𝐌 𝐀 𝐓 𝐈 𝐋 𝐃 𝐀 ; 𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫

𝟏𝟎: 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫

𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

"Ok you're doing great, just keep going straight ok?" Belly nods.

"Ok."

"So you excited to see Taylor?" She bites her lip and nods slowly.

"Um yeah," I stare at her.

"That does not sound very excited." I laugh as she sighs.

"Look, Taylor is my best friend in the whole world, but you know how she is. It's like a hurricane.."

"Hurricane Taylor." I ad as we chuckle.

"Exactly. And you know, whenever she's around I feel like a side character, which usually I don't mind, but-"

"But today is your birthday Belly. You're the main character not her." I assure and she smiles.

"Yeah thanks Jere." Sue suddenly swerves and I grip the passenger side door.

"Um Bells, I think we're gonna need a second lesson.."

"And a third lesson and a fourth lesson." She sighs as we both laugh.

❀❀❀

𝐓𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐲'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕:

Three loud voices come barreling through the door as I'm helping Susannah with lunch.

"You wish you were dating me Jeremey. Those abs aren't doing you much yet huh?" Taylor retorts. They walk to the kitchen and she sees me.

"I'm actually seeing someone for your information." Jere replies and I freeze.

"What? Who!?" Belly asks. He shrugs.

"None of your business." He walks away and I focus on the girls.

"Taylor," I greet her with a slight hug. Taylor and I have always had a slight awkward tension.

We were civil and nice. Close to a certain extent. But I mainly did it for Belly. I always thought she had a bit of a strong personality which could get in the way of things, but one thing I always loved about her, she stuck by her friends side no matter what.

"Tilly, you look hot." She looks me up and down.

"The same could be said about you." I laugh.

"We're going for a swim, wanna come?" Belly asks and I nod.

"I'll join you guys after I finish making the lemonade." I smile. Susannah laughs.

"Don't worry honey, I got it." I frown.

"Are you sure?" She nods.

"Go have fun." I smile and nod. The three of us walk upstairs to our rooms and change.

I change into a dark blue tie up bikini set and take my hair out of the ponytail that it had been tied in for the past three hours. Running my fingers through my hair, I take my jewelry off. I grab a towel from the drawer and as I'm about to leave I spot a box on my desk.

The box is wrapped in a white shiny paper and there's a thin, elegant bow on it. I raise my eyebrows in confusion. I pick up the box and see a small 'J' written at the very bottom corner. Jeremiah.

I tear through the paper and see a cassette tape. There's a barcode on it. I scan it and my phone opens up Spotify. It's a playlist of all of our favorite songs mixed into one. A small note is taped to the cassette.

Tills,
Don't worry I also burned the playlist onto the cassette too. I know you're old school like that sometimes so now you have two copies :) Happy early birthday btw <3

Jere

It's a brown cassette with small flower doodles around it and the barcode is taped to the front. The past few years I would find a surprise present in my room at some point during the summer. Jere always gave me an early birthday present since we couldn't be together for the real day. Then on Christmas, his present would arrive at the door. But for my birthday he loved being here to give it to me.

Last year, he got me these pair of shoes I had been wanting since freshman year. The year before that he got us matching moonstone bracelets. Which I loved, but sucked because every time I have to out-do him in giving presents and my idea lost is running low.

I put the tape down, promising myself I'll listen to it later and head down to the pool. Belly and Taylor were already in the water. They were playing chicken. Taylor on Steven's shoulders and Belly on Jere's. Of course Taylor and Steven were arguing, which made it easy for Belly to push Taylor off.

Surfacing from the water she groaned. "Steven! Why did you let me fall??" I set my stuff down and sit at the edge of the pool. Jere sets Belly down and she continues to watch the cat fight while he swims to me. Before he can say anything Nicole and Conrad walk in.

"Hey guys!" She smiles, happiness evident in her eyes.

"Hey Nicole!" I wave.

"Hey!" Belly greets.

"Happy birthday Belly!"

"Thanks!"

"Were you guys playing chicken?" She asked pointing around. Conrad stays silent and avoids eye contact with anyone.

"Yeah it was Taylor's idea. She's my best friend from back home. She's just busting for the weekend." Nicole nods.

"Hey I'm Taylor." Her face remains expressionless, but I can tell she has some grudges to both Nicole and Conrad.

"That's cute." Awkwardness fills the air.

"So, you guys wanna play a real game?" Belly asks. We nod.

"Yea, let's do it!"

"Sounds good."

"Yeah."

"Tills, you playing?" Belly asks.

"Yeah, she is." Jeremiah answers for me. He yanks me into the pool as I scream and my body submerges in the water.

"Jeremiah!"