𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 | the summer i turned pretty

boyfriend.

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"you ain't my boyfriend, and i ain't your girlfriend, but you don't want me to see nobody else, and i don't want you to see nobody." 

- ariana grande

      "ISN'T HE CUTE?" 

Belly shows me the Instagram post, and I inspect it closely. He's blonde-haired and blue-eyed, a surfboard underneath his arm, smile adorning his face. "Apparently he's Nicole's friend, and she wants to set you two up."

"I mean, he's definitely not bad," I sit upright on the couch. "But he's not my type."

"What's your type then?" Belly scoots closer. "Or rather, who's your type then?"

 I give her a look. She knows exactly who my type is, but wants me to admit it aloud. "You know who."

"No, no, I really don't," Belly rests her head on her hands, but then shoots up again as if she's had an epiphany. "Oh my god, wait, is it, by any chance, Steven? My brother?" Her teasing tone makes me want to bring up her folklore love triangle situation with Conrad and Jeremiah, but I refrain from doing so. I flop down onto her lap.

"Yes, he's exactly my type. Happy?" I turn to look at her as she starts braiding my hair. 

"Happy." She shoots me a smile. "I still find it kinda gross, but what's going on between you two anyway?"

I sigh. "I don't even know. We're friends, I guess, but we're also not just friends. We flirt and stuff, but we've never really talked about if it means something." I look down at the hoodie I'm wearing. Steven's. "It's just complicated."

"Well, I don't think it has to be complicated," Belly puts on her advice voice. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. I've also seen the way Steven gets jealous whenever it comes to you and a potential love interest." She tilts her head. "And you get jealous too. I mean, come on. You two just need to... communicate."

"I do not get jealous," I say, before I contemplate my words. "Okay, fine, I take it back. I do get jealous. But I know for a fact that Steven doesn't get jealous. And also," I wave my finger at her. "It sounds like you should take your own advice."

Belly playfully slaps me in the arm, before admitting defeat. "I know. This whole situation is just messed up." She finishes the braid, before her eyes light up. "I have an idea."

"What is it?" I get up from her lap.

"We need motivation to fix whatever is going on in our love lives. So, I will talk to Con and Jere if you talk to Steven." She shrugs her shoulders. "Simple as that."

I think about it. I need to know what this is, between Steven and I. Is it just for fun? Am I just a distraction until he can actually get a girlfriend? Or... maybe he likes me back?

I push the last thought out of my head. I shouldn't give myself any false hope.

Hope is a scary thing. All it takes is a snap for it to be crushed by reality. 

"Alright, deal." 

We seal it with a handshake.

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