𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝐂𝐅)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞- 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲!

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"Happy birthday!" Me and Steven walk into the room. It's filled with balloons, decorations. The table was laid out with an array of mine and Steven's favourite food.

"The big eighteen I can't believe how quickly my babies are growing!" My mother walks over hugging us both together. "I remember Connie's eighteenth, I cried." Susanna laughs as my mum joins her.

"What would you guys like to do first, presents or food?" Susanna claps her hands together. I turn to Steven letting him decide.

"Well presents duh!" He runs over to the presents checking which ones where his. We all sit on the coin as the mothers bring the presents over and place then on the coffee table.

I hadn't brought myself to look at Conrad this morning. My eyes were still puffy from crying myself to sleep, I knew if I looked at him the possibility of crying on my birthday was high.

"Open my first!" Belly hands us both a present each. We unwrap it. Steven's was a waterproof speaker. "Since you're always singing in the shower." It was actually a really thoughtful gift, belly had usually not enough money to get proper presents but she saved some money from her birthday I'm guessing.

Mine was a set of stationary, a notebook with my name on it as well as matching pens, pencil and a case. "Thank you belly I love it." I place her presents down as we open Jeremiah's next.

Steven got some new fishing gear which he almost fan girled over. Jeremiah bought me a new keychain for my keys, it was a little E for my name.

My mum both gave us a hundred pounds. The list we had ever gotten, but she explained belly's dress costs around that much so it was only fair. Next was Susanna.

She had got Steven tickets to Boston for the time we were down. I completely forgot about our trip to Boston, how could I go now with how me and Conrad were? I decided to not think about it for now.

I unwrap the large thin present Susanna got me. As I unwrap it I immediately know what it was. It was one of her paintings, my favourite paintings. It was of all of us stood outside the house, me, belly, Steven, Jeremiah and Conrad.

We were all around 8 or 9. We all looked so happy as we posed together. "You're giving this to me?" I knew it was also Susanna's favourite painting she did.

"I want you to have, so when your older you never forget this is your home." I could see her tearing up. This was planned to give this to me. Giving belly a family heirloom, giving Steven a final chance to see her, and this painting. This was her final goodbye presents.

"I love it." I sniffle holding back tears that threatened to fall out. I walk over to her hugging her tightly taking in her smell, I hope I never forget it. I sit back down as now Conrad was left.

"Conrad you're turn." Susanna prompts him. "He already gave me his present at the start of summer, and boating trip on the last weekend." Steven adds, I wonder what he got me.

"Ok we'll give Ellie hers." Susanna says as the room becomes silent. "I didn't get her anything, I forgot." He said it so bluntly. Of course he didn't get me anything, I was stupid for thinking he would.

"You forgot? I reminded you a couple of days ago." Susanna mentions not understanding that made it hurt even more. "it's fine." I manage to get out. "We'll let's go eat!" Laurel says as Steven and belly rush over to the table taking they're seats as the rest of us follow.

I was about to sit down but I didn't feel hungry anymore. "I'm not hungry, I'm gonna swim okay? Thank you guys for the food." I smile leaving the table, but I knew nobody bought it.

I head upstairs placing my bikini on and grabbing my towel. As I go to grab the door handle, I take a deep breath. "Don't cry, don't cry." I whisper to myself, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth.

I felt humiliated, but I guess I deserved it after what I did to him. I head outside not speaking to anyone as I head out immediately diving into the pool.

I swim lap after lap after lap. Anything to get this morning out of my head. I wish I could go back, not even to this year, back to when we were all kids.

Ellie Age 6

"Steven give me back my teddy!" I cry chasing him round the kitchen. "Jeremiah catch!" My brother teases chucking it to him. "Haha I've got your stupid bear!" He sticks his tongue out at me while running away.

"Conrad catch!" Jeremiah throws it Conrad who catches it looking at the teddy. He walks over offering the teddy bear to me. "Thanks connie." I smile taking the bear.

"Ew Conrad had a crush on Smelly Ellie!" Steven says as I turn to him glaring.

I can't believe Conrad gave it to me, he was so sweet. I think I might have a crush on him, he's smart and funny!

"Want to go swimming later?" I ask him as he nods his head excitedly. Maybe Conrad could be my boyfriend, I think he likes me too!

Present day

A memory popped into my head, I can't believe I suppressed it this long. This summer I keep remembering old memories about Conrad. Him teaching me to dance to him giving me back my teddy. Was I blind this whole time?

I always thought Conrad was meant for belly, but I was only hearing it from Belly's side, when really this whole time eventually we were meant to be.

I knew I had to do something, I couldn't just let something this special slip through my fingers. I wanted to fight for him, because I was and always will be in love with Conrad Fisher.

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