Just One Summer {Jeremiah Fisher}

Just One Hug

"I wonder if his hair is longer," Belly wondered out loud as Steven drove down a road surrounded by endless miles of wood. 

"I'm sure his god-like abs will be waiting for you." I joked, looking out the window. I felt a nudge in my side and I looked over to see Belly giving me a piercing glare. I stuck my tongue out at her and turned back towards the window.

It was my first year at Cousins, probably my last. The only reason I said yes to Belly was because I didn't want to be  with my parents when my father moves out, when they officially get divorced, and when they'll fight until the other is too tired to continue.

Belly knew this but she still treated it like a vacation abroad. As we passed the sign that read 'Welcome to Cousins', I heard Laurel go on about how Belly and Steven needed to help out more around the house this summer. 

I knew a lot about the Fisher family purely because of Belly's nonstop talking about them. I knew that Susannah was a recovered cancer patient, Conrad was a sweet boy who cared about everyone around him, and Jeremiah was the goofball. 

Belly had tried to convince me that me and Jeremiah could be a thing, but I shut it down. "I don't want anything else right now, Belly. I know Jeremiah is a sweet boy but I'm dealing with too much." I remember telling her. She immediately stopped talking about it and didn't push the conversation any further. 

"We're here!" Steven sang as he pulled into the driveway of a breathtaking house. I stared in awe at the sight. Belly practically skyrocketed out of the car as a boy and a woman exited the house. I knew the woman was Susannah but I couldn't tell whether the boy was Conrad or Jeremiah.

I slowly got out of the car, letting Belly and Steven reunite with their friends. "Faylin come here!" Belly exclaimed, beckoning for me. I locked eyes with the boy I was currently approaching and by golly he was smokin. 

I mean fresh off the mother fucking grill. He eyed me, slowly trailing his eyes down my body and back up. I could feel myself slowly crumbling under his gaze. Nonetheless, I walked right in front of him. "I'm Jeremiah!" He gave me a bright smile and looked down at me. 

Gorgeous blue eyes and dirty blonde curls. His face looked like it was sculpted very carefully, every single detail was noticeable. A strong jaw line was clear as day but the first thing that drew my attention was a small beauty mark above his lip. 

"Faylin. You can call me Faye if you prefer." I smiled back, offering my hand. Instead, I got a big bear hug. He wrapped his arms around my waist before lifting me up off the ground and hugging me very tightly. I hesitantly reached around his neck and hugged him back.

Once he set me down, I was sure I was red as a tomato. "Well you're a hugger." I laughed, looking over to see Conrad ruffle Belly's hair. She laughed and pulled away and she truly looked very happy. 

"They're practically married." Jeremiah said after following my gaze to the pair.

"He's all she ever talks about." I smiled. 

"Well, now that you're here I won't have to third wheel all the time!" he laughed, making me laugh as well. 

"It's time for Belly Flop!" Steven and Conrad both yelled, causing the Belly to squeal and run the opposite direction. Conrad and Steven grabbed a hold of her and pulled her towards the pool. I laughed and looked over to see Jeremiah smirking at me.

"I think it's time for your initiation." I tilted my head sideways in confusion. I heard a huge splash from the backyard and knew it was Belly. "Steven! It's time for Faylin's initiation!" he called out. Steven came sprinting around the corner.

It suddenly clicked to me that they were planning on throwing me in the pool too. "Absolutely not," I yelled, "Jeremiah, Steven! If you two so much as lay a single hand on me I will chop both of you up and-"

I was cut off by Jeremiah bending down and running through me like a football tackle. "Oh my god!" I screamed, smacking Jeremiah's back. He lowered me so Steven could grab my arms and they threw me in the pool.

I broke through the surface of the water, looking over at Belly who was laughing at me. "I cannot believe that just happened." I said with a scowl. I looked over at Belly who had a small smirk on her face. I immediately caught on and nodded. 

"Help me out," I whined, reaching out for Jeremiah's hand. He happily gave me his hand and I pulled back as hard as I could. He went flying into the water and I heard Conrad do the same. Steven stood with a shocked look on his face.

"God has chosen me." he said, opening his arms up and walking towards the house. I rolled my eyes and laughed as I swam over to the edge of the pool. I pulled myself out of the pool and watched as Jeremiah eyeing me up and down like I was a piece of candy.

"Good lord Faye!" Belly ran to grab me a towel. I looked down to see that my white shirt was now sticking to my body and exposed every single aspect of my hips up. I gasped before wrapping my arms around my body.

"Good lord indeed." Jeremiah said, slightly biting his lip. I knew I was redder than every at the moment.

"Jeremiah!" I scolded him. He held his arms up like he was surrendering and turned around to walk back in the house. I let out a breath of relief as Belly ran out with a towel. 

"I guess a white shirt wasn't the best choice." I laughed, wrapping the towel around me.

I walked inside to see all the boys talking to Laurel and Susannah. "Boys, help the girls get their luggage." she ordered, smiling at her two boys. 

"Yes ma'am!" Jeremiah ran outside and I followed behind him. "Okay blondie which luggage is yours?" I started to point out every single bag that was mine. "Damn, you over packed." he laughed. 

I rolled my eyes, grabbing two of my bags while Jeremiah grabbed the other two. Conrad started to gather up Belly's things as Jeremiah and I started to walk inside. "God damn are their bricks in here or something?" he asked, lifting one of my bags up and down.

"Faylin May Sawyer! You told me that you wouldn't!" Belly whined, looking at me with a fake betrayed expression.

"It's just like ten books." I tried to defend myself but I knew I made myself sound worse. 

"You're going to read... on summer vacation?" he asked. I nodded and he scoffed. "We've got a little nerd."

"Oh shut up." I rolled my eyes. 

"Only an hour of reading a day, okay?" Belly said. 

"Fine." I responded. She smiled at me before following Conrad to her room. I followed Jeremiah to mine. It was a pretty room. Blue sheets and comforter with white, knitted throw pillows. I smiled, setting my luggage on my bed. 

"Home sweet home." Jeremiah said, placing his hand on my shoulder. I patted his hand and nodded.

"Hopefully this summer isn't a fuck up like my life at the moment." I laughed. Jeremiah chuckled before leaving the room.

I hoped that this summer wouldn't be horrible and unbearable. I was spending my summer with complete strangers but they seemed like nice people and Jeremiah was being very... sweet on me. 

Hopefully this flirty friendship Jere and I have going on stays just a flirty friendship. I couldn't handle anything right now.