TEDDY GROANED, taking a seat on the couch with her twin, laying her head on his knee. "I hate this fucking holiday. It's so bullshit. Fuck America," Trey laughed, shaking his head. "It's the Fourth of July, come on. I thought you loved fireworks."

"I do love fireworks. Just not what comes with it," she sighed, overhearing the conversation between Belly and her mom. "Your dad is coming with his new girlfriend." Laurel spoke from afar.

This is when Trey knew what was really wrong, putting his book down to rub her head, "Moms coming?" Teddy nodded, "Dad went to go pick her up."

"I know you don't along the best with Mom, but she is still apart of this family." She scoffed, "Yeah, I know. I just wish," she paused, sighing, "Things were different."

Trey shook his head, "I know. There is nothing we can do to fix that, just make her feel comfortable. God only knows where she has been this summer and half this year." He was ignored, Teddy only zoned out anxiously, "Hey."

She lifted up, her eyes droopy from exhaustion, "Hate you not." Trey treased, making her crack a smile. "Hate you not." She said, getting up from her seat as she walked up the stairs.

Jeremiah was going down the steps, purposely hitting the girls shoulder as she was glued to her phone. Her head swung backwards, giving a glare before she realized it was only him. "If looks could kill, huh?"

"You a dick," Teddy chuckled, "I was only thinking about manners."

"Mhm," He nodded, "Sam's on his way back if you wanted me to wait with you?" Teddy thought about it, looking at him then her room, "Sure, yeah."

He followed her to her room, looking at the picture frame on her vanity. "You still have this?" Jeremiah hurried over to it, looking at the first group photo they ever took at Cousins. "Of course, I do! I have every single picture literary ever token here." She chuckled.

Jeremiah put it down, "Lucas coming today?"

"Yep. He'll be here soon, around the time everyone gets here." Teddy said, taking a seat on her bed. She was so scared. She hadn't seen her mom in so long. What if she relapsed? What if her mom wasn't the same?

"Do you think my mom relapsed?" She played with her fingers, looking at Jeremiah with sad eyes. "Teds," Jeremiah turned to look at her, moving her hair out her face, "I just don't want to relive what we had to go through to get her back healthy. And if she relapsed I don't think I'll ever be able to see her again. My dad he," Jeremiah put two hands on her face, softly caressing her cheek with his thumb, "She will be fine."

Teddy looked around his face nodding, "I'm sorry your dads not coming." She mumbled, "That's okay. I have you guys."

The sound of a car honking made her heart pound, standing up off the bed. "I guess I'll see her now." Teddy sighed, anxiety taking over her body as she rushed down the steps to see her mother.

As she got out the car, it was almost like she was glowing. And her father didn't seem happy at all, stomping inside the house as he pushed passed the twins. "Dad?"

"My babies." Her mom, Beatrice, rushed over to them, holding her purse as she put her hands on their faces. Teddy jumped slightly, Trey keeping a a close hand on his twins shoulder as they stared at their mother.

She was lighter than usual and her hair was in braids that were down her back. The women infront of them couldn't seem to stop smiling as she looked at her children, "I have missed you guys so much." She took Trey in hug, "Hey, mom." He whispered.

She pulled back staring at her daughter with pleading eyes. Teddy gave in, quickly pulling her mom in for a hug. "Oh, Teds." She sighed, trying to hold back her tears as she hugged her.

"Beatrice!" Susannah and Laurel yelled, both running out to see her, "Hey!" Trey and Teddy gave eachother confused looks before Teddy walked in the house, "Dad!"

Sam was pacing the kitchen a hand in his hair as he looked back at her, "What's wrong? Dad!"

"What did she say?" Sam looked at her, making her shake her head, "Nothing. Nothing at all. Tell me what happened." Sam took a deep breathe locking eyes with his daughter, "Nothing happened, sweetheart. Steven's girlfriend is here, maybe you should go meet her." Teddy nodded, rubbing his shoulder before walking out the door.

Trey knew something was up, staring at his mother as he stared on her red cheeks and low eyes. He decided to ignore it, grabbing her bags as they walked in the home. Her mouth dropped as she smiled, "It's just like how I remember it."

Trey nodded, placing her bags on the stairs before walking away. He needed his sister. He knew how hard it was to face her mother after all of this time. Especially after what happened.

"Teds!" Trey yelled, running after her on the deck, her hair blowing in the wind, as she turned around with sad eyes. "Did she get settled in?" Teddy asked, her voice slightly cracking.

"Yes. She's with Susannah and Laurel." Teddy nodded, her chin beginning to quiver as she let out a sob before breathing back in. Trey didn't hesitate to walk over to her, squeezing her frame as she lightly sobbed in his arms.

"I know. I know." Jeremiah watched from a far, his heart slowly breaking as he stared at them. He hated Beatrice for what she did. When he stomped in the house and he saw her, Susannah immediately gave him a look, placing a hand on her back. "Jeremiah. How are you, dear?" Beatrice asked. "Fine. And you?" He raised his eyebrows.

"I'm amazing. I feel great!" Jeremiah nodded and pushed past Sam, thoughts running through his mind of the phone call from that night. His heart was pounding, and his mind was going through so many different things at once.

All Teddy could remember was the screaming. The agony of their voices, and the dreadful words that flew out of them. Especially between Beatrice and Teddy. The fighting especially. All she remembered was how bad that hurt. How bad it hurt to hear those words from your father that your mother was a drug addict.

She's always been Daddy's little girl. His bright girl. The girl anybody could come to for anything. But, she felt as if she had nobody as her thoughts were soon to take over her entire body.

"There she is," she quickly wiped her dried tears away, turning around and getting up from her seat on the deck. Lucas tilted his head, "You okay?"

"Mhm, yeah." Teddy tried to smile, letting him take her in for a hug and place a soft kiss to her cheek, "You look gorgeous."

Teddy smile, looking down at her jean shorts and white tank, "Thanks." She awkwardly said, letting him take her hand, "I think the others are down at the beach. Wanna go?" Teddy wiped her hands off on her dress, nervously shaking her head.

The warm sand immediately relaxed her body, forming a small smile at the group. "Hey!" They all yelled, holding their cups up, playing a drinking game within the group.

"Aye, Lucas!" Steven called out, holding his hand out as he dapped him up, "We playing a drinking game or am I seeing things?" Lucas asked, "Definitely a drinking game!"

Jeremiah looked like he was shooting daggers out his eyes, watching as his enemy held his best friend under his arm, stealing a kiss before they jugged two drinks that were handed to each, "Holy shit! What is that?" Teddy coughed, shaking her head. "It was a pomegranate margarita, but Steven ruined it."

They all laughed, their bodies sat against the sand, talking about everything but nothing. Teddy and Gigi pointed to each other, singing the lyrics sloppily to the song that played in the background. This may not have been the best day, but together they made it work.

But, as Jeremiah curiously watched Teddy and Lucas, he couldn't help but fight his anger off. The way her picked up, throwing her over her shoulder, just to get her to laugh made his blood boil and he could not put his finger on why.

All he could hear was the giggles coming from her, which was God sent. He almost forgot he was in the middle of corn hole, "You gotta tell her?" Cam spoke up, breaking him out of his trance.

"Tell her what?" Jeremiah sighed, throwing his bag into the board, "That your in love with her."

It was like he was surprised at the boys words, "I am not in love with Teddy." Cameron shook his head, "You definitely are."

"I am not, she's— I don't know why she makes me so crazy. She makes me mental. Everything about her." Cam looked at him, pausing him actions completely, "That's love, Buddy."

As it hit, Jeremiah, he couldn't believe it.

Was he in love with his best friend? His head turned, feeling her eyes on his. Lucas held her hands in his, but she wasn't looking back at him. She was looking at me, Jeremiah thought. She chose to look at me, not him, he had finally realized what this was. He had been denying it all this time. Denying the fact he loved her. All these years she has been right infront of him.

Every hookup, every kiss— it was nothing compared to the feelings for her. "Let's go, Jere!" Conrad yelled, motioning to him.

He almost walked, before feeling a soft hand on his shoulder, "Hey."

His body softened, "You okay?" As he looked into her eyes, he realized this could never happen. He knew she was to good. He couldn't be selfish with her— Jeremiah wouldn't love her. Even though he did so much, all he wanted to do was make her happy. And his thoughts traveled back to the moments he saw with Lucas and her. She was happy.

"Im fine." Jeremiah lightly shrugged her off, lightly jogging to go catch up with Conrad. Teddy went to speak but he was already gone.

Lucas snaked an arm over her shoulder, beginning to walk with her. She wished he would stop doing that. Stop pushing her away. Because every time he did that, it was like another cut to her heart.

Bestfriends forever, they would say.

As the sunset, Teddy sat by the pool with the boy she called hers, hand in hand. The cold water was oddly comfortable, before a light splash hit her face. "Hey, baby." Her mom said.

Lucas immediately saw the look on Teddy's face, slowly getting up, "You want something to drink?" He asked, making her nod.

"Hi, mom." Teddy lightly said, watching as she took a seat next to her. Silence filled the two of them, the only voices were the ones behind them, laughing amongst each other.

Beatrice noticed the finger tapping against her skin, slowly reaching to grab her hand, making her quickly jolt her hand back, before placing both on her face. "Please, don't." She shook her head, making Beatrice sigh.

"Sorry." Beatrice spoke quickly, turning her away. "I am so happy to finally be here with you all. It's so," she paused, smiling, "Refreshing." Teddy nodded at her words. "Yeah. Surprised you came."

Beatrice rolled her eyes, "You can't hate me forever."

"I don't hate you. I'm disappointed." Teddy said, making her mother nod, "I hope you can forgive me." Beatrice muffled, "I don't know if I can."

They two of them held a stare, their minds spinning as they both remembered the night where it all started. A loud fall was heard from behind them, making them turn around in worry, "Bells," Teddy jumped up from her spot, rushing to help her. "I'm sorry." Belly pleaded, making Teddy nod, helping her up. Belly fell into her best friends arm drunkenly her actions followed by Teddy fixing the hair out of Belly's face.

She watched the scene infront of her happen, Sam quickly helping Susannah up as she angrily spoke to her husband, "Adam, I'm fine." She said, lightly pushing Sam off.

Teddy walked away, her eyes searching for Lucas as her eyes scanned around her looking for her boyfriend. She smiled, her eyes finally locked on him until she actually looked at his surroundings watching him leaning onto the car, talking on the phone. He looked almost mad, quickly hanging up the phone once he saw her, taking a breathe before walking over to her, "You good?" He asked, looking her up and down.

"Yes. Are you okay?" She took a step closer, watching him also take a step back, avoiding her touch. She looked at his actions, wondering what was in the air today, shaking her head at him, "You don't seem, okay."

"Look, I have to go. There's this party with my friends. I wanna go, if you don't want me to, I can stay," he itched his head, obviously trying to lie making her roll her eyes, "No, no. Have fun, I guess." Teddy walked away, tired of this day.

She wanted the day to be over, sloppily climbing up the stairs and into her room. She was exhausted. Drained, even. Her body fell into the bed and her body squeezed the pillow, closing her eyes eagerly.

She wasn't worried about anything else. She was just tired.