HOPELESSLY! ━━ CONRAD FISHER

one!

━━001,
prepping for my downfall, once again!

Surrounding the ocean like a massive fog is the salty air. But Cora loves it! Although it was a bittersweet goodbye to grandma and grandpa Sunil, the young Sunil girl made them both promise to come visit Cousin's beach over the summer (and frankly, you'd have to be crazy to say no to her).

As Ben drives them closer to the familiar landscape, Cora looks out the window, taking in the peaceful silence and magnificent scenery. The waves come in as a deep aquamarine and turn golden as they churn the sand on the shore. Each hue is made more pretty by the brilliant white of the crests, drawing the eye away from the cloudless sky.

"I want to thank you both, again, for stepping up with cooking and cleaning the last few weeks," Angelina says after a long while. "This year has been hard on us all, but I love you both so much..."

"I love you too," Cora says softly from the backseat, leaning forward to squeeze her mothers shoulder.

"And don't worry," Ben adds, "we won't let Susannah or Laurel or you, be stuck doing all the work around the house,"

"I am so proud of both of you," Angelina beams, and Cora couldn't help but feel relief at her mothers' words. "This summer is going to be great for both of you! I just know it,"

The car ride from their grandparents' house isn't long, just a couple of hours, but Cora was beginning to get restless. Her leg shook up and down with nerves and excitement. Everything looked the same as they had left it, beautiful houses were spread across the local roads, and children were going on bike rides — eagerly going to meet up with their summer friends.

It was only a few more minutes till they pulled into the Fisher's driveway, a Volvo already parked in front. Angelina had received a call from Laurel earlier that day, they were set to arrive an hour earlier. (And Cora certainly didn't miss Belly singing loudly and off-key in the background, as Steven yelled at her to quiet down).

Before Ben could honk the horn to announce their arrival, the four teenagers who had been impatiently waiting for the Sunil twins came tumbling out the front door, racing one another to the parked car. Cora couldn't help but laugh at the sight, and quickly opened the car door.

The sight of Conrad Fisher was one that Cora would never get tired of. The boy took a few strides with a smile stuck on his face, one that was mirrored on the blonde girl. She ran forward, breaking the last remaining feet between them, and jumped, Conrad immediately wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tightly, giving her a twirl. "I missed you, Cory,"

Her head falls into the space of his neck and she whispers back, "I missed you, Commie,"

"Still holding onto that nickname?"

"I apologize, Comrade," she emphasizes and ruffles his damp hair as he sets her down. "But Conrad doesn't have a lot of options for nicknames. Take that up with your mother, not me,"

"Well—"

"Cora!" Jeremiah exclaims, running up behind her to lift her up and spin her around. "Oh, I've missed you!" He ignores the immediate glare that is targeted at him from Conrad and smiles wider.

"I've missed you, Jere!" Cora says with a laugh. Isabel, better known as Belly smashes the blonde girl into a bone-crushing hug — if it wasn't for Conrad standing behind her, who immediately put a handout, she would've fallen down. "And I didn't forget about you Is,"

"They already threw me into the pool," Isabel mumbles and Cora lets out a laugh.

"I guess that explains why my clothes now feel damp," she says, looking at Conrad who has a sheepish smile. "I know you aren't taking football as seriously anymore, but is Belly strong enough to pull you in with her now?"