Strangers ~ Conrad Fisher

three

I walked into the house and saw my mother and Susannah talking. Susannah turned toward me and embraced me in her arms.

"You've gotten so grown up Vic. You're so beautiful." She said smiling.

I smiled awkwardly and looked down at the floor. "Thanks." Does she really think that? I don't look that different from the last time i was here.
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I walked outside to grab the cooler and the rest of my things out of the back.

"Shit." I breathed out while trying to lift the cooler out of the back.

"You want help with that?" A voice called from behind.

I turned around and Conrad was leaning against the car smiling.

"Oh uh, yeah that'd be great." I said looking his direction.

He walked over and grabbed the cooler from me, turned around and walked back towards the house without saying anything.

Seriously? First he's insulting my hair, then won't even talk to me while helping bring stuff in.

I continued grabbing my stuff and lugged it into the house and up to my room.

This house brought so many memories back that I'd seem to forget during the school year. I loved it here. No school, no fake friends, and no rules.

My room still decorated, mixed with Susannah's beach decor and my personal favorites. A Taylor Swift poster above my dresser, my books, and most importantly Junior Mint. A stuffed polar bear that Conrad had won me when we were younger at the boardwalk.

Sometimes I wondered if life would be any better if i lived here. If Susannah was my mother.
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My mom and Susannah were off to the book signing, jere and belly were at the beach, Steven and Conrad were probably playing a video game, or off with random girls, so that left me a quiet, empty house.

Reading was the one thing besides being in Cousins that took my anxiety away. So, I decided to take advantage of the quiet house to finish my current read.

A few hours passed and the house became filled again, my mom calling me down for dinner.

Soon everyone gathered around the table and started eating. We were 10 minutes into visiting when steven started asking everyone questions.

"Hey man, when do you leave for training camp?"

"Um he quit football." Jeremiah responded.

I glanced over and gave a confused look. Conrad loved football.

"He can always change his mind." Susannah said.

"Im not going to change my mind." He reassured.

"So what are you gonna do all summer then?" My mom asked.

He shook his head- "Dude you can work at the county club with me and jere!" My brother said excitedly.

"Im not working at the country club." He looked back down and we became silent.

The conversation ended. We continued to eat.

"Oh belly, I almost forgot. Susannah got up and grabbed a letter, handing it to belly. Oh God. Is that what I think it is?

"I was thinking, since belly's older now that she should be a debutante!" She exclaimed.

I looked over at my mom with a confused look.

"You know how that went a few years ago, Susannah. I thought we agreed to not do that again." She said sternly.

"Yes but it's been a while, times have changed. Please belly." She pleaded.

i spoke up, "Mom, its okay. Belly has nothing to worry about. It won't be the same as last time."

She looked at me and sighed.

"I'll think about it." Belly responded.

I smiled at her. We continued eating. Soon everyone started to leave the table.