Seasons Changing

Prom

"Why is she here?" Those words rattled through my body. I couldn't tell if that was hate that was spat towards me. I did know that it was pain that pushed through my veins. 

"Is that why you haven't been answering my calls?" "Jere, did you not hear what I said. They're selling the house. Mom's house." Con tells him. "Why would your dad sell the house" I asked. "He's not, our aunt Julia is" Conrad responded. "You mom's sister?" "Half sister. Apparently, the house belonged to the both of them. And when Mom... Now Aunt Julia owns the whole thing, so..." "Okay, we'll just call Dad and figure something out." "You think I haven't already done that? He says legally the house is hers." "Okay then he'll buy it." "He doesn't have the money to buy it. Between Brown and the medical bills and the-"

I stood there awkwardly as they went back and forth. Feeling out of place. As if I didn't belong.

"Yeah I know how much the medical bills cost because I was there! 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? Ditching school going AWOL-" "Fuck school! I don't care". 

"You know, I'm thinking about switching my major to biology. Then go into premed." "Really? What's making you change your mind?" I asked as I turned to face him driving. "I was thinking about the research part and then thought I'd like to work with actual people. Like my mom."

"Connie, you have to go back or you'll fail your class!" Jere yells. "How are you going to become a doctor if you fail out of college Con?" I asked, finally speaking up. "You have no idea what you're talking about" he says at me, but not to me, being sure to not look me in my eyes. "Seriously? We went to Brown to check on your ass. You know what? I didn't think you'd pull this shit again. But you don't give a shit about anyone but yourself" Jere says before exiting the living room. 

It was just the two of us now. He turns to the fireplace and rests his arms on it. Still being sure to not look at me. 

"Sorry if me being here is weird. So the- the house-" "It's for sale. And Jere doesn't even care." he says still not looking at me. "Of course he cares. But he cares about you more. After everything that happened... you go missing? I mean, he thought something really bad happened to you. We both did." "I got a call two days ago. From Liam. He was asking about a for sale sign in our front yard. I thought it was a misunderstanding, so I drove straight here. I pulled the stupid sign out of the ground and I threw it in the garbage. Seeing that sign was like losing her all over again and I didn't want that for Jere. I'm going to use my trust as down payment for the house. Talking to one of my mom's financial guys in the morning. I didn't mean to worry anybody. I'm handling things. You guys can go." he manages to say all without looking at me.

"You're not the only one who cares about this house." I tell him, "If Jere want to stay here and help figure things out, that is his decision. And you don't get to make it for him" I say as I too, left the room. 

••••

A night swim always made me feel better. I had a swimsuit in Belly's room and decided to go swim before facing my dad. The way I feel weightless. Or, as if there was no time. Just me and the water. 

As I swam back from one side of the pool my eyes met Conrad. He was finally looking at me. 

"Do you still pretend you're in the Olympics"? "Uh, no. Not-not anymore." "When you swim, I don't think you'd notice if the house was on fire. You're so into what you're doing. It's like you're someplace else." "That's what I like about it" I responded as I turned and continued swimming. When I came back up, he was gone as if he was never there. 

I went back inside to dry off and head next door when Jeremiah stopped me. "Hey um, if we're just leaving tomorrow, just stay in Belly's room or even the guest room. That way we don't have to get your parents involved." "Are you sure?" "Yeah it's really no problem" he tells me with a smile.