HAUNTED
୨⎯ chapter eighteen ⎯୧

Bianca was feeling a bit extra nervous the morning of the debutante ball. bianca kissing steven right after brushing her teeth and ran inside of her bedroom. bianca jumped on belly's bed. the younger girl hid the fact that she was on her phone and sank inside of her blanket.

"hide me from susannah." bianca said giggling and going under belly's cover. belly and bianca felt like little kids feeling giddily hiding from susannah who held a cup of orange juice and the other one of apple. belly smiled at bianca. bianca threw the blanket over their heads as susannah came inside of the room.

"good morning, my girls!" susannah said excitedly. she could hear the two girls giggling underneath the covers. it warmed her heart to another level. susannah set the two glasses down and pulled the covers down. susannah laughed seeing bianca and belly clinging to one another.

"are you two girls ready for your big day?" susannah asked wanting to get serious with the two girls.

bianca wasn't. she was beyond nervous. she was scared that she was going to mess her steps up, do something wrong. but she can tell how this meant for susannah. "just nervous, but i'm a natural born dancer so." bianca said shrugging her shoulders. susannah smiled and handed her the apple juice.

"not at all." belly said not trying to cover the fact that she felt like puking at the thought.

"you girls will be amazing. i know it." susannah said.

"what if i trip?" belly asked.

"you won't." susannah said, "just hold on to jeremiah's arm. he won't let you fall."

"he will be the one tripping over you." bianca said taking sips of her apple juice since she really don't eat when she first wakes up. drinking juice is the only thing that doesn't make her want to throw up in the morning.

"that's true." belly laughed. the three of them imagining jeremiah tripping over belly. literally and figuratively.

"i can't believe you got him to be your partner. he swore up and down he'd never go to one of these things." susannah said shaking her head.

"he said he didn't mind." belly said.

"and you," susannah turned over to bianca. the two shared communication through their eyes. belly didn't catch it as she was too busy daydreaming. bianca hasn't fully talked with susannah since the last events. it still pains her but she has to keep on going. for her. for her family. for her boys. "i'm so happy that you're happy. that you finally found your way to him. i knew you would find your way back to him."

bianca blushed biting down her lip to prevent the giant grin to explode. belly pushed a finger on bianca's cheek. bianca swatted her finger away and susannah laughed. the older woman scooted closer to the two girls.

"i love you so much, my beautiful girls." susannah said her eyes whelming up. bianca knew why but belly just thought that she was being very emotional. bianca was the first one to throw her arms around susannah. then belly. the older woman hugging them back holding back the sob that was on the verge of coming out.

"okay," susannah chuckled sniffing up her tears. the two teenagers pulled away looking at susannah with so much love. "when they take your photograph, remember, say 'prune.' it'll make your cheekbones look divine."

"prune?" belly and bianca said at the same time. they looked at each other and almost burst into laughter.

"prune. it's just an old trick i learned from madonna. or was it the olsen twins?"

"who are they?" belly asked. bianca mouth gaped open looking at belly. "what?"

"they're moguls. they're fashion icons. they owned the early 2000s. they're sisters with the scarlet witch." belly was still confused making susannah want to pull out magazines and show belly.

"uncle jessie's girls from full house." bianca said and belly gasped. bianca laughed shaking her head at belly who finally realized who they were. susannah laughed at well.

"okay, now, meet me downstairs. belly, there is a surprise for you." susannah said winking at belly. susannah then left running down the stairs back to her two best friends.

belly and bianca gave each other confused looks before heading downstairs. bianca still had her apple juice as she entered the living room. inside of the living room stood the three older woman. laurel was standing smiling widely. lena came forward and hugged her daughter who hugged her back.

"you got me the dress i wanted?" belly breathed out. bianca followed her eyeline. the dress that belly wanted was hanging in the rack. bianca grinned softly seeing the way that belly's face lit up completely. "thank you. thank you! oh my god!"

"thank your mom," susannah said pulling away from belly. "it was her idea. okay, i'm going to go check on the shoes for you girls. i put them in the freezer to stretch them out."

"baby," lena said causing bianca to hum and look at her mom. "i also got you something." lena grabbed her daughters hand and lead her inside of the living room. bianca sat down on the couch as her mother grabbed a white box from her purse.

"ou a box." bianca said wiggling her eyebrows at her mom who laughed.

lena sat in front of her daughter and held the box in front of her. "your dad gave this to me when you were six years old." lena said taking in a deep breath and letting out a shaky one. bianca's eyes soften and her lips turned into a slight frown. "he said he was going to be give it to you when you turn seventeen. he wanted me to hold it because he claims he forgets where he puts everything. it's true. up till this day i don't know where he hid the special candies."

bianca's small frown uplifted a little and so did lena's. but no matter how much time has passed, no matter if it has been months or years. the pain will always be there. the empty space in their heart that only he could fill. the idea of speaking about him in past tense hurts even more.

bianca's birthday was a week ago. a week after the living room sleepover between her and steven. bianca didn't really want anything. she spend half of her birthday inside of her room crying because it was her first birthday without him. they left her alone to grieve knowing that no one was going to be able to comfort her the way she wants and needs. steven stayed at the door until bianca came down.

she told them that only wanted to go out and eat pizza and they did. the fishers, the conklins and the wayne dropped all of their plans to go celebrate her birthday. they went to the same pizza place where her and conrad had their first date. but during her birthday, they didn't feel boyfriend and girlfriend. they felt like they were best friends again.

everyone dropped every single drama they had with each other. they left their problems back at home. conrad, jeremiah and belly didn't act awkward with each other. it was the first time since last summer where it actually felt like summer at cousins beach. at home. this people were her home.

"he said this was going to be a promise ring for you. that whenever you look at it, you'll know that he'll always be there. that he'll always be your dad. that no matter what happens, even if he's miles away, he'll always be walking besides you. keeping his little girl safe." lena said her voice dropping to a whisper and a tear drop falling down her eye. lena opened up the box showing a gold ring.

bianca let out a shaky breath. the ring is beyond beautiful. it's all gold with golden leaf branches forming towards the middle. the middle has an pear moss agate. she couldn't believe that her dad got it when she was six and kept it for years.

"mom, it's beautiful." bianca whispered not daring to touch it. lena picked up the ring and her daughters left hand. she slid the perfectly fitted ring inside of her ring finger.

"how did he know it'll fit?" bianca asked examining the ring. bianca could feel a sudden breeze hitting her and a familiar smell of colonge. but bianca ignored it. her eyes never leaving the ring.

"a dad knows their daughters best." lena said letting out a chuckle.

"i love it. i love you, mom." bianca said sighing deeply and hugging her mom. lena cried nodding her head and burying her head to the shoulder of her only daughter. "so much."

"i love you too, baby." lena said rubbing her hand up and down bianca's back. lena pulled away and put her hands on bianca's face. "have fun today. you'll look beautiful and be amazing. don't let the thought of messing up run through your head because you'll actually mess up."

"don't cry, mom." bianca muttered bringing her hands up to her moms face and wiping away her tears. she would do anything for her mom. lena deserves so much, and sometimes bianca can feel guilty for not being with her as much during the past year. but for now on, there will not be moment where she doesn't cherish her mom.

└─── · 。゚☆ *.☽ .* ☆゚. ───┘

"bianca, um, can you come to my house real quick?" shayla asked sounding worried. bianca was sitting inside of her bathroom while her mom straightened her hair. it was already straightened but it got wavy due to the humidity.

"why what's wrong? is it leo?" bianca asked as her mom finished doing her hair and going out the bathroom.

"no, no, leo is fine. he went to go get his suit fixed. um, it's about steven." shayla said.

bianca never left the house so quickly and so confused in her entire life. she grabbed the keys for leo's car since it was still there. shayla probably picked him up at their house and drove him. bianca drove to shayla's house, her mind rushing with thoughts on to why steven is at shayla's house.

she parked horribly on shayla's driveway and rushed outside. she didn't even have to knock on the door as steven came out. "steven? why are you here?" bianca asked shoving her keys inside of her jean pocket.

"i'm sorry, bianca. i screwed up big-time." steven said his eyes whelming up and his eyebrows knitting together. bianca stayed five feet way from him. her mind going to the worst thing possible.

"what did you do?" bianca asked crossing her arms over her chest and staying down on the porch while steven took a step forward.

"remember how i've been telling you that i've been invited to more poker games right?" steven asked making bianca nod her head. "there is guy named liam. leo knows him because of shayla and when i was hanging out with them he came and recognized him, him and his friend, and they told me to join them. the night of skinny dipping."

bianca tilted her head to the side and gave steven a glare. her eyes squinting and it was like everything was starting to fall apart in such a short time period.

"my phone did die but it died after your two calls. i was playing and-and i know i should've picked up but i was losing and i had to find a way to redeem myself before i lost everything." steven said becoming a stuttering mess and looking everywhere but at bianca. "bianca, i lost every hand. the money i've been saving up all summer, it's gone. i can't even pay for my tux now. and i came here to shayla because leo was here but when i knocked leo was already gone."

"and?" bianca whispered.

"i'm sorry, i can't go to the ball with you. i'm sorry i've already fucked up as a boyfriend and you don't deserve this to be happening. i'm really fucking sorry." steven said pleading for her forgiveness. wanting her to talk to him or even look at him.

"this is absolutely fucking insane." bianca scoffed shaking her head.

"i-i mean i started losing a-and i thought i could win it back, but every hand i got things just got worse and worse and worse-"

"and what? you couldn't just pick up my call and tell them that you have to go because your girlfriend has an emergency? you could've gotten up and leave!" bianca said stepping closer to steven who looked down at her not responding. "no, of course not. who do i think i'm talking to. you wanted that kid and the others to think you were a baller."

"it wasn't like that bia-"

"then what was it like steven? huh? that was more important that anything else for you? did you ever think during your play that your luck could've run out and that you could hurt everyone just by losing? did you ever think about my feelings to hearing you say that you phone wasn't even dead! and that you wouldn't take me to this ball that i don't even want to do but the thought of going with you was the thing i was looking forward to!" bianca said even if she was doing it for her mom and susannah, steven was the other reason why she wanted to go. she was going to have her debutante ball with the boy she likes.

"bianca im sorry." steven whispered locking eyes with bianca. the seventeen year old girl felt bad for both herself and him. he looked like a little kid who just got caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do.

"i fucked up this important day for you. i'm sorry." steven breathed out. he sat himself down on the stairs and dropped his head down to his hands. bianca rolled her eyes feeling how bad she was about to cave in.

bianca sighed deeply and walked over to steven. she ran her fingers through steven's hair. steven lifted his head up and glanced up at bianca. the girl simply put his head on her stomach and continued to ran her fingers through him. she wonder what would happen if he ripped off all his hair for payback.

"you're so stupid, conklin." bianca said.

"i know." steven mumbled against her shirt. he wrapped his arms loosely around her butt and pressed his head deeper into her stomach. "im sorry for lying to you."

"we'll figure something out." bianca said taking his arms and head off her. she kneeled down in front of steven. his lips were tugged down into a frown. "but don't you dare pull that kind of shit again because that will be the last time, steven."

└─── · 。゚☆ *.☽ .* ☆゚. ───┘

the car ride back home was quiet. taylor swift was blasting through the speakers of jeremiah's car. the one that steven borrowed. bianca left leo's car at shayla's. bianca had stevens hand on her lap fidgeting with his slim fingers.

when they pulled up to the drive way they can see clear as day belly and jeremiah mouth to mouth. steven braked harshly and placed the car on park. bianca was shocked seeing what was happening in front of her.

when jeremiah left leaving a blushing belly behind, the couple took their step out. "what the freak! you and jeremiah?" steven asked shocked and disgusted.

"it just happened." belly spluttered out looking at bianca for help.

"w-when? what, just now?" steven asked flabbergasted.

"bianca," belly whined begging her to control steven. bianca looked elsewhere wanting to see where this was going. belly sighed deeply. "like a-a week ago?"

"oh, my g...are you kidding me." steven said and then he went to the extreme. what brothers usually do. he put a arm around his stomach and leaned forward gagging. "oh, oh t-this is sick. i feel like i'm gonna throw up. now i know what leo felt. oh my god are you guys were like sneaking around keeping it a secret from me this whole time?"

"this has nothing to do with you, steven! plus, it wasn't a secret. bianca knew." belly said throwing her arms in the air and pointing at bianca. steven snapped his head over at his girlfriend.

"hey, no, i thought it was still conrad."

"yeah, yeah! she's right! what about conrad?" steven asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"what about him?" belly's voice turned monotone.

"uh, i don't know, maybe the fact that you've been like goo goo gaga over him since you were ten." steven said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"well, i'm not ten anymore." belly snapped.

"yeah, no far from it." steven snapped back.

bianca felt awkward in her position wanting to take both of the conklins side. but she knows where they both stand. steven is inner channeling his older brother duties while belly is trying to move on from her conrad even if it meant going with jeremiah.

"really? because didn't bianca just turn seventeen? and you've liked her when you were seventeen and she was fifteen. which makes her a kid then and a kid now and that makes you a dirtbag. oh! and you know who else is our age? taylor. you hypocrite."

"belly what." bianca said confused to why belly even brought up taylor to begin with.

"there was no need to bring her up, belly. low blow." steven said frowning his eyebrows at belly. the younger conklin seemed to realize what she said. "i ju-i just-i just don't want things to get all screwed up. all right, come on, they're like our family, belly. this affects, like, way more than just you."

"there you go again steven. you and i both know what will happen if anything happens." belly said referring to her and the fisher boys and bianca and steven. "but you don't get a say in who i date. i get to pick, and i pick, jeremiah. you're just gonna have to trust me just like how we are all trusting you. i'm driving us bianca."

with that nelly walked inside of the car and turned it on waiting for bianca. bianca sighed and glanced over at steven who watched his sister go inside of the car.

"hey, it's going to be okay." bianca said wrapping her arms around his torso and placing her head on his chest. steven let out a rough breath and slithered his arms around her head.

"yeah, i'll see you later." steven said making bianca look back up. they shared a quick kiss earning a loud gag from belly. bianca pulled away from him and headed inside of the car.

time for the moment of chaos to truly begin...

▌ c. speaks . . . ˚. 𓄼
not edited!
ONE OR TWO MORE CHAPTERS!!!!