❛ i don't want to go to go think i'll make it worse,
everything i know brings me back to us. ❜
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･☼
❛ cousins felt like a second home to the brooke family, year after year they would return to the same place every summer. but this year felt diff...
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chapter fifty six — my little versailles
The apartment had been quiet these past few days; it felt like we were on autopilot. We'd wake up, go to work or campus, come home, eat dinner, and sleep. I felt like I was treading eggshells around the man who meant everything to me, and I wasn't sure why. I wanted to help him, I wanted to be there for him, yet he shut me down every time I brought it up. It seemed Conrad's new internship was taxing on his time, and if he wasn't at work, he was on campus studying.
I felt a wave of nausea in my stomach at the thought of turning up to Cousins alone, everyone would be there, and they had the pleasure of seeing one another whenever they wished- I wish I could say the same
I hoped that despite the space between us all, it wouldn't be awkward, and we could reunite once again for Susannah. It hurt knowing that Conrad couldn't come, but he had to prioritise his job after all; this was his future now. I began pacing my room as I thought of things that I would need to take with me to Cousins ' before my departure in a couple of days.
I desperately hoped that Steven was okay, alongside Belly and Laurel, who must've been so panicked by the news. Hesitating, I decided to make the decision to call Steven to put my mind at ease; the worst he could do was not answer, so what was there to lose? I placed my phone on the desk and put it on loudspeaker to allow myself to continue packing.
"Liv?" His familiar voice echoed through my phone, bringing a smile to my face. He sounded like his same old self, which was promising and comforting to know he was okay. "Wait, hang on," I heard shuffling and then his face appeared on the screen, a cheesy smile on his face as he requested that I do the same.
He looked the same yet older. His hair was curlier, and it seemed that he had ditched the gelled look; it suited his tanned skin.
"Stevie, hey, I'm glad you answered." I felt a smile creep on my lips as I greeted him, folded up a few shirts and placed them in my duffel bag.
"I'm surprised you called." He remarked as shuffling noises scratched his audio, making me scoff.
"I see near death hasn't changed your sass," I spoke, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Well, that's one thing we can both tick off."
"That's not funny, Steven." I scolded, pausing momentarily in my spot as my hands fell to my side.
I wouldn't say it to his face, but I was so pleased to hear his voice and see his familiar face. After Conrad had told me about the crash, I began to fear the worst. Now I knew how everyone felt the time in Cousins when the very same thing occurred to me. I felt shivers go down my spine at the thought, shaking them off as we both fell into a comfortable chat with one another.
