♡₊˚・₊✧
Belly's lobster birthday dinner is complete with flower crowns for the girls and Cam by her side. Madeline enjoys getting to know him. He's a sweetheart. And a great listener. Madeline thinks he could be really good for Belly.
Laurel brings out a separate pot of food. "Cam, have you ever had miyeok-guk before? It's a Korean birthday tradition."
"No, this looks so good. Thank you," he says good-naturedly.
"Belly told me you're a vegetarian, so I didn't put any meat in it."
"You know, Cam Cameron, Belly eats meat. You let her kiss you with those lips?" Jeremiah instigates.
"Jeremiah," Madeline scolds.
Cam chuckles. "No, it's fine, I don't judge people for eating meat. It's just, like, a personal choice. I don't care."
"So you don't mind if, uh, like, her lips touch a dead animal, and then those dead animal lips touch your lips, right?"
Belly kicks Jeremiah under the table.
"I don't mind at all," says Cam. "Um, in fact..." He leans over and gives Belly a quick peck on the lips.
Madeline beams. Conrad looks down and away. Steven and Jeremiah pretend to gag. Belly looks uncomfortable.
Laurel shakes her head. "Guys, stop, Belly's allowed to kiss... but that's it."
Belly turns bright red. "Mom, you are so not funny, no more wine for you, okay?" she mumbles.
"I'm sorry I just don't understand why anybody would want to kiss somebody who once fully shat in a bathtub," Steven teases.
Belly holds a finger up at him. "I was like two years old."
"Try six," he laughs.
"This coming from the boy who got dared to pee in the fireplace and stunk up the house for days," Madeline says, raising her eyebrow at Steven.
"I was drunk, I was drunk!" he justifies.
"Yeah, on, like, half a white claw," Taylor rebuts.
Jeremiah pats Steven on the chest. "She's got you there."
Belly looks at Taylor. "You know, um, I'm thinking maybe we should go to Nicole's party."
"Yes!" she elates. "Oh my god, I love you. I'm so excited."
♡₊˚・₊✧
"When we made this plan I didn't think we would be pregaming for Nicole's party."
Steven and Madeline are sharing a towel on the beach. The bottle of tequila being passed between them is a result of Madeline begging and blackmailing Conrad. Worth it.
Steven takes a swig. "How are you already drunk?"
Madeline giggles. "I am not."
"Yeah, right." He looks closer at her eyes. "Your pupils are dilated. No more for you."
"Jeez, calm down, Dad. You know, that could be because it's dark out here, right?"
He scoffs, looking out into the sunset. "Maybe we shouldn't go to Nicole's party."
She follows his gaze. "Tempting. But, no, I asked her to pick up a cake for Belly's birthday."
"So?"
"'So...'" she mocks. "I should be there."
They fall into a comfortable silence.
"It's so loud out here," she whispers, staring out on the horizon. "With the waves, I mean. But, still, it's so quiet. And the sunset is so beautiful."
"Yeah, it is," Steven agrees, eyes locked on her face.
♡₊˚・₊✧
Belly blows out the candles on her cake and all the deb girls cheer. Nicole's house is loud, and the music is even louder.
Not even 10 seconds into wishing her congratulations, Gigi asks where Jeremiah is.
Belly looks around. "Um- I think he's over by the drinks table?"
"Who's thirsty?" she smiles, lifting her red solo cup.
"You, clearly," Nicole laughs.
"Yeah, I don't need to hear this," Madeline cringes. She pats Belly's hip as she passes her. "Come find me if you need me."
Madeline walks through the crowded house. She hasn't seen Steven since they split. Jeremiah is flirting with some guy on a nearby couch. When they make eye contact, she fakes a dramatic gag. He gives her the finger.
Opting to sit next to an awkward-looking Cam, Madeline asks him if Belly's asked him to the ball yet.
"Uh- no, no she hasn't," he replies.
Madeline sighs. "Don't worry, you have time. I'd bet that she'll ask you tonight."
"Thanks, Maddy," he says with a smile. "Have you- seen her, by the way?"
"Yeah, she's with the debs. Why?"
He looks down. "Oh, we were just going to hang out is all."
"You need a drink," she declares.
Cam laughs. "I don't drink."
"Ok, well then I need a drink. I'll get you a water."
To Madeline's disappointment, the punch isn't spiked. She takes it as a sign that she should lay off the alcohol getting two cups.
Cam looks at the punch suspiciously.
"It's just punch," she pouts. "They'll probably spike it later." She taps her own cup to indicate that she added something to hers.
He smiles. "Well, thank you- Belly!"
Belly plops down between the two, leaning on Madeline's shoulder. "I'm having the best night."
Madeline rests her head on Belly's. "I'm glad! Happy birthday, Bells."
The living room crowd quiets down as Jeremiah stands in the middle with a karaoke machine, Nicole, Gigi, and Dara joining him.
"Testing, testing, 123. Checking out, checking out. Alright! This one goes out to Cam Cameron and our favorite wittle Belly Button." And Summer Nights from Grease blasts through the speakers.
Belly puts her head in her hands.
"Oh, Jesus," Cam laughs.
Madeline stands to let the couple have their serenation moment. Summer Nights fades as she ascends the stairs in search of a bathroom. She wobbles over her steps.
"Hey, have you seen Taylor?" Belly asks, joining her.
"Uh- no, I'm currently on an adventure to find a bathroom," Madeline responds distractedly.
Belly opens a door, shutting it immediately, hand over her eyes.
Madeline laughs at her. "Don't stress, Bells, I'm sure she's around here somewhere."
Belly opens a door at the end of the hall. "Oh my god!"
"What is it-"
Madeline drops her cup, the red liquid spreading across the carpeted floor.
Taylor is sitting on the dresser, Steven stands between her legs. Her hands drop from his hair.
Madeline doesn't wait around. She steps out of the room slowly at first, breaking into a faster pace when she hears Steven calling after her.
♡₊˚・₊✧
If she wasn't drunk before, she definitely is now. Madeline had successfully avoided Steven by snatching a bottle of (something? She doesn't really know. Nor does she care, as long as she can feel it burning her throat) and busting into the bathroom. After yelling at the half-naked couple to get out, she locks the bathroom door and stows away in the bathtub.
"I know you're in there, Mads."
There's only one person who's called her that.
"No, I'm not. Go away," she slurs.
Steven twists the handle. "Are you drinking in there? Open the door, Madeline."
"Why?!" she groans, but she gets out of the tub.
"So that I can explain? Please?"
Madeline opens the door. "What is there to explain?" she giggles. She stumbles as she exits the bathroom. "I'm not your girlfriend. You can kiss whoever you want!!" She pulls a random girl by the shoulders. "Kiss her!!"
Steven apologizes to the girl before chasing after Madeline as she blunders through the house. He grabs her wrist.
"Let me go," she whines.
"Are you... jealous?" He gently pulls her toward the door. "Let's go outside and get you some air."
Outside, Jeremiah and Cam are playing beer pong against Conrad and the guy Jeremiah was flirting with.
"Jere!" Madeline greets joyfully. She throws her arms around him. "My second favorite brother!"
"And I thought I was drunk," he laughs.
Conrad steps toward her. "Madeline, how much have you- wait- I'm your favorite brother?"
"Connie! My other second favorite brother!"
Jeremiah scoffs. "Okay, so who is your favorite brother?"
Madeline lets out a puff of air as she thinks. "Cam," she decides, nodding. She walks over to pinch Cam's cheek. "Cammie Wammie is my favorite brother."
"Madeline-" Steven starts.
"Uh-oh. Stevie kissed a girl and now he wants to have a 'talk,'" she whispers to Cam, wobbling away before he can say anything.
"Can I take the car?" Steven asks Jeremiah. He nods.
Steven doesn't say anything when the two get in the car. Madeline won't shut up.
"How much did you drink?" he asks tiredly.
She bursts into a fit of giggles. "Mmmm- not sure. I don't even know what I drank!"
After the laughter fades out, the car goes silent.
"How long have you had a big fat crush on me?"
Steven almost swerves off the road. "Uh- what?"
"I see the way you look at me," she deadpans. "Well, I didn't at first. After we almost kissed in my bed, I've been noticing a LOT."
Steven's mouth opens and closes, he's wide-eyed.
"I think I might have a crush on you too," Madeline yawns. "I had this dream about you the night after... that's embarrassing." She laughs. "And then when Taylor had her greasy thighs on you... anyway, you can answer the question now."
"I can't remember a time I didn't see you that way, Maddy."
She makes a face. "Then why'd you kiss Taylor?"
"I don't know?" he tries. Seeing her unapproving face he rephrases, "I mean, she took me upstairs because she said there was a bathroom up there. We went into the wrong room and then all of a sudden, she was kissing me, and I just- didn't push her away."
"So you like her?"
"Not at all."
"You're a liar."
"Let's have this conversation when you aren't drunk."
Madeline: 1
Taylor: 1000000000000000000
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨💌୧⋆ ˚｡⋆
it was a busy day for maddy
can I hear, double update?!
xx — viv