______________________________________

Dakota turned the car off as he parked outside of the house. He got out and quickly made his way up the steps. Instead of knocking, he pulls out his phone and facetimes River. The girl answers with a big smile.

"Hey." He says

"Hi. What's going on? Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, I just had a question."

"What's up?" She says. Her hair bounces as she sits on her bed

He holds his phone out as he turns his back to the door. River gasps as she sits up, "Have you ever seen this house before? I think I'm kinda lost."

River screams as she throws her phone down. He chuckles as he hears her footsteps throughout the house. He hears her run down the stairs and swing the door open.

"Oh my god." She says as she jumps into his arms. He laughs as he catches her and spins around. Her legs wrap around his waist as she hugs him tight.

He slowly lets her down and she immediately kisses him. He kisses back quickly before she pulls away. He leans in and pecks her lips a couple of times as she laughs.

"When Liz texted me, I didn't actually think you guys would be coming."

"She texted you?"

"Yeah." Her face turns into a scowl as she hits him.

"Ow, what the hell?"

"Why were you being an asshole to her at Steven's party?"

He sighs, "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously. Where is she anyway?" She says as she looks towards his car

"There is a lot to explain to you, baby."

She smiles before she pulls him into the house.

______________________________________

Liz sat in the backseat of Jeremiah's jeep as they drove to Aunt Julia's. Truthfully, she didn't want to talk to the woman. Considering she was so quick to sell a house that meant so much to them. But she knew, she didn't have much of a choice.

"So what's our game plan with Julia, huh?" Belly says

"Hmm."

"Sneak attack? Bribery? Murder?

"Wow. Um, I was thinking that we just play to my strengths." Jeremiah says

"So charm offensive. Hence the flowers." Liz says pointing to the flowers in Belly's lap

"Exactly."

"Okay."

"You know, I wish I had more to go on, but she and my mom weren't exactly close. I mean, the last time I saw her and Skye, I was probably, like, seven, eight years old."

"Wow, that's a long time." Belly says

"Yeah."

"You know, I remember Susannah telling me that it was her big sister who convinced her that she could be an artist." Liz says

"Really?" Belly says looking back at Liz who nods

"You know, honestly, I don't really remember much about her, so I'll-I'll just wing it. And knowing Conrad, he probably took the righteous anger route when he talked with her. And I'm sure that went over like gangbusters." Jeremiah scoffs

"Yeah, Conrad's never been good at putting on a happy face when he's not feeling it." Liz mutters

______________________________________

The girls stood beside each other as Megan and Laurel took pictures, "Okay, let's get the boys in here, too." Megan says.

Conrad, Steven, Dakota, and Belly and Taylor's dates stood behind them.

"About time." Dakota says as River fixes his tie

"Oh, don't look so excited." Belly says

"I know." Taylor says

"Prom poses?" Laurel says

"Laurel, you-you got, you got a full-body shot, right? And-and I want, I want the back of Belly's hair, not just the front."

"Beck." Laurel says turning back to the phone

"I'm sorry, Laurel, but you suck at taking pictures."

"Hey!" She says as the kids laugh

"She's not wrong." Megan shrugs

"Love it." Laurel says as she takes pictures

"Let me see their corsages." Susannah says. The girls hold out their wrists excitedly as Liz looks back at Conrad.

"Do you, do you...?"

"Shit." Conrad sighs

"What's wrong?"

"I don't have your corsage. I must have left it in my dorm fridge."

Liz freezes before she nods, "It's okay."

"Okay, we got to go." Taylor says

"Yes."

"Right."

"Beck, it's time for them to head out." Laurel says, "I'm gonna get a couple last pics, okay? And I'm heading up to you tomorrow, first thing."

Liz turns back to Conrad as the others walk towards Laurel, "You okay?"

"I'm so sorry I forgot. I should've remembered it."

"Don't worry about the corsage. Seriously, it's... not a big deal. It's not even a real thing, just something my class is holding since we didn't get to have ours. You'll just have to get me two corsages next time to make up for it. Wear one on each wrist." She jokes

"Whatever you want." He says

Liz smiles as she leans into him.

•••

"Shall we? Mm-hmm." Dakota says holding his hand out to River. The girl smiles as she takes his hand.

"Thank you. Gentleman."

"You gonna ask my sister to dance or what, Fisher?" Dakota says before he and River walk onto the dance floor.

"Do you want to dance?"

"Uh, we don't have to, if you don't want to." She says with a light smile. Conrad stands up and holds his hand out. She takes his hand and they walk out onto the floor. Liz wraps her arms around his neck and his around her waist, "I'm glad you're here."

"Me, too." He says as he tries to smile. Liz sees right through it. They dance awkwardly for a couple of minutes before Conrad looks at her, "Do you want to go somewhere?"

Liz stammers, "Well, um, well, the after-prom doesn't start till midnight."

"Right, no, I mean, just you and me. Do you want to go somewhere we can talk?"

Liz looks around, "No, let's not go anywhere. Let's just, let's, let's stay here for a while."

"All right." He nods, "I just might go back to school tonight. I have an exam on Monday and everything."

"Oh."

"Is it alright if I don't go to the after-prom? I'll still drop you off."

"I-I thought you were, um.." She clears her throat, "I thought you were spending the night."

"Liz, if I stay, I'm just gonna ruin the rest of the night for you. I don't want to do that."

She shakes her head, "Did I, did I do something?"

He looks around as he struggles to find an answer, "Liz, can we please just go outside and talk?" He says before he walks off to the door. Liz looks towards Belly who looks sympathetic. She reluctantly follows behind him. Dakota watches as she follows him.

As the two make it outside, it's pouring rain. They try to stay under the building. He paces back and forth before he slowly stops in front of her, "I'm sorry."

"I know this is hard with everything going on. Please don't shut me out."

"I feel like I just keep disappointing you."

"You haven't. And you aren't." She says

"I have, I have. All I've done today is disappoint you. You don't deserve that."

"Then just stop acting like this and come back inside with me." She says as she tears up

"I can't. I just can't." He says before he walks away. Raining soaking him as sons as he steps out.

She follows him into the rain, "Fine. Then... Then if you won't say it, I will." She says as tears fall from her eyes and down her cheeks.

"Say what?" He turns

"That we're over. I mean, we are, aren't we?"

"Lizzie..."

"No, don't. Don't say anything." She cries. She walks back towards the building.

"Liz, don't leave it like this."

She turns as she starts to take her bracelet off, "You... you are the one that made it like this."

"No. No." He mutters as she shoves the bracelet in his hand, "Liz, wait." He says as he chokes up. She cries as she runs back under the covering, "Wait!" He calls out. Just as Liz reaches for the door it swings open. She cries harder as she sees Dakota standing there.

His heart breaks as he pulls Liz into his chest. Sobs escaping as they watched Conrad turn around and leave.

•••

"You know, Conrad just pushes people away when he needs them most." Belly says

"There's only so many times I can take being pushed. It's fucking exhausting." Jeremiah says

"Yeah." Liz mutters as she sits back in her seat.

______________________________________