The Summer I Changed | The Summer I Turned Pretty Fanfic

My Mess

The drive to the beach house was quiet, Amanda didn't talk much, which again was not like her. When we pulled into the driveway, I nudged her. "We're here."

"I haven't been here since the wedding," she said quietly. Maybe she was regretting getting dragged into my mess.

"Well, we'll make up for the lost time, boo." I nudge her again and she smiles. "So, we didn't talk about the rules."

"Rules?" She squints her eyes at me.

"Are we PDA or no PDA, do we kiss?" I started listing things that couples would do.

"I don't know about kissing," She laughs. "But you can hold my hand, sometimes if the spirit moves you."

I nod, "Fair enough."

I get out and open her door before grabbing our bags. Before I can close the trunk, Belly and Taylor have already run outside.

"Amanda!" Taylor hugs her. "It's been forever!" Belly is awkwardly off to the side, just waving.

 "Hi, it's nice to meet you."

Amanda being the outgoing charmer she is gives Belly a hug, "So nice to really meet you!"

Belly gives me an approving smile and I feel happy, this is going well. "Do you still drink?" Taylor asks her.

"Like a fish," she replies with a laugh. Taylor is three months pregnant; I am curious if she's going to be making mocktails or shooting patron.

"Great, Jeremy you put the bags away we'll be in the kitchen!" Taylor calls to me as she drags Amanda inside.

Belly doesn't follow behind right away, she comes to me and looks at the bags. "Need help?"

"No," I throw a duffle over my shoulder. "Isn't it like mandatory I carry my girlfriend's heavy stuff around?"

Though I did not mean to, I flashback to helping Belly move into her dorm at finch. The look on her face says she might have gone to that moment too. "I'm going to go drink with your lady," she says turning on her heel.

After throwing the luggage in my room I trot down to the pool area where the guys are making BBQ. Conrad is wearing an Apron that reads 'Dad's make the dogs' and I feel myself gag.

 "Jere!" He pulls me into a bear hug, and I can smell the beer on his breath.

"Drinking before five," I say with a raised eyebrow.

"Taking a page out of your book," He cracks.

I didn't normally get drunk in the middle of the afternoon, maybe a few times in college. 

Steven walks up holding beers for everyone.

"Look," he says ominously. "I never said this, but Amanda is HOT!" He says slapping me on the back. I take a beer from his hands.

"Oh, she came?" Conrad looks around, as if she'd appear in the backyard out of thin air.

"Oh, she did," Steven makes a low whistle. I find myself more uncomfortable than before, feeling a twist in my stomach. This is my best friend they're talking about. Sure, I know she's hot, but it is gross to hear Steven talk about her like that!

"Enough," I cringe.

Conrad eyes me, "What you don't think your own girlfriend is attractive?"

"Don't be stupid," I roll my eyes. "I know that Amanda's gorgeous, I just don't like hearing Steven say it."

"Gorgeous, eh?" I didn't realize Amanda had walked outside. She walked over, her flower summer dress swaying.

Both the guys went from teasing me to sitting upright and smiling. "Amanda, meet the idiots."