Seasons Changing

The Truth

I could barely sleep knowing the next day would be Belly's birthday. She had called and told me that she and Luca had gotten into it. I had stayed up so late that I slept in and missed breakfast and presents.

After I got ready, I headed next door to catch the birthday girl. "Hey, where are you going?" I asked seeing Belly and Jere head towards his bright red Jeep. "To pick up Taylor" Belly answered. "Well she's going to have to wait because I need to give you your present! Happy birthday Bells!" I screamed while I hugged her. "Wait right here, I left it in the guest room a couple days ago" I tell them as I ran inside.

Just as I entered I saw Conrad on his way out. "Are you helping to pick up Taylor too?" I don't think he heard me because it took him a second to respond. "Hmm? What? No" he answered has he walked out. I went to grab Belly's present and went back outside.

"Here you go, for all of your jewelry" I say handing her a jewelry stand. She hugs and thanks me. Then they leave to go get her best friend.

I decided to walk inside and eat some leftover Mickey Mouse pancakes that Laurel always makes for Belly's birthday. I was about half way done with my pancake when I saw Lucas start to go outside with Steven.

"Luca, what's your problem?" "I'll catch you when you get back" Steven says to Lucas with a fist bump. "What do you mean Ryan?" "You didn't get Belly a birthday present? What's your deal?" "Ryan, it slipped my mind" he tried to defend. "Oh, and you were also hella rude to her the night of the drive in". "Ryan, that has nothing to do with you". "Okay, then what's wrong with you? You were fine before we came here, now we're here and you've had some sort of switch in you". "Nothing, Ry. I've gotta go pick up Nicole, I'll catch you later". "Okay" I say quite annoyed.

••••

"You wanna play chicken?" Taylor suggests. "Uhh, there's five of us out here, so you guys got it" I tell her. "You sure?" Belly asks. "Girl, it's a game of chicken, I promise I'm okay" I laughed.

Just as Belly won, Lucas and Nicole had arrived. I could easily sense the tension between Taylor and Nicole. The best friend and the big sis.

Belly had set up the volleyball net for the pool and started a game. It was all fun and games until Taylor accidentally hit Nicole with the ball on her serve. Lucas immediately took her inside. After that, I decided to go inside as well.

The second I got inside, I could smell Susannah's amazing cooking. "Mmm, what's that smell"? I ask as I turn the corner to the kitchen. I hadn't heard Susannah and Laurel talking. "I just, want to make sure he's okay" Susannah had said. "Oh, I'll come back later" I say after determining they were having a not so light hearted conversation.

"No wait, Ryan" Susannah stops me. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt". "No, you're good. Do you know what's been going on with Conrad?" she asks me. "Not really, why?" "Do you think you could talk to him? He's always had a soft spot for you, ya know?" she asks. "Uhh, sure." I answered.

••••

About an hour had passed and I walked out to the side deck where Conrad was shucking corn. "Ryan" he greets. "Conrad" I say as I sit in the adjacent beach chair. "What are you doing"? "Helping" I say with a sarcastic smile as I grabbed some corn.

We sat there in silence shucking corn. I didn't know how to talk to him. "So, you good?" "You see, I knew it was something. Everyone has been treating me like something is wrong" he jumps. "Con, I didn't say-" "And I knew once I told Luke, he'd tell you. Or at least tell you I told him and-" "What did you tell Lucas?" I asked him with a serious tone. "Nothing, just forget it" he says trying to avoid it. "Then I'll just ask him myself". "Gosh Ryan. My mom has cancer!" he practically yells.

I don't know if time sped up or slowed down. I felt my heart start beating faster. I felt each sweat bead form on my forehead, and drip down to my cheek, eventually falling off my jaw.

"How- how do you know?" I hesitantly asked him. "I figured it out, snooped around. She- she doesn't want us to know" he says starting to fight back tears. "Hey, let's go upstairs yeah?" I ask as I grabbed his arm and walked with him to his room.

I sat with him on his bed to continue the conversation."Maybe it isn't that bad if she hasn't told you" I optimistically say. "That's the thing. My mom is dying and she doesn't want her kids to know. She's acting like everything is fine and-". He starts to take fast breaths, as if he's struggling to breathe.

I got up to shut his door then joined him again. "Breathe Con, y-you don't have to tell me everything" I started. "No, I want to- it feels good to have someone to talk to about this" he admits as he starts to calm down.

I moved closer to him and held my arm out, inviting him to rest his head on me. He accepted it and we just sat there. This was the first moment this summer where he felt normal. I missed it. I missed him.

We eventually ended up just laying down facing each other. He stared at me for a second. He smiled then grabbed a front piece of my hair and twirled it around his finger.

"You know, you have really pretty hair. Which is really suiting considering how really pretty you are. Which is good because you have a great personality" he tells me. Something about this interaction was giving a gummy just kicked in. He then proceeded to grab my chin and pull me in for a kiss.

I lifted my right leg over his waist as I started to kiss him back. I grabbed his face then brushed his hair back with my fingers. I pulled back.

"Is something wrong?" he asks genuinely confused. "You were just like, really vulnerable with me a second ago. I don't want to use that vulnerability as an advantage." I admitted. "We've done more than just make out on my bed before". "What was the context though? Con, we can definitely continue, just when your mind is cleared up. Maybe also mine. I've just taken in a lot of information too ya know?" He nodded his head. "I'm really glad you told me Con, truly. Besides, Belly's birthday dinner should be ready soon".

I started to leave when he stopped me. "Ryan, could you not discuss this with Lucas? I told him something else" he asked. "Well what did you tell him then?" I asked suspiciously. "Can I tell you later?" he asked shyly. "Whenever you want to talk, I'll listen" I say with a smile as I left his room.

••••

"So Cam, you mind if I call you Cam Cameron?" Jeremiah asks. Cam shyly answers saying it was fine. Laurel had given Cam a plate and told him she didn't put meat in it, when Jeremiah continues to low key be rude to Cam. "Why don't you eat meat Cam Cameron?"

"So you know, Belly eats meat. So, do you let her kiss you with those lips?" "Jere!" I raised my voice shaking my head no. "No, I don't judge people for eating meat. It's just like, a personal choice. I don't care." "So you don't care if her lips touch a dead animal and those dead animal lips touch your lips right?" Jeremiah continued. "I don't mind at all. In fact..." Cam trails off and kisses Belly right there at the table.

The table then went over memories such as dares and what nots. When Belly suggested that we go to Nicole's party.

A/N: I know there's like a gap of time between the pool and when Susannah sends Laurel (Ryan) to talk to Conrad. But this way just flowed. The book event has like no plot for the kids lollll.