The Summer I Fell

gentleman

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Jewel had chosen to go with Belly to pick up Taylor, despite not being the biggest fan of the girl. She didn't particularly have anything against her, She just knew this year was different. She didn't know if she would be able to ignore Taylor's usual flirting with Jeremiah like she had every other year.
"Okay, slow and steady. You're doing great. Just keep going straight, okay?" Jeremiah encouraged, watching the road as Belly drove.
"You excited to see Taylor?" He asked, making conversation for the drive to the bus stop.
"Yeah, uh, of course. So excited." She answered, seemingly hesitant of the idea. 
"You sure?" He questioned, Jewel not being the only one noticed her lack of enthusiasm.
"Look, she's my best friend in the world, but, um, I mean, you know how Taylor is. She's like a hurricane." Belly explained, Jeremiah Laughing from the passenger seat.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. Hurricane Taylor." He agreed, prompting a laugh from Belly and Jewel.
"And I guess I always feel like the supporting character around her, which, normally, I don't mind..." She continued, her sentence drifting off into the summer air.
"But it's your birthday, and you're the main character, Belly, not her." He finished, providing the girl with a comforting compliment.
"Yeah. Thanks, Jere." Belly said, taking her eyes off the road to look at him. The car swerved as Belly panicked, the tires screech as she pulled back into her lane.
"Whoops." Belly chuckled nervously, Jewel's heart pounding in her chest.
"You alright, Jewel?" Jeremiah asked, knowing she was still uneasy in cars.
"Yeah." She nodded, not wanting to make Belly feel bad for a minimal mess up.
"Bells, I think you made need a part two to the driving lesson though." Jewel told her, earning a nervous laugh from Belly.
"And part three and part four." She agreed, prompting a laugh from both Jewel and Jeremiah.

The trio waited at the bus stop for what get like forever, watching as the bus wheels squeaked to a stop.
"Twenty bucks she calls you 'Jeremy' again." Belly laughed, prompting a smile from Jeremiah.
"I don't... I think she learned from last time." He excused, Belly rolling her eyes.
"You think? That's how she flirts with you." She informed him, Jewel biting her cheek.
"Here she comes." Jeremiah spoke up, watching as people unloaded from the vehicle.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God." Taylor gasped, both girls enveloping each other in a hug.
"Happy birthday." Taylor exclaimed excitedly, releasing Belly from her grasp.
"Thank you." Belly replied, pulling back as Taylor pinched her side.
"Belly, you little tart." Taylor laughed, Belly giving her a questionable look.
"You finally took my advice. This outfit is snatched." She complimented, Belly laughing in response.
"Isn't Belly looking like a snack?" Taylor asked Jeremiah, who replied with a smile and an 'always'.
"Oh, uh, here, let me get your bag." He spoke up again, taking the bag from Taylor.
"Thank you. You're such a gentleman, Jeremy." Taylor smiled, Jewel crossing her arms in annoyance.
"Of course." He replied, bowing a little to exaggerate the compliment.
"Um... It's Jeremiah, not Jeremy." Belly reminded Taylor awkwardly, watching as Taylor shook her head.
"I like Jeremy better." She smiled, Jewel rolling her eyes at Taylor's not so subtle flirting.
"Good to see you again, Jewel." Taylor spoke with a monotone voice, seemingly disinterested.
"Always a pleasure, Taylor." She replied, the other two teens watching the interaction play out awkwardly.
"Uh, should we, uh, head home?" Jeremiah proposed, Taylor perking up.
"Ooh, actually, can we make a stop first?" She asked, Belly and her smirking at each other knowingly.