I Think He Knows

Coming Back To Cousins

|•[Coming Back To Cousins]•|

Me and my mom have been coming to Cousins every summer since I was a baby, and probably before that too.

All year long I attempt at weaseling my way out of going.

Last year it worked, this year however- not so much.

This is how it works every year-

The dads come to visit, but don't stay, not how we do. The mothers and us kids.

There's the beach, The swimming pool late at night for just the girls, fun movie nights with the girls, and then there's the boys. That's where it gets the most complicated.

It's the exact same thing every single summer.

I used to love it, don't get me wrong. Belly, Zara, and me having fun while Steven, Jeremiah, and Conrad bothered us.

Then Belly wouldn't let her crush on Conrad go, and it was exhausting watching her do anything to try and be his main focus.

Now I'm not saying that there wasn't any reason that Conrad was adored, I've always thought he was charming, but I backed off after realizing Belly had it set out for him.

That was until two years ago when we hooked up and we had to keep it a secret from everyone. My mom doesn't even know and I tell her practically everything.

We were only fifteen and had gotten drunk for the first time. I had told my mom that I had a stomach bug and I went home with my dad the rest of the summer.

That's why I skipped last years vacation. To avoid awkwardness with Conrad and the guilt I felt towards Belly. I was also grieving the loss of my father.

Me and him were never really close but losing him so fast absolutely wrecked me.

Me and my mom coped in different ways. She went and stayed at Cousins all summer, distracting herself. I, on the other hand, stayed with my aunt and practically withered away all summer.

After finding out about my emotional breakdowns, my mom demanded I went to Cousins the following summer. So here I am, in the car, trying to talk my mom out of dropping me off at Belly's house.

Apparently my mom and Laurel thought it would be an amazing idea to have me ride with Belly, Steven, and Laurel to Cousins.

"Mom do I really have to go with them? It's bad enough that I have to go to Cousins at all, can't I just stay with you and sleep?" I complain as we pull into the Conklins driveway.

"Tiffany, stop trying to argue with me on this. I know you're used to get your way, a little too much if I'm being honest, but I'm asking you just this once to listen." Mom looks at me with pleading eyes.

Now I feel bad for even arguing with her. My mom is one of the nicest people I've ever met, even when I was in my bratty thirteen year old phase she never once made me feel unloved.