Liz rubbed her eyes, feeling Parker's chest rise and fall underneath her. He slept peacefully as she played with his curls just like she had so many times last night. It was 5 am and there were a million messages on her phone. All asking where she was, what she was doing and if she knew where Parker and Jeff were. Her heart sank down to her toes.

"Parker." She said quietly, over the morning air,

He blinked slowly, waking up to see her laying on top of him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close for a moment, "I...think I love you." He breathed, maybe still half asleep,

She watched him closely, searching his sleepy face, "You love me...?"

He hesitated, looking away for a second, almost like he was embarrassed he said it. He pulled her a little closer and kissed her softly, "More than I'm letting on."

She sighed somberly. She might have already known that–somewhere deep down. She felt like every second they spent together, they just kept digging themselves deeper...

She smiled, but it was fragile. "I dunno, Parker. Being in love makes it seem a little less hot." She parted her hair over her shoulders,

He grinned, "Fuck off."

He looked away for a second, playing with her curls too as they lay in silence, "You don't have to do that, you know." His voice was soft,

She rested her head on her hands on top of his chest, "Do what?"

He kept playing with her hair, looking into her eyes, less like he was searching. More like he had found something, "Change the subject–or joke. Whenever you get scared? It's okay. I'm scared too." He pulled her into his arms again,

He wasn't lying. As he said it, with his arms wrapped tightly around her, she could feel his heart pounding, fast and steady against her chest.

They stayed tangled together just for a little while longer as the sun rose over the valley.

Later they got dressed and Parker drove her home mostly in silence. They kissed each other goodbye and he drove off, looking happy but slightly shattered. Bijoux greeted Liz excitedly at the door and she smiled weakly, picking her up and carrying her upstairs to her room.

When she opened the door, she was met with the same scent of the girls' perfume, the mess on her vanity and Parker's bow tie and jacket folded carelessly on her bed. She picked them up, throwing them into the back of her closet. Her breath hitched as they hit the ground . She felt tears building in her eyes. She tried to blink them away, but as she got under the covers, the weight of everything fell on her; The cheating, the guilt, being caught, and all at once. She hugged Bijoux tight, brushing her fingers through her curls as she sobbed.

Sunday brunch was the place where the wealthiest families of Sunset Valley would gather together on the second Sunday of every month. It was always held in De Gualle's Country Club. There they'd wisp on about their recent trips to Megève, new Wall Street investments and their arguments with their children's nannies who undoubtedly acted as their husband's mistresses.

Brunch was always held in the ballroom. It was absolutely stunning, with its vaulted ceilings, gilded wall length mirrors, marble floors and crystal chandeliers. Waiters in white gloves floated between tables with china and tiny pasties. The air smelled distinctly of champagne and fake pleasantries.

The girls usually used brunch as an opportunity to show off every month, given they wore a uniform to school. Liz wore a pink furry Ozalana haute couture dress with bow details and her favorite Sugar Thrillz heels. Lisa of course wore the matching blue dress with gem detailing and a matching blue set of sugar thrillz. Kaylynn wore a pink frilled Liz Lisa dress with cute black dotted details and black Liz Lisa mary janes with lace socks. Holly, who had fully curated a wardrobe suited to her taste, had really gotten into styling herself, wearing a cream, diamond studded collar miu miu dress and baby pink Louboutins. She felt like a princess entering her castle.

Holly was still riding the high of winning homecoming queen. As she walked in, holding Parker's hand, her steps felt lighter, her smile was brighter. Heads turned as she walked by, and whispers floated through the crowd. Even adults had started to take note of her. She could feel all their eyes on her from every corner of the room. It was simultaneously flattering and terrifying. Was this really just what happened when you won homecoming? You just suddenly became the most popular girl in Sunset? That title still clearly belonged to Elizabeth, but it was enthralling to have a little taste.

She watched as her father, Nicolas, and her mother, Vita, mingled with Edward and Alice. Wine glasses in hand as they tilted their heads to their daughter. Nicolas was usually stern and hard to please. Today he smiled unfamiliarly in her direction. Edward and Alice glanced in her direction as well. Holly watched as Alice's eyes flickered from her, to Parker and back to her. Her expression looked like she approved; almost like she was relieved.

Nicolas was much like Edward. Maybe a bit more present, but also much harsher. When he was home, he didn't ignore Holly; rather he expressed disappointment in almost everything she did. If not her grades, then her clothing. If not her clothing, then her lack of friends and social skills. But ever since they'd moved to Sunset Valley–ever since Elizabeth and the girls had taken Holly under their wings–he'd grown more welcoming of her presence.

He dabbled in residential real estate, instead of commercial and had moved the Alto family to Sunset to lock down business in another nearby city. Today as he mingled with Edward, he looked like he was interested in striking up a deal. With his now "perfect family," he fit right in with the Sunset Valley values, just like Ecochards.

Meanwhile Lisa was riding a different kind of high. Alice and Judy always encouraged Liz and Lisa to use brunch as an opportunity to network and raise themselves up in Sunset Valley's community. Across the brunch ballroom, Lisa was fully 'on' today, having introduced herself to Nick and Vita and courted casual conversation with Mr. Koffi. Now she was fully immersed in an en Français back and forth with Geoffrey Landgraab, Malcolm's father and the president of Lumiere Erudit.

Liz couldn't bring herself to get immersed in the setting today. Since she arrived, she'd spent most of her time pressed against the wall. Yesterday she had fended off the text swarm with a lie she and Parker had agreed upon. She "wasn't feeling well." Parker got distracted goofing around with Jefferey. She was surprised Jefferey agreed to protect them but she wasn't going to spend too much time thinking about it. She was exhausted. She watched Parker walk Holly over to Kaylynn hand in hand. The two girls practically squealed together over something that must have happened at the dance on Friday. She didn't have the energy to try to find out about what it was.

"Lisa's just gonna spend the whole brunch talking to all the adults and being boring," Lynn swayed Holly's arms as she laughed, "Wanna ditch and go to the pool?"

"The Pool?" Holly laughed,

Lynn nodded, taking Holly's hand and running to the back building of the country club. They tripped over their heels, laughing together and holding hands as they ran. Their laughter echoed through the manicured hedges and topiaries on the way there.

Through large glass doors, an infinity pool stretched out. It shimmered under the early afternoon sun. It was a breathtaking backdrop with the mountains outside Sunset Valley.

"It's so pretty." Holly breathed, as she walked through the doors.

"Yeah." Lynn took a couple steps ahead, watching the horizon,

Suddenly Holly felt a playful shove on her back. Before she could react, she fell forward into the water with a cold splash.

"Kaylynn!" Holly shouted, laughing and splashing with both arms as she surfaced,

Lynn stood at the edge of the pool, laughing as she pulled off her shoes and jumped in after her. She bobbed up, flicking water toward Holly's face, her eyes sparkled."And now I've ruined our dresses."

"And makeup" Holly added, swiping her wet hair and cheeks,

Lynn smoked, splashing her again,"Ouu. Miss homecoming queen is so vain"

Holly laughed, splashing her back, "You're just jealous you didn't even get nominated,"

Lynn's jaw dropped playfully before she swam a bit further away, "Spare me." She laughed,

The girls swam around, hitting each other with pool noodles and pretending to be mermaids like little girls before grabbing drying off and sitting on the heated stone floors. They wrapped themselves in fluffy towels, looking out over the mountains again, just taking in the fresh air.

"You know," Holly's voice came out soft, "I've never had girlfriends before. Girls always used to seem so scary. But you're actually not scary. Most of the time."

Kaylynn laughed, "Honestly, me neither."

Holly paused, looking at Kaylynn as she brushed a drop of water from her forehead, "But what about Liz and Lisa?"

Lynn paused too, laying backward onto the warm floor. "I mean yeah, they're my friends...but I'm always kind of the odd one out."

"How so?" Holly pressed further.

Kaylynn sat up, gazing out to the ocean view and resting her chin on her knees, "Have you ever noticed how they always talk about me being 'so pretty' or every guy wanting me, or even now, how I slept with Ethan back when we were together?"

Holly nodded,

"That really bugs me. I feel like I'm constantly othered. Or like if we were a collective, I'd be the walking sex symbol–maybe attracting the guys to the group, for like, power or something, but then sidelined for them to have serious attention. Or serious boyfriends."

Lynn paused for a bit, looking down at her nails and pushing her hair–which was now curly from the water–instead of it's usual straight style, behind her ear. "I don't even want a boyfriend. But I feel like I'm expected to be sexual because I'm black. Or even because of my body."

Holly nodded, placing a hand on Lynn's shoulder, "I feel you." She actually laughed a bit, "Well maybe I don't feel you. But I can understand."

Lynn smiled softly, "It's not like I'm saying they're racist or something–"

Holly shook her head, "No I get it. They're just not thinking about it."

The girls sat in silence together, watching the small waves simmer in. A family of mute swans glide across the water in the distance. The little ones adorably following along behind their mother in perfect formation.

"I feel like you're the type of friend where we can sit in silence but it feels like bonding. Even if we're just watching the swans down there, or even playing a video game, you know?" Holly's hand rested on Lynn's

Lynn nodded, "Yeah. It's really nice."

Liz still couldn't bring herself to join in on the fake banter. Her hands were shaking as she shifted the fur neckline of her dress before she felt a gentle poke on her back. Parker stood behind her, half-hidden behind the small wall of the arches she leaned against.

"Come with me," He quickly took her hand,

She hesitated for a second, looking back over the ball room, but quickly followed behind him,

The clinking glasses and laughter faded behind them as he led her out to one of the bar rooms. The doors were open even though they were closed till 4 PM. He didn't speak. Instead he guided her behind the service counter where they could sit together, hidden from anyone else's view.

"Are you doing okay?" Parker asked as they sat down together,

Liz shook her head, no, but she didn't really divulge, "I haven't talked to VJ all weekend."

He nodded, but there was a bit of relief in his eyes. He wasn't happy about it, but... he wasn't upset either.

"I keep telling myself it's no different than with Chris." Her voice broke, "I can just move on and act like it never happened. Or blame it on the alcohol again. But then I think about Holly and how much she likes you and how devastated she'll be if she finds out what we did and I can't handle it–"

"Hey, hey." Parker placed a hand gently on her cheek. His thumb softly brushed over her skin, "Calm down, it's fine."

She looked at him, searching in his eyes desperately for some kind of certainty. Despite his assuring words, he looked just as lost as she did.

He took his hand back, looking at the floor, "I can't tell if it was real or just a moment." He looked at her again, "Are we doing this? I'm not going to break her heart if you're not all in."

Liz rolled her eyes, "How do I know you're not just saying this so you can have an excuse to have two girlfriends or something."

He sighed, shaking his head, "I'm offering to implode all this shit. Just to be with you."

She took a deep breath, "You can't do that, P. She really likes you... We practically pushed her onto you–"

"To distract me." He crossed his arms,

She smiled weakly, "She's really my friend now. And she'd be so hurt if you just broke up with her and moved onto me." Her head hung low, "I...want to be with you but I know if I do I'll lose everyone." Her fingers intertwined with his as she said it,

He kept looking at her, just waiting for her to finish,

"We can't actually run away. And I can't actually betray Holly and VJ. You shouldn't either."

His hand shifted uncomfortably between her fingers, "We already have."

Her voice cracked slightly, "And you don't feel guilty about that?"

"I do." His eyes held hers. "But what if you get to be the real you once all the pressure is gone? When you do what you want? What if we're happier after?"

She swallowed hard, fighting a lump in her throat, "What if there's no 'me' to find..? And what if we're not?" She felt a tear slip down her cheek,

Parker's expression softened. He wiped her cheek softly, pulling her into a hug,

"Take your time." He held her tightly against him.

They stayed like that for a moment before pulling apart. When they did, he kissed her again.

Parker left the bar room a few minutes before her. He joined his parents who were chatting with Lisa's by the snack table and watched by the arches as Liz followed behind him, hoping no one would notice they were there together.

As Liz stepped out, she met her mother's disappointed gaze,

"Elizabeth, I need to talk to you for a minute." Alice's voice was firm as she took Liz into the same hallway she's just gone through, "Lumiere Erudit's president is here. Why haven't you been with Lisa, speaking to him?"

Liz shook her head, unable to look her mother in the eyes, "I'm just having a bad day." She breathed tirelessly, barely whispering.

Alice sighed, fluffing out out the top of Liz' dress, "I suppose we're all entitled to one or two." She said, in a rare moment of softness,

Liz felt her shoulders relax a bit, slightly surprised,

"But do freshen up your makeup." She added, "You look like you've been crying. And you really should stop wearing the same outfits as Lisa. You're getting to be a young woman now. It's not quite as charming anymore. Especially with you being a bit...fuller...than her now."

She fixed Liz' hair before dismissing herself back to the ballroom.

Elizabeth's heart sank. She began to walk to the washroom, dread literally engulfing her body; less to freshen up, and more to throw up what little food she had eaten that day.

As Elizabeth opened the women's washroom door, she heard what sounded like giggling and a quiet hush. Not the type of giggling between two friends, it sounded blocked, maybe by someone's hand. Liz took off her heels and quietly hid against the wall, slowly approaching the end of the wall toward the restroom sinks.

Darlene's shoes were beneath the stall and a pair of dark dress shoes she recognized all too well stood in there with her,

"We have to be quick," She heard Darlene say playfully,

The response was too low for Liz to hear, but she knew that voice. That was her brother. In the stall with Darlene. In the stall with his girlfriend's sister. His girlfriend's 13 year old little sister.

Elizabeth's heart sank even more. She felt like she might throw up involuntarily now. She quietly walked back out of the washroom, putting her shoes back on. The room almost felt like it was spinning.

Down the hall toward the brunch room, Elizabeth could see Lisa, still lost in conversation with Mr. Langdraab, smiling radiantly. She had to tell her. She couldn't be complicit in something like that. That was her best friend. And that was a 13 year old girl. But then she remembered... Jeff had seen her with Parker Friday night. He'd covered for their night together on Saturday. A wave of realization fell over her. That was why Parker looked so shaken. He knew. And now they couldn't say anything. If they did, Jeff would say something. And then they'd be fucked.