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~🤍~
Cousins isn't the hit summer spot or the Hollywood boulevard of Boston, but nonetheless it's where I spend every single one of my adorned summers. And if it weren't for Belly, the bubbly and unhandy girl a couple houses down, I'd probably already be working some summer internship to excuse my wishes of not partaking in my family's annual road-trip.
Her and I's friendship began a couple summers ago, when I found her locked in a bathroom as a result of being the youngest of four kids. The rest of which being boys.
In the time it took for me to get a trusted adult's attention, I was able to ask her a journal's worth of information. From then on, Isabela Conklin became my Cousin's beach bestie. She's the friend that you can go several months of no communication with, yet spend each and every day attached to the hip during your reunion period.
My family's beach house has been where me and Belly spent most of our time. There'd be times I asked her why we rarely hung out at hers, and each time her response was no different. "You're pool is so much better." And then she'd not so subtly change the subject.But my theory was always that she just wanted to make it known that she had places she needed to be at as well, places she could finally have the pleasure of excluding those boys from.
It was one of those reoccurring conversations. One of many we have.
As we got older though, the fisher boys became the fished. There was not one teenage girl on the beach who didn't obtain the slightest information regarding the fisher boys. Slowly, Belly and I built this anachronous persona, we were there, but not really there. That fact doesn't bother us a bit though.
***
If time was a person, i'd tell it to stop pestering me more than my mom does about time. Because before I knew it, my behind is cramped up in the middle seat of my mother's white honda civic. The chatter among us present, and the heaviness in my chest dwelling.
It was like all the time I spent preparing myself for this cruel summer went unappreciated. Every few minutes I'm checking google maps, keeping track on how much closer we get. My two brothers on each side of me snoring my ear off, was not helping my anxiety either. My brothers contradict every single way I carry myself at cousins, so much that they've managed to squeeze themselves into the fisher's social group. They're friends even refer to me as Daniel and Leo's sister.
My mother is much like me, she's like the manager to my singing career. Keeps to herself, and has a close knit circle. Laurel Conklin and Susannah Fisher, are what brings that circle together, ironically enough. Laurel is Belly's mother, my mom met her after the bathroom incident. Obviously Laurel introduced her to Susannah and the three of them hit it off.
Made me wonder how i've managed to push myself away from that house, until I met Conrad Fisher. Two summers ago, I was 13 turning 14. The era in Belly and I's friendship where we began to go out more. There was this bonfire going on at one of Conrad's friends house, and everyone was invited. Or rather, that's what we had believed.
It ended in Conrad and I hating each other. That feud hasn't died down till this day, and I admit that I have some fault in that.
Which is why i've decided to go about things differently this year. I'll from now on, no longer pick fights, say triggering things, or respond to rude remarks.
I'm not sure if i'm actually capable of those things , but maturing is realizing that entertaining relationships like Conrad and I's is genuinely very childish and idiotic.
***
"Wake up your sister, we're almost there."I hear my mom whisper. After trying to fall asleep the remainder of the car ride, all it resulted in is my face sore and my neck cramped up in ways it shouldn't be. "Do not touch me." I straighten my back and sit up, as I say that to Leo. "The last thing I need is your sticky hands from eating so much goddam candy, on my face."
Leo only rolls his eyes, just before reaching his hand in the almost empty sour patch bag sitting on his lap.
The smacking sounds that come after, initiate me to snatch the bag out of his lap and throw it inside the bag that harbors our accumulated trash. I ignore the smack I receive in return. Leo turns his head and shoots daggers out the window. "I hope the waves take you with them bitch." He mumbles.
I only smile at his remark, before the welcoming sign into cousins appears into my point of view. I take a deep inhale and exhale. I check my phone just to see i've received one message from Belly.
"We're here!!!!!"
The message filled me with an unexplainable feeling. I felt like it was the beginning of a very long summer.
