Right Where You Left Me | G. Abrams

4.05

In honour of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2 coming out soon, I'm gonna fish up the old Belly Conklin fanfic I wrote for season 1 and publish it because I can 😜 I just don't know what to call it so...

Real life

August woke up to the sound of her alarm clock, groggily reaching out to turn it off. As she stretched and rubbed her eyes, she reminded herself that today was going to be a normal day in London. She had plans to visit her big sister, Inez, and her nephew, Taylor, who was five years old. August cherished these moments with her family, away from the spotlight and chaos of her own life.

After a quick shower and a cup of tea, August stepped out onto the bustling streets of London. She had learned to navigate the city without drawing too much attention to herself. As she often found herself in the glare of the paparazzi's cameras, but she valued her privacy immensely.

Arriving at Inez's house, August was greeted by her sister's warm embrace. Inez had always been part of her support system growing up, providing love amidst the whirlwind that was her home life with Gregory.

"Thought you'd forgotten about us," Inez joked as they walked further into the house.

Taylor, with his bright eyes and mischievous smile, ran up to August, eager to show off his latest artwork. August grinned. "How could I ever forget about the only important man in my life?" The three of them spent the morning playing games, building castles out of Legos, and laughing until their stomachs ached.

In the afternoon, August decided to take Taylor for a walk in a nearby park. The autumn air was crisp, and the leaves had started to paint the ground in hues of orange and gold. Holding hands, they strolled through the park, stopping to feed ducks at the pond and chase squirrels that scurried up trees. August treasured these simple moments of joy with her nephew, away from the prying eyes of the world.

However, as the day began to draw to a close, August's phone rang with an unknown number flashing on the screen. Puzzled, she answered, her heart racing. The voice on the other end was about to deliver news that would shattered her world.

"Hello, August is it?" The slightly accented voice that August recognised from home videos that Matteo had shown her asked. "Matteo's girlfriend?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"I'm Anna," It sounded like she was trying not to breakdown. "His mother. Um, are you alone?"

August looked up at Inez. "I'm with my sister... Is everything alright?"

"Matteo... Matteo was in an accident yesterday. A drunk driver crashed into the side of his bike."

"Oh."

August's legs felt weak as she sank onto the nearest bench. The world around her seemed to blur, and her thoughts raced in a jumble of fear and disbelief. She wanted to rush to Matteo's side, to be there for him, but she felt paralyzed by the overwhelming news.

Inez, sensing her sister's distress, hurriedly made her way over to August. With tear-filled eyes, August relayed the heartbreaking news. Inez wrapped her arms around August, offering comfort and reassurance. She promised to take care of everything while August traveled to be with Matteo.

Anna told August which hospital Matteo was in before the call ended.

The next few hours were a blur of packing essentials, making travel arrangements, and seeking solace from her sister. Nathaniel had long since come home and Taylor had been left with him as Inez drove August to the hospital. She couldn't help but feel a mix of hope and fear in her heart. The drive seemed endless, her mind filled with the worst possible outcomes.

Upon arrival, August was greeted by Matteo's family, who embraced her with open arms. They too were filled with worry and uncertainty, but their presence provided a sense of unity in the face of adversity. The hospital became August's second home as she held Matteo's hand, whispered words of love and encouragement, and prayed for his strength.

Days turned into weeks, and August's life revolved around the hospital walls. She found solace in the support of Matteo's loved ones, who had become her own family during this time. Together, they laughed, cried, and held on to hope, clinging to the belief that love and resilience could overcome even the darkest of days.

As time passed, Matteo's condition slowly improved. His recovery was a long and arduous journey, but August was there as often as she could be. She wasn't there when he first woke up, but she made sure to be there the next time.

August was sat with her legs thrown over the side of the armchair, book in her hands, when Matteo slowly blinked awake, groaning quietly at the light.

The actress hadn't noticed, eyes glued onto the page of her book.

"As Good As Dead," Matteo let out a low chuckle before a wince that made August jump. "Can't say it's not on theme."

August smiled at Matteo, "Hi."

"Hi."

The actress sniffled and shut her book. "How are you?"

Matteo looked down at his bandaged legs and shrugged, "The doctor says I ain't never gon' walk again."

August laughed before shaking her head. "That's not funny. You could have died."

The boy gave a weak smile, knowing that August hadn't heard the news. "I'm not dying." He promised.

"Death is inevitable," August looked down.

"Okay, I'm not dying yet. We still need to grow old together, remember?"

August bit her lip and nodded. "Promise?"

"I promise," He nodded. "Now come on. I'm long overdue some cuddles."

August woke up to the sound of beeping. She was delirious in a way that made it so she didn't notice Matteo's family sat at different parts of the room, crying softly or how Matteo's normally strong and warm grip on her waist was loose.

What she did notice, though, was how she couldn't feel the uneven rises and falls of his chest. She didn't want to move. She didn't want to look up. She couldn't.

He promised.