Certainty | TSITP

F O U R .

"Ana!" Jere laughed as he ran up to the young girl.

"Jere." She shouted, jumping into his arms.

He spun her around as they laughed. They both felt like it had been years. Even though it had only been a couple of months.

He finally set the girl down and admired her. She looked different. Her hair wasn't brown anymore. It was cherry soda red, it fit her eyes and skin color well. She wore some baggy pants, and a small sage green crop top. She also had millions of rings and necklaces on.

"You're a hippie." He laughed.

Ana rolled her eyes and did the same thing to him, "and you cut your hair... other than that you're the same."

Jere pulled her into a tight hug once again. Both of them relaxing at each others touch.

"I've missed you so much.." Ana spoke softly, looking up to the boy but not leaving his grasp.

"I've missed you way more." He smiled, kissing her forehead.

Ana was caught up for a moment before she pulled away from him, realizing how intimate everything they were doing was.

"Wanna see my dorm?" She asked with an awkward smile.

Jere looked to the ground before looking back up her with a sad smile, "yes."

~

"We're here." Jere sighed, putting his car in park before getting out quickly.

"Wait... Jere." Ana said, following him, "I don't think... I don't know if I can see him... yet."

Jere met her at the front of his car and grabbed her hand gently, making belly roll her eyes.

"Please.. for me." Jere whispered.

Ana looked to belly and then back to Jere before walking into the home hand in hand.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jere asked, when he saw his brother.

Conrad turned around and saw Ana first. He was taken aback. He never expected her to ever come back to cousins.

Then he noticed their hands tied together and a small pain hit him in his chest, everything from last summer coming back to him... again.

Then his eyes met Jere's, "Jere-"

"You've ignored my calls.. my- my texts..."

"Jere...."

"You know I was worried sick about you, and to think you're missing school? And for what?"

"Jere, the house has been put up for sale." Conrad cut in, when his eyes finally went pass the two meeting belly's.

"What do you mean the house is for sale?" Belly asked.

"What is she doing here?" Conrad asked, referring to belly.

Ana's eyes went wide at how rude he was, especially after breaking her heart to be with this girl.

"She was worried about you, dick." Ana spoke up.

"so this is why you haven't answered any of my phone calls and texts?" Jere asked.

"Jere, Jere. Did you not hear what I just said? We're going to lose this house. Mom's house." He responded.

"Why would your dad sell this house?" Ana asked.

"He's not. Our aunt Julia is." Conrad sighed.

"Susannah's sister?" Belly piped up.

"Half sister. Apparently, the house belonged to both of them. And now when mom..." he trailed off, "now, aunt Julia owns the whole thing, so..."

"Okay, so we'll just call dad and figure something out. Thats it." Jere argued, finally letting go of Anna's hand and walking in front of his btother.

"You think I haven't done that already?" He scoffed, "he says legally the house is hers."

"Can't he just buy it?" Ana asked.

"He doesn't have the money to buy it! Between brown and the medical bills and the.." he shouted.

"Don't ever raise your voice at me." Ana said, calmly. "I know you're frustrated, but do not, ever, raise your voice at me."

"Look, I know how much the medical bills cost. Because I was there!" Jere said angrily, "how long did you know about this and not tell me?"

"Jere, this was all happening so fast. I was going to tell you after I'd taken care of it."

"And this is you taking care of it? Going awol, ditching school, lashing out on-"

"Fuck school! I don't care!" He whined.

"Connie, you have to go back or you'll fail your class."

"How are you going to become a doctor if you fail out of college, Conrad?" Belly asked.

Ana looked to the floor. She didnt know he wanted to be a doctor. Last she heard he wanted to do something with sports.. anything. It kind of pained her to realize she had missed so much.

"You have no idea what you're talking about." He snapped at her.

"Seriously?" Ana asked, "we all went to brown to check up on your ass. More them than me.. but still!"
It was quiet, the three of them just trying to collect their thoughts.

"You know... I didnt think you'd pull this shit again. But you don't give a shit about anyone but yourself." Jere finished, before storming out of the house.

Conrad looked at Ana before turning around a putting his hands on his head. Ana didnt care how Conrad felt, she didn't want to comfort him, he already had belly doing that for him.

She knew the funeral was the last time she'd ever try and be there for him. It wasn't her job anymore.

Without a second thought Ana turned around and walked out of the home to find Jere.