What A Stupid Name - Steven ConklinxOc

-01-

Nothing. That's what I had left. How could they do this? I was five years old. Three men were responsible for the death of my parents and my infant brother - and they ran away like cowards. But why? I would like to know too. The police showed up and fire fighters found me put away and hidden in a closet. My only remaining family was my father's sister, Susannah Fisher.

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-Present Day-

Ever since my parents were killed on the night of Valentines Day, my birthday, I was sent to live with my aunt and my two cousins - Conrad and Jeremiah. They're the sweetest boys ever, and treat me like their own sister. 

Well that may be because they really think we're siblings. 

I am the same age as Conrad, so Susannah told everyone we were twins - including him. She even tried to help me forget my birthday, but as much as she tried, I could never forget the loud bangs and screaming that fogged my mind when I held anxiety. 

But for the sake of everyone else, I will keep it in. Especially this summer. I can't afford to hurt everyone else. Especially for Mom because of her illness. I need at least one last summer to go perfectly, for her, and my brothers.

"Alright Fisher Family! It's time to get up!" Mom yelled from the kitchen of our sun-lit house. 

Today we're going to our beach house at Cousins Beach, where our family and the Conklins spend the whole summer, stress free. 

When we finally arrived, I pulled my suitcase up the stairs and dropped the handle onto the floor. I basked in front of the large window that faced the calm ocean. I breathed in the familiar scent of the green painted walls in the bedroom I made many memories in. 

I put on my sheets and comforter and made up Isabel Conklin, or Belly's room next.

Once I was done, I sat at the kitchen island and took in my surroundings, a cup of water in my hand.

"Whatcha thinkin' about?" A voice came out from behind me, scaring the shit out of me.

"Jeremiah! You scared me!" I laughed, lightly shoving him away from me. 

"What do you think of a muffin run?" He prompted, twirling the keys to his jeep through his fingers. 

I put a hand over my mouth, I had forgotten about those! "Of course! Oh I'm so glad you remembered that, I'm starving."

"Well then we better get going."

The drive to the bakery was so nostalgic I couldn't help but smile. As we walked in, a cute boy stood behind the counter with a small smile, welcoming us in.

"Hi, how can I help you two?"

"I'll get two muffins please, one blueberry and the other mango." I smiled awkwardly.

"Ill have a banana nut muffin, please." Jeremiah said, pulling out his card.

"Alright that will be 12.95, and do you want to donate a few cents to the WIldAid Charity for starving animals?" 

"Uh, no thank you." Jeremiah said hesitantly, not processing what he had just said. I had to cover my mouth from laughing.

"Okay... Your order will be ready in a few minutes, do you want that for take out?" He asked now facing me. 

"Yes please."

"Great, can I get a name and a phone number with that? For the order, of course." He smiled and  bit his lip a little too happily. Why not have a bit of fun. Before Jeremiah could say anything, I smiled sweetly. "Of course! My name's Aria, that's 314-1592" I winked, genuinely smiling from confidently reciting the first seven digits of pi.

"Thank you! I mean, I'll just get your order ready now." His lips had turned into a smile so big he could've held a world record. He put the three muffins into a paper bag and slipped a bag of plain donut holes in too. Followed by the worst attempted wink ever. 

I tried to smile as I grabbed the bag and followed Jeremiah back to the car. "Al, What was that?!?" Jere laughed, snatching the bag out of my hands.

"I couldn't help it, the opportunity came perfectly." I smiled, "Pass me the keys, I can drive us back. And don't you dare eat that blueberry muffin, it's for Connie." 

"Okay, Okay, I won't, don't worry mom." He rolled his eyes playfully.

"We're home!" I sung, walking into the kitchen, where Mom and Conrad were talking.

"We got you guys something." I took out the blueberry muffin and placed it on a napkin, sliding it over to Conrad. He looked over at it skeptically, then looked at me. I mirrored his looks. "Oh, relax it won't ruin your so called 'abs,' I got the less sweet option."

"Thanks." He rolled his eyes playfully.

"And for you Mom, I got you plain donut holes, your favorite."

"Oh, stop lying, the boy thought you were 'cute' and somehow gave you Mom's favorite." He shook his head with a smile. "He asked for her number HAHA-"

"Oh yeah, well at least I wasn't the one who refused to donate five cents to an animal shelter!"

"Mom! I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying, he kept checking out my sister!" 

"Sure. That's a great excuse, tell it to the starving dogs, Jere." I shook my head, pretending to be ashamed of him.

"Jeree, how could you!" Conrad laughed, for the first time since April.

Mom's eyes lit up at the sight of his smile. "No need to fight over one boy you two, I know many bachelors from the club who would love to get to know you two." Mom wiggled her eyebrows, taking a bite out of a donut hole. 

Later that evening, the three of us went down to the beach, with nothing but our swim suits and towels. After hours of swimming, we sat on the beach, watching the sunset with Mom. She came down with a picnic basket full of sandwiches and lemonade, and set a chair down not too far from the ocean, at a distance where she could sometimes dip her toes into the cool water.

"I think this summer is going to be different." I thought out loud, to nobody in particular. 

"Oh yeah? Why do you think that?" Connie asked, as we sat in the water. He was sat on his surf board and I was swaying in the water next to him. Jere must of heard us talking and popped his head out the water, pulling his snorkel off. 

"I don't know I can just feel it.." I couldn't help but feel sadness swell up in my stomach, the feeling slowly rising. I laughed worriedly, "Y'know what, I must be hungry let's go eat those sandwiches Mom made." The two made sounds of agreements and we swam back to shore.

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