Part 39

                                    

                                          

Everyone is spread out around the kitchen, and sadness hangs in the air.
"I'm sorry, I did try to get her to call it off." Skye apologises.
"It's not your fault, Skye," Conrad tells them, with his head hung low.
Steven walks over and puts an arm over his shoulder.
"Well, this is depressing," Taylor announces.
"Taylor," Belly tells her.
"Sorry, I'm sorry."
"No Taylor's right," I butt in. "This can't be our last memory of this house. It deserved a better goodbye."
"Like what?" Conrad asks.
"When my Mom came to the house with Suz, for the first time after her dad died, it was supposed to be just them, but they hated how empty it felt, so they threw a huge party. Apparently, it was amazing, like Gatsby or something."
Conrad chuckles.
"So, I say we throw a rager too."
"I'm in," Taylor says.
"Me too." Jere raises a hand.
"Me three." Skye smiles.
"You in?" I ask Conrad.
"I think it's exactly what my mom would've wanted."
"Great! Okay, everyone, shower, nap and then I'm putting you all to work."
We all walk out of the kitchen.
I go up to my empty bedroom and peer out the window, seeing Belly and Jeremiah lying in the pool together.
A slight smile washes across my face as I look past them, to the beach. This place is my home. It will be forever, and although we're saying goodbye to this house tonight, I have a weird feeling we'll be back. We will be back.
"Hey y/n?" Taylor calls from behind me.
"Uh huh?"
"Conrad wants you to go on a supply run with him."
"Sure, tell him I'll be right out."
I run downstairs and grab my phone, about to leave for the car.
"Where are you going y/n?" Jere asks.
"Supply run," I tell him reaching for the door.
"Alone?"
"No." I open it.
"Who with?"
"Conrad." I step outside, hoping he'll leave me alone.
"I'll come too."
"You're soaking wet."
"Conrad won't care, I'll dry on the way." 
He follows me as I walk out to the car.
I sit in the backseat.
"Jeremiah's coming too."
Conrad nods and reverses out of the house once Jere gets into the car.
"Okay, beer, tequila, vodka."
"Uh, gin for Skye."
"Who drinks gin?" I laugh.