1 Step Forward and 3 Steps Back

Susannah looked at the young Belly that was sitting at the pool with a book while she handed her a glass of juice and she quickly accepted it. Belly was feeling nervous to go out with the boys later that evening, but at the same time, Belly felt like she was more part of the gang.

"You must be excited to hang with the boys tonight," Susannah said as Belly had put her book down.

"Guess so, I'm nervous tho," Belly said.

"For what?" Conrad asked as she saw how he and both their brothers came out of the house.

"I haven't done it before," Belly said.

"Come on, Jere, I know what to do," Steven said as the two boys grabbed her and threw her into the pool while yelling 'belly flop!'.

"Really, Steven? Very mature. Can someone help me out?" Belly asked.

"Yesh, I got you," Conrad said as he reached his hand out, Belly grabbing it, and then throwing him into the pool.

Belly laughed as Steven and Jeremiah joined in before Conrad came up.

"Belly," Conrad said as he had grabbed Belly by her arms and pushed her down into the water.

Being pushed underwater, belly didn't feel like she was drowning, but instead she felt like she was free. She had gone up loosening from Conrad's crib as he splashed her with water and both laughed.

"Okay, Conrad, go and take a shower then the three of us can get going," Steven said as Belly looked at her brother.

"Jeremiah isn't coming?" Belly asked.

"No, you're not. You are staying here and that is it," Steven said as Conrad looked at belly and got out of the pool.

"Steven Conklin," Conrad said as he approached the eldest of the Conklin children.

"Your mother asked me to include your sister in our summer activities because she isn't a little kid anymore. Belly is nearly 16, and I think it's high time that we treat her the same as we treat my brother who is the exact same age. Belly, why don't you go and shower to get the chlorine out of your hair and body? We'll wait for you," Conrad said as he threw a towel to the girl.

"Thanks," Belly said.

"And, Bells?" Conrad said as Belly looked at the young man.

"Maybe bring a jacket as well. It can get cold at night, even during the summer," Conrad said as Belly nodded and went inside.

"You can really treat your own sister better than that," Conrad said.

Belly had jumped into the shower as she washed her hair thoroughly with the chlorine in it, and quickly washed her body. After moisturizing, Belly got into a baby pink dress and paired it with some black sandals. She quickly took the hair dryer and gave her hair a quick dry, before she grabbed a jacket and went out of her room. 

"You can really stop acting like a jackass," Conrad said as Steven looked at him and rolled his eyes.

"Is my son mistreating my daughter?" Laurel asked as Susannah looked at the three boys.

"We have a disagreement on how much freedom my mother is giving my sister," Steven said.

"Belly isn't a little kid anymore, Steven, and as her mother, I..."

"Oh, my goodness," Susannah said as Conrad looked at his mother before he had looked behind him where Belly was coming down the stairs.

"You look hot," Conrad said as he twirled Belly around and she smiled.

"Stop flirting with my sister. But you look good. There is nothing worse than you two together that I can think about," Steven said as Belly looked at her brother and quickly shook her head.

"Can we get going?" Belly asked.

"Yeah, let's go. You look amazing, don't let him get you down," Conrad whispered as Belly smiled.