i can see you - tsitp

fifteen.

"OKAY. SO, I know things aren't going so great right now," Jeremiah says, leaned over the kitchen counter, "but it's always the darkest before the dawn, right?"

They're all settled in the kitchen, panic and disturbance settled on all of their faces. Nate is standing in between Steven and Conrad, his arms crossed over his chest and a heavy weight in his chest.

He's not sure why he's so attached to a house that's never really been his, but in a sense it has been. He's practically lived here for years, every single summer. In between the soccer camps that would take him away for a few days at a time. In between middle and high school. He had hoped it would be there in between high school and college, too.

"Yeah, not this time." Conrad mutters, shaking his head.

Skye enters the kitchen with a depressed look on her face. "Um... I'm-I'm sorry. I-I tried to get her to call off the deal."

"It's not on you, Skye." Conrad shakes his head— the lack of emotion on his face almost scares Nate. He's paled a lot since they got home, like he's physically ill.

"I know, but she's my mom, so I would get if you guys
were angry with me, too. I just can't deal with her right now."

"Hey, no one's mad at you, Skye." Jeremiah assures them, giving them a side hug.

"So, what?" Carlee asks, looking around. "Are we, like, going home now?"

"Yeah." Conrad nods dejectedly. "It's over."

"No!" Belly shouts, making everyone turn toward her. "Our-our last memory here can't be this. Everyone miserable and defeated. I mean, this place deserves
a better goodbye than that."

"Like what?" Carlee asks, looking over at Steven briefly.

"My mom came to the beach house with Susannah for the first time after her dad died." Belly explains. And it was supposed to be just the two of them, but Susannah hated how empty the house felt, so she decided to throw a huge party. Everyone was dancing and drinking, and they went swimming at midnight. And Susannah said it was like Gatsby or something."

"Sick," Nate nods with a small grin.

"So I say that we throw a party, too." Belly's smile is big.

"I'm in." Jeremiah says, grinning.

"Me, too." Nate and Carlee say in unison.

"Me three." sings Skye, and everyone else chimes in at the same time.

"Oh, I love this for us." Cam grins big. Everyone laughs and then slowly turns to the only silent person in the kitchen.

"You in?" Steven asks, a small smile tugging at the edge of his mouth. Nate knows Conrad— he's a Debbie downer. To get him to say yes-

"I think it's exactly what my mom would have wanted." Conrad nods, and Nate has to physically restraint himself from floundering. "She'd love it."

"Great. Okay." Belly smiles, and with the way Conrad's face lights up, Nate can pretty easily understand why he said yes so quickly. "Everybody, shower, power nap, and then I'm putting you to work."

"On it, Princess." Nate salutes her before ruffling her hair and leaving the room, his sister at his heels. He quickly turns on her. "Steven lover."

"Oh, that's rich coming from you." she hisses in response. "I do not want to hear it."

"I'm just saying. Am I right or am I right?"

Carlee flips him off as she walks up the stairs, glowering at him over her shoulder. He smiles; he's not as mad about Steven trying to get with his sister as maybe he should be. But then again, he couldn't care less.