all too well , jeremiah fisher

chapter eleven

the fourth of july in cousins is all about traditions. susannah decks out the whole house, the dads come up for the weekend, the boys steam clams and shoot off fireworks. all the other fourth of july's, amelia and belly were just tagging along. but this year, they each have friends of their own, well, belly has friends, amelia has a friend.

belly had plans while amelia just kind of hoped something would come up.

"can i finish your milk?" jeremiah asked as she was finishing her cereal. "you're weird." she then handed him the bowl.

he started slurping the liquid, which amelia found really annoying. "no, ew, stop."

"yo, im gonna go wash the clams. did you get the lighter fluid?" conrad announced as he entered the kitchen. jeremiah nodded, "yeah, it's already on the beach."

conrad whistled as he exited the kitchen.

"are we done with the portrait yet?" steven walked in as did susannah. "yeah, for today." she told the boy with a smile. "but you do look good in a dress shirt, steven. uh, which makes me think, if belly doesn't hurry up and ask cam to that ball, you should take her." the blonde woman told steven, causing both, amelia and jeremiah to snicker while steven and belly cringed.

"eww, gross, no." belly nearly gagged.

"no, no, no. i'm already going with shayla." he dismissed. "to the debutante ball?" his mother walked in. "yes." he dragged with a nod.

"as an escort?" she asked, pulling a face. "wrap your head around it, mom, all right? shayla's coming today with nicole and gigi, so you'll meet her."

"i know, i was shocked too when i found out steven had game. who would have thought?" amelia shrugged as jeremiah high fived her.

"you hear that, jere? your bff gigi will be here." amelia taunted, nudging the boy.

"wait, are you wearing makeup?" susannah quipped from beside her friend. everyone eyes immediately fell on laurel. "she definitely is!" steven expressed causing everyone to oooh.

"so what? we're having a party." the dark haired female defended. "i'm sure it has nothing to do with john coming to the clam bake?" susannah raised her eyebrows expectantly.

"oh, please. the husbands always come for the fourth." laurel waved off. "he's not your husband anymore." belly reminded, causing all eyes to fall on her.

"oops. yeah." she chucked. "ex-husband."

"you know, i still don't understand why you invited dad's girlfriend." steven said in a monotone voice.

"her name is victoria, and your father wanted us all to meet her." laurel said politely. "oh, belly, i need you to make up the guest bed." she added.

"wait, they're staying here?" amelia tilted her head. amelia loved him like a father and he loved her like a daughter. he's the one who taught her many of the things she knew to this day.

laurel didn't respond, just continued folding towels.

"in the room next to mine?" belly complained with squinted eyes. "yeah." laurel replied flatly, resulting in belly throwing her head back with a groan. jeremiah laughed at belly outburst, earning a kick to the shin from amelia.

"oh, speaking of dads, yours called." susannah informed amelia, her eyes going wide.

"what did- what did he say?" she sat up straight in her seat, feeling everyone's eyes on her.

"he, uh, he wanted to see you. so i invited him here for the fourth."

amelia felt a lump in her throat. she hadn't seen, nor heard from her father since she moved in with laurel.