♡Cruel Summer♥︎ Steven Coklin

the way things go (the way things go - Beabadoobee)

The 4th was one of those days where the dads come over. Whenever they're there, the atmosphere never felt the same, Beck's beach house was always something for the moms and the kids.

It was all about the traditions. Susannah always decorated the whole house, the boys make steamed clams and shoot out fireworks at night.

In the past, Danielle just tagged along with the 4th of July celebation, This year, she finally had friends and plans.

"Wait, dad's not coming?" Danielle and Conrad walked into the kitchen while everyone was having breakfast. They all woke up early to set up the fireworks and wash the clams.

"He's closing a deal, he won't make it in time." Susannah said.

"But, I got some serious fireworks for the show this year." Jeremiah said with a hint of sadness to his voice.

We'll take a video."

"It's not the same," Jeremiah complained. "What are you guys so smiley about?" He asked his other two siblings, as they were placing clams into a bucket.

"No reason."

For Conrad and Danielle, it was kind of like a weight being lifted off of their shoulders wen they figured out that their faher wouldn't be coming. SInce Conrad quit football, Mr. Fisher was disappointed by the action and behavior or conrad. Since Danielle started growing older into her teenage years, her opinions have started to been spoken out more. Danielle and her father fought more. He was the bigger person so she knew she would need to shut up and go with the flow.

The whole point was that Mr. Fisher had difficulty with relationships in his family, so no one wasn't that upset that Mr. Fisher wasn't coming. Well, all except Jeremiah, who still had deep love and connection for his father.

"Belly, go set up the guest foor for your dad and his girlfriend. Danielle, Steven, start decorating the backyard. Conrad, Jeremiah, set up the fireworks." Steven and Danielle made slight eye contact, meaning that they really didn't want to work with each other.

As the two were setting up the decorations given to them by Susannah, Danielle and Steven didn't speak a single word to each other.

"How's the hangover been so far? You feeling okay?" Steven said as he tried to start the conversation, placing dishes on the table while she placed folwers in pots for center pieces.

"Jere made me a hangover smoothie earlier." She answered, monotone as she tried to send him the hint that she didn't want to talk.

The two sat in silence for some time. Soon, Steven broke the silence with a sigh.

"Look, Dani, we can't keep acting like this. He pointed out. "We kissed, and it was a mistake. It ment nothing, okay. I'm with Shayla. It was a big mistake."

It felt like she was being stabbed in the back. She tried to look him in the eye, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. She didn't understand what was going on in his mind. after years of understanding each other with one glance.

"Yeah... you're right. It was just one big mistake... totally agree. We shouldn't have done it." She was trying so hard to convince herself that it wasn't over for them. Maybe it's not this summer like Connie said it would be. "We were drunk and I didn't realize what we were doing. Sorry."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

___________________

"You guys are really going to use that after what happened summer of 2011?" Autumn said as Danielle walked into the kitchen after spending almost all morning outside with Steven.

"What are you guys doing?" She asked, he hair curled and a red, white, and blue outfit.

"Pomegranet margaritas!" Belly exclaimed. Danielle was a little concerned of Belly. She was supposed to be mad at her. She then noticed the empty glass bottle, she was definately drunk.

"I won't touch alcohol ever again." She said as she sat on one of the stools next to Jere, he elbows resting on the counter top.

"Yeah, everybody says that after the first hangover."

Danielle zoned out in her place as the others continued laughing and chatting with each other. She was thinking on why Steven would say something like that in such a harsh manner to her. They've been best friend since birth. Now, she doesn't even know him anymore.
She snapped out of her daze when she heard the blender turn on.

"Keep a steady grip on it." She said as she giggled at how Conrad and Jeremiah were acting.

She had a thought, then decided to get up from her spot with her phone in her hand. She was stopped when Autumn saw her get up.

"Dani, where you going? I thought we were gonna have a swim." She said as Conrad turned off the blender.

"We are. I just need to make a quick phone call. I'm having Jacob over for a little." She said as she was about to walk away again. Conrad grabbed her hand softly pulling her back.

"Woah, Jacob? You mean the same asshole who dumped you to be with your ex-bestfriend? No, Dani."

"Well, maybe he's changed. And either way, mom said I should ask him to be my date to the deb ball." She swiftly pulled her hand back from his grip before heading uptairs to her room. She had encountered her father on the way there. "Hey, Dani-" He said, but she walked passed him and back over to her room.