tidal wave

? chapter ten ?

"I want to say thank you," Bre said smiling, since coming back to Cousins she'd begun realising many things she'd been taking for granted and her friendship with Finn was one of them.

"Why? I gave the car back" Finn said smirking, he always tried to change the topic.

"No, the fact you've been here for me. Even when I didn't deserve your kindness. Or even this friendship and because you gave the car back" Bre smiling.

"Well I'm going to thank you for being my entertainment for the last year," Finn said pulling her into a hug.

"You've got a Finn hug without me?" Jeremiah said running and joining in the hug.

"You always get a hug bro" Finn said letting go of Bre and just hugging Jere. As she looked up at the house she noticed Conrad watching them from the window. Conrad always preferred watching people and making judgements than joining in.

"I just don't get why he has to join us for everything. He's at your dorm, then he's in my car then he wants to take photos of you" Conrad said as he was getting changed into his Tux.

"He's just trying to get to know you more. Con he's my best friend" Bre said taking his hand between doing his buttons up.

"Well last summer he wanted to be more, the way he looks at you Bre. I can't have that thought while I'm back home" Conrad said letting go.

"Conrad, He's the only person I'm friends with besides Keegan and Hattie," Bre said disappointed.

"Then hang out with them more" Conrad shouted. Bre didn't know what to do but she knew she wanted to leave him in her dorm and leave.

"Are you saying you don't trust me?" Bre asked, they had been getting into a lot of arguments recently since Conrad blew her off to go on a trip with a girl from his class at college.

"I don't trust him!" Conrad said.

"Conrad I'd never and I mean never get with Finn. And I also don't think I'm Finns type anymore. Can you please just look at me?" Bre said touching his cheek, it looked like he was going to cry.

"What's all this about?" Bre asked, she was concerned now she knew it wasn't just about Finn it had a deeper meaning.

"We should get going if you want to make it on time" Conrad said looking at the time. Bre grabbed her bag and headed for the door shortly followed by Conrad who didn't say anything to her the whole drive. Or even when they arrived at the ball.

"Conrad nice to meet you" Keegan said holding out her hand. Conrad didn't shake it just raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes.

"Shall we go sit down?" Bre said smiling and her face quickly fell when she noticed Conrad just looking down at photos of his Susannah. The others walked to the table whispering to themselves as Bre took Conrad's hand and kissed him on the cheek.

"You know what whatever happens I'll always be here" Bre whispered in his ear as they arrived at their table. Conrad smiled and pulled out her chair for her. Hattie and Keegan smiled as they finally saw Conrad acting like a boyfriend.

The ball had been going like it usually did Conrad was making small talk with Hattie and Keegan and they were warming to him. What Bre didn't like was Conrad telling embarrassing stories about her.

"She got drunk last year and met this loser" Conrad said pointing at Finn, who was sitting opposite Conrad and was happily talking to his date Emily the whole time.

"Conrad don't" Bre whispered. Holding his hand, she knew physical touch normally calmed Conrad down and that's exactly what she did.

"Why don't you guys go dance? This song isn't it your Favourite Ana" Keegan said.

This Love by Taylor Swift was playing and Bre had been singing it the whole week in the shower, while studying and even when she was walking to classes.

"Will you take this Dance Conrad Fisher?" Bre asked smiling, her whole life she wanted to bring a guy to a Ball like this and it was finally happening.

"You can indeed Breanna Marise Conklin" Conrad said leading her to the dance floor, she rested her head on his shoulders and they slowly danced for what felt like forever.

"I know things haven't been good between us but I..." Bre began to speak before Conrad cut her off.

"I've changed my flight to go home tonight, I want to be home so I can study," Conrad said butting in.

"When is your flight?" Bre asked slightly hurt. That once again he was bailing on her.

"It's at eleven," Conrad said looking everywhere but at Bre.

"I don't know if I've won the award until then, why didn't you tell me about this earlier," Bre said her eyes filling with water.

"I can't do this right now," Conrad said, and then walked out of the room, Bre looked around at everyone looking at her. She picked up her dress and followed him out.

"Conrad! I can come with you? I haven't seen my Mom in ages and Belly" Bre said catching up to him.

"No, no you can't" Conrad said wiping a tear off his face.

"If you want to see Susannah I can come too," Bre said wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Not everything is about Susannah Bre" Conrad said shaking his head.

"Conrad if you don't want me to anymore then just tell me" Bre said tears flowing down her face.

"I...I don't know" Conrad said shaking his head.

"If you won't end it then I will" Bre said shaking her head and crying.

"That's not what I want," Conrad said. He looked upset and it pained Bre to see him like that.

"What is it you want?" Bre asked, she looked up at the sky to see a quarter moon, it felt like when she and Conrad were together there was a full moon but not tonight and it solidified it for her.

"I want to... I want to be away from your stupid college" Conrad said heading for his car.

"You might want this" Bre stormed over and handed him the necklace he'd given her last summer.

"No, you can have it" Conrad said opening the door and Bre saw on his car screen 'Aubrey' calling him.

"You can give it to Aubrey since she's phoning you," Bre said walking away.

"For the record Conrad, You ruined this not me" Bre shouted looking back. As soon as she saw his car leave the parking lot she fell to the floor in a fit of tears. And Finn was there to pick her up.

When Conrad had passed the end of the road he turned straight around knowing the girl he loved was more important than any school project or any rational thought he had. His thoughts were scattered everywhere but he knew he couldn't lose Bre.

But when he arrived back in the car park. He saw Finn holding her, stoking her hair. And that's when he knew he wasn't wrong. But it was Finn who couldn't be trusted not Bre.