; cruel summer

[everett howe]

All his mental planning had not prepared him for this. Of course Everett had expected introductions and first impressions and copious socialization, but not for this betrayal from the very person who had invited him here. It felt like a cruel game he had been set up for with no chance of winning; he didn’t realize his ally, his teammate, was actually nowhere beside him this entire time. Trying not to put a magnifying glass to his thoughts and recent memories, Everett felt stunned despite the cool water at his ankles grounding him. He poured out the rest of his coffee into the ocean, no longer interested in it now that there was a clock running against him. This group friendship perplexed and frankly disturbed him now that he was up close and personal to it, growing beyond Ruby’s stories into something much more sinister. “Ruby this just seems out of nowhere,” he wishes to defend, but the ground he thinks he’s standing on is unsteady. Clearly she had thought about it enough to make up her mind; even if she changed it now, it would be impossible to stay and forget this all happened anyway. A sour taste was already spreading throughout his mouth. There was no bargaining or fixing this—she was not asking, she was telling. But even between the lines he couldn’t help but feel there was something: it’s not you it’s me, I need time, words he knew not to trust because they were shrouded in double speak. “You want me to leave,” he repeated cautiously, as if hoping he had misunderstood and she would quickly correct him. Shine that dazzling Ruby smile and enchant him like she always did, rather than stranding them. “Geez, Ruby. I, um. I don’t…” he trailed off, now unable to meet her eyes despite her fingers in his. She felt far away, each sorry punctuating like another wound. He'd just gotten here, they'd just woken up... “Like right now? What am I supposed to say to your moms?” he asked next, now having to plan his exit, an emergency he had not foreseen.

[mirren hewitt]

MIRREN

"There's a different between impulsive and deliberately hurting someone," she mumbles, eyes squinting to try to make out the forms kicking sand on the beach. They're too far away to catch any words but Mira can pinpoint the change in his body language, the freeze that physically snaps through his system. Ruby could be many things but this type of cruel wasn't one of them, toying with the metal straw between her teeth. Brows drawing down and taught, features wincing at the conversation they'd likely be glad to miss. "You know what the worst part is?" Mira starts, gaze drifting back to Colt's tensely held frame as he also witnessed the stalemate at hand. "I feel like she's inevitably going to be upset about this, or like, regret it...who knows, but she's going to come to me about it and I don't know if I have the heart to try to console her." So many warring emotions, both for one of her best friends and also the guy she'd come to tolerate in the capacity of an older brother. Kind of strange, kind of polished, but over time he'd never been nothing but nice to her. And to Ruby, trying to conjure the rosy image of her after their date and place it over the sullen expression she witnessed now. "I don't know what fucking happened, and I know it wasn't just like, the flip of a switch. Like it feels like she's hiding something else from me. Us." Mirren quickly corrects, braving her own bite of the treat she'd snagged from the kitchen. "Do you feel that too?"

[colton abernathy]

COLTON

Though largely indifferent to Everett's suffering, Colton does take the time to weigh up what Mirren has said. Did Ruby deliberately hurt him? That felt like a stretch, but then he was acutely aware of the fact he had more information at his disposal to come to that conclusion. Trying to imagine he didn't, he still feels an urge to defend their wayward friend. "I don't think it's deliberate. Recklessly hurting someone, maybe, but it's not like she woke up today and decided she wanted to hurt him, that's not Ruby." And it wasn't. For her many, many faults, Ruby was not a cruel person, though he could see how this situation would make it seem like she was. Colton does not join Mirren at the window, instead reading the situation from her expression as he rips the top off the muffin, taking a huge bite. Mira keeps going and his ability to keep up with his naive act is wearing more thin with every word. "She's not going to regret it." He says this too definitively, too confidently for someone who tended not to offer much of an opinion on such things. But the idea of her regretting it, of her crying to Mira about it in the night, is simply too irritating to give credence to. He finishes the muffin top, brushing his hands together as he turns away from the window entirely. "You're giving him way too much credit, he's completely forgettable." She keeps going on and his irritation grows. "Why do you care so much? Do you like him or something?" He catches her attempt at a save, shaking his head. "You need to be there for her, not him. Ruby's your friend, in case you've forgotten that."

[ruby anderson]

RUBY

Ruby listens to every one of his valid points. He'd just gotten here, their date was great, so what had happened? She had happened. The headstrong girl that Everett hadn't had the pleasure of meeting, only bits of pieces when they were in their own little world at NYU. And here she was, kicking him out of her safe haven. Everett's mind had to be spinning from the whiplash that she was giving him. Her eyes drop to the ocean, unable to look as he continues to process the harsh wish. But she couldn't tell him the truth. For it would only make matters worse and give in to many suspicions, lies, she wasn't ready to come to the surface. I'm not a cruel person, I'm not a cruel person, she finds herself repeating in her head as she watches each wave touch her pink painted toes.  "I know." That's all she could offer. It was out of nowhere. The giddy thoughts she'd had prior to his arrival and flirtatious texts they'd exchanged just days ago, far from her mind and in this moment. "Yes, I do," she feels the words so slowly and softly slip out of her mouth. Almost as if she contemplated changing her mind. Though they are standing so close, they feels thousands of miles apart. How would she handle it, if roles were reversed? Ruby pulls her crossed arms in closer, she bites her lip to stop it from quivering. Her heart aches, having to see him like this. This is the right thing to do creeps in like another mantra.  All of her actions once again coming to a head, reminding her that so many people were involved and had the possibly to get hurt. She braves another glance at him, as she fights back tears. Blinking fast so they won't fall down her face, giving away all the true emotions she felt. It was easier to appear like she was unaffected, even if she was failing. "Sooner rather than later, it's only going to make it harder.." she internally cringes while speaking. "We can tell them you had something come up at the lab in school, or we can tell them the truth." She thinks on how shocked the moms will be, or maybe not knowing how wayward their Ruby could be. "It's not you, remember? It's me."

[everett howe]

The colors of the beach seem to fade around them, the sounds muted, the feel of the water becoming numbing. Everett was pulled between trying to get a read on Ruby while simultaneously drowning in his own anxious thoughts, suddenly feeling a body chill like he didn’t know the girl in front of him at all. He wasn’t confident enough in his suspicions to be able to draw any more of her, and despite the coffee, his energy to do so was dwindling as his plans took a turn for the worse. Now he would be slinking back to the city, sunk by the whiplash of less than a day at Dunmere. Everett glanced around the surroundings, toward the pool house and higher beyond, tempted to walk away from her and up the path because adequate words suddenly could not be found. “Sure, Ruby,” he nods unconvinced, his disbelief quickly teetering into defeat. But the performance wasn’t over—he now had to deal with his departure on the fly, facing the den of lions all over again. “I’ll just make something up,” he waved off, realizing how many white lies connected them after all. What was one more, even if he didn’t owe her the kindness of sparing her in front of the families? “Since I don’t really know why this is happening..” he murmured as an afterthought, running his hand through his hair, slowly stepping out of the water. What now: a kiss, a hug, the hope to see her again? As if weighing the questions out loud, he shook his head, eyes flicking up to meet hers, confused by the conflict between her features and the harsh of her words. “I’m going to go pack I guess,” he tried with a shrug, sidestepping her up the beach with slow, hesitant steps. “Bye,” was all he could bring himself to offer, tilting a palm up at her, wishing he had never been invited in the first place as he paced back toward the house.

[mirren hewitt]

MIRREN

"She's not going to regret it.". It's quick, almost too quick, Mirren's curious eyes suddenly snapping to his stoic face. If there was one thing Colt often was it was indifferent, allowing the girls to do as they pleased and rare to offer his own commentary. So this is startling, both in its conviction and it's immediacy, her brow slowly rising. "How...do you know that?" He'd told her he didn't know this was happening, why was he so confident in her just moving along? The questions spin and multiply in her mind, something uneasy settling in Mirren's stomach as she drew the straw back into her mouth. "It's just awkward, I wouldn't want to be in that situation," she deflects, too tired to deal with hostility again this early. All she wanted was everyone to get along and this summer to be fine, but if there was one thing she was learning it was going to be anything but. Remembering Colt's admission how he felt left out of choices, Ruby's sudden confidence to defy other's opinions. They were changing, the unease only growing as she suddenly felt sick with realization. "I can be there for her and not agree with her." Her voice sounds weaker than intended, heart leaping as Everett stalked off the beach, leaving Ruby's curling form in his wake. "Look, he's going." The commentary feels as aimless as her thoughts are, still stuck on how assured Colt sounded about Ruby's decision as she walked back out of the laundry room. Quickly her hands go back to her pocket, firing off a quick text to Matt. Dutifully respecting her promise to Colt but making another decision in the midst of all these chaotic feelings. "morning x. i'm actually gonna come to Amagansett next weekend I think, lmk what time you'll be back on Thurs?"

[colton abernathy]

COLTON

Colton takes a long slurp of his protein shake, all too aware that he's said too much. Time to plead the fifth. Mirren's eyes search his face and he's well aware of how well she can read him, being careful to maintain a still expression with no micro expressions whatsoever. "Because she doesn't regret much." That at least was true. Ruby could barrel into situations and come out scot free more than anyone else he knew, which was one of the many things he held against her. Mira doesn't rise to his flared temper and he's glad, it gives him the pause he needs to remember that they had only just patched things up and he didn't want to go back to them not speaking, however short lived that had been.  He turns away from the window entirely, not wanting to see any more. "Maybe she'll tell us why she did it sometime, maybe she won't. It's none of my business." If only that were true. Though he had insisted on this very event happening, he doesn't want to see it unfold, gaining no satisfaction from seeing Everett walk away. He doesn't immediately follow,  stuck between wanting to keep a low profile and wanting to go to Ruby. He takes advantage of the newfound privacy to fire off a text to her. It'll be OK. Come hang out when the coast is clear. Moving out of the laundry room and pocketing his phone as he goes, he sighs. "Wanna go get a coffee? Feels weird hanging around to watch him go."

[ruby anderson]

RUBY

She can't find the words. He's still willing to protect her in a sense, making something up about his abrupt departure. Again, Ruby didn't deserve any of his kindness. Everett stepped away from her and the water. A wave larger than the previous ones crashing into Ruby's leg, startling her a bit. Crisp, cold water splashing up a bit further onto her thighs. She peels her eyes away from the water and to look upon the man she'd come to know well. Sharing moments in his office, sitting in her secret coffee shop and kissing in the back of the car on the day of the eclipse. His head shaking with loads of skepticism on his face. He was now muttering his goodbyes that she pushed upon him. "Goodbye Everett, I-" mumbles from her mouth, as she watches his steps back to the Dunmere house. Ruby longed to say she's sorry once more, but she cuts herself off, knowing there wasn't any use for her apologies.  And so she's left with the repercussions of her actions. Everett disappears into the house and she exhales, in disbelief that she actually did this. Standing alone on the beach and running sweaty palms through the front sections of her long blonde hair. Her phone buzzes in the pocket of her shorts as she walks away from the water, heading towards the fluffy sand closest to the house. Typically she didn't like to sit on the sand without a towel but she plops down, holding her face in her hands as she takes a few more deep breaths. Happy to be alone and through with such a conversation. It was harsh, borderline ruthless and her own mind was spinning with all the realizations she'd come to last night.  Ruby didn't want to be in the house while Everett packed up and left, nor did she want to see the obvious judgment, misunderstanding on Mirren's face. The phone vibrates again, reminding of an unread message. Her eyes scan the message from Colton, his reassurance that it would be okay. It does help slightly with the guilt that was overcoming her, and she types her reply to him. thank you colty. i just want to be alone for a little bit. i'll talk to you later She stands wiping the sand from her shorts and back of her legs, and continues down the familiar beach in hopes to clear what's on her mind.

[everett howe]

He barely hears her goodbye over the roar of his thoughts. Back through the sliding glass doors and up to his makeshift room, Everett quietly locked the door behind him and stood frozen, measuring his breath. The last few minutes played on loop through his mind, jarred by the shift of realities. One minute hopeful for the day and all their adventures, the next minute wishing he could escape through a window back to the car outside. Then he realizes he hasn’t seen Mirren or Colton yet this morning, a strange flash of suspicion rising up in him that he tried to shake off in order to tuck everything back into his bag, popping some medication for good measure. It’s a stark realization that Ruby doesn’t even bother to see him off. It’s impossible for him to shift out of his own head and into someone else’s shoes so he focuses only on his escape, rehearsing lies in his head. Returning to the kitchen with his empty mug in hand, the ladies turn to greet him but quickly notice his bag and the jangle of his keys. “Hi, I hate to do this to you…” he started, heart loud in chest as he explained that there was a major communication back in the city with his lab, and he was in charge while his advisor was away. He tried to reel in the details while apologetically declining their suggestions and pities, adamant that he needed to leave. “Maybe another weekend,” he offered weakly, almost certain that he would not be able to return, nor want to. “Thank you again,” he said to the mothers, embarrassed about his cameo appearance, not looking back as he beelined for the car and willed himself back to safety.

[mirren hewitt]

MIRREN

Mirren admittedly feels more relaxed when Matt's typing bubble appears, approving of her plan. If there was one thing Matt was good for it was over communicating, probably halfway through texting his parents about grilling out one night as she surveys Colt's home away from the house this summer. It feels weirdly clandestine to be in here, even if she'd invaded his room in Dunmere time and time again for requests or just to nag. Another shift to note, letting out a slow breath as Colt finally follows. The gap between Ruby's actions and Mirren's moral compass continued to grow, and she'd rather stay silent right now than fall through. So she lets it go for the time being, waiting until Everett makes it back to the house before nodding. "Yeah. Wanna buy me Jack's? We can take the Jeep, I suck at balancing my cup on my bike still." Honestly she should invest in a cupholder but blasting music and getting her hands on a steering wheel sounds enticing right now, hunting down the Birkenstocks she'd left at the door. "I'll meet you at the car? My keys are in the mudroom." Her eyes trail down the beach, Ruby's form gone. "We should probably get Ruby one too."