the summer you noticed me ↠ conrad fisher {1}

t h r e e

"Conrad isn't the person you remember, Claire." The fact that Jeremiah had just used my full name, sends a chill down my spine in anticipation. "He changed this past year, and frankly I don't even see him much and we live in the same house. He's quiet, snappy, very blunt. I don't really know what happened, but see," he pauses, running a finger through his hair. "Did you know he even quit football?"

I stop walking, my heart sinking to my feet. I spent every waking moment day dreaming about Conrad, none of which involves the man he just described to me.

The worst part about the summer house is, everything stays at the summer house. All the memories makes this place feel like it never changes, and I guess I forgot that in ten months a lot can change — specifically about a person, we just never really went through anything that would change us until now. The last biggest change was when Belly got her braces, and that doesn't change a persons personality.

I frown, realizing I haven't said anything. I slowly start walking again, matching Jere's pace. "He quit football?" I say quietly.

I know something big must of happened, and my gut is telling me it has something to do with his dad. Conrad and his dad never saw eye to eye about football, the only time Conrad really loved football when we played it for fun. He says playing on a team got to his dads head and he focused more on games won and what he can do to be better. He always told me he never felt good enough in his eyes.

"Yeah, no one knows why. He won't tell anyone, when the subject gets brought up he goes cold," I bit down on my lip to keep from asking about their dad. I know Conrad told me all of that in confidence and even though he's not the same Conrad I plan to keep my promise.

"I-" I go to speak, but realize I have nothing to say. What is there to say in a situation like this, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to answer that. I hope he's alright."

     "Me too," Jere sighs.

To lighten the mood, I smirk and shout, "race you back to the house!" I give him a shove to knock him off balance, and run in the direction of his house.

With his long legs, it doesn't take long for him to catch up and then pass me. The feeling of running on the beach with the wind blowing your hair back is an unexplainable feeling. It makes me forget for a second that this summer is going to be different.

Conrad's different, I'm different, but I feel myself smiling looking at Jeremiah who is doing a victory dance. At least he's the same.

* * *

I'm freshly showered, with my hair in a French braid. I'm wearing high waisted light wash shorts, and a hot pink tank top. I'm going through a hot pink phase right now, not sure what that's about. My toes are painted hot pink, as well as my nails. My phone case is pink also.

     I know I'm going to be getting an earful from the guys over it but I've been using a tanning bed back home and I'm tan for once in my life. Hot pink & being tan just go together. It makes me happy, and with the way my life is going if the color pink and being tan makes me happy — I'll take it.

I'm just about to walk back over to the Fishers when I hear a car horn. I check the time and see it's 5:13pm, and my heart leaps in excitement.

I'm walking out the front door, triple checking that I have my keys, wallet, and phone before I lock up. Confirming I do, I finally lock up, and just as I'm about to run across the lawn — I see him.

This always happens when I see him, it's as if time freezes. I want more then anything to run up and hug him, but after talking to Jeremiah I'm afraid. I'm afraid that he won't be the same. I'm afraid that he won't be the boy I fell in love with all those years ago.

"Connie?" My voice is small, wavering and I sound unsure. I feel unsure about how to address him. Any other summer I'd run and give him a hug, now I'm standing back waiting for him to make the first move towards me.

He stops walking at the sound of my voice. He looks up slowly, moving the little fly away from his face. He stares as me for a second as if trying to figure out who I am, but I can see the second he realizes. His eyes widen, and a smile forms on his lips. "Claire?"

I let out a breathe I didn't even know I was holding, "Yeah, it's me."

     He walks towards me, and I can feel my heart beat in the pit of my stomach. My hands are clammy, and I can feel the heat in my cheeks. "Claire, you're tan! You're actually tan!" He says, wrapping me up in a hug.

     I roll my eyes, and let my head fall back at he twirls me in a circle before letting me go. "Nice to see you too, Conrad. I'm great, thanks for asking!"

     "No seriously, how are you tan already? It's the first day," he teases.

"I started using a tanning bed," I admit. His face falls and he looks disappointed. I don't like that he's looking at me like that. "I know it isn't safe, but it's a small thing that makes me happy. I promise I only did it for a month, just to get ready for summer. I'm done!"

"Good, those things cause cancer." He says sternly. His face softens once he sees the flinch I do at his words. He literally spat them, I think I feel a drop of spit on my forehead. He's never used that tone around anyone. This must be what Jere is talking about, the new Conrad.

"Yeah, we'll I'm gunna go say hi to Belly and Steven," I say turning around, wanting nothing more then to be away from the awkwardness and confusion that surrounds being near the new Conrad.

He mumbles a quiet me too and we walk in silence towards everyone else.