christine asked, placing her arm gently on his shoulders. They all knew how he was around fire.

"HAHA! I'm fine!" Rich said, plastering a fake smile onto his face.

Jake grabbed him in a headlock. "He'll be fine," he told Christine. "I've got him."

"It's cold," Jeremy stated, huddling next to Michael.

"Are you kidding me, you dork? It's the middle of summer," Michael said laughing.

"You're wearing a hoodie," Jeremy complained.

"Only because it's my trademark, love," Michael replied, placing a playful kiss on his forehead that induced a small squeak from the boy. Michael pulled the hoodie off and threw it over Jeremy's head. "Of course, I'm assuming getting this was your plan all along."

"NOT TRUE!" Jeremy let out a muffled yell as he managed to squirm his head out to scowl at Michael. Michael laughed and hugged his player two.

"Get a room," Chloe said jokingly. There was a loud snap as Jenna took a picture of the two, giggling. "Anyways, what's the plan here, you two?"

"I'm tired," Brooke whined, draping her arms over Chloe and yawning.

"Alright, alright, you impatient bunch," Jake laughed. "We've got two choices: should we start with the fountains? Or the mortars?"

"MORTARS!" Michael yelled immediately.

"What? No, we should do the fountains first so we can end on the mortars, stupid," Chloe responded.

"What are fountains and mortars?" Brooke complained, completely lost.

"How about we take a poll," Jake continued, Brooke's question forgotten. "If you want fountains, stand by Chloe, if you want mortars, stand by Michael."

Rich and Jenna walked over to Chloe almost immediately. Brooke and Jeremy, both half-asleep, stayed where they were. Christine, however, was having difficulty.

"Christine," Jake laughed, "it's not THAT big a decision."

"Hun, no one's feelings are going to get hurt," Jenna promised, smiling amusedly.

"Mine will!" Michael said, his pout painfully fake.

"Oh, shush, crybaby," Chloe said, sticking her tongue out.

"Aw, alright," Christine said, frowning. She walked over to Michael's side.

"SUCCESS!" Michael yelled, much to Jeremy's discomfort, who had begun to lie on Michael's shoulder.

"Well, you still lose," Jake said shrugging.

"It's enough to know that someone who doesn't see me as a pillow has joined my cause," Michael said solemnly.

"Hmm?" Jeremy managed.

"Nothin, love," Michael responded, patting his head.

"Fountains it is!" Jake exclaimed excitedly. He took many paces backwards before placing a small tube on the ground, pulling out a string that attached to it. "You all ready?" he called.

"Jere," Michael whispered softly, nudging the tired boy. Chloe did the same for Brooke, and they all watched as a - well - fountain of lights exploded from the tiny box.

When it was finished, small sparks remained on the ground, and Rich screamed as he ran to put them out with his foot.

"That wasn't very impressive," Brooke pointed out after finally witnessing what a fountain was.

"Exactly," Jake replied. "We've got a few more of those before we get to the mortars." He winked before turning to grab another.

Jake lit the rest, and the others watched, still somewhat entranced by the pleasant lights.

"Now onto the REAL fireworks!" Michael yelled suddenly, shaking what little sleepiness Jeremy still had in him.

"Who gave Michael a megaphone?" Jeremy grumbled, wiping his eyes.

"Trust me, if Michael didn't wake you up, these would have," Rich said, punching Jeremy's arm playfully.

"I'm up, I'm up," Jeremy assured, still hugging Michael's arm.

Jake grinned widely. "Are you all ready?" he asked, obviously much more excited than the rest of them.

"YEAH!!" Michael yelled again.

"Woo!" Jenna and Christine exclaimed.

"Hope this impresses me," Chloe added.

Jake walked back further this time, placing down a small tube and inserting a small cylinder into it. "BE PREPARED FOR ME TO RUN!" he promised loudly.

They saw a small spark ignite, and Rich screamed, "RUN, JAKE, RUN!!"

They heard a soft shooting noise, and their sight was aimed to the sky as a loud BANG exploded above them in a whirl of colors.

Jake spun around, smiling brightly. "How was THAT?" he asked, already knowing the answer from the response he saw written on their faces.

"IT WAS A REAL FIREWORK!" Brooke flailed her arms animatedly.

"HELL YEAH IT WAS!" Michael replied.

"Well, sit tight! We've got eight more!" Jake ran to the bag once again.

The other seven sat together, laughing at Jake as he ran from each newly lit mortar and happily staring at the colors exploding above them.

When they had finished, they all looked at each other, grinning goofily.

"Sooo, what now?" Jeremy asked, almost all trace of his previous sleepiness gone.

"I have an idea," Michael smiled devilishly. He grabbed the bottom of his hoodie from Jeremy's waist and pulled it off the squeaking boy. "ONWARDS!" he yelled yet again as he threw the hoodie in his trunk and picked Jeremy up, bridal-style.

"Michael, MICHAEL MELL WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME?" Jeremy protested shrilly. But Michael stayed silent for once as he brought them closer to the river's edge. "Michael no- Michael! MICHAEL!"

But Jeremy couldn't say anymore as Michael launched them both into the water.

"Wha- What the hell, Michael?" Jeremy spluttered, clinging to Michael's back tightly and shivering.

Michael burst out laughing after emerging. "That was AMAZING!"

Before Jeremy could raise any more objections, Jake yelled, "MOVE, GAYS!" The two squeaked as the jock flung himself into the water. He broke the surface and shook the water from his hair. "Ahh, feels nice."

"You are an idiot, Jake Dillinger," Rich said, walking to the bank of the river.

"Aww, you know you love it. Besides," he started, grabbing Rich's legs and yanking him into the water as Rich screeched. "You're just as much an idiot as I am," he finished, planting a kiss on Rich's forehead. The boy blushed furiously, a scowl on his face.

The girls sat down away from the edge, having learned from Rich's mistakes. "So I guess we'll be here a while?" Chloe remarked, giving the boys a look only she was capable of giving.

Jake and Michael both shrugged in response, a dumb grin seemingly stuck on both their faces.

Meanwhile, Jeremy was growing sleepy once again. He wrapped his arms around Michael and laid his head on his shoulders.

"Aw, is my Jere-Bear tired?" Michael asked, his smile growing.

"Mm," Jeremy let out a noise before pecking Michael on the cheek. "Shut up and let me sleep, dork."

"You guys should join us!" Jake called to the girls.

"Are you stupid?" Chloe answered. "Because there is no way you're getting me in that water, Jake."

"Looks kind of fun," Brooke said, smiling at the boys as they struggled to stay afloat.

"Brooke!" But Brooke just turned to look longingly at Chloe. "Oh, fine." Chloe stood up, defeated.

"Yay! Count of three?"

"No, now," Chloe decided as she pulled Brooke with her into the water, Brooke squealing in response.

Jenna and Christine sat near each other, watching the rest quietly. "Hey," Jenna started excitedly. "I'll jump if you do?"

Christine turned to Jenna quickly. "Wait... seriously?"

"Yeah! Don't you think it'll be fun?"

"I, uh, I've never done anything like this before," Christine admitted.

"Would you be more confident with a friend?" Jenna asked invitingly.

Christine thought a bit. "Maybe," she answered. "You'll have to take the lead though..."

"Done," Jenna promised, smiling. She pulled Christine up and walked with her to the edge. They held hands as they both jumped in with the rest of the group.

"The singles have joined the gang!" Michael yelled teasingly.

The two friends blushed and looked away from each other in embarrassment.

The group spent another half hour in the water, the girls screaming as Jake and Rich occasionally sent a wave of water after them. Meanwhile, Michael had brought Jeremy closer to the shallow end, causing Jeremy to let out a surprised yell when his feet landed on a particularly mossy rock.

"It's just a little moss, silly," Michael said as Jeremy wrapped his legs tightly around Michael's waist, inducing small giggles from Michael.

When they had all gotten out of the water, Chloe pulled out some towels from her truck that she had conveniently kept in her car after a pool party of hers.

Michael still had Jeremy on his back after they had gotten out of the water, Jeremy nodding off once again.

Christine was giggling as she dried off, looking through some of the pictures Jenna had taken.

Chloe had taken a towel and was attacking Brooke's hair in an attempt to dry it.

Rich was seated on Jake's shoulders, having given into the boy after he apologized for pulling him into the river.

"So? Was it worth it?" Jake asked everyone expectantly.

"Are you kidding?" Chloe asked, but she smiled.

"HELL YEAH IT WAS WORTH IT!" Michael exclaimed. "Oh, shit, sorry Jere," he whispered an apology. But Jeremy just smiled sleepily.

_____________

Hiiiiiii. This was longer than I originally intended but HEY. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE. I wrote this based off some similar experiences I've shared with my cousins (though I must say I've never jumped in the river fully clothed before that was written on quite the whim.) so if other people have experience with these types of fireworks and think they're not accurate... I'm sorry ahaha. But uh. Here(Heere)'s some plotless fluff for the Fourth of July!! It's totally not an hour late in my timezone PSHHH.

Hope you enjoy! Also uh. Our two new stories are coming along, we promise haha! Love you all, thanks for all the love! <3
-May