Paper rings💍 { Johanna + Conrad }

☆*:..｡Im Drunk in the Back of the Car｡.:*☆

I wake up with a pounding headache. I open my eyes to realize I'm not in my bed. I'm in Conrads, I guess I blacked out. Conrad comes through the door with a water bottle and Advil pills. "Morning party animal," he says with a smile "Hey" I groan. It wasn't unusual for me to sleep in Conrad's bed, in fact, we used to sleep over all the time when we were younger and even sometimes when we were a little older. "How bad was I?" I ask him "Well we left before you blacked out" he responds giving me the water bottle and Advil which I gladly receive and take "You danced on the table, and then we left the boys to come home cause you felt sick, we got into the car where you danced and sung your heart out and practically leaned out the window." He sums up "Wow" I say taking in this information I do not recall. "Yup. then when we got out of the car you threw up all over your dress and passed out," he points to the shirt I'm wearing which I now recognize is his. "Omg, I'm so sorry I pulled you away from the party to take care of me," I say covering my face embarrassed. "It's alright Annie, you know I got you," he says reassuring me. "Omg, I'm never drinking again" I complain as my head pounds. Conrad just laughed knowing what I'm saying isn't true at all. Out of nowhere I jump off the bed and go into conrads bathroom connected to his room and vomit in the toilet feeling sick from the amount I consumed last night. Conrad follows me, holds my hair back, and rubs my back. I continue to throw up feeling miserable "Atta girl" "you're ok" "I'm right here" he tells me reassuringly, knowing how much I hate being sick. As soon as I'm done I lean against the toilet and groan at my current state. "I'm so sorry" I say not even looking at the boy comforting me "It's alright Annie, I'm here for you" he is so sweet. I just look a him with a small hint of a smile "Y'know you're the only one who calls me Annie. It makes me feel special" I say "You are special Annie, you are to me" he responds with a soft smile on his lips. Conrad wished he could tell Johanna just how special she is to him and how much he wished they could be more than just friends. But he couldn't, not now. Not when they were both in relationships and when Johanna looked so happy with Asher. I lean into his chest and he holds me. "I'm really glad we're ok again," I say sitting in his arms "I never want to be that distant from you again," I tell him "Me either, not talking to you and being mean to you broke my heart," he says back.

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After another half hour of sulking in my hangover with Conrad, I finally get up and go shower. I grab a towel from the closet and lock the door. I stare at myself in the mirror. I don't think I recognize myself, I look as exhausted as I feel. I shake my head and hop in the shower hoping it'll make me feel better. I shower, brush my teeth, and get dressed into some shorts and a random tee. As I finished changing I remembered what happened between Taylor, Steven, and Belly. I am definitely going to talk to Steven about that, but right now I need to make sure Belly makes up with her blonde friend before she leaves Cousins. I knock on her door and see her brushing her hair in her vanity, I go to sit on her bed. "Hey Jo, how ya feeling," she asks "Extremely hungover," I sigh "That's what happens when you down tequila the whole night," she says chuckling and I laugh too. After a second or two, I ask "So have you talked to Taylor about last night" She looks at me with a look I can't read "You remember that," she says "Yep, happened before I blacked out," I say sounding almost proud. "There's no way I'm talking to her right now," she says and turns back to her mirror brushing her hair. "Bells. You know you're gonna have to eventually," she pauses and looks at me "So why does it have to be now," "Because she is your best friend, who loves you and wouldn't do anything to hurt you. She also came for your birthday, and I'm sure if you let her explain you'll see her point of view, at least just a little bit." I list of reasons "I just dont get why it had to be my brother," she says sounding confused and hurt "Then ask. Then you'll get your answer. You can't throw away your friendship over this. Best friends are important, they're like your family outside your family. Just talk to her," I try to reason with the younger girl in front of me. "Fine," she says after thinking it over. "Good, now go try to catch her before her bus gets here" She gets up to leave and before she does she turns to me and says "Thanks Jo, I love you," "I love you too belly button, now go go go."

After she leaves I go to find Steven. I knock on his door and tells me to come in. "Hey party girl" he says seeing me "Hey Stevie," I greet before going to sit on the edge of his bed. "What's up, how's the hangover," he asks with a smile "Doing its job," I say sighing, and he just laughs. "I wanna talk to you about last night," I see him stiffen, "what about last night," he says not looking me in my eyes "You and Taylor," I say and he looks at me shocked "You remember that," I nod, trying not to laugh at the similar reactions I got from both Conklin siblings. "Look I don't know what happened, one second we were talking then the next we were kissing and it sort of all just happened an-"  he spills out all at once, I cut him off "Steven. Do you like her, and I mean really like her, 'cause this is Taylor we're talking about. Belly would never forgive you if you just kissed her best friend for shits and giggles." I say seriously "I really do," he says seriously. I smile at his confession "Good. So go do something about it, 'cause she really likes you too. And make sure you talk to Belly and let her know you're serious about this and not just fucking around." I tell him "Yeah like she'll listen to me," he says scoffing "She might. I mean I got her to go talk to Taylor. Just understand this is hard for her." he gets up from his desk and hugs me "Thanks Joey, you're pretty wise at your old age," he says letting me go and laughing "Hey, if I'm old, you're older," I say and we both laugh. "So what are your plans for today," He asks me "I dont know. Maybe go hang out with the moms and Gabe, haven't really talked to them much." "Yeah, I noticed that. Are you and your mom good." he questioned, I sigh "God, I wish I knew. Her and my dad's situation has gotten worse and I think she's just trying to comfort Gabe more cause he's younger. But honestly, it feels like she forgot she has another kid," I let out a sad chuckle "I dont maybe tomorrow it'll be better and she'll actually talk to me." I add "I'm sorry Joey. The whole thing is fucked," he says going to hug me again. "Yeah. But it's fine I'm used to it. I'm going to go get some breakfast," I say getting up to go downstairs. Mid-way down the stairs, I get stopped by Jeremiah "Morning Jojo, can you get the car keys from Conrad's room? They should be in his nightstand drawer." "Yeah sure," I say turning around and going back to Conrad's room. He was in the shower so I walked into his room and went straight to get the car keys. When I opened the drawer, the first thing I see is a pack of cigarettes and some condoms, "ew," I whisper to myself. I rummage a little through his things before I see a bag. Curiosity got the best of me as I opened it and the little box to see a necklace with an infinity sign. I smile. Infinity was our thing. I remember when we were kids and he taught me what it was. I remember thinking how smart he was and how I'd do anything to spend infinity with him. Even now, I would travel infinitely around those curves, for him I would. I get out of my mind and put everything back before grabbing the keys and leaving his room before he comes back. "Here J," I say hanging Jeremiah the car keys "Thanks, Jojo." He and Belly leave and I go back to my room, forgetting all about grabbing breakfast or checking in with the moms. I lay down on my bed, and think about the necklace I found in Conrad's room. It had to be for me right? He had to remember infinity. 

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Hey guys I'm back after like what, a month.... oops. also, this took me like three days to write and I still don't like it but yeah oh well. love yall 🫶