♡Cruel Summer♥︎ Steven Coklin

Forever Only (Forever Only - Jaehyun)

"Everything is so fucked up, Laurel." Susannah sat on the couch next to her daughter while hugging her cup of tea. They were all sitting in the living room, in front of one another, while the others were outside watching fireworks.

"I'm so sorry about Autumn, sweetheart. I should have never let het stay longer than she needed."

"It's whatever, mom." Danielle sighed. "I don't want to speak, or even look at her ever again. And, ugh. This weird tension between me and Steven is driving me insane. He kept glaring at me and Jay earlier today."

"Well, what do you feel when you're with Steven versus what you feel when you're with Jay?" Laurel was always known to get straight to the point.

"Well, Steven is, just, he's so comforting and funny. Whenever we're together, it's like, there's no Cousins, no people, no noise. It's only us two. It's like were in a pod or a bubble."

"But, a bubble is extreamly fragile."

"That's the whole point, mom."

"All you want is what's best for him." Laurel said, answering for the girl.

"Yeah, I do. It's just really hard to actually let him go."

"Dear, you don't need to let him go. Just between us, I'm sure Shayla was just some way to get his mind off of you. And Jay to you is you trying to forget Steven. You have been in each other's minds for years in counting."

"Wait, what?"

"Don't act like that, dear. You both have had a crush on each other ever since you were eight."

Danielle smiled at her mother and at Laurel. The 'cool mom' side of Laurel was always hidden behind her 'strict mother' side.

"Look, he's having troubles with Shayla. So, I really don't think they're gonna make it to the end of the summer." Laurel said with a careless tone.

"Jesus, Laurel!"

______________________

The girls and their escorts have been dancing the waltzer for quite some time now. Danielle, with her arms around Jays neck, was obviously in pain. She swore to herself to never wear heels again.

All the debutants filled the room along with their escorts, practing the waltz, which was going to be the first dance of the ball.

Everyone was kind of able to tell that Danielle and Belly were both terrible dancers, but during the whole lesson, Danielle's attention was on Steven, whom was dncing amazing while holding Shayla like she was glass.

"Hey, you okay? You're staring into space." Jay said.
During the forth, Danielle had asked Jay if he could be her escort to the ball as they were 'back together again.' He greatfully accepted her proposal and decided to attend the ball together. Well, that and because her mom wanted Dani to hurry up and pick an escort. Her mother called Jay's mom asking if he could ask Danielle.

She mainly did it just to see her mom happy one more time before her time is up. However, Belly wasn't doing any better. She hasn't asked Cam at all. So her waltz lesson, she danced alone before Nicole took over.

Jay's hands had accidentally landed lower then intended, making Danielle jump a few times.

The two smiled at each other at different points. At one point, Jay pecked her on the lips. She still didn't feel any type of spark between them anymore.

"Alexa, play 'So Pretty' by Reyanna Maria." Jeremiah's voice filled her ears as the waltz music was cut off by 'So Pretty.' Everyone laughed and cheered for Jere, as he danced sensually in the center of the room.

Danielle was brought back to her senses when her brother turned on the music. He walked up to her and spinned her around, dragging her to the cenetr. She playfully reached out to Jay fo help, yet he playfully laughed and looked at the Fisher siblings. If you can't beat them, join them. She told herself before she began dancing with her brother. She walked back over to Jay and pulled him over and began dancing with him as well.

Soon, Paige's voice echoed all the way from the hallway, and she knew who was the one to blame. "Jeremiah Fisher, go back to the pool." Jeremiah smiled innocently at Paige, then at Belly before walking out of the room and back to the pool.

Jay grabbed Danielle's hand and broght her back to him as everyone began to practice the waltz once again.

"I'm honestly so excited to see you in a white dress. I haven't seen you dolled up since last year's homecoming dance." Jay said as he smiled at the girl.

"Mhm, me too. I... I can't wait to see you in a tux again." She smiled and leaned her head on his chest.

Jay really thought this was their moment again, but Danielle doesn't really think so anymore.
The spark between them is officially gone, she was now just using him.