CRUEL SUMMER

23: Tower Of Terror

AS JULIA wanted the teenagers out of the way while the AC was being fixed, the group decided to go to the Boardwalk- after trying to persuade Conrad many times. Belly had invited Skye too, normally Via would complain, but she decided to keep her opinions to herself. Plus, she just wanted to have fun with Belly- maybe they could finally get some alone time?

Skye scooped their ice cream, as they exclaimed, "You know, I'm kind of a natural introvert, so I can't tell if this place is horrifying or if it's just, like, my lizard brain in action."

"It's fun." Belly reassured, "I promise."

"Really? Because the last time I remember we came here. You were crying." Jeremiah replied sarcastically, "Belly was 12. And Conrad beat her at Shoot Your Shot. And her penalty was to ride the Tower of Terror." He chuckled, "You were so scared, you threw up, and then Ollie started freaking out."

Belly defended, "I was sick that day."

"Sick with fear." Via remarked sarcastically, "Mom had to throw out all your clothes and carry you home in a caftan."

"Susannah used to force my mom to come here when they were kids." Skye explained, "My mom always hated it, but Susannah loved it so much, so-"

"You know what else my mom loved so much?" Conrad interrupted, "The beach house."

Skye sighed, "My mom's not evil, Conrad... And your mom wasn't a saint."

Via scoffed in disbelief, almost choking on her ice cream, as her brothers shared the same expression of pure shock. Anger boiled in her blood, as she felt a familiar rage in her gut that she needed to let out. Via approached Skye, "Do you have a problem?"

Belly tried to hold her hand, as she comforted, "Livy, don't-"

"No, no, I asked Skye a question." Via pulled away, however she spoke calmly. Too calmly, yet the girl's anger was very visible. She repeated, emphasising her words, "Do you have a problem?"

Skye's eyes darted around awkwardly, as they stepped back cautiously, "Uh, no, I'm just-"

"I'm just- I'm just- What?" Via snapped, "Talking shit about my mom? Because that's what it fucking sounds like, bitch!"

"Whoa." Evie held Via back, glaring at Skye as she did so. Evie guided Via away, "Let it go, Ollie. They're not fucking worth it." She looked at the rest of the group, "We'll meet you somewhere, okay?"

Evie walked behind Via, making sure the girl wouldn't run back to Skye. Evie guided her to a bench, which they both sat on, and Evie spoke, "As your best friend, I had so stop you. You don't hate me, do you?"

"No." Via sighed, brushing her hand through her hair in distress, "I hate them, never you." She paused, before rambling, "I mean, what kind of fucking sick joke is that? My mom wasn't a saint... the fuck, she was. I hate Skye, I thought I'd be the bigger person and give them a second chance... but no, they decide to pull the dead-mom card on me. Fuck them."

"Fuck them!" Evie agreed, "That's such a shitty thing to do. I think I should've let you continue arguing with them, I would die to see you punch them."

Via nodded, smiling slightly, "I don't provoke violence, but their face is just so punchable-"

"Bullshit, you don't provoke violence?" Evie scoffed in disbelief, "I've witnessed you fight many times. Remember when you caused Ruby Graham to get 9 stitches?"

"Ruby Graham." Via repeated in reflection, "I do not miss her."

Evie chuckled, before taking another scoop of her ice cream. The girl became serious for a second, "Ollie?"