✸  ANYONE ELSE
chapter twenty-four ━━ something obviously happened

THE FOUR TEENAGERS sat together in silence while eating breakfast the next morning. No words were exchanged as nobody knew what to say.

"Hey guys!" The silence was broken by Taylor barging through the door, Belly right behind her.

All eyes moved to the two girls as they entered the room.

"Belly? Taylor? What are you doing here?" Jeremiah stood to greet them, his surprised expression mirrored the three older kids'.

"Steven told me you were here," Belly took a step towards the two brothers as all eyes fell Steven. Conrad was glaring at the boy's head.

"Why would you invite her?" He asked.

"I didn't invite her," Steven said, gritting his teeth as he glared as his younger sister.

Belly looked taken aback by the two older boys harsh words, but Taylor didn't mind taking the lead again.

"Did you really think you could throw a party here without us?" She winked at Jeremiah, as she moved into the kitchen, looking around at the house. She hadn't seen it in years.

"We're not throwing a party." Conrad looked gloomily between them. "You should leave again,"

"Uh uh," Taylor shook her head playfully. "We're here to stay."

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

JULIE AND JEREMIAH were sitting next to each other on the front deck of the house. Julie was picking at her nails while Jeremiah seemed lost in thought.

Conrad and Steven had gone down to the beach, and to two younger girls were off grocery shopping, so that left the two seventeen-year-olds alone.

It wasn't usual for the twins to be alone like that. The two of them had never been close like twins in movies. They didn't have some sort of twin-telepathy, and they didn't tell each other everything—they hadn't since they were ten years old.

That didn't mean they didn't love each other, though. They meant the world to each other even if they never had the emotional talks they used to have.

She meant the world to him, and that was why he felt the need to talk to her.

"You know," He began. "I never really heard about what happened to you and Steven,"

Because you never asked. You didn't even notice when he stopped visiting.

"Oh," She replied, hesitating for a moment. "Nothing happened."

"Something obviously happened, LiLi," He used her old childhood nickname as he carefully placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You haven't called me that in forever," She smiled slightly at the memory of the name.

"Hearing about Aunt Julia made me think of it,"

The nickname had been Jeremiah's idea. It had been created when the young boy had found it confusing that his aunt was called Julia and his sister Julie, so he came up with the name LiLi for his sister. She couldn't remember the time he stopped using it, but at the same time, she couldn't remember the last time he called her that.

"But don't try and change the subject," He lifted both eyebrows as he questioningly tilted his head to the side.

"Steven and I broke up," She explained as simply as she could. "It was just after the funeral,"

"Why? I thought you were head over heels for each other?" He sounded genuinely confused.

"It just didn't work," She shrugged, trying to make it seem like she didn't care.

"It seems like you both want a second chance."

"No." She shook her head. "I don't need a guy in my life,"

"Steven isn't just a guy." Jeremiah commented. "He's your best friend,"

"I don't need a friend either."

"You kinda do, LiLi." He frowned. "You can't do everything on your own."

"But—"

He cut her off. "No buts, little sister,"

"Big sister, actually,"

"Shut up!"

She only shrugged in response, smiling smugly at the playful glare he sent her.

"But jokes aside," His expression turned serious. "I know you don't need Steven in your life, but don't you think you would regret it if you didn't try and fix your friendship? Remember how you used to be best friends?"

"Yeah," Her voice turned quiet.

"Look, we're probably going to go home in a few days, when this is all figured out, and then you don't have to talk to anyone—" She played with her fingers as she listened to his words. "—but wouldn't it nice to be on good terms when you one day meet again at my wedding?"

He tried to make her laugh—something he succeeded on—to ease the tension that his impulsive speech had brought.

"Look, just think about it. Let's have a few days of fun. Mom would have wanted that."

✸ author's note ✸
delicate tv in a jelly scene?? what is happening