______________________________________

"Dude, we've done this level like five times and you still suck." Dakota groans

"You're the reason we keep fucking losing, not me." Steven yells

Dakota scoffs, "Yeah, okay. Like you didn't just die."

Jeremiah laughs as the four start the game over. Steven rolls his eyes, "Whatever."

As soon as the game starts, Dakota gets shot. "Bro, what?"

"But I suck." Steven jokes

"Steven, shut the fuck up." Dakota says as he kills the person who shot at him. Jeremiah's head falls back in laughter as Conrad smiles softly.

"See you guys later." Belly says

Steven and Dakota keep their eyes on the screen as Jeremiah turns and his eyes widen as he stares at the Belly, "Damn." He says as he tosses the controller and gets up

"Are you kidding? No." Dakota groans

"Yeah, fine, just abandon the game completely, Jere." Steven says sarcastically. Conrad looks back and his face softens as he stares at Liz.

"You look hot." Jeremiah says as he spins Belly. He then turns to Liz, "You too, of course."

She smiles and rolls her eyes as Belly giggles. Dakota could've sworn his stomach turned at hearing Jeremiah flirt with his sister.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop flirting with my sister." Steven says as he looks back

"Shut up, Steven." Belly sighs

"No, you shut up." He says turning back to her, "You look good, though." He mumbles turning back to the game.

Jeremiah laughs, "You driving with, or are you guys meeting us there?"

"I'm not going to the book party. I'm going to the drive-in." Belly nods with a smile

"With who?" Jeremiah asks as he looks between the girls.

"Going on a double date with River." Liz says as Jeremiah smiles. Belly looks down at her phone as it dings. Dakota's brows furrow as his fingers move quickly against the controller.

"A date with River?" Jeremiah smirks

"Not like that." She sighs as he laughs

Conrad looks back at Liz again, "Dude, dude, focus. Come on." Steven says

"What guy?" Dakota asks. Liz's phone goes off again with River telling her to hurry.

"I don't know. Some random guy." She says quickly waving him off, "I've gotta go."

"Yeah, me too." Belly smiles as she puts her phone away. Liz walks over to the mirror to check herself over, "Uh, okay. Bye."

Belly walks over to the mirror and stands by Liz. The girls giggle as they walk to the door. Dakota sighs as he tries to focus on the game. Obviously, he wanted his sister to be safe, but he wasn't asking about her date. He was asking about River's.

______________________________________

Dakota groans as he lays his head back against the sofa. Steven and Jeremiah on his left and Conrad on his right. His eyes bounced around between all the middle aged adults moving around the room. Being stuck at a book signing was the way Dakota expected to spend his night.

It was almost like Conrad read his mind as he sighed, "You know, this shit is so boring. Can we go somewhere?"

Jeremiah chuckles softly as Steven keeps his eyes on his phone, "Yeah. Where?"

"We could go into town, I don't know, buy some weed from that guy with the Rainbow Dash tattoo?" Jeremiah says

"Nah, he got arrested last summer." Dakota says shaking his head

"Oh, shit. Really?"

"Yeah." Conrad mumbles as Jeremiah sighs

"Yeah, we could go to the drive-in." Steven suggests

"Dude, gross. No, I-I don't want to watch Belly hooking up with some kid in the back seat of a minivan." Jeremiah grimaces

"I'd rather not get my ass kicked by my sister." Dakota says

"Yo, actually..." Conrad says looking over, "let's go to the drive-in."

"Wait. Like... like, really?" Steven exclaims

"Yeah." Conrad shrugs, "Why not?"

Steven laughs, "Yeah. Yeah! Come on, Dakota."

"Conrad goes, I'll go." He says. He didn't think Conrad would actually want to go. He hadn't spent much time with them lately. He was surprised when he turned to Conrad who smiled at him.

"All right, bro." Conrad says digging in his pocket. He takes the keys and tosses them to Dakota, "You're driving."

"Not me." Dakota says tossing them to Steven and following behind Conrad.

"Oh, yes." Steven chuckles

"Guys..." Jeremiah mumbles

"Get up. Come on." Steven says patting his shoulder

______________________________________

As Steven stops, Dakota could already see his sister sitting in the car beside them. Laughs escape uncontrollably as he sees her leaning in to kiss her date. Liz turns and her eyes widen before she turned back. When the boy gets out on the other side, Dakota and the boys start making kissing noises as Liz gets out of the car. She swings Steven's door open with a huff.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" She exclaims

"Uh, just catching the end of our favorite movie." Dakota laughs as he sets his arm on the center console.

"What is your problem? You have to go."

"Oh, Liz, relax. We were just joking around." Jeremiah laughs

Dakota chuckles as he looks at his sister. As her eyes trail over to him, he could feel his heart drop a little at the angry look in her eyes.

"Dakota, if you don't leave, I swear to God I will send everyone in this car your Harry Styles fanfic."

Dakota could've sworn his heart wasn't even in his chest anymore as soon as he registered what she said. The boys start to laugh as Dakota's face drops, "You wouldn't."

"Oh, he spent an entire chapter talking about Harry's toned abs." She mocks

"Oh, bro." Conrad laughs harder as he hits the back of Stevens seat

"Oh, my God." Jeremiah laughs as his hand covers his mouth

"Dakota, come on." Steven laughs looking toward him

"You know, don't be embarrassed, man. Harry's hot." Jeremiah jokes as he puts his hand on Dakota's shoulder. Dakota takes no time in shrugging it off.

"Drop it. Drop it." Dakota says. This only makes Jeremiah laugh harder. Liz looks through Conrad's window.

"Hey, seriously?" She says. His laughter dies down as he looks at her, "Please just go."

He continues to hold eye contact before looking away, "All right, let's go, guys."

Dakota's head snaps to the back seat. Steven looks at him through the rear view mirror, "What?"

"Wait. What?" Jeremiah says

"Are you kidding me?" Steven asks

"Steven, drive the car." Liz demands as she slams the door shut.

"You were the one who wanted to come, Conrad." Dakota complains as they drive off

______________________________________

Dakota eyes trail over to the top of his phone as a text from River comes up. He frowns as he clicks on it.

River
Ur a dick, u know that?

Dakota
wouldn't be the first time i've heard it from u

River
Crashing ur little sister's date is fun for u?

Dakota sighs as he reads over the text. Of course she told her.

Dakota
it wasn't my idea

River
Doesn't make a difference. Ur still a dick

Dakota
bold of u to assume i actually care how u feel about me. it's not a big deal. it was a joke.

River
God, I genuinely can't see how anyone can stand u. Ur the most self centered person i've ever met in my entire life. Grow up.

Dakota could feel the pit in his stomach as he read over River's text. At first, he didn't feel bad about what happened with Liz because like any other time, he was just being an annoying brother. When Liz would scold him about things like this, it went in one ear and out the other.

From some reason, seeing River call him self centered struck a nerve. Something in him told him he needed to prove to her that he wasn't. But of course, Dakota being who he was, decided to ignore the text. Leaving River to believe that he truly didn't care what she thought about him.

______________________________________