☀️She's Extraordinary ☀️

Not The Way To End Summer

Southampton Beach (Sunday, Sept. 3rd) (4:30 PM) (Elliot's Perspective)
"Kick it here, Mads!"
"Go Mad! Beat El! You can do it!" Madelyn, so quick and nimble maneuvered the ball, going circles around me. I couldn't believe it.
"I beat you, Mr.Elliot!"
"Oh come here you little-" I scooped her up and tickled her, something that I recently learned that she loves. After a while, I set her back down on the sand and gave her a pat on the back.
"You play as good as my Lizzie did back in the day."
"Really?" She asked with a toothless smile. I nodded. Olivia motioned for us all to sit on the blanket. She packed us a spread of snacks and sandwiches for our one-on-one time with Mady.
"Do you love soccer?" Liv asked.
"Yes, I like to kick the ball a lot! It's really fun! But, I can't do the tricks like Messi." I chuckled.
"What do you think about doing soccer as an activity when school starts? After school?" Her face lit up.
"Yes please!"
"Plus, you can make so many new friends." Mady giggled shyly.
"So, do you know why we took you out today?" She shrugged.
"We want to get to know you better, Mad! So we know you like soccer, and the color pink, because that's what you told us, but I know more is there! Isn't there?"
"Mhm! I love pink dolphins! They're my favorite animal in the world!"
"Pink dolphins?!"
"Yeah, they're in a book! They don't live in the ocean, only rivers! In the Amazon! They're pink and so pretty." She used my phone to show us a picture.
"They are so pretty! One day, I wanna see one. Like in my dreams."
"You will see one, as long as you put your mind to it."
"Thanks, Livy! Look, Look! There's a whale! Get the binoculars!" Mady likes animals. Good to know.
*******************
1 Halsey Path (2:45 PM) (Tuesday) (Leia's Perspective)
Before back to school, Mommy always lets us invite friends over to our pool! The first thing we do is jump in with all of our clothes on! It's a tradition. Mommy and Daddy are working, so Lucy's setting everything up.
"Okay guys, line up!" I invited my besties Ella, Courtney, Kamri, and Ivy over to jump in with me.
"Okay, on the count of three! One, two-"
"Three!" We jumped in and the cool water covered us like a big hug. Not really a warm one, but it was refreshing because it was 80 degrees!
"We should do it again!"
"Yeah!" My friends and I did a lot of cannon balls and we rode the slide backwards too. When Lucy was away, we talked about some stuff.
"Did you guys hear about the new boy?"
"What new boy?" Ivy asked.
"He's in me and Leia's class!" Kamri said.
"I wonder what he's like."
"Maybe he's shy."
"Maybe he's not." I listened as my friends talked about him.
"Leia, what do you think?" I don't know what to think. I mean, boys are yucky anyway, right? At dance class, the girls have started talking about boys a bit, but I'm not sure why. I guess it's big girl stuff?
"Maybe he's.....nice?" Boys are yucky.
***************
The 16th Precinct (6:45 PM) (Olivia's Perspective)
"Rollins, get the CCTV for the bodega, Fin-"
"Already on it." I was heading into the office when I heard those familiar heavy steps.
"Liv."
"El, what are you doing here?" He whisked me away into my office.
"Elliot, what's going on? You're concerning me?"
"The kids are all in the Hamptons?"
"No, just Mads and Lei. Why?" He closed the blinds so that no one could look in. Elliot sighed and paced back and forth.
"Elliot. What is it?"
"Look at this." He handed me a piece of paper before sighing. It was a transcript of a phone call.

Caller #1: Yes, Detective Stabler.
Caller #2: Looks like we might need to take a visit to 1065 5th Ave
Caller #1: Or the Upper East Side Dance Studio.
Caller #1: Beacon High School is prime time. It's September. Schools starting soon.

"Oh my god." I took off my glasses.
"Who is this?"
"Leader of the Sultans in Brooklyn and an associate."
"We just moved."
"And we're fostering. This isn't a good look. We don't need anything going wrong. Elliot, they know where the girls dance, where Noah goes to school. Foster care is going to take-"
"They're not, we're not going to let them. What we need to do is get the kids somewhere safe. The littles start school on Thursday and we don't need to freak them out."
"The Hamptons house probably isn't safe this time around."
"I think I have an idea."
^^^^^^^^^
Home (9:03 PM)
"How serious is it?" Noah asked while putting his arm around Bella.
"They know where you guys go to school and this apartment."
"Oh. Are we gonna have to go to the Hamptons?"
"No, that'd be too much. Instead, we're going to split you guys up for the time being. You and Bella will go to Kathleen's, and the littles will stay with us in a hotel." Bella, who was unusually quiet spoke.
"I'm not going to Kathleen's, Mom."
"Bella, you don't have a choice, honey. It's for your safety."
"I never have a choice in anything. It's not fair! I don't want to spend my last week of summer at Kathleen's. I'm so sick of you guys and your stupid job." Bella stormed out and slammed her door.
"Bell-"
"Leave her, I'll talk to her."
"When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow when Kathleen's off of work, so pack for about two weeks."
"Sure thing." When Noah left I sat in my bed and just cried. I cried, because my kids' lives were being turned upside down for the millionth time in the past year, I cried because of my stressful day at work, and I cried because I had to prepare myself to scold a moody, hormonal teenaged-girl, which never goes well.