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the drive to the beach house was always fun, they would sing many songs together and even play "would you rather". belly was currently singing an olivia rodrigo song from the top of her lungs, sometimes gemma joined her but she was mostly quiet.
she was nervous, she couldn't deny it. it has been two years since the last time she saw conrad, since the last time he texted her or that she would pretend his silence didn't hurt her. she thought of many possibilities, the first: maybe he got a girlfriend, and she was jealous of him having girlfriends. the second: maybe he never cared about her and what happened a couple summers ago didn't mean anything to him.
laurel looked at the girl and smiled while taking her hand.
"wait until susannah sees you, she is going to freak out."
"why's that?" the girl asked with a smile on her face, she missed the blonde woman.
"you look so gorgeous, the last time she saw you you were younger than belly is now." laurel smiled "you've grown, same way my belly did. you both look different."
"I remember that she used to sneak so much candy for belly and I when we got there for the first time," the girl had a nostalgic smile on her face remembering the scene "she made me feel so welcome, so happy."
"she has this effect on people."
susannah was like her mom for the summer, she would take care of the girl with so much love, that you wouldn't believe that they didn't know each other before.
her thoughts were interrupted with belly's loud and terrible voice, laurel made a face and tapped her daughter on the shoulder.
"can you guys please turn it down?"
steve was fast and pressed the "turn off" button on the radio with so much passion.
"yes please"
"thank you, and I want you to be better about helping this summer." laurel started "like, don't just leave your dishes in the sink. load them in the dishwasher."
steven was about to open his mouth to pretest against his mother's words when she spoke again.
"not just your own dish, either, steven."
"what, but i...."
"I want us to be good houseguests this year" the woman said looking at her son through the rear view.
"mom, susannah has people who clean, doesn't she?" the boy had a smirk on his face, that was gone in the second his mother slapped his head.
"ow"
"steven!"
"for god's sake, act like I raised you right!"
that's what gemma loved the most about going to the beach house, this synchrony they all had. there wasn't a moment that she didn't have a smile on her face during the summer time.
"steven, that means don't stay out too late." laurel had a serious tone in her voice.
"mom, I'm too old for a curfew!" steven cried from the driver's seat.
"wait, what about me? I don't have a curfew either, right?" belly turned around to look at her mom, gemma laughed of the girl's desperation.
"what do you need a curfew for? you don't go anywhere." the boy was laughing and looking at his sister who had her cheeks pink of anger and embarrassment.
"don't be a jackass, steve." the oldest girl told her friend from the backseat.
"what?" he look at her from the rear view and she showed him her tongue.
"belly, we'll talk about it when something comes up." the oldest conklin says and squeeze her daughter's shoulder.
"but.. but what about gemma?" belly looked and pointed at her friend "does she have a curfew?"
gemma didn't do much while she was at cousins, she would go to the beach and take some walks so she could photograph random things around the city and take them home, so she would always fee like she was there.
"yes?" laurel didn't sound very sure "if she wants to go to parties and... and this kind of stuff, she is having one."
"thanks?" the brunette girl said to her mother's friend.
"hmm whatever, and steven don't forget, you promised you'd take me driving." belly was now focused on her brother.
"belly, I told you I'd take you." the older woman said with a frown.
"yeah, but you're too judgy." the younger girl says and everybody laughed.
"excuse me?"
"yes, I'm sorry." belly answered.
"just a little bit." gemma announced while she gently squeezed the woman's arm.
𑁍
the rest of the car trip was normal, they sang and played until they saw the welcoming board. gemma's heart started beating faster and she felt like sweating, even though the ac was on. they made a quick stop at a gas station to get some supplies, belly and laurel got in while steven and gemma waited in the car.
"have you told him that you're coming this year?" the boy turned around to see his friend's face.
"no."
"you should, maybe he thinks that you're not going anymore." steven smiled at her.
"well, he should've texted me asking then." gemma messed with the boy's hair and smiled.
the mom and daughter duo returned to the car and belly looked physically embarrassed but didn't say anything.
𑁍
"they're here" was the first thing gemma heard when they arrived at the beach house, it was of course, jeremiah screaming and running towards the car.
"long time no see." jeremiah says while hugging laurel.
"good to see you"
"oh my god, you came!" he ran from laurel's arms directly to gemma and spun her so fast that it made her dizzy.
"hi jeremiah" the girl was laughing and trying no to fall with the dizziness. "I've missed you"
"oh me too, partner in crime." he kissed her cheek and went to say hi to the others.
she looked around and she found those eyes that she knew too well. she smiled and walked over to him, he was tense and felt like he was seeing a ghost.
"you came." that's all he said.
"I did, since I had to come here so you would talk to me" she teased, and he smiled shyly.
"sorry, you look beautiful." he hugged her briefly and smiled looking down at her.
"meh, you don't look bad yourself." gemma poked his side laughing and conrad ran to the other boys so they could do their famous belly flop.
gemma watched the scene and smiled to herself, she's at home.
maro speaks: hi everyone! second chapter is out, i have a lot written already so let me know what you think. don't forget to comment 🥹
