Black & White [Jeremiah Fisher]

two

ROWAN

I was introduced to Conrad and Susannah after Steven, Jeremiah, and Conrad threw Belly into the pool. Supposedly, it's a tradition and they call it a "Belly Flop." Conrad is definitely way different than Jeremiah. He seemed extremely quiet and kept to himself. When we were introduced he did appear very polite, but we didn't hold a conversation unlike Jeremiah and I did.

All my nerves about meeting these people completely washed away when I was introduced to Susannah. She immediately took me into her arms and told me how beautiful I was. Of course, like most adults, she told me that I had grown into such a beautiful young lady and said I looked more gorgeous in person. She told me the pictures Laurel showed her did not do justice.

I knew straight away that I was not going to have any issues of fitting in or feeling excluded.

Belly showed me where I'd be sleeping. It was the spare bedroom right next to hers and right across the hall from Jeremiah's. I thought the outside of the house was beautiful, the inside was breathtaking. I can't recall that I have ever stepped foot inside a house this nice before.

As I began to unpack and try to make myself at home, I heard a knock on the door frame. I turned around to see Jeremiah leaning against it with a soft smile on his face.

"Hey." I said, continuing to put away a few of my shirts into the dresser. Even though Jeremiah's vibe was welcoming, I still felt very tense in his presence. I've seen and met a lot of hot boys over the years, but none of them compared to him.

Gosh, I better stop before I develop a stupid crush. I mentally swore off all boys this summer. I do not need a repeat of last summer.

"Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to go swimming in the ocean. Belly just told me you've never been in the ocean before." I was surprised at how comfortable he was being with me. Maybe it's just his personality, but he makes me feel like we've known each other for years.

I turned to face him now, placing my hands on my hips. "Did she also mention that I can't swim?" I know, a sixteen-year-old girl who can't swim. My mom never got around to teaching me and I refused to go to swimming classes with Belly because she was so much better than me. It was as if swimming was her second nature.

I was always the kid who had to wear a life jacket or arm floaties.

Jeremiah smirked, shifting himself so he was now standing in the doorway. "Don't worry, I'm a certified lifeguard. I'm also certified in CPR."

Him saying this reminded me of the scene in The Sandlot when Squints pretended to drown just so the pretty lifeguard would do mouth-to-mouth with him.

I looked down at my bikini which just happened to be laying out on my bed already, then I looked back up at Jeremiah. "You better not let me drown or this will be all your fault." I sent him a half smile, half concerned face.

He smiled back at me, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Deal." With that he headed out, leaving me with a smile on my face that I couldn't shake.

I've never met anyone like him and I have only known him for an hour, but I can already tell the two of us are going to become pretty good friends.

As I was about to close the door so I could change, Belly came rushing in, shutting the door for me. She had on her black one-piece and a towel wrapped around her shoulders.

"Jeremiah totally thinks you're hot." She whispers, placing her hands on my shoulders. She had a huge smile plastered on her face.

My cheeks felt warm, and I tried not to let her words affect me too much, but it was too late because my heart was pounding against my chest. I shook her hands off, picking up my red bikini.