𝐌 𝐀 𝐓 𝐈 𝐋 𝐃 𝐀 ; 𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫

𝟏: 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧'𝐬

AGE 12

Tonight Mr. Fisher was taking Steven and Jeremiah on a fishing trip. It would be me, Belly, and Conrad. Although, she would most likely find a way to spend time alone with him somehow. I walk around the house all day, in and out of the rooms, back and forth at the pool. At the end of the day I go to look for Belly.

"Belly?" I knock on her door and enter the room. She's packing up a bag quickly.

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"To the pier with Conrad." She says quietly.

"Is it a daaaate?" I tease.

"Shut it Tilly!!" I burst into giggles as she leaves the room.

Guess I'm on my own today..

❀❀❀

The sun had started to set slowly and the wind was blowing lowly. I get up from my spot on the couch and grab my jacket. Zipping it up, I walk towards the beach. The sand squishes beneath my feet and the waves crash against the rocks. The summer had just started and I was already bored.

I set myself down on the sand, laying on my back. Closing my eyes, I let the peacefulness wash over me. The silence calms me. I hear the pattering of feet and when I open my eyes I see Jeremiah looking at me.

I jump and wrap him in a hug. "Jere-bear!!"

"Tills, no mom this summer?" I shake my head.

"Nope, she's working again," I say sadly. Two fingers then push the corner of my mouth upward into a smile.

"Well, you know what?"

"What?"

"That means unlimited ice cream parties." He whispers, making me giggle.

"You're right!"

"See, you're smiling. I like it when you smile." He pokes my cheek.

"Ew, don't be gross." I stick my tongue out as he and he gets up. He sticks a hand towards me.

"C'mon, let's go make a whirlpool." He says excitedly. I nod my head and take his hand. We run towards the water with smiles plastered on our faces.

AGE 16

"Girls, could you maybe scream a little less please?" Laurel asks.

"PLEASE." Steven groans. Belly and I exchange glances before screaming even louder.

"OHHHHHH YOU CAN'T DO BETTER!!" We laugh hysterically, clutching our stomachs.

"Guys, I want you all to help Susannh this summer ok? More than in the past years. And that means washing your own dish." Laurel explains, staring at Steven.

"Why're you looking at me?? I DO!" He defends.

"Yeah if leaving it on the table is doing it." I scoff, making them laugh.

"I'm serious. We need to do our part."

"We will mom, don't worry." Belly reassures.

❀❀❀

Steven pulls up to the Fisher house and everything looks the exact same as it did last summer. The house had all the windows open and flowers planted at every corner. Laurel and Steven get out as soon as the car is parked and Susannah comes running out. Not long after Jeremiah follows.

My breath catches and I don't even notice. In the span of 10 months, he had changed so much yet stayed exactly the same. Belly gets out of the car a few moments after. Jere immediately picks her up and spins her. They don't stop talking and a part of me smiles for Belly. The other part is a bit jealous. I wish I could've grown up with them like she did.

But the moment Conrad walks onto the lawn I know Belly's mind has gone blank. Jeremiah looks around until he spots me, still in the backseat of the car. I open the door and step out and I feel my whole body lifted off the ground almost instantly.

I too, get spun around by Jeremiah and I can't help but let myself laugh as he does so. He sets me down but doesn't let go. We hold each other close for what feels like forever.

"Look who went back home and then grew up on me." He chuckles and ruffles my hair making me groan.

"Look who finally got his abs back." I tease as he playfully pushes me.

"I missed you you know?"

"Really? Cause I didn't really think about you." I shrug, walking off as he rolls his eyes and laughs.

"Tilly! Is that you?" Susannah squeezes me tight.

"Yep, it's me, Susannah." She holds me at an arm's length and scans my body.

"You look absolutely gorgeous honey.." She says slowly.

"I tell her that every day." Laurel gasps.

"Thanks, really though, I look the same," I explain.

"You do not look the same." Jeremiah exaggerates as he walks past us with Belly's leg in his hands. The Belly Flop.

"Oo they're about to throw Belly, I can't miss this!" I explain running off after them.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

Belly goes flying into the pool with a splash and we all can't help but laugh. I get closer to the edge, watching Belly swim closer.

"Guys, my ankle. I think I sprained it!" She coughs as Conrad gives her a hand. She proceeds to yank him into the pool with her as she swims away trying to escape.

"Belly!!"

As they chase each other around, Steven and Jeremiah walk towards the house and I follow after them. I sit with Susannah at the counter and help her cut lemons for the tea.

After Belly had dragged pool water into the kitchen, me and her took our bags up to our rooms. Hers at the end of the hall and mine on the other end next to Jeremiah and Conrad's.

It may seem like I was lucky to room right next to both of them, but that is wrong. It was quite annoying because I was such a light sleeper. Conrad was always playing some kind of music and guitar very loudly. Jere was just a loud talker and he also snores in his sleep. But he'd never admit it.

I start to fold up my clothes and put them in the right drawers when Jeremiah comes skipping into my room and plops down on the bed.

"Well, that's something I've never seen before." I giggle as he smiles.

"What can I say, I'm a happy person." I shake my head, turning back to my clothes.

"So, let's swim before dinner."

"Ok but, what about Belly? You know she's the Olympic diver between the three of us." I chuckle.

"She's going to the Whale of a Tale with her mom for stock or..something." He trails off, not sure what he was saying.

"So does that mean I can finally beat you at a race without Belly winning by default?" I raise an eyebrow.

He scoffs, "You wish. I'm gonna kick your butt." He gets up from my bed and starts walking out.

"Meet you outside in 10!"