Chapter Text
—I just can’t understand why we couldn’t stay in LA —Complained Mitchell, probably for the hundredth time—. I was already invited to so many parties!
—And I was finally allowed to go to one! —Added Valentina, sounding just as whiny as her brother.
—And I had so many plans with the girls! —Pouted Lacy—. We were going to go to the mall and the beach and have so much fun!!
—As I just explained to you, my dear children, I have important business to attend to in this town for the whole summer —Answered Aphrodite, as she retouched her lipstick on the mirror of the Cadillac Escalade’s passenger seat.
—What kind of business can you have in a town with less than ten thousand habitants? —Asked Piper, her arms crossed over her chest, as she stared into the window with a teenage grumpy face—. Can it even be called a “town”?
—That’s the year-round population, sweetie; in summer, it goes up to seventy thousand! That’s a lot of people for you to meet —Explained Aphrodite—. Some of those persons have big influences in LA and even bigger wallets. They invited me to spend the summer here and go to the country club with them to discuss our future projects and I just couldn’t say no.
—Okay, but why did we have to come? —Asked Drew—. We could have just stayed home!
Aphrodite let out a very amused (but still graceful sounding) laugh.
—After what happened last summer, my love? I’m never leaving you kids alone again.
—But we’re not kids anymore, mom —Argued Drew—. I’m an adult!
—You’re barely eighteen.
—Silena’s nineteen!
—Yes, but she wanted these family vacations just as much as I do.
Each one of the Love siblings (Katie, the honorary one, included) stared at their eldest sister in utter betrayal.
—C’mon, guys —Said Silena, turning her back to the car’s side window so she could look at her siblings—. When was the last time all of us spent a whole summer together? This is going to be so much fun!
—Not funnier than Austin Lake’s pool parties —Mumbled Mitchell.
—I’ve just missed you guys so much during the school year in New York —Continued Silena, as she took the hand of the sister sitting at her side—. Drew, when was the last time we dressed up together and went out?
—I… I don’t know —Admitted Drew.
—And Mitch, when was the last time we played around with makeup together? We used to have tons of fun!
—Um… It was before you went to college, I think.
—Pipes, it’s been ages since I went to one of your volleyball games. I always loved seeing you play!
—I looked into the country club’s team yesterday —Confessed Piper, a shy hand lightly scratching her neck—. They seem pretty good. And I liked how you braided my hair before every game.
—See? I’m not alone in this one, guys —Silena now turned her head towards her other sister—. Tina, I can’t remember the last time we did karaoke together. You obviously sing so much better than me, but it was always so lovely singing along with you.
—We did do some awesome ABBA covers.
—Yes we did! And Lacy… —Silena extended a hand to the third row of seats to take her youngest sister’s—. God, Lacy. You’ve grown up so much since the last time I saw you. I feel like I’m missing out on your most important years.
—I missed you a lot during the school year —Said Lacy—. The house it’s not the same without our big sister.
—Aw, baby. I missed you too —Silena showed her sister one of her usual kind, loving smiles, and then she turned to look at the rest of her siblings—. I missed all of you. Please, guys. I’m in great need for some family quality time. You can all go to parties and hang out with your friends the rest of the year, but, this? Three months of the Loves together in one house? Maybe we won’t get many more chances of this in the near future. So… Can we please give this summer a chance?
—Of course we can! —Lacy was the first one to give in.
—Maybe I can use this little retreat to focus on my music —Said Valentina.
—And I guess an entire summer of playing volleyball and eating pizza by the pool doesn’t sound so bad —Agreed Piper.
Drew and Mitchell looked at each other, knowing they were the last ones who needed convincing.
After considering Silena’s words for a moment, Drew finally sighed and took her best friend’s hand.
—Well, honey, at least I’ll have you here with me.
—Aw, thanks, babe —Said Katie, squeezing back her hand—. And I don’t want to take sides on this thing, guys, but Silena does have a point. I wish my family was like yours. You should really make the most of it while you still can.
All eyes now turned to Mitchell.
—Who knows? —Continued Katie, taking the boy’s hand with her free one—. Maybe we can all find love this summer.
—Ugh, fine —Agreed Mitchell, rolling his eyes—. But only because I’m weak for a good old summer love story.
As Silena and Lacy cheered, Drew saw Aphrodite’s satisfied smirk on the mirror.
—In case you needed some more convincing… —The woman casually pointed at her left—. That is going to be our house for the summer.
-
—I’ll take this bedroom!
—In your dreams, McLean. This is ours.
—What? No, I called for it first!
—Yes, but we are two and I’m older than you. Now move your ass.
Drew pushed her sister out of the room and closed the door, leaving Piper shouting at her from the other side.
—God, sisters —Complained Drew, as she carried her suitcase into the bedroom—. In moments like this, I envy your small family.
—I’d do anything to have a family as big as yours —Said Katie, as she did the same with her own luggage—. Annoying sisters and all.
—Yeah, you’re just saying that.
—Why didn’t you let her have this room? Aren’t all the bedrooms the same except for your mom’s suite?
—Maybe, but this one is next to Mitch’s and it has a gorgeous view.
—Liar. You wanted it just to mess with Piper.
—Yeah. That too.
Katie’s laughter was soon followed by a smirk from Drew.
So what if she was a little mean? She had a reputation to keep, after all.
—I can’t believe this house is so big and beautiful —Said Katie, as she walked towards the balcony to get a better view of the outside—. We’re literally on the beach! And that pool… and that garden!! It’s almost as pretty as your LA house.
—Mom doesn’t really know how to do “small”. Not that I’m complaining, though.
—Yeah. You’re literally the same.
—Are you decent? —Asked a voice from outside, right after knocking a few times.
—Highly questionable —Answered Drew, as she opened her suitcase and looked for her makeup bag.
—We’re both dressed, Mitch —Said Katie—. Come on in.
—Hey, babes —Said Mitchell, as he entered the room—. Do you want to-
The apparition of two figures running down the hallway behind him interrupted his words.
—See you at the beach, suckers!!! —Shouted Valentina, already in her bikini.
—Last one there is a drugstore lipstick! —Yelled Lacy, wearing a swimsuit as well and following her sister closely.
Silena appeared at Drew’s door a second later.
—Hey guys! Piper and I are going to see the country club. Do you want to come with us?
—Oh, I was just about to ask them if they wanted to go to the local shops with me —Said Mitchell.
—Ew, Mitch —Drew scrunched up her nose—. I have a feeling you won’t find a Gucci store here.
—Ohh, but maybe that’s the fun of it! —Intervened Katie, walking towards Mitchell as she literally took his side—. A cute handmade summer dress? You never know what unique pieces you can find in a small town like this!
—Exactly! —Agreed Mitchell, holding Katie’s arm as he showed her a smile—. Let’s check out those local boys. I mean, shops.
As Katie giggled, Drew rolled her eyes and opened up her mascara.
—Fine, let’s go. But you are buying me a mint ice cream.
-
An hour later, the three of them were happily walking out of the town’s ice cream shop when they bumped into someone.
Or, rather, Mitchell did.
So distracted by not letting the ice cream drops fall onto his shirt, he had failed to look up when he got out. An equally distracted boy, who had been walking with his eyes glued to his phone, had literally bumped into him, causing Mitchell’s cone to crush straight into his own shirt.
A pair of sky blue eyes finally looked up from the phone and widened at the sight in front of them.
—Shit.
Surprise was written all over the boy's kind-of-elfish features, from his upturned eyebrows to his opened mouth. When he looked at Mitchell’s face, his tan skin got a little blush on his cheeks, but, when he focused back on the stain on the shirt, he seemed to get out of shock.
—Oh shit, oh shit, I’m so sorry!!! —He exclaimed, as he ran a nervous hand through his mop of auburn curls—. I… Let me…
—My new Lacoste polo! —Whined Mitchell, his eyes still fixed on the chocolate stain on his chest—. It’s pure organic cotton! I bought it in France!
—Annabeth, quick, bring me some napkins! —Ordered the boy, as he seemed to debate internally whether to touch or not Mitchell’s shirt.
The blonde girl that was with him —Annabeth, presumably— huffed.
—What am I, your slave?
However, at that moment, Katie came running from inside the ice cream shop.
—Here!! —She said, putting the napkins on the boy’s hand.
—Thanks! —He said, showing her the quickest smile before starting to clean the big brown stain on the center of the polo—. I’m so, so sorry. I was just looking at my phone and… I… I didn’t… I’m sorry.
The boy looked into Mitchell’s eyes, with the most remorseful puppy eyes.
3… 2… 1…
There it was. The moment Drew had been waiting for while she calmly ate her ice cream and watched the scene. The reason why she hadn’t gone full on bitch when that boy dared to touch her brother.
Mitchell stared back at the boy and Drew could see all over his face the way he was melting inside.
—It’s okay —He said, letting out a dramatic sigh as he looked down at his polo—. Pastel yellow was never my color, anyway. I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought it.
The boy let out a relieved little laugh.
—It looks good on you —He said, almost instantly.
A moment after, he seemed to realize what he had just said and he blushed even more intensely than before.
Ah, the Love charm. It never failed to work.
—I mean… —He continued, stumbling over his words—. It looked good on you until I stained it… Not that it doesn’t look good on you anymore! What I’m trying to say is-
—I refuse to keep witnessing this —Said the other girl, Annabeth—. If you need me, I’ll be inside with Jason.
Right after saying that, she entered the shop, where the boy who had served them ice cream was looking at the whole thing with worried eyes.
Drew looked back at her brother and found that the other boy was still staring at him with the most love-struck eyes.
She and Katie exchanged a knowing smile.
—Please, let me make it up to you —Begged the boy.
—I’m listening —Stated Mitchell, very obviously putting on his hard-to-get face.
—Let me buy you another cone.
—And...?
—And… Let me invite you guys to tomorrow’s bonfire!
—What bonfire?
—The first bonfire of all the ones we do at the beach this season. You guys are new here this summer, right?
—Maybe.
—Then this is the perfect opportunity for you to meet everybody!! C’mon, all the cool people will be there. And, by that, I mean me and all my friends. So… Watcha say?
Mitchell subtly looked at Drew, as if asking for her opinion.
A bonfire would most definitely not be her first option to hang out. Wouldn’t there be bugs on the beach? And wouldn’t the sand get in her sandals? Or the smell of the smoke stick to her clothes? She wouldn’t even be able to sit without ruining her skirt!
But, on the other side, if that was where all the people their age would be that night, she wanted to meet them. Maybe it would be a bit hard to make a glam, grand entrance on a beach but, if anyone could manage it, that was her. And, besides, Mitchell appeared to have found himself a possible summer love. Who was she to get in the way of that?
She lightly nodded at her brother.
—Okay, we may see you there —Said Mitchell—. Where is this bonfire?
—South end of the beach! You’ll see it once you get closer.
—Great. Now, if you excuse us, I need to go back home and change.
—Wait! Won’t you let me buy you another ice cream?
—Not with this shirt, I won’t. But I’ll hold you to it, pretty boy.
This time, the boy didn’t blush. This time, his eyes gleamed with something that looked a lot like mischief and his lips showed Mitchell an enticing smirk.
—Deal —He said—. And the name is Connor, by the way, but you can call me whatever you want.
Mitchell extended a perfectly manicured hand forward and batted his eyelashes at Connor.
—I’m Mitchell —He said, as the other boy took his hand—. Mitchell LeBau.
—Nice to meet you, Mitchell LeBau. I'm really hoping to see you again tomorrow.