A Not So Hot Girl Summer- Jeremiah Fisher

[seventeen]

the day everyone has been dreading came quicker than they wanted. the final day being in cousins was today, meaning everyone would be going their separate ways back home. it was a big day full of cleaning, the moms doing most of it.

the kids were all down at the beach, getting in their last moments of the salty water and messy sand until next year. although, they all feared there wouldn't be a next year with Susannahs health. she was the heart of the house, there was no denying that.

"do you see that wave?" Katie nudged Conrad as they both sat on the decks of their surfboards.

Conrad smirked at her, the both of them paddling towards the large wave coming their way.

they got on it no problem, but Katie had forgotten to tie her leash onto her ankle. she was pretty high up when she fell backwards, the fin of her board slashing a cut across her leg mid air. Katie let out a little scream before she landed in the water.

"what the hell?" Conrad mumbled to himself, looking over to see katies board in the air. when it landed, it was upside down, a little bit of blood on the fin. "Jere! Run to the house and get the bandage!" he shouted, knowing that was the only way Jeremiah would hear him from this far out.

"shit shit shit" Katie mumbled, her leg being in pain as she got back above the water and swam towards her board.

Conrad was already paddling over to her with her board, a worried look on his face. "what the hell happened?" he asked, holding the board so Katie could get back on. "you were fine a second ago."

Katie shook her head, letting out a laugh. "I forgot to tie the leash." she said, holding onto her wound, "you mind pulling me back, I don't need a shark coming to eat me because of my blood."

Conrad laughed, grabbing the leash of her surfboard and nodding. "did the fin get your arm too?" Conrad asked, seeing the scratches on katies arm. 

the girl froze. those weren't scratches, or from the fin. 

"Katie." Conrad said slowly, recognizing the look she had. "what are those from?"

"connie..." 

"that's what you were showing my mom that one time, wasn't it." he said, unimpressed. "when I walked in on you two talking, you immediately hid your arm and made up an excuse."

Katie frowned.

"and- and the towel with the makeup on it. oh my god Katie are you serious?" Conrad complained. "why didn't you say anything?!"

"im sorry!"

he didn't say a word, turning away and swimming them back to the sand where Jeremiah, belly, and Steven were waiting with the first aid kit. 

"that's a nice one." Jeremiah laughed, kneeling down and wiping the wound with the rubbing alcohol. Katie flinched as the alcohol touched her skin, squeezing Jeremiahs shoulder since it was the closest thing to her. "how did you forget about the leash?"

Katie shook her head. "im used to it." she mumbled, catching Conrads look from the corner of her eye.

belly looked at Katie confused. "what do you mean you are used to it?"

"tell them." Conrad said.

"what if I don't want to?"

this wasn't how Katie imagined the last day to go. she wanted to have fun, get in her last laughs with everyone before her bus ride at five o'clock. she didn't want to say anything, so she held up her arm. "these are old, not from this summer." she said, avoiding eye contact with everyone.

"are you fucking kidding me?" Steven said, spinning in frustration. "why are we only just hearing about this?"

Katie sighed. she felt Jeremiah finishing wrapping up her leg, along with his eyes on her face. she couldn't bear to see the look on his face. "I wasn't myself a few months ago when it happened. I was in a bad place and I didn't accept any help people tried to give me." Katie began, "I wanted out. but now, I couldn't imagine how my life would've been if I didn't come here this summer, if I kept acting the way I had been."