𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

Chapter Two.

      

     THE NEXT DAY was Steven's graduation, and thanks to Ember, the family was right on track to head over to the school where the ceremony would be held. She ironed Steven's shirt, she called and made reservations for lunch, saying it was for five people, she was making sure this day went smoothly and her number one goal was to make the whole day stress-free for their mom.

"We're leaving in five, Bell." She says to the girl fixing her hair in the mirror and wearing her dress that their mom picked out. Belly ignores her as Ember now walks into Steven's room. "Here," she said and Steven takes the shirt. "Thank you, Ems." He says as he puts on the freshly ironed shirt. "We gotta leave in five. Be down in two." She tells him and he just nods. "Okay, Ems." He replied, buttoning up the shirt and looking in the mirror.

"We should already be in the car." Laurel says as Ember walks into the kitchen. "Relax. Steven's putting on his shirt and getting ready right now." She said as she walked over to the table. "Where are the tickets, Em?" The woman now asked as Belly walks in. "Is this okay?" The girl asked and then the doorbell rings. "I told your dad to meet us there." Laurel says as Belly heads over to the front door.

"Shoot! I forgot to make the reservations for lunch." She exclaims. "I did it, mom, don't worry. And before you ask, Steven's shirt is already ironed." Ember tells her. "They're not gonna start without me. We've got time." Steven chuckles, walking over. "Yeah, and it's handled, see? It looks nice and real smooth, right?" The boy says, showing off his shirt to his mom who just smiled at her son.

Ember looks at Laurel, smiling at her, "what would I do without you?" Her mom now asked, cupping her chin gently. "You'd be a mess." The younger says as Belly rolls her eyes, walking over. "Ooh, is that for me?" Steven asked as Belly now sets down the gift, letting out a sigh. "Sweet, a laptop?" The graduate says as he takes out the Macbook box.

"Well, who sent this? What?" He says, sitting down. "Oh, my God. It's from Susannah." Belly said, staring at the paper in her hands. "She must have planned it before. Classic Beck." Laruel says, staring at the gift basket as Steven took the paper from Belly.

"I wish she could have been here." He says and Ember couldn't help but imagine how different things would be if Susannah's cancer hadn't come back. Maybe she'd be at Emerson, instead of taking a gap year for her family, she'd spend time with Conrad on the weekends and call her mom every night.

"Conrad and Jeremiah, too." Steven added, staring at the paper now. "They were busy." Laurel tells her son. "Yeah, sure." Steven looked up at Ember across from her before looking at Belly standing to his right. The two girls glance at one another and look away.

Not long after Ember had told Belly that day, she heard her have a screaming match with Jeremiah, the boy had gotten furious about how much she cared about her sister and his brother possibly becoming a couple, saying it was definitely because of her deep-rooted feelings for Conrad "she's definitely in denial of", it caused Belly to say something she didn't mean and the two had a falling out.

Jeremiah was too insecure and jealous, thinking that Belly still had feelings for Conrad, hence why she was mad at Ember. And now, the Park girl sits on the beach with Conrad, looking down as she told him everything she had said to Belly, and about the argument she heard, which apparently he and the rest of the house heard, even Susannah heard it.

"I feel awful..." Ember says, her head down and Conrad just reached out, touching her arm gently. "She was so angry at us. And then he was so angry at her for being angry. They were both so angry. And she has every right to be..." She spoke, turning her head away to look at the beach, at the waves crashing against the shore. "It's gonna be okay, Ems. I promise." Conrad rubs her upperarm gently.