JEWEL -𝘛𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭

𓇼xiii. country club

                              JEWEL
chapter thirteen

☼𓇼࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ☼𓇼࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ☼𓇼࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Serena hated panic attacks; she hated that she couldn't breathe; she hated that she couldn't calm herself down; and most of all, she hated that she didn't have her mom.

She sat in her empty room, rocking back and forth on the floor, trying to calm down. She grasped at her throat, desperate for air. In her panic, she pulled her phone out and called her mom. After a few rings, she quickly realized what she was doing. She hung up, sobbing into her hand.

Once it was finally over, she sat against her wall, looking ahead, trying to gather her thoughts. She finally collected herself, heading back downstairs. She walked into the kitchen, seeing Conrad arguing with Julia.

"I'm not the one you should be angry with; your mother should've warned you this was happening." Julia commented. "She just wanted to make the bad guy as usual." She scoffed, cleaning up the trash on the counter.

"I'm so sorry that she was too busy dying to make your life a little easier." Conrad snarked. Serena winced at that comment.

"You know it sucks that our grandfather loved her more than you, but I'm not surprised." He hissed, walking out, shoving Jeremiah's arm as he tried to stop him.

Serena stood there stunned, not knowing what to do. She felt like she was failing her mother by not being able to protect her brothers.

Everyone stood around stunned. Serena looked over to her aunt, seeing a hurt look on her face. She decided not to say anything, following her brother out of the room.

She walked outside, seeing Conrad trying to call someone. Jeremiah came outside, everyone else following.

"Of course dad did nothing to stop her." Conrad scoffed calling their dad. "What can he do?" Jeremiah asked. "Jere! He doesn't care about us!" Conrad shouted. Serena put a hand on her twin's shoulder, pulling him back. "Calm down." She whispered so only he could hear.

Serena stood there trying to think of what to do as she chewed her fingers. "This asshole won't even pick up my calls. Conrad scoffed. Skye came out the door, Conrad immediately interrogating her.

"Did you know?" He asked angrily. "I didn't know anything; I swear I would've told you." Skye stuttered out, crossing her arms in defense.

"Serena, what are we going to do?" Steven asked, knowing she was more level-headed than Conrad right now.

"Fuck, I don't know, okay, nothing is working." She stuttered out. She felt like the biggest failure; she couldn't protect anything.

Serena stood there trying to figure something out as everyone discussed what to do and where to go.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by Jeremiah grabbing her arm and leading her to his Jeep. "Come on." He spoke, hopping in the car.


☼𓇼࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ


They stood outside the country clubs door. Jeremiah is trying to unlock it with his keycard from last summer.

They couldn't get it to work, so Cam offered to use his mom's key code. He told everyone not to make a mess as they walked inside. Steven and Taylor went to go get blankets as Cam and Skye went to get snacks.

Conrad went off to find Cam and Skye as Jeremiah went to go find a place to sleep. Serena awkwardly stood there with Belly before the shorter girl broke the silence.

"Can we talk?" She hesitantly asked. Serena nodded her head, mumbling out a quick "Sure." She walked off with no direction in mind as Belly walked beside her.

"Look, I'm sorry." Belly started. "I didn't mean to cause a rift between you guys. I miss you, and you're one of my best friends, and I just want to be there for you." She stumbled her words out.

Serena stopped walking, turning to face the girl. Once turned Belly faced her, she pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry too. I should've never acted like that." Serena cried, just wanting her friend back.

"It's okay, I understand." Belly whispered, tears springing out of her eyes. Belly pulled back, sniffing. "Are we good?" she asked.

"We're good." Serena smiled, wiping her eyes. They hugged one more time before Belly excused herself to go find Jeremiah.

Serena started making her way back as she ran into her brother with Cam and Skye. "Hey, can you grab some of this?" Cam asked, hands full of food.

Serena nodded and walked over, grabbing some trays from him. Conrad led them to the theater, where they met up with Belly and Jeremiah.

Jeremiah and Conrad went off to find Taylor and Steven as Serena went and found a seat and got comfortable.


☼𓇼࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ


Everyone decided to head outside to get some fresh air. The boys were on the golf cart as Serena walked ahead of the girls.

She tried not to, but she listened in on Belly and Taylor's conversation when she heard her name.

"Serena really hurt me last year; it's just not the kind of hurt that goes away easily, you know." Taylor spoke unaware that Serena could hear her.

Serena felt a wave of guilt flow through her. She regretted breaking up with Taylor more than anything, but she didn't want the girl to be stuck with her; she deserved better.

"Yeah, I get it." Belly muttered. "I know you do." Taylor spoke apologetic. Serena walked ahead some more, not wanting to listen to their conversation anymore.

The golf cart died, everyone deciding to stay where they were for the night. Serena decided to sit in the golf cart, not wanting to be around anyone.

She felt someone sit beside her, glancing over when she saw Taylor. "Hey." The blonde girl spoke. "Hey." Serena nodded.

"Look, I just want to make sure you're okay. I didn't know you have been having panic attacks." Taylor spoke in concern.

"I'm fine, Taylor." Serena dismissed not wanting to trouble the girl. "Look, just because we broke doesn't mean I don't care." Taylor acknowledged hurt in her tone.

"Seriously, Taylor, I'm fine." Serena dismissed again, walking off and ending the conversation.

Once they regrouped, they decided to play truth or dare. Serena sat by Cam and Conrad. Cam went first, asking Conrad where he would see himself in ten years.

"Here honestly." Conrad spoke fondly. "I just feel like whatever shit you go going on disappears when you come here." He smiled.

"Come on, man, no one is playing truth or dare right; you either go big or go home." Steven laughed, interrupting the fond moment.

"I dare Belly to kiss Jeremiah." Skye dared. Everyone awkwardly sat there, Jeremiah breaking the silence. "Aren't we too old for that kind of shit?" He chuckled.

"Cam you know the drill?" Taylor smiled, trying to diffuse the tension. "Uh truth." He spoke, playing it safe.

"What is your biggest regret?" Taylor asked. "I'd say, uh, not spending enough time with my sister before she died." He answered.

Serena remembered when he told her about his sister; she didn't know how a person could get through life with that kind of grief, but now she had to figure it out.

"Oh, im sorry." Taylor apologized, not meaning to bring up a difficult subject. Belly was telling him he didn't have to speak about it if he didn't want to.

"It's okay. It was ten years ago when I was a kid; she was a teen. I really looked up to her; I still do." Cam smiled fondly. Serena grabbed his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. He looked over at her and gave a smile.

"Does it get any easier?" Jeremiah asked. "Yeah, it's always there, you know, but i'm the pain starts to feel more like a scar than a scab." He answered

"You know sometimes something totally random will set you off, like a song she used to play for you or, um, a little yellow tree air freshener she had in her car. The pain just feels brand new again. But um, everything goes back to normal eventually, whatever the hell that means," he added.

That made Serena feel a little at ease. "I'm sorry, man." Conrad frowned. "It's okay, I'm sorry about your mom; she was really cool." Cam spoke.

Taylor loudly yawned, interrupting the sweet moment. "Sorry Taylor, where did we lose you there?" Cam joked. Serena laughed Cam's humor was always her favorite.

"Sorry you didn't lose me in just really fucking tired." Taylor groaned. "Yeah, I guess it is kind of late. We can go grab some blankets." Jeremiah spoke, getting up and the boys following.

Everyone had settled down, Serena choosing to lay by Cam for the night. "Hey," he whispered. "Hey." Serena whispered back.

"How have you been holding up?" Cam asked concern in his voice. "It's been weird, you know, just doesn't feel real." Serena sighed.

"I've missed you." She frowned. "I've missed you too." Cam smiled. "You know I'm always here if you need me," he offered.

"I know." Serena smiled, trying to keep her eyelids open. "Goodnight Sea." Cam chuckled at the tired girl. "Night Cam." Serena yawned, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.