SUNKISSED - Jeremiah Fisher

- 17 -

- Sarah -

The first rays of the sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. I blinked my eyes open, momentarily disoriented. This wasn't my bed. I glanced around, the familiar posters on the wall and the scattered clothes reminding me exactly where I was—Jeremiah's room. I groaned softly, stretching my arms over my head, feeling the slight ache in my muscles from sleeping on his side of the bed. His scent lingered in the air, a mix of fresh laundry and that slightly strong cologne he always wore.

I slid out from under the covers, my bare feet hitting the cool hardwood floor as I grabbed one of his oversized T-shirts from the chair nearby. Tugging it over my head, I smiled at the faint memory of how we'd ended up here last night, both of us too tired after the party to head back to our own rooms. I tiptoed down the hallway, the slight smell of matcha and coffee guiding me downstairs toward the kitchen.

"Good morning," I called, my voice still thick with sleep as I stepped into the kitchen. Jeremiah was already there, his sun-kissed hair a mess, wearing a faded pair of basketball shorts and a grin that made my heart do a little flip.

"Good morning, Goldie," he replied, his tone warm as he glanced at me. "How'd you sleep?"

I laughed softly, walking over to the cabinet to grab a bowl. "Like a baby. What about you?"

Jeremiah leaned against the counter, his smile widening. "Pretty good, had a pretty great cuddle partner, too." His eyes sparkled with that mischievous glint I knew so well.

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, my attempt to hide the blush failing miserably. "Interesting," I said, my voice light as I busied myself with the cereal. The kitchen was quiet, save for the clink of the spoon against the bowl, until the sound of footsteps on the stairs caught both of our attention.

Belly appeared in the doorway, her long dark hair tousled, wearing one of the shirts I gave her last summer and shorts. "Morning, Belly Button," I greeted her, my voice cheerful as I took a bite of my cereal.

"Morning," she replied, her voice less lively, offering me a small, half-hearted smile. She wandered over to the counter, not quite making eye contact.

"Good morning, Bells," Jeremiah added, his voice softening as he stirred honey into his drink. "Want one?" He pointed at his cup, offering to make her a cup, but Belly shook her head, grabbing the box of Lucky Charms instead. Without bothering with a bowl, she tipped it straight into her mouth.

Jeremiah and I exchanged a quiet laugh. "Okay then," I murmured, taking my seat at the counter. I glanced at Jeremiah, who gave me a knowing look.

"So, I take it you and Tay-Tay haven't made up yet?" Jeremiah ventured, keeping his tone casual, but the way his eyes flicked toward Belly was anything but.

Belly shook her head, sighing as she leaned back against the counter. "Nope. We haven't talked since last night." Her voice was resigned, like she'd given up trying to figure Taylor out for the time being.

"What happened?" I asked, turning to Jeremiah for clarity. He knew everything, always.

"Belly caught Taylor and Steven hooking up at Nicole's party last night," he explained, his voice dropping lower like he didn't want to stir the pot more than it already was.

My spoon froze midair, eyes wide in shock. "Wait, what?" I blinked at Belly in disbelief, barely able to process what I'd just heard.

Belly's lips pressed into a thin line, her expression a mix of hurt and annoyance. She stared down at the counter, avoiding our eyes. "Yeah. On my birthday, no less," she added with a bitter laugh.

I shook my head, still stunned. "When does she leave?" I asked, taking a bite of my cereal and chewing slowly, trying to wrap my head around the audacity Taylor had.

Belly shrugged, her voice flat. "In a couple of hours. She's upstairs packing now."

Jeremiah let out a soft sigh, walking over to where Belly stood. "I'm sorry, Bells. Taylor's a mess, and Steven's... well, Steven," he said, putting his hand on her shoulder for a brief moment before retreating back to his spot by the stove.

Belly shrugged again, though her shoulders looked more defeated than careless. "It is what it is. I just... I thought she'd at least try to make the night about me, you know?"

I nodded sympathetically, a soft frown tugging at my lips. Taylor had always been unpredictable, but this was low, even for her. "Well, Belly Button," I started, trying to lighten the mood with a grin, "If you need me, I'm gonna be upstairs... thanking the universe for giving me Jade as a best friend." I winked, hoping to get a smile out of her.

It worked. Belly cracked a small laugh, rolling her eyes at me. "Lucky you."

With my bowl in hand, I stood from the counter, giving Jeremiah a quick nudge as I passed. He shot me a wink before turning back to his drink. Belly stayed behind, lost in her thoughts, and I felt a pang of sadness for her. As I made my way up the stairs, I couldn't help but hope that Taylor's departure would at least give her some peace.

Back in my room, I sat on the bed, pulling my knees to my chest. Jade had been texting me updates from her own chaos back home, but I couldn't stop thinking about Belly and the tangled mess of friendships she was caught in. I couldn't imagine having to deal with all of that on my birthday.