Pretty Girl - Steven Conklin

2

The morning after the bonfire, I woke up to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through my bedroom window. Belly was still sleeping in the bed next to mine, curled up in a ball with a peaceful expression on her face. Her long lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, and I couldn't help but smile. She looked so serene, so much like the little sister I'd always wanted but never had. Belly and I had always shared this room during the summers, and every year it felt like our own little world.

I slid out of bed, careful not to wake her, and grabbed my phone from the nightstand. There was a message from JJ:

"Morning, beautiful. Want to grab breakfast in town?"

My heart fluttered. JJ had been nothing but sweet and steady, the calm to the storm that was Cousins Beach. But as I typed out a reply, I found my thoughts drifting to last night, to the look on Steven's face after he'd tried to pick a fight with JJ. His words had been angry and bitter, but underneath it, I'd seen something else. Regret. I forced myself to shake off the memory and hit "Send," focusing on the day ahead.

---

After breakfast with JJ, we decided to head back to the house, and as we walked up the porch steps, we heard the sounds of laughter and splashing from the pool. Conrad, Jeremiah, and Steven were already outside, along with a few other friends who'd come down to visit for the day. I caught Steven's eye briefly, and he gave me a small, apologetic nod. I looked away, trying to ignore the tug in my chest.

Belly ran up to me, still in her swimsuit from the pool, her eyes bright with excitement. "Dee! We're having a pool party later! Are you in?"

"Of course!" I grinned, ruffling her hair. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

She beamed and grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the pool. JJ followed close behind, chuckling as we stumbled into the backyard. It wasn't long before he was dragged into the festivities too, fitting right in with the boys as if he'd always been part of the Cousins crew.

Steven kept a bit of distance from me, but every now and then, I'd catch him looking my way, his gaze lingering in a way that made my stomach flutter despite myself. I tried to push it down, reminding myself that I was with JJ now, that he was everything Steven wasn't: steady, loyal, and fully committed.

---

The pool party grew as the day wore on, and eventually, everyone headed back inside for a game of truth or dare. It was a Cousins Beach tradition, a little ridiculous but fun. Belly and I shared a conspiratorial grin as we squeezed into the circle with everyone else, ready for the chaos to begin.

When it was my turn, I chose "truth," and all eyes turned to JJ as he leaned forward, grinning mischievously.

"Alright, Delilah," he said, his tone playful but with a glint of curiosity. "What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never had the courage for?"

The room went quiet as everyone waited for my answer. I glanced at Steven for a fraction of a second, the memory of last summer flickering through my mind. But I quickly turned back to JJ, my smile widening as I decided to give him the real answer.

"Honestly? I've always wanted to learn to surf," I admitted. "But I never tried because... well, I've always been terrified of wiping out."

The group laughed, and JJ nodded thoughtfully. "We'll have to fix that," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Tomorrow morning, let's hit the waves."

My stomach fluttered, a mix of nerves and thrill. "You're on," I replied, challenging him with a smile.

---

Later that evening, Belly and I escaped to the porch swing, wrapped up in cozy blankets and sipping lemonade as the sky turned from gold to indigo. The summer sounds of crickets and waves filled the air, and we talked about everything and nothing, as we always did. I told her about my surf plans with JJ, and her face lit up with excitement.

"Dee, you're gonna be so amazing at it! I'm totally coming to watch," she said, nudging me playfully.

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're just saying that because you love me."

"Obviously," she replied with a grin. She glanced over at me, her expression suddenly more serious. "Dee... are you okay? With everything that happened with Steven last night?"

Her question caught me off guard, but I knew I couldn't hide anything from her. Belly had always been able to see right through me. I sighed, leaning back against the swing.

"I... I don't know," I admitted. "It's like... I've moved on. I'm with JJ now, and he's wonderful. But part of me can't help but remember how I felt about Steven. I guess I never expected him to feel anything for me... and now it's like he's finally realizing what he threw away."

Belly nodded, her eyes full of understanding. "You deserve someone who loves you, Dee. Whether that's JJ or... or anyone else."

Her words stayed with me as the night deepened, her quiet support reminding me that no matter what happened with Steven, I had a friend, a sister, in her.

---

The next morning, JJ and I headed to the beach, boards in hand, with Belly cheering from the shore. He took me through the basics, his patience and encouragement making me feel braver with each passing moment. After a few tries (and several less-than-graceful wipeouts), I managed to stand up on the board, the thrill of it exhilarating.

As I rode the wave toward the shore, I felt a sense of freedom wash over me, a freedom from the heartbreak, the memories, and everything that had tied me to Steven for so long. I was here, in this moment, with someone who cared about me, and for the first time, I felt like I was moving forward.

When I got back to shore, JJ wrapped me in a hug, spinning me around as Belly clapped and cheered from her spot on the sand.

"See? I told you you'd be amazing," he whispered, kissing my forehead.

"Only because I had the best teacher," I replied, laughing.

As we walked back up the beach, hand in hand, I spotted Steven in the distance, watching us. His expression was complicated, unreadable, but I held my head high, refusing to let him pull me back into that old cycle. I was stronger now. And this summer, I was determined to be my own person, with or without Steven Conklin.