?????? ??? ? jeremiah fisher x reader

my favorite fisher boy.

When he releases me, I feel an ache in my heart looking at his face again. I know he is tired for more reasons than just late night packing. He's been taking care of Susannah, who had to resume cancer treatment a few months ago while Conrad was away at college.

We look at each other for a moment longer, and then I ask "Are you okay? Do you need to sleep a little more? I know you won't get peace and quiet at your house so if you want, my bed is open as always."

A few times last summer, I let Jeremiah sleep in my bed instead of his own. When he found out that Susannah's cancer had come back, he found comfort in having a place to escape what was going on at home, and being next to me in my bed was his escape. It was strictly platonic; he just needed a peaceful place to sleep, and I wanted to be there for him as much as I could.

He smiles again, with even more warmth this time, and rubs his eyes.

"I might take up that offer after we all hit the beach. But for now, go say hi to Laurel and Susannah. They've been talking about how they can't wait to see you the whole ride. Possibly even more than Belly. Oh, and cute shirt."

I shake my head, the smile not leaving my face as I walk over towards my second mothers, until I finally see Susannah.

My heart drops. I knew she would not look how she did last summer. I knew she had lost a significant amount of weight, and her skin would be paler, and that she had lost her hair due to chemotherapy. I knew all of this, from everything Jeremiah was telling me over the past few months, that she was losing herself piece by piece. But it hadn't hit me until this moment.

I embrace her first, feeling how frail she is in my arms, and want to cry.

"Oh honey, you have no idea how long I've been waiting to be back here and see you. How's your mother? Still doesn't like me?"

Classic Susannah. We laugh together, and my urge to cry instantly melts away.

"She's asleep on the couch right now. Big shocker. But hey, Laurel," I say, directing my attention towards her now, "I read the new book. New York Times Bestseller material much?"

Laurel takes me into a hug now, trying to cover up her smirk and blushed cheeks after my compliment, "Not quite on the bestsellers, that's for sure. You praise me too much, you know that Y/n? And I'm a bit embarrassed that you read my middle aged lady book. When I sent you a copy, I expected you to put it on your shelf and let it collect some dust. But thank you for reading it. This is why you've always been my favorite nonbiological child."

"Hey," I hear Conrad interject, "really Laurel? Right in front of me?"

The three of us girls laugh together, and I watch as Laurel punches Conrad playfully in the arm. "Connie, I'm sorry, but Y/n takes the cake. I don't believe you read my book, did you? Exactly. That's what I thought."

Conrad rolls his eyes, but he's grinning. A new silence appears as we all stand there. It's been months since I talked to Conrad. I still haven't fully forgiven him for what happened with him and Belly at her prom.

"Well, I'm heading to the beach. Laurel, do you need help bringing the rest of your stuff in?" Conrad asks, breaking the awkward silence. Laurel shakes her head and motions for him to leave. "Go on. We'll bring in the rest of everything later. I know you guys can't wait any longer to run onto the beach."

Conrad nods his head, without looking at me, and I know it's because I didn't hug him. He knows I'm still upset with him. Even though Belly has gotten over it, I can't. He starts walking away on the pathway to the beach, catching up with Belly who is probably in the ocean already.

And that's when I feel someone grab my arms behind me. I gasp, and before I know it, Steven is in front of me, getting ahold of my legs. I try to fight them off but I am no match for them. Jeremiah and Steven are holding me up, running towards the beach.

"I hate you guys!!" I scream, still trying to wriggle myself to freedom. I decide to close my eyes, and accept the fate I do every summer.

"Y/n, let's be honest. You could never hate me. I'm your favorite. Always have, and always will be," Jeremiah whispers into my ear, and I let myself smile in spite of the conditions. He's right. He's always been my favorite Fisher boy since the moment we met as little kids. Jeremiah Fisher knows me better than anyone, even if I only see him for three months out of the year. We watched each other grow up, the times changing but our friendship remaining still. I don't know if I'll ever be closer to another boy in the way that I am with Jeremiah.

I keep my eyes squeezed shut until I finally hear the ocean roaring. The wind is sticky and warm from the salt of the water. Jeremiah's hands feel rough, and Steven is counting down from ten in front of me.

"Oh God, Steven, you're the worst. And Jere, you're also the worst," I hear Belly yell in my defense.

"3... 2... 1!" Steven squeals, and then I'm swung straight into the ocean. I scream again as they let go, my body hitting the water and instantly sending a shock through me. I pretend that I hate it when they toss me into the ocean like this on the first day, but I secretly love it. The feeling of being thrown into a wave on a hot summer day at the beginning of June is like nothing else in this world.

When I pop my head up, Steven is already with Belly and Conrad. I watch as Jeremiah is making his way towards me, pulling his shirt over his head as he walks into the water. He already had on swim trunks when he got here.

"That's not fair, I didn't get to take my shirt off before getting in here," I tease him.

"Be better prepared next year," he says.

There's another silence, but this time, it's different. We don't know if there will be a next year. With Susannah's current condition, she was given a few more months, and even that was spoken with uncertainty. Without Susannah, it is hard to imagine that the boys and the Conklin's would have the heart to come back here.

The silence holds for a few moments longer. I know we're thinking the same thing by the look in his eyes.

"Nevermind," he mumbles, and falls under the ocean again. I watch as he pops back up, floating on his back. His eyes are shut.

I move towards him, and without any further thought, I grab his hand and squeeze it. No reaction.

We stay like this for a minute or so, and I keep squeezing his hand over and over until I get a smile forming out of him. He opens his eyes and we make eye contact. I get the aching feeling in my chest again. I wish I could make everything better.

"Guys let's go, we're going inside to get some Koolaid before we head to the boardwalk," Steven yells over to Jere and I. I look over and see Belly and Conrad walking side by side. She's all smiley and giggling, and I hate it. I hate the power he holds over her even after all this time. After he ditched her at her prom. After he broke off their relationship like it meant nothing, even though it meant everything to Belly.

I let go of Jeremiah's hand and start towards the others, but then he says my name.

"Y/n. I think I'm just going to shower, and then I want to take a nap. Can I still sleep in your bed? I don't want to be in my house right now."

His eyes are shut again. His face looks more mature than it did last summer, but he's still the same Jeremiah I've always known. Golden tanned skin, even though summer has just begun. Long eyelashes. His curly, soft hair. He looks just how I remember, but a bit older now.

"Of course. I left the sliding door unlocked. It's all yours."