cruel summer ∣ jeremiah fisher ✿

14 - cruel boardwalk

1:35 ───ㅇ───── 3:43
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golden - harry styles

❝ Being back at the boardwalk brings back so many memories. I used to love it here as a kid.

Belly and I used to come here a lot, some days we came only for the slushies, other days we went on every rollercoaster and played every game there was.

The days where Belly didn't wanna go I went with Jeremiah or sometimes Conrad even. But I had the best time when all of us went together.

This was my place to be, I smile to myself and then I take a deep breath. The air smelled like fresh popcorn and I loved it.

"It's so hot here. I want some ice cream. Nature's air conditioning," Taylor complains and interrupts my thoughts.

She was right, it was fucking hot out here.

We do as she said and all get a cup of ice cream. Oh god, how I missed this, the taste of heaven.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌

"You know, I'm kind of a natural introvert, so I can't tell if this place is horrifying or if it's just, like, my lizard brain in action," Skye says while we're all munching on our ice cream.

I look at them, "It's fun, I promise."

"Fun?" Jeremiah, who was walking beside me, laughs, "Because the last time we were here, I remember you were crying. Jules was 12. And Conrad beat her at Shoot Your Shot. And her penalty was to ride the Tower of Terror."

I nod, "Yep."

"Jules, you were so scared you threw up."

"I was sick!" I argue.

"Sick with fear. My mom had to throw out your clothes and carry you home in a caftan," Conrad throws in.

"Omg, yes, I remember this!" Belly laughs.

And so do the others. Thanks for enjoying my pain and suffering, I guess?

Of course I wasn't scared, I really was sick!!!!

„Susannah used to force my mom to come here when they were kids. My mom always hated it, but Susannah loved it so much, so.." Skye tells us a little bit about her mom and Susannah.

I smile, until Conrad steps up to ruin it all.

„You know what else my mom loved? The beach house."

Yes we all hate Aunt Julia for this shitshow she's airing right now, but come on, Connie, Skye is not at fault for this...

„My mom's not evil, Conrad!" they shout, „And your mom wasn't a saint."

We all look at each other in silence. Well that's one way to make it awkward.

„Skye, have you ever played Shoot Your Shot?" Belly asks to lift everyone's moods back up.

Good try, but I don't think it's working at the moment.

„No, and I'm fine keeping it this way," they hesitate.

„Well, do you wanna watch me beat Conrad's ass then?" Belly continues.

They laugh.

„You could not do that," he said.

„I wouldn't hate watching that..." Skye laughs.

„You think you still got it Conrad?", I challenge him.

„Oh please, not another Great Boardwalk Showdown," Steven sighs.

„Why not?" Belly and I ask him in union. Sister telepathy is real, I swear.

„So, they used to do this big tournament on the boardwalk every year when they were kids. I would get a riveting play-by-play as soon as Belly und Julia got home," Taylor explains it a little further to Skye.

Steven snorts, „Well yeah, every year until Belly and Conrad got too competitive. And then my mom banned us from ever playing again."

We all laugh. Yeah, I remember that all too well...

„Are you down, Jere?" his brother asks him.

„Uh...," he seems to think about it, shooting a glance at me, to which I reply with a smile, „Hell yeah, let's do it."

„I should actually head out.." Skye is murdering their ice cream with the spoon.

Connie clears his throat, „No, you should stay. It's fun."

„I really don't wanna play, can I just watch you?" I can tell Skye is feeling super anxious, which I completely get.

I nod, „Of course!"

„So what's the price?" Skye wants to know.

„Losers have to buy the winners the biggest bag of candy of their choosing," Jeremiah says.

Taylor speaks with her mouth still full, „Really? Candy? No, I mean, can't we think of something, like, sexier?"

„Candy has always been the price, I mean, it was Julia's and Belly's choice, obviously." he explains.

„Well, fine. Fine. We can play the games. But.. we start at the arcade because it is hot as balls out here."

We all laugh and make our way to the arcade.

I smile to myself seeing everyone this happy. Especially Jeremiah's big bright smile made my heart jump.

I thought we'd lost this part of our lives forever, but maybe, just for today, we can have it back. ❞