The Bloomer Legacy: 5.24 Live, Liv!

Monty loved food. He couldn’t get enough of it. So when his mom’s birthday came around, he decided to make her a cake all on his own.

Turns out, baking is a lot harder than eating. Luckily, Yenn was able to step in, so Liv didn’t end up cakeless.

“Don’t worry Monty, I appreciate the sentiment,” Liv hugged her son.

“I’m gonna get really good at baking mom, I promise,” Monty said seriously. “And I’ll make you a whole cake selection at some point in the future!”

In a bit of a sentimental move, Liv decided to celebrate her birthday by having dinner with the Agustins. All three of them had gotten married and started families, and Liv hadn’t seen any of them in ages, so it was high time to catch up.

“This is so lovely guys,” Liv beamed. “It’s just like the good old days!”

“Speaking of good old days, where is Mal?” Alice asked.

“It’s his birthday too,” Liv smiled. “So Janet planned a couples’ getaway just for the two of them. It would be nice if we could all be here, of course. You know, Mal, and Newton.”

Liv sighed. She and Newton were still not on speaking terms. She’d heard a song of his on the radio the other day, and she couldn’t even congratulate him. But he probably wouldn’t care for her congratulations; his single was called 101 Ways of Betrayal.

“Don’t you bring up Newton,” Liam flipped.

“Liam, calm down,” Josephine shot him a look. “It’s Liv’s birthday…”

“I don’t get it,” Liv said curiously. “Something happen between you and Newton, Liam?”

“More like between Newton and Liam’s wife,” Josephine explained.

Liv dropped her fork: “No! Newton wouldn’t… especially… all things considered… It can’t be true!”

(Author’s note: I had nothing to do with this. The affair is purely courtesy of EA story progression. Way to go, Newton! [sarcasm])

“Well clearly it is true,” Liam growled. “I saw Krista and him with my own eyes!”

“I’m so sorry, Liam,” Liv didn’t know where to look.

She knew that much like her, Newton hadn’t really been in touch with the Agustins, but still… She couldn’t believe Newton of all people would do this to his one-time friend.

“What are you going to do?” Liv asked.

“Well, Krista promised she’d break things off with him, so I’m trying to give her another chance,” Liam shrugged. “You know, for the little one.”

“If there’s anything I can do to help…”

“Don’t be silly Liv,” Liam said. “I didn’t even mean to bring it up. Let’s not focus on me, It’s your birthday, after all!”

So Liv blew out the candles, and celebrated becoming an adult in a rather demure manner. A lot of her life had been pretty demure lately.

She thought about her recent chat with Malakai. Live, Liv, she told herself.

Elsewhere, Monty was having his own troubles with moving forward. Him and Scarlet have been spending a lot of time together, getting to know each other, chatting and connecting… but Monty was struggling to move any further with her.

It wasn’t that Scarlet hadn’t show any interest in him, but neither of them seemed to muster up the courage to take the first move.

And so, at the end of the night, the duo said goodbye with a big old hug, as usual.

“I’ve had a really great time,” Monty enthused.

“Me too,” Scarlet agreed.

They lingered in the hug. This is getting way too long, Monty thought, she’s going to think I’m creepy. He slowly drew away.

Except…

As he pulled away, she held on to his hands. For a moment, they just looked at each other. She let his hands go.

“I… I thought you were going to kiss me,” Scarlet mumbled.

“Oh.”

For a moment, Monty froze. But then he pictured Tylor’s voice in his head: ‘Just do it, bro! Do you wanna be friendzoned forever?’

And so he went for it.

And she didn’t push him away. In fact, she kissed him back.

“You should have done this a long time ago,” Scarlet scolded him.

“I didn’t know if you liked me!”

“I didn’t know if you liked me,” she retorted. “And of course I liked you! You’re so cute, and funny, and…” She stopped herself and blushed.

Monty felt on top of the world: “Oh yeah, you couldn’t resist this!”

“Don’t make me regret this,” Scarlet laughed.

(Yep, Monty is definitely Malakai’s son!)

In a romantic attempt of her own, Liv invited doctor Francesca over. Malakai was right, she needed to give it a chance. If you never try, then you never know… And so, Liv revealed her feelings…

…and got shot down. Turns out, Francesca did not reciprocate, in spite of the signs. The two parted awkwardly, promising each other to stay friends, although neither of them had any real intentions of getting in touch with the other. It just seemed too embarrassing.

For the very first time in her life, Liv actually felt the need to exercise. Maybe if she ran for long enough, her anger would go away.

Live, Liv… pfft! Clearly that was a horrible idea. She should have never questioned her decisions. Some people, like her and Newton, were just not meant to have happy relationships, Liv felt.

Speak of the devil… Liv saw her cousin at the corner of her eye, apparently working on his own rage.

What an excellent opportunity to go over there and tell him what she thought of him, she figured.

“I cannot believe your plum,” she started yelling at him. “You call me a hypocrite?! And then you go have an affair with a married woman? Liam’s wife, no less?!  101 Ways of Betrayal for sure!”

After a brief shock, Newton collected himself.

“I don’t see how this is any of your business,” Newton shrugged. “But if it was, you yourself had once said there are two sides to every story. But whatever…”

He walked away, leaving Liv dumbfounded. Her friend…

She needed to get it together. Perhaps the sauna would help…

Liv sat in the sauna stiffly. Be relaxed, plummit! Her life was such a joke…

“Wow, you really look like you need to let off some steam… literally!”

Liv looked up at the brunette who was smiling at her.

“Oh, you don’t wanna know,” Liv shook her head.

“Try me,” the woman said encouragingly. “I’ve been told I’m a good listener.”

And so Liv started talking… and talking… soon enough, she’d told the woman everything. About her accidental pregnancy, about her broken friendship with Newton, about the women that rejected her, about Malakai’s girlfriend hating her.

“Gosh, I got a bit carried away,” Liv blurted out. “I’m so sorry! I’ve told you my entire life story, and I don’t even know your name!”

“That’s quite alright,” the woman said. “I’m afraid I have to go now, but it’s been really nice to meet you. I know things will start going your way soon enough. You’re a good person.”

She grinned conspicuously as she walked to the door: “Oh, and my name is Heather. Call me if you need a friend.”

Liv stared at the door as it closed behind her. She could use a new friend, she smiled.