you know it's not the same as it was
❛ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ⎯⎯ㅤㅤIN WHICH sadie & jeremiah
reunite in the summer after years of not seeing each other, the only difference this time is their feelings for one another which are stronger now that they're older. coming to...
❛ break the air to feel the fall or just feel anything at all ❜
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Susannah gave the boys detailed instructions: invite the two girls to the bonfire and make sure they had fun. It was obvious someone had put them up to it—because, on their own, the boys would never have invited either of them.
Piper and Sadie decided to come, but not because they particularly wanted to. They just weren't in the mood to stay back at the summer house with the moms. Even if it meant leaving Belly out of the picture, they went.
They drove in separate cars, and as soon as they arrived at the beach, Piper dipped, leaving Sadie alone—for now. Conrad and Steven were preoccupied with other girls, but Jeremiah made an effort to keep the younger Crawford girl company. He drifted back and forth between Sadie and some other girl, never leaving her completely alone. But when duty called, he didn't look back when he walked away—even though he wanted to.
"What were we talking about again?" Jeremiah asked once he rejoined Sadie.
She rolled her eyes, taking a gulp of her beer. "If you wanna hang out with your girlfriend, be my guest. I don't care."
She did care.
The sound of the waves pulled her gaze toward the sea—an excuse not to meet Jeremiah's intense blue eyes.
He chuckled lightly, scratching the back of his neck. "She's not my girlfriend," he admitted sheepishly.
Sadie refused to look at him. She wouldn't dare. Even though her feelings for Jeremiah were long gone, every time he gave her that look—the one that made her feel like the only girl in the world—she felt the old butterflies resurface. She hated that feeling.
"Maybe you should tell her that," she shot back, her eyes drifting to Jeremiah's self-proclaimed girlfriend, who was already glaring daggers her way.
Jeremiah followed her gaze, a tight-lipped smile forming. "Oh, come on. Gigi's just a friend."
Sadie took another sip of beer. Maybe she was pushing it tonight, testing her limits.
"So am I."
Jeremiah would be lying if he said those three simple words didn't sting.
Since they were kids, he'd always held onto the hope that one day Sadie would see him as more than a friend. But she never did. And she never would.
They sat there in silence for a few minutes, listening to the waves and the distant chatter around them.
"I didn't know you drank," Jeremiah admitted, eyeing the now-empty bottle of beer in her hand.
Sadie shifted her gaze back to him. "I didn't know you didn't," she shot back.
"I do," he said simply, his eyes never leaving hers.
She nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest. "Not tonight, though?"
Jeremiah gave her a look, like the answer was obvious. Maybe it was. But the alcohol was clouding the part of her brain that used logic.
"I'm the DD for the night."
"Right."
And there it was again—that silence.
It hadn't always been like this between them. When they were younger, it was easy. They talked for hours about nothing and everything. But it had been a few years since they last saw each other. Time changed people.
Sadie had changed.
They all had.
But there was something about the way she looked at people now that bothered Jeremiah.
That blank look.
He wasn't used to it—especially not from her.
Her eyes used to be different. They used to be a warm, blue-green ocean that led you home. They used to be so full of love and life, like looking into them gave you a new reason to keep going.
Now, they were something else. A heavy storm that never seemed to pass.
"Is that Belly?" Sadie's voice broke the silence.
Jeremiah followed her gaze.
It was Belly.
She had just gotten up from the sand and was immediately starting an argument with Conrad.
The two of them stood up, and Jeremiah jogged toward her. "Belly!"
Sadie followed behind.
"You came!" Jeremiah beamed. "Great! We can all hang out, you guys." He flashed one of those signature, breathtaking smiles.
"I'm about to take her home," Steven cut in.
"What?" Jeremiah tried to protest.
"Yeah, we're leaving. Are you kidding me?" Steven grumbled, grabbing Belly by the arm, probably ready to drag her home kicking and screaming.
Jeremiah immediately pushed his hand off. "Okay, Steven, chill out. Come on. Go—go hang out with Shayla or something."
Both boys turned to look at the girl next to Steven.
"Let's go," she said.
Steven hesitated before finally giving in. "Fine. Just stay right here and don't talk to anybody," he instructed Belly before walking off with Shayla.
Belly, however, wasn't done.
"Fսck you!" she yelled after her brother, flipping him off.
ㅤㅤㅤㅤ⎯⎯ㅤㅤNESSA'S NOTES! i know i said there won't be a new chapter till tomorrow but i just hated the last one so much i had to post this one to make up for the last one.
i am actively working on making a new cover, but that might take awhile. if, by any chance, someone is open to make a cover it would be greatly appreciated.
don't forget to vote and comment if you liked this chapter, until next time (this time fr lol) mwah!
