Seashells {Belmont 1}

Chapter 3

Danny complains the whole distance from the bottom of the stairs to the trunk of my car. He hurls the black suitcase in the trunk before he wiggles his fingers. "My fingers are numb."

Rolling my eyes I comment, "Maybe you should lift more. It wasn't even that heavy." I shut the trunk before throwing my one carryon bag in the back with my purse. Leaning against my car, I wait for Dad to join us so I can say goodbye. I move my sunglasses from the top of my head to shield my eyes. It's a hot one today and I find my shorts sticking to my skin.

"Whatever you do," Danny begins as he tries to spin a basketball on his forefinger, "don't get pregnant or an STD. Be responsible. I put some condoms in your carryon." Danny winks.

My mouth opens. "First of all, how were you able to slip those into my carryon bag?"

"I'm a ninja, sh," he says, putting his finger against his lips.

He didn't see me rolling my eyes thanks to the sunglasses. "Right," I deadpan. "Secondly, why do you have condoms? It's not like you're getting any."

Danny's face becomes emotionless. "Can never be too careful."

"All ready to go?" Dad asks, walking out of the garage. He has an envelope with our bank logo on it in his hands. When I nod he gives me the envelope filled with spending money that I half earned and Dad added another hundred. I know he's worried about spending me away for almost the whole summer, especially since it's about two hours away.

"Thanks Dad," I say, tucking it into my back pocket before throwing my arms around his waist. I hear Dad grunt in result to my surprise hug attack. His arms wound around me though a few seconds later. "I'll be okay. Try not to worry so much."

"You can't tell a parent that," he chuckles. "Promise to at least call once a week?"

Nodding my head I reply, "Done."

Suddenly, I find Dad and me stumbling back a few steps before Dad regains the balance for the both of us. I feel a body against my back and the arms around me-Danny. "What was that all about?" I ask my brother, trying to look back but failing since his body is squishing mine against Dad's. My cheek is uncomfortably smushed against his collarbone, but Danny doesn't loosen his hold. Instead he squeezes tighter and sighs.

"I'm going to miss you sis," he says and I feel him rest his head against the back of mine.

"You could've given us a warning before almost tackling us to the ground," Dad brings us as we all untangle from each other.

Danny shrugs and smirks at me. "But I'm a ninja. It was a surprise attack."

I pat his shoulder. "I'll miss your odd behavior."

"By odd you mean awesome," he adds."

"Of course," I scoff sarcastically.

"Emily," Dad says, breaking my attention on Danny. "Have fun in Belmont and I hope you can benefit from this." He hugs me one more time before finally having the strength to allow me to get in the car.

I wave at my brother and father through the window as I start up the car. The directions to Belmont are programmed in the GPS system thanks to Dad. Turning on the radio, I adjust the seat further back a little and fixing the mirror. Dad and Danny still stand inside the garage, waiting for me to drive away. Putting the car in drive, I slowly roll out of the driveway. I wave goodbye again, catching Dad's smiling face before they are blocked by the neighbor's cars. Sighing, I look back to the road from the mirror. Joan Jett fills the car with her voice and catchy beats. I grab Mom's necklace I'm wearing-the one she gave me before she was emitted into the hospital. The heart charm warms in my hand.