Everybody but Belly is up and in the kitchen, the girl soon coming downstairs.
"Morning, everyone." Belly greets.
They all greet her, wishing her happy birthday -- aside from Conrad. Belly laughs, accepting the hug from Susannah.
"There's the birthday girl." The blonde woman gushes. "Looking like a vision in floral. Happy birthday."
"Happy sweet 16, Bells." Jeremiah says, hugging her.
"Happy birthday." Tatum grins, hugging her best friend.
"Now Belly Button's getting old finally." Steven comments. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks, everyone." Belly says.
"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Laurel hugs her daughter.
"Thanks, mom." She says.
"Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready." Laurel smiles.
"Actually, I'm not really, uh, hungry." Belly says.
"Oh." Laurel mutters.
"Shall we open gifts?" Susannah suggests.
"Oh, you're gonna love mine." Jeremiah promises.
~ ~ ~
They're sitting around in the living room and watch as Belly unwraps her gifts. She unwraps the first gift, it being from her mother, holding the book.
"It's a first edition." Laurel informs. "I got it from a rare book dealer."
"Thanks, mom." Belly smiles.
"Turn to the bookmarked page." Laurel instructs. "It's your favorite poem." She tells her best friend.
"Oh, yeah." Belly smiles. "I remember Susannah teaching us to recite this. "For whatever we lose...""
""...Like a you or a me"" Jeremiah joins in.
""It's always ourselves we find in the sea."" The five teens recite.
"Thank you. I love it." Belly says.
"You're welcome." Laurel smiles.
"Okay, open mine now, Belly." Susannah gives her a small box. Belly rips the paper off and opens the box to reveal the pearl necklace.
"Oh, wow. They're gorgeous. Thank you, Susannah." The woman sits next to her.
"My mom gave me these pearls for my sweet 16." Susannah says, putting the necklace on her.
"Oh, so--" Belly looks at Tatum.
"Not a pearl person. I'm cool with it." The blonde assures, Belly softly smiling.
"Radiant, isn't she?" Susannah asks.
"They look great on you, sweetheart." Laurel says making Belly smile.
"Here." Tatum hands Belly a wrapped box.
Belly unwraps it and takes the lid off, smiling at the cute tops.
"Thanks, Tates." Belly smiles. "I love them."
"Oh, I'm next." Jeremiah gives Belly his gift.
"Thank you." She opens the present.
"It's a good luck charm to help you pass your driving test." Jeremiah says. Belly puts the charm on her one bracelet and shakes her wrist around.
"Perfect." She says. "Thank you." She tells him.
"Think fast, Belly." Steven tosses his gift at her.
"What?" She really just catches it since it lands on her lap.
"Steven." Laurel chides making Tatum snicker.
Belly unwraps it and holds the long sleeve up.
"Wow, Steven, I can't believe you actually spent money on me." Belly remarks, holding up the Princeton sweater up.
"Relax. I just didn't want you stealing mine next year when I get in." Steven retorts.
"I didn't know you were still considering Princeton." Laurel says.
"You know, I-I think I'm gonna apply for some scholarships, and dad thinks I can get some financial aid." Steven says.
"That's cool." Tatum comments.
"Yeah." Steven nods. "I-I don't know. I'll see if I get in."
"Okay. Um..." Laurel trails off.
"Conrad, uh, do you want to give Belly your present?" Susannah asks.
They all look at Conrad.
"Sorry, I forgot." Conrad quietly says.
"Uh, that's... that's cool. Um... I wasn't really expecting anything anyway, so..." Belly forces a smile.
"Oh, so I got to go. Um, I promised Cleveland that I'd show him some knots today, so..." Conrad says, walking out. "Happy birthday, Belly."
Tatum gets up, quickly chasing after her eldest brother.
"Hey." She stops him outside. "What about that necklace?"
"What necklace?" Conrad asks. Tatum gives him a look.
"You know what necklace." She says. "The one you tried to lie about when I found it on your dresser."
"It's nothing. Forget it exists." Conrad says.
"Con--"
"It's nothing." Conrad tells her, walking off. Tatum rolls her eyes and goes back inside.
YOU ARE READING
summer nights, the summer i turned pretty
Fanfiction[ the summer i turned pretty -- seasons 1-3 ] I DO NOT own TSITP, any of the show's characters or storylines. I ONLY own my OCs and their storylines.
