summer like no other

my sweet summer

i sat in my room in new york packing up my bags to get on the plane to massachusetts. summer was when my life truly began. i was packing up all my new summer clothes, ready to see all my best friends.

as soon as i finished packing, i loaded my bags into the car and my family was off to the airport, well everyone but my brother. he doesn't come to cousins anymore, and quite frankly he does anything to be away from my parents. i get that completely, but i could never miss a summer in cousins. i decided to text him.
e: hey i know you don't want to come to cousins this year again, but if you change your mind lmk
a: i don't think ill make it out but have a good summer elle
his reply made me sad, i missed my big brother during the summers and i know why he doesn't come around, but it still hurts a little.

the flight was short, and we took an uber to our summer home. our summer cars already at the house. cousins beach was exactly the same as last summer, like everything was frozen until we got here. nothing was quite like this place.

we finally made it to our house. i ran to my room and started to unpack and get everything where it needed to be. i normally didn't take too many clothes to cousins, as most of my summer stuff stays here year round.

as soon as i was settled in i grabbed my purse and headed across the street, i knew that the fishers arrived yesterday and the conklins would be arriving today. as soon as we landed i had texted conrad and jeremiah.

they were both in the front yard setting up some last minute summer decor. "why hello boys," i yelled as i walked down their driveway. immediately, jeremiah came running up to me and picked me up and spun me around. "elle you're finally here," he said.

once he put me down, conrad gave me a hug and said, "this summer is gonna be one for the books." with that i walked into the house, the boys trailing behind me, to say my hellos to their mother, susannah.

"oh elle how i'm so glad to see you!" she said as she hugged me, and i was just as glad to see her. she was like a mother to me. "belly and steven should be here in 30 minutes, why don't you guys all finish unpacking these groceries. i still have to finish setting up laurel's office." she said. and i got to work with the boys.

"hey is alex coming this summer?" jeremiah asked. he didn't understand why alex quit showing up once he got to college. "no i texted him and he said he didn't plan on it. you know he watches our house back in new york." i said.

the time flew by and we heard two honks of a horn, which meant the conklins were here, and steven was driving.

we all ran out of the house, jeremiah was the first to greet people. i ran right to belly and gave her a hug, she was like a little sister and best friend all in one. she was so grown up. we both squealed and then jeremiah gave her a hug the same way he did with me. i went over to laurel to give her a hug, "long time no see elle. happy you made it this summer," was what she said as she greeted me. i could always tell i wasn't laurels favorite, i know she thinks im a bad influence on belly. i then went up to steven and gave him a hug.

we all were chatting when steven mentioned the annual tradition on the first day once everyone arrived, a belly flop. this is when all the boys grab ahold of belly and toss her in the pool, clothes and all. i laughed and chased after them as it happened. "one, two, three," we all went before belly was thrown into the pool. we all laughed before she faked a hurt ankle and pulled conrad in. he played along.

the three of us remaining headed on into the house. i was sitting in the kitchen chatting with the moms, when a soaking wet belly came and joined me. "you're dripping water all over the place," laurel scolded her daughter.

susannah turned her head and whispered to laurel, "they are so gorgeous." she then came around to both of us telling us how we are growing up and turning into women. laurel and belly went into their own conversation as i zoned out watching susanna prep things for all of us, when suddenly i snapped back into the conversation.

belly and steven's dad would be coming for the fourth of july. him and laurel got a divorce and he didn't come last summer. i could tell this made belly feel strange.

somehow adam fisher got brought up, susannah's  husband. she brushed it off and said he would come up later, and for now it's just the women and children, "just how we like it," susannah said.

i walked up to belly's room with her to help her unpack. she immediately went up to junior mint, the stuffed animal that lived here that jeremiah won for her at the boardwalk years ago. and just like that he plopped onto the bed. he asked belly to hang out and i felt a bit awkward so i crept into conrad's room.

the door was open, but i still felt the need to knock before walking in. this caused him to turn around, "why hello montgomery," "what's up fisher, you need some help unpacking?" i asked sitting down on his bed. he knew i wouldn't help so he ignored the question.

i ran my hands through my hair as i began speaking, "i heard there's a start of summer beach party tonight." "so i heard," conrad interrupted. we both knew our whole group would be going, aside from belly. parties weren't her thing and she was always a little too young to attend. i on the other hand loved to party, it was my way of getting away and out of everything in my crazy life.

"alright see you tonight connie," i said getting up. as i walked out susannah and laurel were leaving, "dinner at 6:30 elle you know you're welcome," susannah told me as we all walked out the door. they got into the car and i headed across the street to finish getting ready.

my parents had left to go get groceries for the house and i went back up to my room. i grabbed my makeup bag and started to put everything away in my bathroom. i used to share it with alex, but it appears he will be missing this summer. i started to go through my old summer clothes and put all my new ones away. i put the old ones in a small duffle bag for belly to go through.

i needed to pack a backpack for getting ready for the party at the fishers so i put all my makeup and some jean shorts and a halter top in it and headed on over for dinner. the first dinner always seemed so magical, the gang was back together.

i sat next to belly of course and the table was erupting with laughter. the moms wanted it to be screen free so jere stole steven's phone out of his hands and tossed it into the chair in the corner. steven and belly started bickering. when football got mentioned.

the whole table seemed to go silent when everyone found out conrad has quit football. a part of me was shocked, i thought he always loved football. the next shock of the night was when belly and i found out steven and jeremiah would be working at the club together. it was starting to seem that this summer would be a lot different than the rest.

susannah then made an announcement for belly and i. she grabbed out two envelops from the counter and we opened them. they were invitations to the debutant ball. my parents, mostly my mother had always wanted me to go. it really didn't seem like belly's thing, and i would only do it if she did as well.

susannah went on a tangent about how amazing it is and laurel seemed to challenge her. they boys were also fast to make fun of us for these invitations. belly said she would think about it and i said id have to speak to my mother.

after dinner i went into jeremiah's room to get ready. i would've gotten ready with belly, but she was going for a night swim. i finished up my makeup and got dressed. once we were all ready we got into jere's red jeep as he was the dd for tonight.

it took conrad a bit to come to the front of the house and join us. "what took so long?" steven asked annoyed. "hanging with bells," he responded. i could tell he was high and part of me was mad he pregamed without me, while the other part of me was confused that he would even get high since he was always so against me smoking. i could tell he was acting different this summer.

jeremiah started the car and played some of the best summer songs, tongue tied, 8teen, the night is still young, and whatever else was on his playlist. we got prime parking and we all hurried out to see who was all returning this summer.