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A few weeks had passed and Nala established a routine. She'd get up, go for a run, shower, eat and get ready. And then there was breakfast. Everyone was shocked the first day they went downstairs and saw a full table. She was doing everything in her power to will everyone over. It started to feel like she needed to win them over.
This morning in particular was different, there were two new additions to the table. Kenai sat next to Nala instead of Jeremiah, and Taylor sat next to Belly instead of Conrad.
The house had never been so divided since summer started.
On one side were Nala, Kenai, Jeremiah, and Steven.
On the other were Belly, Conrad, and Taylor.
She was sure Taylor didn't like her. She's Belly's best friend and there's an intruder in the beach house, and she just so happens to sleep in the same room as someone Belly's kissed before.
Belly. Belly had been trying to get her mind straight. It wasn't that she wanted to hate Nala, she was far from that mindset. She just couldn't figure out the girl's place in all their lives. She noticed the way Jeremiah looked at Nala, how he whispered in her ear from time to time and always brought her close.
She wondered if it would've been the same for them. And she wondered if Nala and Jeremiah were together but were too afraid to admit it.
Steven's words to her on the first day had stuck with her. She was still stuck on a high school crush, stills stuck in her past. Maybe she did need to move forward, but how could she move forward when it felt like he was rubbing Nala in her face?
"So, how'd you and Jeremy meet?" Taylor is the first to break the silence at the table. Nala took a little hope from the fact that everyone seemed to be enjoying breakfast, especially Belly and Taylor.
"Uh, I was at the coffee shop called Rosie's. It's on campus and I was alone, reading through a pamphlet about Finch when Jeremiah sat down in front of me." She stole a glance at him. Jeremiah was already looking.
He smiled at the memory. "I came in all smooth and introduced myself, said she looked like she could use a friend. Totally won her over with that one, especially when I got her to talk about herself."
"You make me sound like a damsel in distress."
"You kind of were."
Steven snorts. "Does that make you her knight in shining armor?"
