The Summer We Changed

the heat

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Jewel could feel the anxiety between the four of them as the news was announced, the realization that their house might be gone soon hitting them all.
"Shit, what are we going to do?" Jere questioned, knowing what this could soon mean for them.
"I don't know what else we can do." Conrad shrugged defeatedly, a sorrowful expression on her face as her eyes shifted toward the ground.
"Well, maybe Skye has some information that could help us. I don't know. If only we could get a moment alone with her." Belly suggested, the four struggling to find their next course of action.
"Them." Conrad corrected, Belly thanking him for it as she dove back into her head to search for an answer.
"Well, good luck because those two are inseparable." Jeremiah replied, not seeing a bright-side to their current situation.
"I don't fucking know." Conrad sighed defeatedly, moving to join Steven and Taylor in the kitchen. Jewel could tell he was growing more and more frustrated, knowing eventually his anger was going to begin spill over. Jewel could only hope that he'd be rid of his anger before it left a detrimental impression.
"It's so hot. It's like 2,000 degrees in here." Taylor complained, each of them beginning to feel a layer of sweat forming on their bodies.
"Aunt Julia said the AC is broken." Belly spoke, joining the others at the kitchen island.
"Oh, what? No way." Steven spoke, Taylor sighing at the news that the heat wouldn't be solved anytime soon.
"Today's open house has been canceled. So I need you all out of the house while I get the AC guy here to do some work. Also, uh, who is the AC guy?" Julia asked, each teen unsure of an answer.
"Do you want me to look one up for you?" Skye offered, watching as her mom searched through kitchen drawers.
"Uh, no, no, that's okay. I'm certain Susannah has her preferred technician and four approved backups right here." Julia replied, scavenging through the end drawer and finding Susannah's house binder.
"Great. Now we don't have to lie about the black mold to the buyers. Let's go to the beach." Jeremiah spoke, lying in an attempt to insight more worry onto Aunt Julia. The possibility of a sale was moving toward them at full speed, the teens growing desperate to save their home.
"I'm not leaving." Conrad retaliated, refusing to believe that their house would remain the same with Aunt Julia's solo presence.
"Come on, Conrad. We've won this round. Let's just get out of here." Jeremiah tried to reason, knowing that their Aunt was close to her wits end.
"The mall has good AC." Taylor suggested, Conrad quickly shaking his head in denial.
"Have fun. I didn't ditch finals just to leave this house for the taking by..." Conrad argued, cut off by a frustration filled Julia.
"Conrad, I'm trying... straining to keep my shit together. You've already ruined my day. The least you could do is get out of my hair for a few hours." She pleaded, trying to remain calm against his unruly demeanor.
"You think you're the only one..." He muttered to himself, close to pushing Julia officially over the edge.
"What about the boardwalk?" Belly suggested, grabbing Conrad's shoulder in an attempt to halt his comment and diffuse the growing tension between them.
"Yeah, the boardwalk. That's a great idea." Jeremiah agreed, wanting distance from Aunt Julia for both himself and his brother.
"Yeah, I'm down." Steven agreed, Taylor sharing his views before Conrad reluctantly agreed.
"Hey, you should come with us, Skye." Belly offered, wanting to get them separate from their mom for once.
"Oh, um, sounds very state fair. I think I should just stay with you, right?" Skye asked her mom, who's eyes remained focused on the papers and laptop in front of her.
"No. Wasn't my favorite, but you might like it." She admitted, Jewel watching as Skye's shoulders dropped a little in response.
"I shouldn't just stay with you?" She questioned, not entirely a fan of leaving the comfortability of a familiar's presence.
"No, I'll be fine. After this, I'm going to go back to the hotel for a nap and a NAN fan." Julia admitted, watching as Skye reluctantly stood from her seat.
"Guess I'm coming with you guys." They spoke unenthusiastically, pushing themselves toward the door along with the others. Jewel pushed herself out of the house, her eyes glancing back toward Jeremiah and Belly. The two shared a private conversation as the others walked to the car, Jewel's eyebrows furrowing a little at their secrecy.
"You alright?" Conrad's voice spoke from behind her, prompting the girl to turn her head to his direction.
"Hm?" She mumbled, distracted by the interaction behind her. Conrad's eyes glanced toward Belly and Jere, the same concern Jewel felt sprouting deep in his stomach.
"You want shotgun?" Conrad offered, attempting to ignore the weird interaction between his ex and his brother.
"Steven hasn't beaten me to it?" Jewel asked, shifting her eyes toward the vehicle.
"Steven is still in the back...with Taylor." He answered, a knowing smirk forming on both of their faces.
"I'll take it then." She smiled, the two moving to climb into the car as Jeremiah and Belly came outside.