1 Step Forward and 3 Steps Back

She was with her best friend. Moving to Philadelphia as a girl who was half Korean and half white, Belly didn't know how she would make friends. She had thought that no one would go anywhere near her and although she had all the support from her parents and her brother already had a few friends in Philadelphia, she found it hard. She was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia along with her brother, Steven. And her best friend was Taylor Jewel.

Taylor was the first person to stick by Belly and although Taylor was pretty boy crazy, Belly had lived with her best friend for a considered amount of years. Her best friends were Taylor and the Fisher brothers. But this year, a lot was going wrong.

"Belly, you can't stay the same person your whole life. You are going to change. Might as well change everything else as well," Taylor said laying on Belly's bed while Belly was busy with World History.

"I don't have to change my wardrobe, Taylor. Dressing sexier isn't me. I think I am good," Belly said.

"Maybe changing who you hang out with this summer will help," Taylor said as Belly looked shocked at her best friend.

"What does that mean?" Belly asked.

"Conrad Fisher; he's bad news. Rather go for Jeremiah. He is sweet and loving and..."

"Who the hell do you think you are judging Conrad based on what you've only seen over my birthday?" Belly asked.

"I'm your best friend, and I think he's just a bad  boy," Taylor said.

"I don't want you coming down to Cousins this year, and I mean it. I don't want you there for my birthday, I don't want you there for the 4th of July, and I sure as hell don't want you there for the volleyball game. I'll rather ask Conrad to play with me," Belly said.

"Belly..." Taylor said.

"In fact, I think it's better if you leave."

That conversation mid-April was the last conversation that Belly had with Taylor, and to this day, she didn't know what to do about it. Nor did she know if she wanted to do anything about it. Her friendship with Taylor was struggling lately and the longer they knew one another, the more intense their arguments became.

"Belly," Conrad said as he went into her room and saw as she was busy reading a book.

"Someone is here to see you, and you won't be happy about it," Conrad said as Belly exhaled.

"You've got to be kidding me," Belly said as she rushed down stairs to see the chestnut haired girl.

"Tay-Tay, welcome," Jeremiah said as he hugged Taylor.

"Jeremy, hi. Where is Belly?" Taylor asked.

"I thought I told you not to come down this year," Belly said.

"I gave you the time that you needed. I wasn't here for your birthday nor the 4th. The game is this afternoon," Taylor said as Belly saw how Conrad came behind her.

"And there is my partner," Belly said.

"Cinderbelly," Taylor said.

"You're making a mistake in throwing away your friendship with Taylor for something with Conrad which you will never get," Jeremiah said as Belly moved down the stairs and grabbed her things.

"If the two of you have such strong believes with who I'm supposed to end up with, the two of you are perfect for one another," Belly said as she grabbed a set of car keys and went out of the door.

"Can she drive?" Taylor asked.

"Not well," Conrad said as he rushed past the two of them.

"Belly!" Conrad said as Belly looked at him.

"I am so sick of the same argument every..."

"Okay, calm down. Do you want to go and take a drive before the game then?" Conrad asked as Belly nodded.

"Okay, give me those keys. In this state you will roll the car," Conrad said as Belly threw the keys his way.

"Jump in," Conrad said.