MALORY WAS WOKEN UP TO COLD WATER.

She knew it was going to happen she prepared herself for it before she went to bed. The boys, with out fail every year on her birthday dumped ice cold water on her to wake her up.

It started when she was 7 and of course Greyson was the one to start it.

She remembered the first time it happened like it was yesterday and she hated it.

"UGH." She said siting up as the boys ran out her room Jeremiah threw her the towel she left by her bed side and ran.

She took a shower before going down stairs to Susannah making her Nutella waffles. She sat down at the counter with a sigh

"Susannah I would marry you if I could." Mallory said as she immediately started eating the waffles in-front of her

"Your welcome honey." She said with a laugh

All four boys came running down the stairs as Lillian said "did you enjoy your ice bath?"

"What do you think?" She asked with food in her mouth, Greyson came up from behind her trying to steal a bit of her waffle but she hit him in the head

"OW! Mom she hit me!" He said whining like a 5 year old

She shrugged "I don't care it's her birthday."

Mallory turned around and flipped him off as he rolled his eyes and walked into the living room.

"Mae come open your present we gotta go to work soon." Jeremiah told her while standing behind her

She gasped "y'all work on my birthday?"

"Yeah your birthday isn't a national holiday you idiot." Steven said with a laugh

"Steven you can't call me an idiot you were still peeing the bed at 8."

"IT WAS ONE TIME."

They all made their way to the living room, Mallory sat on the floor against the couch by belly and Jeremiah's feet while they all handed her, her gifts.

She first opened belly's that was a gift card a book she wanted and a framed picture of them. Then was her moms which was a picture of Mallory and her dad and new shoes she wanted Greyson gave card and a single dollar and said it was the thought that counted Conrad got her a stuffed animal like he did every year Steven gave her a shirt that said you suck on it and laurel got her a Arianna grande perfume. Once it got to Susannah she knew it was going to be good, Susannah always gave the best gifts.

She gave her a small velvet box and when she opened it it was a necklace, with a small heart with diamonds on it.

"It was mine when I was younger so I thought I should give it to you." Susannah explained as Mallory had tears in her eyes she went to hug her

"Mom you make my gift seem so lame." Jeremiah said sarcastically as he handed Mallory a big bag.

She gasped as she opened it. "Jeremiah fisher you did not." She said in shock

He laughed at her as belly leaned forward"what is it?" She asked

"He got me tickets to a art gallery coming up." She said with a small smile, she hadn't been to an art gallery since the accident.

"I just... thought it would be fun for us to go." He said she gave him a big smile and nodded she thanked everyone a bunch and then the boys were off to work after Mallory made Jeremiah to promise to take her to get ice cream when he got off, belly went up to her room so it was just the moms and Connie.

It was weird because somehow even if Conrad and Mallory weren't as close as her and Jeremiah, they always were the last ones to go anywhere.

"This is so lame everybody's busy on my birthday!" Mallory whined

"We can go to the beach." Conrad said with a shrug

Mae stood up immediately and ran upstairs to get a bathing suit on.

***

They stayed at the beach for hours. She had to keep herself occupied, she didn't want to think about it and she wouldn't.

Conrad and Mallory sat on the sand when he pulled out a cigarette. "Yknow those kill you?"

He shrugged "we all die anyways," he said blowing out air, Mallory laid her head on her knees and after a minute of silence of her just watching the waves he said, "my mom has cancer again."

What he wasn't expecting was her answer.

"I know."

"Did Lili tell you?" She shook her head no and he looked at her confused

"It's obvious Conrad, she's all the moms are acting weird, there more strict this summer she's smoking weed again, she's giving me and belly more of her stuff, I see it I can basically feel how weird it's been this summer."

"I don't think she's doing chemo this time Mae." He said quietly if she'd known better she'd think he was crying

"She's ready Connie, we can't stop that."

"I just wish I could do something with out her finding out that I know. She doesn't want us to know she wants 'one last summer'."

"You should tell Jere.."

"I know I just... you know him better than anyone but you know how's he's gonna act." She nodded

"He has the right to know."

"How did you deal with yknow... your dad?"

She looked at the sand for a good minute before she answered his questions.  "I didn't, I don't think I've actually talked about it since it happened. I mean so many people came to the funeral and most of them I didn't even know but it sucked because they felt sorry for me and I didn't even know who they were. I remember when I found out. I mean what are the fucking odds of that happening? Like it's crazy right? Sometimes I forget that he's not here and I can't just call him and talk to him."

"Nobody deserves to go the way he did."

"He was crazy and we all knew it... but I was supposed to be on that flight with him Connie. That's the worst part it was supposed to be me to."

"Maybe you weren't on their for a reason. But you know how much he loved you Mae."

"I just wish he was here." She said hugging her knees to her chest "I know it wouldn't be any different if he was because he wouldn't be here but still."

NOVA!!
Y'all I'm going dress shoping tmmr for my dance🤭🤭