𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫.

025.

laurel quietly opened the side door, slipping off her shoes to avoid making noise. unaware of cindy's presence at the kitchen island, she jumped slightly as cindy spoke, "hi."

"jesus," laurel gasped, bumping into the cabinets. cindy chuckled, "what are you doing?"

"just having a snack before i go catch the fireworks," cindy responded, picking at the dry cereal. "where were you?"

laurel sighed softly, closing a cabinet as she grabbed food for herself. "just went for a drive. did you have fun today?"

"yeah, but all i want is to go back in time so that i didn't barge in on conrad in the shower," cindy scrunched her nose.

"was he naked?" laurel asked, slightly amused.

"no, he was wearing a bathing suit. ugh. but i did tell him that he looks very romantic with wet hair," cindy explained, embarrassed.

laurel chuckled, shaking her head as she teased her, "i hope matt wasn't there for that."

"thank god, no," cindy laughed. "i'm never drinking again."

"i'm gonna make hangover soup. you can have it for breakfast," laurel announced.

"i don't know if i feel... i feel like... watching the fireworks with matt. did you feel them with mr. conklin, at least in the beginning?" cindy asked, seeking advice.

"what i felt for him was... steady. it was like a cozy campfire that would keep me warm all through the night," laurel explained, a small smile playing on her lips.

"but that wasn't enough?" cindy furrowed her brows, observing the older woman.

laurel nodded without hesitation, "i guess not."

"have you ever felt fireworks for anybody?" cindy questioned, searching for answers.

"once, but it was never going to work out. the fire would've burned us both alive," laurel recalled, swallowing past the bittersweet memory.

"but it... it didn't work out with mr. conklin either, so how... how do you know when it's the right person?"

"you'll know when you want to be with that person no matter what," laurel advised, her voice filled with wisdom. "too hot, too safe... you won't care. it'll just feel right."

"hmmm," cindy hummed, taking in her words, her eyes flicking down to her untied bow. she smirked and said, "um, your bow is untied. love you, laur."

the fourth of july had always been about the fireworks. as cindy walked out of the house, the vibrant colors filled the sky, but her eyes were drawn to conrad, who stood alone at the docks.

she walked down the creaky wooden docks, joining him silently. "so... what a day? also, i think laurel just got railed."

conrad immediately snapped his eyes to her, laughing loudly. "what?! with who?"

"i don't know," cindy squeezed her eyes shut as she chuckled. their laughter faded, and a comfortable silence settled as the fireworks continued to light up the night.

"cindy, about the necklace..." conrad turned to her, appearing nervous.

"um, i'm sorry i brought it up," cindy interrupted.

conrad shook his head, their eyes locked on each other as they turned towards the water. "no, no. i, um... i did get it for you."

"then why didn't you give it to me?" cindy asked, her tone confused.

he parted his lips, his brows

furrowing as he averted his gaze. "i don't know. i got embarrassed, i guess."

"why?" cindy's voice was barely above a whisper, filled with curiosity.

conrad's cheeks felt warm as searched for the right words. "cindy, you don't know the effect you have on people."

"the effect on people? i don't... i don't know what you're talking about," cindy stammered.

he began leaning in, and so was she.

it was finally happening, she was gonna kiss conrad fisher.

their lips met in a gentle, hesitant kiss, the sound of the fireworks echoing in the background. the world seemed to fade away as they lost themselves in that intimate moment.

as the kiss deepened, conrad's arms wrapped around cindy, pulling her closer to him. they both felt the intensity of their emotions, the fireworks within their hearts matching the ones illuminating the sky above them.

when they finally pulled away, their eyes met. conrad's voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke, "i've wanted to do that for a long time."

cindy's heart raced in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. "me too," she confessed, her voice barely audible amidst the booming fireworks.

what they didn't notice was that the youngest fisher was there staring at them with hurt in his eyes.

he came to show the fireworks to cindy, so they could launch them but instead he found the two.

jeremiah didn't like belly, he had always been crazy about cindy.

but it was always going to be conrad.

author's note, the jj fanfic is out make sure to add it to your library, i'll be publishing chapters weekly