dark paradise•conrad fisher

sixteen

BELLY LOOKED HEARTBROKEN.

Her crush, who was her best friend's "boyfriend" just admitted that he truly like Angela. She wanted to find a way to apologize from across the room.

She also was trying to figure out what to say to Jeremiah. Angela couldn't just say, "sorry I'm in love with your brother".

Angela nervously bit down on her lip. "I don't know what to say, Jere."

Angela didn't want to break his heart like Conrad had once broken hers. She didn't want him to go through that after all he did for her.

Actually, there may have been a reason he went through all of that. How long has Jeremiah liked her for? How did Angela never notice? Is the only reason he asked so they could eventually become something real?

"I'm so sorry. I just... I love you, but I don't love you in that way."

Angela was trying to be as understanding and comforting as she could. It was hard when his brother was standing tall and protectively next to her.

Jeremiah was going to say something, but Conrad spoke first. "You always want to best me and take what's mine. You won't get to this time."

Angela tried to not focus on the argument she caused. She looked around the room for comfort, and her eyes met Cameron's.

He nodded, recognizing that she was uncomfortable.

"Why don't we take this outside?" Cam interrupted very loudly.

The brothers sighed but Angela gave Cam a small smile.

"We'll see," Jeremiah whispered as he brushed past Conrad.

The boys were on the golf cart, or shaking the whole way down the hill. Angela could tell that Jeremiah and Conrad were holding back their anger.

Belly and Taylor were walking and whispering together. Skye walked a bit in front of them. Angela walked in the back of the group, feeling more left out and devastated then ever.

Normally she'd been there talking with her best friends. She was pretty sure Belly hated her, and honestly understood why.

Taylor took Belly's side though. And she was utterly alone. Or maybe Angela was overthinking them talking without her. Maybe they weren't mad at her.

They were now sitting on blankets , playing Truth or Dare. Steven suggested the game, of course.

"This needs to give way more Euphoria," Taylor joked.

Skye was becoming more comfortable. They sat next to Steven. "Alright, I'll give it a whirl."

They covered their eyes, waving their finger around in a silly manor. Skye stopped, their finger landing in front of Belly.

Skye seemed careless, trying to think of a dare. "Belly, I dare you to kiss Conrad."

Everything stopped. Angela silently begged Belly with her eyes to not to do it. Conrad clearly looked uncomfortable, and her relationship with him had just started to bud again.

Belly had that revengeful look in her eyes. An awkward silence grew among the group, some people giggling.

Jeremiah watched intensely almost as if he was aware of Belly's crush on him. Belly wouldn't kiss Conrad. She just wouldn't. She knew how much Angela liked him-

Belly's lips pressed against Conrad. She made sure it was a slow kiss too. Angela stared with every jealous emotion in her veins.

Conrad didn't really kiss back which relaxed her a bit, but not enough. Belly stopped and looked at the rest of the group with a slightly proud smile.

Angela's lips were still parted as she tried to unpack what just happened beside her. Belly returned to her spot on the giant blanket.

Taylor was breaking the tension in the room. "Ok! You know how it goes, right Cam?"

"Yup."

"Truth or dare?"

Angela tried to get up and leave, but someone grabbed her wrist, holding her down. Conrad pleadingly stared into her eyes.

The others talked while they just looked at each other. "If you like her, it's ok," Angela whispered.

She knew it wasn't ok, but if Conrad was happy...

"No, it's you, Angel. You think I wanted to kiss Belly?"

Angela quietly nodded.

"Ok, we should probably get some sleep," Cam decided. Everyone seemed to have a mutual agreement as they began to stand. "I have sleeping bags."

Conrad immediately made eye contact with Angela as Cam handed bags to everyone. Conrad and Angela were the last two to go up to receive their bags.

"Darn it. I don't have enough. There's only one left..." His face was full of frustration.

Conrad stepped up. "It's fine. We'll share."

He was smirking. Angela was trying to keep her cool.

"Uh, are you sure?"

"Very."

Conrad set up their sleeping bag. It was a bigger one than the others so they would fit better. Angela couldn't believe she was sharing a sleeping bag with her ex-boyfriend.

Bigger or not, the sleeping bag  still wasn't huge. They would be so close...

He laid down in the sleeping bag, waiting for her to do the same. Angela took deep breaths before gently settling next to Conrad.

Their bodies were touching and she could hear his breathing. A feeling that Angela couldn't describe grew inside of her when she realized that Conrad was snuggling closer to her.

They were looking at each other as Conrad brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear. Angela could smell his sweet scent and feel his soft hands on her face now.

"Angel, I'm really glad that you came to look for me."

"Me too, Connie."

"I really wish Belly didn't kiss me. I hated seeing that look on your face."

"What look?" she asked curiously.

"Your look of jealousy."

Angela giggled. "I wasn't jealous..."

Conrad was smiling, his hand trailing down her face. "You can admit it, I was so jealous when you were with Jeremiah. I almost went insane."

"Are you sure you didn't?"

Conrad was laughing now. "Shut up."

Angela nuzzled her head against his chest. "No, you," she said sleepily.

Conrad was blushing as he took in what was happening. "Go to bed, Angel."