𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝐂𝐅)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧-𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐬

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Last year Cousins
Conrad's POV

They had just arrived at cousins. Steven was the first one to pop out of the car, he immediately came over to me giving me a quick hug. "Dude I've missed you so much!" He was grinning from ear to ear. Belly was next, she jumped up as I hug her tightly as she squeals out of excitement.

"You seem shorter." I tease as rolls her eyes blushing. I didn't mean for that to come off flirty, but sometimes with belly anything I say could be interpreted different in her mind.

Laurel and Ellie walk out at the same time. But my eyes were on her. She looked different, her skin more golden, her green eyes were piercing in the sun, her boobs had definitely grown as well.

"What are you looking at creep?" She looks at me with a grotesque look on her face, like I was offending her eyes. "Just wondering how someone could get uglier every day of their life." That was a bad comeback, I'm usually so quick with them. But this time I felt myself stumbling on something to throw back at her.

I forgot we have to hate each other. It's too far gone for it not to be our normal. Conrad and Ellie hate each other, it's what everyone knew and came to terms with.

We had each other on Facebook in case our mums saw but apart from that, I had no contact with her. "Wow great comeback idiot, where did you come up with that one, at preschool?" I had nothing to say.

I go to think of something to insult her on. 'You're hair looks like a drowned rat. But it didn't she had her natural ringlets that all had a perfect curl to them. 'Your eyes look like sewage water.' But they didn't they almost glistened this year.

She waits for me to say a comeback but nothing can come to mind. "Yo guys do you know what time I think it's for...?" Steven breaks my train of thought.

"The Ellie belly flop!" Jeremiah and steven say in unison and with that I realise, I was back in the same place I was when I was thirteen, when I started to be horrible to Ellie. I was back to feeling like a kid at the talent show who has stage fright. I was back to liking Ellie.

-

I had snuck downstairs at around four am. I was a silent as I could be, but in a house filled with 8 people, it was pot luck. I knew Jere was a light sleeper but it didn't matter so much if he came down, but if belly did we were in trouble.

I grab all the ingredients for a cake laying them out on the kitchen island as I got to work. I listened to music through one of my headphones keeping one ear available just in case someone came down the stairs. But by the time her strawberry and white chocolate cake was done. I stood standing at it by myself.

It was probably the best cake I had ever made. I only bake at cousins, but usually it's with the boys in the room, throwing the eggs, flicking flour on me. It was peaceful cooking without them. I put the cake in a white plain box and into the fridge.

It was currently five am and I get started on making pancakes, her favourite tradition on her birthday, it's to always have pancakes with an array of toppings. Since the kitchen was so quiet, it took me less than forty minutes to get everything ready. I cover everything up and head outside, grabbing my swimming gear I brought down with me.

I get changed in the outside showers before diving into the pool submerging myself in the cold water. I did a few laps before floating on my back listening to the sound of birds chirping and the waves crashing into each other from the beach.

I knew I wanted to live here one day. Get a job, start a life here, it was my home. I get out of the pool drying myself off as I watch the last part of the sun rise up.

My favourite colour was sunset orange, so warm and vibrant, the colour reminded me of cousins.
Sometimes at home I would wake up early and watch the sunrise knowing that it was the same sun the looked over cousins.

I head up stairs tip toeing as Quietly as possible. I put on some clothes and do some light makeup. I knew I would change everything for the BBQ but still wanted to look good for Belly's birthday breakfast.

After that I grab the balloons from my room and all other decorations. I knock on Jeremiah's door, he told me to wake him at 6 am. He answers immediately already dressed and ready.

"You got the presents?" I barely whisper as he nods his head pointing to the presents we were hoarding in his room so belly couldn't hunt for them.

We head downstairs placing the presents on kitchen island. We set the table for breakfast, putting a new bouquet of flowers in the vase which Jeremiah picked out. He knew belly's favourite flowers it was beyond adorable.

We blew up the pink, blue and gold balloons and the birthday banner Jeremiah put on the top of the front door as well as the ones on the double doors leading to the back garden.

It was now seven am, me and Jeremiah both flop onto the couch, both letting out a tired breath in unison. "Belly didn't know how lucky she got with having you in her life." I turn to Jere, I know belly will beyond thankful for him doing this but sometimes it's nice for somebody else to mention it.

"Yeah I'm pretty great." He shrugs as I laugh throwing a pillow at him as the kitchen door swings open and in walks Susanna. She looked tired, there were bags under her eyes, she walked almost a limp, hunch-back. But as soon as she sees me and Jere she straightens her body and plasters a smile on her face.

I wish she didn't pretend, we would all understand if she needed a day to rest. "Good morning you two! Please don't tell me you've been up all night." She walks over to us sitting down on the sofa in between us both.

"No not exactly, four am and six am." I rest my head on her shoulder. "And why we're you up at those times?" She giggles, she must've missed the array of food, presents and decorations laid out.

"Look at the kitchen." She stands back up as my head flips on to Jeremiah's shoulder as he rests his head on top of mine. "Oh you two!" She gasps as we turn our heads to her.

"How did me and Laurel get so lucky to have such amazing kids like you." She looks at us in awe. "It's beautiful, you've done amazing." I stand up as she comes over swooping me in a hug.

Jeremiah also comes over embracing both of us in his arms, it felt like the warmest hug I've had in a long time. "I'm just gonna go upstairs I'll be back." I remove myself out of the grasp of the both of them as they walk over to the kitchen island. Jeremiah telling Susanna all the things I've cooked this morning.

I run upstairs going to conrad's room. I knock on the door lightly, opening it up just a tiny bit, he was still sleeping. I walk in closing the door behind me. I walk over taking a seat on his bed pulling the covers over both of us. I lay my head on his chest. I hear him breath heavily as he puts his arm around me holding me closer.

"Morning." I smile placing my hand on his chest tracing circles lightly. "Can you wake me every morning like this?" He says softly in a low voice.

"Okay." I giggle quietly as I sink into his chest, his No I was wrong, this was the warmest hug I've had.

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Authors note: this was probably on of my favourite chapters to write! I'm getting back into doing these now and I'm loving how the stories going!
Remember to comment as I love hearing you're guys opinions and feedback.
Thank you so much for the support, I can't believe we're at 13k reads!
I hope you guys enjoy the rest of the book that's to come.
🤍🤍🤍
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