Ryan Foster-Russel visits Cousins beach every summer to visit her dad. He just so happened to live right next to the Fisher's beach house. She's always had feelings for him. He's always shown more than friends to her. They knew that. But this summer...
A/N: I don't know if Wattpad tells you if I republish/edited a chapter that was already published. So if you read "Fireworks" before 5/16/24, I changed the last paragraph and if you don't read it, it WILL confuse the rest of the story. Sorry!!
Also, new character!!! Introducing... Devin Gonzalez played by, Xolo Maridueña!!
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The morning had arrived and all I could think about was that kiss. We keep kissing with no explanation. In the moment, I don't care I don't think about it. Then afterwards I think of all the things I should've done. Or at least said. I couldn't think too much of it though, I had a ball rehearsal to attend.
After Belly's eventful night and me being the world's number one procrastinator, neither of us had found an escort. Leaving us to rehearse together.
"Attention everyone! Please welcome our debutante waltz instructor, Ms. Covington, all the way from Ms. Covington's School of Ballroom Dance in Newton." Paige announced, followed by applause. We were instructed to grab our partners and practice the box step.
We started slow then had to speed up out pace a little bit. Once instructed to speed up, Jeremiah had walked into the room and asked to step in for me to dance with Belly. He had then, taken Steven's blazer to "fit the dress code" even though he was in a see through shirt and swim trunks. The next thing I know, Jere starts dancing to "So Pretty" and all of the debs start hyping him up followed by joining him in dancing.
The rest of the rehearsal was pretty boring. Just more dancing and etiquette lessons. Boring! Yawning! Sloppy! Lazy! (If you know you know).
••••
"Hey Ryan, do you want to come to the pool with us" Shayla asked me. "Oh um, sure lemme just tell Belly first". I walked over to her and she told me she needed to look for someone anyways.
We headed to the pool and found some chairs to lay in. "You two aren't swimmers are you?" I asked Shayla and Nicole. "Not really" Nicole responded as she laughed.
"Ryan, Right" a tall guy asked as he approached us. "Yeah, what's up?" "Well, uh, I had asked around and I heard you didn't have a Deb escort". I could tell where this conversation was going. I took the moment before his next sentence to examine him. His name was Devin he had narrow brown eyes with dark hair. He wasn't bad looking. "I know it's typically the Debs that ask but, may I have the honor of escorting you to the debutante ball?" I looked at Nicole and Shayla trying to see if they approved. They smiled and nodded yes for me to accept.
Conrad. That's what my mind went to. We hadn't talked about the ball. We hadn't talked about anything really.
"Um, sure Devin. Actually, that would be pretty amazing. Thank you for asking. I'll uh send you the rehearsal dates" I tell him as he starts to walk away.
••••
"Hey Connie! I have some news" I say as I approach him in his backyard. "Really, what's up" he asks with a big smile. "Well, do you know Devin Gonzalez from the club?" he nodded his head saying he knew, "Well he approached me after rehearsal and asked to escort me to the ball". "Well, what did you say?" "I said yes. I didn't have a date and I thought it was cute the way he asked. He even acknowledged that the escorts don't typically ask".
His face dropped. I didn't understand why he shut down. It's not like he jumped at the opportunity weeks ago when he found out I was gonna be a Deb. He started to walk back inside.
"Where are you going?" "Why? Why don't you go find Devin". "This is what I'm talking about Conrad. You make me feel wanted by you. Last night. The way you talk to me. Speak of me. Kissed me. Today, nothing! You had a chance to escort me weeks ago when Susannah asked you boys for Belly, then I jumped in the conversation. But you were too busy being not only hung over but angry at the world." "That's not fair Ryan." "What's 'not fair' is the way you act like you want me one second then completely act like I don't exist the next." "Ryan, you know what I have going on" "Conrad! You say that like I wouldn't be losing her too. Yet instead of trying to make the most of the time you have left, you choose to be full of anger over things you can't change". "Okay" he says with a straight face. "Okay? What- what does that mean?" "Okay, have fun with Devin" he says as he walks back in the house. "Oh my gosh, you're such a fucking asshole".
••••
"Ryan, why have you been home all day?" "Luca get out! You didn't even knock". "Okay, well I just wanted to talk to you about something. You're not the only one that goes through things." I sat up on my bed. I hadn't been crying this time because of him. I wouldn't let myself. "Okay, what's up"?
He sat on a chair in my room. "What's wrong with you anyways?" he asks me. "Nothing. Just tell me what's going on with you". "Belly and I almost kissed last night". "No shot!" "H-how? Why didn't you like actually, like- kiss her?" "She was pretty drunk and what about Cam Cameron?" "He is really sweet. And you boys aren't gonna ever stop calling him that are you?" I laughed. He shook his head "no" and laughed too.
"See look at you laughing Ry". "Not too much. I laugh all the time". "You were pretty pissed when I came in here". "Cause I was pissed at Conrad". "I'm going to hurt him" he says as his face grows angry. "Luca, he's just going through it. I know his pattern and I shouldn't let it get to me. It's fine". "You need to stop letting him do that." "I know, I probably won't. But I do have an escort now" "And who is it?" "One of the club boys. I've spoken to him at parties before he's pretty sweet." "That's good. Do you know if Cam Cameron is taking Belly?" "I don't know if anyone is taking her". "Really?" "Yeah, but- Lucas! Do you smell that?" "What?" "Dad's cooking something." "You're such a fat ass Ryan". "Shut up. I just enjoy my father's cooking" I say as I get up to go downstairs.
"What are you cooking dad?" "Um, leftover brisket and I have some Mac and cheese in the oven. Do you want me to make you a plate when it's ready?" Is he serious? I swear I hit the jackpot when it came to dads. "Dad- you shouldn't have to ask me that. But don't make Lucas one. He was dissing your cooking upstairs." "You're such a lie. I called you a fat ass". "Hey!" our dad yelled. "Sorry" he says as he looks down. I love when our dad humbles him.
••••
After dinner, Belly had texted me and asked me to come swim with her. I put a swimsuit on with shorts over them and headed out.
"Where are you going?" "Lucas, move. You're literally so weird. Go play a video game or something". "Dude- I just asked a question" "I'm going next door. Belly asked to go swim." "Oh, can I come-" "No-" "Can you ask her about her escort?" "I mean probably. I haven't told her about mine yet so it might come up. Now MOVE"
I started to walk next door. I don't know if they didn't see me. But as soon as I got to the pool, I saw Belly and Jeremiah making out in the pool. I turned around to go back home. I didn't know what to think. I knew Lucas liked her. I didn't know Jere did. Or maybe I hadn't noticed it.
I walked back in and Lucas must've heard me. I heard knocking on my door. "Oh, you actually knock now?" "Ha-ha. Why are you back so early?" "Oh, she said her stomach was hurting so she didn't want to swim". "Oh, do you wanna go swim in our pool then?" "Uh, sure why not?"
