Just Keep Driving - Jeremiah Fisher

005

"Seriously. Come on. Get in the car. Watch your head." Jeremiah said as we both had Conrad leaning on our shoulders. He fell into the car and scooted over to the far side. I was about to close the door, and head to the passenger seat when Jeremiah stopped me from closing the door. "Maybe you should sit in the back with Conrad"

Ouch.

"Oh, okay" I said, not making further eye contact with him as I slid into the back seat. My heart started to race, but in a bad way. I buckled my seat belt, and then pulled my knees to my chest and looked out the back window.

"Belly. Let's go. Get in" Jeremiah said annoyed

"Cam can give me a ride home. Right Cam?" Belly snapped back

"No, you're not gonna get in a car with a guy you just met" Jeremiah said, even more hostile. This was a different side of Jere that I wasn't used to seeing. I couldn't help but think it wasn't him just being protective, it was because he was actually jealous of this Cam guy.

"Yes. That's no problem." Cam said anxiously

"No you're not gonna get in a car with a guy you just met" Jeremiah bit back

"I'm Cam. Cameron" He said, reaching his hand in the car.

"Your name is Cam Cameron" Jere said, almost rolling his eyes. This behavior just confirmed that he was jealous. The thought made me curl into myself even more.

I looked over to Conrad who looked equally as annoyed and equally as jealous. I sighed and just decided to tune out the conversation. That was until I decided to look over at Belly one last time, and boy was I surprised at the sight. She was making the first move on this Cam Cameron guy. Yes Belly! I cheered in my head.

Once she got in the car I grabbed the back of her shoulders and shook them a bit.

"Yes Belly Button making the first move! That's hot girl shit!" I said encouragingly. Though the tenseness in the car made me return to my seat, I looked at both of the Fisher boys who had tense jaws.

Everything that followed happened in a blink of an eye. Jeremiah forgetting Steven, Conrad reminding Belly she still had feelings for him, and the police officer knocking on the jeep window.

***

Once we got to the Fisher's residence I tried to sneak away. Wanting to escape the awkwardness and Laurel's wrath. Though Jeremiah grabbed my arm, and nodded his head towards the house. I looked him dead in the eye and shrugged his hand right after me.

"I'll just see you guys tomorrow. Evelyn is probably waiting for me anyways. I have no doubt Laurel called her" I said bluntly backing away from Jeremiah. He looked like he wanted to follow, but he knew he shouldn't keep Laurel waiting.

Once I was alone I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. I hated the way I was feeling. I didn't mind if Jeremiah had a crush on Belly ...maybe I did ... I didn't know it was all so confusing. Also the way he has been acting since the time of the bonfire made my stomach churn. I don't know what kind of switch changed, but it didn't feel good.

I entered my grandmother's small beach house to see her sitting under a reading light with a book in her hands. Once she saw me she closed her book, and took her glasses off. A look of seriousness overtook her features.

"Were you drinking Ray?" my grandmother asked disappointingly.

"No grandma I promise. I was safe. You can even smell my breath if you don't believe me. Make me walk in a straight line, and sing my ABC's too" I said jokingly knowing it would crack her mood which it did.

"Oh my little ray of sunshine, I'm just glad you're okay" She said, bringing me into a hug. I smiled while leaning into her, this is what I needed after a long night of drama.

"Let's get you to bed" I said, taking her hand and leading her in the direction of her room.

***

I was about to head to bed when I heard a little bang on my window. I didn't think much of it so I lifted my sheets about to lay down. That's when I heard the little bang again. Sighing I got up and decided to go check what it was.

Once I reached my window I looked outside to see Jeremiah picking up another pebble. I rolled my eyes and opened my window.

"What the heck are you doing" I whisper yelled down to Jeremiah

"Drive?" he said with a shy smile

"I don't know" I said truthfully. I really didn't know if I wanted to go with him because of his indifferent behavior.

"Please Ray" he said in a slight beg.

I rolled my eyes at him and shut my window. After doing so I made my way down to the front door, and met him in the front yard. We then crossed the street back to his house and got in the jeep.

The first five minutes were awkward. I don't think either of us knew what to say, but I for damn sure wasn't saying the first word. In all the years of being friends he never acted this strange, it was so out of character for him.

"I'm sorry" he finally broke looking over at me. "I know it was pretty shitty of me to make you sit in the back seat"

"Jeremiah I won't lie. It was pretty shitty, but that's not what is really bothering me. The way you acted tonight! Leaving me and Belly to talk to a girl, giving me annoyed glances all night, giving Belly a hard time when she clearly liked Cam. It was so out of character for you" I said truthfully.

He nodded his head taking in everything I was saying. That was one of the many things I admire about Jeremiah, he listens and digests before responding.

"You're right. I don't know what my problem was tonight." He said defeated. He didn't even try to argue his actions tonight which made things worse in my case. His answer gave me confirmation that I wasn't just imagining things. He was truly acting weird, and now I don't know why.

Though instead of pushing him further which I usually would do, I let it go. It was the end of our first night of summer so I would try and make the most out of what we had left.

"I'm what?" I said teasingly "I didn't hear you, can you say it again"

"Oh shut up Ray. You're right! Is that what you want to hear!!" Jeremiah laughed while shaking his head.

God that laugh ... it made all of what happened tonight a distant memory.

"Hell yeah I am and don't you forget it" I said laughing along with him. I missed these late night drives. This is usually what they were filled with laughter and contentment. Letting our problems dissipate into the late night sky, while we drove around enjoying each other.