𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝐂𝐅)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭- 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

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"Happy birthday!" We all shout as belly and Taylor enter the kitchen. Belly was already dressed, hair and a bit of makeup done. Taylor had of course tried to upstage belly, a low cut top and her boobs pushed up high, heavy makeup and a pair of high rise shorts. It looked good but nothing compared to Bell's.

"Oh my god guys!" She says with excitement jumping on the spot. "I'm guessing this was the work of you." She goes over to Susanna hugging her tightly.

"Surprisingly not this time, you should thank you're sister and Jeremiah, they've been up since four am." She turns to me pouting embracing me in a tight hug.

"Thank you." She whispers as I smile stroking her hair before she goes over to Jere, she hugs him whispering something in his ear which makes him smile.

"Come on let's eat I'm starving!" Everyone makes there way over to the table as me and Conrad head over to the kitchen island grabbing the food. As I do I throw a mini marshmallow at him as it pings off his head.

He laughs throwing back a strawberry. I grab a handful of marshmallows as they bounce off him, both of us in hysterics. "Can we please not waste my birthday breakfast!" Belly says with seriousness as we set the pancakes and toppings on the table.

Steven goes to grab a pancake when I smack his hand away. "Ow!" He says being dramatic. "Belly goes first." I point the tongs in my hand at him as he puts his hands up in defeat.

"Okay so belly everyone should be getting here around 2 pm. I've invited all your friends and there families." Susanna was always good at planning, she knew everyone in cousins, everyone who came in and out knew her too.

"Oh and you're dad's coming." My mum chimes in. Belly's eyes widen with happiness. Me and Steven both exchange a look before placing our eyes back on our food. That's when I feel Conrad's hand squeeze my thigh under the table. I look up to him as he gives me a reassuring look.

I take a breath before placing a smile on my face and dig into my pancakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Belly had the same. Jeremiah and Steven's were piled high with every topping on the table, they were so gross.

Susanna, my mum and Conrad had lemon and sugar. Taylor had one single pancake with two strawberries, though I didn't like Taylor I hope she knew here she was able to eat, no one would judge her. I mean just look at the two boys scoffing one whole pancake in there mouth while talking, well trying to talk.

We all talk over the dinner table talking about belly's past birthdays here. We all had our birthdays at cousins, Belly's was first. Mine and Steven's was right at the end of summer, it was something to look forward too before we all left.

"Do you remember when we were eight and belly cried because we said we ate all the pancakes without her!" Steven cracks up as belly shakes her head. "Come on its so something you guys would do!" She sticks up for herself.

I loved seeing belly this happy and comfortable, for once everything felt good. Everyone getting along, I turn to Conrad who sat next to me, I give him a bright smile as he eats his pancakes holding eye contact with me.

"Why so happy Ellie?" My mum asks as everyone turns to me. "I'm just happy." I shrug my shoulders. "That's gross stop it." Steven teases as I stick my middle finger up at him. "She's right, this summer is turning out pretty amazing." Susanna with just as big as a grin adds.

"Careful, when Conrad's around too much happiness he starts shutting down." Jeremiah jokes as several e laughs. "I am happy." He adds taking everyone aback. "I'm glad." His mother nods to him. "I love you boys." She exclaims going over to Jeremiah first kissing his cheek and then to Conrad kissing his.

"Okay too far mum." He says wiping his cheek as she sits back down. We eat our pancakes until there's none left, all leaning back in our chairs.

Everyone helps clean up, except belly and Taylor as it's her birthday, I couldn't tell you Taylor's excuse but enough of us where doing it that it went by quickly.

"Hey Alexa play I'm in the mood for dancing by the Nolan's" my mother shouts to her as Alexa start playing it. Immediately Laurel and Susanna grab each other dancing around the kitchen.

Belly grabs my hand as we spin each other around pretending to do the waltz and tango making each other laugh. Steven and Jeremiah of course start doing the same, they weren't actually that bad.

"Belly dance with me!" Taylor cuts in as she grabs her hands pulling her away from me. I give Taylor a quick dirty look at the rudeness before setting my sights on Conrad sat at the kitchen island.

"No." He shakes his head, but I grin at him holding out my hands as I dance over to him. "Oh come on, I mean you are the one who taught me." I raise my eyebrows.

"Come on connie it's fun!" Susanna shouts as she jumps around with my mum. I turn back to Conrad who rolls his eyes before taking my hands. I pull him up as we lock are hands and start dancing together.

I could stay in this moment forever, just when I think this summer couldn't get any better, it does. All of us dancing on Belly's birthday, even Conrad dancing, it was perfect.

"Where's the birthday girl?!" I turn to the kitchen door, to find my dad standing there with his present and what seems to be a twenty year old, this must be Victoria, his new girlfriend.

I stop dancing with Conrad dropping my hands to my side as Susanna turns the music off. "Dad!" She practically sprints over hugging him so hard he nearly falls back. I felt like I couldn't breath. To my surprise my mother goes over hugging him quickly. I didn't understand it, how could they hug, aren't divorced people supposed to hate each other.

My dad looks over to me, his smile disappearing a little. "Hey hunny." He says as I walk over. "Hi dad." I give him a quick hug. I felt like I couldn't breath, this was all too weird for me. The last time he was at the summer house he was married to my mum, he was still my dad.

He now had a beard, his skin cleared up and he lost weight. I feel every time I see him he's a different version of what I remember.

He says hello to Steven quickly before introducing us to Victoria. Something in the air had shifted, it felt awkward and quiet. How does a house with this many people feel quiet? "Hey Mr K, like the beard." Jeremiah waltzes over of course diffusing that awkward tension.

I wanted to leave, I wanted to go somewhere, any where that wasn't near my father. But I couldn't not on belly's birthday, I just had to get through this. For Belly.
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