A Not So Hot Girl Summer- Jeremiah Fisher

[seven]

the following morning, Katie woke up with a banging headache. it took her a couple of seconds to realize that she was practically on top of Jeremiah, her eyes popping as soon as she took notice. "why are you in my bed..?" 

Jeremiah shrugged. "why did belly and I find you totally wasted in here last night?" he asked me, waving the bottle of Titos.

shit, Katie thought. "I can explain-"

"is this why you wanted to come home?" he asked.

"jere you can't be serious." Katie scoffed. "I came home because what you guys were going to do to belly during her first date was childish. I only drank so much because I was alone with my own thoughts."

Jeremiah shook his head. "what's that supposed to mean?"

Katie stood quietly for a moment. she knew she couldn't just tell him that she was craving the alcohol or that she had too much on her mind to relax, that would only make her look like she needed rehab or something. 

"never mind." Jeremiah said quietly, knowing Katie wouldn't answer right away. "this is just a stupid argument, we can talk later."

the girl watched as he left her bedroom, frowning as the shut door. but, there was no time to bed sad, its Belly's Birthday.

Katie was convinced she had gotten belly the best gift. it was a little basket filled with all of her favorite snacks and little knick knacks. it was decorated nicely with purple shredded tissue paper on the bottom, a white polaroid camera to replace the old one that Katie accidentally dropped in the pool last summer, a new light blue aluminum water bottle since Belly's has definitely seen better days, a giant bag of gummy bears, some bracelets, three different packs of gum, m&m's, salt and vinegar chips, and a hand written note.

picking up the wrapped basket, Katie made her way downstairs to find belly. when she got down there, everyone was already making their way to the living room to watch belly open her gifts. "don't you dare start without me!" Katie smiled, putting down her gift and running to belly, "happy birthday you little old lady."

belly smiled and hugged her back. "thanks Katie."

when they all finally sat down around the living room, everyone began to give out their gifts. first was laurels gift. belly wasn't exactly excited when she opened up the gift and saw a book, but she refused to disappoint her mother. 

"turn to the marked page." laurel said, seeing belly was confused. "its your favorite poem" she whispered to susannah.

belly giggle as she looked over the page. "oh yeah! I remember susannah teaching us to recite it!" she said. "for whatever we lose.."

"like a you or a me.." Jeremiah and Katie joined in.

"its always ourselves we find in the sea." everyone finished, laughing at the end. well, everybody laughed except for Conrad.

susannah smiled and handed belly her gift next. "open mine now belly."

belly took the small box and began to open it. inside was a beautiful pearl necklace. "oh wow, they're gorgeous susannah."

the woman smiled and stood up, helping belly put on the necklace. "my mom gave these pearls for my sweet sixteen."

Katie stayed in her seat, beginning to feel uncomfortable. what about for my sweet sixteen? she thought. her mom and susannah had been close for as long as susannah and laurel had been, if not, longer. but Katie knew that she couldn't take this too deeply, it would ruin her mood for the rest of day.