June's recovery was progressing smoothly, though there were challenging moments, like those times she cried during some medical check-ups. Despite her physical recovery, facing a return to school was another battle. Initially, she vehemently resisted going back. For the first two weeks, she clung to Scarlett's leg, sobbing uncontrollably and refusing to stay. Sometimes, Scarlett gave in, and other times, she had no choice but to steel herself and leave her there, feeling a stab of guilt as she saw June's tearful gaze following her. The persistence of this situation led Scarlett to consider other educational options, as June's adjustment was not going as hoped. Colin and she began gathering brochures from various prestigious schools, hoping to find a place where June could feel more comfortable and secure.
Scarlett glanced in the rearview mirror at her little ones. Cosmo, happily munching on a cookie; Rose was joyfully singing along to a song on the radio. Meanwhile, June stared out the window, her jaw clenched and hands balled into fists. As they arrived at school, June's posture stiffened even more, clinging to the seat, reluctant to get out of the car. Rose, on the other hand, jumped out of the car, cheerfully waving to her friends.
"Mum, can I go over to Chloe?" Rose asked upon spotting one of her best friends, who was eagerly waving at her from a distance, anxious to show her something she was holding.
"Of course, princess," Scarlett replied, kissing her daughter's head. Rose looked back at her sister and then at her friend, who was still waiting.
"Are you coming, June? Chloe has something she wants to show us," Rose invited, extending her hand with a hopeful look, the same hope Scarlett harbored that June could face the day without tears.
June's lips remained tightly sealed, her eyes glistening on the verge of tears. She looked at her sister's outstretched hand and then, in the distance, at Chloe. The curiosity about what Chloe had was overwhelming, but June feared that, after that brief moment of joy with Rose and her friends, she would end up alone and the target of ridicule.
She shook her head, letting a tear escape. Rose's shoulders slumped in disappointment, and she withdrew her hand. Then, she looked at her mother with resignation, a look that said, "I tried," before running off to her friend.
"June, honey... Mum has to go to work," Scarlett began, as she had done before. She opened her daughter's door and crouched down to be at her level. Although her little one avoided looking at her, Scarlett could see she was crying. "My little love, what's wrong?"
"I don't want to go, Mum," June whispered, squeezing her hand until her knuckles turned white.
"I see that, but you're old enough to go to school and enjoy learning. You're very smart, and you need to keep exploring at school with other kids your age," Scarlett insisted, her voice filled with sweetness.
June turned her head to look at her, her tearful eyes pleading for mercy. "Please."
Looking in the distance, Scarlett saw June's teacher gathering the children and leading them into the school. Then, she turned her attention back to her daughter, who looked at her pleadingly. Decisively, she leaned in and kissed her nose.
"You're coming with Mum to the set," she said, and relief instantly flooded June, her body relaxing the tension and, in Scarlett's eyes, her daughter regained her spark of joy. "But on one condition, June," her voice grew firmer. June looked at her expectantly. "You're going to have to talk to me because this can't go on. Understood? Is it still that boy, along with Daisy, who's bothering you?"
June nodded. "It's the whole class," she whispered, looking ahead, her voice so low Scarlett barely caught it.
"We'll talk about it on the set, darling, and I want you to tell me everything. If I don't know, I can't help you," Scarlett said before closing the door and returning to the driver's seat, driving away from the school to June's relief.
From his seat, Cosmo decided to offer one of his cookies to June. Seeing the bitten cookie, June hid a grimace of disgust.
"No, thank you, Cosmo. They're yours," said June with a smile.
Cosmo pouted but took the cookie back to his mouth. Then, he thought about the rest of the cookies in his Paw Patrol container, grabbed it, and handed it to June. "Have a cookie."
June looked at the container and, yielding to her brother's insistence, selected a cookie. She carefully closed the container to prevent the others from spilling out.
"Thank you," she said, taking a bite.
She received in return the most beautiful of smiles from Cosmo, happy to share his cookies with his sister.
Upon arriving at the set, Cosmo and June immediately became the center of attention. All the actors wanted to interact with them between takes. Normally, Scarlett would have lunch with her colleagues, but taking advantage of Cosmo's nap, she decided to spend some one-on-one time with June, who had just finished eating.
"June," she called softly.
June immediately tensed up, anticipating the topic her mother wanted to address. She had tried attending school without causing additional worries and enduring hardships, but each day was becoming increasingly difficult, and she found it impossible not to cry or focus on her teacher's explanations. The only relief was recess with her sister, which always seemed too short.
"I'm not going back," declared June, lowering her head with a seriousness that Scarlett had never seen in her before.
"For that, you need to talk to me," insisted Scarlett, lifting June's chin with a finger so she couldn't avoid eye contact.
Just as June was about to respond, someone knocked on the trailer door. June sighed in relief, a detail that did not go unnoticed by Scarlett.
"Who is it?" asked Scarlett, glancing at her watch to make sure they still had some free time.
"Scarlett, I need refuge; Chris is after me. He's already scared me twice this morning and sprayed my hair with something pink and sticky," pleaded Lizzie's voice from outside.
June burst into laughter. Scarlett stood up to open the door, and Lizzie rushed into the trailer, after which Scarlett closed and secured the door again.
"Don't let him in if he comes," Lizzie requested, seeking a breather. Then, seeing her goddaughter laughing, she asked, "And you, little monkey, what are you laughing at?"
Caught mid-laughter, June shrugged and tried to play it off, which made Scarlett smile.
"June was just sharing with me her reasons for not wanting to go back to school," Scarlett remarked to Lizzie, integrating her into the conversation to seize the opportunity for her daughter to finally open up.
"Well, that's certainly important," replied Lizzie, sitting down and adopting a serious expression, encouraging her goddaughter to continue. "Go ahead, little monkey, it's important to share."
June frowned, aware she couldn't avoid the conversation and almost wishing her Uncle Chris would burst into the trailer. However, that didn't happen, and with a sigh, she began to speak.
"They don't like me," she confessed, her voice breaking with sadness. She was exhausted from feeling constantly rejected. She could somewhat understand why Mariah Smith didn't consider her perfect because she never did anything right, but she couldn't understand why she was treated badly at school when she had done nothing to deserve it.
"That's impossible, who wouldn't love you with that cute little face?" joked Lizzie, trying to lighten the mood. "Watch me show up at your school as Wanda."
"Lizzie," Scarlett said, giving her friend a warning look before focusing on her daughter. "Sweetie, why do you think that?"
"I didn't want to cause you more trouble," June began to cry, pouting. "I promised I'd try to do well, but they won't let me."
Scarlett took her into her lap, rubbing her back and pressing her against her chest to soothe her. June sobbed, closing her eyes and listening to the silence between each beat of her mother's heart, which helped calm her own heart, even though the tears continued to flow.
"They don't want to be my friends. I told them it was okay, but they not only don't want to be my friends, they also won't leave me alone. They mock me all the time, push me, pull my hair, and call me stupid," she continued, with her eyes still closed and clenching her little hands. "They mock my handwriting, say I write like a baby, that my teeth are crooked, and that I'm ugly."
Lizzie and Scarlett exchanged worried looks.
"Sweetheart, you should have told me sooner. You are not a problem," Scarlett said tenderly, kissing her daughter's head. "I wanted you to go to school to learn and have fun, not to suffer. We'll find a solution, we'll look for a good place for you."
"Do you promise I won't go back?" June lifted her head, looking at her mother hopefully.
"I promise, you won't go back except to come with me to pick up Rose," Scarlett promised, smiling as her daughter extended her pinky to seal the promise.
Rose was happy at school with her longtime friends, and although June had not adapted, that did not mean Scarlett would also deprive Rose of an environment where she was doing well.
After an exhausting day on the set, Scarlett drove back home, her two little ones sleeping peacefully in the back seat. Colin, considerately, had left work earlier to pick up Rose from school and had also prepared dinner. Upon arriving, Scarlett kicked off her shoes and walked barefoot around the house. Both Cosmo and June were so exhausted that Scarlett decided not to wake them to bathe them or have dinner.
"I'll give them a bath tomorrow morning," Scarlett yawned as she dined. Rose barely stayed awake long enough to receive her mother's goodnight kiss.
"Exhausting day?" asked Colin.
"Yes, we had to repeat several takes because we kept laughing. It was chaotic, even June and Cosmo got caught up without understanding what was happening," Scarlett recalled with a smile. "By the way, Colin, I need to talk to June's school. She's not going back. That means we need to start looking seriously at other alternatives. I won't let her go back there; I don't want them to continue traumatizing her, my baby has already been through too much."
Scarlett shared with Colin what June had confessed, and he furrowed his brow, concerned.
"It's terrifying how cruel children can be these days. It's not normal..."
"No, but my duty is to protect my children. As long as Rose is doing well, she'll stay there, but June won't be going back. I will explain the reasons to ensure the school better handles such situations," Scarlett commented, taking a sip of water to continue with her dinner.
Colin watched his wife, harboring a doubt that had been nagging at him for some time and never finding the right moment to bring it up, especially with the children around.
"Scarlett..."
"Yes?" Scarlett lifted her head, looking away from her plate.
"You mentioned that June's father wasn't in the picture, but you've never explained why," Colin observed, watching as Scarlett took another sip of water. "If it's a sensitive issue, I understand, but you know I love your children as if they were my own, even though Rose has her own father. Even if it's something private, I'd like to know if he might show up in the future and cause trouble."
Scarlett was not keen to delve deeply into the topic. She knew that eventually, she would have to address it when June started asking questions, but since that time hadn't come yet, she had time to think about how to appropriately handle it. She hadn't expected Colin to be so interested.
"When I said he wasn't in the picture, it's because he literally isn't," Scarlett explained, setting her plate aside after eating more than half. "He's dead." The surprise made Colin's utensil clink against his plate.
"It was a fleeting thing. I was at fashion week in Milan, met a model, and well, it was a one-night stand. We exchanged contacts, but when I discovered he was using drugs, I decided not to see him again and blocked his contact. I found out he died of an overdose when June was seven months old."
Colin blinked, overwhelmed by the story.
"I imagined every possible scenario except that one."
"You can rest easy then, that's why we don't have to worry," said Scarlett, feeling somewhat relieved by that part.
"Thank you for sharing. I didn't mean to pressure you. It's just that we've been through so much in such a short time that I wanted to be prepared for any other potential scenarios."
"I understand, and I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough before. I haven't wanted to bring up the subject with June until she shows an interest."
"Will you tell her?"
Scarlett looked intently at her husband.
"I don't want to hide her origins from her, but I won't rush it. I'll wait for her to ask, and I'll try to explain it in the gentlest way possible."
✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽✽
To Scarlett's dismay, both June's teacher and the school administration had ignored the problems her little one was facing, which reaffirmed her decision to withdraw her from the institution. Scarlett was firm in her ultimatum that her older daughter, Rose, would continue attending only if the current conditions persisted, but she made her criticism of how the institution handled such serious issues as bullying clear. This caused such an uproar that other parents began demanding a more effective action plan and better intervention by the faculty in these conflicts. Although satisfied that Rose could continue at the school, Scarlett did not change her mind about June's departure, thus keeping the promise made to her younger daughter.
They explored various prestigious nursery schools, evaluating educational programs that impressed Scarlett.
"We take the mental health of our students very seriously, which is why we have workshops that foster empathy, using various roles," explained the director of the third school they visited.
June swung her legs, dangling from the tall chair next to her mother.
"Additionally, we have an innovative curriculum that aims to enhance students' strengths and support their weaker areas," the director continued enthusiastically. "June, what do you like doing the most?"
June, somewhat shy, moved her hands. "Drawing," she shared.
"Wonderful, we have an art room. Would you like to see it?"
June's eyes lit up, and she jumped up, reaching out her hand to her mom. The director stood and led them through the empty hallways, as classes were in session.
"They're having an art class right now," the director whispered. "But I'm sure they won't mind having some observers."
Upon opening the door, all heads turned towards them, and the art teacher, taken aback, found herself facing Scarlett Johansson in her classroom.
"Excuse the interruption, but I wanted our potential new student, June, who really enjoys drawing, to see the art class in full swing," explained the director with a smile.
"Children, say hello to June," the teacher instructed.
"Hello, June!" the class called out in unison.
June blushed and slightly hid behind her mother.
Murmurs spread among the children who recognized June's mother, but no one dared to ask openly. From the security provided by Scarlett's closeness, June observed the classroom filled with easels and walls adorned with various students' artwork. When the art teacher smiled at her, June responded with a shy smile.
The director took the opportunity to give a quick tour of the school, ending in her office. Normally, Scarlett would say she needed to think it over and would get back to them, but June broke that pattern.
"I like it," June declared in the office.
Seeing her daughter's enthusiasm, Scarlett turned to the director.
"Could we start the adjustment period as soon as possible?"
"Of course, if you submit all the necessary paperwork tomorrow, June could stay for an hour or two to see how she feels," the director offered, extending her hand to seal the agreement.
Back in the car, June swung her feet, clearly pleased.
"I really liked the art class; it's so beautiful. And the hallways are also full of drawings, it smelled like red berries and the forest," June said with a smile.
When they picked up Rose, June talked non-stop about her future new school, making her sister envious, who would have changed schools too if it weren't for her friends.
"Wow, I want to see it one day. Mom, can I visit June's school someday?" asked Rose.
"Of course, princess," replied Scarlett. "Girls, once we get home, you can play, but I want no complaints when it's time to bathe and then straight to bed after dinner. Lizzie is coming over early tomorrow to pick you up."
"Yes, Aunt Lizzie!" the girls exclaimed together.
"Make sure you behave," Scarlett warned, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.
"I never misbehave," replied Rose, while June made a face, unsure what to add.
Upon arriving home, the girls ran straight to the garden and hopped on the swings. Fortunately, there were two, so they didn't have to fight over them. Cosmo soon joined his sisters, prompting both Colin and Scarlett to pay even closer attention since Cosmo was younger.
"Look, Cosmo, this is a pufferfish," said June, puffing up her cheeks and then releasing the air, causing Cosmo to laugh as he tried to imitate her.
Colin chased after the girls, holding Cosmo in his arms, while Scarlett took the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing bubble bath. They had plans for Saturday; Lizzie would look after the girls while her mother-in-law would stay with Cosmo. It would be odd to have some time alone without the children's voices or their laughter filling the house.
June and Rose obediently bathed together, using a strawberry-scented bath bomb that created lots of foam. They played in the water, and Cosmo nearly dove in headfirst to join them.
"Wait, tadpole," Scarlett scooped him into the water with his sisters and started splashing.
"Pink water!" Cosmo shouted as he made waves.
"You're making a mess of the bathroom," Scarlett scolded them. "No more, Cosmo, or Dad will have to clean it up," she tapped her son on the nose, leaving a streak of foam.
"What did I do?" Colin leaned against the door frame, looking bewildered. "I just came to drop off the pajamas. Did I do something wrong?"
The girls laughed, and Scarlett joined in, leaving Colin even more perplexed.
Rose woke before the alarm and the first thing she did was stand on her bed, jumping and squealing with excitement: "GIRLS' NIGHT!"
In the adjacent bedroom, June slowly opened her eyes. "Girls' night," she whispered, rubbing her eyes. A smile spread across her face as she remembered. "Aunt Lizzie!" she exclaimed, before dashing off to the bathroom for her morning routine.
The girls were ready, backpacks in hand—June with a Maleficent one and Rose with an Aurora-themed pack—and Cosmo wasn't far behind with his Paw Patrol backpack. Lizzie arrived on time, much to Scarlett's relief, especially since the girls hadn't had breakfast yet.
"I left two hours early," Lizzie smiled. "Are you girls hungry?"
"Yes!" confirmed Rose, and June nodded, hefting her heavy backpack without a complaint, though Scarlett quickly took it from her.
Once the backpacks were in the trunk, Rose said goodbye to her mom, Colin, and her brother, and dashed into the car, buckling herself in skillfully. June looked at her mom and then hugged her. Scarlett bent down to her level.
"My little love, I want you to stay close to Rose and your aunt at all times. Can you do that for Mommy?" June nodded. "Have lots of fun, my moon," she kissed her forehead. "And if you need me at any point, just tell Lizzie and she'll call me right away, okay?"
"Yes, Mom," June confirmed, then turned to Colin. "Bye, Dad"—her words made Colin smile, who received a nudge from Scarlett as his eyes welled up. "See you soon, Cosmo," she added, giving her brother a cheek-smudging kiss which he mimicked, leaving June's cheek damp—though she only wiped it off once she was in the car and out of his sight.
"A sloppy kiss," Rose teased.
When Colin's mother picked up Cosmo, an unusual silence enveloped the house.
"What a quiet," Colin murmured. "Shall we clean up a bit? Claire will think we're a mess when she comes on Monday."
Scarlett looked around the house, hands on her hips. "Put on some music, and let's get to work."
Meanwhile, Lizzie, with her trademark smile, watched the girls through the rearview mirror. "We're going to have a great time today. I've invited my sisters, and we're having a girls' night, but first, we're off to breakfast with Uncle Robbie, who's waiting for us at the cafe."
Upon arrival, they were shown to a table for four, already set with an assortment of sweets and steaming hot chocolates.
"I took the liberty of ordering, thought you might be hungry," Robbie said as they arrived.
"Hi, Uncle Robbie," the girls greeted, kissing his cheeks before sitting down together, leaving a seat next to Robbie for Lizzie.
"What a lovely family," commented an elderly lady passing by the corridor to the exit.
Robbie glanced at Lizzie, who smiled seeing the girls' faces already smeared with chocolate.
"You'll see the sugar rush they'll have," Lizzie remarked.
"I'm lucky I don't have to deal with them tonight, remember? Girls' night," Robbie replied, earning a disapproving look from Lizzie.
Lizzie had meticulously planned the Saturday to ensure it was both controlled and fun. She had thought of some games and planned a lunch at McDonald's; it wasn't the healthiest option, especially considering they were having pizza for dinner, but a day is just a day. By planning everything in advance, Lizzie kept her anxiety at bay, intensified by the responsibility of looking after two girls.
After breakfast, she took them to a playroom. Lizzie hadn't anticipated the crowd she would find on a Saturday. Rose ran straight for the ball pit, and June followed closely behind. Lizzie's gaze darted from one side to the other, stress starting to show, but she tried to stay calm, seeing the girls enjoying themselves. However, the real problem arose whenever she lost sight of them.
"Rose, don't wander off, stay where I can see you," she would remind her each time she saw her emerge from the ball pit. Fortunately, June always followed her sister, which made things a bit easier.
"Aunt Lizzie, I'm thirsty," said Rose, approaching with her hair stuck to her forehead from sweat.
"Take it easy, Rose. We don't want breakfast to upset your stomach," she handed her a water bottle and looked for another for June, but didn't see the other blonde-haired girl. "And your sister?"
"She was..." Rose turned and fell silent. "I don't know, she was there," she pointed toward the ball pit.
Lizzie's heart raced as she couldn't find June, scanning the increasingly crowded area.
"My goodness," Lizzie murmured, her hands trembling. Rose looked at her aunt with concern.
"She must be inside the park, Aunt Lizzie," Rose reassured her. "I'll go look."
"No, Rose, I can't lose both of you now. Please, stay by my side, and let's look for your sister together."
Meanwhile, June, surrounded by children in the ball pit, began to feel uncomfortable and was about to leave when someone called her.
"June, is that you, June?"
June blinked, looking at a girl who knew her name, though she didn't recall ever seeing her before. She nodded cautiously.
"You were at my school, I saw you in art class. My name is Amanda. Are you coming to my school?"
A bit shy, June nodded. "Yes, I liked it. It's nice."
"Great! When you left, we didn't know if you were coming. I also really like drawing. At school, we have art competitions with other schools; you draw, and the teacher selects drawings for the competition. If you win, they display your drawing," Amanda puffed up her cheeks, smiling. "I'm not that good, but I got lots of colored pencils and sweets for participating."
June became less shy.
"Do you like the bouncy castle?"
"Yes."
Without waiting further, Amanda grabbed June's hand and pulled her toward the castle to jump together.
When June grew tired, she sat watching Amanda continue to bounce tirelessly. Realizing June had stopped, Amanda sat down beside her.
"Do you like strawberry gummies?"
"Yes," June replied.
"Come on," Amanda extended her hand, and this time June took it, letting herself be led to a table where there was a stroller with a sleeping baby and two moms sitting.
"Mom, this is June. She's going to be new at our school, she's my new friend," Amanda introduced her, grabbing a bag of gummies from the table to give one to June. "You are my friend, right?"
Blushing, June nodded. "Yes," she took the strawberry gummy and popped it in her mouth without a second thought.
"June, what a lovely name," one of the mothers commented. "Amanda, don't eat too many gummies, or maybe June won't want her snack later," she cautioned her daughter, who continued sharing the treats with her new friend.
"JUNE!"
June's shout startled June, who turned to see a visibly nervous Lizzie holding Rose by the hand.
"June, don't do this again. We were looking for you, sweetheart," Lizzie scolded, her words rushed and breathless.
"You're Elizabeth Olsen," exclaimed one of the mothers, surprised. "Is June your daughter?"
"She's my goddaughter," replied Lizzie, sitting down without asking due to her nervousness. Though initially looking at June with some annoyance, the sadness on the child's face softened her approach and she embraced her. "I was just scared, little one."
"I'm sorry, Aunt Lizzie. I saw Amanda from my new school," June explained.
Rose noticed the strawberry gummy in June's hand. Realizing this, June offered the candy to her sister, remembering that Rose always shared everything with her.
"We're very sorry we didn't notice she had wandered off," said the other mother. "By the way, I'm Lauren and this is Sandra, Amanda's mothers."
"Nice to meet you," said Lizzie, regaining her composure.
They spent some time together until Lizzie's schedule forced them to move on. To her surprise, she ran into Lauren and Sandra again at McDonald's, providing adult company to chat with while the girls played in the playground in front of them.
Lizzie's phone rang, and Lauren could see that it was Scarlett calling.
"We've just finished eating. How's your day going, Scarlett?" asked Lizzie, smiling, imagining how hard it must have been for Scarlett not to have called earlier.
"The house is literally lifeless. When you have kids, you get used to the noise," confessed Scarlett. "You think you want some peace and quiet, but this is too much... Anyway, is everything okay?"
"Everything's perfect, plus June has made a new friend who will be going to her new school. I'm currently with Amanda's mothers, here at the McDonald's park, but don't worry, I'm at the table next to the playground," Lizzie reported before Scarlett could worry. She decided not to mention the incident with June right away, preferring to tell her in person to avoid unnecessary worry.
"Thanks, Lizzie. Call me for anything. I'll call later to talk to the girls; it's been too long without hearing their voices," requested Scarlett.
"Are you guys making more babies tonight?" joked Lizzie.
"Quiet! I've already done my part with three, that job's all yours now," Scarlett replied humorously.
After hanging up, Lizzie watched the two mothers chatting and tending to their baby.
"Motherhood, always worrying, right?" commented Lizzie.
"Yes, it's a constant worry. Sandra gets more nervous than I do," Lauren affirmed.
"What? As if you're not every fifteen minutes telling me to call, leaving me looking like the hysterical one," retorted Sandra, causing Lizzie to laugh.
Lizzie had mentioned to the other mothers that, given the good rapport between June and Amanda, Scarlett would surely want to meet them.
"When you say Scarlett..."
"Yes, I'm referring to Scarlett Johansson," confirmed Lizzie with a smile.
The day had been somewhat unpredictable for Lizzie, but what mattered was that the girls were safe at home. Robbie was out; he'd gone to spend the day with friends and rehearse with his band. Lizzie's sisters were due to arrive soon, and just as the doorbell rang, Lizzie was met with a surprise. Instead of the twins, only Mary Kate showed up.
"Mary Kate, what about Ashley?"
"Otto has a fever; she thought it best not to come," Mary Kate informed her. "She was supposed to let you know, but with all the worry, she probably forgot, please excuse her."
With the door now closed, Lizzie nodded.
"I'll give her a call. Did she go to the pediatrician?"
"She must have the pediatrician going in circles," Mary Kate joked with a smile.
Mary Kate walked into the living room, dropping her enormous bag on the floor. Placing a hand on her hip, she looked at the girls. "Aunt Ashley's missing, but here's Aunt Mary Kate with loads of clothes and makeup. Who wants to have a fashion show?"
"Me!" exclaimed Rose, getting up and approaching Mary Kate. June hesitated a bit more, as it wasn't really her thing, but Rose's excitement was contagious and she ended up getting dressed up and made over by Mary Kate.
When the delivery man arrived with the pizzas, Mary Kate, looking at the two boxes, remarked to her sister:
"Isn't that a bit little?"
"The girls don't eat much, and I'm not going to eat a whole pizza myself," Lizzie replied.
"And for the rest?"
"What rest?" Lizzie asked, raising both eyebrows.
"Well, I've invited some friends for the party, of course."
"What?" Lizzie grabbed her sister's hand and led her to the kitchen to set down the pizzas. "You did what?"
"I invited some friends. You told me your goddaughter loves parties and you'd put on music, I just thought I'd liven up the party a bit. I don't see why you're looking at me like that."
"Do you realize they're little girls?"
"So? Please, Lizzie, I've been going to parties with Ashley since we were very little."
"Oh, come on, Mary Kate, you know many of those parties weren't suitable for your age. This was supposed to be a kid-friendly event. They are Scarlett's daughters, I'm aunt to both, and one is my goddaughter. My duty is to protect them, not expose them to a bad environment."
"Don't get worked up, it's just some friends."
"How many?"
"Just five, all girls."
However, what was supposed to be five girls ended up being twenty by the last count Lizzie made. For now, at least, there were no men; it had been kept as a girls-only event. All adults, ranging from twenty-five to forty years old, treated Rose and June with great affection.
The music was cranked up high, and June started dancing to "Infinity," making the girls laugh as they joined in. Even Lizzie felt relieved to see the kids having fun, though things had spiraled a bit out of her control; for now, it hadn't gotten too out of hand.
At one in the morning, Rose was completely worn out from tiredness, and Lizzie tucked her in, ready to wind down the party. But approaching the dance floor, she found June surrounded by several girls, dancing to "Freed From Desire" with a smile on her lips, cheeks flushed from the effort, and hair stuck to her temple.
"How am I going to get her to go to sleep now?" Lizzie muttered under her breath.
Scarlett, already exhausted, was yawning on the sofa, resting on Colin's lap when her phone began to ring. She quickly answered, fearing it might be something urgent concerning the girls.
"Chris, why are you calling at this hour?" she asked, stifling another yawn.
"ScarJo, did Lizzie take your daughter to a party?"
Scarlett blinked, confused. "Yes, she took them for a girls' night out and a dance party, what's up?"
"You're never on social media unless it's scheduled..." Chris remarked. "Check it now, and by the way, June seems to be enjoying it a lot."
Colin was half-asleep, so Scarlett grabbed his phone, puzzled by what Chris was implying. She found a recent video on an unknown girl's account, followed by the Olsen twins. Although her daughter's face wasn't initially visible, she instantly knew it was her.
"What the..." She got up so abruptly that she woke Colin, and without giving him time to respond, she showed him the phone while looking for hers to call Lizzie. But at that moment, Lizzie, unable to end the party, was being pulled onto the dance floor by her goddaughter, and the sound of her phone was lost among the loud music.
"She's not answering, Colin."
"I don't think they can hear the phone," Colin replied.
"I'm going over there now; this is unacceptable," said Scarlett, slipping on her shoes and grabbing her car keys.
"Are you going in your pajamas?"
"Yes, I'm going to pick up my daughters and have a word with Lizzie, this is unbelievable," said Scarlett, shaking her head as she left, leaving Colin standing in the doorway, blinking at her determination.
Upon arrival, Scarlett's anger had only grown, fueled by her mutterings in the car. The music was audible from outside, though the well-insulated walls kept the neighbors from complaining. It wasn't until she held the doorbell down for three straight minutes that a flustered Lizzie opened the door.
"I can explain..."
"You better," said Scarlett, entering uninvited, with the music pounding around her. She headed to find her daughters and found the younger one being the life of the party.
"This... I... Scarlett, I swear it was only supposed to be something with my sisters. But Mary Kate got out of hand. I assure you there's only soda here, I would have stopped it sooner if it weren't because..." she pointed to June, who hadn't realized her mother was there. "She was having such a good time that just when I tried to stop her, she came looking to dance. I didn't have the heart to say no. I'm sorry, Scarlett, I don't want you to lose trust in me," she explained loudly to be heard.
Scarlett sighed. "One of the girls uploaded videos," she informed Lizzie in her ear. "You're lucky she didn't show my daughter's face."
Lizzie, imagining what Scarlett was looking for, pointed upstairs. "She fell asleep at one."
Scarlett went up to make sure Rose was okay, amazed the girl could still sleep through the noise. Coming down, a sweaty June saw her and ran to hug her. Scarlett lifted her and kissed her forehead.
"You're soaked in sweat, little bug. It's time to rest."
"Please, just a bit more. Come dance with me, mom. With Aunt Lizzie and my new friends."
Scarlett put her down, and June dragged her to the center of the dance floor. "IT'S MY MOM!" June exclaimed proudly, eliciting a smile from Scarlett.
The girls were surprised to see Scarlett Johansson disheveled and in pajamas.
Scarlett raised a finger. "DON'T YOU DARE UPLOAD A VIDEO!" she threatened the girls holding their phones.
Lizzie smiled, seeing her friend join the fun, and decided to send a message to Colin not to wait up for Scarlett that night.
Hi, lovely people! 🌼 How has your week been? I hope it's been far better than mine. I hope you've enjoyed the update! At last, June has found a new friend and a new school. The end of the book is drawing near, and I think the next chapter will take you by surprise... but no spoilers! 🤫
Just a reminder that there's still time to vote for the next story until I post the final chapter. Remember, it's one vote per user to keep things fair. If you haven't voted yet, you can do so in the previous chapter.
Thanks for your incredible support in the voting! And for those whose stories didn't get many votes, don't worry, your time to shine will come, just a bit later. 🌈
If time allows and you're up for it, I'll try to update another one of my stories. For now, a huge thank you for all the support! If you liked the story, please, give it a little star. It costs nothing and means the world to me, just like a comment if you feel inclined.
Take good care of yourselves and love each other, see you in the next update! 💖