summer of us

3

"Aw, the birthday girl!" I spring up as soon as Belly walks into the kitchen. "My little bellybutton is finally 16!" I say and wrap my arms around her.

"Okay, I figured after 16 years you would stop greeting me like this on my birthday." She tells me with a laugh.

"Are you kidding? Your birth saved me Belly. I thought I was going to be branded with three boys and no girls for life. You saved me." I tell her seriously and the moms laugh, while the boys groan and dispute my comment.

"Hey, you love us." Steven says throwing a grape at me.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Steven." I tell him as I throw the grape back. After I let her out of my grip everyone takes their turns saying happy birthday to Belly.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart. You're Mickey mouse pancakes are ready." Laurel tells her with a hug.

"Actually, I'm not really, uh, hungry." She tells her.

"Oh."

"Shall we open gifts?" Susannah asks and I smile big.

"Oh, you're gonna love mine." Jere tells her holding a box. I take her hand and drag her to the living room.

"Come on, everyone. Sooner everyone is out here, sooner Belly gets to open my gift!" I tell them and watch as everyone trickles into the room. "Come on, sit, sit." I tell Conrad with a smile and frown when he just sits down on the other couch not looking at me. I share a look with Belly before smiling again.

"It's a first edition, I got it from a rare book dealer." Laurel tells her when Belly opens up a book from her.

"Thanks, mom."

"Turn to the bookmarked page. It's your favorite poem." Laurel tells Susannah.

"Oh, yeah. I remember Susannah teaching us to recite this. 'For whatever we lose..."

"Like a you or a me it's always ourselves we find in the sea." We all join in.

"Thank you, I love it." Belly tells her mom.

"You're welcome."

"Okay, open mine now, Belly." Susannah tells her and passes the box. I smile knowing exactly what it is.

"Oh, wow. They're gorgeous. Thank you, Susannah." She tells her with a smile.

"My mom gave me these pearls for my sweet 16. Iris has the matching earrings that I gave her on her own sweet 16." Susannah tells her and Belly and I smile at each other. "Radiant, isn't she?" Susannah asks Laurel as she moves back to her seat.

"They look great on you, sweetheart."

"Oh, I'm next." Jere says and gives her his box. "It's a good luck charm to help you pass your driving test." Jere tells her as she adds the key charm to her bracelet.

"Perfect." She says with a smile. "Thank you."

"Think fast, Belly." Steven says and throws his present to her.

"What?" Belly says surprised as she catches it with glare to him.

"Steven." Laurel reprimands him.

"Wow, Steven, I can't believe you actually spent money on me." Belly tells him holding up her Princeton shirt.

"Relax, I just didn't want you stealing mine next year when I get in." Steven tells her.

"I didn't know you were still considering Princeton." Laurel tells him.

"You know, I-I think I'm gonna apply for some scholarships, and dad thinks I can get some financial aid. I-I don't know. I'll see if I get in." Steven tells her.