tidal wave

• chapter eleven •

"Finley, what are you up to today?" Jeremiah asked as they all were sitting in the Kitchen. Bre was writing some of her essays and Belly was reading a book. The boys though were just on their phones.

"Well I was thinking of going surfing" Finn said looking around at everyone who perked up.

"That sounds fun" Bre said smiling, she and Finn always go surfing together so she enjoyed going with him.

"We have to call our Dad today" Conrad smirked from the entrance of the kitchen where he was standing. Bre looked up from her laptop to see him standing there. He had an attitude with Finn even more than usual and she didn't know why.

"When is the call?" Bre asked smiling, she'd noticed Conrad's attitude settle when she spoke.

"In about an hour, but if you guys want to go surfing I can call him by myself" Conrad said walking into the Kitchen now.

"No I want to be there" Jere said perking up.

"I want to be there too if that's okay?" Bre asked, she didn't know where she stood with him.

"Yeah it's okay" Conrad smiled.

"Well if this is a family affair I can come back later. Pizza and a movie sound good?" Finn asked.

"Ooo that sounds good!" Belly said taking her eyes off her book.

"Sounds good Finn" Jere said smiling.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" Bre asked.

"Uh yeah sure," Finn said getting up.

"Bre if you want more time with your essay I can drop him off" Jere said standing up.

"Yeah if that's okay, I've nearly finished the introduction," Bre said, as soon as Jere and Finn had left the room Bre put her head down to writing.

"I'm gonna go call Taylor," Belly said heading upstairs leaving Conrad and Bre alone again.

For a few moments, there was a comfortable silence in the room. Conrad sat down across from her at the table and Bre had continued writing not taking notice.

"Is this for your final?" Conrad asked, he sounded interested which he usually did but it had been a while since someone was interested in her college work.

"It is indeed, but I have another essay to write for one I missed a month ago" Bre said not looking up from her screen. She didn't want to make eye contact with Conrad for fear of what the conversation would lead to.

"Oh..." Conrad said pulling out his phone and going on it.

Soon after Bre closed down her laptop and was looking at Conrad trying to work him out.

"What's the plan with your dad then?" Bre asked. She wanted to help save the summer house then she could go back to her life in California.

"Gonna ask him for my trust, and if he's heard back from the Lawyers," Conrad said putting his phone down.

"Um I meant to say this yesterday but I still have some of my Dad's inheritance left that we could put towards the house" Bre said awkwardly. Conrad's face changed from his normal face to upset.

"You shouldn't use that for this, your dad saved it for your future" Conrad said looking down at his phone.

"Yeah, but this is more important. It's Susannah's summer house. He'd want me to save this place" Bre said, she was thinking of how many memories she could've had here with her dad. And how he and Susannah made memories too here so she needed to help save the house for them.

Conrad looked at the girl in front of him as the girl he'd known his whole life. A girl is willing to risk everything for those she cares for. Someone who he'd truly missed.

"Hey Laurel I'm getting off the plane now, so I'll get a taxi to the hotel" Bre said hanging up the phone. Every call she made to Laurel had gone to voicemail. Since Susannah had passed everyone had gone into isolation including Laurel. She didn't know if she'd even get on the plane but something within her made her.

She'd been going back and forth whether to go to the funeral or not but knew she had to for herself and Belly and Steven. She'd spoken to Jere every day since Susannah had passed away. And it was the one thing that had kept her going.

Bre was trying to get a Cab when she heard a car honking at her. She turned around to see Belly and Steven sitting in the front seats. She didn't even think just headed straight for them, pulling behind her the carry-on suitcase she'd bought with her.

Belly had got the car to hug her and she was welcomed with Bre breaking down into tears.

"I missed you," Bre said. Belly didn't say any ring but hugged her back and helped her into the car. The Car journey to the Hotel was just catching up on everything that they'd all be doing and Steven talking about getting into Princeton.

"So how's Mom been?" Bre asked as Steven parked the car. Steven and Belly looked at each other and looked back at Bre like it was bad news.

"She's her usual self, trying to keep herself busy," Belly said. They all got ready for the funeral in silence. Steven was listening to music through his AirPods, Belly was watching TikTok and Bre was overthinking.

"What time do we have to be there?" Bre asked, she didn't want to see Conrad it was too soon.

"In an hour," Belly said. Bre didn't know whether to text Conrad or to leave him alone. They hadn't spoken since he left her at the ball, Part of her hated him for it but she understood that he was hurting.

Hey Laurel, I got in okay. With Belly and Steven gonna leave soon!

Bre texted hoping she'd get a response but knew deep down she wouldn't. Something had shifted between Bre and Laurel since Thanksgiving. Bre thought it was because she didn't visit enough or because she didn't have someone to rely on. What hurt Bre the most was when Laurel found out about Conrad leaving Bre she understood Conrad and not Bre.

"Oh Dad is here to drive us" Steven said taking his airpods out. The three siblings put their shoes on and headed to the car. Bre was wearing a dress Susannah had given her from when she was younger. It was a black mini dress with flowers embroidered around the hem. Susannah had given Bre and Belly a lot of her old clothes when she started getting sicker. She'd curled her hair and out half up half down. A hairstyle Susannah had showed her.

Bre's heart was racing the entire time, her chest was heavy and she felt lightheaded. All she could think of was that she had to speak for Susannah, the one thing she was asked to do for the funeral was make a speech. She'd wanted to say something for Susannah and that's what was making her anxious. She didn't want to disappoint her.