𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 upstairs thinking things over Payden finally returns downstairs
she still has on her tank top but this time with jean shorts since the sweatpants had gotten ocean water on them
as she runs downstairs holding on to the rail a smile on her face she hears the Jeremiah talking about their annual "portraits" Susannah paints
"she needs to see you in the flesh in order to capture your essence" Laurel says
"while you're still young and full of hope"
JJ, Jeremiah, and Steven laugh at how stupid that sounds
"her words" Laurel ends with
"well, Conrad does not have hope, actually. he's hopeless, but my hangover smoothie- it cures all"
"can you please just hurry up?" Conrad mutters out from the couch in maybe the cutest tone Payden has ever heard
"yeah get me some of that" Payden says making her presence known
"Pay!" Jeremiah says wrapping her in a hug, JJ next
"i'll get on that" Jeremiah says
"oh, honey, how are you doing today?" Laurel asks
"i'm... better. not throwing my guts up" she shrugs
"alright, seriously Steven, get out. this is a delicate since and your heavy breaking is gonna break the yolk" Jeremiah argues at Steven standing over his shoulder while he's cooking
"okay, okay, okay"
"she hasn't painted you since you were little, i think it'd be nice to have these portraits for when you're older" Laurel tracks back to the topic from before
"old, no. when i'm older, i'm sure there'll be, like, like, holograms or something i can watch of myself, you know?" Steven argues
Payden is quick to argue back "yeah, and people thought there were gonna be flying cars 30 years ago too"
Jeremiah turns on the blender as Payden sees Conrad flinch up before lying his head back down
"just sit for your portraits. i don't see Conrad complaining"
"he'll complain when he's conscious. here" Jeremiah says giving Payden her drink
