𝐌 𝐀 𝐓 𝐈 𝐋 𝐃 𝐀 ; 𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫

𝟓: 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐄𝐠𝐠𝐬

Belly and I start walking towards the hall. From the distance we see a tan, curly haired guy that I could recognize from anywhere.

"Is that Jere?"

"Hey!" Belly calls. He begins to walk past us.

"Jeremiahhh.." I trail off and he looks at us.

"Oh my god-uh Belly, Tilly, I didn't even recognize you guys." I sigh, looking down at the floor.

"Tell us the truth, do we looks like fools?" Belly asks and I look at him.

"Uh, no. You guys looks-good. You guys looks good." He laughs and looks at me.

"Let me walk you guys over." Belly and I giggle and he stitches his eyebrows.

"What?"

"Nothing. Come on." We start walking and Jeremiah runs to the golf cart and sets the towels down.

"So are those pineapples?" He asks, pointing to Belly's dress.

"What pineapples??"

"And mini eggs right?" He looks at mine. Our eyes meet and I could see the slightest shine in his eyes.

"They're flowers!" Belly argues.

"Yeah Jere, have you ever seen flowers before?" I scold as we all laugh. He stands in the middle and links arms with us as we walk up the stairs. He tells us everything we need to know about the lunch and ball.

"Oh and the little strawberry, raspberry cookies are to die for!" He laughs, glancing at both of us.

"I'd still never thought I'd see the day where you're both wearing a fascinator."

"Neither did I." I chuckle, letting out a nervous sigh.

We walk into the room and all heads turn to us. The room goes quiet and a lady with pinned hair walks toward us. She's poised and elegant, wearing a white button-up and a green skirt with leaves.

"Jeremiah." She takes a deep breath, preparing herself.

"Paige." She looks at him and throws her hands up.

"Where's your shirt?" He avoids the question and takes her hand.

"It's always a pleasure." He flashes her one of his charming smiles as she nods.

"This is Belly and Tilly-I mean..Isabella Conklin, and Matilda Hale. The two women my mother told you about. My best friends and potentially future wives." He wiggles his eyebrows, causing me to clear my throat in an attempt to stop myself from laughing. Belly nudges him in the arm.

"They're late."

"We are so sorry. It won't happen again." I smile.

"You ladies are at table 2." She nods, walking away.

"Are those the little Brie and fig jam sandwiches with the prosciutto?" Jere asks, Paige quickly shuts it down.

"Don't you dare."

"Okay." He nods and as soon as she starts to walk he darts for the table.

"Those are for the girls, JEREMIAH THOSE ARE FOR THE GIRLS!"

"JUST ONE, I PROMISE!" He smiles and walks past us.

"Knock em' dead." He squeezes Belly's arm and gives me a smile. He squeezes my shoulder before running out of the room.

"That's the girl Conrad was kissing." Belly looks at table 2.

"And the one Steven was with." I look to the other side. Turning to Belly, I see the regret in her eyes.

"Lemon Jelly Belly." She whispers to me as I nod. We walk to the table and take the two empty seats next to each other. Me next to the girl who was kissing Conrad, and Belly next to the girl with Steven.

"Hi." Belly introduces. The other girls look at us and exchange looks.

"Hey." Conrad girl says.

"Hey." I smile.

I look at Belly, who's talking with the girl next to her. Lemon Jelly Belly.

❀❀❀

The girls had ended up passing around alcohol during Paige's speech. I politely declined because the last time I had alcohol I couldn't remember what my name was the next morning. Belly and I had made small talk with the girls, avoiding talkative answers. All they talked about were Jeremiah and Conrad, and how Shayla was sleeping with Steven.

They then started to talk about college. The Ivy Leagues and big schools. Belly and I were only going to be juniors. I hadn't given college much thought because I didn't really ever think I'd get to go. I guess now that the time is closer, I'm realizing I can. Halfway through the lunch Belly ran out. She had come back with a smile on her face.

"Excuse me, I'm just gonna go to the bathroom really quick." I smile at the girls as I walk out of the dining room.

I take a deep breath and walk out of the hall, towards the open roundabout. I take a seat on the curb. I knew the whole debutaunte thing was a lot. I never knew it was gonna be so uptight and fancy. I loved Susannah, and I loved doing this with Belly. But I can't help but wonder what mom and dad would think if they saw this now.

They always said that rich kids came from the spoiled and only ever got to places with money. They said I didn't have that, that I would be better than that. They would've never let me do this ball and have our families finance issues out in the open. Without Laurel and Susannah, I would have never even been able to buy the fascinator, let alone all of the wardrobe.

The second our finances went to shit dad decided he was better off without us. Then it was just me and mom. For her, it was just herself and alcohol. I would find her hungover on the couch, drooling all over the cushions. I cleaned up and made breakfast for her. Then the cycle started all over again.

"Hey." My head stays rested on my arms that were hugging my knees. I don't need my eyes open to recognize that voice. The calmness and comfort it had brought me since we were kids. It had always been Jeremiah. He sits next to me.

"Are you ok?" I nod my head. I could at least try to convince him.

"Then why are you sitting on the curb ruining your dress? Mom's gonna kill you, you know?" I chuckle. I nod my head.

"She's gonna kill me." I echo. I wipe my face quickly and lift my head up. I quickly stand, maybe a little too quick cause gravity pulls me forward and I'm diving for the ground. I'm caught just before I face plant and Jere pulls me up.

"Woah, hey, what's up?" He looks at me with big eyes.

"Nothing. Just needed a breather from all the deb stuff." I try my best to smile. My cheeks are tear stained. I know that he knows I'm lying, but I can't help it. I had to attempt to keep him away.

"Ok." He doesn't ask questions. He doesn't try to pry information out of me. All he does is pull me into a hug. The second my body hits his chest, the tears start running down my face again. I couldn't stop them as much as I wanted too. This was embarrassing. To be crying in front of Jeremiah.

I wanted to hide my problems. Forget about them this summer. But they seem to follow me everywhere.