The moment Bre woke up, she was in the warm arms she once called home, the arms she took for granted. But then it hit her. They fell asleep outside. It was the cool air hitting her as she opened her eyes. She turned to look at Conrad, peacefully sleeping. It was the most sleep the pair had gotten in months. It was something about being back in Cousins and together.
"Come on, wake up!" Bre said, shaking him awake, Conrad, who was the same as Bre, woke up, forgetting for a second everything that had happened.
"Oh shit, we overslept" Conrad said jumping right up and ignoring the fact they were asleep together. Bre sat there watching him leave, and her heart ached a little. Maybe it was all in her head, and he didn't want her back all along.
"Breanna, are you going to come with me?" Conrad said poking his head back outside seeing Bre sitting there zoning out.
"Oh yeah, coming" Bre said, smiling, reaching for Conrad's hand that he'd left extended for her. It was the whirlwind of the night, when they entered the kitchen, Belly was there once again with breakfast wraps from the cafe a few streets over. Then there were Steven, Jeremiah and Finn. They were all in a heated debate about what sauce went with breakfast, but it all made Bre smile. She turned to look at Con, and he had the same look on his face. They were home.
"I bet you won't miss this", Conrad joked, squeezing Bre's hand. They both didn't want to let go, because for the moment, they could be themselves with no pressure.
"Oh, trust me, I won't. Never taking this for granted again," Bre smiled. The next hour or so was filled once again with the same laughs that the summer house had been plagued with many years before. There was hope in the air. Because they were all together.
The past year, they had all been so worried about so many things, they took for granted the things that had been so important all along. Which was each other. Laurel had joined them shortly after Bre and Conrad had woken up. But for Laurel, she knew the kids getting along and having each other was worth any argument or anything that meant they were all together again.
"Now, I hate to ruin the party, but Conrad, if you want to make it back to Brown for your final, you might have to leave now", Laurel said, smiling, bringing the kids out of their never-ending laughter.
"Ugh, that is true" Jeremiah smiled, all the boys looked at one another before pairing up to carry the girls out to the pool.
"I swear to god, if you ruin my shoes, I'll kill you", Bre shouted, looking down at her dirty Converse that had been through everything with her.
"Wait a sec", Conrad smiled, pulling them off her feet. Everyone booed when Conrad did it, but Bre smiled. And that's all he cared about.
It wasn't just the cold water that made Bre jump; it was also the rush of all the boys jumping in too. The summer tradition had never missed a year. They'd just added more people to it.
"Now we do have to go" Laurel smiled from the edge of the pool, watching them all climb out dripping with water.
"Belly, are you coming with us or going with Mom?" Bre asked, walking slightly ahead of Steven and Conrad.
"Not sure, I want to go with Jeremiah", Belly smirked. Bre saw the way she looked at Jere, but also the way she still looked at Conrad. She knew it was her first crush, but a part of her always hated it.
"You're over Conrad, right?" Bre asked so bluntly, it made Belly laugh.
"Oh god, yes, he's like yours. He's just like a big brother now," Belly said, laughing, and for the first peaceful time, it felt right. She and Conrad are together.
"Mom, can Belly come with me, Conrad and Jeremiah?" Bre said, running up to Laurel to ask.
"Sure, but she has to be back by tomorrow night, if you're still going to volleyball camp" Laurel smiled. The whole group erupted when Belly nodded. It was the first time Belly had spoken about something that made her genuinely smile.
"Well, for now, Conklin-Fishers, this is goodbye. I'm gonna spend some time with my parents. And then, Bre, I'll see you in Cali next year, and hopefully you'll be Conrad?" Finn said, smiling. Bre pulled him into a big hug.
"Thank you", Bre whispered into his ear. The group said their farewells before heading to the cars. Laurel had never been so proud of Bre, and the way she was handling herself in situations. It was times she forgot how mature and confident she'd become since going to college. A confidence she once saw in her father.
"Be safe, and please message me updates" Laurel smiled, getting into her car. Jeremiah and Belly sat in the front of Conrad's car, and Conrad and Bre sat in the back. Bre automatically snuggled into Conrad's shoulder.
"You do know I have to study right?" Conrad said smugly, he didn't care about her head being on his shoulder, if anything he preferred her head resting there. He just wanted to see her smile again.
"Mhmm and I'm going to sleep" Bre smiled closing her eyes. The smell of his aftershave and the warmth from the crook of his neck were enough to send Bre to sleep. It was the most peace anyone had seen her in.
The journey to Brown started off like any road trip, Bre asleep, then Belly and Jere screaming songs in the front while Conrad was trying to concentrate.
But none of them would change it for the world.
By the time they'd all made it to Brown, Bre was awake and quizzing Conrad. They were both so in the zone, anyone looking in would think Bre was also sitting the exam.
"Are you gonna wait for me?" Conrad said taking Bres' hand as they got out of the car. Bre nodded of course she was going to wait.
"Is it okay if Jere and I journey over to Finch?" Belly asked the pair, and they all discussed the plans to help Con pack his room up as well.
"Can I always start packing for you? I've got nothing else to do" Bre shrugged her shoulders.
"If you don't mind, it means we can get you guys back quicker" Conrad laughed, They all went in their separate directions. Jeremiah and Belly are heading over to Finch and then Conrad is going to his final. And then Bre is going to Conrad's room.
By the time Bre had made it to Conrad's room, she was tired again. But that didn't stop her she was packing things into the boxes he'd had under his bed.
It was a moment in that room that Bre realised what she was doing and where she wanted to go. Like something in her switched. Maybe it was her finally having a minute to process what had happened or the truth finally boiling down.
But she knew exactly who she was.
And that was Breanna Marise Conklin.
YOU ARE READING
tidal wave
Fanfictionanother summer in cousins they all thought but they didn't know it would be last one as they all loved.
