OUR WAY BACK // Jeremiah Fisher

one

My family and I have been coming to Cousins since I was 8 years old. We moved to Boston then, right next door to the Fisher's.

My mother made fast friends with Susannah Fisher. They were inseparable from the moment they met.

Susannah had two sons; Jeremiah and Conrad. Conrad was a couple years older than I was. But Jeremiah, he was my age. We were together all of the time. The four of us; Harrison, Jeremiah, Conrad and I.

My brother, Harrison, and Conrad were best friends. Wherever you found one, you'd surely find the other.

But Jeremiah, he was my best friend.

Jeremiah was always there for me. He was the first person I'd run to. He'd hold me when I cried. He would always give me the crust from his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, because he knew how much I loved it. He would watch any movie I wanted, I always got to pick.

Jeremiah was my first kiss. He was the first boy who ever held my hand. He was the first boy I snuck out with. He was my person.

However, it never occurred to me that he'd ever be anything more than my best friend. Until, one day it just happened.

One moment he was my best friend, and the next I was in love with him.

I can pinpoint the exact moment everything changed.

November, Age 16

"Jere!" I squealed. "Put me down right now!" Jeremiah had his hands wrapped around my thighs, with me thrown over his shoulder. I was beating his back with my fists, trying to squirm out of his grasp.

"Absolutely not, Scar. You should've quit when I asked." He said. I could hear the smile in his voice. He spun around so quickly, I was sure I was going to throw up.

I rammed my fist into his back one more time. "Ow!" He yelped. He swiftly placed me on the ground and glared down at me.

I playfully stuck my tongue out at him. "What's wrong Jere? Did you get beat up by a girl?"

He scoffed and said, "I'd hardly say you beat me up, Scarlett Jo."

I huffed. I hated when he called me that.

Today was my 16th birthday, and Jeremiah was the only one who remembered. My mother was on a work trip, and my brother could barely be bothered to remember my name.

Jeremiah though, he woke me up with breakfast in bed. He made me flower pancakes. I'm not entirely sure how he even knows how to do that, but he does. And he did it just for me.

"I want you to open your gift!" Jeremiah shouted, clapping his hands together.

I smiled and reached out my hand, so he could place the box in my hand.

When he did, I immediately tore into the wrapping paper. It was wrapped so neatly, surely Susannah's doing.

When I opened the box, I smiled so wide it hurt.

There was a small necklace inside. It was one half of a lily. Jeremiah pulled a necklace from under his shirt and held it up to my necklace. The two necklaces joined together, to make a whole lily.

Lillies were my favorite flowers.

"Turn around, I'll put it on for you." Jeremiah held out his hand and I placed the necklace in his palm. I turned around and moved my hair to the side. He clasped the necklace and spun me around. He grabbed both of my hands and took a step back.

"Beautiful." He smiled. His smile was so bright.

In that exact moment, I looked at him. And when I looked at him, I didn't feel like I was looking at my best friend anymore.

I realized I now was looking at him with admiration. I found myself looking at his lips. I found myself wanting to reach out and place my hands on his cheeks. I knew then, I would never see Jeremiah Fisher as just my best friend, ever again.

-

I had contemplated not coming to Cousins at all this year. I didn't want to see him. I wasn't ready.

But, summer was the only time of year I ever got to see the Conklin's.

The first summer we ever came to Cousins was also the first year we were in our new home in Boston. Susannah and her family vacationed here every summer with Susannah's best friend and her two children; Laurel, Belly, and Steven.

I loved them so much, there was no way I was going to miss out on seeing three of my most favorite people in the world.

"Scar, you didn't have to come. You know I wasn't going to make you come." My mom glanced at me as she drove.

"I know, Mom. But, I miss the Conklin's. I only see them when we're all here." I told her. We were only a few minutes away from the summer house when I started to feel my stomach flutter.

My mother honked the horn as we pulled into the driveway. Belly and Steven were the first out of the door. Belly ran to me and wrapped her arms around me.

"Scarlett! I have missed you so, so much." Belly squeals.

I wrap my arms around her. "I missed you, Belly." I say into her hair.

Steven cuts in then, "Okay, okay. My turn!" I squeal when Steven wraps his arms around my waist from behind me and lifts my feet off the ground, spinning in a circle.

I feel eyes on me. I turn my head, Steven's arms still wrapped around me. I turn to find blue eyes.

My stomach drops. Steven sets me down immediately. The air is thicker and it feels as if there is no air in my lungs.

His eyes are hard. I can't read them. I hate that. I used to always know exactly what he was thinking. He rips his eyes from me and walks back into the house without a word.

A/N

First chapter!! I hope you all enjoy this story! Also! I promise the chapters will get longer :)