Pretty Girl - Steven Conklin

8

The summer at Cousins Beach had already proven to be full of unexpected twists. It had started out as a typical trip: the warm sun, the salty breeze, the fun of being with family and friends. But for me, things felt different this time. Belly and I had always been close, like sisters who knew each other's secrets, but this summer, there was a growing tension between us that neither of us could ignore.

For a while now, I had been watching Belly from a distance, noticing how her demeanor had changed. The bright spark she used to carry around seemed dimmer. She didn't laugh as easily, and her eyes, which had always been so filled with life, seemed to carry a sadness that was hard to miss. I knew it had to do with Conrad—the endless back and forth, the push and pull between them—but I didn't know how to help. I didn't know how to fix it for her.

Then, on one of those hazy summer afternoons when everything seemed to slow down, I found myself sitting on the porch, watching Belly and a new guy talking near the dock. At first, I couldn't quite place him—tall, dark hair, a confident smile—but something about him caught my attention. His name was Cam, and from the way Belly was laughing with him, I could tell something was different. She was glowing in a way I hadn't seen in weeks. I wasn't sure if it was the attention from a new person or something else entirely, but there was a lightness in her I hadn't seen in a long time.

As I sat there, I couldn't help but feel like an outsider, like I wasn't entirely sure where my place was anymore. Belly was always my best friend, but lately, it seemed like things had shifted. Maybe it was because of the way Conrad had been acting, pulling away when Belly needed him the most. Maybe it was the realization that our lives were changing, and we couldn't go back to how things used to be.

When Belly spotted me watching, she waved me over, her smile wide and infectious, the way it used to be when we were younger, before the complications of growing up started creeping in.

"Hey, Dee!" she called, patting the ground beside her as she sat down. "Come meet Cam."

I walked over and gave Cam a polite smile, extending my hand. "Hey, Cam. I'm Delilah, Belly's best friend."

Cam smiled back, his expression warm and easy. "Nice to meet you, Delilah. I've heard a lot about you."

I shot Belly a look, and she laughed awkwardly, clearly not expecting him to say that. "I, uh, didn't tell him too much," she explained.

I raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, sure."

Belly rolled her eyes playfully, but I could tell that her attention was already fully focused on Cam again, the two of them sharing an inside joke that made me feel like an intruder in their moment.

"So, what's the story, Cam?" I asked, deciding to make myself more comfortable in this new dynamic.

"I just moved to town," Cam explained, leaning back against the dock post. "I'm staying with my aunt for a few weeks. Thought I'd check out the beach and see what the fuss was about. I'm not really a beach person, but it's growing on me."

Belly looked over at him, her eyes bright with curiosity. "You've never been to the beach?"

Cam shrugged. "Not really. I'm more of a city guy, you know? But I'm starting to get the appeal."

I observed them, not quite sure what to make of it. Belly had always been someone who was fiercely independent and self-contained, but now she was giving this guy all of her attention, laughing at jokes I couldn't hear and asking him questions I wasn't privy to.

"Do you want to go for a swim?" Cam asked, his voice light and carefree.

Belly's face lit up at the suggestion. "Yeah, definitely!"

I glanced down at my phone, seeing the time, and felt a pang of guilt. I had told my mom I'd help her out with a few things around the house, and I had already spent more time than I should have just watching the two of them.

"I'm going to head inside and help out with dinner," I said, standing up. "But I'll catch you later, Belly."

She nodded distractedly, already rising to join Cam. "I'll be back in a bit, Dee!"

As I walked back into the house, I couldn't help but feel conflicted. Was I happy for her, seeing her light up around this new guy? Or was I just scared that the more she became involved with Cam, the farther she'd drift from me? I didn't know the answer, but it didn't stop the thoughts from swirling around in my head.

While Belly and Cam were laughing on the dock, I couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation bearing down on me. I knew Belly was going through something difficult with Conrad, and the last thing she needed was me making things harder for her. But even though I understood her need for space and new distractions, I couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that seemed to have grown between us.

I stood on the porch for a while longer, watching the two of them until my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my heart skipping a beat when I saw the name on the screen.

JJ.

I hadn't heard from him much since we got here. It wasn't that we hadn't spoken—it was just that with everything going on, I hadn't had the energy to really check in. The thought of talking to him right now brought a mix of emotions. JJ had always been my safe space, someone who knew how to make me laugh even in the darkest moments. But now, with all the tension between Belly and Conrad, I couldn't help but wonder where I stood with him.

I hesitated before answering, trying to shake off the nerves that were creeping in.

"Hey, JJ," I said, my voice a little lighter than I felt.

"Delilah! I've been trying to catch you," he said, sounding relieved. "Where are you?"

"I'm on the porch," I replied. "Just... thinking."

"Thinking, huh? That's dangerous. You might hurt yourself with all that deep thought," he teased.

I smiled despite myself. JJ had always known how to make me laugh. He had this effortless way of making everything feel a little lighter. "Yeah, well, if I'm not careful, I might end up overthinking everything. I've got a lot on my mind."

JJ's tone softened. "What's going on? You know you can talk to me about it."

I exhaled, feeling the familiar weight in my chest. "It's just... everything's been changing, you know? With Belly and Conrad, and now there's this new guy, Cam. I don't know what to think of it all."

There was a pause on the other end, like he was letting my words sink in. "You're not sure where you fit in all of this?"

"Exactly," I said, my voice quiet. "I feel like things are shifting, and I don't know if I'm ready for it."

JJ's voice was steady when he replied. "You'll figure it out, Dee. You always do. Just don't forget that you're not alone. I'm here. Whenever you need me."

His words meant more than I could explain. I had always been able to count on JJ, and hearing him say that he was there for me, no matter what, gave me a sense of peace.

"Thanks, JJ," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "You don't know how much I needed to hear that."

"No problem," he said, his tone lightening again. "Now, get off that porch and come find me. We need to get you out of your head for a bit."