All too well ² // the fisher brothers

013

Ellie 🎀

I'm sitting in the passenger seat, my legs crossed as I take another bite of my donut, crumbs falling onto my lap. "So, what's the game plan with Julia? Sneak attack? Bribery? Murder?" I ask, glancing at Jeremiah. He's focused on the road, his lips twitching like he's trying not to smile.

"Wow, um, I was thinking that we just play to my strengths," he replies, his eyes shifting to me for a second before focusing back on the road.

"God, you're so boring. So I guess that also means a no to the murder?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

"Ellie!" He groans, shaking his head but grinning.

"Sorry, I know you're gonna use your charm. That's why you got the flowers," I say, nodding toward the bouquet in the backseat.

"Exactly. You know, I wish I had more to go on, but she and my mom weren't exactly close," he says. "I mean, the last time I saw her and Skye, I was probably, like, seven, eight years old."

"Damn, that's a long time," I reply, adjusting in my seat.

"Yeah," he nods. "You know, I wish I remembered more, but I barely know them."

"You know, I remember Susannah telling me it was her big sister who convinced her that she could be an artist," I say, my mind wandering to all the conversations I'd had with her.

He turns to me, raising his eyebrows. "My mom told you everything, didn't she?"

"Duh! I was her favorite," I say with a proud grin.

Jeremiah pulls a face. "What about me?"

"Oh, she said she hated you and loved me better than her sons," I tease.

"Oh..."

"I'm joking about the hating part," I say quickly, laughing.

"Ellie!" He groans again, but this time he's laughing too.

"Okay, let's get the boys in here too," my mom says as she fiddles with her phone. Taylor, Isla, Belly, and I are all lined up in front of the fireplace, waiting for the next round of photos.

"About time," Steven mutters as he walks into the room, adjusting his tie.

"Oh, don't look so excited," Taylor teases, rolling her eyes. I glance at her but stay quiet. Belly and I still aren't on speaking terms, and the tension between us is thick.

"Prom poses?" my mom suggests, stepping back to get a better angle.

"Laurel, you—you got, you got a full-body shot, right?" Susannah's voice crackles through the screen of my mom's phone. She's on FaceTime, sitting somewhere cozy, her eyes lit with that familiar warmth. "And—and I want, I want the back of Ellie's hair, not just the front."

"Beck," my mom says, exasperated.

"I'm sorry, Laurel, but you suck at taking pictures," Susannah laughs lightly from the screen.

"Hey!" my mom protests, feigning offense.

"Let me see the corsages," Susannah says suddenly. Her tone shifts, playful yet insistent. Everyone holds up their hands, showing off their corsages—except me. My fingers twitch self-consciously, but I keep them by my side.

I glance at Conrad, who's standing awkwardly to the side. He doesn't say anything, and I bite my lip to keep from saying something myself.

Then, finally, he mumbles, "I left your corsage in my dorm fridge."