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"I had this weird thought today." Liz says as she closes the door behind her. She walked down the steps towards the trash can

"Yeah ? I love weird thoughts." Conrad says

"I was thinking if my dad had cheated on my mom, she probably wouldn't have even cared. Is that harsh ?" She says as she uses her shoulder to hold her phone when tossing the bag in the trash can

"No. But do you really think Megan wouldn't have a reaction ?"

"I mean, kinda. Like, nothing about my dad ever excited her. You know ? They were, like, never
romantic around each other."

"And you want to see your parents being romantic ?"

"Maybe." She chuckles as she sits on the steps, "I mean, I just can't imagine marrying someone who didn't give me fireworks. You know, like, like electric jolts every time I saw them." She smiles

"Were you surprised when you found out your parents were getting divorced ?"

"Uh, yes and no. I mean," She shrugs, "I always thought divorce meant fighting, you know ? Which they did, but more so when they were already done." She could hear Conrad hum in acknowledgement through the phone.

"I mean, they were cold for a little while, but, um... now everything's kind of back to normal. Or as normal as this family could be."

"In a weird way, that must almost be a little harder to understand."

"Exactly." She laughs. "Ooh, well..."

"What ?"

"I don't know. Just never said any of this to anyone before."

"Me either."

It's silent for awhile as Liz looks around the neighborhood. "Hey, can I ask you something ?"

"Anything."

"Um, how's-how's Jere ? Is he, is he doing okay ?"

"Um, yeah, yeah, he seems good. Why ?"

"I don't know, we haven't really talked since summer ended, and, uh, I was gonna text him, but didn't know if he would write back."

"Yeah, no, I mean, he's probably just busy with senior year stuff."

"Right, right, right." She trails off, "I learned something kinda cool."

"Tell me." He smiles

"Did you know that Venus is an evening star for 263 days out of the year ? And then it disappears
from the sky for 50 days before returning as a morning star for another 263 days." She says as she looks up at the sky

"I did not know that. That is very cool."

"And right now it's an evening star. It's really bright next to the moon. I'm actually looking at it right now." She smiles

"It's-it's probably against the rules to say this, but, um, I wish we were looking at it together."

"Me, too." He says as he looks up at the sky, "And, Liz ?"

"Yes, Conrad ?"

"I couldn't be with someone who didn't make me feel electric either."

Liz smiles as she looks down at her shoes.

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"Liz. Liz, come here." Belly calls out as Liz tries to pass by.

"Hey, sis. Sis, sis, check it out, check it out, check it out." Dakota says. He takes his beer and pokes a hole in it causing it to explode and spill all over.

"Oh !" Belly says

"Oh, my God." Taylor laughs, "I can't believe you did that."

"This party sucks." Liz says

"Dude, it's beer. It'll dry. Chill." Dakota laughs

"I'm leaving, okay ?"

"Wait, wait, did something happen ?" Belly says

"No, nothing happened. Whatever. Dakota, can you just get Steven to drive you home, please ?"

"Steven ? No, Steven-Steven is drunk. You-you promised to be my sober ride tonight."

"Okay, well, I'm ready to go now."

"Okay, well, I'm not."

"Great. Then can you just call an Uber or something ?"

"Why are you being such a buzzkill right now ?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, am I ruining your fun night ?" Liz chuckles humorlessly

"Kinda, yeah."

"Okay, well, in case you forgot, which it clearly seems like you did, Susannah just died, so I'm a little bit sad. But please, don't let that stop you from having the time of your life." Liz spits

"Fuck you. You know, I lost Susannah, too. Okay ? You don't think I'm sad about that ?"

"Oh, what, were you shotgunning the pain away ? My apologies." She says sarcastically

"No, you should apologize. You screwed up, and now everything is weird with Conrad. I mean, he won't even text me back anymore because of you."

"Okay, guys, listen..." Belly tries

"That is not my fault." Liz says

"Isn't it ? Hmm ?" He exclaims, "We should be celebrating with the both of them tonight, but they wouldn't come because you made things messy. You just had to have Conrad, huh ?" He scoffs. "God, you are so fucking selfish."

"Dakota !" Belly says

"What ?

"Are you serious ?"

"I had to have Conrad ?" Liz scoffs, "Are you kidding ? I was in love, Dakota. Like out of my mind in love. What was I supposed to do ?" She yells

Dakota stops as he watches tears fill her eyes, "Liz."

She ignores him as she walks off. "Liz."

"Dakota." Taylor says as she and Belly follow Liz.

"Hey." Belly says as they stop Liz. "Dakota is a drunk idiot right now. Please do not listen to him."

"No, no. He's right. I mean, I ruined things with Conrad, and then Susannah died, and I completely ruined her funeral. And I just, I wish I hadn't started any of it."

"No, you don't." Belly says

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't..." Taylor tries

"Yes, I do." She nods, "And I'm so tired of feeling sad all the time, and I just, I don't think I get to feel better."

"You think that right now, but I promise you..." Belly tries

"No, no, no, no, no, no. Nothing is promised. You can't promise anything." She cries. "Sorry. I'm sorry. I just, I know you're trying your best. I don't, I don't expect anyone, but maybe you to understand what I'm going through right now, and I think I just have to deal with it alone."

Belly nods, "I'm gonna go."

"I can come with you." Belly says

"No, no, no, no, no. Stay. I mean, it's your boyfriend's debut," She says as she points to Taylor, "and I just... I just need to go to bed."

"Will you text me when you get back, please ?"

"Yeah." She sniffles as they hug her

"We love you."

"Love you." Liz says as she walks towards the door. Liz hurries down the steps to the car. Rushing in, as her tears started to fall. She starts the car and takes off down the road.

It's completely silent as she drives with her thoughts. She can't help when her tears start falling at a rapid pace. Sobs escaping her lips as she tries desperately to hide them.

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Liz opens the door and her eyes widen as she sees Conrad on her doorstep. She looks around before stepping outside and closing the door behind her.

"Hey. Happy almost Halloween." Conrad tries

"Conrad."

"I know I'm not supposed to be here, but I'm here. I brought candy." He says as he holds up lollipops.

He watches her hesitate. "Do you want me to go ?"

"No, no, no." She says as she steps down, "Um, don't leave, just, um... Where... What are you doing here ?" She says as she holds his hands

"Um, I wanted to see you. So..."

"Yeah, yeah, um... you know, but I thought..."

"Liz, I don't think I could ever get over you. I mean, I'm not. I'm here. Whenever I talk to you, I'm just happy. And I gotta say, standing in front of you right now, it's torture not being able to kiss you."

Liz smiles before she leans in and kisses him. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders as he takes no time in kissing her back. He wraps his arms around her waist as he deepens the kiss. Liz pulls away and their smiles are bigger than ever. Conrad leans in as she laughs.

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Liz sighed happily as she stared at the text.

- LIZZIE!! Omg, I'm so happy that you're okay. I miss you so fucking much and I was literally losing my mind not being able to talk to you. I hope you're doing okay. And I mean actually okay, you know ? Call me when you can. I love you <3

She smiled as she read over it. She went to text back, but was interrupted when her phone started ringing. Her breath hitched as she answer.

"Jeremiah ?"

"Hey, Liz. Are you with Conrad ?"

"Uh, no. Why would I be with Conrad ?"

"I don't know, I just thought maybe you guys would, um..."

"Jere... What's going on ?"

"Conrad's gone."

Liz sat up as she shook her head. "Wait, what do you...what do you mean gone ?"

"He's not answering my texts or picking up my calls."

"Since when ?"

"Yesterday."

"I mean, isn't he in the middle of finals? Maybe... he pulled an all-nighter at the library." Liz tried

"No, no, I don't think so. Apparently he told his roommate that everything is fucked, and then he just took off. I think I'm gonna go to Brown in the morning and see if I can track him down."

"Okay. Uh, will you let me know if you find him ?"

"I was actually hoping you'd come with me. I know we haven't spoken in awhile, but you're the only one who would be able to get him-"

"Okay. Okay, I'm coming with you." She says cutting him off.

"Thank you, Liz."

"Yeah. I'll meet you there." Liz says as they hang up.

She sighs as she erases her text and types a new one.

- I'll see you in a couple of days

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