jealousy, jealousy | conrad fisher

⋒ 16

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
chapter 16
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

"now this is where i belong," i joke as i hop out of the car. party city is defiantly one of the best stores, they have the most random cool ass things to look at. i can't remember the last time i was here. "so team, we divide and conquer," belly orders while putting her hands between us. "what, no we don't have to," but she already putting my hand on top of hers as conrad and jer join. "go team," she shouts as we throw our hands in the air. everyone in the parking lot looks towards us making me blush as i speed walk into the store embarrassed . "you can't hide from us, olive!" jer shouts as i walk through the automatic doors towards the carts.

"if you see me inside, act like you don't know me," i order as i push the cart towards the first isle just as the rest of them walk into the store. i got an eye roll from belly as i turn to face forward not wanting to run into anything. the first isle is filled with different candy. there's bulk candy and then lots of dispensers that you see at the organic food places. "yes please," i smile as i start grabbing different candy that i know people will like. i move on to the dispensers and make sure to get lots of there knock off jelly belly's. if i was at the board walk i would take time to pick out my favorite flavors but since it's a party i just pick any flavor that sounds decent.

as i come to the middle if the aisle i notice large gum-ball machines for sale and as much as i want to add it to my cart i use all the self control i have to say no. on the basis that if i tries to pick it up i would defiantly break a nails or a toe. i do, however, grab a few fancy plastic bowls so we can put the candy out for display on the counters. "someone's hungry," i look up shocked when one of the workers walks over to me. he's tall, blonde, and lanky with dimples. "oh, aha, i swear this isn't all mine," i explain feeling my face flush. he raises his eyebrows as he looks over my cart filled with candy, i just now realize how much i grabbed.

"ha, everything but the snickers are mine," i joke which earns me a laugh. "what, snickers are the best, who are they for then?" he asks now smiling at me. "my friends and i are throwing a party tonight," i explains while gesturing to all the candy. "gotta get the most liked candy." he nods as his eyes briefly drift down me. is he checking me out i think to myself as he smiles at me again making me blush harder.

"you could totally come tonight," i invite and then realize how it sounds. i don't need him to think i'm hitting on him. "it's open to anyone in cousins," i explain when he raises his eye brows at me. "yeah?" he asks smirking at me and i feel my stomach do flops. i can't even remember the last time i flirted with a guy, was it james? "i can airdrop you the location," i offer and he nods. "or text works too," he suggests as we pull out our phones.

"text who?" i turn shocked and slightly guilty as jeremiah walks up to this guy and i. he raises a brow at my guilty face as he turns back to the guy. "who's this?" he asks coming up to stand by me defensively with his arms crossed. "hey jer, this is uh-" i turn back to the stranger realizing i never got his name. "kit," the blonde jumps in and i nod. "yeah this is kit, i was just inviting him to the party." he turns over to kit and gives him an obvious glare. "sorry, i didn't realize you had a boyfriend," kit starts to apologize and i shake my head. "no, this is jer, he's like a little brother," i explain and realize how that sounds. "he's dating my younger cousin too."

kit nods now smiling again. "okay, so i can get your number then," he holds out his phone open to the contacts app and i look to jer briefly before taking the phone. i quickly tap my number in before adding my name, olivia, to the contact before handing it back. i can still feel jer watching me with a look of clear shock and confusion. "text me and i'll send you the location." i explain as kit nods. "see you later, olivia." he sends me one more smirk before continuing on his way down the aisle.

"he's cute," jer says with a raised brow. i continue pushing the cart not answering. "so you like blonds now?" he presses and i roll my eyes not answering him. "i wonder what conrad would think of this." this ticks me. "who cares what he thinks, i can talk to whoever i want to talk to!" my voice raises a little bit too much and i feel my face flush. her raises his brow while smirking down on me. "hey, don't come for me," he raises his hands defensively and i glare up at him before pushing my cart to the next aisle.

this aisle is empty of people thankfully. i continue down the aisle even though i know i don't need anything on it. it's all birthday supplies according to different themes. one side has the more "boy" themes while the other is more "girly". susannah never believed in girl and boy colors. with a house full of kids we all got assigned colors for different things when we were younger like: shower towels, bowls, cups, candy bins. when we got older things changed but i will never forgot how conrad wad lavender because it was laurels favorite color. he's always loved her in a special way and even when we all teased him about liking a girl color his mom made sure all his stuff was lavender.

i pass by all the new kids shows with their matching table cloths and party hats until i get to the plain colors. i know we don't need a whole lot of plates cause most people won't even use them, but i can't help myself. i grab a pack of purple for conrad, pink for me, yellow for belly, green for steven, and orange for jer. i know they'll all understand the meaning and it makes me happy to honor susannah in this way.

i push the cart to the next aisle and i can hear conrad and belly talking. "hey party people," i smile as i join them in the costume aisle. "look at how boring his bask-" belly starts but stops once she sees mine. "that better not be filled with plates!" she argues and i roll my eyes before moving away the top layer and showing the candy. "no, it's mostly candy and now that's i'm looking at it i think i got too much," i say as if i'm actually debating on putting some of it back. this sets belly off who rolls her eyes. "oh, yeah, mock me why don't you. i'm the reason that party is going to be one that we remember- no that everyone remembers as the best fucking party cousins has ever seen!" she starts to fill her cart with more fluffy boas and mardi gras masks.

"now you did it," conrad teases and i turn to face him and he's leaning against the cart. "oh, i don't know what your talking about," i shrug as we watch belly continue down the aisle filling the cart so the more unnecessary costume supplies. "this is the happiest i've seen her in months," i explain without thinking. i feel my face flush knowing he and i haven't talked about the giant elephant in the room and i just went and brought it up in a fucking party store. "that's what jer said, that she just seemed to have less life in her," conrad doesn't miss a beat with his answer. "it was really hard on her, especially with her mom kinda icing us all out," i let out a small smile as my eyes fall towards his cart.

belly was right, his cart was filled with boring things but i don't miss the color coding he's done. "you-" but he caught me off with a laugh that seems to almost be inappropriate with the timing. "i knew you'd grab the colored plates as long as i put some on my cart, that's why i grabbed half as many as i thought we'd need." my heart stops at his confession. "great minds think alike," i joke trying to hide the blush that was forming beneath my cheeks. "yes you do- we do, yes we do have great minds" conrad stutters out blushing. "well we better get back to work before queen isabel throws us into her dungeons of continues party planning," i smile before pushing my cart towards the next aisle.