Everything Changes-The Summer I Turned Pretty

Twenty Eight

It's the last day of summer now. Our last breakfast in the beach house until next year. Mom made her famous final morning funnel cakes, and Laurel cut up lots of fruit for toppings.

Across from me at the table is Belly, next to her is Conrad, and next to me is Jeremiah.

Things have been quiet between us since the news about Mom. About her cancer being back.

Things have been quiet, but not awkward. We've played a couple card games between the four of us, made s'mores around a campfire the other night, and Steven calls almost every day to chat and give us the pros and cons of the colleges he's toured.

"This summer was crazy. And it's already over," Jere says, spooning blueberries over his funnel cake.

"I wish we had more time," Belly says. "We hardly hung out. Everything I did was...about myself." Her eyes meet mine for a brief moment. "I'm sorry about that."

"It was different in all sorts of ways. Me and Steven got jobs, you had the deb ball," Jere looks at Conrad. "Connie was a jerk, Steven left, Kristin was alone for most of it, Mom was sick."

"I'm sorry too." I'm not exactly sure what I'm apologizing for, but I can't help but say it. "Belly, I'm sorry for being upset with you for so long."

"I deserved it," she says. She's wearing a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants, her usual ride home outfit, but she's still pretty. Except now I'm not jealous. "I'm sorry too."

"Can we quit being sappy and enjoy our food?" Conrad interrupts and takes a few loud gulps of his orange juice.

"Really, man. You ruined the moment," Jere says with a serious face. Conrad looks back at him with wide eyes until Jeremiah cracks a smile and hits him with his napkin. "I'm just joshing you."

The boys laugh and Belly and I smile at each other, and the rest of our breakfast feels comfortable.

"Belly! Hurry up, our car is pulling out in two minutes!" Laurel yells from their station wagon in the driveway. She already gave me and my brothers each a long hug and assured us she'd be visiting often to see us and Mom.

"I'm coming!" Belly shouts from inside the house. She's carrying a duffel bag and pulling a suitcase, while still wearing her backpack. She was somewhere on the beach with Conrad until last minute and now she's running behind. "Bye, Conrad. See you next year, Jere." She stops in front of me. "Kristy,"

"Have a good trip back, Bells," I tell her, attempting to give her a hug around all her luggage.

She grabs my hand. "I wanted to give you this. I'm sorry I had it in the first place. I felt bad about it, maybe not right away, but eventually I did. Because I remembered how much you used to talk about them when we were little. See you later."

Belly flashes me a shy grin and jogs toward their car.

I open my hand to see what she slipped inside.

My mom's pearls.

I clutch them right in my fist and hold them against my heart.

"Bye Belly! Bye Laurel!" My brothers yell as they pull onto the road.

I raise my hand and wave, a natural smile spread wide across my face.