The summer everything changed | C.F

    I was standing in the kitchen when Conrad walked in with a box of all of our favorite muffins. They were fresh too, they smelt amazing. "I got muffins for everyone, I figured I'd be an easy breakfast." He held the open box towards Belly and I.

    "I'm good. Thanks though." Belly said dismissing him completely, I smiled and grabbed my favorite chocolate chip.

    "Thanks Con." I smiled, taking a bite.

    "Oh girls you should get going." Susannah said and I looked down at my muffin with a pout. "You can take it with you honey." She laughed at me rubbing my back. Belly hopped off her stool to follow Susannah. "Oh everyone stay out of the family room, I've done all of your paintings and tonight after the ball. We will do an unveiling." I looked at Conrad for a moment he had a grim look on his face.

    "Did you ask Jere?" He looked a little different his face was unsure. He seemed like he brought it up to distract me.

    "Uh no, he apologized and ask if he could be my escort to make it up to me." I explained and he nodded. "Is that okay?" He immediately started quickly nodding.

    "Yes, no that's amazing. I'm glad he apologized for being a dick." He kinda joked with a more relaxed expression. His hair was wet  he must have hopped in the shower after Steven got out.

    "Ollie hurry or I'm leaving without you!" I heard Belly shout from the doorway.

    "Sounds like you've gotta go." The moms were starring at us. They seemed amused like they knew something was going on between us. Maybe it was because I felt like kissing him, but it wasn't an appropriate time. Not in front of our moms.

    "Yeah sounds like it." I said awkwardly my face heating up from a bit of embarrassment. He leaned forward kissing my forehead making the issue worse. Not only was I probably as red as a tomato. But he did it in front of my mom and Susannah.

    "See you later Cinderella." He mouthed and I just smiled. Spinning awkwardly on my toes to face the door dropping my head. Damnit Conrad.

    I quickly ran to the door holding my shoes that I had placed on the stairs. This is real, this is actually happening. But the icing on top of the cake was seeing Belly and Jeremiah kiss before Belly got into the car. I didn't even say anything about it, I acted like I hadn't even seen it. When in reality it was engraved into my head as she drove to the club. It felt wrong to me, was she leading Cam on? Was he strictly her escort? I wasn't just thinking about me when seeing that. I was wondering about Cam and if he knew.

Walking into the green room was intimidating, there was so much going on. So much noise that I couldn't register. "You ready?" Belly looked me in the eyes and I took a deep breath.

"Yeah I think so."

"Girls you're here!" Belly and I hung our dresses up as Shayla approached us. "I saved spots for you." I sat down and so did Belly, I sat by Shayla and she was on the other side of me beside Nicole. I starred at myself not knowing what to do but I've been practicing makeup on myself since I signed up for this. I knew how I wanted to do my hair but making it look good was going to be the troubling part.

I went as fancy makeup I could do on myself without looking like a child stealing my mom's makeup. But I put a little foundation in places I had darker patches but my skin wasn't too bad. Then blush on my cheeks, mascara and a little bit of eyeliner to bring out my eyes. Then a little bit of a red lipstick just to brighten up my lips. For my hair, for once I wore it up so my ears could be seen. I did a braid that purposefully reminded me of Repunzel. Shayla came up the wonderful idea to put flowers in my hair, white ones obviously. It was beautiful, perfect even. Especially considering there was butterflies on my dress.

"You look amazing." Belly zipped up my dress. I turned around and smiled.

"So do you." She grabbed my hands, jumping with excitement. There was something different while standing here right now. Right now I knew I was pretty, I didn't need anyone to tell me that. It felt empowering, every girl here looked like they could be a model.

I was standing behind Belly holding my bouquet of red roses, nervous. This didn't feel right. I shouldn't be here with Jeremiah, but that's what I get for not asking the person I wanted to ask.

"Gigi Boucheron, Daugher of Richard and Cecily Boucheron." Next is Belly and Cam. Then me. Belly walked up to Cam and took his arm.

"Isabel Conklin, Daugher of John Conklin and Laurel Park. A student at Chesterbrook High School where she is captain of the varsity volleyball team. Isabel is also an avid swimmer, and this summer raised $5,000 for the county women's shelter."

Shakily I stepped forward to walk towards Jeremiah, taking his arm with mine. I was nervous and holding the wrong guys arm.

"Olivia Conklin daughter of John Conklin and Laurel Park. A student at Chesterbrook High School where she is a honor student and is a co-captain along side her sister. Olivia raised 9,000 dollars for children who are hearing impaired, much like herself." I know I wrote that but part of it was a lie, I was no longer part of the volleyball team.

"You're doing great Ollie." He spoke to me, I walked up a bit with him for pictures and tried my best to smile. "You look beautiful." He looked at me.

"Thank you." But for the first time I felt nothing when he said that to me. Not even a little fluster.

We walked up to our parents and I handed Susannah, my bouquet. Belly gave hers to mom and it only felt right, she is our mom too. Jeremiah and I stood on the floor waiting for everyone to be called out.

    When I caught a glimpse of Conrad. He was looking right at me with a look I couldn't quite explain. I smiled a bit and looked down as if I didn't see it. But I looked up and gave him a little wave. Really Olivia? A wave. Mom walked away and I looked to Jeremiah mildly confused.

"Where's she going?" He looked back with me and shrugged.

"I don't know."

Once we were all called out we bowed and Jeremiah looked at me. "I'll be right back." I stopped him, he looked down at me. I should have worn heels like a normal girl.

"You better be." He nodded with a genuine smile, holding out his pinky.

"I will, I promise."