Another Summer | C.F

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ADDISON ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

I didn't even notice when I fell asleep. I feel terrible. I have a headache and feel hungover, but it's only because of the lack of sleep. Looking in the mirror, I can see dark circles under my eyes, and I feel and look terrible.

I leave the room when I hear some voices in the hall. There, I see Jere and Belly talking. Everything seems normal until I notice that Belly is only wearing a towel.

"Sorry to interrupt, Belly, but please go get dressed." They didn't notice me there until they heard my voice, and Belly immediately obeyed and went back into the room.

"Relax, Adds, we're just talking," Jere tries to calm me down.

"Well, you guys can talk when my little sister is fully dressed."

"We were just talking."

"I know, but Jere, you are my best friend, which means I know you. So the best thing to do is what I just did."

"What do you mean by that?"

"That you like to show affection to a lot of people?"

"Yeah, but you know I would never hurt her, right?"

"Of course, Jere, but please try to understand me. I know Belly has grown up and all that, but she is still my little sister, and I want to protect her at all costs."

"I get it. Hey, everything okay?"

"Yeah."

"Adds, be honest with me. You seem like you didn't sleep at all."

"Nothing happened. I'm okay."

"Did Conrad do something to you?"

"Why do you blame Conrad?"

"Because I overheard your conversation last night in the car, that's why."

"We talked last night when you were talking with Belly, and now it's completely over. I asked him to stay away from me."

"Even though I always imagined you guys were going to end up together, it was the right choice to make, Adds."

"Yeah, I hope so." He hugged me, and I hugged him back. This was everything I needed right now - someone to hug me without asking me anything, just to give me support. "I saw you guys kissing yesterday."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Two things, first, don't act like you don't know. Jere, I know you, and second, gosh, you sounded just like your brother."

"Let's not talk about him."

"Sorry, I can't help it."

"Let's spend the day together. We could do something with Belly and Steven."

"I'd love that. And don't change the topic. You guys kissed yesterday at the pool."

"Yeah, that was what we were talking about until you interrupted us."

"Sorry about that."

"It's okay. I get that you were just trying to protect her."

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"Just for existing. I don't know what I would do without you." He hugged me harder and kissed me on the top of my head.

"That's what best friends are made for. I will always be here for you."

"Are you dating my sister?" I can feel him laughing.

"I don't know. I mean, we just kissed once."

"And she still has to talk to Cam?"

"I was starting to like Cam Cameron, and now she will dump him?"

"I mean, you could tell her to continue with Cam, and you could forget about being with her."

"Good point. She needs to dump him right now." Now it was my turn to laugh.

"If you hurt her, I will forget about our friendship, and I will kill you."

"Don't worry, I would never. And sorry, but you are so tiny; you could never hurt me."

"Jere," I told him as I pulled away from the hug, "You've never seen me angry. Maybe I'm tiny, but I could kill you if I got angry."

"Okay, I will never hurt her, I promise."

"That's better."

"Do you want to go to the pool?"

"Yeah, I'll go ask Belly, and you could ask Steven."

"See you there."

I went back to the room and saw Belly standing near the door.

"Were you spying on us?" I asked her.

"Yes... I mean, no."

"Belly, you need to learn how to lie." We both laughed. "What do you want to know?"

"How did you know I wanted to ask you about something?"

"I know you so well. Now ask."

"What happened between Conrad and you?"

"It's a long story. Do you want to hear all of it?"

"Nope, just about what happened yesterday in his room."

"And the rest?"

"Jere told me the rest."

"Oh, so now you ask Jere before me?"

"No, we were talking, and the topic came up, and he told me."

"So now Jere is gossiping?"

"He's always loved gossiping."

"Yeah, well, basically, Conrad came here yesterday after you went to talk to Jere. He came to apologize, but the same thing happened as always. He was telling me we can't be together, that he isn't good for me, and all that stuff. I told him that I just wanted to stay away from him because I am so tired of that situation. He asked me to wait for him, but I told him that I just wanted to be happy, and he was hurting me."

"Adds, how do you feel?"

"Awful. I want to be with him so badly, but I can't do this to myself. I just can't."

"Everything is going to be fine. If he is the right choice, you guys will find a way to be together."

"I hope so. Now let's change the topic."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Your kiss with Jeremiah." Then she told me everything about their kiss. We talked for a few more minutes and then planned to go to the pool with Steven and Jere. We spent almost the entire day like that, just hanging around, talking, and laughing like we used to. This really helped me. During the entire day, Conrad never came to my mind, not even once. Until dinner, when I saw him for the first time today. At the table, I was next to Jere and my mom. He was in front of me. I tried to avoid his presence, and he did exactly what I asked him to do, stay away from me. He didn't even talk to me, but I could feel him looking at me.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I would never let Conrad ruin it. After he finished eating, he went straight to his room, and the rest of us went to watch a movie. It was like the old times, except without Conrad. But I pushed that thought aside and continued enjoying the night with my friends and family.