Everything Changes-The Summer I Turned Pretty

Six

Thankfully, Belly and I got along well with everyone at our table. In fact, they are all super nice and I almost feel comfortable enough to call them my friends. When we're released, one of the girls, Shayla, comes up to give me a hug.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Kristin," she tells me with a warm smile. I notice she has an accent, but I'm too shy to ask where she's from. For most of the morning, I hardly did any talking. I just listened to everyone else unless I was asked a question.  "I'm looking forward to getting to know you over the summer."

I feel pleased as Belly and I leave the country club. I felt like I had been no match compared to the girls around me, but now I feel like I have the potential to belong.

Belly still seems in the same trance she was this morning over her new-found love. I suggest we go to the pool and see Jeremiah and she agrees.

I spot Jeremiah as we walk around the outside of the fence wrapped around the pool. "Jeremiah Fisher!" I call, leaning against the posts. He sees us and smiles, then takes a look over his shoulder at the pool before walking over to us.

"Hello debutantes, how are you on this fine day?"

"When's your shift over, Jere?" I ask. It was already after noon and sweat was beading on my neck. It was only going to get hotter and I didn't feel like walking home.

He looks at his watch. "In an hour. Stick around and I'll bring you both home. Steven's in the Sweet Shack, you should see if he can get you a discount."

"Oh, ice cream sounds really good, doesn't it, Belly?"

Belly was looking at her phone but nodded. "Sure." She looked up at Jeremiah. "Can we get you anything?"

Jere shook his head sadly. "Can't eat on shift," he complained then added with a wink, "But tell Steven to get prepared for when I sign off. A huge banana split should be waiting for me."

Belly and I walk around the fence of the pool towards the gate. We have to show someone our key cards, something my mom hands out to us kids on the first name as proof that we are members of the country club, and then are allowed in.

There's a few food booths, pizza and hotdogs and nachos, but the one with the most customers is the one that sells ice cream. It's no surprise, especially with the way the temperatures peak in Cousin's.

"Is Steven here?" Belly asks the boy who greets us at the Sweet Shack. He looks disappointed that Belly doesn't appear interested in him, but I don't think she notices.

"Uh, yeah he's in the back. Let me get him," the boy quickly leaves and must take over whatever job Steven was up to because he doesn't come back out.

"Hey!" he says, face lightening up when he sees us. He's wearing a red apron that's practically drenched in melted ice cream. I stifle a laugh.

"What is that?" I ask, pointing at the stain.

"Oh this?" Steven lets out a nervous chuckle. He leans closer to us. "That's the reason I'm in the back."

"What did you do?" Belly laughs. "Besides probably scare away a ton of customers. You need to look more professional in a business setting, Steven."

"Like you would know, Miss Never-Had-A-Job-Before. I didn't do anything wrong."

"You didn't, like, fall into a huge bowl of someone's ice cream?" Belly looks doubtful.

"No! Kristin, please tell me you had more faith in me than to do that," I didn't, but I nod so he will continue. "Actually, an ice cream machine broke in the back and I, as a hopefully future engineering student, decided to fix it. All that was left was cleaning it, that was the messy part."