Love Again

Prologue

It was June and Belly was standing outside of Brown University with Jeremiah while she waiting for Conrad to finish writing. She wanted to say something, but she also felt like she would break a lot of hearts. She looked at Jeremiah as she turned around and stood in front of him.

"What's up, Bells?" Jeremiah asked as Belly exhaled.

"Jere, I don't want to hurt you. Really I don't," Belly said as she rubbed her head.

"But you still love Conrad," Jeremiah said as Belly looked at him.

"Bells, you can't hide anything from me," Jeremiah said as he had looked at Belly.

"Promise me one thing. Promise me you'll take care of yourself this time," Jeremiah said.

Jeremiah did love Belly, and he felt like he always would, but it was a different kind of love. It was the kind of love that Steven felt for Belly. But the kind of love that they knew Steven felt for Taylor, that kind of feeling was shared between Belly and Conrad. And Jeremiah knew it. Belly had exhaled. She didn't want to hurt her best friend, but she also knew that her feelings were killing her. She nodded to Jeremiah as he had hugged her.

Steven and Laurel were in the car driving back to Philadelphia when Steven heard his phone ringing. He was half asleep, but not completely, so he did hear his phone buzzing.

"Oh. Hey, man. How'd the final go?" Steven asked as Laurel smiled.

"Yo. You ready to visit me in California?" Conrad asked as Steven laughed.

"Hell yeah!" Steven said as Laurel knew he had passed.

"Congratulations, Connie," Laurel said.

"It was the flashcards, wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah, yes, it was the flashcards. You can thank me later. So you, uh... you still feeling confident about the, uh... you know, the plan?" Steven whispered into the phone.

"Plan Belly?" Conrad asked smiling.

The sound of the plan was enough to make Steven cringe. He didn't want to think about it like that, but knew it was that.

"Do not remind me who this is about," Steven said as Conrad laughed.

"But as an abstract concept, shoot your shot, man," Steven said as Conrad smiled.

"Thank you. All right, I gotta dip. Bye," Conrad said as he had ended the call.

Conrad looked as Belly and Jeremiah were talking about something. It was much deeper. At least it looked like that. Conrad's face dropped and he knew that he couldn't do it. In a way, Conrad knew Belly was happier with Jeremiah. He knew it. He walked up to them as Jeremiah armed Belly.

"Please tell me you passed," Belly said as Conrad chuckled.

"Better get your suitcase ready, Belly, California ready," Conrad said as Belly and Jeremiah immediately got excited.

"Way to go man," Jeremiah said.

"Ah! I knew you could do it," Belly said jumping into Conrad's arms and hugging him.

Feeling her in his arms, it felt the same as always. Belly still felt like his Belly, and for a moment he forgot about it all. He smiled, and hugged Belly back while everything slowly felt like it was falling apart.

"I need to go and pack up my dorm room," Conrad said.

"I'll help," Belly said.

"No, it's fine, what about Jere helps me and you go, and get us some food?" Conrad said as Belly nodded and Jeremiah gave her the keys.

"Sure, want something specific?" Belly asked.

"Subway is close to here," Conrad said as Belly nodded and jumped in the car, driving off.

"What are you about to do to her?" Jeremiah asked as Conrad looked at him.

"I'm setting her free. What I should have done months ago," Conrad said as he and Jeremiah went up to his dorm room.

"Conrad, wait," Jeremiah said as they saw Trusky inside the room.

"Conrad, man. Thank hell you're back. How was the final? Or did you miss it?" Trusky asked.

"Me and Belly got him back in time and he studied plenty. She just went to get us some food," Jeremiah said as Trusky went out of the room.

Conrad had looked at the infinity necklace that was laying on his desk. The same necklace that always gave his relationship with Belly meaning. And now, it was all gone.

"Don't do it, Conrad. Don't break her heart again," Jeremiah said.

"She's better off with you, Jere. She always has been," Conrad said.

Jeremiah looked at his brother who packed up his dorm room. Belly had arrived shortly after with food. The look on Jeremiah's face told Belly that something extremely wrong was about to happen.

"Belly, run. Now," Jeremiah said.

Belly looked at Conrad and then again at Jeremiah. She had no idea what was currently happening. Conrad walked over to Belly as he had given her the necklace. It was the same necklace that always showed how their relationship was strong, and different. But Conrad didn't look the same.

"Conrad, please don't do this to her," Jeremiah said as Belly looked at Conrad.

"Do what? What's going on?" Belly asked.

"You are now free, Belly," Conrad said as he had looked at Belly.

"You're free of me, and I hope you guys are happy," Conrad said as Belly shook her head, tears visible in her eyes.

"What? No, no, Conrad don't..."

"Belly, this time there's nothing left, and we both know it," Conrad said.

Belly took one look at Conrad before she stormed out of the dorm room. Jeremiah ran after Belly, but he couldn't see her anywhere. Down the street, he saw as she got onto a bus, and knew it was over. Belly Conklin and Conrad Fisher had parted. This time, for good.