lemonade | ethan

twenty eight

"i'd first like to congratulate the boys soccer team of brooklyn bay highschool for winning their very first championship game since 1998!" mayor brooks exclaims, getting an applause from the audience. "congratulations, boys!"

"and secondly, i'd like to thank our very own, devon wu, for raising enough money to go into the stolen charity money for our lovely oceans!" he adds. my parents hug me to congratulate me, mrs miller as well. "i, as well as every citizen of brooklyn bay, is truly proud of you and your actions, devon."

"our town will forever remember not only the successful championship, but the beauty of our oceans." he adds. the mayor stands at the top of the steps of his home, standing with his wife and his daughter, ruby brooks, both at his side. they clap along.

mayor brooks invited the entire town for a formal celebration party at his home for the events that happened yesterday. the town was stoked and wouldn't stop talking about it.

"thank you, once again! you've really helped brooklyn bay then into something more beautiful!" mayor brooks says. "enjoy the party, everyone!" he adds, before leaving the stand.

while people congratulate me, i happen to catch a glance at maya who stands at the corner of the room with her north side friends as well as the mayor's daughter who herself is obviously a north sider.

maya whispers something in ruby's ear. ruby looks over at me, a look of envy on her face. suddenly, i'm embraced in a welcoming hug by none other than ethan.

"hey!" i say. damn, he looked good in a suit.

"hello, good looking." he chuckles. "you look amazing tonight."

i tap his chest, admiring his fit. "not too shabby yourself." i claim.

someone taps on my shoulder from behind. curious, i turn around to see who had done it to be faced with ruby brooks. she has flawless light skin. her hair was a dyed shade of dark red, probably to match her name.

"hi, devon! ethan." ruby says, enthusiastically. "this weekend, i'm taking a couple friends up to the mountains for a cabin trip. daddy says i can only bring a couple of people. do you two want to come? you can bring a plus one?"

i look over at ethan, who looks at me. "who have you invited so far?" i ask, curious. she was just talking to maya, that i remember.

she shrugs, breaking eye contact. "oh you know, just some north siders and what not, that's all. but i figured since you two are like, always together that maybe i could invite the both of you!"

"i'm down if you're down?" ethan says, looking at me for approval.

i shrug. "okay. why not?"

ruby claps her hands rapidly. "yay! super excited to see y'all there! i'll text you the addy!" she says before turning around and walking away.

"so.." i say, turning back around to ethan again. "who would be your plus one?"

he sighs, pretending to think. "well, it would be you but you're already going, so..."

i laugh, bumping his shoulder. "i can bring sonny." he says.

"you sure he'd enjoy spending an entire weekend surrounded by north siders?" i ask.

"hey, we just won our soccer championship. we're basically cool with the north siders now." he shrugs.

"anyway, you could invite raymond?" he suggests. "since melanie is still, you know, pregnant."

i nod. "yeah, i can invite him."

he chuckles. "man, i can tell this is gonna be one interesting weekend."