holy ground ★ conrad fisher (1)

always forever ★ cults

nineteen | 1x03

JEREMIAH PARKED THE CAR a little ways away from a large white house that seemed to be hosting the party.

The two walked arm in arm to Nicole's front door before Jeremiah pushed it open and the two squeezed in past other party goers.

Immediately, Rory used her hands to cover her ears, since there seemed to be multiple speakers placed throughout the three-story house, all blasting different music, which wasn't a pleasant sound, but the others seemed to have grown accustomed to it.

Jeremiah was waved over by friends, and he pulled Rory with him, the girl peeking into a room in the side to see Belly standing with the other debutantes in front of a table of tall cakes and various pastries.

It made Rory frown slightly, Belly's birthday pancakes and cookies still sat stored away back home.

However, she pushed the thought aside, smiling softly at the sound of Belly's giggles as she stood surrounded by her friends.

Jeremiah mingled and introduced Rory to his group of friends before they excused themselves to find a drink. When they got to the self-serve station of drinks, Rory turned to him,

"Who's DD tonight?

"Conrad," Jeremiah said, grabbing two cups before uncapping bottles, to create a cocktail for him and Rory.

"He's only allowed beers and if he wants to drink something stronger he has to time it so that he's not drunk when we're heading home."

"Maybe I shouldn't drink either, just in case we need a driver." Rory said, shaking her head, "Your brother seems to have become very heavily dependent on alcohol lately."

"No no, I made him promise." Rory sighed, but took the cup the younger boy offered her, "We're fine."

Jeremiah went to take a seat on a couch in the same room, and Rory looked around for something to eat at the snack table, however as she turned around to head over to him, not finding anything she liked in particular, she bumped into a shorter girl.

"Oh hey, Taylor."

"Hi, Rory."

Taylor seemed pretty unhappy for someone who was previously very excited at the idea of a party tonight.

Rory's maternal instincts immediately kicked in, as she asked, "Is everything okay? Where's Belly?"

"Nicole."

So that's what it was. Rory nodded, glad she wasn't the only one who wasn't completely taken by Nicole.

Taylor poured herself a drink but didn't move away from Rory, and instead looked ahead into the room across from them, where birthday cake was being served, in honor of Belly.

Rory took a deep breath before she started, "Hey, I've been meaning to say something to you about earlier at the pool."

"Oh my god, is this a lecture?"

"Oh, no course not." Rory sipped her drink, and Taylor turned to face her, "I just wanted to add, you and Belly, you're best friends. And I don't think anything is going to change that. Even if she spends her summers here or is hanging out with new people this year. She's always gonna be your best friend first."

Taylor smiled at Rory, a genuine thankful smile, "Thank you, Rory."

"Mhm. Wanna hang with me for a bit?" Rory offered, pointing to a small couch in the corner of the same room, "They can be a lot to deal with at first." she added, referring to the debs.