Okay, our plan (never mind, Minho's plan) is in the work.

We told Thomas to ask Lili questions that could lead to more answers.

Perhaps we should've asked her first, though. But the second I mention that, it gets all defensive and 'nah, she won't say a thing'.

So now we're sitting around another kitchen table. Daphne and Asher offered drinks, but we refused. They ended up going to the garden or something.

"You think it's working?" I ask.

"Of course not. Tommy will either forget to ask the bloody questions or he'll make it way too obvious."

Minho raises an eyebrow. "Yeah? I bet he succeeds perfectly."

"I don't know this guy so I wouldn't know."

Minho's amused expression vanishes. "To be honest, why are you even still here? Why did I ever think it would be a good idea to meet up with you?"

"Don't ask me. But I'm not going home now."

"Let's just focus on the fact they're coming out of his room right now," Newt whispers, eyes indeed focused on Lelia and Thomas.

"I'm going to the toilet," she says.

Once she has disappeared, Thomas plops down on a chair. "She's carrying more drugs with her and offered me some. Didn't want to take it alone again, she said. She's buying it from a man, but she refused to say the name. Why? Because she doesn't know it. But neither did she want to tell me his address, because she isn't allowed to and she doesn't want me to get hurt. If I want drugs, I'll just have to ask her and she'll deliver it."

"Did she say anything about the debts?" Minho asks, his words even quieter and faster than Thomas's.

"No. I couldn't figure that out. She showed me the drugs and asked if we could take them together one last time before she'd stop. I refused. Then the whole talk I just mentioned came up. I asked how much she had to pay for that bag. She said it was a hundred. Fifty yesterday, fifty today."

The fifty dollar bill.

A cold chill runs up my spine at the thought of Lelia dealing with this for longer than I thought. All the money she must've spent on this.

"Wait. She did mention she owed the guy money. That he was the one who messed our hut up, and the one that beat me up. That's why she didn't want me going there," Thomas adds, still whispering.

"Fucking told you he'd succeed." Satisfied, Minho leans back in his chair and gives Newt a triumphant glare.

Thomas gives an offended glare at Newt. "Did you think I wouldn't succeed?"

With redder cheeks, he shifts in his seat. "Well... you know... didn't expect you to do... that well."

I have to hold back a laugh.

Then we hear the toilet flush. Lelia walks towards us three seconds later, expression blank.

"Thomas, you allowed to get out of your house?"

"Yup."

"No, you're not," Newt mumbles under his breath. "Daphne just said—"

"Perfect." Minho ignores him. "I think it's time we go do something fun after all this depressing shit. What about that waterpark close to your house?"

"Hell yeah." Thomas jumps up. "But y'all probably didn't bring swimsuits."

"Well, then we—"

"—won't skinny dip," Newt and I cut Minho off in unison.

"I'll see if I have something. Follow me." Thomas walks into his room. We silently follow, trying not to draw attention to ourselves.

Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to let Thomas leave the house, but I can hear multiple people from this group already call me a pussy, so I guess I'll just have to keep an eye on him.

Thomas opens a drawer. "Hm. Take this." He throws a few things in Minho's hands.

The second Minho sees the swim briefs, he presses them into Eli's hands. "You may have those," he says sweetly.

"Ahw, thanks," Eli mimics, faking a smile. Minho himself takes Thomas's black swim shorts. There's four left, so enough choice for Newt and I.

"Why do you have this many swims shorts?" Newt's eyebrows scrunch.

"Because, Newt, I have style, and you don't. I swear you've had the exact same shorts for years." 

"Pretty sure you were wearing them when we met," Minho adds.

Newt rolls his eyes, then shows me the swim shorts. Blue, yellow, brown, and black. "Which one do you want?"

"I get the blue one." Thomas snatches it away before any of us can touch it.

"I don't really care. You choose," I say.

"You like yellow, I like brown," he decides. "Lelia, you want the black one?"

She pulls a face.

"Maybe steal from my mom."

"I don't think those will fit me. No offense."

"Ehm," we draw out, long and slowly.

My sister slams a hand to her forehead. "How can boys be this dumb? A girl literally lives next to you and I'm not going swimming with just boys. Let's ask Tes to come with us and pray she has more clothes."

"Now that is a brilliant idea," Thomas comments.

"You've been watching too much Harry Potter, Tommy."

☀︎︎

Visiting Thomas indeed cheered Lili up, but Teresa is the key at the end. They jumped around the second they saw each other and haven't stopped whispering and giggling as we walk to the waterpark. About a thirty minute walk.

Newt intertwines his fingers with mine. Places a kiss on my cheek. "I'm never getting upset with you again."

"I'm never getting upset with you again either," I say.

"Good idea." He squeezes my hand. "Did you take your watch off?"

"It's waterproof."

"What about your bracelets? Necklace? They're all beaded. Did you make them yourself?

"You've seen me swim with them before. And nope, it's Amina's work."

"Well, I guess you just look so pretty that I'm now noticing." Newt lifts our intertwined fingers up and presses his lips against the back of my hand. "Did I ever mention that I like your shoes?"

"I think I've lost count on the compliments," I say, then add, "Not that I mind, though."

"Your shoes are also really pretty," he says, focused on the green Converse before he looks up. "Can you paint my shoes?"

"Sure."

"Am I asking too much? I'm sorry. There's already like five shirts in the queue."

"No, it's alright." I smile at him. "I don't mind painting for you."

Especially not because that smile he gives me makes my day every single time.

"Okay. Cool." Newt somewhat makes little jumps.

I can't hold back my laughs. "You're very excited today."

"I am so in love with you," he replies, "it's unhealthy. And things are getting better, so of course I'm excited. And we're going swimming."

"Alright, then." I smile at him. Seeing Newt happy is, and will always be, as I mentioned, the best thing ever. I can feel my heart warming up, along with my cheeks and basically every other part of my body.

At some point, I get distracted by the smell of chlorine and yelling kids. The waterpark eventually comes in sight.

Lots and lots of slides, that's for sure.

"Are y'all a couple less clingy so I'm not the freaking third wheel?" Eli appears in front of us.

"You won't be the third wheel here," Newt says. "Feel free to join." He squeezes the boy between us, and both Eli and I groan.

"What?" Newt laughs. "Better than being left out."

"Definitely not." Eli slips away from his grip. "Though Thomas and Teresa are worse than you two. Lelia and Minho is just awkward to walk next to."

"Should've thought of that before you did things with her," I say.

"Exactly," Newt agrees.

"They were not dating back then. And I'm not the villain here. Do you now how sweet I was to her?"

"Watch out. Minho might kill you."

Eli gives a glare, then starts chuckling along. "Okay, yeah. I'll make sure to keep that in mind."