tidal wave

? chapter eight ?

"Of course he cares but he cares about you more. After everything that happened you go missing? I mean I...He thought something really bad happened to you. We both did" Bre said looking down at her feet, she didn't know what she was saying.

Conrad looked at Bre and his eyes softened. She'd grown up in the last month. She looked like she hadn't slept and she wasn't as tan anymore from the sun. He could tell she had been studying to stay inside more. There was a twang in his heart that maybe she hurt more from the break up than Laurel and Belly led on. All Conrad was told by them was that she had moved into Finn's dorm to study.

"I got a call two days ago. From Liam. He was asking about a for sale sign in our front yard. I thought it was a misunderstanding, so I drove straight here and pulled the stupid sign out of the ground and I threw it in the garbage. Seeing that sign was like losing her all over again. And I didn't want that for Jere" Conrad said taking a breath. Talking to Bre made Conrad feel stable, his heart began to beat at a regular pace and his head was clear.

"I'm going to use my trust as a down payment for the house. Talking to my mom's financial guys in the morning" Conrad said standing up straight and no longer leaning on the fireplace.

Bre nodded, she didn't know what to say or what he wanted to hear.

"I didn't mean to worry anybody. I'm handling things. You guys can go" Conrad said almost reminding him that he was alone and that's all he'd ever be.

"You're not the only one that cares about this house. If Jere, me, or Belly want to stay we can. We can help figure things out together. And you don't get to make it for him" Bre said constructively.

Conrad smiled at her because for the first time in a month, someone had treated Conrad like Conrad, not some grieving son or a wounded child and it made him happy that Bre still did that.

"Did you come from California or Home?" Conrad asked trying to break the awkward tension.

"Oh Home, Stevens Graduation was yesterday" Bre said smiling, the thing that was awful about their break up was losing the friendship they both had.

"Finn went to Stevens Graduation?" Conrad asked, he wasn't being nosey or jealous more wanting to tease her.

"Yeah him and Steven have this weird bromance. And he's coming home to his parents. Plus I'm scared of flying by myself still" Bre said tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Nothing's changed then" Conrad smiled.

"Well apart from a few things but yeah still the same" Bre smiled.

"I'm gonna go check on Finn because he's probably just starting at a wall somewhere," Bre said laughing walking out the front of the house.

Finn was sitting on the steps reading some books.

"I'm scared of flying booo" Finn joked.

"Shut up" Bre nudged him.

"Can I borrow your car to go to my parents?" Finn asked batting his eyes at her.

"Only if you fill her up with gas and you have the car back here tomorrow morning" Bre said smiling.

"Okay, see you later" Finn said racing off in the car.

Bre found herself doing what she usually did, going to the beach. it felt different this year.

The ache in her heart was bigger and she was learning to live without Sussanah who she was ready to lose when she did. It was the universe knocking her down for being too happy.

The ocean was the same, it shone in the sun the same way as well as smelled the same and felt the same. But the air was different, it had a bitter sadder taste to it. Almost like the air back at the house. Bre remembered last summer and the fallout she had with her family and conquered it but there was a sense that it wouldn't be the same this time. The biggest knot she had was how Laurel was with her.

hey Mom

I found this photo from when me, you, Belly and Sussanh went shopping before college.

Oh, I miss her.

Thinking of you.

Sent

Bre looked down at her phone at saw the delivered sign but knew she would get a response. it had been that way since the funeral.

Bre had got a text from Conrad saying he was on his way to her, she had come home for the weekend and everyone seemed not to be home. Steven was at his Dads and Belly and Laurel had gone to Boston for a few days so Bre was alone. And as soon as Conrad had heard he left his dorm and was driving to her.

I'm outside x

Bre looked down and a smile spread across her face when she saw it. She grabbed her bag and headed outside, it was like her homecoming getting into his car and throwing her arms around him. At this moment she knew she would love him forever or infinity as they'd say.

They went to the only place they both ever felt peace, the Cousins beach house. Neither of them had ever seen it in December let alone in winter. And Bre was excited to see Snow on the Beach. They both sang along to the Christmas songs on the radio and laughed about their childhood. One they would forever cherish.