1 Step Forward and 3 Steps Back

Belly had pulled away from Conrad looking into his eyes. She smiled as he suddenly stepped back, and she laughed, holding onto his jacket. Both of them were smiling and laughing as they were running through the beach, waves smashing against Belly's feet and for a moment, just for a moment, Conrad remembered that one summer nearly two years ago.

The Conklin's were back at Cousins beach and the summer was there. Belly was now 13 years old and she was finally thinking that she could fit in. Each year where she would visit Cousins with her mother and brother, Steven had thought that Belly should stay at home the first night while the boys went out. This year, Belly wanted to go with, and after fighting back and forward with his mother, Laurel had agreed to let Belly just stay at home. But it came at a price for her daughter who had decided that she would rather stay in her room than watching movies with the moms. Conrad acme into the living room as his mother looked shocked at him.

"Connie, what are you doing here?" Susannah asked as she got up and walked towards her eldest son.

"I don't feel like Steven was being fair towards Belly. Where is she?" Conrad asked. 

"She is mad at me so she is in her room. Conrad you don't have to do this," Laurel said.

"I know. But I want to," Conrad said as he made his way up the stairs.

He had stopped at the door as he saw it was open. He had just stood in front of it while seeing how Belly was sitting on her bed with a book. Conrad could imagine that she was pissed at both her mother and her brother, but he also knew that things couldn't have been easy for Belly. Belly was the only girl between the three guys and although they had very often stated that they would be fine to have Belly between them, Steven appreciated the time he had away from his sister. Conrad smiled as he cleared his throat and saw how Belly looked at him.

"What are you doing here?" Belly asked.

The young girl had pink glasses and braces. Conrad never minded how Belly had looked as he saw her as his little sister, but he did think of her as someone who he could never have fallen for. Belly was like his little sister, and he knew that he would always see her like that.

"Did you really think I would have gone with them after seeing how Steven had upset you?" Conrad said as he sat down next to Belly on the bed.

"I didn't think you cared," Belly said.

"Isabel, of course I care," Conrad said as Belly looked at him.

Her family often called her Bells, it was their thing. And even Jeremiah called her Bells from time. But Conrad always stuck with the name Belly. Now, her first name, she wasn't called ever unless someone was either mad at her or she had majorly messed up. But hearing as Conrad said the name made Belly have butterflies. Steven always said it to her to be annoying. Whenever Jeremiah would call her Isabel, he was frustrated and wanted her to stop. But Conrad said it in a loving way. Like he actually did care.

"I wish Steven would stop treating me like a little kid," Belly said.

"Well, guess what? I was thinking of going out to the festival tomorrow, wanna maybe join me?" Conrad asked as Belly nodded while smiling.

"Come on. I am very eager to see if movie night is actually good. Let's go," Conrad said as both of them went down.

The next morning, Conrad kept with what he said. He and Belly went down to the festival that was held all summer long while it was busy. It was a burning 90 degree day while most people hid away under the shade. Belly looked at the basket hoop that she shot a ball through and exhaled as she had missed yet again.

"Here, lemme help you," Conrad said as he went behind Belly and she picked up another ball.

"Okay, just focus on the net," Conrad said as he put his hands on hers, guiding them to the hoop.

"Cancel out all of the noise and slowly look at your target. When you have it in sight, shoot. Go on."

Belly had closed her eyes and gently took a breath. Every noise that there was before, she had canceled out. She looked at the hoop, and aimed her hands. She had taken a chance and made her shot. The ball went in as Belly looked shocked.

"I did it," Belly said.

"You did it, Conklin!" Conrad said as Belly jumped in his arms and hugged.

"That was incredible. But, I also knew you would do it," Conrad said as the score came up.

"You won. Congrats," Belly said smiling as Conrad was able to pick a prize.

He had looked at all of the stuffed animals while he pointed to a white polar bear wearing sunglasses and a red scarf. Belly smiled at him while he had given it over to her.

"I know you didn't won, but consider this something for good effort. Next time, you might beat me," Conrad said.

"Thank you. I'm calling him Junior Mint."

"Perfect name. Come on. I'll get you a slushie then we can head on home," Conrad said.

Although that day had meant nothing much for either one of them, looking back at it three years later, Conrad saw it as a day where he knew that Belly was someone worth hanging out with, and someone who would be part of his life in a bigger way than he could ever imagine.