the summer you noticed me ↠ conrad fisher {1}

t e n

I never did get invited to shopping with the girls, and frankly I was relieved. Shopping isn't really my thing, let alone shopping for someone else. I don't know anything about debutantes and what they need to wear so me being there wouldn't of made much difference. Besides, Belly deserves some time alone with family without me tagging along.

I am just getting back from the beach. I laid out tanning for three hours, mainly because I had nothing better to do. That, and the fact that it is perfect out right now. It's 83 degrees with wind. On a wide open beach, it was like a perfect tanning bed.

I need a shower. I hate the feeling of sunblock on me. It makes me feel all sticky. It has to be the worst part of going on the beach, almost just as bad as sand on the beach.

     I unlock the back door, dropping all of my stuff as soon as the air conditioning hits me. It's so cold in here that I can already feel the goosebumps traveling up my legs and down my arms.

It doesn't help that I'm wet right now. I took a dip in the ocean to cool down right before I came back, so I'm dipping water all over the house as I sprint towards my shower. I turn it on to warm it up as I rush to my room and grab the Bluetooth speaker off my dresser.

I connect my phone to the Bluetooth and put on Conan Grays newest album. The same album I've been listening to for the past three hours, feeling my heart aching as 'Family Line' comes on. I genuinely haven't related to a song more then this one since Harry Styles released 'Matilda' a few months ago. Any song that is related to a messed up family hits me hard in the chest.

     I strip my bathing suit off stepping in the shower. Sighing of relief as the goosebumps slowly start to fade away. I belt out the chores of Family Line loud, as loud as humanly possible.

I think this is the best part of living alone. It's the getting to stay up as late as I want, sing as loud as I possibly can in the shower, and most importantly take my time unpacking. I decided since today was free, I'd spend most of today putting everything away.

I knew I was most likely going to go out later, but for the meantime this shower, then a nap, then unpacking sounds like a perfect self care day.

I ding comes through my phone, and I groan. I hate that "notify anyway" on the new iPhone update, if my phone is on do not disturb — that means, DO NOT DISTURB.

I ignore it, and the song comes fluttering back into the room. The ding was over the end of the song, I get annoyed. Who needs to get in touch with me so bad they had to do it while I was listening to 'Family Line'!

I become curious so my hatred can be aimed at someone instead of just in the air. When I pick up my phone, all the anger disappears and I find myself smiling.

*   *   *

     Conrad is helping me unpack my groceries. I don't know how I found myself in this position. I never imagined something like this to actually happen.

     Conrad has always been a crush, my constant crush even though I don't see him for ten months of the year. I just always find myself comparing every guy to him, and now that he's here, putting away my groceries just to hang out with me, I don't believe it's happening.

     "Take a picture, Claire. It lasts longer," he teases.

     I gasp, and throw a bag of chips at him which he successfully dodges. "Shut up!"

His eyes widen, as his mouth falls open. He isn't really surprise because the corners of his mouth is pointing up as he tries not to smile.

     He looks at the chips, then back at me. He does this three times. His eyes growing wider as he does it. "Claire!" He gasps. "Did you just threaten me?" He mumbles, holding a hand to his chest.

He bats his eyes, looking as innocent at possible. As if me throwing the bag of chips at him is the worst thing in the world. Conrad Fisher could never do something so horrible to earn a bag of chips to be thrown at him, no way.

      I'm stunned. I just stare at him, with my mouth slightly open. I don't know what's happening. I don't hate the teasing, but I find it weird. I suddenly become aware of my surroundings and the fact that we're in this house alone right now.

      He's still staring at me with wide eyes, waiting for me to respond. "I wasn't staring!" I deny. He raises his eyebrows as if saying he knows I'm lying. "I wasn't!" I squeak. My voice always rises when I lie. I feel my face heating up, it's going to be a tomato in any second if he doesn't stop looking at me.

I clear my throat, and he bursts out laughing. He is literally hands on his knees bent over in laugher right now. The sight warms my heart because he's been so uptight all summer. Whatever has been weighing him down seems nonexistent in this moment.

    "Dude, you've been here for 20 minutes and you're already coming at me!" I groan. "I wasn't staring at you, I was just thinking and my eyes happened to land on you during that process that doesn't mean I was thinking about you. Seriously like —" Conrad's hands find their way on both my arms. The suddenness of him being this close causes me to press my lips into a tight line.

     "Claire," he says quietly stifling a laugh. "Take a breathe, I'm messing with you."

     "I–I–I know that!" I protest. "I was just saying—" I'm cut off again when Conrad gives my arms a squeeze signaling to shut up.

     "Let's finish putting these away," he chuckles going back to the bag he was just working on. "Oh!" He bent down to grab the chips I just threw at him, "here, you dropped this." He winks.

      What the fuck is going on? Am I in the twilight zone right now?