Cam Cameron // Summer Again

4

The next morning, Belly texts me to come over. I let Liam sleep in and walk over. Walking in over summer could almost fool me into thinking it's any other summer. I walk up the stairs expecting laughter any moment or Susannah and Laurel giggling around the house. I get to Belly's door and knock. She lets me in and everything still looks the same. The same decorations and stuffed animals. "Hey," she says letting me in. She shuts the door behind us and sits on the bed while I take her desk chair. "So... you've uh— how've you been?" she asks.

"I've been okay. How are you?"

"It's hard," she nods. "Ya know?"

I scoff, "believe me I get it." There's a silence but it's not awkward. "Are you and Jeremiah on speaking terms again?"

"Oh uh— yeah— on the way here... I finally got to apologize and he really heard me out."

"I'm glad," I give her a small smile. "Conrad's been trying to push everyone away again but we won't let him be alone."

"Good. That's good."

~

"How did he react? Just tell me how the whole thing went down," I ask Belly over the phone.

"Well after Conrad and I got home I went straight to Jeremiah and I told him. He was angry with me of course and he just told me to get out. I don't know what to do, Gracie!"

"Don't worry! Let me call him Im sure he just needs some time," I try to calm her. She agrees and hangs up to let me call Jeremiah. The phone rings a few times but he picks up. He always does.

"Hey Gracie," he greets me.

"Hey Jere, how are you holding up since we left?" I try to sound casual. He never brings it up but he lets me be there for him. I think he knew that I knew though. These calls got scattered through summer until they stopped. Until I stopped calling and answering.

~

We head downstairs where Jeremiah waits for us. "Hey," he clears his throat. "I was thinking we could go get some breakfast?" he says mostly to Belly.

"Yeah sure, Gracie you good to come with us?" Belly puts me on the spot.

"Um... I don't know maybe I should stay with Conrad," I try to suggest.

"Please Gracie?" Belly pleads. The look Jeremiah gives me is piercing through my skull. He's too nice to actually say anything to me but that won't stop him from showing it in his face.

"Fine." I get in the car with them and we go to the local bakery to get muffins. Jeremiah gets Belly's favorite ones while they reminisce. We are surprised with a familiar face. Nicole comes up and hugs Belly. She tells Jeremiah she's sorry about his mom and he doesn't look amused. She pulls Belly aside to catch up a bit and I use this as my chance to apologize to Jeremiah. "I'm so sorry Jere," I whisper not wanting to meet his eyes.

"For what?" he asks though I know it's not a question. It's a request for more.

"I'm sorry for abandoning you and— and not being there when it mattered most," I bite my lip to hold back tears. He turns to me.

"Belly forgot about me for Conrad and then you forgot about me for Cam. You guys don't just get to abandon me all the time!"

"Well I abandoned Cam too!" I cry. I take a breath and try to compose myself. I look over at him. "Jere I couldn't be there for you because I destroyed myself and I saw what it did to Cam and I wasn't gonna do that to you too. I am so beyond sorry," I say taking his hand. He lets me and finally turns to look at me with slight tears in his eyes.

~

"Happy Thanksgiving Belly!" I beam as I walk into the Fisher house. The Fishers, Conklins, and Fabroas decided on a big family Thanksgiving this year to make every second count. I even got to invite Cam. He steps in behind me and immediately gets greeted by everyone. He thanks everyone as much as possible for allowing him to be there with me and I just laugh at his insane amount of politeness. The dinner is beautiful and laughter breaks out every second possible. Afterwards, the teens all chill in the family room as we wait for the parents to declare game time. I watch Conrad and Belly as a real couple and feel my heart melt for her. It's all she's ever wanted. My heart then breaks a little when I see Jeremiah. I've checked on him a lot since summer but I'm not a superhero. I can't just save him from his heartache. Cam puts his hand on my knee and reminds me of his presence. "Thank you again for inviting me," he says sweetly.

"Of course. I'm grateful that you said yes to being around our crazy families some more," I giggle. Jeremiah heads upstairs and I stop him telling him we're gonna play games soon. He back tracks and tells everyone he's not feeling well.

"Also next time, lemme know when you two are gonna be together because I don't wanna be here for it," he says referring to Belly and Jeremiah.

"Jeremiah..." Conrad sighs. "It's thanksgiving..." and with that Jeremiah silently makes his way upstairs.

"Gracie?" Cam calls out to me.

"Hmm?"

"You've been quiet for the last 20 minutes are you sure you still wanna play?" I zone back in and look around seeing the families look at me.

"Uh excuse me," I cough getting up and running to the bathroom. I don't know what's going on with me. It's like I want to savor everything but everything is so different. I don't wanna remember Susannah sick. I don't wanna remember her when Jeremiah is bitter. When Belly and Conrad can't laugh with him. When I can't think of anything else. There's a knock at the door before it opens slowly.

"Gracie? My love?" Cam comes in and sits with me on the edge of the tub. "What's going on? are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I decide to lie. He kisses my cheek and turns my head to look at him.

"I don't know why you don't want to tell me but I'm here. Always," he says before giving me another soft kiss on the forehead. I can only look down and pray he never gets tired of this. For all I know he already is.

~

"I'm uh— I'm sorry about you and Cam." He looks down at me and I just wrap him into my arms. He lets me and holds me tightly. "Im just glad you're here now," he whispers into the top of my head.

"And I'll always be from now on. I promise," I say. We break apart and do a pinky promise.
We laugh it off and Belly comes back. We get back into the car and plan on getting flowers and seeing Aunt Julia in person ourselves to try and convince her of alternative options. Spoiler alert: It does not work. In the process, however, we meet Skye. Skye is Jeremiah's cousin and they are about our age actually. Apparently they grew up together for a bit until they didn't see each other anymore because of Aunt Julia's doing. We head back to the house.

Conrad is up and at 'em. We are actually able to convince him to call his dad with Jeremiah.

"No more doing things alone... okay?" Jeremiah asserts with Conrad. Belly and I look to each other wondering if we should be here for the call in the kitchen and she offers for us to go upstairs. Conrad stops us.

"No stay. This is as much your house as it is ours," he says without turning his head. The phone rings on speaker in the middle of the table and Mr. Fisher answers. Conrad tries first and then Jeremiah chips in making Mr. Fisher more upset. He tells the boys there's nothing he can do and he refuses to let the boys use their trust funds. Conrad gets more and more mad while Jeremiah is the silent yet still expressive type. The call ends and we are left in a tense room.

"Surprise!" the door opens and Steven and Taylor walk in. They look at us and their faces drop.

"We're losing the house," Belly speaks up.

"Oh my God Cinderbelly I'm so sorry," Taylor says immediately giving her a hug. "My poor Love and Gracie," she says giving me one too. The boys hug Steven and tell him they're glad he's here too. I call Liam and tell him the news and he runs over to support us.

"What now?" Liam asks.

"Well Aunt Julia said there's an open house tomorrow. I say we come up with a plan for that," Jeremiah smiles mischievously.