Jenmarie's POV

It's about 11am when I wake up to my phone buzzing on the floor beside me as I'm still curled up in the living room. Mari and Z are nowhere to be seen. I grab my phone and pull it back to adjust my eyes to the brightness of the screen before reading.

729-939-XXXX:
Hey, beautiful!

729-939-XXXX:
I hope you're having a good morning ☀️

729-939-XXXX:
Damn I hope this isn't a wrong number

Me:
Uhhh. Who is this? 🤔

I silently pray to myself hoping Jackson's brother didn't ask Jackson for my number from Mariama. I'll fight her if she gave him that shit.

729-939-XXXX:
Brandon.. from the carnival, is this Jenmarie?

Me:
Oh shit oh my God hey! Yeah it's me, sorry I just got scared that it was that weird kid from last night!

Brandon🤓🥵:
There were a lot of weird kids last night which one specifically? Zion? Nick?

Me:
Oh nah lmao y'all are cool. I thought someone gave my number to that kid, Corey.

Brandon🤓🥵:
I thought his name was Connor?

Me:
Was it?

I call out to Mariama who's in the shower but she's not answering so I head into Zarahi's  room where she's passed out while snuggling with the Stuffed Elephant in her arms, she looks so cute! But I need answers, I pick up a pillow and smack her on the head.

"What the fuck Jen?" She grumbles, and I ask her what the name of the weird kid from last night was, "who? Zion or Nick?"

"Neither bitch, tell me why Brandon asked the same thing," I start laughing since they both dubbed Zion and Nick the weird ones. "I'm talking about the kid I got set up with."

"You-" Zarahi sits up in her bed taking the pillow off of her. "You don't remember the name of the kid you spent the entire night with?" Before I Can even defend myself she continues, "That's crazy.. His name was Connor now, can I go back to sleep?" I walk out of her room and back to my own room, upset at my own discovery.

Me:
Oh shit

Me:
Damn yeah you right, his name is Connor... 😬

Brandon🤓🥵:
How did you go on a date with this kid and not even remember his name? 🤣

Me:
Bro! He wasn't memorable! And he annoyed me the entire time, plus I wasn't really paying that much attention to his annoying ass. Your group was more entertaining.

Brandon🤓🥵:
So what I'm hearing is I caught your eye? 😏

Me:
You're stupid lmao 😂

Brandon🤓🥵:
Still didn't hear a no, so I'll take it. What are you girls planning on doing today anyway?

I explain to him that Mariama is in the shower and Zarahi is still in bed and I just woke up so we have no plans yet for today. He seemed to think that was great news because he's over here inviting us over to his and the boys house?? Their house? Like they didn't just meet us less than 24 hours ago? What kind of shit? What's worse is the fact that I responded with okay, asked him what time we should come down, and for him to send the address. He's just too fine I can't NOT agree to go see him! Or else That'd made me even more crazy.

I just don't know how the girls are gonna react to our new plans. I can already tell Z is gonna be mad about waking up, I'm not even gonna tell her what we're doing until we're on our way there...

Brandon agrees to 3pm and I make my way to Mari's room since she's out the shower already.

"Hey girl...." I trail off in a higher pitch, entering her room.

"Goddamit, what'd you do now? I thought Z and I already explained the rules to yo-" mariama groaned hearing my tone of voice.

"Umm Okay, first of all, rude. It's accurate, but still mad rude. And second... so I maybe might've agreed to us going over to the boys, that we met last night's, house..." I laugh nervously. I'm met with a deep sigh before she speaks.

"What time do we have to be there," she rolls her eyes. I look at her with my eyebrows furrowed for sure that she would be mad. "I can't even say nothing. I set you up on a trash ass date yesterday you deserve a little fun today. Can't say Z will think the same tho..." Mari trails off and I explain to her that we aren't telling Z exactly where we're going until where already headed there.
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Outfits

Jenmarie

Mariama

Zarahi
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We convinced Z to leave the house, I told her I was gonna buy her something since I promised her yesterday that I would, and I still haven't.

"So are we getting food? Going to the mall? Shopping? Ooh can we go to Rodeo drive? Actually... on second thought ion got money like that. So what are we doing?" Zarahi says after a while of us being in the Uber, "what you gonna buy me ma'am?"

We've been on the road for about a good 10 minutes so I think it's safe to tell her because knowing her, she ain't gonna walk all the way back home.

"So we're gonna have a nice little hang out!" She looks at me weird but nods her head knowing I still haven't answered her question. "Well we're not getting food- and yes I know you only had a pop tart this morning but that's your fault for not getting up when I woke you." I pointed out as she groaned and slumped back in her seat.

"So then what are we doing?" She asks pouting while looking out the window at the palm trees passing by. "Hey Uhh.. what happened to all the stores? These are houses... Mari, I swear to god if we're going to Jackson's Grandparents house I'll-"

"Uh uh I've got nothing to do with this. Jen is the one that knows what's happening, I'm simply enjoying the ride," Mariama cuts in.

"We're going to the boys house! Surprise!" I try to share my excitement and I'm met with a pair of squinted eyes and crossed arms.

"What boys, Ma'am?" Zarahi questions me, clearly not liking the turn of events already.

Before I can respond I receive a text from Brandon saying to let him know where we get to the house. I text him back letting him know he's got great timing because we just got here. We climb out of the car, Zarahi more reluctant than any of us. First thing when we get out of the car and the uber pulls away is Edwin run out of the house with a slice of pizza in his hands.

"That's my fucking slice you fucking gremlin!" Zion runs out of the house after him. I'm not sure if they didn't see us but when Edwin took a bite out of the pizza all hell broke loose between the two and Zion tackled him.

"Oh hey guys!" Brandon walks out of the front door. "Glad you could come!" He starts waving us in and all I know is I'm not just gonna stand out here while his fine ass is asking me to get in his house and out of the heat that's for damn sure.

"Bitch, are you deadass? So you really ain't buying me nothing? This is some Bull Shit!" Z complains before walking over to the two boys on the ground outside as Mari and I follow Brandon indoors.

Zarahi's POV

I make my way over to the two boys rolling around on the pavement and start lightly kicking Zion's back with my shoe as Edwin laughs while being trapped in a choke hold and hugging onto Zions arm. I- like how is he laughing? He shouldn't even be getting oxygen right now.

"Yo palm tree," I call out but I'm ignored, so I try again. "Yo CinnaMon and Bad Apple looking headasses. Im not aboutta just stand here while y'all fight over pizza. I'll walk in the house and take the last slice." I nudge them apart with my foot still refusing to put much effort into their little fight. They both let go of each other and stood up from the ground.

"That was the last slice!" Zion whines and I shut my eyes. I slowly open them back up and turn to look at Edwin, "well damn, you done fucked up huh?" And I laugh before turning and making my way back up to the house to meet up with the girls and start a little fight for my entertainment.

I pass Mariama on my way in, I'm confused until she points to her phone, Jackson. I rolled my eyes but she was out the door before we could fight about my attitude. Weird but whatever I guess...

I continued to make my way in and saw Brandon and Jen standing pretty close together... now I could let this play out... or- I could interrupt them and start a mini argument.. I'm trying to weight out the best option here. Cuz they look cute together and I could let them have a whole moment... but I've only got four seconds to decide. Then I remembered where I am and the fact that Jen still ain't bought me nothing...

"Brandon-"

Mariama's POV

I walked into the house after Brandon with Jen just thinking to myself, 'How did I get strapped into this? How in the hell am I in the house of some boys that we met a day ago?' I sigh to myself and shake away my thoughts. 'As long as Jackson doesn't find out it should all be good I guess.' My phone starts buzzing and my breath catches in my throat.

I slowly look down at the caller ID, "Speak of the Devil" I mumble before excusing myself and walking out the front door just as Z walks back in. Before she can ask I just pointed to my phone mouthing "Jackson," she understood, rolling her eyes and I just continued walking out afraid to miss his call and she continued walking in as I picked up the phone.

"Hey baby," he says over the line. "What you doing?" I make my way past Edwin and Zion who are heading into the house as well.

"Hey babe, just hanging out, why? what's up?" I ask him a bit confused as to why he's calling. I mean... he's staying at his grandparents house, with his cousins... you'd think he'd wanna spend some quality time with them.

"I just miss you is all! I feel like I haven't seen you in forever," he sighs into the phone and I pull it away from my ear looking back at the screen confused.

"You- what do you mean? We were just together yesterday," I laugh a bit. "How are your cousins and brother doing by the way?"

"My cousins? Yeah, they're all good y'know, uh fishing and whatnot. My brother, a bit upset because Jen don't want him but she is a heart breaker so it was inevitable!" He laughs into the phone but I'm not finding what he said that funny seeing as Jen is always the one getting hurt by guys not the other way around, but she doesn't let anyone really see that.

"Yeah, well I gotta go! I'm a bit busy right now," I say to him and he cuts in-

"Busy with what? Who are you with?" He sounds a bit off but it's whatever.

"Just with the girls hanging out and-

"Mariama! Jen's asking where you are! Get in the house!" Zion yells out the door to me and I know Jackson heard it because his voice got deeper, angrier.

"Mari, babe," he asks as I mumble back a response. "Who the fuck was that? And why the fuck is he telling you to get back 'in the house'? Who's house are you at right now?" I start to panic and try to calm him down.

"No it's, it's not like that. Jen just wanted to hang out wi-"

"Jenmarie wanted to WHORE AROUND? Why am I not surprised?" Jackson darkly laughs into the phone and before I could argue with him he continues. "I bet that little SKANK Sahara Desert wanted to SLUT around too! Un-fucking-believable! HOW ARE YOU FRIENDS WITH THEM?! Wherever you are I want you the FUCK OUT NOW OR SO HELP ME MARIAM-" I feel tears threatening to pool from my eyes as the phone is ripped out of my hand.

"Mannn.. Fuck You." Was all that was said into the phone before it was hung up and arms were wrapped around me. "Hey, it's gonna be okay Mari," the person says while hugging my into them and smoothing my hair. I can feel my body wanting to sob right then and there but I refused.
Jen, Z, and I, try to avoid crying at all costs unless it's just us three together. But in front of other people? That's not us at all. I take a deep breath calming myself down and pull away from the hug, refusing to let my emotions take over.

"I- uh- thanks," I look up so see Zion with furrowed eyebrows looking at me confused. "But it's okay. Really. It's no big deal. Just a couples quarrel type thing. It's all good. I appreciate you trying to look out for me." I Pat his chest, "that was sweet of you."

I start making my way back inside and turn my head to see him still just standing there. "Well are you coming, Zion? Or are you just gonna stand there all day?" I laugh covering up any sad emotions I'm feeling and he starts following me in with a blank face. Well this might've just made the day more interesting...

Jenmarie's POV

I follow Brandon into the house and only a few minutes pass before Mariama walks out with her phone in her hand. I don't even have time to ask her what's wrong when I hear Brandon speak.

"So.. Jen, I didn't expect you to come if I'm being honest," he laughs rubbing the back of his neck. that's hot..

"Oh, did you uh.. not want me to?" I ask him confused but wanting to hear his response, he stood there for a minute and I just think 'Damn he's fine.'

"Thanks!" He laughs smiling real big and my eyes go wide realizing what I just did.

"Oh shit did I just-"

"Yeah, it was cute tho, I think you're fine too. I'm glad you came, I was hoping we could actually get to know each other better." He takes a step closer to me but before I can respond we're interrupted.

"Brandon! You seem like the father here, tell Edwin he's a jerk," Zarahi says walking in the house, crossing her arms and pouting, she looks like a cute little brats doll when she does that! But did this bitch really have to ruin my moment!

"Edwin you're a jerk," Brandon automatically says to Edwin, who walks through the front door, with absolutely no hesitation. I have to laugh!

"Are you- what did I do now?!" Edwin whines, "I didn't even do nothing!" He continues confused as to why he's being called names.

"You didn't- didn't DO NOTHING? How do I get dragged to a house with out having eaten-"

"You had a pop tart," I cut in.

"Shut up," she whines. "You're fucking up my argument!" And I just raise my hands for her to continue.

"I haven't eaten anything all day! And then I find out you ate the last slice of pizza?! Like what kind of son are you?" She finishes.

"THAT'S WHAT IM SAYING! HE'S A GREMLIN!" Zion shouts having walked in when Z started ranting.

Brandon laughs and walks closer to them trying to resolve the issue while Z and Edwin keep bickering with each other each attacking the others height as if Edwin isn't taller than her 5'2, and 3/4 that she emphasizes so much as if it makes her any taller, self. I don't know why she's attacking his height as if he can't see right over her head.

"God where's Mari," I mumble to myself but Zion apparently hears me over all the commotion and calls out to her before heading out the door.

I just can't look away from the train wreck that is Edwin and Zarahi right now! This is entertaining as shit!

Brandon finally gets them to chill after a while. Saying he's ordering more pizza, which I offered to help him pay for but he refused. He simply told us that we're guests in the house and he insisted on taking care of it. I love a responsible man! Don't have many of those around anymore.. God this man is something else.

My thoughts are interrupted when Mari comes back in with a smile on her face, but somethings off, and Zion comes trailing in behind her with no readable emotion on his. 'what the fuck happened out there?' I wanna ask but instead just give Mariama a 'we'll talk about this later look' and she nods.

"Who the fuck ate the last slice of mother fuc-" Nick walks into the room yelling before cutting himself off. "oh shit! Hey girls!" A shirtless Nick says awkwardly waving at us. Did he not just hear the whole argument between the smallest people in the house? It was like two loud ass chihuahuas fighting.

I laugh and Mariama just looks away from him not wanting him to hit on her again. The only one of us I see looking at his shirtless chest is Z, and that's cuz Z's innocent ass ain't used to seeing shirtless guys around unless it's her brothers so this is some new territory for her. Her eyes are wide as fuck like a deer in headlights and that only makes me laugh harder.

"Oh? You like what you see, doll?" Nick says looking down at Z who's sitting on the couch. She quickly regains her composure and lets out a small laugh.

"Ion know, Ion see much," she shrugs and makes the other three boys laugh. Nick was a bit butt hurt at first but laughed it off and sat down with us.

We were playing a little question game to get to know things about each other. So far everyone knows each other's ages. They know that We're staying for the summer before we have to head back to New York. And Nick and Z got a bit hype finding out they were both from Jersey before she moved in with Mari and I a couple months ago. We were all having fun asking and answering questions until a question got an answer we didn't expect...

"So uh... where's-" Zarahi's question gets cut off by the back door opening and laughter that followed.

Austin walks in with his skateboard in one hand and a girl under his other. That's crazy. Never is this lanky, blonde boy, a player. I quickly look at Z who stares back at Mari and I with wide eyes.

"That's crazy.." Z says out loud and Mari and I nod as Brandon's mouth dropped open in shock. Austin's smile drops as he notices us all casually sitting in the room.

"Oh, uh.. hey guys," Austin says awkwardly. "What's up?" He questions trying to lighten the mood.

"Oh we're just chilling y'know," Nick says casually throwing his arm over Zarahi, pulling her closer to him. And I Oop.. I look at her confused and she just covers her mouth looking at me the same way. "B invited the girls over. So we're spending time getting to know three beautiful ladies."

"Four?" The girl standing behind Austin jumped in.

"Do you always gotta include yourself in everything?" Zion groans and I look in his direction shocked he just said that shit.

"You can never