CALIFORNIA DREAMS

BELLYS EPIC BIRTHDAY

BELLY
I wake up to the sound of someone playing a guitar. Its the most beautiful sound there is. Conrad sang me a new song hed been learning over the last couple weeks. I clapped, and then i had really great morning birthday sex. Conrads face is still bruised from yesterdays fight with ethan.

I practically float down the staires. Conrad and i are the last ones down. Jeremiah and steven greet me with confetti poppers, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLS!" they shout, and hug me.

I hug them tightly back,"thanks, i love confetti" i smile. Conrad gets all the confetti that fell in my hair out.

I dont get sad, til i see that the kitchen, isent the beach house kitchen. Theres no pool outside or beach. Its just grass, i let out a heavy sigh, as i sit at clevelands table "cheer up bells, weve got a super fun day planned, with all your favorites. Presents, cake, swimming, conrads gonna take you out dancing, then were having a bonfire on the beach, by our beach house" jeremiah beams, and i force myself to be cheerful.

I look over at my mom and cleveland, who are making my birthday pancakes. I hold in my tears, because theyre not micky mouse shaped.

"So uh is um you know, HE gonna be at the bonfire" conrad says slowly, scratching his head. Conrad is still not very fond of ethan.

While i did invite ethan, im unsure if hell show up. I wouldnt blame him if he didnt. "I dont know, i invited him last week. Even if he does, im not sure ill be in a party mood. Im honestly really sad conrad" i confess.

Conrad gently kisses my cheek, before replying,"i know you are, im sorry were not at the beach house. i can take you up there later, if you want," he tells me softly.

Were all sitting at the table now. Im so glad my moms okay, that shes still here. I was so worried for awhile, when she was in the hospital. Conrad drizzles the syrup on my pancakes, and kisses my knuckle with my promise ring on it. It still glistens just as bright as it did the day i got it.

After breakfast, i head upstaires to get ready for the day. I shower and brush my teeth. I put on my super short shorts, and my tight brown crop top, with buttons. I braid my hair in 2 braids, and skip my make up. I have a swimsuit in my hand, to put in my bag. This is my 3rd birthday without susannah.

Im not sure this day will ever be easy without her. We go to lighthouse cove to swim, which is actually my 2nd favorite place in cousins. I changed into my suit, and were all in the water. Steven and jeremiah are far out, but shayla taylor and conrad are with me. "How are you sleeping at night?" shayla asks me.

"Jeremiahs woken up a few times, hearing me cry. Ive been able to go back to sleep. I was always worried about adam coming into clevelands at first. It was ethan, who helped me past that," i respond biting my lip.

I look over at conrad, who seems hurt, i didnt tell him. He dosent say anything to me though. Out of nowhere, i get splashed by water. It was jeremiahs doing "oh, you are so on jeremiah fisher!" i splash him back.

I also dunk him under water, then he dunks me, and were both laughing, when i come out of the water. "I needed that, thanks jerebere" i beam, and hug him.

Once were done swimming, we dry off, and head back to clevelands for present time. I dont know how conrad will top last years, but im sure he will. He always does. That man has never dissapointed me on my birthday, except for the one time he did, and it was awful.

We all sit around clevelands living room, and im sitting in the middle. Like i always do, steven and shalya go first. This year, i open the beautifully wrapped box, to find a framed photo of all of us from last summer, another picture of the 3 of us girls. Theres some luxary clothes from london in here too. Steven got me a t shirt, with a photo of him, standing next to a troll statue, with a sign that reads my sister. I laugh so hard, when i open it. I put the shirt on right away.