The Summer We Changed

the promise

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"Did you have any trouble getting in? It rained a few nights ago, and it's insane how muddy the road's get here." Neil asked Jeremiah, taking a bite of his pie as he looked up to the teen.
"Uh, no, thankfully not. It was just a long drive." Jere laughed a little, Jewel forcing a smile to play nice.
"So how come you're in Lake Sutter?" Neil pressed on, still oblivious to the tension that stood between them. Jeremiah wasn't sure how to answer, not wanting the actual adults to step in just because Conrad took off.
"I...just wanted to visit." Jeremiah lied, his eyes catching Jewel's eyebrows furrow.
"I think I'm gonna go on a walk." She spoke abruptly, standing from her seat and moving toward the lake.
"What's wrong with her?" Neil asked, a little surprised by Jewel's abnormal rudeness.
"Don't worry about it." Lena excused, not wanting to dive into that discussion with Jeremiah present.
"It's my job to worry about her." Neil reminded Lena, feeling a sense of responsibility for her after his sister's death.
"Well then, the 17 year old is hungover." Lena corrected, finally placing that responsibility on Neil's shoulders.
"And that...sounds like her dad's problem." Neil spoke, returning to his pie once again.
"And this is why we don't have kids yet." Lena smiled, lovingly resting her hand on Neil's.
"I'm gonna go see if she's alright." Jeremiah spoke, despite knowing he was the real reason she was upset. He stood from his seat, moving toward the dock Jewel sat off the end of.
He moved down the dock, taking a seat next to her off the end.
"I didn't come to visit." Jeremiah confessed, somehow knowing that was what had upset her.
"Good." She replied quietly, feeling as though he didn't have the right to show up here for her. The small sigh that escaped Jeremiah's lips though left her feeling a little guilty for saying it. Silence overtook them for a moment, Jeremiah looking out at the sun setting over the lake before them.
"Jewel, why are you here?" He asked after a moment.
"Lake Sutter's beautiful, but this isn't your home, Jewel. Home is where you need to be right now." He attempted to convince her, not understanding how she could try to find comfort in a place she felt no connection. He watched as she gave a small shrug, biting her cheek.
"I just needed a break, I guess." She confessed, Jere giving her a look of sympathy in return.
"My dad and I have just been fighting a lot. It doesn't matter." Jewel brushed off, watching as Jere nodded in response.
"Why did you come?" Jewel asked abruptly, still never had gotten an answer from him. Jeremiah played with his fingers in his lap, unsure if he honestly knew the answer himself. He told himself he was here for Conrad, but the reality was he stayed; even after knowing he wasn't here. He could've left, he could've checked Brown first, he had other options and yet he choose to go to her.
"Conrad ditched classes for a few days, and nobody knows where he is. I thought maybe he'd be here with you, but..." He explained, leaving Jewel with the worrying news. The idea of Conrad's disappearance was alarming, but then again she did the same and she's fine. She couldn't help but wonder what had made him run the same way she had, but the thought of Susannah reminded her. Jeremiah's phone rang a moment later, Jere taking a few steps down the dock to pick up. Jewel took that time to think, remembering back on the promise she had made Susannah last summer. She promised she would be there for the boys, and even now, despite everything, she wanted to be. She had to be, for Susannah at least.
"That was Belly. Conrad's in Cousins." Jeremiah spoke, quickly standing from his place and slipping his phone back into his pocket.
"I want to go." Jewel spoke abruptly, a little surprised the words made it out at all. The thought of sitting back, knowing that Conrad needed them, left too heavy of a weight on her shoulders. Jeremiah debated her statement, knowing the dangers of letting her go with. Knowing that he couldn't completely handle things while she was there to distract him. Yet, Jewel's puppy dog eyes swirling with worry was something he couldn't turn his back to.
"Okay." Jeremiah spoke, nodding his head in acceptance.
"I gotta pack a bag and let them know." She replied, pushing herself up from the dock and jogging back inside the house. Although she was nervous, Jewel couldn't help but to hope that maybe something good would come of their situation.