The summer everything changed | CF

26~Are you okay?

    I woke up early that morning just like I always did when we were in cousin's. The sun was rising and peaking into my window, it was bright and beautiful. Just like I remembered, I got up and walked to opened my duffel bag to change my outfit. I guess in a rush I was thinking logically what to pack. I guess it was cropped band t-shirt and short jean shorts. But as I was shuffling through things I saw the white tulle sticking out from my closet. I opened the door to see my deb dressed and a few shirts Susannah had gotten me. It's like she was still here, smiling back at me. I closed the closet once again before heading downstairs.

Conrad was sitting at the table and I sat beside him as Jeremiah stood up like he was stressing about something. "You wanna talk about plan B?" He asked Conrad and Conrad shook his head.

"There is no time for plan B, Jere." He responded with his head in his hands.

"There's no time? Come on dude." Jeremiah was clearly not liking any discussion Conrad has made regarding this. But I believed in Conrad. "Is your ego really that big or is—"

Annoyed Conrad cut him off. "Aunt Julia is already here." That's all he said and Jeremiah went quiet.

"What?"

"She got in yesterday, she's at Ocean Harbor." That little motel we drive by every time we want to get here?

"You guys saw her?" Jeremiah pressed for more questions.

"I mean we talked on the phone for about five seconds." He muttered. "She couldn't be bothered to come to mom's funeral, but she'll hop on the first flight to come sell this place." He's pissed, Conrad is pissed. Rightfully so.

"I don't get why? What's the big rush?" Jeremiah was going too far, it was just making Conrad's mood worse.

"It doesn't matter why."

"This isn't a game okay? This is serious shit." Jeremiah kind of snapped, Conrad just looked at him his tone cold and kind of rude.

"So go back to be and let me deal with it." Conrad got up and I followed him. He opened the door and I closed it behind me. It felt sorta like Deja Vu again. I stood behind him with his back to me.

"Are you okay, Conrad?"

Prom. I didn't want to go it was just Junior prom and I'd have another one next year. I just didn't want to go with Conrad and Belly going together. But I was forced to and I did get asked by a guy named Brayden, he was sweet so I decided if I was gonna go it wasn't gonna be alone.

    I got ready with Sage and I actually was having a little bit of fun. She did my hair with loose curls and made it into a pretty messy bun up-do it was formal but not too formal. My dress was green with a leg slit and flowing material. I loved it. For once since the deb ball I felt actually beautiful. I didn't wear heels I wore my converse from the ball. I walked downstairs early with Sage and the only people here were Conrad and Steven. Steven looked over at me and said.

    "You look gross." That was Steven's way of saying I looked good I knew that.

    "So do you." Just seeing him was still hard but it was getting a little easier the more it happened. But Sage was my support system for it. I felt bad how much I ranted about it. But at the same time she was so understanding and gave such great advice.

    "You good?" She asked me quietly and I nodded taking a deep breath. Conrad got up and walked to the kitchen, he looked pale like he was about to throw up. The person from a few months ago was still inside of me and I took a step towards the kitchen. "What are you doing?"

    "He looks like he hasn't eaten in days. I just wanna see if he's okay." She looked back at me like I'd regret this later but she sighed. I walked towards him and stood so his back was facing me. His shoulders perfectly filled out the black suit he was wearing.

    "Have you eaten anything today?" I asked making him jump a little. He stayed facing away from me, simply just shaking his head to tell me no. I haven't heard his voice in so long. "Are you okay, Conrad?"

    "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just super fucking annoyed." He sat down on one of the chairs our moms would usually sit in. I sat beside him in the other chair and thought for a moment.

    "Have you eaten?" He looked at me with shock like that wasn't something that mattered. He looked at me with previously annoyed and confused eyes.

    He hesitated. "Um, no?" I knew that was going to be his response.

    With a cunning smile I said. "You know you get hangry right?" His expression completely changed to shock.

    "I do not." He spoke defensively, with a hint of a smile appearing showing me that he knew I was correct. He cleared his throat then said it again. "I do not." Like he had to convince himself and not me.

    "Give me your keys." I held out my hand in his direction. He stared at it as the door opened beside us, Jeremiah and Belly walking out. Belly gave a wave before getting in the car with Jeremiah and rushing off to only god knows where.

    "I'm not letting you drive my car." I looked back at him offended with my eyebrows furrowed.

    "I have my license now, and you let me drive it illegally. So, don't be a bitch all of the sudden and give me the damn keys." My eyes locked with his and he raised an eyebrow almost intrigued by the sudden language coming from my mouth.

    He had a grin of a smile on his face. "Fine, but talk to me like that more often." He spoke in a cocky tone, he's never talked to me like that and all I did was take the keys and punch him in the shoulder.

    "We'll see Con." I got up to walk down the stairs and he laughed. Making me confused, I just punched him and he's laughing? "What now?" I rolled my eyes.

    "That's the first time since last summer, you have called me anything but Conrad." He had an accomplished look on his face and I just tilted my head. Flipping him off as I walked to his car. I always thought I had a soft spot when it came to Jeremiah. But honestly I think I had an even bigger one for Conrad.