Gaia's relationship with her mom has been nonexistent since her dad and sister died. Her mom worked in the tech industry and usually goes out of town for business. However, Gaia knew that was an excuse. Her mom chose to disregard Gaia.

All of a sudden, this summer, Gaia's mom had a change of heart and wanted to try to spend more time with her. At first, she declined her mom outright. But her mom stayed persistent. Eventually, they started to spend time every so often, but Gaia would rather not be bothered.

Gaia's Grandma, MiMi, was back from her cruise trip, which she was excited about. Gaia's mom was also back from her trip, but she was indifferent.

After getting her anger out at her boxing lessons, she decided to spend time with her Grandma and watch Love Island before leaving for Lexi's and Cassie's house.

" I can't believe Megan asked Wes to kiss her!? Chile, Laura is better than me!" My Grandma shook her head in shock.

" well, that's how you play the game! You can't be passive in the house, MiMi, or you'll get left behind. Or worst, be forgettable" Gaia took some popcorn and threw it in her mouth.

" I couldn't be on a show like this. I would have smacked Meghan for doing something like that!" Mimi exclaimed while making a backhanded slap motion.

" Grandma, you are violent," Gaia chuckled.

MiMi was a famous fashion magazine editor-in-chief for a fashion magazine. She was basically the black Anna Wintour. Even more cutthroat by some people's opinions. You wouldn't guess by her warm nature. Well, that's if you don't piss her off. If you do, god bless you.

" Sweetie, you have anger issues between us," MiMi retorted.

" No, I don't!" Gaia said defensively.

" You don't?! Well, what about when you beat Maddy and Nate simultaneously? Or when you punched that kid who dumped Kat? or when you punched a kid for messing with Rue? Or-" Gaia cut her off before she could keep going.

"OK! OK! maybe I have SOME anger issues, but those situations called for violence!" Gaia defended herself.

Anyone who knew Gaia could tell you did not want to be on her shit list. It usually ends up with you having two black eyes, or even worse, she would ruin your life. Like this one time in middle school, this girl name Britney kept being racist. Now obviously, Gaia didn't immediately jump on her since her comment was more ignorant than malicious. However, It happened multiple times, but after her last offense, Britney magically got expelled for smoking weed on campus grounds. Britney used to always smoke on campus but would rotate the places, so she wouldn't get caught. Everyone knew it was Gaia, but no one could prove it.

" I'm not judging. I'm just saying I am not as angry as you are... and you're right, all those people deserved it" MiMi pinched Gaia's cheek. Gaia playfully pushed her hand away.

Gaia's phone vibrated, making her look at it.

Lexi:

Are you coming over? Cassie is driving me crazy.

Gaia:

Don't worry. Im still coming to save you. Im about to leave.

Lexi:

Thank you!

" who's that? is it that that ginger white boy rick?" Mimi joked, making Gaia playfully hit her.

MiMi knew about Gaia's and Fez's relationship. She was against it until how genuinely happy Gaia was. Now she is cautiously supportive.

" No, it's Lexi. She asked me if I was still going over now, and I told her yeah. So I'm gonna start getting ready." Gaia started to get up and handed the popcorn to Mimi.

" You're leaving? I thought we were going to eat a family dinner? you know you, me, and your mom?" Mimi asked, confused.

She got up and followed Gaia to the stairs.

" I have a project coming up with her." Gaia lied.

MiMi folded her arms and leaned against the wall "mmh hmm. Yeah right! You're still avoiding your mother, aren't you?"

" Nope! Just busy," Gaia quickly replied, ascending the stairs.

"You know you can't avoid talking to your mom forever, right? Come on, GG! Just give her a chance. You don't know when something might happen that will take away the choice to reconcile." Mimi lectured from the bottom of the stairs.

" I'm not!" Gaia replied and closed the door. She leaned against the door, slowly sliding down until her bottom touched the floor. She then wrapped her arms around her legs and heaved a heavy sigh.

MiMi was trying to mend the relationship between her granddaughter and her daughter-in-law. She wasn't getting any younger, and it hurt to see how distant they had become. She remembered when Gaia didn't want to leave her mother's side. That was all before the accident.

Gaia took a long-needed shower and put on a cute tracksuit set with some slides. She packed an overnight bag with some clothes, her beauty products, and some facial masks. She returned downstairs to see her mom coming in with some takeout food and other bags.

" Hi,, sweetie," Gaia's mom greeted. Gaia looked at her mom with slight concern. Her mom was always a skinny woman, but it looked like she had lost a lot of weight when she came home.

" Sup"

" Wait, are you going out? I thought we were going to have a family dinner together?" Gaia's mom said, slightly disappointed.

" I have this project I have to finish with Lexi," Gaia answered dryly. She really didn't want to spend time with her mom.

" well, at least eat before you leave?" she pleaded with her daughter. Gaia made eye contact with MiMi, who gave her an encouraging smile.

Gaia was going to say no but remembered what her Grandma had said earlier.

Gaia rolled her eyes and reluctantly let out a breathy " fine."

"One second, though, imma use the bathroom," Gaia added.

What Gaia is about to do here is what we call Operation Lifesaver. It's a classic! We text someone we trust, tell them to call X amount of times until you pick up, and start up a random convo about how you have to be at Bumfuck nowhere at X time. This prevents awkward exits where you think you're about to be pressured to stay when you want to leave social gatherings. The success rate is high, kinda like me.

Gaia returned from the bathroom to sit at the family table. While her mom and Grandma were setting up the table, that's when Lexi called. Gaia looked at her phone screen and said, "Oh, it's Lexi. I'll call her back."

"Gaia, here's the roasted duck that you—" before Gaia's mom could finish her sentence, Lexi began calling again.

"Hold on, it's Lexi again. Lemme just take this real quick," Gaia said as she answered the phone.

"Hey, Lexi!" Gaia greeted.

"I saw the X you sent; this is your chance, GG," Lexi spoke.

" Oh shoot. I forgot that I was supposed to meet you in 20 minutes. I'm on my way now," Gaia spoke with fake urgency.

Gaia's mom and MiMi looked at her. Gaia's mom was disappointed, while MiMi looked at her with suspicion.

" Sorry, you guys. I told Lexi I would pick her up somewhere. We can do dinner another time," Gaia lied.

" Oh, OK,..." Gaia's mom replied with a slight sadness in her tone. MiMi eyed her granddaughter, who avoided her eyes.

" Alright, I'm leaving. Bye, mom! Bye, MiMi!" Gaia picked up her bag, walked to the door, and left in a hurry.

She got in her car, let out a sigh of relief, ate an edible, and drove to Howard sisters' house to spend the night.

" Hi, sweetie! How's your mom? I heard she's back in town," Lexi's mom greeted Gaia at the door, with a drink in hand as usual.

Suze loved Gaia like one of her own daughters. She loved how supportive and comforting Gaia was with her friends, especially Lexi. She knew how much her youngest daughter struggled to open up, but with Gaia, it was easy.

"She's good. She told me to bring this to you" Gaia took out an expensive bottle of champagne and handed it to her.

" OH! Your mother is an angel!" she exclaimed. She kissed the bottle and started going to the kitchen to open it, making Gaia chuckle.

She skipped up the stairs to the sisters' bedroom and walked into the room, " sup bitches!"

Lexi's head shot up, and a big smile appeared when her eyes laid on Gaia. Cassie turned her head and shushed Gaia; She was on the phone with Mckay.

" Sorry!" Gaia threw up her hands in defense.

Cassie turned her attention back to the phone " Awe, thanks, babe."

Gaia started pretending to throw up at Cassie's overly sweet conversation, making Lexi almost cackle out loud.

Cassie took a pillow and launched it at Gaia, but she did a matrix move and dodged the pillow. Gaia taunted Cassie while walking toward Lexi.

" how long had she been talking to Mckay?" she asked as she hugged Lexi.

" Like all day," Lexi sighed, returning the hug.

" Damn! Well, like I said before, consider me the knight saving the princess from the love-struck sister, " Gaia curtsey. Lexi mouthed thank you and scooted over so that Gaia could lay with her in bed.

" So, are we watching that new show you told me about? dark?" Lexi asked.

" Ja," Gaia said with a German accent. Lexi laughed, getting a glare from Cassie.

" Pull it up on your laptop," Gaia ordered. She pulled out BBQ chips, Reece's cups, and skittles, both hers' and Lexi's shared favorites. She also brought some Martinelli's Sparkling Cider because she knew Lexi wasn't a drinker.

Lexi's face lit up when she saw the bottles. "Oh gosh! We haven't drunk this in years. These are so good!"

" I know! I saw them in the store and thought of you," Gaia explained. She turned around and missed the youngest Howard's sister's cheeks turning red from blushing.

" let me go and get some cups! Be right back" Lexi got out of bed and went downstairs.

Gaia checked her phone and replied to a bunch of text messages.

Maddy:

U free?

Gaia:

No, I'm with Lexi at her house. Cassie having phone sex with Mckay

Maddy:

Wow! So you're cheating on me with Lexi, smh.

Gaia:

Nah, Lexi is the main chick; you the side chick ? ゚リツ?

Maddy:

That's fucked up

Gaia:

It's the truth though

Maddy:

Shut up. wyd

Gaia:

watching this German TV show about a murder mystery

Maddy:

Of course, you guys are watching some random shit from Germany.

Gaia:

Duh. Wanna come watch it?

Maddy:

I don't think I have the attention span for that shit right now. I leave you alone with you, Lexi ? ゚ルト?

Gaia:

Good, stop blowing up my phone when I'm with my main chick

Maddy:

Shut up

Gaia:

? ゚リツ

Rue:

GG?

Gaia:

What?

Rue:

I wanted to apologize for the shit that went down at Fezco's house. It wasn't cool that I put you in that position. Also, I decided to stop taking drugs. So please don't hate me!

Gaia:

I'm not mad at Rue. Just don't do that again.

Rue:

I won't

Gaia:

Hey, just checking in. How r u feeling?

Gia:

Im was good.

Gia:

Thank u again for the clothes and ice cream. I really needed a break from mom and Rue

Gaia:

np. whenever u need something, call me

Gia:

So you gonna buy me a car when I turn 16

Gaia:

Bye Gia ? ゚リツ

Gaia:

Yo, can u stop with the sugary-sweet bs. Me and Lexi are bout to throw up over here.

Mckay:

I will when u stop being a hater ? ゚ルト?

Gaia:

Christopher, as long as you breathe, I will always hate you. bc, you deserve it ? ゚ᆬᄚ?

" Yo, GG! Go fall down a flight of stairs" Mckay made Cassie put him on speaker phone to taunt Gaia back. Gaia and Mckay started to play argue, which made Cassie slightly annoyed.

"Can I have my boyfriend back!? Thanks," Cassie said with attitude. She took him off the speaker, and they started arguing for a bit until she went into the bathroom.

Gaia gave a confused face but just let it slide.

Lexi came back with two flutes, making Gaia laugh.

" Remember we used to pretend it was champagne and got pretend drunk?" Lexi snickered

"We were so dumb for that! Your mom caught us and looked like she was fighting back laughter" Gaia barely got out the sentences; she was laughing so hard at the memory.

I remember that day! Me, Lexi, and Gaia were all hanging out, and since we couldn't get actual alcohol, we pretended the cider was. Damn, I missed those days.

Gaia's phone vibrated, which made her look at the notifications.

Fez:

I miss u

Gaia:

I miss u too. and Ashtray

Fez:

Man fuck Ashtray; he threatened to pistol-whip me for the last slice of the strawberry cheesecake

Gaia:

Why did that not surprise me one bit ? ゚リツ?

Fez:

I mean, it's Ashtray, so ?¬タヘ ️. Plus ur food be ? ゚ヤᆬ

Gaia had the biggest smile on the planet from just the simple text conversation with Fez. He always made her smile.

" You're making fun of Cassie, but you're grinning ear to ear because of a text from Fez?" Lexi shaded

" Hey!? Don't shade me! I am not as bad as Cassie," Gaia protested.

" I heard that," Cassie exclaimed from the bathroom. Lexi and Gaia looked at each other and just laughed.