𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 • conrad fisher

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summer woke up the next morning feeling groggy.

"ughhh." she groaned.

she sat up and stretched before scratching her head.

she heard footsteps by her door and assumed it was belly. their rooms were right next to each other.

then summer realized.

it was belly's birthday. and she forgot to get her something.

"fuck." summer muttered.

she thought for a moment and decided that she would lie and say that her gift hasn't come in the mail yet.

she grabbed her phone from the table next to her bed and went online shopping to see what she could find for belly.

she saw a cute pair of daisy earrings with a ring to match and ordered both.

once she was done, she got up and and went downstairs.

"shall we open gifts?" summer heard susannah say from the kitchen.

"once summer's awake, we can." laurel nodded.

"no need to worry, summer is awake." summer said as she shuffled into the kitchen.

"alright. gifts it is." laurel decided.

summer swallowed.

she didn't want to mention how the gift wasn't here yet, which was only half true, but she still wasn't excited.

they then went into the living room and each took a seat.

belly was on one couch, susannah and laurel on the other couch while steven and conrad were in chairs leaving jeremiah and summer sitting on the floor.

summer sat next to conrad's chair, leaning against his leg.

he pat the top of her head and she half-smiled, looking up at him.

he nodded to her and he looked back ahead at belly.

"am i late or am i just in time for presents?" a voice asked.

they all looked over to see alison.

"what? i couldn't miss bell's sweet sixteen." alison shrugged.

"well, take a seat, hon." susannah smiled.

she smiled then went and and sat down next to summer.

"why are you looking so doom and gloom, dear summer?" she raised her eyebrows.

"i'll tell you later." summer whispered back.

alison nodded and leaned back.

laurel handed her present to belly and she opened it to reveal a book of poems.

"it's a first edition. i got from a rare book dealer." laurel informed.

"thanks, mom." belly thanked.

"turn to the bookmarked page." laurel ordered.

belly then flipped to the page.

"it's your favrote poem." laurel muttered to susannah.

"oh, yeah. i remember susannah teaching us to recite this." belly said.

then, they all started reciting the poem. even alison knew it.

"thank you. i love it." belly smiled.

"you're welcome." laurel smiled back.

"okay, open mine now, belly." susannah said and handed her a small box.

belly opened it to reveal a pearl necklace.

summer rolled her eyes.

for her birthday, susannah have her a birthday card with money in it.

of course belly got a heartfelt, meaningful gift.

typical susannah and belly.

alison noticed and looked at her best friend before looking back at belly.

"oh, wow. they're gorgeous, thank you susannah."
belly beamed.

susannah took them out of the box and put them around belly's neck.

"my mom gave me these pearls for my sweet sixteen." susannah said.

summer snorted. "i got a hundred bucks for my sweet sixteen."

they all turned to look at her and susannah frowned before looking at laurel who had an eyebrow raised at her daughter.

susannah then got up and went back to her spot, just staring at the ground.

"uh, here belly, uh, open mine." jeremiah a stammered. "here."

"thank you."

it was a good luck charm for her bracelet.

"it's for good luck on your driving test." jeremiah smiled.

"oh, what i got for my driving test were groans and rolling eyes because i'm a chore to drive with." summer nodded.

"summer, kitchen. now." laurel demanded.

summer huffed and stood up.

"i forgot your present, isabel, so i ordered it this morning and was gonna pretend that it hasn't arrived yet." summer shrugged and followed her mother into the kitchen.

"what the hell is going on with you!" laurel whisper-shouted.

"i have no clue what you're talking about." summer replied.

laurel scoffed. "i'm talking about how you're not talking to your sister, you're being rude to her, and you're acting erratic!"

"no i'm not, mom."

laurel cocked an eyebrow.

summer sighed. "fine, but this is all belly's fault. she's been acting so immature lately. she needs the learn that the world doesn't revolve around her."

"she's not the one acting immature, summer, you are. now, grow the hell up and act like an eighteen year old." laurel scolded and left summer by herself in the kitchen.

summer grumbled and shook her head and that's when conrad and alison walked in.

"what just happened?" alison asked.

summer shook her head. "nothing."

"sums."

her eyes flickered over to conrad and suddenly softened.

she grabbed his hand.

"don't worry about it, okay?" she raised her eyebrows. "i'll tell you later."

he nodded. "okay. i have to go, but i'll see you later."

summer nodded and kissed his hand before dropping it and watching him go.

she then turned to alison.

"tell me what's going on."

summer sighed. "okay, but not here. let's go to yours."

alison nodded and the two disappeared to alison's house.

AUTHORS NOTE
here's an update!

muah,
lea <3