The Summer I Fell

decorations

°。°。°。°。°。°。

Jeremiah and Jewel had woken up early the morning of Belly's sweet 16, wanting to decorate a little before the others woke up. Jewel jogged down the stairs to where Jeremiah was already tearing open the package of streamers. Her hair was messily cast over her shoulders, a pair of spandex showing off her long legs under her Jeremiah's t-shirt. Jeremiah couldn't help but stare at the girl, something about the sight of his t-shirt covering her body sending a shiver down his spine.
"Good morning, Jere." She smiled, grabbing the birthday banner from out of the package.
"Morning." He smiled, cutting them streamer to the length he needed.
"Where'd you want to put this?" Jewel asked, holding the banner out to show him.
"I thought it would look good above the living room doorway." He suggested, Jewel nodding in confirmation before walking forward. The arch was a few feet taller than she was, Jewel looking up at it.
"Alright, so I'm not doing that." She told him, a light laugh coming from the boy.
"What's wrong, missing a few inches?" He asked, earning a playful glare from the girl.
"Here." He stepped forward, standing only an inch or two away from the girl.
"Oh boy." She whispered, watching as he squatted down and wrapped his arms around her hips. He stood up with ease, a small smirk on his face as he lifted her.
"Alright, I get it. You've been working out." She laughed, rolling her eyes as she reached up to hang the banner over the arch. Jeremiah laughed, watching as she pushed the last tack into the wall. His arms slid up around her waist as he lowered her, the two standing pressed together under the banner.
"Thanks." She smiled, earning a smile back from him. The two stayed together for a moment longer, before hearing steps cascading down the stairs. Conrad came into the room a moment later, Jeremiah quickly stepping back from her. Jewel furrowed her eyebrows at his retreat, glancing back toward Conrad.
"We should finish up with the decorations. Belly might be up soon." Jeremiah told her, quickly walking back to the streamers.

The morning sun shined brightly into the kitchen, Steven flipping pancakes on the stove as the others helped prepare for Belly's sixteenth birthday.
"Golden brown and crisp. That's how it's supposed to look." Steven told everyone, flipping the Mickey Mouse pancakes on the pan.
"How's it going over there?" Laurel asked, knowing Belly was going to be up soon if not already.
"Look at these pancakes. It's ready." Steven answered, putting them onto a plate neatly. Jeremiah and Jewel set the table, adjusting the placemats and silverware perfectly.
"Morning, everyone." Belly spoke, walking in to the kitchen.
"Happy birthday!" All of them shouted, watching the girls lips turn up into a smile.
"Hey! There's the birthday girl, looking like a vision in floral. Happy birthday." Susannah complimented, pulling her into a hug. Jeremiah took his turn next, stepping forward to hug her.
"Happy sweet 16, Bells." He told her, stepping back to let Jewel get her hug in.
"Not so little anymore, huh? Happy birthday." She smiled, Belly laughing in response.
"Yeah, Belly Button's getting old finally. Happy birthday." Steven spoke from behind the island, Laura stepping forward.
"Thanks, everyone." Belly said, before turning to face her mom.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart. Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready." Laura told her, pulling her daughter in for a hug.
"Actually, I'm not really, uh, hungry." Belly confessed, earning a soft 'oh' from her mother.
"Shall we open gifts?" Susannah said, breaking the awkward moment between the two.
"Oh, you're gonna love mine." Jeremiah told her, pulling her into the living room.