↳ TIDAL WAVES ༉‧₊˚✧ C.F

14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
✧.* A DANCING QUEEN? ✧.*

"What an asshole" Belly muttered as they two girls sat in her bedroom, Juliette fixing her strapless dress covered in flowers and cherries, she nodded in agreement.

"I honestly don't know why I though this summer would be different." Juliette shrugged, tucked her blonde hair behind her ears, adjusting the knotted necklace.

Belly turned, grabbing her shoulders, "Fuck Conrad. It's our fucking birthday."

Juliette smiled softly at her best friend, standing up with her, "You're right. Fuck this."

The two giggled as they hurried down the steps, everyone in the kitchen turned at their arrival, Jeremiah nearly knocking them down.

"Happy birthday!" Jeremiah cheered, wrapping his arm around them, leaning in towards Juliette, "You're finally a dancing queen. Belly you still got a year."

"Hey!" Juliette shoved him off, "I've always been a dancing queen."

The three laughed, walking over to the counter where Steven, Laurel and Susannah bombarded them with birthday wishes.

"Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready." Laurel slid them towards the blonde, her face dying down at the food.

She swallowed, pushing them away, "Actually, I'm not really, uh, hungry."

"Shall we open gifts?" Susannah asked, changing the subject quickly, sensing the awkwardness building.

They all walked into the living room, Belly and Juliette sitting in the center of the room as everyone sat before them.

Juliette met Conrad's eye, quickly looking away as she stared at her lap, hands folded as the memories from last night crept up on her.

"Why don't you go look in the mirror some more?"

"Julie!" Susannah called out louder, making the girl snap her head up, a confused look on her face as she hummed, "I said here, sweetheart. You alright?"

"Uh, yeah." Juliette nodded, playing it off as she softly grabbed the gift from Susannah, untying the small box, a gasp leaving her mouth as it revealed her mothers pearl earrings, similar to Belly necklace she was just gifted.

She shook her head, running her thumb over the dangling pearl, "I...I cant take this, Susannah. These belong to my mom. She'd freak."

"She'd want you to have them. Told me so herself." Susannah flashed a smile.

"Mom, when I get older can I have those?" Juliette asked her mother, staring at her in the mirror, sitting cross legged on her bed.

"Of course, sweetheart. You're gonna have to wait a long time though, I'm never giving these babies up." Her mother brushed her hair from her face, covering the earrings as she cupped her young daughters cheeks.

Juliette smiled at the memory, blinking away tears as she grinned at Susannah, "Thank you."

She closed the box, tying the ribbon as she placed it gently next to her, Laurel stood, hanging the girls each a bag, they peeked inside, taking out a book.

"It's a first edition. I got it from a rare book dealer." Laurel explained, seeing the unimpressed look on their faces, "Turn to the bookmarked page. It's your favorite poem."

The two turned the the page, tracing their eyes down the words, a smile coming across their lips in realization.

"Oh, yeah. I remember Susannah teaching us to recite this." Belly nodded, "For whatever we lose... Like a you or a me... It's always ourselves we find in the sea."

The group of teenagers said the last line in sync, Susannah grinning like a kid.

"Here." Jeremiah leaned towards, sliding another small box into their laps, peering up at them with amusement.

Juliette opened the box, taking out the small the small charm, it was a silver surfboard, dangling off a keychain hook, she lifted it with her pointer finger.

"Julie, it's for your car keys. And Belly that's a good luck charm for passing your drivers test." Jeremiah added, leaning back with a smirk.

"How cute. Thanks, Jer." Juliette shot him a grinned from ear to ear at his gesture, placing it beside her as Steven tossed shiny bags at them. Thank God for fast reflexes.

The girls pulled out matching crewnecks, turning them around as Princeton's logo was patched on the front, Belly's lips parted as she stared at her older brother, "Wow, Steven, I can't believe you actually spent money on me."

"Relax." Steven rolled his eyes, "I just didn't want you stealing mine next year when I get in."

"Thanks, Steven." Juliette folded up the sweater, placing it back into the bag as she sat patiently, her eyes wondering to Conrad as she watched him place a velvet bag into his pocket.

Laurel furrowed her brows, glancing at her son, "I didn't know you were still considering Princeton."

"You know, I-I think I'm gonna apply for some scholarships, and Dad thinks I can get some financial aid." Steven shrugged, stuttering over his words, "I-I don't know. I'll see if I get in."

"Okay, um..." Susannah trailed off, her eyes landing on a quiet Conrad, "Conrad, uh, do you want to give Juliette and Belly your present?"

Conrad flicked his eyes up at the girls, locking his eyes on Juliette's face, his voice was low, "Sorry, I forgot."

Belly's face dropped, furrowing her brows slightly as she nodded.

Juliette just stared blankly at him, lifting her shoulders, "Uh, that's... that's cool. Um... I wasn't really expecting anything anyway, so..."

Conrad had a flush that crept across his cheeks, he stood up, adjusting his shirt as he felt everyone's eyes on him, "Oh, so I got to go. Um, I promised Cleveland that I'd show him some knots today, so... Happy birthday, guys."

"Hey. Why don't we take my car and practice driving before we have to pick up Taylor from the bus station." Jeremiah suggested, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Sure."Belly nodded, her eyes catching Juliette's, "Wanna come?"

Juliette shook her head, clutching the box's as she slid them into the bags, "No, thanks. I'll see you guys when you get back."

She hurried up the steps, kicking her door shut with her foot, she stood at her dress, breathing out a shaky breathe.