the summer you noticed me ↠ conrad fisher {1}

f i f t y - s e v e n

     I push my sunglasses to the top of my head, looking at Belly's phone. "What is that?" I ask, but it's clear as day.

     Conrad isn't at work right now, he's with Nicole. He's wearing the same outfit he wore when he left the house this morning. The same morning he told me he loves me, and kissed me goodbye.

      "Steven," Belly calls. "Did Conrad tell you about his plans today?" She asks, and I thank her for trying to figure this out because I can't comprehend what I just saw.

      "No," Jeremiah jumps in. "He just said he had work, why?"

     "Yeah, that's all he said to us." Steven agrees.

     "Okay, why is this a thing?" Belly asks showing them her phone.

     Stevens eyes flash to mine, concern creasing his forehead. "Claire, I promise you I had no idea he was hanging out with her."

      I feel sick. I can physically feel my face heating up, and it isn't from the heat.

      Jeremiah drops in front of me, grabbing my hand. "C, I need you to look at me. There has to be some reasonable explanation for it, he would never. Ever lie to you, or cheat. He wouldn't do that. So don't even let your mind go there."

     "But—"

      He cuts me off, "but nothing. We're figuring this out. Together." He turns around and Belly and Steven nod in sync.

     "I'm sure it's nothing, I'm gunna call Nicole and try to see what's up. I just saw her at Deb practice and she didn't even mention Conrad."

     She gets up and walks away, and as soon as she's ear distance away I let out a breath I was holding. "What can I do? What do I do?" 

      "Want me to call him? I love you, and I'm sorry for saying this but I think you're too emotional to not snap as soon as he answers," Steven says chiming in.

     I give him a sad smile, and nod appreciatively. "Thank you," I say quietly.

      "We're gunna sit here, and wait for Belly and Stevo to get back and see what they have then we panic. Okay? Right now, we're just assuming, give him the benefit of the doubt," Jeremiah says wrapping his arm around my shoulder.

     "The picture, he didn't seem to be doing anything bad, right? He was just there, it doesn't mean what I think it means," I say and I know he can see the desperation on my face because he frowns.

     Shaking his head no, "he didn't look like he was doing anything. It's just odd," he says. I nod agreeing.

      Steven comes back, and he has a sour look on his face. "He said he was working and he'd call me back later."

    My stomach drops, and as Belly drops into the seat I know it isn't good news. "She said she was alone, but I heard Conrad in the background. I told her I had to go as soon as I heard this voice, I'm sorry." She frowns.

      "Is it okay to panic now?" I ask Jeremiah, my voice cracking slightly.

      "No," Jeremiah says sternly. "This isn't what we think. He wouldn't fucking do this, come with me. I have his location. Let's go and ask him ourselves."

     "I can't do this right now," I say. "Please can we just wait until later?"

      "You call him, you have every right to blow up now." Steven says, handing me my phone. "If you don't I will."

      "Guys–"

      "I think you should, you know you'll be freaking out if you don't talk to him." Belly says.

      "Okay," I say taking a deep breath. "Okay," I say again, trying to calm myself down. "I'll be back." I say moving to have a moment to myself.

      I go outside the gate, and shakily type in his number. "Hey baby," he says and he sounds the same as always. "What's up? I'm at work–"

      "I know you're with Nicole," I say cutting him off. "So please stop lying to me."

      He inhales a sharp breathe. "Claire," and the sympathy in his voice makes my heart drop into the pit of my stomach.

      "Why?" I ask, not bothering to hide the fact my voice cracked.

       "No. No, it isn't what you think. Please don't cry," he says quickly. "I just ran into her and then she apologized and asked if I wanted to join her and her friends at the beach. That was it!"

      "When did she apologize?" I ask.

      "A few days ago, and —"

      "And you didn't have work today, ever. You had plans with her." I say calling him out.

      "Claire–"

     "Have a good day with Nicole. Maybe I'll see you later." I say and hang up.

     I stuff my phone into my shorts, and walk back to the group. "What happened? No screaming, or crying? That's good!" Belly says enthusiastically.

      "He's with Nicole and her friends. They planned a beach day a few days ago. He never had work," I say eerily calm.

       "What the fuck?" Steven says.

       At the same time Jeremiah says, "I'm gunna kill him."

      "It isn't a date," I say defending him.

      "But he still lied to hang out with his ex!" Jeremiah points out and Belly nods agreeing.

       "I'm going to go home," I say instead of fighting with them.

      My head hurts, and I suddenly feel sick. I just want to lay in my bed.

      "I can drive you," Steven says. "You didn't drive."

      "I can walk, thanks anyways. See you guys later," I say quietly and grab up my stuff. All I had was a backpack filled with sunblock, a water bottle, a towel, and some snacks. It isn't a lot, so I can manage.

      I can see they all want to say more, to do more, but there isn't anything else to be said or done. I have to figure out my feelings on the situation myself without anyone else's input. So the second the gate closes behind me, and I turn onto the main road the tears fall silently.
    

•••
authors note:

people kept asking for more steven so here ya gooo