SUNKISSED - Jeremiah Fisher

- 12 -

- Sarah -

The past couple of days with Jade staying over have been pretty laid-back—well, everything except the tension between Belly and Conrad. It's been awkward, and whatever went down after we all crashed Belly's date is still lingering in the air. Neither of them will say what really happened, but things haven't been right since. Normally, any friction between them would have smoothed out by now, but this silence? It's lasted too long for comfort. Their conversations are limited to awkward small talk over dinner, and even then, it's the bare minimum.

But today isn't the day to dwell on whatever's happening between them. Today is Belly's day—her 16th birthday. And for today, everything is going to be about her.

Jeremiah and Belly are supposed to go pick up Taylor for the weekend. I'm not going to lie—Taylor's never really been my favorite. I don't dislike her or anything, she's nice enough, but she tends to overshadow Belly whenever she's around. I mean, I get that they're best friends and all, so clearly there's a reason Belly adores her. Still, every time Taylor comes over, especially on Belly's birthday, it's hard not to notice how she draws the spotlight, sometimes a little too much. And don't even get me started on how touchy she can be with Jeremiah. But that's a whole other issue I've yet to unpack.

So here we are now, the morning of Belly's birthday. The house is buzzing with activity—well, more like a mix of controlled chaos. Jade, Conrad, and I sit at the counter, casually eating cereal while the rest of the house looks like it's in full-blown breakfast prep mode. Laurel's whisking eggs at the stove, Susannah's fluttering around setting up the table, and Jeremiah's been hopping between flipping pancakes and chopping fruit. Steven's pretending to help, as usual, but he's mostly just in the way.

It's chaotic, sure, but there's something nice about it—the kind of chaos that feels like home.

"Morning, everyone!" Belly's voice is cheerful, almost too cheerful, as she strides into the kitchen. Instantly, the room falls silent, all eyes on her. She looks a little tired, but she's smiling that classic Belly smile, the one that lights up her face.

"Happy birthday!" we all chime in, nearly in sync.

Belly beams as she starts making her way around the room, her arms out for hugs. Susannah, of course, gets the first hug—she always does. Susannah looks at her with so much love in her eyes, squeezing her tight like she can't believe how fast Belly's growing up. Then it's Jeremiah's turn. He practically lifts her off the ground in a big bear hug, grinning ear to ear, and I swear, the way he looks at her sometimes makes my heart ache a little. Laurel gets a hug too, though it's more of a quick squeeze. Then Steven, who messes up her hair like the annoying big brother he is.

Jade's next, and their hug lingers just a bit longer. 

Finally, Belly comes over to me. She smiles, and I pull her into a big hug, whispering, "Happy Sweet Sixteen, Bells. Welcome to the club."

"Thanks, Sarah," she whispers back, her voice soft but warm. She holds on for a second longer, as she needs it, and I squeeze her a little tighter before letting go.

As Belly pulls away, Laurel tells her, "Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready!"

Belly glances over, the smile faltering just slightly. "Actually, I'm not really, uh, hungry," she mumbles, looking away.

"Oh." Laurel's disappointment is subtle but visible. Her shoulders sag a bit, but she covers it quickly.

There's an awkward beat of silence, but Susannah, always the fixer, jumps in with a bright smile. "Shall we open gifts?" she suggests, her voice full of excitement.