tidal wave

~ chapter 10 ~

After the Deb Tea Party Bre wanted to stay well away from Belly. She didn't want to make matters worse but of course, today was Belly's birthday so couldn't stay away from her.

Currently, she was sitting downstairs reading her book. Her current read was Fault In Our Stars, She'd read it a hundred times before but it was her favourite read so Bre didn't think twice about bringing it with her.

Conrad, Jeremiah, Laurel Susannah and Steven were also in the Kitchen preparing for Belly's birthday. Usually, Belly and Bre would get ready together but not this year. It felt weird.

"Hello" Belly said walking into the kitchen with a huge smile on her face.

"Happy Birthday Bells," Jeremiah said running up to Belly and hugging her.

"Thank you," She said smiling.

"Happy Birthday Belly" Susannah said, but all Bre could think was this might be Belly's last birthday with Susannah. Susannah and Belly hugged.

"Happy Birthday Bean," Laurel said also pulling Belly into a hug.

"Thank you, everyone"

"Happy Birthday," Bre said, She didn't want to hug Belly as they were still not talking but she didn't want to be distant for her Birthday.

"Thanks" Bre received a small smile from Belly.

"Your Mickey Mouse pancakes are almost done," Laurel said. It was a traditional one and I had started for Belly's fifth birthday.

"I'm good" Belly said.

"Present time?" Susannah asked.

"I'll go first," Jeremiah said getting up and rushing over to the living room where everyone else had put their presents.

"Here you go Bells," Jeremiah said handing her a gift box. It was a key ring for her keys when she got her permit.

"Wow thank you," Bellt said.

"It's for your keys when you get your license," Jeremiah said with a big smile.

"Thank you," Bellt said smiling.

"Here's mine," Steve said throwing a present her way.

"Thank you?" Belly said confused. It was a Princeton Hoodie.

"So you don't take mine when I get in" Steven announced. All Bre could think was Laurel was going to feel abandoned.

"I didn't know you were still thinking of applying there," Laurel asked.

"I've applied to scholarships so we will see" Steven answered.

Susannah passed Belly her gift. It was a necklace. A beautiful piece to match Belly's Deb dress. Laurel looked at Bre to see her reaction to the comment but she was just as surprised as everyone else. 

"I got it for my sweet sixteen, along with the bracelet that I gave Bre for her sixteenth birthday" Susannah smiled she was always so nice to both girls.

"Thank you so much, it's beautiful," Belly said smiling.

"My gift is there Bean," Laurel says pointing at the box.

"It's the first edition of that book you love to read a hundred times," Laurel said, It was the Hunger Games signed and annotated.

"Wow thanks, Mom," Belly said.

"Now Bre" Jeremiah said.

"Here," Bre said handing Belly a box.

Bre had been saving up all her money all year to buy Belly a ring that had a sea shell on it engraved with the coordinates of the summer house. She'd also gotten Belly a book about being an amazing sister but she forgot that was in there.